If you listen to the ground and put your fingers to the wind you’ll hear some serious poop smacking into the blades of a rapidly spinning fan. Magicians are kidnapped off the streets, earthquakes hit the upper reaches of cities, children are tattooed with runes and sacrificed to nameless gods, barbarian armies are stirred up and cities are mobilised.
Overwhelmed by refugees flocking to the city to escape the oncoming barbarian hordes, attempts to find alternative accommodation have failed. In fact, food and lodging prices have skyrocketed. There appear to be many players looking to take advantage of the chaos, and reports of warfare between criminal gangs indicate that moves are being made on behalf of dark interests.
Amid this backdrop of intrigue, the charismatic Veiga and his stalwart axe-wielding companion manage to find something interesting. Apparently, one of the women working at the White House brothel is also registered as a temple prostitute at Python House. Coincidence or not, the group goes to investigate, and heads back to Old Town. Destruction is widespread, but business is still booming. Upon investigation, they discover that the person they are looking for has been off work for two days, and is apparently making an offering to the temple of the gods of luck.
This leads to multiple carriage rides followed by a lengthy period of watch and waiting. It appears they have found their target. Two of the group are on guard inside the temple, while others stand guard outside and witness the target make a mark on the temple steps. Once the target leaves the location, the group pursues her and utilizes a sleep spell to subdue her and take her away. It is a bit risky to return the prisoner to the Southside house, but they manage to do it.
An interrogation about the events at the White House begins as if the party are planning a robbery, but some well-applied bardic talent yields information about the cult’s connection to the Lich, but it appears the Lich is using the cult for his own purposes – it is the Lich’s machine that they destroy that seems to have delayed the Lich’s plans to rip a rift between dimensions and unleash an army of the undead on the city.
The cult also exists in the Temple District, and she has been delivering a message, though she doesn’t know who it’s for or what it means. The message is delivered to her by the lich owner of a brothel, growing crazier by the second. The prostitute reveals that there is a secret door guarded by demons below, but that’s all her information. At least, that’s what she says. Just to be sure, Veiga kills her and eats part of her brain, sifting through her memories for signs of deception. It looks like she was telling the truth after all. Oh well.
The plan is devised and put into action, and then an unseen party storms the temple, hiding behind illusionary screens, and an elven wizard batters open a door with a spell. They clatter down the stairs beyond, slamming the door shut when they’re done. They descend a second flight of stairs and find themselves in a room. Oh, wait, there’s a demon!
The sorcerer fires a bolt of lightning at close range. Aided by Kegdrain’s magic missiles and Diggin’s heavy axe blows, they manage to drive the creature back. The creature is shrouded in darkness and runs towards a table on which a wooden stake is placed. With a well-timed arrow, Zaar takes down the creature before anything untoward can happen.
Magical detection leads to further exploration and uncovers a small cache of loot. The group splits off to guard the exits, sending the speedy Fingers ahead to scout the way. Continuing their exploration leads them to a door where they can hear sounds of arguing. Another path leads to a large conference room with multiple exits. For now there is only one door.
Sneaking as close as they could, they rose and crashed through the door, surprising everyone inside; a half-naked human and a lizard-man were sitting on their beds. They realized they were among the raiders who had ambushed the party and stolen all the loot from Python’s mission. Bastards! The two were killed within seconds, and more looting began afterwards. One of the boxes was stubborn and had to be bashed open, but Veiga had a silencing spell to muffle the sound.
They quietly leave the room and head to the conference room. Exploring, they find a small corridor ending in a door and a wide staircase sloping downwards. Zaar’s keen eye spots the secret passage and the group steps inside, closing the door behind them. They investigate and discover two exits, both of which appear to be hidden from the other side due to their odd shape and choice of materials. They open the farthest door and decide to wait in the standard manner. They swing the door open and…
