The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Minamoto and Zsikhou are breathing heavily… Silgara is downed, Fwangzhu weans off his rage some. As Zsikhou pants he looks to the east. “Someone is watching us, over there.” He points with his crossbow.

T’kharr looks to where Zsikhou is pointing. Balan rushes to Silgara and starts to treat her wounds. There looks like a translucent figure over in the distance. A blue, shimmering figure. Fwangzhu snarls, “Oh, more of the fuckers…”

T’kharr points them out to Zsikhou. “Keep them pinned down, I need to help Balan with Silgara." Then she moves over to examine for herself just how bad Silgara's wound is. As T’kharr examines her she finds that Silgara’s wounds are pretty severe. She will need extensive treatment to be able to get up. She’s certainly not getting up any time soon and will need a long rest.

Balan holds up a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds. “Do we think this will work?”

T'kharr nods slowly. "I think she's still alive at least, but I think that it's also more than just a potion will fix. We'll have to tend to her once we deal with whoever's standing there. If you don't have a bow Balan...grab the Khan's from where he abandoned it."

Fwangzhu looks over, Zsikhou and Minamoto both move near Mingzhu. Balan steps over to where the bow was leaving the potion by her side with an extreme rage building in him. Fwangzhu snarls "Can't see shit out there... still pitch black."

T'kharr readies her sling to attack whoever Zsikhou pointed out. Zsikhou gets his crossbow loaded "Ready to move when you are... Though he gives himself a potion. "Let’s go then?" Zsikhou looks to T'kharr and Balan.

Balan pulls the Khan’s flaming bow back aiming at the figure. He shouts, “Reveal yourself or you will die here today.”

"We'll have to get closer to get a clear shot..." Zsikhou mentions. The figure does not approach. T’kharr leads the ranged fighters to move up until they get a clear shot. Fwangzhu and Minamoto try to move with them. Balan works his way forward stopping to stand over Silgara’s body and launches an arrow at the door frame intently. “This is your last warning.”

Once they get close enough, they see the figure looks like a Jackal-headed humanoid wearing immaculate, ornate robes. But the details are still somewhat indistinct. It doesn't look solid, more like a kind of ghost. Or blue colored outline or image. It also have some ivory horns on their head. "Likely a ghostly visage spell, and very likely the mage." T’kharr comments.

Zsikhou looks over, considering... "If our witch were up..." He hisses, then considers "Hold on, if it were able to stop us, or attack, it would have already."

The party retreats slightly back to where Mingzhu is laying. The figure seems to take a mental note of it. Minamoto is barely able to stand. Fwangzhu snarls, "Where's a fucking light, but fine, I can carry the Shamaness."

Balan let’s the bow go slack and begins to treat Silgara again with haste.

The Jackal-headed creature looks to Minamoto "The mindless pawn continues to be a mindless tool. Ultimately irrelevant."

T’kharr is more concerned with everyone else. "We'll need to get her back to the village I think." She says to Balan, then to Fwangzhu "Help Minamoto Walk while you're at it."

Zsikhou looks over "How are we going to get to the village?"

"We'll have to hike back, carrying Silgara and Mingzhu." She answers.

Balan stands and goes to Minamoto. “Get on my back. I can carry you.”

T’kharr nods, “That works.”

Zsikhou looks over. "I mean we already tried sailing off this island and it didn't work."

"I mean, to the port camp they set up here." T’kharr clarifies. "Apologies for the confusion, we'll just need more time than we can have with the avatar of a powerful mage breathing down our neck."

He looks over "Whatever it is, it's not moving..." Fwangzhu huffs, carrying Mingzhu. Minamoto leans on Balan.

Zsikhou looks over "Who's carrying the witch?"

Balan says, “Hell, throw her on my back.” He then stops and catches himself. “Put her on the horse.” He whistles for it.”

T’kharr rubs her hairy snout. "Fair, or we could have Minamoto ride it if the horse will put up with that."

Balan shrugs, “If he gives us a vow he will not argue with the badger for a time perhaps.” Minamoto looks too dazed to argue... Suddenly, the figure appears before them, standing before the gate. Balan picks up Silgara and makes sure Minamoto is on the horse. “Right then.”

Zsikhou grips his shuriken.

"Uh oh. We'll need to find a different approach, I reckon." T’kharr says as the figure comes into view within the gate. "Zsikhou, can you search the clerics and the Khan thoroughly? We may need to just find a way out of here...."

"Not sure we'll have time with this thing watching us!" … He looks over. He looks at the vision, calming down some.

T’kharr looks at it too. "This thing doesn't want to let us retreat by normal means." The figure stays in place. Somehow it seems indistinct. Fwangzhu snarls "That or fuck it, we're fighting our way out!" He sets the shamaness down and charges the figure. However, as Fwangzhu charges and swings at it, he and his axe just pass right through it, harmlessly. Whatever it is, it's a projection or intangible... He turns around, snarling "The fuck?!"

"It's a projection or illusion, not something real." T’kharr tells him.

"Expected answer from the enragement child." The Jackal-headed figure speaks.

T’kharr tries to wake Mingzhu up with a Cure Minor Wounds spell. The figure address her. "I see the war-wizard was incapacitated during combat. She would have likely been able to tell you that." T’kharr doesn’t engage him. Balan takes a moment to study it.

Mingzhu wakes up one the cure is into her. She stumbles toward the figure. “What do we have here? A Spirit walker?”

T’kharr tells her, “I think some sort of magery.”

The Jackal-headed figure looks to Mingzhu "Assumptions made based on familiarity. Often incorrect." Though the figure seems to be studying those present intently, making no further hostile actions, at least for the moment.

Zsikhou narrows his eyes, studying it in turn... Mingzhu looks to the ghostly shape. “Aye, true they are a projection perhaps. What do you want other than to spy on us?” She wobbles somewhat on unsteady feet but still faces him.

It looks over to Mingzhu "They are Querying for information. I would pose one of my own, how is answering yours to my benefit?"

She laughs, “The question was one rather to benefit us not you. but you already know that. Whoever you are, you cannot hurt us now or you would, so you come to know us. to prepare.”

Balan holds Silgara close whispering, “Bahamut please let her wake we need her.” he places his holy symbol on her chest, hoping.

The Jackal-headed being looks back to Mingzhu "More assumptions made. Possibly logical given the extent of what knowledge you have."

Zsikhou looks over the figure, narrowing his eyes. "They were watching us fight with the Khan and their forces. But did not intercede on their behalf..." He looks over, more a statement of fact than a question.

Mingzhu uses her spirit knowledge to see if she remembers anything like this that her teacher taught her. She comes up with nothing. Meanwhile the Jackal-headed creature looks to the Zsikhou. “The kobold. They take more care in execution of their assumed duties than their master does."

Mingzhu waves the vision off. “I'm fairly sure you have seen what you came for. Leave us. there will be another day when we meet.”

The Jackal-headed creature looks over to Mingzhu. "Posturing and invalid assumptions. Expected behavior when one is trying to appear more impressive than they are." Mingzhu shakes her head, her ploy not working, she goes over and leans against T’kharr.

She answers him. “I am not impressive at all. Just a commoner woman from a small world. Even saying that is even insulting. You lack understanding yourself, it seems to me.”

"Statements given are false." The Jackal-headed creature looks at her "A simple commoner would not be here, much less be casting the magic you have, much less combatting a would-be warlord. As for my understanding, it is perfectly clear in this matter." He looks over to Silgara "What a pity the only intellect in your group likely worth conversing with was injured in battle." Then he looks over to Balan "Although your cooperation with the Kobold is unexpected. It presents an anomaly."

“My kind do what they need to create a greater good. If you had studied this, you would know.” Balan says to him while trying to gently shake Silgara awake.

Mingzhu whispers to the group, “If he knows what I cast he has watched the whole of the battle.”

The ghostly figure looks at the dragonborn. "More flexible than standard deviations of most paladins would present." Balan thrashes his tail with some irritation looking at Zsikhou.

He says, “Dragon born do not consider the light without the dark even when the fight is fought with someone on the other side.”

Zsikhou looks over "This one has no quarrel with the Foreigner paladin. So long as we respect each other's duties, then that is enough."

Balan looks over at the kobold. “If there is a common enemy that goes against the mandate they must be removed.”

Jackal-Head looks over Zsikhou and Balan. "The Executioner and Paladin both present anomalies. Though in the Executioner's case it is likely due to erroneous assumption of origins that has become accepted to his kind in his specific locale." It then looks at T’kharr as Balan puts a claw delicately against her tonsil to try to wake her. She still doesn’t wake up. "And that one refuses to speak. They are also an observed anomaly."

The Jackal-headed being then shrugs "No further value to be acquired by continuing conversation. This locale is no longer of interest or relevance." It waves, dismissing the image. Then it's gone.

Fwangzhu's growling, snarling, like he really wanted to smash them, then huffs. Minamoto's too injured and dazed to really talk. T’kharr sighs, “"Finally, we managed to outwait it. I suppose the coast is clear so we can tend to Silgara here, if need be."

Balan nods, “We need to move or find shelter here...These are the options.”

T’kharr looks around. “Let's get into one of the buildings here."

[Winterhawk99]

Everyone goes into the nearest building. Balan looks around, “Can you trap the door then or should we barricade it Zsikhou.”

"I'll set up some sonic traps then." Zsikhou nods. Balan nods and helps the wounded inside.

“I just need a bed.” Mingzhu comments as she stumbles along following everyone else.

Zsikhou comments, “I saw there are five buildings inside the palisades. Stables, Storehouse those are obvious. The others look like a barracks……. a shrine, I think perhaps the last just for the Khan. It’s smaller. We’re in the storeroom.

Mingzhu asks, “Did anyone check the horsemen for pendants? Or the Khan?”

T’kharr goes out and checks the bodies. She comes back after a while with a pile of things. “Let’s get Silgara to a safe stat. I’ll just pile this stuff here for now. We can address it later.” She dumps it all in a corner.

The pile includes:
+2 Bracers of defense*
+2 Belt of Str *
+2 Mithril scale mail*
+2 Halberd*
+2 Cloak of resistance*
+2 amulet of Con*
Ring of darkvision*
Ring of sustenance.
+1 Flame bow
4 horsemen pendants, master work scale mail and weapons, and a toy boat.

Balan immediately takes the ring of sustenance from the pile and slips it on Silgara’s finger. He then sis by her side, treating her wounds over any amount of time they can stay still. T’kharr also helps with treating Silgara’s wounds.

T’kharr sighs and shakes her head, “Slip the ring off her finger Balan...this may be a job for a raise dead spell. Arrow took the connection to her brain out, pretty much."

Balan holds his holy symbol and prays over the stricken Wu Jen. Mingzhu sleeps in a corner trying to recuperate her drained energy. Zsikhou stays near her for some reason. Looking very snuggly when he curls up to rest.

Most of the others also sleep. Balan places a hand on T’kharr’s, “Faith is a trial and perhaps this is part of the journey.”

