The Death Dealer

**The Death Dealer** is the sixty fourth episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The party faces an old enemy and consider if they may not be as opposed as they previously believed.

## The Death Dealer

### **Summary**

Sterling held the coin in his hand and floundered as he lacked the time and magic to cast *Identify* on it and allowed Ilvwinter to take it back. Ilvwinter held it up for everyone to see clearly, asked what they all thought happened when they die and RX said he presumed whatever made up a soul went somewhere else unless it was destroyed, but doubted that idea. Ilvwinter said he wasn't far from wrong before explaining it was different for everyone one, that it depended on who you talked to and what you did, but it resonated into the world like a pulse that some people could sense and latch onto, which was why people could be brought back from the dead. Ilvwinter noted Lunala was the one who caught his, that she did not come as a bad person and offered him something he wanted which was to live again and that a lot of them didn't agree to it, but just wanted another chance. He added that when someone brought you back like that they had power over you, that they had to do what they had to and if the person was strong they had the power to bring them back over and over again. Sterling assumed that was what the coin was for, to make sure their souls didn't escape when they left their bodies and Ilvwinter said Lunala got it from the devils as they used it as currency in the *Nine Hells*, leaving the members as profit.

Sterling asked if they all felt like this and Ilvwinter said Darie and Robert, while Esmeria and Kalistock didn't. Ilvwinter also brought up Ennex, who he noted the party would likely never see as he worked in the background in disguise, manipulating things for Lunala and didn't know what. Ilvwinter added that none of them had met Ennex and only heard the name in conversation with Kalistock. Sterling asked where they should go from there, citing that Ilvwinter had outed himself there, that for the moment they trusted him, though only with a grain of salt, and asked what his next move is and Ilvwinter said he was waiting for what Malasana had for him in trade for Masq, a way to ensure he stayed dead the next time he died and when he had it confirmed planned to go off and do something stupid. Kaz asked if Ilvwinter was simply waiting why he came to them and Ilvwinter replied that he could be waiting a long while for Malasana to figure out how to get his soul out of the coin and that it was hard, but doable and required help from the higher ups. Ilvwinter then told them Lunala had recently returned to the Belroadine Isles as she needed something from there and when she had it would take it back to the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse*. Quincy pointed out that Belroadine was where the people had been cursed before asking if he knew what she wanted there or her connection to that place and Ilvwinter said that was why the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse* was built and was all he knew. He noted the place was a mess, had so much magic condensed within that he was surprised it hadn't exploded yet and was like a ticking time bomb and possibly what she went there for. Ilvwinter added that if she could trigger the magic there she could separate the continent more and the majority connected to *Palamoa* would burn to the ground. The party sat on that information for a moment before Sterling asked what Kalistock’s current objective was, admitting he was being vague, and Ilvwinter said as far as he was aware Kalistock and Robert were the ones growing the swamp in the middle of *Palamoa* that Lunala intended to make more volatile before she set off the *Dusterburyan* *Lighthouse*. Sterling asked if Kalistock had been working on anything else, possibly mechanical, and Ilvwinter said he wasn't specifically aware, but did know he was working on something.

Sterling changed the topic to noted the party did have plans in the *Plane of Fire*, that there was only so much they could do and while he was aware Ilvwinter came to them in desperation they were also desperate in their own plans. Ilvwinter said he wasn't sure if they could be considered desperate as they were all together and might have a chance of doing something when they worked together. Ilvwinter then began to pull his boots back and said if they got “the gunman” out, that it wouldn't be easy, but they should then get “the wizard” as getting him would fuck up a lot. Yashani agreed that they knew they need all the allies they could muster and Ilvwinter noted the more the better. Quincy activated *Ob’s Charm* to ask if they should ask about *Puncture* and Sterling told them they knew the facts, but if they thought it would help there wasn’t any harm, while RX noted it could be similar to his sword. Quincy hovered her hand over his sword to prevent him from picking it up and asked if he knew Esmeria before she got the gun. Ilvwinter said he did and when Quincy asked how it changed her explained that it caused hallucinations, that the first person you killed with it would haunt them so long as they have it. He added that he didn't think it would drive just anyone insane, but she didn’t handle it well as Esmeria was always more emotional when alive, that she was happy with what she achieved and specifically knew her dad was. He noted one point she stopped talking about it, but it didn’t get better, only worse until the party dealt with her and thanked the group before assuring that whatever they did destroyed her coin as well so Esmeria wouldn't be coming back. Quincy laughed and it was petty revenge when they threw her in the furnace and was relieved before they asked if she ever tried to get rid of the gun and Ilvwinter recalled she tried leaving it behind, but the hallucinations just got worse.

