Chapter 1: Coins for everyone

Still in the Bazaar
For those still in the Bazaar they see that the stone snake tower shudders then begins to bend. Its large serpentine jaws open. You see over the rigts and smoke another similar tower rises to the sky. It also begins to bend. The serpent then inserts the tail of the second snake tower into its mouth make a large arch like tower. It is quite the spectacle. You then notice something that wasn't there a moments breathe ago. A large wooden door has appeared on the tower. Hanging on the door is an iron wrought Ouroboros ( a snake eating its own tail). Inscribed on the Ouroboros are the following words written in Antha (common) Place thy sacrifice herein and gain thy boon In the middle of the door is a small head sized hole.

Near the monkey
The monkey hands coins out to each who will take them.

I am not generous. The monkey says with a smile. then stands, looks up into the air, and waves his hands. It is Ro Ar, the goddess ascending that wishes to give you of her bounty. Soon milk and honey will be running like rivers. He hands coins to the next person. Of course now that you have partaken of the bounty of Ro Ar you will wish to pay your respects at the temple." He gestures for you to move on behind him. Behind him are homes and Bazaar shops that haven't been destroyed by the ruptures. Through the smoke
Narder, Flaudette (and Abogard?) gets closer to the smoke and the singing is just so beautiful. It is like the ringing of gold coins in his ears. They notice that the rupture has left a path through the smoke. As they walk into the smoke his nose is filled with the smells of a thousand temples burning incense. Light comes from the the deep chasm. A light that rivals the beauty of the sun herself. As they walk further they finally leave the smokey pathway.

Before them is a pond of bright green water lilies. Dotted among the green lillies are beautiful pink flowers. Large stepping stones lead through the pond to the other side. The pond is directly in front a large temple painted red with gold trim. This temple and pond were not here in this spot a few minutes ago. To the left and right of the pond are two large chasms with light. It looks as if one were careful one could walk along the sides of the pond. The singing is coming from the temple.

They see Lavendar running along the the stepping stones just as he reaches the end of the stones a large snake with the head of a woman emerges from the lily pad covered water. She slithers close to Lavendar and asks him. Why the rush young master? Surely you wouldn't mind keeping a young girl company?

Having no way out, all three of my characters gather by the door to the west, curious about the tower's contents. Elias will actually stick his head in the hole, because he's curious and the other two aren't stupid enough.

Thagr just gives a look of scorn back to Lilian, then turns to Elias and Abogard and says, "Don't mind the headcase. Been spoutin' off since all this started. Likely before. Elias keeps his head in the hole, but Abogard's more interested in following Thagr through the door.

At the Tower

As Thagr, Lillian, Murt, Fingers and Abogard are talking, Elias's body slumps down to the ground bereft of his head. Instead of blood spilling from the body 5 gold coins roll from the neck. The door to the tower of Ouroboros then opens up. Through the open door you can see the inside of the tower. On the left are stairs leading down into darkness. To the right is a platform with a mosaic of stones in the shape of a snakelike bird. Looking up the tower you see there are no stairs up. Only sheer walls and a few small windows intermittently placed up the tower. The windows on the walls of the upper part of the tower giving faint illumination. The upper tower curves until you can see nor further.



At the Lily Pond

Flaudette begins her move along the wall. It isn't that difficult. Meanwhile the snake woman settles down next to Lavendar and batts her long dark eyelashes. I am quite the sight am I? she says coyly. I will tell you more about the temple if you tell me more about how beautiful I am...

Past the smoke monkey
As you walk past the monkey the streets seem deserted. The shops are in disarray. You turn left past the watering hole named the The Naughty Harpy and then turn right and you see that the shrine of Malotoch, the carrion crow god, is still standing. The shrine is made of thick ebony timbers and the corpses of dead rodents and animals lay thickly upon the shrine. Standing in front of the Shrine are three green skinned creatures about halfling in height. The have long pointy ears and a long green tail. They are holding what look like curvy knives made of rough hewn jade. They seem to be hissing at the shrine.

Abogard hastily scrambles for the five coins and Elias's sling, then hurries after Thagr, mumbling "Shame that. Dinnit seem to have much of a head on him to begin with. Cloudy-like."

Thagr nods solemnly, "Poor fool. Look here though. Never I saw such worthless craftsmanship. Giant godsdamned tower, no stairs goin' up it, jus' down as per normal." He chuckled at that choice of wording, "Naught to do but see what's down there. Might as well, seeing as the poor sap paid the price." Both of them will go down the stairs, with Thagr in the lead.

At the Lily Pond
The woman seems sufficiently flattered by Lavender's praise. So what do you wish to know about the temple? She asks him. As she is talking Daniel comes up much closer to Lavender. Before Lavender can answer she looks at Daniel Ohhh a new friend...

Narder and Flaudette make it past the pond and to the temple doors. Lavender seems to be keeping the snake woman distracted. The large doors are between two large red pillars. The doors seem to be made of pure gold. You have never seen such opulence in your lives, especially in The Lows. To the right and left of the doors are large windows. The singing continues from inside the temple.

Past the smoke monkey
One of the demon like creatures picks up a stone and throws it at the shrine breaking splinters from the ebony and scattering bones. As it does so a crow flies down and begins squawking at the green demon. Its companion grabs a brick and smashes the large black bird. It cries out in pain.

At the smoke monkey
The smoke monkey smiles largely at Grog. "Blessed you will be when you are in Her presence. All will swear fealty to the bountiful one!" The monkey looks to see if there are any others that wish to receive coin.


At the Tower

As Thagr, Lillian, Murt, Fingers, Joshua and Abogard (anyone else?) descend the stairs. The way is lit by small candles placed upon stones that stick out from the wall. Deep red wax drips from the stones onto the ground. Drip, drip, drip. The stairs go deeper and deeper into the ground, you can tell they lower part of this tower curves. Eventually you come to the end of the stairs. Before you is a medium sized room. It looks as if there is no pathway out except the way you came. The room is mostly empty except the back wall. The back wall is made of charred black stone. Inset into the stone is white stone looking almost like a skull. Before the skull is a small incense holder. Fragrant smoke rises into the air. There is an iron key hanging from a hook. Three are 4 key holes above 4 images. Image 1 looks like a flower or seastar, image 2 looks like fire, image 3 looks like a mermaid, image 4 looks like a triangle with a single eye in the middle.

This should give a better visual of the Ouroboros tower.