They rest without incident. Silgara eventually stirs, though doesn't really seem all that well after that last battle. When Mingzhu gets up she meditates to recover her spells

T'kharr sighs a deep sigh of relief when Silgara finally stirs back to life "By the Maimed God, I thought the Khan's arrow had sent ye to Avandor."

As Silgara lifts her head she sees Balan in a kneeling position above her snoring. Little puffs of smoke escape from his snout. She winces some, wobbling some, then a breath out "I ... " She sighs, looking aside "I .... I suppose I have you all to thank for my continued living state... thank you." She looks down, and to the side, but doesn't appear to be in a hurry to get back up.

Mingzhu searches the storeroom not only for something to eat but also for anything of value or of information. It mostly has basic supplies. Food, water, provisions, soap, whetstones and other various goods that one might find in a bandit camp. She looks over at Silgara moving around. “Stay down Silgara and rest. You have a grave and serious wound.”

"Is our current position safe?"... "Relatively speaking...?" Silgara asks...

The shamaness nods while filling up her water bladder and begins making breakfast for everyone. T’kharr elaborates. "Aye, best to rest for now Silgara, we'll fill you in on what happened after you fell; once you're better, and we have Zsikhou's traps for a measure of protection against mundane threats at least."

Mingzhu adds, “Relatively for a few days I suspect though do not know for sure.”

Balan starts to snore louder, and his nose starts blowing smoke rings.

Silgara sighs, “I'm not thrilled to spend longer in this gloom than I have to, but... thank you. I'll... try." She leans back, trying to get comfortable as she can. Though admittedly in the storeroom, it's not terribly comfortable

Mingzhu informs her, “The khan is dead, and something made a projection and spoke with us. No one knows what it was. She describes the jackal headed projection. It must have watched the whole of the battle.”

Fwangzhu looks over "Looked like a Jackass Jackal but it had these weird horns coming out of its head. Dressed all fancy fucking poncy like."

Silgara has a splitting headache, she nods and sighs. "If it's not here now, then at least we're... nnngh" Silgara shudders from her wound, then just tries to lie back.

"I think it's that jackal-mage from the journals and such, but best to brief ye once you've recovered more fully." T’kharr responds.

Balan snores into a snort and a cough shaking his head then places a hand pushing some life back into Silgara. He uses Lay on Hands. Afterward, she looks a bit healthier. “Was I snoring again.” Then he looks at his legs. “It Seems they are asleep after kneeling all night.” He rolls to his side near Silgara stretching a bit trying to get feeling back. “Zsikhou, would you mind a bit of healing on Silgara. If you wouldn’t mind.”

Zsikhou looks to Balan "Am not a healer."

"Let’s let Silgara recover while we search the rest of the premises." T’kharr says quietly.

Balan shrugs, “Aye.” He taps Silgara on the forehead. “You wouldn’t even wake up with my talon in your throat.” He laughs a bit while walking away.

Zsikhou nods "Should come with. Maybe leave Minamoto here to recover too. And keep watch."

Mingzhu looks around, “I’ll stay here and take care of these two.” She does what she can to help Minamoto and Silgara With whatever herbs and healing supplies she has from her kit.

When they come back, they have 5,000 in gold and gems, 250 gold worth of goods that can be sold, a map and other things. Mingzhu tallies it all in her books. T’kharr Mingzhu and Balan go to the equipment pile to decide who gets what of the magical items.

Mingzhu ends up with the ring of darkvision, The cloak of resistance and the belt of strength. Silgara gets the bracers and amulet. Fwangzhu is honored with the Halberd and mail. Balan takes the bow and ring of sustenance.

They stay several day periods to let Silgara rest. During that time, it happens that Minamoto and Fwangzhu are together on patrol They have a conversation.

Fwangzhu huffs "Tell me something, does being hated by all of your lord’s people come naturally? Or is it something you actually try to work towards by being as much of a tyrannical goon as possible?"

Minamoto glares in turn "The hatred given by uncivilized savages and rebels like you is meaningless. The Daimyo is the proper ruler of these lands and proper citizens give him their due respect."

Fwangzhu snorts "Oh please, like he deserves any respect at all. Do you have any idea how much his people hate him? Beyond the mindless drones like you."

Minamoto scowls at the badger Hengeyokai "People who know their rightful place in society and have a proper appreciation for order have no quarrel with him or his men. The problem is with barbarians and rebellious instigators like you."

Fwangzhu snorts and retorts "It’s not just me; I haven’t traveled to a single village which didn’t fucking hate his guts. Maybe the problem is he’s a useless tyrant who sucks at his job and shouldn’t be there."
Minamoto seethes, rubbing a wound "Maybe if you were a properly civilized being in a proper place, you would know others who support his rule. But instead, you’re nothing but a dirty, disgusting savage who causes disorder wherever you go."
Fwangzhu snarls "Wow, there you go making excuses. The only people who like him are his personal circle of Asslickers, cronies, and other tyrant-lovers, the others are just too terrified to tell people like you the truth."

Minamoto scoffs "Honorable men know what honesty, service, and decorum is. Concepts which are clearly lost on you."

Fwangzhu snarls. "As is taking your head out of your ass clearly lost to you. And the loser of a lord you serve."

Minamoto flexes his fingers. "You should stop testing my patience with your insults, savage. I am already far over the limit I am honor bound to have you executed for."

Fwangzhu growls at him "Whenever you grow a spine? Come at me, jackass. I’ll take you on any day."

They separate each to their own path. They know that soon they will most likely have to fight again.

[Winterhawk99]

Silgara does what she can to recover. Fwangzhu and Minamoto seemed to have stopped arguing for now that Zsikhou has stepped in. T’kharr checks on the Wu Jen. "How're things feeling? I'm reckoning that once you've recovered enough, we can all depart this isle together, given that I bet we've recovered the key to getting off in the form of that boat-trinket..."

Silgara shuffles, then stands "I'm still aching, but I believe I am well enough to remain functional for the time being."

"So, if all the others are ready, we take up that boat-trinket, head back to the boat, and try sailing off, hopefully for good this time? Or do you think it'd work in a different way?" T’kharr suggests.

Silgara considers "I have not had time to examine the magic on that boat-trinket, but that may be a viable option."

Zsikhou looks over "What of that... Conservatorium?"

T’kharr turns to him. “Oh? Did you see something in there that might be a...portal, key, or such?" Zsikhou shakes his head.

Balan catching the conversation speaks up, “There is the matter of that other place that was mentioned, no?”

"We do not know what is there, but someone went too considerable effort to hide its existence." Zsikhou nods

"Oh. Fair enough. We probably could clean that up if Silgara's in good enough shape." T’kharr says.

Silgara looks over "It is likely to be considerably dangerous, but I'm willing to go investigate if you believe it prudent."

T’kharr asks, “Does the journal...disclose where it is, or will we have to search this isle for it?"

"We have a map with a rough location. We may need to search for it some. As stated, someone went through considerable effort to hide the place." Zsikhou mentions.

"Alright. That helps." T’kharr nods.

Silgara looks up "What will it be then. Do we escape this awful place, or go for that Conservatorium?"

T’kharr gives her thoughts on the subject. "I think we go deal with the Conservatorium; we probably won't ever get back to this isle and I'm not sure if we want to return even." Silgara nods.

"Right, let’s get moving then." Zsikhou goes to fall in line.

Mingzhu thinks about it and says,” Perhaps, we could scout it and go back. When we come back, we could have a plan, and we could also alert the authorities of the island itself. We have valuable information I think we should scout and leave coming back ready to fight on better ground.”

Silgara looks to Mingzhu "Maybe, though are the authorities on the island at all capable of dealing with something like this?"

"I suppose we could head close to there and have Zsikhou skulk around in the place, proper? Or do you think that there's still more four-legged fiends about?" T’kharr asks.

Mingzhu considers, “Most likely not but I do not think we are quite ready for what is ahead."

Zsikhou looks over "Am thinking if we don't investigate it now, we might not get another chance."

Balan adds his thoughts. “It would depend on what is there I would agree. There is not having another chance.”

"I think having Zsikhou scout it with our force in ready reserve in case something chases him out is our best plan then." T’kharr affirms the general feeling of the group.

Silgara sighs "It might be dangerous though. Withdrawal may be wiser, as valuable as the answers we may find within likely are."

"And if it turns out to be manageable? We move in and take care of it." T’kharr asserts.

Mingzhu nods, "Yes we would at least scout it out."

Zsikhou nods "Alright then. We go for it then?"

Minamoto and Fwangzhu ready themselves. Fwangzhu seems to be very fond of his shiny new scale mail and gives his new Halberd a test swing. Not at Minamoto, thankfully. Mingzhu adds, “If it does indeed turn out manageable then perhaps, but fires let’s try to find out before we leap.”

T’kharr nods to her, “Aye.”

The party leaves the camp and heads in the general direction of the conservatorium. Mingzhu can now see with her ring of Darkvision and needs no help. They spend some time walking in the vast rocky expanses. They seem no closer to finding it, but it’s not expected to be easy. It takes some time but, Zsikhou and T’kharr eventually come across what looks like a hidden hatch. It’s barely noticeable among the rocks surrounding it. "Found something, over here." Zsikhou motions.

T'kharr studies it. “Looks like a trapdoor or something, likely our entrance, or perhaps a back entrance to something."

Mingzhu looking where they are pointing says, “I see it.”

Zsikhou goes in, nodding, opening it up. T’kharr says to everyone else, “I think we stay here on the surface, keep our eyes peeled for any more patrols, while Zsikhou scouts."

The kobold takes a quick peek inside, then comes back up "Some large door over there. Has a complicated lock on it. Think this one can get in." He nods.

Mingzhu looks for any dead bodies in the area of the hatch and finds none. In fact, judging but the rocks and footing around, it doesn’t look like anyone has been here for a long time.

Zsikhou picks the lock on the door. Eventually, after some time, he comes back. "Okay,..." He huffs "That place is... right, hazards first.

This one caught some kind of large, zombie-like thing in the main lobby beyond the door. Looked like it was multiple corpses stitched together. By the smell it's probably been there at least a decade if not longer." Zsikhou states "Are four rooms connecting to that main lobby. Couldn't get past the two on the far side. Room going to the left is some kind of prison with... seemed like some kind of animated humans, didn't seem like undead, but weren't alive either. To the right this one caught the movement of shadows. Couldn't sneak past all of them. They didn't detect this one at least." Zsikhou says

T'kharr thinks a bit. “So, two doors we can't unlock, a prison of the not-quite-dead yet not-quite alive, a zombie-flesh-golem-thing as the guard, and some other stuff off to the right."

“Well, we only need to kill one of the undead then I can get him to tell me the layout of the place......... I think.” Mingzhu suggests.

Silgara considers, "So a flesh golem in the main lobby. Shadows on the right, and something else on the left."

"Were the figures in the room on the left imprisoned, or patrolling?" T’kharr asks.

"Looked like they were patrolling." Zsikhou states.

