Session 26-A: Into the Fire

Key Plot Developments
Misu and Glyn are thrown into the Deepking's holding cells. Misu argues that Glyn was deceived by Nicholas Ice Cream and hasn't been speaking with the real Dark Prince. Glyn doesn't believe her. A guard rushes in and orders the others to leave. Then, the reason for this order becomes clear: he is being controlled by Shal, the incubus. Shal is here for revenge. The fiend fights Misu (who pelts her with rocks and fire), Lemon (who uses psychic attacks to distract her), and Glyn (who drinks a potion of giant's strength, breaks out of his cell, knocks out the controlled guard, takes his weapons, and skewers the monster as she unsuccessfully tries to charm him).

Trix and Shuushar, dragon egg in hand, take advantage of the guards' preoccupation with finding Glyn and sneakily move through the blade bazaar. They see multiple Stone Guard regiments moving throughout the city and intuit they are returning from extermination campaigns; their weapons and armor are speckled with blood that is not their own. Trix decides to go to Themberchaud's lair.

When Trix arrives, he sees the Keepers of the Flame fighting with the Stone Guard; the latter group is killed by the former's psionic powers. However, the Keepers have been pushed to the limit of their power in thwarting a relatively small group of soldiers. They are exhausted. Trix presents the egg to Gartokkar, the Keepers' leader, who thanks him for his service. He asks for Trix's help in persuading a reluctant Themberchaud to fight against the king's troops. Trix agrees to speak to Themberchaud, but doesn't trust the duergar.

Trix and Shuushar go to the dragon--and tell him about the egg. They describe the Keepers' and Deepking's likely plot to replace him. Themberchaud, enraged, bursts out of his lair and attacks the Keepers (leaving his treasure unattended). A rampaging dragon will certainly give them a way to escape unnoticed, Trix thinks, and leaves after ensuring that Themberchaud won't turn around and return. He exits the dragon's lair to find the Keepers burnt to a crisp, the egg destroyed, and the city in flames.

Trix and Shuushar see the devastation wrought by the dragon. They head to the shore of the Darklake and try to exit the city in disguise, but Shuushar accidentally trips on Trix's disguise and exposes him. The guards at the eastern gate begin to apprehend the escaping goblin and fish-man, but most of them go towards the city to stop Themberchaud. Trix is badly hurt by thrown javelins, but Shuushar begins to shield him with his body, grabs him, and runs away. They escape, running for hours--away from Gracklstugh.

Trix feels like a failure. He has lost Glyn. He doesn't know where he is. He's a little goblin without a soul. Finally, he calls out to a god for help...and someone answers. The figure appears in the form of Jimjar. He references the anecdote Jimjar told Trix when he was initially taken by Ilvara: the story of how Garl Glittergold allowed himself to be captured by the god of the kobolds to distract him while his friends brought down the roof on the kobold's head. The figure gives Trix a warning: soon, he'll have to do the same thing. After a game of cards, he disappears, and Trix is back with Shuushar. Trix guesses the figure is Garl Glittergold himself.

They share a tender moment. Then, they perceive drow closing in on them. Trix tells Shuushar to go peacefully and get captured. The drow reveal themselves and capture the heroes while Mistress Ilvara Mizzrym appears. The drow priestess is disheveled and upset that the goblin gave up without a fight. She releases this anger at Jorlan Duskryn, who has been tortured and experimented on to the point of looking like a huge, mutated amalgamation of drow and spider; he can no longer clearly speak and passively accepts Ilvara's abuse. As the drow rambles about bathing in Trix's blood, Shuushar and Trix are willingly shackled and dragged off into the darkness by the drow they once fought so hard to escape.

Meanwhile, Misu and Glyn escape from the Deepking's holding cell and run into the Hall of Flames. They find the Deepking, who placidly asks why they're out of the dungeon--and then erratically says it doesn't matter and demands they fight for him. As he explains it, Themberchaud is laying waste to the city and needs to be put down. As the king sees it, the council of savants, council of lairds, dragon, and Keepers of the Flame are all irredeemable traitors. He condemns them to death, returns Misu and Glyn's weapons to them, and orders them to make oaths of loyalty. They kiss his ring, though both of them swear using ambiguous language.

The group exits the Hall of Flames to see Themberchaud's reign of terror. The dragon targeted the ballistas and anti-flying weaponry first, leaving the armies in disarray and intermittently destroying the hapless Stone Guard with fire breath. As the city burns, the Deepking grabs his war hammer and prepares to lead the counter-attack.

New NPCs

 * 1) Garl Glittergold, gnomish god of trickery

Memorable Quotations
Shuushar: If we could find any armor that fits my contours, that would be helpful.


 * Trix: The Deepking seeks to replace you.
 * Themberchaud: How dare he.
 * Trix: As do the Keepers.
 * Themberchaud: They have the nerve? No. I will NOT be buried in a prison of my parents' making!

Misu: He's the demon prince of deception. That includes making silly, stupid, stupid names for himself. You're fully compromised. The only thing that'll save you is divine intervention. So you better pray to Tempus. Sacrifice a goat or something.


 * Misu: Why would you give the king one of your necklaces?
 * Glyn: It's goblin culture. You bring an offering to leaders. I don't have much, Misu.

Lemon: Roomie, protect me!

Shal: You little deviled egg. I'm going to crack you open!

Shal: You brat. You're trying to harm me with fire? I was born of flames!


 * Shal: What ARE you?
 * Lemon: I'm Almond-Glyn-Lemon-Glyn-Bogtooth-Duergar. Who are you?

Lemon: Hi, Glyn! I think someone's trying to kill you. But don't worry! I'll kill them first. Hey, if I kill them, can I have their blood?


 * Shal: You...goblin boy.
 * Glyn: Goblin lord.
 * Shal: Goblin lord? I think I like you. I could use a lord right about now. What do you say?

Glyn (killing Shal, a servant of the Dark Prince): That's for the Dark Prince.


 * Trix: I think Glyn is lost forever.
 * Shuushar: My little friend, I was lost. I was lost for decades. You saved me. I don't know if it'll take 30 years or 100, but you have the strength to save your friend. For now, we are safe. For now, I will protect you.

Mystery Man: You never talk, you never call.


 * Trix: Oh, my god.
 * Mystery Man: Yes.

Mystery Man: You always try to do the right thing, but you're sneaky about it. You play a lot of tricks.


 * Mystery Man: Are you sure you can trust me? I'm a little tricky.
 * Trix: Yeah. I'm a little tricky too.

Mistress Ilvara: They've already given up? Did you fight them? Well..l have to stab SOMETHING! (She stabs Jorlan.)

Mistress Ilvara; I don't know if you're the real goblins or the ones in my head...but it doesn't matter. I’m going to drain you of every last drop of sweet goblin blood! I’m gonna bathe in goblin blood, I’m gonna bathe in goblin blood!

Deepking: We will rise from the ashes. We can rebuild.

Glyn (kissing the Deepking's ring): I'll always remember you.