Chapter Five: Bapdis Orjo's Gift of Reconciliation

What's the plan?

a) make camp (where)?
b) continue exploring this cavern system?
c) head back to the boat?

How long have we been on the island? I'm thinking it's been a day or less, so I'm inclined to spend the night here and do at least a cursory exploration of these caves in the morning, to see if Pafthinel left behind any magical goodies. I think we can spare a day or so, as long as we have plenty of time to get back to the ship. That said, if consensus is back to the boat right away, I'm OK with that too.

I'd also like to loot, er, explore the rest of the caves in this hill before heading back to the boat.

Yes, it's late night/early morning of you first day. Where do you want to make camp? This chamber is useable but pretty gross now.

The party makes camp in the vestibule and the night passes uneventfully.

Daybreak brings a few curious rat-like creatures eager to explore the opening to the cave that had been sealed off by an unnatural smoke barrier for so long, but they scurry off when they catch sight of the party members waking up.

It's morning, day two on Vorch. You've made good time by finding, interrogating, and arranging the death of the person you came here to question on your very first day. What now, party?

The vestibule: cave opening is to the northwest, passage you took to reach Pafthinel's death chamber was to the southeast, unexplored passages to the southwest and northeast.

Terra can see the Swiftness of Camazotz anchored where she left it. The morning is cool and breezy; there are a few cries here and there from the beasts of the island, but overall, it seems quiet.

Did this count as a long rest, asks the guy with no spell slots left

"Well," Domarc says, getting up and stretching. "What mayhem shall we cause today? For the sake of suggesting a direction, I say northeast."

Yes, this was a long rest.

Do you guys want to explore the cavern or head back to the ship?

The northeast passage leads to a massive, irregularly-shaped cavern, around 100' x 150'. The floor, walls, and ceiling are blackened by soot and ash. To the north is an alcove containing a massive stone basin, in the middle of the chamber is a large stone table upon which a strange and complex array of brass vessels, tubes, bottles, and implements are set, some loose and others connected, along with a variety of glass containers, hand tools, tablets, and other miscellany. A single high stool stands near the table. A large lacquered cabinet and two long stone chests stand along the east wall near the table. Along the south wall is a large stone trough full of glowing coals; a few brass bowls and other strangely-shaped vessels rest on the ground in front of it. There is a wide hole in the floor in the the southwest quadrant of the chamber with a narrow stairway spiraling down its sides.

It looks like an alchemist's lab or a madman's idea of a distillery, but far more intricate than any such setups Mordred has seen. Most of the vessels are brass, but there are some glass and ceramic pieces as well. Some of the ones you can see into contain liquids.

"I think we're more hoping for treasure," Domarc says to Zangua. "I think we're done with Elves here, and hopefully also jinns and the like."

Surveying the room, Domarc heads over towards the trough and inspects the brass bowls and other vessels there, taking care not to touch them.