"Ah. I suspect we'd draw their attention if we went in." T’kharr assumes.

Balan speculates, “Perhaps this is where they created the undead that plagued the shore of one of the towns.”

"This one closed the doors behind him." Zsikhou says "We might be able to deal with the giant zombie, then go to the other rooms. They didn't seem particularly... alert. More just shambling."

“Right.” T’kharr comments.

“I could try to turn it?” Mingzhu asks.

“As could I, multiple times.” Balan says.

Silgara looks aside. "Turning won't work on a flesh golem, but I suspect it would work on the shadows."

"I suspect the prison guards might be smaller flesh-golem things for that matter?" T’kharr speculates.

"It's possible." Silgara shrugs. "Well, what's the plan then...?"

"It seems like something that we could at least manage provided we can avoid getting swarmed." T’kharr thinks out loud.

Silgara looks over to Zsikhou. "Oh, in case you can turn the electricity off, that empowers flesh golems. So don't strike it with electricity."

Zsikhou nods to Silgara, then looks over to T'kharr. "We're going then?"

"I think we're going in unless someone strongly disagrees?" T’kharr says while looking around.

“I'll try to save my spells for there may be nastier things behind these undead.” Mingzhu asserts.

Silgara casts a mage armor on herself and one on T'kharr and one on Zsikhou. T’kharr nods to her. Mingzhu casts Bless. Balan waits until he is inside to summon his horse. When they step down into the abyss, the place feels cold, like a chill in their spines. And dusty. There's a smell of a sort of after-rot in the air, like there's been decay and then nothing after, or maybe it's just musty and old. It looks like there hasn't been anyone down here in centuries

[Winterhawk99]

Once everyone is down inside Balan summons his war horse. T’kharr carefully works her way down, staff in hand, ready for a fight. The place isn’t lit at all. There is total darkness, well, until Silgara casts a light cantrip. Mingzhu walks behind T’kharr, holly symbol at the ready. The walls and floor are made out of some kind of cold stone. Granite maybe. Either way it looks like it's not been maintained for a while, yet there's precious little in the way of wear. Either way, in the lobby before them, there is a flesh golem shambling about. Visible on the left and right are closed doors.

T'kharr makes sure the thing in front of her is actually undead or just a golem. She readily sees it’s a golem and calls to the others, “Flesh golem it is, not undead. So, no turning, we’ll just have to wail it down.”

Silgara nods, “And no electricity.” Zsikhou huff, grumbling.

T’kharr asks Zsikhou, “You think you can sneak in and try to open the fight, or are we better off just charging?”

Zsikhou looks over. "Apparently my attacks would empower it. Best you handle this."

"Do you think we could talk with it?" Mingzhu asks.

"Doubtful, given the context." T’kharr says as she gives a glance to Silgara.

Silgara looks over. "No, Flesh golems are mindless. They only follow the predetermined instructions their creator put in them. And sometimes they go berserk. Given how long this one has been down here, it's likely berserk and will attack us on sight."

"Let us charge in, then, would be a good chance for our fighters to get some of that anger worked out." T’kharr says with a small grin on her muzzle. Minamoto just shakes his head. Fwangzhu readies his halberd. They approach the golem. It lets out a horrible shriek and goes on the attack.

Mingzhu is the one that dashes ahead and swings at it first, but she misses. Minamoto comes in next and wallops it with a slice of his sword. Hurting it and slowing it down. T’kharr smacks it with her staff but does little damage to it. Fwangzhu has a hard time getting in the melee but gives it a couple of swings. Unfortunately, he misses completely almost hitting Mingzhu who is up in the golem’s sewed up face. Silgara casts Ray of Frost. It hits and slows the golem even more.

The golem centers on Fwangzhu for some reason. It picks him up and slams the hengeyokai against the wall badly hurting him. Balan charges into the conflict and cuts the golem twice, doing a little more damage than Minamoto did. Mingzhu ducks and weaves like a boxer and slashes out with a leg but misses again. Minamoto slashes it twice more, severely wounding it and almost taking off an arm but the creature a machine of living flesh doesn’t even notice. T’kharr strikes it again with her staff but again does little in the way of hurting it or slowing it down. Fwangzhu manages to get back in the game. He again rushes in this time connecting with a glancing blow; however, the golem ignores the strike. The war horse strikes out again with its hooves and smacks the golem spinning it around once. Silgara Tries shooting the thing that seems to be getting hit and hit again and not dropping. She misses. The Golem again tries to hit Fwangzhu but is so slowed down and beaten by this time its attack is a feeble one. It doesn’t even come close.

Balan drives in for an attack, but his sword barely connects with its flesh. Mingzhu tries to break its ankle with a kick but again misses as it shambles out of the way. Minamoto finally slices down its collar bone taking its good arm off. He quickly cuts off the head. The golem will never rise again.

Mingzhu converts Commune with Lesser Spirit to a Cure Moderate Wounds and heals Fwangzhu. He huffs and grunts a thank you. Zsikhou looks over. “Right then. four doors in this chamber. Two at the end are locked. Can't pick them. There's the closer doors, one to the right, one to the left. Any preferences?"

“What do you think is easiest to take on Zsikhou?” Mingzhu asks.

Silgara looks over "From what Zsikhou described the area on the left is a kind of prison, but he didn't get a read on what was to the right. We might be better off going there."

Zsikhou looks over "The shadows are intangible. Don't have much that can harm them. The other path is likely easier."

Mingzhu doesn’t look convince knowing there is a cleric, shamaness, and paladin in the group but says, “Ok.”

T’kharr looks from one door to the other. “"I reckon we should clear out the prison area now?" She leads the party over that way, letting Zsikhou deal with the door if need be.

When they open the door, they see what looks like zombies? Except their bodies are completely fresh, but their eyes are hollow, like there's nothing there. It's creepy, and they walk with a shambling gait, but they're coming towards you now...

Mingzhu immediately tries to turn them. The turning fails. She comments, “They don’t seem to be undead.”

The creatures try to crowd the door, but the adventurers all get in. Two of the zombie like men each go after T’kharr and Balan. Their armor protects them though. Zsikhou slices with his siangham and connects slashing one of the creatures badly. It takes a swing at him but misses. Balan slashes the one in front of him with a sword. He slashes it across the ribs. There is blood. Then one comes from the side and attacks him. It gouges him with its claws. T’kharr conks one on the head with her staff and that seems to daze it for a second.

Balan’s horse tries to attack one of the ones on Balan. It kicks the creature with its hoof sending it flying. The horse then chases it down and bites its throat out. Mingzhu kicks another’s ribs and breaks two of them. Silgara shoots another with an arrow. Another of the Husk creatures moves in to replace the one taken out by the horse It attacks Balan but doesn’t have the reach. Fwangzhu sets his stance and pokes at another twice. Both times he’s able to stab it, cripplingly the hollow-eyed man.

Minamoto moves in to strike with their katana. He nearly cuts it in half. It falls dead before it hits the ground. He’s able to twist his blade out and swing connecting with another wounding it.

Six more of them shamble their way towards the group but aren’t in range yet. One of the ones crowding the door though goes after the little kobold and it has a sickle. He takes a wound in the solar plexus. Zsikhou counterstrikes downing the creature immediately. Balan connects with one of the ones in front of him with two strikes, but it ignores the slashes and attacks back but can’t penetrate his armor.

T’kharr hits another with her staff for no seeming damage. Balan’s horse again defends its master hitting one of him with a hoof and a bite but does little in the way of ending it. Mingzhu concentrates on the 6 in the back and uses her domain power Calm Emotions. It doesn’t work. Fwangzhu nearly cuts one in half with his halberd. Minamoto massacres the next: One of the ones on Balan.

The six working their way to the group get within range. Zsikhou makes the first move on these six by throwing a couple of shurikens at one. The two stick deep in their chest. They shuffle closer. One attacks Balan. It strikes him with a sickle in the arm. Another attacks T’kharr but can’t get through her armor. Balan proceeds to hack the one to pieces that hit him. It goes down in parts. He then pulls back and wounds another. T’kharr smacks another with her staff and this time the thing whatever it is felt it.

Balan’s horse again kicks and bites at one each time connecting. The husk of a man crumbles before the onslaught. Mingzhu wounds another with a punch to the neck. Silgara puts another into the one Mingzhu hit. Fwangzhu goes and strikes with his halberd. He nearly devastates that one. It’s just barely alive as another comes in, he swings almost blindly at the movement. He severely wounds that one too.

Minamoto slashes another twice but it doesn’t go down being the blows were both partially defected. It counterstrikes back at him. The sickle, it has penetrates his armor giving him a light wound. Zsikhou strikes it with his siangham. The precise stab is enough to take it down. One goes after T’kharr and slashes at her tracing a line of blood along her throat. Balan takes out that one with a slash pulls out and backhand slashes another.

T'kharr thumps another with her staff for little damage. It is not phased. Balan’s horse attacks another but only connects with one hoof. The creature is badly wounded but doesn’t go down. It seems to not even experience pain. Mingzhu converts Trance to Heal Light Wounds and heals Minamoto. Silgara hits another with two arrows. It falls back dead. Fwangzhu swings at another and slices a deep wound in it but it doesn’t go down. Minamoto and Zsikhou team up and take the last down. Its head flies off and smacks against the wall then rolls along the floor to the middle of the room.

Balan takes a deep breath. “Well, that went well enough.”

Silgara looks them over, looking rather unnerved. "What /are/ these... they look entirely fresh but... they're clearly not alive..."

T’kharr shrugs, “Smaller versions of the big flesh golem?”

Silgara shakes her head. "No, these aren't golems. Those are stitched together and have an elemental spirit bound in them. These aren't."

"Anyway, check for anything living that's been held prisoner." looks around to see if the cells are empty or...Ah. Hm..." T’kharr scratches the fur on her head.

They search around. It looks like the cells are, for the most part, empty, save a few non-animate skeletons. Most of the cells are open, they seemed to have once contained those... whatever they were... They also have sickles.

Mingzhu looks over the corpses then at Silgara. “I can find out.” Silgara looks over to Mingzhu, a nod. The skeletons look ages old and crumbled... Mingzhu goes to one of the bodies and casts Speak with Dead, "I have three questions and Three questions you must answer."

One of them moans… It feels… creepy.

Mingzhu asks her first question. “What is your name? What was done to you to put you in this state?”

It answers, “Emp….ti….ness”

She asks her second question. “What is your favorite color How many chambers do you know is in this place?”

“Don’t know… dark… so dark… see nothing, Nothing… NOTHING!”

Mingzhu looks at the others, “I have one more question?” Fwangzhu and Minamoto seem straight up creeped out.

Silgara looks over "If what I know of the spell is correct, they will give minimalistic answers... but it's possible they don't know too much. We could ask them who brought them here...?"

“Or what their purpose may be.” Balan suggests.

Zsikhou looks over. "If they were kept in these cells until they became... this..." He shakes his head.

