Fyn uses his intellect to deduce that this room was likely used as a combination between a sacrificial altar and a birthing pool. They decide to head further into the unexplored portions of the cave to hopefully find the Scribbler once and for all.
Along the way, the party finds some additional stanzas, eventually coming across the entirety of what appears to be a clue-laden poem. The entire thing reads as follows:
If magic bright is your desire, to old Runeforge must you retire!
For only there does wizard’s art receive its due and proper start.On eastern shores of steaming mirror, at end of day when dusk is nearer,
Where seven faces silent wait encircled guards at Runeforge Gate.Each stone the grace of seven lords, one part of key each ruler hoards;
If offered spells and proper prayer, take seven keys and climb the stair.On frozen mountain Xin awaits, his regal voice the yawning gates
Keys turn twice in Sihedro – occulted Runeforge waits withinAnd now you’ve come and joined the Forge upon rare lore you mind can gorge –
And when you slough the mortal way in Runeforge long your work shall stay.
This is quite the message, and Fobias leads the charge in trying to figure out its cryptic meaning. Obviously, the party has to travel to a specific place and cast some spells to find the way to the Runeforge.
The Scribbler has had enough of the party and ambushes them in one of the narrow hallways. Even with two small demons to absorb some of the damage, the Scribbler doesn’t seem too threatening until he doubles in size. Fyn summons a Smilodon to attack the Scribbler from the rear while the party unleashes everything they have.
Krask’s arrows have a difficult time penetrating the thick skin and armor of the Scribbler’s improved form. Likewise, Fyn’s spells don’t seem to have as much success against his constitution and psyche. Only Barnaby, Fobias, and Trace have the raw firepower in their melee weapons to whittle down their foe.
Once the demons are dispatched, the Scribbler is brought to his knees. His fast healing ability keeps him alive but the party makes sure he can’t try any of his clever tricks to escape.
It’s clear that the Scribbler doesn’t want to give any more information. He tries to make a bargain; he obviously has connections to the Runelords and can help facilitate an introduction.
Fobias, having learned his lesson many times over, instructs Trace to end it. The paladin raises his sword and the Scribbler’s head is added to the collection.
Among the Scribbler’s belongings, the party finds a truly magical relic. It’s a peacock-feathered quill known as a Revelation Quill. Not only is it tied to Fyn’s patron deity, but it has incredible divination magic that will surely aid the party a great deal.
After conversing with the Sheriff and Mayor Deverin, the party heads to Magnimar. At the docks, they find a ship to take them north along the coast to Lake Stormunder. Once they arrive, it doesn’t take them long to find a series of standing stone faces underneath the shadow of a skull-like protrusion in the mountain.
They’ve arrived at Rimeskull.
After examining the faces, Fyn finds that each resemble the features of the seven Runelords of old. He identifies them and their respective schools of magic before casting a magic missile at a particular face. The magic from the spell matches the Runelord’s aligned school.
A series of bright lights and pulses emit from the face before a single key materializes in the mouth. The first of seven.
Is it really going to be this easy to get into the Runeforge? Are there any consequences to plucking these keys? Will Krask get to keep these on his bulging keychain?