Sterling asked about the Order of Ruin’s contracts, noting despite them being bindings for them did not appear like they knew where they were and Ilvwinter explained there needed to be physical manifestations of the contracts on the *Material Plane,* but did not guarantee that they would know where they are. Quincy asked what happened if the contracts were destroyed and Ilvwinter said that the devils in the *Nine Hells* have copies, but destroying the copy in the *Material Plane* would sever it temporarily until a new manifestation was made. Sterling questioned if the contracts were kept away from them for that reason and Ilvwinter agreed. Sterling then pointed out Kalistock was probably happy with his and made a contract he was happy with and Ilvwinter noted that was the other members assumed. Sterling suggested the contract could be used to find out more about this mysterious Ennex, but Ilvwinter told him not to bother and just instead free Ob. Ilvwinter warned there were conditions to his release that had to be met, that he wasn't entirely sure what they were and asked Darie to find the conditions for the party, noting he couldn't ask Robert at the moment, and she quietly nodded. Quincy wondered if Darie could also help them locate him and Ilvwinter noted he was in the ruins of the *Chasm of Spire,* that the would find them and that Lunala played a cruel prank on him. Quincy noted of course Lunala wanted to be dramatic and put him somewhere thematically appropriate and Ilvwinter agreed she had flavor to her dramatics.

Ilvwinter, now dawning his full plate armor, stood up, reached up to his shoulders, pulled off a single skull from each of his pauldrons that gave off a faint green smoke, put them on the table, explain if they were in trouble to use them and would try to do what he could in that situation. RX and Sterling put one skull each in the *Bag of Holding* and *Eldritch Scarf* before Sterling said it had been a large gesture of good faith from Ilvwinter, that the party could offer one of their own with something they had held onto for a long time and held out the hidden contract the party found in the Aetian ruins outside *Nij’a.* Ilvwinter, genuinely surprised, noted payback just got a bit better and as he took the book promised if they kept doing what they were doing he would be sure to help them in the end, but until then he would have to do some things to get in the way and when that happened might as well change sides then. Ilvwinter told the group he was never there and started to leave, but Kaz quickly asked what the "*Formless*" was, what Seren had asked in the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse.* lvwinter explained it was a contingency, a virus from the *Feywild* that could increase a person’s abilities to a large degree, but would consume their body and soul after a few hours. Kaz asked if it was meant for Kalistock, citing that he spoke of it often, and Ilvwinter said he would likely use it. Kaz pointed out her understanding why he would want another way and Ilvwinter commented that he wasn't keen to have his soul ripped out from an arcane fire.

Ilvwinter left the room, but Darie remained, looked over the party and said she was sorry it had been so hard for them and didn't want it to be. Sterling noted he didn't think she made the smartest decision, but appreciated it and Darie said she would make the decisions she had to. Sterling noted the good decision wasn't always the smartest one and Darie added it wasn't always the dumbest either. she made the decision she had to and the good decision isn’t always the smartest. She then looked to Alaerith and told him quietly it wasn’t his fault and Alaerith, unable to speak could only cry. Darie kneeled in front of him, said they all made stupid decisions, that she didn't blame him for not being able to save everybody, that it was too much and she understood now that their people were cruel and believed in rubbish. Alaerith noted that was what everyone had been trying to tell him and she said to believe it before asking him to stop Lunala. Alaerith asked when she came for Darie and she told him it was a couple years ago. Alaerith struggled on it before half heartedly asking if she had seen Kalas since she had been back and she said no, but knew she was out there. She said she would try to see him before noting she would likely scare him and when Alaerith nervously laughed that it took a lot to scare him agreed and said it was why he became a guard. Darie asked Alaerith to do this because he wanted to, not because he thought he had to before she stood up and hugged him and Alaerith hugged her back tightly while crying more. Darie restated to him that she always had her eyes on him before she left the room as well as Alaerith buried his head in his lap once more.