Mingzhu looks down at the body. “What is the velocity of an unladen swallowWho or what brought you here?”

“The Experimenter.” The corpse gives out and goes still.

"Hm. Let’s move on then I reckon." T’kharr states somewhat creeped out herself.

Mingzhu looks down at the body, “Rest in peace, spirit.” She then winks at Fwangzhu and Minamoto, “If you wish to speak to any dead relatives… We can do that now.”

Fwangzhu looks completely freaked out now. Minamoto shakes his head. "Unless it's warranted by our duties, it's best to let the dead rest. Let the Celestial court handle them."

Mingzhu smiles and nods.

[Winterhawk99]

T’kharr looks around, “Aye. Let’s go tackle those shadows next, I reckon.” The party leaves the prison room and goes across the main lobby to the other side door.

Beyond the right door, it seems there's four doors, two on the right, two on the left Of course, as they walk down the corridor, shadows start to coalesce and swarm the party... Zsikhou hisses "They're coming!" Mingzhu, T’kharr, and Balan all attempt to turn undead. Between the three of them all the shadows are completely obliterated.

T’kharr calls out to Zsikhou. “Check the doors. I think starting on the right, no?” The corridor itself is empty now but still dusty and decrepit. With a nod, Zsikhou checks the first door on the right. Mingzhu gest ready to turn undead again just in case.

The first room on the right looks like there’s a sort of surgeon’s table in the middle caked with dried blood. There are iron shackles, not rusty, but clearly hasn't been used in some time. It looks like there's shelves of knives, scalpels, some medical, or surgical tools in here. T’kharr shakes her head and says, “So, flesh golem room.” She sighs and shakes her head.

There are also some ragged papers around, most of them very crumbly. Silgara nods "It does look like that... it would seem..."

We could water the tools down and have Balan burn them." Mingzhu suggests.

Balan nods getting her point. “Aye though then I would not be able to later on.”

Silgara looks around "Might be best to save it for a real emergency then." She tries looking the papers over... "Some notes here... mostly dissection and autopsy notes, I think" She shakes her head before putting them back down.

"Hm. Don't think they're of evidentiary value then?" T’kharr evaluates.

Balan nods, “I would think not.”

Zsikhou paces around, looking for hidden things, but doesn't seem to find anything
Silgara looks over "There's three more rooms in this section."

Balan looks back at the door. “It may be best to take a look at them.” He searches around one last time and shrugs. “I see nothing of significance.” The workshop seems more arcane than religious.

Mingzhu extends her vision into the ethereal plane to see if spirits are about. She only finds pitch black. Frowning she says, “This darkness extends into the spirit world.”

Silgara looks over to Mingzhu "I'm... no expert on how your powers work, but I expect that isn't normal."

"It’s not normal at all." The spirit plane looks like a misty land where you can see the outlines of spirits. They look much like ghosts. I just need to focus my eyes and set my mind, and I can look into it."

Silgara nods...

Zsikhou looks over "Still three other rooms in this section to look through."

T’kharr starts out the door. “Next room along the right side of this hall, then" the rest follow. This room is circular. It looks like there's some shelves on the top, look like a mishmash of strange reagents, but most of them are clearly well expired. There's also what looks like a curious magic circle on the ground.

"Alchemical laboratory. I do wonder what the magic circle's about though?" T’kharr says with a glance to Silgara. The Wu-Jen carefully looks it over. Mingzhu also looks around, but she is clearly out of her element here.

Silgara studies the circle for a longer time. "I recognize this, this is a circle for planar binding and conjurations." She says, "It looks like it's inactive though."

"Does that mean we can destroy it?" Mingzhu asks. She tries to use her spirit knowledge on the circle and comes up with nothing. Balan kneels and looks at it but comes up blank too.

Silgara says, “It doesn’t look quite complete, just a generic setup circle for later planar conjuration.”

Balan takes a closer look over it for gems or similar jewels. He finds none. T’kharr suggests, “Hm, lets destroy it, it looks like it wasn't completed anyway, but it'll make sure nobody else gets ideas if they come across it."

Balan agrees, “Perhaps best.”

Silgara nods, "We can mar some of the placements if we want." Meanwhile Mingzhu starts dumping the old reagents onto the floor. The others destroy the circle. It's relatively simple, but tedious work to ruin the circle beyond use. When Mingzhu is finishes she looks up at the others ready to move on.

T’kharr catches her eyes and says, “Next room will be the room across the hall from this one I reckon." They go to the next room. It looks like a room with several glass tubes full of... specimens. Preserved body parts, arranged in rows. There's a scent of formaldehyde in here

Silgara winces in disgust. "Definitely looks like some kind of arcane workshop for a wizard with darker inclinations..." She shakes her head.

Mingzhu looks over everything. “Well, here’s a good place to use Balan’s fire."

"I still think it may be better to save that for an emergency. I expect these are inert. They..." Silgara shakes her head. It does look like no one's checked on these in a long, long time.

Mingzhu grumbles and says, “What about a torch or flint and steel?”

Silgara just shrugs, then takes one more look around the room, then moves to the door. Zsikhou looks over "Curious that those things we fought seemed a lot fresher than whatever is in these containers."

Mingzhu takes some of the containers and carefully pours them around the room. "Everyone out. Zsikhou, can you make a spark?"

The liquid is gross in the extreme, but at least non-harmful. Seems like some kind of preserving fluid. It was slowing but not stopping the rot in the body parts contained within. "This one can." Zsikhou nods

Mingzhu steps out of the room. “Make sure you have some distance before doing so."

Zsikhou nods, after the party is out of the room, he casts an electric jolt into the room, then shuts the door. "One more room to check" He mentions.

Mingzhu nods, "Hopefully we ruined that room for anyone wanting to return to their experiments."

Silgara nods, "One can hope... but it seemed abandoned regardless..."

The room on the first left of the right section of this complex, it looks like a study of sorts. There's a chalkboard on the far end, a desk, and some papers strewn about. There’s A chair, there's also writing materials, chalk, quill pen.

T’kharr looks around. "I reckon we take whatever papers we can from here?" Mingzhu nods silently to her. Balan heads over to the papers.

The papers seem to be various experiment notes, it's written in an arcane, bizarre script, but those going through them surmise it's probably some collected notes from experiments that were done in the adjacent rooms.

The Chalkboard does seem to have some arcane formulae on it, very old by the looks of it
There's also a key on the desk. Zsikhou looks over to it "That might open the doors this one couldn't open before."

Mingzhu nods, "Before opening let me get ready to turn just in case. If that is indeed the right key."

Zsikhou looks over "The doors this one couldn't open were back in the main chamber, but of course."

"Aye, we'll keep that in mind then." T’kharr says. “You have the papers?” She asks Silgara.

Silgara goes about and collects them "It will likely take me some time to go through these. Let me make a copy of the notes on the chalkboard too, it seems pertinent.... a lot of things dealing with planar travel and properties..." Silgara collects what notes she can and tries to copy the scrawl on the chalkboard. After collecting the various notes, scrolls, and stuff... Silgara sighs, taking some glances, but then looks up "Where to next then?"

Zsikhou looks over. "Main Hall had two doors. This one couldn't open. Far door on the left, one on the right"

"Correct. I don’t know how far either leads though. May be best if we have Zsikhou scout again?" T’kharr asserts.

Zsikhou nods, taking the key. "Right then, may be best you stay in the main hall though, while this one scouts. Don't want to get chased by those Canoloth Youkai while you're not far again..." He huffs

"Aye, that was the idea, we stay in the main hall while you scout ahead." T’kharr answers.

He nods as the companions return to the main lobby and the two locked doors in the back of it.

[Winterhawk99]

Silgara studies the notes while Zsikhou scouts ahead. He checks the door on the far left first, in the main hall. However, soon after entering, he comes back to the party. “Trouble or a dead-end?” T’kharr asks.

"Pair of Youkai in there. Each inside one of those binding circles. They spotted this one as soon as he went in." Zsikhou huffs. Maybe he wants a comfort hug.

"Any sign of doors beyond it?" T’kharr adds.

"Seemed like there was a door on the right side but didn't stick around long to check." Zsikhou shakes his head.

T’kharr frowns, “Let’s lock that back up for now then. Check the door to the right.”

Mingzhu asks, “Binding circle? Doesn’t that mean they are contained?”

Zsikhou nods to Mingzhu "They seemed to be, yes. They could watch this one, they either could not or would not attack or leave. And they could talk." He huffs

The shamaness thinks about it a moment than asks, “What did they say?”

"The one with red scales spoke of how a mortal finally came in. Something about a child of the Dragon Queen too." He shakes his head "The other just insulted the other Youkai."

Mingzhu nods and considers, “Could someone dispel them?” She then looks at Silgara. “We have a Wu Jen too.”

T’kharr answers her. “You'd need something like a Banishment or a Dismissal for that, not just a Dispel."

Silgara looks over "Dispelling them directly might just undo the binding circle keeping them contained. And, yes, T'kharr is correct on those specifics" She nods and looks over to T'kharr "Well, what's the plan, then?"

"I think we have Zsikhou scout the room off the right-hand locked door in the main hall, then. I doubt the door in the Youkai room goes anywhere useful that can't be reached by other means." T’kharr says. Zsikhou nods and proceeds.

He comes back from a brief scouting. “Silgara, think we will need you to look at something in there." He hisses, then looks over. "Found one of those magic circles, like what this one saw those other two Youkai in, but this one was broken. Also found a doorway off to the left in that room, was locked, couldn't open it." He comes back, perhaps awaiting head pats for a job well done further deliberation or instruction.

Mingzhu thinks about what he said. “So, if we want to investigate more we have to go back to the other room. with the two beasts in it and try the other door?”

"This one didn't find any way to open the door in that room." Zsikhou shakes his head "Unless it's worth examining that magic circle."

“I guess we could do that.” Mingzhu answers. Silgara looks aside.

Balan studies them then comments, “I would think breaking the door down not advisable.”

"Do you think that the locked door in the right-hand room is the same as the door off to the left in the right-hand room?" T’kharr asks.

Zsikhou considers, then shakes his head "Possibly? Uncertain."

"Also, remind me: are both Youkai held in the same binding circle together, or do they each have their own binding circle? We may just have to...dispose of them." The gnoll adds.

"Tried the key we found in the study, didn't work either." Zsikhou considers "Might need another key."
"Each is in a separate binding circle." Zsikhou says "On opposite ends of the room. One to the right, one to the left."

Mingzhu asks, “Where would the other key be? I think we searched all the rooms that we have had access to thus far.”

"Okay. I think from here, we go in to the left-hand room and deal with the Youkai, one at a time, and then we can sweep the room." T’kharr says as she comes up with a plan.

“What do you mean by deal?” Mingzhu asks rather loudly and starkly.

"Like, dispose of them." T’kharr almost smirks.

Zsikhou looks over, then nods "Bargaining with Youkai is not advised." Mingzhu nods her head to that.

"Beat them up one at a time until they go back to whence they came." T’kharr adds with a huff.

