View source for The Chrysopolites Investigates Bashim's Lair

After several days of sailing and listening to [[Barnacle Bashim]] rumors and fighting one angry [[Giant Squid]], [[Eorl]]'s war party finally arrives at where they need to de-boat. As they head back to [[Aege]], they notice signs that read, "Danger: Keep Out Humans! Gas comes out of the ground kills Humans!". The sign is ignored and they press on. [[Tobin]] seems unmotivated to help as do the [[Doodya]] (who admit to having put up the signs to try to be left alone). 

They go to their old treasure room and [[Ido]] Stone Shapes the door open. Inside, they see that their pile of copper coins is covered in feces, probably human. The pile squirms slightly. So it seems they figured out one use for Charon's Cup. Ido changes into her smoke form and heads through the cup for a little reconnoitering. Once gone, they figure they should investigate this squirming pile, but the pile no longer squirms. Instead, a [[Xorn]] emerges from the ground. They end up expending more effort than they would have liked defeating it, but it eventually scurries back underground.

Meanwhile, Ido investigates the other side of the dimensional portal. She comes out on the poop deck (hardy har) and finds three boats in an underseas cavern. These three boats may or may not include the Kivot, which is on a dry dock. There are saucy wenches and people drinking and having fun. The cavern is lit by a combination of torches and lightstones. There is no mouth to the cavern. There are assorted magical goods here and there; a few in a chest, a magic scimitar strapped to a teenager. She sees several more magical things starting to emerge from the water, but she has to return to the cup before her smoke form wears off. Unfortunately, there was no sign of Bashim or any of the captured members of the [[Danger Gang]].

She rejoins the rest of the party. They all look a little beat up by the Xorn, so they're going to try and get some rest. Eorl keeps studying texts, trying to figure out that [[Prophecy of Bashim]]. In a few hours [["Father" Simon|Arben]] wakes up and Eorl starts pestering him about his bardic knowledge. He believes he has found the whereabouts of Bashim's undersea cavern. Unfortunately, Arben breaks it to him that all his theories don't add up. I mean, they're workable, but inaccurate. They sit around trying to piece it together, but Arben soon gets antsy in the pantsy. He borrows [[Wirshin]]'s oversized glove and goes to stake out the interdimensional hole. He soon overhears a man with a thick Hebrew accent berating a pirate "We're supposed to be at battle stations! What are you doing?"

"But I really have to go!"

"Fine fine fine!" the first voice says. Arben soon hears a poop hit the cup; before it slides down, he sticks his finger up and casts Reduce. The luckless pirate gets shrunk, and is too shocked to stop himself from falling through the cup. Arben grabs him and quickly gets the stronger [[Xenon]] to hold him. They lead him to another room and interrogate him. "We are giants," they say. "Tell us where Barnacle Bashim's undersea lair is!"

The poor sap, who's name is Verozes, explains that to get there you need to go down a whirlpool that's guarded by these two monsters, maybe you've heard of them: [[Scylla and Charybdis]]. They're near [[Messina]]. Eorl groans and moans, complaining that they'll never get there in time. They milk him for more information: the jewish fella is named [[Aaron]]; Bashim's crew numbers between 100 and 200; [[Black Rachael]]'s sons are named [[Yavel]] and [[Yuvel]]; the captured members of the [[Danger Gang]] are on the same boat as the cup; stuff like that. Ido goes back to the hole to listen to the other side; she hears some Arabic, but she can't quite make it out, so she changes into smoke and floats through. She hears this Aaron fellow talking to Bashim. Aaron seems very suspicious of the cup and is begging Bashim to seal it up, but Bashim is having way too much fun with this thing. Ido sails back through and tells them what's up. It's agreed the Arben will disguise himself as Verozes and go through to allay suspicion about the cup and do some more recon. He slaps on a scar and a fake beard, some piratical clothing, then reduces himself. [[Can]] lifts him through and then casts Enlarge, returning him to normal size. 

Arben smears feces all over himself and then walks out of the restroom. Unfortunately, his disguise is not so convincing, and Bashim soon spots him. Arben Reduces himself in an attempt to escape, but gets Held simultaneously. Bashim picks him up and has his tiny arms bound, then has him released from the spell. Here's the gist of their conversation:

"Ye be not Verozes. Who be ye? How did ye get aboard my ship?"

"Oh, I've been here for a couple of days. You raided a merchant ship a few days ago and I took his place."

"Yar, very crafty. Listen, I'm going to kill ye!"

"No, you don't want to do that because I' influencing your reaction."

"Yar, you're right. I don't."

"Listen, I came here to get some friends of mine, some friends that I understand are rowing your ship. I represent several interested parties. Killing me won't solve your problems, it will only cause things to escalate. So let's deal. I know life isn't all peaches and cream for you. For instance, maybe we could take care of this ship of the damned for you."

"Ye know how to defeat the ship of the damned!?!"

"I could find out. I know other things, just ask me."

"Do ye know how to defeat the [[Spawn of the Sea]]?"

"You mean octopuses? You hate octopuses too?"

"I be knowing how to defeat some dumb octopus, ye landlubber. I be talking about the Spawn of the Sea."

"Oh, the Spawn of the Sea, yes, the guys that make tadpoles crawl in your brain. Umm...head inland?"

"Arr, them's the ones, but that solution no be working for me."

"So, how's about I take half of my guys from downstairs, take care of this ship of the damned, then you give me the other half."

"Hows about this, my little friend. I chop off your leg, you take care of the ship of the damned, I get your leg grafted back on by the pope?"

Before Arben can say, "Maybe..." Barnacle Bashim bites his leg off.

"Well played Bashim! Well played! You drive a hard bargain! I'll take it!"

Meanwhile, [[The Crimson Cutlass] and Eorl have both snuck aboard the ship in reduced form (Eorl is also gaseous). They sneak below deck, where they find [[Gershom]], [[Martialis]], [[Karl]], [[Kotrag]], [[Zahrah]], [[Kolya]] and [[Botomites]]. They all look emaciated, glassy-eyed. They're covered in sores. 

Back in Aege, Ido has taken to Stone Shaping a false cup, with a large basin beneath it to catch waste. She then changes herself into smoke and tracks down her comrades. They hide below deck. Arben is taken to a cabin on the Swordfish, where he is stripped nude and tied to a chair. [[Aaron]] pops out of a trunk in the room, presumably with the intent of questioning Arben, but he is soon distracted when Arben starts asking about the [[Metatron]]. Aaron talks his ear off, and eventually leaves, letting Arben catch four hours of rest.

Meanwhile, Ido has cast Dispel Magic on the Danger Gang and friends. Martialis, Gershom, and Botomides all come out of their stupors. The others are still thoroughly ensorcelled. Unfortunately, they still need about a day to shake off the haze and memorize some spells. They just try to play it cool.