As the party grappled with what just transpired for a moment Kaz learned that Boris didn't pick up the presence of any of the other members. RX tried to announce they had a new ally and when Sterling hoped Ilvwinter would continue to consider them the side to be with Yashani pointed out they had also had a new enemy in Ennex. Sterling agreed and noted they had a lot to ponder, but first needed to deal with the salamanders, then free Bolton, then free Ob and formulate real plans to learn about Ennex. Quincy noted throughout their journeys they had always been directed to *Vayilcor* for answers and doubted even they could avoid the flow of the Æther that provided *Vayilcor’s* records with information and when Sterling added it to the list and light-heartedly said it was only three things to do though RX pointed out the checklist has quite a few subpoints. As the group headed off for rest Quincy and Kaz worked to make a *Cone of Cold* Bullet before they slept. After the party woke they killed time before their meeting with Rezo again, with Sterling ritual casting *Identify* on the skulls from Ilvwinter’s pauldrons and revealed they unleashed his I*nvoke Authority : Aspect of the Death Dealer* which he used on the party in the *Church of Demigods* in *Quarry Hold.* Sterling suggested to use it in tandem with RX's *Bubble Staff*, while Kaz thought it could be used with Boris and send him ahead as an another option for it before the two were split between Sterling and RX again.

While the rest of the party took the day to recoup and recover, Sterling said he was going to go out into the *City of Brass* to help get his new spellbook deciphered by someone who might be able to read more of the languages and had RX join him. As the two left Quincy asked Yashani how she talked to Sanguis and Yashani recalled asking her uncle that when she was young before saying she sat and took her mind to a peaceful place to speak to Sanguis and while he did not necessarily speak back had a feeling that he was listening and felt him when she used her Ki and abilities. Quincy asked if that meant Yashani had spent most of her life speaking to someone she could only sort of feel, quickly backtracing to that she didn't mean that in a rude way, and Yashani agreed before pointing out Quincy got power from a being they do not know, from Broneli and indirectly through Bolton. Quincy shrugged and said they never thought about it like that, that they assumed, since they signed the contract with Bolton, it was simply Bolton’s power and had never seen much reason to talk to the Gods. Yashani admitted she often thought the same and that if she never spoke with Sanguis she and the other monks wouldn't be able to do what they could do and suggested she ask Bolton when they do find him. Quincy said maybe before saying it was brave for Yashani to go into the world without anything concrete and made what Yashani did even more impressive. Yashani noted she grew in a place where everyone was like that and said they would figure it out, even if it didn't look as they expected. Quincy asked if they could sit with Yashani, promising to be quiet and that she did better with examples and Yashani agreed before she got into position to show her and recalled when she attempted to teach Seren how to meditate as well.

RX and Sterling headed out into the *The Plume* and Sterling explained he was looking for a particular kind of person from legend, a Yugoloth, beings he wasn't sure existed or not that were similar to devils and demons, walked a line of neutrality, but were known to be exemplary in their given trade or experts in whatever particular knowledge they landed on. Sterling added that was specifically looking for an Arcanaloth, who he hoped could decipher the book in the shortest time needed, that he hoped with RX’s help he did not have to go alone and could help with translating between them and that they were looking for something like a bipedal weasel in robes with glasses and a book. The two wandered *The Plume*, asking people on the streets to direct them to someone who may be able to help and eventually found someone who directed them to a place called *Pero’s House* and for their help gave them *one gold*. Sterling and RX attempted to follow the helpful citizen’s directions and eventually stumbled into a small market square and spot the sign for the shop they are looking, but Sterling noticed two or three Efreeti quietly tailing them and warned RX. RX reassured that he had a plan before he announced loudly in Infernal to the people gathered in the square that there seemed to be a large pile of gold behind him and Sterling cast *Minor Illusion* to create an illusion of piles of gold between them and the people attempting to follow them before he used following chaos to grab RX’s shoulder and cast *Dimension Door* to get inside the shop.

The pair were greeted by a humanoid weasel, with a pair of spectacles perched on its nose, in a small shop lined with bookcases and a small table with a few chairs at the center. Sterling excitedly noted that the man looked exactly how the stories described while the creature asked what they were doing and pointed out he had a door. Sterling excitedly asked if he was an Arcanaloth and the creature wondered if that was an insult before noting he was indeed a Yugoloth that specialized in arcana. Sterling apologized and admitted the two were not from around here before asking if he would be interested in helping them decipher a spellbook. As the Yugoloth looked over the book he exclaimed at the odd writing and Sterling noted that he did notice a residue of a burnt psychedelic along the pages and figured the wizard had some fun with their extracurriculars. The Yugoloth said it could take some time and suggested a pot of coffee, but also closed up the shop when RX requested to. Sterling excitedly cast *Enhance Ability : Fox’s Cunning* on the trio get down to business and worked for seven hours but in the end every spell was deciphered and copied into Sterling’s spellbook and marvelled at the strangeness of the wizard who wrote them down.