Silgara considers "It may be worth inspecting the broken circle first, or we can head straight to the room with the fiends."

“I like what Silgara said.” Mingzhu notes.

"That said, Silgara does have a good point in that we should inspect the broken circle." T’kharr nods.

Silgara looks to T'kharr "It may be preferable to ignore them if they are strong enough. Some fiends would be quite easily able to fell all of us."

T’kharr rubs the fur in front of her ear. “"That is fair. I think we can try having Zsikhou scout the rest of the left-hand room whilst we examine the broken circles in the right-hand room?"

Zsikhou shakes his head "Those Youkai would spot this one. Can't sneak by them. Rather not chance there being a trap that sets them free while this one is alone."

“They are contained are they not?” Mingzhu asks.

He looks over. "They were. But am not certain if there's a trap in there that might free them."

T’kharr asks, “"How large is that room? Were you able to see across it whilst in there?"

"A bit larger than the other study rooms." Zsikhou replies "I could only afford a quick look before fleeing from the Youkai."

Mingzhu comments, “I don’t know much about magic things...... but I think looking at this broken circle should be the next thing we do. Silgara nods, then looks to T'kharr and Balan. The shamaness sighs while everyone is trying to figure this out. she looks at Silgara, "Well, Let's take a look.” she goes through the door to the broken circle. Silgara follows her as does T’kharr.

The room by in large looks pretty deserted. There's a few shelves and chairs on the far end of the circular room; however, the only thing of particular note is the broken binding circle at the end. While most of it is intact, a portion looks warped and broken, like whatever was contained burst out of it from the inside. There's also a door on the left end. It looks pretty sturdy. Silgara looks over, examining the circle carefully... She studies it for some time, but looks very, very worried about what she is seeing. Mingzhu peruses the shelves for anything interesting being she knows little about magic. The Shelves are bare, some of them look damaged. Whatever was there is gone, besides dust and some broken, useless debris. Silgara speaks up, “Okay... this.... is.... strange. And also worrying."

“Aye?” Balan asks.

Mingzhu adds, “What is it Silgara?”

She looks over to Balan "This binding circle was made to contain a being of law. Not a fiend. However, I additionally noticed some... either sabotage or flaw in the work, that almost appears deliberate. A weakness in the binding circle."

“That is very much concerning.” Balan says while shaking his head slowly and thinking.

"Specifically..." Silgara continues "The binding circle appears to be set to break if the one contained within were to embrace chaos, willingly acting in a way that is contrary to a being of law."

"A being of law...how curious indeed, but yes, the binding circle itself being sabotaged is not good." T’kharr agrees.

"The... sabotage, or weakness? Appears too deliberate. I'm not sure if it's sabotage or it was a weakness put in willingly. In order to break it, the planar being of law would have to break their nature." Silgara considers.

Mingzhu thinks a moment then asks, “So, does that mean that two people were working on making this circle?”

"I can't tell, I'm afraid." Silgara shakes her head "It could be the work of one."

“If luck is on our side the being was too powerful to be trapped and broke the circle, though I am unsure.” Balan stares at the circle perplexed.

Mingzhu concentrates on the logic of it all. “So, someone made a circle to contain a being of law then deliberately made it so the creature could break out...…. that doesn’t make sense.”

Silgara looks over to Mingzhu "Only if they were to do something that their nature would not normally allow them to do, at that. But I cannot fathom the reason one would be willing to engineer such a circle with a deliberate flaw like that." She shakes her head.

Fwangzhu looks over "You mean it would be a trap for someone like the Daimyo's bootlicker that would only let him out if he could actually genuinely care about his people?"

Minamoto glares "Watch your tongue, savage."

Fwangzhu snarls at him in response "Make me, jackass."

Minamoto narrows his eyes at him "I'm very tempted to, savage."

Zsikhou hisses and growls at them so they both shut up.

Silgara looks over "Well, what's our next step then...?"

“It would seem there is only one way forward though it seems like it would be potentially dangerous.” Balan says as he looks at the door behind them.

Zsikhou nods "Guess we might need to confront those two Youkai. Everyone ready then?"

T’kharr shows her canines. "As ready as I probably can be." Silgara nods, taking a deep breath.
Fwangzhu and Minamoto pat their weapons, getting themselves ready.

The party files out of that room and gets close to the door with the two fiends. T’kharr notices the arguing as she approaches the room, motioning to the rest of the party to halt and listen. Mingzhu gets her summon ally spell ready just in case.

"Oh, the only mortal in how many ages, and you just had to scare them off. Congratulations on being such a predictable killjoy, it's like you exist to ruin any amusement I might have had!" One of the fiends voices speaks.

"You're nothing but a senseless thing of pure disorder. Of course it was you that scared them off. Unlike you, I can at leassst be reasonable!" The other fiend speaks, perhaps with a sort of reptilian hiss or inflection.

"Reasonable, as if every deal you've ever made has ever done anything for anyone but yourself. Laud all the importance of you and your contracts, you're nothing but worthless filth removing any chance of anything new and exciting wherever you go. If you actually could go anywhere. Oh, by the Abyss I wait for the day I have anyone else but you for company."

"Sssk, being forced to stay here with you and share your company is perhaps worse than the torments of the hells which I have gladly given in lurid detail, nothing could possibly compare to being forced to endure the company of something such as you for a near eternity!"

Mingzhu asks, “Did Minamoto and Fwangzhu have twins?” Balan gives a light laugh at that.

Zsikhou looks over to Fwangzhu, Minamoto, then nods to Mingzhu. “Maybe they feel a sense of kinship already.”

"Crrraw!" A pause "Oh there they are, the mortals. More of them than the one you scared off, I think. Well, this time let ME do the talking and do everyone in the multiverse a favor and shut your trap you boring, rigid, thing that would be better off as a lever."

Mingzhu rubs her forehead.

Hisss! "At least have the courtesy to silence yourself so the mortals don't flee this time, otherwise take your random insanity and keep it to yourself. Or better yet, shut up forever so you don't pollute the multiversse with your nonssensse!"

Fwangzhu and Minamoto both look to Mingzhu, unamused, they then glare at each other.
Silgara looks over "Did they overhear us...?" She considers "Based on context I expect one is a tanar’ri and the other is a baatezu"

Mingzhu just looks at Silgara questioningly. "They are yokai?"

Silgara looks back "They clearly hate each other. They're talking about order and chaos. Tanar’ri are fiends of chaos, Baatezu are fiends of order. The two hate each other with a passion."

Crraw! "I am sure the mortals would be more than happy to share audience with me rather than some boring, oafish, thing such as yourself! Do you have any original ideas anywhere within that useless carcass of yours? Rhetorical question, I know you don't!" The fiends keep talking.

“Oh, Ummm ok. I know what to do then.” Mingzhu says.

"At least I have ideas that have sense unlike the nonsense and random garbage that spews forth from your mouth! Any mortal with any sense would surely rather entreat with me inssttead!" The other fiend replies.

Silgara and Zsikhou look over. Mingzhu says. “Make the half of the room the creature of order a complete mess and the one of chaos a completely clean and orderly room and leave them until they are ready to talk.”

Silgara snickers. Zsikhou looks over "Would that really work with these kinds of fiends?"

The elf sighs, “Probably not…”

Mingzhu shrugs.

Zsikhou looks over "Well, what's our plan then?"

Mingzhu smiles, “Have Minamoto talk to the creature of order and Fwangzhu the creature of chaos?”

Minamoto looks over to Mingzhu "Negotiate with Youkai? Are you serious, Shamaness?"

Fwangzhu huffs "For once I agree with the Asslicker. I'd rather just axe the bastards and be done with it."

"Hm. Have Zsikhou dart in, break both circles, then dart out, closing and locking the door behind him? Then we go back in once the dust settles and mop up whatever's left? Might as well let them expend their efforts on each other if we're going to have to fight them." T’kharr says.

“It seems like they can’t get out of the circle, or they would fight each other. Therefore, they can’t hurt us. What’s worse going back to whatever hell you come from or being stuck here for an eternity?

Silgara looks over "Probably being stuck here, is worse for them, and better for everyone else."

Mingzhu nods, "that's what I would think. Now how could we use this situation?"

“The two fiends seem to be intently arguing with each other.” Zsikhou observes.

"I wonder if they'd notice Zsikhou skulking about now that they're wrapped in argument even?" T’kharr asks.

"They would, they've got sharp senses." Zsikhou mentions.

“Perhaps it would be best to just walk in.” Balan says.

Mingzhu looks at Balan and T'kharr. T’kharr answers, “"I think our best bet if we want the fiends gone is to make them fight each other if at all possible. Then we can finish off whatever's left of them."

Silgara looks over "Not sure if that will be easy, they're both in a binding circle, and we don't know how strong they are."

Mingzhu says, “Let’s go inside.”

"Perhaps we can have you poke your head in, Silgara, and try to get a quick glance at them both so you can identify them?" T’kharr asks the mage.

“If they are unable to move, they would be little threat.” Balan replies.

“I can see in the dark now?” Mingzhu states.

Silgara looks over, "No offense but... I'd rather not go in alone in a room with two fiends..."

Mingzhu sighs opens the door and steps inside.

[Winterhawk99]

T’kharr steps in after Mingzhu leaving room at the entrance for Silgara and Balan. Balan follows next and then everyone else. Inside the room, it's circular. On the left is a binding circle with one fiend. On the right is another fiend. The fiend on the left is a Vrock demon. The one on the right is a Red Abishai.
The room looks dusty and bare, however on the far side of the room, once you're in, you can see what looks like an ornate treasure chest. On the right of the room, there's a closed door. The fiends stop arguing and turn to you. Mingzhu comments, “Ha! I bet opening that chest releases them.”

T'kharr looks around for any other doors in the room besides the one they came in from and the one that leads rightward. The Red Abishai looks over to Balan, hissing some "By the Nemesis, of course one of the mortals I meet here now is a Paladin of the Platinum. Of course, even THAT is better than the odious company I've been sharing lately. Do come closer mortals, we ssshould speak." He grins.

The Vrock looks over "Cr-aw! Ignore that putrid mass of boringness. You should speak with me. Are you fun little mortals? You look like fun. It's been a while since I've had good playthings. Well don't worry, I won't break my favorite toys." The door on the right side is locked.

The Abishai huffs "The assurances of a demon mean absolutely nothing. At least these mortals can be assured that whatever I say, I actually mean." It hisses.

Silgara nods aside to Mingzhu. Mingzhu looks at the abishai and then at Balan wondering if they are somehow related. The Abishai looks over to Balan "Well Paladin? We are both beings of law. We at least have that as common ground. Unlike that filthy being of unfiltered chaos over there."

Balan ignores both of them holding his holy pendent. “It seems there is a larger issue here than what they can handle bickering amongst themselves. Do not let them get into your head.”

The Vrock sneers "Oh, like you being sworn enemies is any better? Or you being spawned from one of the paladin's sworn enemies you mean? Even they'd have enough sense to realize I'm the safer bet." Silgara seems to look over their binding circles in more detail but keeps quiet.

