As the dust clears, Krask sees what lies behind the secret door. It’s nothing more than some preserved spices. Fobias recognizes the spices as a key part of funeral rites.
Krask moves to the next skull, activates it, and opens the next door. The small mound of silk behind it is another component to common funeral rites. It’s certainly curious that nothing else occupies the space.
The party is mulling over the contents when there’s a knock at the far set of double doors. The door swings open, revealing a gaunt figure with pallid, gray skin dressed in ripped, stitched-together, faded rags. Looking more closely, the man’s yellow eyes are sunk inside their sockets, and his skin is stretched so tightly to reveal the sinews underneath. Dull patches of flesh shine through, dotting his limbs.
Everything about this figure is unnerving – between the sharp talon-like nails, the patchwork flesh, and his hunched over appearance, he almost seems to be uncomfortable in his own skin. As he speaks, he reveals rows of teeth like needles accentuating his vibrantly red lips.
The figure introduces himself as Xyoddin Xerriock, and asks the party if they’d like to meet his master, Azaven. Barnaby recognizes House Xerriock as an infamous house of cannibals from the bountiful Gastash region. The party agrees to a meeting, and the man shuffles off to bring his master.
A Proposition
Several minutes later, Xyoddin returns, leading another, more stately looking man. Although old, as evidenced by his solid-white goatee and thinning hair, it is clear that this man exudes leadership qualities. He is dressed in a flowing, crimson robe, detailed with gold filigree along the edge. Various bits of golden jewelry adorn his person, and a lavishly tall crown rests atop his head.
After a brief introduction, Azaven inquires about the outside world. Ten thousand years is a long time to be without news. Fyn immediately strikes a rapport, appealing to Azaven’s knowledge-seeking sensibilities.
Actually, the whole party seems to get along well with Azaven. Everyone, that is, except for Trace. The paladin is quite uncomfortable with the entire situation, and would rather have these evildoers put to rest.
Azaven proposes a trade: for every body that the party can bring him for research purposes, he will supply five bottles of Inib wine. This is incredibly rare wine. When asked for a sample, the man obliges, and his words ring true; the wine is amazing.
Xyoddin and Azaven lead the party on a brief tour through one of the rooms in the Crypts. It’s a mysterious portal, which covers Azaven in thick vantablack when he walks into it. He warns that it would be incredibly dangerous for any of them to touch it.
The party agrees, heading back to the Halls of Wrath to collect the Warriors of Wrath that they killed. Decomposition isn’t really a problem in the Runeforge, so they’re all good. They also pick up the body of the unidentified Thassilonian man.
When they return to Azaven, he sees only 12 usable bodies. Some of them are mutilated beyond recognition and simply won’t serve as useful ‘research assistants’. There’s some brief haggling before the party agrees to give them all of the bodies in exchange for 60 bottles of wine.
Xyoddin brings the cases from the cellar, concluding the deal.
Will the wine have any lasting effects on the heroes? Is the wine a suitable Runeforge component? Will the party ever get away from striking deals with evildoers?