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The Banewarrens, Part 7

Players/Characters Present:
Erik Nowak - Basil Amantes (Ftr7)
Bruce Barnett - Bonzimir Amantes (Rog4/Hlf3)
Barbara Muth - Nereida Amantes (Clr7) and Elida (KSK4)
Tim Chan - Demetrios Amantes (Wiz4/Hum3)
Michael Burgio - Marcus Asinus (Ftr1/KSK6)

[GM's Note: Well, it's been a long interlude. By no means the longest in Theeurth's history, but more than two months. In the interim, we lost Chris Woods to the rigors of Culinary school, but had the very good fortune to pick up a trio of fine players and nice guys. Michael Burgio joined us with a new character, Marcus Asinus, a Knight of the Sacred Keys. Erik Nowak and Tim Chan joined us and played Basil and Demetrios, respectively. Welcome, guys!]

[Because he was with us for such a short time, we edited out the presence of Tutor, Chris's erstwhile successor to Felix.]

As the Company of the Starborn was discussing what to do next, Nereida was contacted by Reverend Mother Donna Mara (of the Great Church), via a sending spell. "The Secundus of Callistus has sent you reinforcement," said the note, "Come to the abandoned house." And so, the Company did ascend, pausing to allow Bonzimir to disarm the Freezing Trap. 

Once in the abandoned manor house, they met with the two city guards placed by the Magister Civites over the entrance to the tunnel. With them was a man in sturdy armor and wearing a tabard upon which was emblazoned the Piercing Eye of Borlamnos. He introduced himself as Sir Marcus Asinus, a Knight of the Sacred Keys, tasked by the Secundus Ennius to assist the Company in its work in the Banewarrens. Marcus had a decent knowledge of the secret history of the place, but none of the details. The Company filled him in on the particulars as they returned to the Outer Vaults.

Back in the Outer Vaults, the Company decided to once again attempt to track down the "Metal Man" mentioned by Wiver the heiracosphinx. Reasoning that he had to be beyond what they had come to call the "Poison Hallway", they secured the door open with a piton and assayed the western passage. Within lay a darkened storeroom filled with the materials necessary to the repair of the Banewarrens. Despite Basil's superstitious warnings (are they still superstitious if he's right?), Demetrios decided to investigate one of the ancient barrels in the room. However, this chamber was the dwelling of an ancient and maddened spirit which sought to drain the wizard of his life. 

[GM's Note: Which, in fact, it did. But not completely. Demetrios is suffering from two negative levels.]

The magic and enchanted weapons of the Company quickly drove it back, and it sought refuge by escaping into the floor. It did not return and eventually, the Company moved on to the eastern passage.

There, they found another storeroom, and within it, an avalanche of metal barrels. Pinned beneath the barrels was a human-like construct. It spoke to them, and they learned that it was named Geristonomos, the Caretaker. It had been trapped here for millennia, since the epochal upheaval which had created Mons Tarteros. Its leg had been crushed and one of its eyes was missing. The Company decided to dig Geristonomos out, and for their kindness, it offered them some information. It told them that the only way to seal the Banewarrens was to repair the Warding Generators, and for that they needed something known as the Sealing Rod. Geristonomos did not know where the Rod was. It also mentioned that the purpose of the levers in the round Control Room was to "move the plug" and what the proper code was for doing so.

The construct seemed briefly confused by Basil's insistence that Danar was both dead and turned to evil. "I'm sure you are incorrect," is all it said.

It also told them that it had two recent visitors, whom it described as "The Green Woman", who sought something known as the Black Grail, and "The Yellow Woman" who, with her "four furry companions" sought anything of great power and was "very rude." Geristonomos had not liked either woman, and so had not told them what they wished to know. The Company surmised that the Green Woman was Kikanuile, the green-skinned giantish leader of the first Grail Quest Team from the Quann. The identity of the Yellow Woman was still a mystery.

Meanwhile, Bonzimir found and palmed the poor construct's eyes, a sizeable diamond, unbeknownst to anyone else in the party. (Guess all you like, Nereida! You don't -know-). 

Having freed Geristonomos, the Company bore him to the mechanical drones in hope that they could repair him. They could not. Geristonomos expressed the hope that they would find someone "from the world outside" who could effect the repairs. He was deeply driven to return to his duties - lovingly caring for all the locks, traps and doors which contained the great evils that were his charges. However, the Company decided to leave him in the "water room" and retrieve him on the way back. Although the construct's memory was now (three thousand years later) fuzzy about the details of the Banewarrens, he was able to confirm that there was a secret door in the water room. Bonzimir found it.

That door led the Company to the far side of the wall of force, where they found the Plug that Geristonomos had mentioned. Somehow, it had been moved. Nereida theorized that either the Yellow Woman or the Green Woman had been invisibly listening in on their conversation with Geristonomos and had overheard the code to the levers in the Control Room. Then, she had used them while the Company was busy digging the construct out. Following the passage, they found that several Warded Doors had been opened, each containing a bane. 

Before they had time to investigate, however, Marcus's falcon companion was attacked by a bolt of electricity. Rushing to the attack, the found themselves facing an odd animate ball of light which fired bolts of electricity. Several furious moments of combat later, it met its demise. Now the Company stood atop a platform suspended above the ground by stout metal chains. This is where they met the Green Woman.

Kikanuile the Green Hag was monstrous, even for one of her vile race. But her pride made her too reliant on her strength and magical protections. She burst into the room, ignoring Basil's attacks, and filled the area with nauseating strands of sticky bile. The holy power of Borlamnos, personified by Elida and Marcus, helped many in the party avoid the trap. Even so, Basil would have been trapped but for an amazing maneuver with his sword, which neatly cut through all the webs as they sheared past him! 

[GM's Note: This was the use of a Hero Point]

The hag followed up with a powerful lightning bolt from her shin-bone wand, and her shield spell protected her from nearly all attacks.

But then Demetrios unleashed his Pierce spell, which neutralized the Shield. Without this protection, Kikanuile quickly succumbed to the Company's onslaught. A few moments later, the entire party enjoyed the benefits of a haste spell and Basil felled the evil hag with overwhelming force. Just to be sure, he then cut off her head. Among the fallen hag's possessions the Company found a profoundly important item - A Ring of Wishes which Kikanuile had not had time to bring into play!

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What should be done with Geristonomos?

Who and where is the Lady of Shadows?

Who and where is the Yellow Lady?

What should be done with the Ring of Wishes?

Can they Great Church restore Demetrios's negative levels? Will they, after having just raised him from the dead?

Where is the Sealing Rod?

Tune in next time!

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