Mingzhu whispers to Silgara, “Ummm he isn’t a long-lost brother, is he?" points with her thumb to Balan.

T’kharr smiles a toothy smile. “Very much not.” She whispers to Mingzhu.

Silgara whispers back to Mingzhu "Very much not. He serves Bahamut. The fiend there is a spawn of Tiamat. Those gods are sworn enemies."

“Oh my.” Mingzhu lets out.

“Aye. It is a very disturbing difference.” Balan responds.

The Vrock looks over "Hasn't anyone told you ignoring others is rude? Well, if you want a little play time to yourselves, go ahead. I don't mind. Have fun figuring things out! Cra-caw!"

The Abishai hisses at the Vrock "As if you would know anything about not being rude. Your existence is an insult to everything else in the multiverssse!" He then looks to Mingzhu. “You. You seem sensible. Can tell you that you won't find what you're looking for without my help. Do speak to me, won't you mortal?" Mingzhu looks at the strange giant turkey creature and she simply doesn't know what to think about it.

Balan smirks, “It would seem you both would have a trick to play if you were to give the information out no?” He does not look at either of them.

Mingzhu turns to the fiends. “"Who me I'm not smart enough to figure this out. that up to my companions."

The Vrock looks over to Mingzhu "Hello there mortal. Don't be afraid. And, aw, well, you will have to make decisions for yourself sometime. Grow your own wings." Mingzhu tries to figure out whether she should engage them or not and decides she is unsure.

The Abishai grins, looking over to Balan "Indeed. Quite frankly, I want the same thing this odious pile of refuse on the other side of the room wants. I'm willing to make a deal in exchange for being freed from this binding circle. And unlike them, you know that whatever terms we agree to, /I/ will have to fulfill them."

Balan again smirks, “There is no deal either of you could make that would not be safe to take.”

The Abishai relaxes some, flexing their wings "So let’s make a bargain then? We agree to not strike each other, lasting until we are out of this complex. You free me from this circle. And I can give you answers you very much need. Sounds like the start of a fair deal to me. And a safe one. As much as it can be."

The Vrock caws over "Bah, you know how fiends work. They'll say it's a fair deal then go 'oops, you stupid mortal you should have read the fine print.' At least with me, you know what you're getting. But I have no reason to ruin my playthings, so you're better off taking that deal from me. Because it's more fun that way. And I get to mock this loser of law on the other side of the room get stuck here for eternity."

Mingzhu looks at the turkey thing, “This fiend stuff isn't my thing. You are not spirits there are others here that are better at this than I. When I need my wings as you say My companions know to step back.” Balan takes a moment looking over the chest in the room as well why they continue blabbering back and forth.

The Vrock looks at her "But what if you need to stand above them? Or on your own? What if you need to decide on such things without them? You have no need to constrain yourself with such rules. The only way to live is to be free to take what you want." They grin at her, is that a grin?...

The chest doesn't have a lock; it looks complicated though. It's got several dials, and a button... it looks something like this

000
0X0
000

The 0s are number dials, with some testing, you can slide them to be a number from 0 to 9, the 'X' is a button that can be pressed. The Abishai looks over at Balan, transfixed on what he's doing with the chest. The Vrock watches him out of the corner of their eye. Silgara inspects the binding circles while the others talk. Zsikhou also looks over at the chest. Mingzhu takes out a stick so she might have it handy in case she has to cast Rebuke. Balan takes a few more seconds looking over it thinking if he would have seen anything like this puzzle before.

The Abishai looks over to Balan "Ah, of course. I expect you need what is in there. I know how to open it, though." The fiend grins.

“Well, it would seem this is an intricate one.” Balan says as he looks to Zsikhou. “I don’t think either of these fiends could solve it if they wanted.”

The Vrock then looks over to Balan "I know how to open it too. You don't need to make a bargain with that predictable pile of sputum to get the answer. You can go to me instead."

Zsikhou shakes his head "Too complicated for this one to pick, am afraid. Pretty sure it's likely trapped too if the wrong combination is utilized."

“Well, it would seem time here is wasted either way. These fiends are not of use if they are too busy arguing on who should take who.” Balan replies.

The Abishai snorts and looks to Balan. "I don't need to solve it. I already have. I know the answer. Of course, I can't leave the binding circle to open it. But I can share that knowledge, if I'm freed."

Zsikhou snorts "Bargaining with Youkai is ill-advised anyways."

The Abishai looks over to Zsikhou "You know that the Dragon Queen was responsible for creating your race, don't you kobold? You at least share that kinship with me. You shouldn't be afraid of entreating with me."

“It is a shame I feel they could both find a nice time away from here, alas they seem not helpful at all in what they are asking to bargain with given their circumstances.” Balan says.

The Abishai shrugs, fluttering their wings "Well, feel free to struggle and try to figure out how to open that without me. I'll be here if you ever realize you won't open it without my help." They grin.

"Silgara, can you send them home?" Mingzhu asks.

Zsikhou snorts, "This one doesn't owe that western dragon god anything. And this one knows the origins of their kin. Wasn't anything to do with her."

Silgara looks at Mingzhu, shaking her head "Not directly, both of these fiends are quite strong. It would likely be considerably difficult to banish them."

Mingzhu blinks and looks into the ethereal plane to see if there are any spirits in the room. There are none there. She comments, “No spirits here to help us.”

Balan laughs a bit, “And you two will continue to bicker and argue until the end of time? How promising since there will be no more visitors coming once, we leave”

The Vrock caws "Oh, you don't know where you are either? Well, I can throw that one in as a freebie, if you free me of course." The Vrock looks to Mingzhu.

Silgara looks over "Suppose you could try that divination spell of yours?"

Mingzhu does get a sense that casting Commune with Spirit could work but…. It would likely result in getting a condemned spirits again. "I already called a spirit today or converted it to a healing spell."

"Ah." Silgara sighs. Then she steps away, looking through some of the notes she found in the other rooms, perhaps looking for a clue there.

Balan looks over at Silgara. “If they are bound by the circle, could we not just slowly kill them.”

Silgara looks over "Risky, it might cause them to break. Or possibly be able to strike us from a distance."

Mingzhu still thinking about the spirits and the mage’s comments says, “You are right Silgara I may have gotten a condemned spirit and would have to try to bend it to my will again.”

Silgara sighs "So the only spirit that we can call is one that would intentionally try to mislead us... wonderful..." She rubs her nose, looking through the notes again.

Fwangzhu snorts "When do we kill both of these things then?"

The Vrock caws "Oh little mortal, I'm quite capable of ripping all of you to shreds if I wanted to. But right now, I don't want to. Besides, it's more amusing this way."

“You know if we kill them wont, they go back to their own hells?” Mingzhu asks.

"They will" Silgara mentions

"Good enough!" Fwangzhu snorts.

Minamoto huffs "These fiends belong in their own realm."

Mingzhu looks at the two fiends. “Wouldn’t it be better to go to your own hells than stay here with each other for eternity?

The Abishai grins at Minamoto "And yet mortals so often go beyond their ken and their own realm, don't they? You can hardly isolate yourself in this world." He then hisses at Mingzhu, “Hsss! I would long to return to Baator and continue my duties here, but bound in this circle, I cannot leave. Free me from this circle though and I have no intent of remaining here. After whatever obligations I have are fulfilled." The Abishai lashes their tail, a huff.

“So, you give us the answers we seek. We kill you and you go back home?” Mingzhu retorts.

The Abishai looks down with a sneer "I would prefer it if you were to break the binding circle. I would prefer to be back in Baator, but reforming in such a manner is... unpleasant. But I am willing to entertain such a bargain."

Fwangzhu huffs, "I'm inclined to kill them anyways."

Minamoto looks over to Fwangzhu. "You would be inclined to risky and idiotic solutions, savage."

Fwangzhu snarls "You're not far above these Youkai, Asslicker. Don't make me kick your ass."

The shamaness looks at her comrades. “Well, we certainly don’t want them wandering about in our lands causing destruction.”

Minamoto glares "I should have executed you long ago, savage. You should thank the Celestial Court that I haven't yet."

Fwangzhu snarls in turn. "Just try it any time, Asslicker. I'll give you a one-way ticket to visit them."

The Vrock laughs "Oh, those two are amazing! Can I keep them? I like the snarly one."

The Abishai hisses in irritation. "Feh! I find the human more tolerable. And that's saying something."

Zsikhou looks to Mingzhu, nodding, "Agreed, Youkai don't belong in our realm."

The Abishai hisses, then looks to Mingzhu "If you don't want me going from here straight to the mortal plane, we can include that in our contract."

The Vrock looks over "Those two, the snarly one and the human... their hate for each other is delicious,"

[Winterhawk99]

Balan thinks a long time about what was being said then replies, “Making that one serve the platinum dragon would be the only absolution for them.”

The Abishai Sneers "Out of the question. I am what I am and proud of it. And the Platinum would never accept me. You know that well enough, Paladin. Ask for something else."

The Vrock looks over "Proud of being a predictable boor, for sure." They look over to Balan "Hrm, I have something in mind for you. A hint, but you'll have to amuse me. Or two of you will." He then grins, "I can see that the human man and badger hate one another. They'd feel so much freer if they let their hate free. How... How about this for a deal. Those two fight to the death for my amusement, and I give you a hint for that chest. Not the answer, that wouldn't be fun, but a hint to watch you rack your mortal brains at solving it." Ca-caw "What do you think?"

Balan laughs, “Any contract I would draw you would never accept.”

Fwangzhu snarls "When I bury my axe in that Asslicker’s skull, it won't be because a fucking Youkai asked me to!"

The Vrock looks at Fwangzhu "What a pity. So much anger and wrath in you. It makes you powerful. You only weaken yourself by keeping it leashed."

Balan looks between the two arguing. “You are not helping by arguing alongside those. Do stop now!”

The Abishai looks over at Balan "But you could accept one with me. After all, we both are beings of law. And when we make a contract, we must follow it through."

Mingzhu looks at the elf, "Any thoughts Silgara?"

Silgara keeps looking over the notes, she looks to Mingzhu "I'm hoping there will be a clue in these notes somehow. A lot of them are on planar theory and the like, but I don't see any direct clues in them, but there's still a lot to go through."

Balan asks Silgara, “Are there numbers in any order on the documents that do not seem right?”

Mingzhu looks down at Snout, “What do you think little one?" Snout just seems terrified completely, he has been really out of it ever since getting to this pitch black wherever the heck they are. Mingzhu gets down on her knees and hugs him casting speak with animals. “You need a hug.” Snout won’t let go. After a while she releases him and lets him hug her leg.

Silgara considers "Maybe the chest combination also deals with planar theory somehow? I don't know..."

Balan looks a bit perplexed then says, “It may be based on the nine hells since there are two fiends here.”

Silgara looks over "That's a start. Though the Tanar’ri come from the abyss."

