Abowhat?

July 2nd

We heal up, recover from rot, and wonder who stole Harald's spellbook. It seems Daab is not the culprit. He notices that we tried to charm him, but doesn't seem to take it personally. We get him to ask Ayesha if any of her subjects are thieves, and he comes back and says no. We heal and rest some more.

July 3rd

We decide that the spellbook must be in the dungeon, so we prep and go in. Daab is hanging around the dungeon mouth, and his extra word-hole starts with the smart talk. "Ayesha is just sending you to your deaths. It's a ll a trap, and you cannot survive." Unexpectedly [Daab|Daab's]] main, non-blasphemous word hole joins in with, "You know, I think he's right. There's no need to throw your lives away. You can just say the mission was too much. You seem brave, and need not die." We tell him that we get this kind of speech all the damn time, and not to worry too much about us.

Some exploration leads us to a new part of the dungeon, near where we were attacked by a bunch of Aboleth Slaves. We get attacked again, and fight a valiant battle with a Human fighter using a bad-ass axe, a Kaggin, a Trogodyte, a human thief, a were-lion, and a Daku. Everyone fails to disbelieve until Harald makes his roll, revealing that our opponents were illusory. However, just then the real baddies turn up, and we have a very close battle with them. Saiiq saves the day by reading a scroll underwater to unparalyze Harald, who then whups up on the remaining bad guys. There is a moment of worry when Harald picks up the axe Incusikus and it zaps the crap out of him for being too Neutral, but he drops it post haste and all is well. Ailyll is up and still in dolphin form, but most of the rest of the party is down and out.

After the battle Harald thinks loudly to the controller of these jerks, "Hey, we don't want to kill your minions, we're just here for the amulet and my spellbook. You might be able to take us, but it would be tough. Let's cut a deal." A conversation follows:

• Aboleth: You guys seem to know a lot of stuff. Why don't you let me eat one of you guy's brains and I 'll give you the stuff. "
• Harald: No deal. How about something else?
• A: OK, I'll give you all the stuff and throw in a bunch of knowledge man was not meant to know if you get me Ayesha's head.
• H: Hmmm, she seems really tough. I heard she can kill with a gesture. Isn't she impossible to kill, anyways?
• A: She can only kill one of you a round that way. Also, I don't need her dead, I just need the head. It detaches and flies around sometimes you know. She learned the trick from a foreign woman who came here long ago. Plus, if you kill her you'll get all her cool magic items.
• H: Cool trick with the head. Still, I heard only one thing can kill her.
• A: You heard wrong. Two things can kill her: The Pillar of the Fire of Life and Death and the Pillar of the Fire of Death.
• H: What about the Pillar of the Fire of Life?
• A: Doesn't exist. Most people don't realize the real nature of the Pillar of the Fire of Life and Death. Of the many who have entered it only three have lived: Ayesha, Atar, and Al Khidr, the Green Man.
• H: Interesting. What about the potions of youth made from the Fire? Can they kill you?
• A: Did you drink one?
• H: Yeah.
• A: That's not the Fire, that is only Ayesha's sweat. She gives it as a reward to some.
• H: Sexy. Still, how about a different trade? If we get the amulet we can ask Ayesha some questions. If you want her knowledge, why not give us the pendant and we'll ask a question for you.
• A: Sounds fair. Ask her who the (some goddesses) gave their power to, and why. They were ancient goddess who had the power to make women immortal.
• H: OK. Now, how about the spellbook?
• A: I'd trade for the head (fresh) of Abubec, or Oe, or one of you. Any other wise or knowledgeable person would be OK, too.
• H: Hmmm. Don't you already know a lot of stuff?
• A: Of course! Am I not the Aboleth, wisest of all underwater monsters?
• H: What about the Morkoth?
• A: I meant wisest of all freshwater monsters.
• H: Ok, we'll see what we can do vis-a-vis wise heads. Still, if I had my spellbook it would be a lot easier to kill people and bring you the heads.
• A: Nice try, but no dice.
• H: Well, give us the amulet and we'll see you again soon.
• A: Later skater.

Then a translucent pygmy came up and gave us the amulet. Will our heroes escape intact?

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