Everlife Noble District
We discover that one of Sabre Khauldz valuables was a magic choker that when touched erases a person’s memory for a time. Codex, Bale and Berdyn momentarily forget who they are when they handle this item.
The Choker is placed carefully in a sealed container, to keep it from anyone else.
Codex consults some records in the Spire. There was a note in the City Watch log that a cleaning staff member had fallen out of Sabre Khaludz office window in the Spire (which he had determined was almost impossible, unless he jumped or was pushed). He finds out that the cleaning staff member that was found dead was buried in the graveyard, as was the Cleric that saw the vision of approaching evil and then was found dead.
However, we have an agenda today, and that is to head into the Prison and fight our way down to speak to Uhurak.
Everlife Jail
The Prison is 3 upper levels, and 6 lower levels. The top floor is the cushy minimum security prison area reserved for nobles. The second level is offices and archives, the first floor is administration.
The lower level Prison is a nightmare of horrific prisoner abuse, including tiny disgusting cells, poor air quality, and evidence of torture.
We fight two sword wraiths, then two ghosts. Ghosts can age people with their gaze, and possess others. They age both Maud and Berdyn before being defeated.
Further down in the prison, we destroy two Flameskulls. Next we face a group of wights, who can drain health that can only be healed through time.
Basement level one and two has tiny cells, the third floor contains a massive crematorium and more tiny cells. The fourth and fifth level has group cells, and the sixth level has more cells.
On the sixth level we are ambushed by banshees, who almost kill us with their shriek before Codex has a chance to silence them. We barely survive.
There is a level lower than sixth, but it is partially flooded with sewage, leaking and flooding the area.
Uhurak is here, she made a Dam to block off the sewage. Uhurak is guarding the remaining two prisoners, both human. They are in heavy isolation cells. Uhurak explains them “This one eats people, this one wears people’s skins”.
We talk to Uhurak about the mountains, the Shaman and the Necromancer. We find out that the Shaman is an Orc dedicated to Grummnsh, the savage Orc God. The Necromancer lives beyond the caves where Giants reside, which is not great news. However, the Shaman and the Necromancer hate each other, and the three clans of orcs all fight the Necromancer’s undead.
We learn that all Orcs have a mark, a scar given to them as a rite of passage. Simon would be seen as a child to them, and may make taking to the Shaman difficult.
We ask Uhurak to come with us, but she is uncertain what to do about the two humans imprisoned. We talk to the two men. The cannibal is beyond communication, completely insane and feral. But the other is cordial.
The more communicative man seems to know who Maud is, and knows Codex is part of Clan Cinnabar. Codex, feeling disturbed, introduces himself. He asks the man his name, and he responds that his name is Anton. Things click into place, and Codex recognizes the name and who this “man” truly is.
Anton’s true name is Xiammantoneldrym (pronounced Sham-Anton-Ell-Drim), and he is an Ancient Red Dragon. He is infamous for taking a mortal form to hunt prey, delighting in acting as a serial killer. Mortals are simply toys for him, fun to break as he pleases. His hoard of choice is information, and he is incredibly dangerous. Codex stays polite, trying to hide his terror.
After getting Anton’s permission to let Uhurak go, we decide to mercy kill the deranged cannibal. Uhurak shrugs and snaps the neck of the cannibal.
Everlife Noble District
She agrees to come with us. We escape the Prison and return to the Noble District. We put Uhurak in the lord’s manor. She isn’t comfortable in the Spire.
Bale also gives her documentation of a full pardon, complete with the wax signet seal of the Lord Pyyrhos Alegan. It looks fully legitimate, a brilliant forgery.
Uhurak is half troll, but human enough to have some care about laws. We offer her a place to stay, the Tower near LastHaven. She could hunt in the forest and trade with the townsfolk. She seems excited about the idea.
In the safety of the Spire, Codex tells the rest about Anton and his true nature. Berydon is reminded of another story, a psychopathic Dwarf named Eldrim that they suspected of killing other dwarves. The entire dwarven settlement was completely destroyed, reduced to melted stone. We rest the night, exhausted from clearing the prison.