Zsikhou looks over "Well nine is a valid number for the dials..."

“Aye and the middle of the puzzle is only a button so it would leave a center point out.” Balan comments.

Silgara looks over, considering "I expect the button will only open if all of the other dials are set to the correct number, though."

Balan nods, “Of course.”

Silgara considers "So... what would the correct number sequence on the dials be...?"

The Vrock looks over, cawing "Cute having a wizard try to figure things out. But if you want a hint, I'm open to deals! Ca-caw!"

“Perhaps these two were left here as part of a clue as to which numbers should be started with.” Balan muses.

The Abishai hisses. "I'd be the safer one to bargain with. But I know how to solve it as well."

Silgara looks over "Maybe. Abyss and Baator?" She looks over the notes again, still going through it.

“Well, if there are two sets of numbers would it not be logical that each of these things only has one?” Mingzhu asks.

Balan takes a moment to also look around the room: Specifically, from a center viewpoint. “Or perhaps they have half each.”

Silgara sighs "If the combination deals with planar theory, I wonder..." She keeps reading through her notes.

Balan turns to the abishai. “Lawful one which level of hell do you hail from?”

The Abishai looks over to Balan "Really Paladin? Are you testing me? Or did your mentor not induct you properly in regard to knowing your enemies. But fine. I am from Avernus, the first layer of Baator. And proud of it."

Balan writes a number of a piece of parchment. “Perhaps that was a test.”

The Abishai grins "Perhaps. But I think sharing that isn't as pertinent as what you want there, no? I have an eternity to wait for someone to free me from this binding after all. You are still mortal."

“Aye, that is true though perhaps you have given a clue unwittingly.” Balan replies.

"Maybe I have. But go on then, try to solve it. Take your time. When you find yourself frustrated and unable to figure it out? I will be here." The Abishai grins, seemingly confidant in that assertion.

Balan walks over to Silgara so that he’s next to her. He whispers, “Any clue’s yet?” He then pulls out a piece of parchment and draws a puzzle with a couple of numbers filled in.

Silgara sighs "I don't think there's anything directly related to the chest here, but there's plenty on planar theory, cosmology of the planes, advanced things... it covers all sorts of planes here, not just the lower planes." Silgara looks over to see what he has partly filled in. Zsikhou takes a peek too.

090
0x0
001

Silgara looks over "Based on what is in the room, you mean?"

Balan quiets his voice, “If it has to do with the hells and that one is abyssal it would not exist, and the other would be on the first.” He then nods. “Though it may not be correct I feel we may have missed something somewhere.”

Silgara considers "Somehow that doesn't seem right, I don't know... it probably isn't to do with the room. It might be something grander? Cosmological?"

“That is also a possibility.” He nods.

She considers "All of these notes involve planar theory. If whomever made this is obsessed with planar lore, I'd figure it would fit somehow. That's my hypothesis, at any rate."

Balan reads and asks, “Dows it mention specific planes?”

Silgara goes through the notes "It mentions a lot of them. Baator and its nine layers, the Abyss, Hades, Limbo, Acheron, Gehenna, even Celestia, Elysium, just about every outer plane known."

"Only theory I can think of is that if Balan's correct, it'd be based on the layout of the room somehow." T’kharr mentions while rubbing her snout in thought.

Silgara keeps reading the notes "Also goes into the various layers of each of these planes, where applicable. Limbo for example doesn't have layers, it's all just chaos."

Balan takes a look at the papers looking for odd markings on the corners or sides where they could be laid out to create something. He finds none. It all looks like researcher’s notes. There are citations, arcane matches, but it doesn’t look like there are any concealed messages. Mingzhu looks at the room then over to her companions trying to understand if it makes more sense the room configuration being the clue or what Silgara is reading.

Silgara keeps looking at the room then says, “Rule of three being something of the planes?" She sighs,
“Hard to say really, it ultimately depends on the mind of whomever made this place, and they're not here for interviewing...” The fiends seem to have quieted down, watching the party intently. Fwangzhu and Minamoto stand between the party and the fiends, keeping watch.

Balan murmurs while thinking, “Rule of Three. Perhaps we are thinking too deeply.”

Silgara looks over "What do you mean?"

To T’kharr and Mingzhu, the room seems a bit too bare on many of the sides to really be applicable to the chest? Or maybe it was filled and was based on then? Probably not... T’kharr mentions while looking around. "Hm. This room seems a bit sparse to be the source for the combination"

“These two trapped here are of an order and chaos. Perhaps, they were left here as a clue for the puzzle. More directly than what they want you to believe.” Balan says.

Silgara considers "So the Abyss might correspond to the bottom left, and the hells might correspond to the bottom right number?"

“It is possible.” Balan nods. “Or it could be reversed to trick us as well. We had found one binding circle meant to turn one lawful to chaotic as well. That may play part in this.”

Silgara looks to the two binding circles in the room, then nods to Balan "Could be..."

Zsikhou looks over "If the bottom right dial means Baator and the bottom left dial means abyss, what does that mean anyways? What would the numbersss be?"

Balan gestures to the denoted sides. “Could it be related to planar alignment?” He then takes a look at the demon to see if there are any signs of body language to interpret as an ‘Oh, Shit’. As he is one of his god’s archenemy creatures, Balan does get a sense of some of what the Red Abishai is feeling. Notably its tail lashes a bit in frustration, or other movements, but if he had to guess, it DOES indeed have to deal with planes, whatever it is, Balan is pretty sure from their reaction, some kind of planar lore is the right track to solving this somehow. Balan gives a half smile to Silgara and quietly says, “It seems we may have struck a nerve.”

"How so?" Silgara looks up to Balan from the notes, then goes back to looking through them.

“The Abishai seems frustrated at our work.”

"Meaning we're likely on the right track." Silgara considers "What does that tell you though?"

The Abishai huffs "I don't mind waiting for you to give up."

“We are getting closer, maybe?” Balan replies.

Zsikhou looks over "May be best to re-iterate what clues we have. Come up with a solution from that."

“Perhaps farther from his deals if we figure it out.” Balan suggests.

Silgara looks over "If we do figure it out, they lose their leverage."

The dragonborn nods, “And they will do what they can to keep that leverage.”

Silgara nods "Right, so, our clues then... what do we have so far?"

“If we have their planes, we will need the numbers that would note on them. That would be the tricky part.” Balan surmises.

Silgara considers "So each number corresponds to a plane then? Which ones are which?"

Balan shrugs, “We have not found that part yet.”

Zsikhou looks over "Well, didn't you say bottom left was Abyss? And Bottom Right was Baator? Start from there. Might be able to figure the others out."

“Would that mean the center would represent a neutral designation.” Balan asks.

"The outlands?" Silgara looks over.

Mingzhu asks, “Would the other circle come into play then?”

“It may indeed.” Balan responds.

"No dial in the center though." Zsikhou comments.

Silgara looks to Mingzhu "Do you mean one of the dials could represent Mechanus?" She considers. “Cosmologically it's a plane of pure law, above Acheron, which is above Baator..."

Mingzhu shrugs, “I don’t know. You said something about law turning against itself.”

Zsikhou looks over "Pretty certain that would make the rightmost center dial this... Mechanus then?"
"Or would that make that one Acheron and the one on the top right Mechanus?" Zsikhou considers.

“The way the circle was designed was strange. You say that a creature of law had to do something unlawful to break out. Should that not be a clue?” Mingzhu asks.

Silgara nods aside "That could be... or it might be a red herring. Unfortunately, without knowing the mind who made this, this is all guesswork." She sighs "Ultimately we'll just have to go with our most likely hypothesis."

“Would it be likely there is more information in places we have not been yet?” Balan asks.

[Winterhawk99]

A fly alights on the top notes paper, makes a clockwise circle around it, wanders to the center of that circle, then flies off.

T’kharr watches it. “I wonder if the fly is a clue. Going clockwise and all that.”

Silgara raises an eyebrow "What fly?" Mingzhu looks Mystified.

The Vrock looks over, still amused "Having fun, mortals? I know I am!"

Silgara looks to Balan "You know, maybe you could try it again? Write a sheet with hypothetical numbers? Maybe each of us could. Just... try it, explain the numbers and reasonings?" She looks to T'kharr and Mingzhu.

T’kharr nods, “Not a bad idea.”

Balan shakes his head, “Aye, though if the combination is wrong?”

Silgara says, "It probably will be, but it's a starting point for the process, at least."

“Someone said there were 9 different hells. How many hells does the other come from or is it too live in another hell out of the 9?” Mingzhu asks.

Silgara looks over "The abyss as I understand it has an infinite number of layers."

“Well, that kills that.” Mingzhu shrugs.

"What were you thinking of?" Silgara looks to Mingzhu.

“Maybe the numbers represent how many hells each come from. So, 9 but the other is infinite. That isn’t a number.

“It could be numbered as 0 then, Mingzhu” Balan says.

Silgara nods aside "That's possible. A hypothesis to build on top of."

Mingzhu nods and thinks, “Ok, so how many hells does this law have? And chaos?”

Silgara looks over "Do you mean Limbo and Mechanus? As I understand it, Limbo has no layers, being a plane of pure chaos. And Mechanus only has one, a perfect unity of order."

Mingzhu moves on in her thinking, “But that is only 4 numbers then if Balan is right. 9001. We need 6 right?” Balan nods still thinking.

Zsikhou looks to Mingzhu "Eight in total. Three dials on bottom, two in the middle, three up top" He considers.

Balan takes a look at the button looking for markings or anything that could be considered numerical like spikes, etc. He finds it’s just a regular looking button, it's circular alas. Kind of looks like a wheel of sorts, maybe. “Perhaps the middle is the center ground of the numbers we seek. It could be the case that all directions, should add up to the same number.”

“Based on?” Mingzhu asks.

“It was mentioned in the rule of three” Balan answers. “It was a thought since we are dealing with numbers on a dial.”

"Is the way they're positioned a clue?" Silgara considers.... She shakes her head. head "I don't know what the Rule of Three even is..."

Balan plays with the dials some. Silgara considers "Hrm..." She looks aside, "Any ideas?" She looks to T'kharr and Balan. T’kharr shakes her head. Silgara muses, considering "Makes me wonder if the number of layers is somehow important, though..."

Mingzhu looks at the containment circles. “Are there numbers in them?”

Silgara looks to Mingzhu "What do you mean?"

“Are there numbers in the magic containment circles?”

Silgara shakes her head "Not in that sense."

Balan starts writing a number on his parchment again. “Layers you say.”

247
5x1
039

He shows the diagram to everyone. “I could try this.”

Silgara looks over, considering "Hrm, what's your logic behind these numbers?"

“I am almost certain of the abyss the nine hells and limbo numbers. The others are a guess on the planes that exist around the natural order. I am uncertain it would be correct, and we release the fiends.”

Silgara sighs, looking over. "Bargaining with fiends never ends well."

The Red Abishai grins "Well as you know paladin, whatever bargain we make, I must uphold to the letter. Go on then."

