The Danger Gang Auxiliary Meet With Gebertus And Manole
The Danger Gang Auxiliary arrive in the early evening at the port town of Konstantia. An eerie mist rolls in off the sea, as the gang mulls over the disturbing rumors they heard on the way hear.
1. The Pagans in Egypt founded a library to rival that of Constantinople, but the thing already shut down (alright, not that disturbing).
2. Bardas Phocas has allied himself with a giant Slaad (more disturbing, but it does explain the constant Slaad attacks the Danger Gang has been suffering).
No time to dwell on these rumors, though, as the gang has appointments to keep. Luckily, freeing this town from the Cyclops a couple of months ago still has some cache (though they are still aching from the loss of their hero Seraphim), and the gang is treated well. They are lead to Gebertus and Manole, who, they are happy to see, have become fast friends.
They sit down in an inn and everyone lays their cards on table (which is always a pleasant change of pace). Gebertus explains that he dispatched Cardinal Valentine to try to find Dolay Iru, a horrible fish man known to be quite powerful. He's not sure how the guy wound up in the Kalalalt, but Gebertus felt it wouldn't be right just to leave him in the lurch.
Manole then explains the whole deal with the Agathersi. It seems that when Al-Wathiq found the "boysenberry", he ended up corrupting the Council of Nine. It's tradition amongst the Agathersi to commit suicide rather than allow yourself to become undead, and so eight of the council killed themselves (Manole opting to, instead, remove his ring finger). It seems Manole made the right choice, as all those other dudes and ladies rose from the dead as some form of undead or another. Manole was able to send two of them on to their final rewards (Dula and Moshe the Aged), leaving only six more high level undead left for them to fight. So, things aren't nearly as bad as they first seemed. The bad news is that Manole lost a couple of levels fighting a wight or something, and has now reverted to his original Rogue class.
Gebertus then goes on to give them a detailed history of the "boysenberry", which is all very interesting. But they need to figure out what the plan is. Apparently, one who is pure of heart can dream the location of the Bloodstone, and despite Arben's protests that True Neutral is probably the most pure of heart alignment, Manole says the person for the job is Zombur Fotfrumous's wife, what's-her-name. While the Gang is out looking for the "boysenberry", Gebertus and Manole will try to stir things up for Al-Wathiq; run interference.
Gebertus summons up a handful of Phantom Steeds. They ride for the next day or so along the edge of the newly expanded Taramul Kalalalt before they enter.
