Episode 164 – Come on Eye-leen

With the Revelation Quill in-hand, the party prepares to consult the sacred Peacock Spirit in an attempt to gain the upper-hand in the fight against Karzoug and his forces. They can only ask ten questions, so they need to make them count!

Here is the information gleaned by their commune with the Great One:

• The Sihedron amphitheater likely contains something that will aid them in their quest, including a Sihedron item like the ring or medallion.
• There is more than one way up the mountain, including the potentiality of a secret passage that might lead up to the fortress.
• Unsure of the details, the runeforged weapons give the heroes other notable bonuses apart from being especially effective against Karzoug.
• It doesn’t seem like wearing multiple Sihedron items would stack beneficial effects, nor will they protect more than one individual per item.
• Barnaby’s ‘man in black’ is almost certainly somewhere along the way to Karzoug.
• Karzoug is probably in the citadel on the mountain (naturally).

Armed with this information, it’s clear that the building in front of them, the amphitheater, is the next logical step. Depending on what they find within, that will determine their next course of action.

The party bids farewell to Morgiv, reminding him of the skulks’ promise to watch over them in the city. Will we see this beloved NPC again? That’s a question that should have been asked of the Great Peacock.

Instead of going through the massive front doors of the building, the party utilizes Stone Shape to mold an entrance of their own. This allows them to avoid detection from the passerby on the Golden Road, since certain party members lack the ability to turn themselves invisible.

Once inside the dimly lit room, the party seals the entrance behind them. The room is long, filled with cells caked with blood, which extends down to the sandy floor. A thorough investigation doesn’t lead to much; they find a rustic shiv and some rudimentary, rusted weapons, but nothing important.

At the far end of the room, a staircase leads up to a brightly lit arena grounds. Krask goes invisible to scout ahead, revealing an expansive scene of gladiatorial renown.

The wide arena floor, covered in sand, is surrounded by tall sets of spectator seating. Huge, scarlet spider-like creatures prowl along the sprawling grandstands. On the western end of the room, an insectoid creature stands with a nasty-looking spear. But what’s worse, is the creature next to him.

It is floating, a massive eye sprouting countless eye stalks that wiggle with a certain level of urgency. Drool spills from its sharp teeth as it appears to be constantly smiling. The insectoid creature appears to be wearing at least one ring, while several medallions hang like golden trophies from the eye-beast’s stalks. Krask rushes back to tell everyone of his findings, and the party buffs themselves.

Instead of negotiations, the party thinks it best to teleport in and start swinging in order to secure the artifacts quickly. Fyn gathers everyone together, and they manage to surprise their foes by emerging on the grandiose upper decks.

The Evil Eye hardly stands a chance against the unbridled fury of a party possessed by the will to defeat wrongdoers. In fact, it doesn’t even have time to begin a proper gaze attack, which would have been quite detrimental to the party’s health. Instead, it is slain, falling form the air and rolling down to the arena grounds below. Chalk up the kill to a well-timed bit of electricity from Fyn, savage swordplay from Trace, several arrows from Krask, and a precise swing from Barnaby. Truly, a team effort.

Two of the scarlet walkers converge on the party, splitting the attention away from the insectoid leader. In infernal, the spear-wielding foe shouts out for his allies to kill the intruders that Karzoug had mentioned. It will, of course, bring him great glory if he can hand these over to his presumed master.

The scarlet walkers aren’t successful in their attempt to confuse Trace and Fyn, and their claws and tentacles don’t do much against Communal Stoneskin. Fortunately, the insectoid has some magic up his sleeve, as he blasts a Cone of Cold in the direction of Fobias, Fyn, and Krask. But if the scarlet walkers don’t survive much longer, this Karzoug sympathizer might not be long for this world.

Is this the lucky break that the party is looking for? What other allies has Karzoug placed near his side? Where is the CHALLENGE for these heroes?!