Balan chuckles, “I more meant failing the puzzle may unbind them for a time.”

Silgara nods "Ah."

The dragonborn looks at the fiend, “If one wanted to be so free perhaps one could give freely some of the puzzle.”

The fiend snorts "Put that in the contract then. The order of operations is irrelevant to me as long as you uphold your end of the bargain."

Balan is a bit out of his element for the most part and is not willing to make a contract and goes to look for anything they missed in the previous room, turning it upside down if needed. Then the Red Abishai grins "So then, do you agree that you will free me afterwards? In exchange for my aid in solving that puzzle for you? And to allay your fears, we shall not in any way directly or indirectly harm the other nor their associates until after we are safely outside of this Conservatorium." He flexes his wings. “Are we agreed, Paladin?” T’kharr shakes her head. Balan shouts back from the other room some profanities telling them to put things in places it doesn’t seem comfortable.

The Vrock chimes in "And let one of your patron's enemies free? You'd be better off making a bargain with me, paladin."

“The only thing I would agree to is that you give us the clues and in turn we give you a quick death so you can go home.” Mingzhu chimes in.

The Abishai hisses at the Vrock. "Silence you. He knows you will not uphold any bargains made. I will. In fact, I must." He then sneers at Mingzhu. "That would be an option of last resort. While possible, it is not comfortable and involves spending a century reforming."

Meanwhile Balan is turning the other room upside down at this point with things being moved and drawers being tossed on the floor looking for anything they missed.

"No, it is far simpler for me to simply walk free and then back to Baator." The Abishai says, “Alas, in this case, no.”

“Ah but how many souls would have to atone under your tender mercies. You're missing out in all the fun in hell." Mingzhu smirks.

The Abishai sneers "Unlike this filthy thing bound to keep me company, I at least have purpose and order to my existence. And I would rather not wait a hundred years to be back to work." Then he looks to Balan "What will it be, Paladin? Do you accept my terms? Do you have a counteroffer, or will you simply stumble about..." There's a lick of his muzzle as he watches the dragonborn.

Fwangzhu huffs "Could get what we want from them then kill them anyways. Fucking Youkai."

"Oh, what is 100 years to a yokai, or a thousand, or imagine being in this room 10,000 years with only your friend to keep you company.” Mingzhu teases.

The Abishai hisses at Fwangzhu "You are a disgusting being of chaos. But even a mortal like you should know there are consequences for breaking planar deals. Do you want to know what happens to the souls of those that do? I suspect you don't."

Balan tears apart everything in the other room then for some reason notices the chalkboard there. It has a diagram of a wheel on it, with some references to planes around it. He huffs in a pile or rubble and looks around at the walls and the chalkboard. The chalkboard notes are... complicated, but around that wheel, there are references to outer planes... and some of those planes have sublayers...

The Abishai looks to Mingzhu, then sneers "Fine, want to bargain that way? Ensure that I am freed from this confinement then. I will make the bargain with the paladin, or another who is bound to order... such as..." It looks to Zsikhou "You there. You still uphold the will of your masters. You can be trusted to uphold a bargain."

Balan tries to comprehend what he sees. Going clockwise from the top, Elysium, Celestia, Mechanus, Acheron, Baator, Gehenna, Hades, the Abyss, Carceri, Pandemonium, Limbo, Arborea. The Arcane scribbles are esoteric, but it does appear to be planes-related, ... He sees that there are no values there but knows there are seven layers to Celestia. He takes some spare chalk and writes a 7 next to the word Celestia. He then puts the chalk down to go get Silgara.

Zsikhou looks to the Abishai, sneering "Can give you an execution as part of my duties. Bargaining with you goes outside my duties."

Silgara comes into the room. “Did you find something?” T’kharr and Mingzhu follow.

Balan states, “Everything we need to start should be here.”

Silgara looks over to the diagram "Oh... I see. Hrm..." Zsikhou, Minamoto, and Fwangzhu follow along and into the room.

“The notes should help figure this out.” Balan insists.

[Winterhawk99]

The Vrock chitters "Don't worry, you'll be back once you know you can't solve this without me." As they leave.

Silgara looks to Balan "Before we... go through with that... I examined the binding circles on those two fiends." Balan writes 9 next to Baator.

Mingzhu comments, “12 names. Only 8 numbers.”

Silgara sighs, looking over "Those binding circles had the same weakness the broken one did. Each of those fiends can free themselves from their binding circle, if they were to act in a way that is contrary to their nature."

He nods to her, “They refuse to break their own bonds because it goes against what they believe.”

“Do the yokai know this?” Mingzhu asks.

Silgara looks over to Mingzhu "I suspect they might." Then she looks to the diagram again "But as they are fiends, they are in a way, literally incapable of acting against their natures. It's simply impossible for them." She shakes her head, then looks to Balan "I think you're onto something there. Go on."

Balan looks shocked, “I was?” He laughs.

She nods "Right, so, Celestia has seven layers. Mechanus has one. Baator has nine."

Balan smiles, “Aye!”

She considers "I know from my knowledge on Arvandor, that Arborea has three layers."

Balan marks a 1 on Mechanus and studies the board a moment following along. Mingzhu asks, “Would these layers be marked in the notes you have Silgara?”

Silgara nods "Whomever was here was doing studies on the planes. If we are going with each number being a number of layers..." She figures "Just a matter of figuring out which numbers refer to what plane." She studies them for a time... "So, if we put everything together... I think the only one we're missing is Elysium, that has four layers." She concludes. Mingzhu looks completely perplexed but nods.

Silgara looks at Balan again. “Do you think you have the answer for the chest combination, now?"

Silgara looks to Balan, still looking through the notes "Any others I should look up?"

“It would seem we have 6 numbers out of eight.” Balan replies while writing.

Both Mingzhu and Silgara ask, “What numbers are we missing?”

Balan replies after chalking numbers in, “Gehenna Hades Carceri Pandemonium. Those three.”

Silgara looks them over "Hrm.... " Then studies the notes "Gehenna has four layers, Hades has Three, Carceri has..." She checks some notes again.

T’kharr looks at the board questioningly, “A puzzle of the nine Hells and no Abyss?"

Silgara still reading says, “Carceri has Six, and Pandemonium has four".

“Perhaps the abyss represents the button since it has no number.” Balan questions.

Silgara continues, then looks to T'kharr "The Abyss has infinite layers. Balan mentioned it could equate to zero before."

“That as well.” Balan nods. “We have 11 numbers now.”

Mingzhu looks at him. “There’s only 8 numbers.”

"It would mean some aren't included, then." Silgara considers "Curious that some of the upper planes are glossed over, I notice Arcadia isn't mentioned on this chalk diagram. Hrm..." She cranes her head

“Aye, that is curious.” Balan replies.

"But if we assume the dial is the center of the wheel, it might only be limited to the..." Silgara considers
"Ah, because some of the planes nestle in between others... Pandemonium between Limbo and the Abyss, Carceri between the Abyss and Hades, Gehenna between Hades and Baator, and Acheron between Baator and Mechanus..." She muses...

Zsikhou listens along or tries to. Minamoto, Fwangzhu and Mingzhu look completely lost.

"Hrm, I think the puzzle might be fitting the 'ends' as it were?" Silgara considers "There's 16 outer planes in total, but eight are at the ends... Typically people consider the 'outer' planes more important, which would be... Celestia, Mechanus, Baator, Hades, Abyss, Limbo, Arborea, Elysium... though some gods fall within the other outer planes, T'kharr gets the impression that those are the important ones.

"I think it's the most important outer planes only, Celestia, Mechanus, Baator, Hades, the Abyss, Limbo, Arborea, and Elysium...." T’kharr insists. "In clockwise order around the wheel diagram, presumably with the lower outer planes on the bottom and the numbers are the number of layers in each plane."

Silgara nods aside "So... that would make it in total..." She gives them space to write the combination.

Balan circles in order and writes the code on the bottom of the board listening to them 7 4 3 0 0 3 9 1.

Silgara nods "That.... that could be it..." She looks over "Shall we try it?"

Mingzhu nods, "Let’s try it."

Balan laughs, “Aye it is worth an attempt for those fiends to eat their words.”

The group heads back into the room with the pair of bound fiends. Silgara heads to the chest. The fiends look on, as Silgara enters in the dials.

347
0 1
039

“I will get rebuke and call ally ready just in case.” Mingzhu says.

Silgara presses the button. The chest swings open. No traps are triggered. Balan laughs heartily. A broad grin spreads across T’kharr’s muzzle "Great work by everyone here."

The Vrock looks over, flexing their wings, clicking their beak. "Bravo mortals. If only I could have seen what you discussed out of this room."

"Except the fiends, of course." T’kharr intones.

The Abishai hisses, looking over, then huffs "Well, it seems you managed to figure it out somehow." They hiss. "Still, there are likely more answers you will need here."

“We could still kill them and send them to their proper places.” Mingzhu mentions.

“Ten thousand years sounds like a better punishment.” Balan muses.

"I reckon we should not spend the effort, since it is not necessary to do so." T’kharr replies.

The Vrock looks over "Being caged like this is..." Craws "Unbearable... I don't mind helping you clear the rest of this place if you let me out."

Silgara nods "Best leave the fiends bound here."

Mingzhu shrugs, "They are clearly the best of friends just like Minamoto and Fwangzhu."

The Vrock snarls, shrieking. "No! Not another eternity spent with... /this/ garbage! I'd rather serve all of you for the rest of your mortal lives than have to endure that filthy Baatezu’s company!"

Balan smiles, “Now he begs, so unbecoming.”

The Vrock and Abishai glare at Mingzhu, snarling and hissing. Fwangzhu and Minamoto glare at each other, her, and then the fiends. The Abishai looks over at Balan, glaring daggers, then to Zsikhou. Then back to Balan. "Well done, Paladin. You at least are a worthy foe. I know you will leave me trapped here. But know this, leave me trapped here, and when I am finally free of this binding circle, I will find you and rend you asunder." They hiss with irritation, flaring their wings. Then they look at Zsikhou "You as well, kobold. You should know better than to turn from the Queen who gave your kind life."

Zsikhou glares at the Abishai "This one knows better than to serve the dragons who spat upon their divine purpose for selfish desires. Come after this one and this one will gladly ensure you are punished for it."

Silgara looks inside the chest. Inside there's a key, along with several scrolls

Balan picks up Zsikhou and puts him on his shoulder. “We'll deal with them when the time comes. Oh, it burns but it’s needed. Well, it seems we will be able to proceed.” looking over Silgara's shoulder.

Silgara takes the key. "This might be what we need to proceed. The scrolls contained here are considerably powerful as well."

“Those who can use them should take them.” Balan says.

She takes them. "They're all arcane spells." Balan nods.

Zsikhou looks at Balan funny as he does that, seeming perplexed, then just climbs down
Fwangzhu and Minamoto follow out as well.

Before Mingzhu leaves she looks at the door in the room and then at the two fiends. She waves the yokai good-bye, smiling.