The Danger Gang Auxiliary Hang Out In The Castle In Dumatrescu
The Danger Gang Auxiliary sits up, casually playing cards until dawn. At one point, the lovely young Gretchen comes in and asks Wirshen if he could hear her confession. He could not refuse, but doesn't want to go any place too private. They set up a makeshift confessional under the dining room table. The nature of her confession seems a little...seductive, but Wirshen successfully avoids temptation. Before dawn, the Baroness swoops down to say check on her guests. The Gang plans on heading out before nightfall, but Kosmina talks them into staying for one more night. They don't want to upset her after she's been so gracious. They take care of their rest cycles. When they wake up they shoot the shit with Cardinal Valentine for a little while. He's trying to do some research on Dole Iru. Arben mentions he had heard that Dole Iru might be running around with Baron Ovadu in the hypothetical Mad Mad Monster Party. Valentine says the black guy that's been looking for them stopped by, but he told him to buzz off.
They spend the rest of the afternoon in the parlor, waiting for their hostess. Out from the shadows emerges a young African gentleman, who introduces himself as Arderon. He goes on to explain that he's an Abyssinian and that a witch woman claimed that he could find the Danger Gang and that they would have a way to help him get past an anti-magic aura at the top of an unclimbable mountain range that houses his long lost love. She's a handmaiden for a princess, trapped in the valley, and the witch said something involving Archimedes could help; something the Danger Gang knew about. They have no idea what he's saying. They give him a couple other ideas (maybe grab a Griphon from Bulgaria?), but other than that, all they can really do is advise him to get the hell out of the Taramul Kalalalt. He could always swing by Chrysopolis, where maybe somebody could give him better advice.
They continue to loaf about, when out from the same hidey hole behind the couch, appears their old traveling buddy Costicu. He tells he knows where to find Zombur's Holy Avenger. The Gang explain that they're a little busy at the moment, but they'll track him down in town tomorrow. He sneaks back out; it seems the security around here leaves something to be desired.
After some more time loafing, waiting for night to fall, Cardinal Valentine swings by the parlor. He tells Arben about this other angle he might have on his research. The Baroness is keeping some kind of fish-freak in the center of the castle in sort of an atrium but filled with salt water. It has been communicating with Valentine in his dreams; crazy, confusing images, and every now and then it spits out a little spawn that one might be able to affix to one's head and then communicate with the creature. Valentine is looking for volunteers. Arben knows what he's talking about. He explains that this creature is a Spawn of the Sea, a terrible nightmare beast. That little spawn is how it reproduces; the thing will take over your brain then eat your brain then take over your body then change it into a Spawn of the Sea, something like that. Something terrible. Arben advises Valentine to stay far away from this thing. If he needs to find someone to wear a spawn hat, it should be someone he doesn't like.
Valentine doesn't seem that excited to have his creature identified, but is more disappointed that he didn't get his volunteer. He heads back to the library. Wirhsen takes this opportunity to head back down to the drawing room where they saw a guest book. He peruses the names, but Arben bugs him not to flip the page, as they don't want to be snoops. A couple names stick out, Valentinus (the cardinal), but also Valena and Wakare Bakanraniff (who is known to be an incredibly mean Mummy).
Soon after, the Baroness appears. She greats the Gang in her usual gracious fashion, then explains that she's greeting another guest and goes downstairs. The Gang strain their collective ears to hear her chatting with another woman, saying that two more girls should be arriving tomorrow night (well one, but two (conjoined twins?)). The second woman exits and the Baroness returns. The Gang confesses to having peaked at her guest book, and ask her about her assorted guests. It turns out that she was just talking to Valena, and she offers to introduce everyone to her tomorrow night when she comes back. Wakare Bakanraniff had some business with the Baron, and they are currently traveling together. They continue to make pleasant dinner conversation.
After dinner, the Baroness gives everyone a quick tour of the castle. The highlight of the tour is the large glass tank with the seven foot tall terrible fish man, the Spawn of the Sea. Arben tries to shoot the shit with it, but all he gets is a series of telepathic flashes, intimating that the creature is lonely, bored, bloodthirsty, terrible. They bid it good night. With a heavy heart, they explain to the Baroness that they really must press on the next day, but thank her again and promise to ring the gong before dawn so that she may see them off in style.
