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 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...
