The Wyrm Turns On The Danger Gang Auxiliary

The Danger Gang Auxiliary salivates over their prisoner, the vile Dr. Stupiferous. They start questioning him. Turns out he's working for Zmura, trying to build him a bride. Now they really can't kill him. His gnarled up finger is an attempt to control the remaining undead Agathersi. It doesn't seem like it'll work to the Gang, but who knows with these Death Masters. Just then, ol' Kosticu pops up out of nowhere. Stupiferous insists that he's trying to use us to get magic items and then he'll try to kill us when we're on our last legs. They tell Stupes to shut and then get down to resting, asking Kosticu to help keep guard.

It is then that two of the gang fail their Power's checks, for having left those children to die, and to have their ashes spread their foul illness to the winds. Olybrius's skin gets dried and cracked (lowering his AC and Charisma) while Cyril's horns grow rapidly and far more dangerous than before (lowering his Charisma but giving him d4 weapons attached to his head).

Arben soon gets a Sending from Gebertus. He explains that they succesfully chumped out Stupiferous, but they're still unsure as to their next move, so they're going to go talk to Zmura.

It is then during their attempts to rest that bad dudes keep coming out of the woodwork. Stupiferous keeps on insisting that he can make it all end. They keep telling him to shut up, but he doesn't and monsters keep coming. Kosticu is nowhere to be found. Dawn arrives, and they think they're going to be OK. Several people are at positive hit points. They're just going to rest a little longer. That's when the Wyverns show up. The Wyverns rapidly fuck them over. Xenon falls prey to the Wyvern's poison and falls over dead, but his cape is still glowing, so it's entirely possible that he just needs a Remove Poison and he'll be back in the game. Stupiferous insists that he can make it all end, and they finally realize that the Kalalalt is no place for their previously warranted hubris and bravado. Stupiferous wants his stuff back. Arben has St. Simon crawl on to the back of Stupiferous's neck, ready to do the one point of damage necessary to send him to hell. Arben says that perhaps they need a neutral third party to help arbitrate all this; Zmura. Stupiferous agrees that he can have the wyverns take them to Zmura...if Arben says that Dr. Stupiferous is number one.

Now the truce price of Arben's hubris hits home. He grits his teeth and tells Stupiferous that he is number one (but he has his fingers crossed (last laugh)).

The wyverns pick up our boys and fly across the Serpent Road. There are all sorts of terrible scaly monsters about; basilisks, medusas, who knows what else. They soon land atop the dreaded Skull Mountain. Inside a cave, they are greeted by a giant pair of glowing eyes. Arben, once again realizing that his intial plans for long con are beyond him, decides to play it straight. He explains that they've come to chump out several people, but they know they shouldn't even try to attempt to chump him out; he's out of their league. It has become clear now that they've gotten distracted. Zmura says he'll allow them to live if they agree to bring him lady dragon parts for his bride. They agree, after all, it's been a few months since Arben got himself involved in some sort of Faustian bargain for his life. They just need a place to rest. Zmura tells them to get out of his cave.

They camp out outside the cave. Stupiferous still wants his stuff back. Wirshin convinces to trade his scythe for one of the Agathersi's cursed rings to help with his experiments.

Arben broods, contemplating one last discussion with Zmura. While the Gang rests, he scuttles back in the cave. Zmura seems to be in a slightly better mood, luckily. Arben asks him if he's ever tried to build a bride before, to which he responds in the negative. Still, Arben argues that it is known that the land curses those to whom it grants the most power. The land may try to thwart him, but if he and his compatriots are able to clear up this whole cursed land thing, he might be able to greatly improve his chances of success. Zmura, while slightly worried that it might be the land that sustains him, is not that worried, becuase he's so great. Now, Arben isn't really looking for any big favors, just some time to check it out, and a comperatively safe place to rest. Zmura agrees to give them one week to get some info, if they get something good, he'll give them some mroe time to check it out. Otherwise, presumably, it's right back to tracking drown dragon lady parts.

Meanwhile, Wirshin asks Dr. Stupes if he knows of anyone who's able to turn back the clock. Stupes drops Ramses II.