After the duo paid *445 gold* in exchange for his services RX asked if the Yugoloth had roof access and he said he did and pointed to a set of stairs at the back wall. RX picked up Sterling, still reeling from the residual psychedelics, headed to the stairs to the roof, took a look around and saw no signs of their earlier shenanigans. RX activated *Psi-Powered Leap* to traverse the city by rooftop, but quickly got lost as he realized he never needed to navigate from this angle. Sterling asked to be put down, took a look, eventually surmised they went the exact wrong direction and guided RX back towards the area of *The* P*lume* where the inn was.

RX and Sterling returned and ran into Yashani still meditating and Quincy, who gave up and paced the room while writing in their notebook, Quincy attempted to shush them as they loudly explained their adventures in successfully translating the spellbook. Quincy questioned that Sterling looked like he had seen the bottom of a well stocked bar and Sterling assured them he was fine before explaining that the spells themselves weren’t bad and even a few that could make a good spell bullet. Quincy relayed their attempts to meditate, that they weren't good at sitting still though they thought when they were laying down it was better, but Yashani nipped the thought at the bud and said it did not work. RX commented that she appeared jittery and Quincy argued they weren't used to everything being so still after being on a ship for 10 years and at one point could feel their heartbeat which they did not like. Sterling asked if this was what they’ve been doing for seven hours and Quincy admitted they mostly gave up after 20 minutes and had been writing in their journal mostly. Sterling admitted that he didn't feel like he would sleep for a couple of hours and they had nearly a day left and Quincy noted they would be meeting Rezo tomorrow afternoon for the salamander tunnels and until then the goal was to simply lay low and not cause any problems before they had to cause a bunch of problems. Quincy asked if the pair caused any problems while they were out, and while RX fully believed they did not after successfully returning to the inn, Sterling crumpled and noted how they were followed. Quincy, after being assured they were not followed back, said they were willing to let it be and, while Yashani was more concerned, said she did as well. Sterling attempted to head off to bed, but Quincy offered that they could all play a card game together. Sterling noted he was too tired to count but would try, while RX noted he thought people didn’t like it when he counted cards. Kaz, at the sound of cards, entered the room and told Quincy they had never been able to lie to her in a game, but when Quincy cheekily replied they had new tricks Kaz told them to try her. The group played cards for a time and later Quincy had Sterling help her make a *Banishment* bullet before they all went to sleep.

The next day they spent the morning quietly prepared to meet Rezo later in the afternoon. They made their way quickly to the warehouse and soon heard the familiar knock of Rezo as he stepped inside. Rezo greeted them and noted his surprise they didn’t chicken out before saying he got what he needed and pulled out a brass keyring. He told them they would need to follow him into *The Furnace*, keeping close and quiet as they could while he led them as there was no need to attract unnecessary attention and risk being taken as slaves. then they would reach a gate which the keys would unlock and once inside would be dark. Alaerith mentioned that he and Yashani, who naturally could see in the dark, and if he meant that level of darkness or something else and Rezo clarified they would be ok while the others would need to tread carefully until they got into the rooms with the magma pools which would give off some ambient light. Sterling noted he could cast *Arcane Eye* to map the area ahead of time before checking if they were clearing the tunnels entirely of salamanders and Rezo said to leave a few for sport as the nobles like to hunt them on occasion, but clearing out a majority would be good before retrieving his items, his chest and to sweeten the pot the golden orb. Quincy asked, assuming all went well and they managed to retrieve Bolton, what Rezo has in store for their exit and Rezo handed over a six inch black obsidian gem that would teleport them to his house when broken, but noted not to let anyone see them do so as it would become obvious how they got out, along with that they needed somewhere safe to do so as it would take a moment to activate.

The party headed out, with Alaerith and Quincy casting *Disguise Self* disguise themselves, while Sterling wraped himself in his cloak and cast *Minor Illusion* to alter his face. Rezo led them out of the *City of Brass,* keeping them close to his side, out of *The Plume* into the well kept and upscale side of the city known as *The* *Furnace,* all while most of the the party heard mutterings of bystanders watching a noble lead a group of unknowns through the city. The party arrived to the base of the large hill that the *Charcoal Palace* sat atop and, after slipping past the road leading to the switchback that led to the palace, headed further along the mountain to a large iron gate. Rezo warned this was where they would need to go, but not to make it obvious and as the party prepares to move, single-file, into the gate Sterling cast *Motivational Speech* on RX, Alaerith, Quincy and Kaz. Alaerith also activated *Ob's Charm* to check whether he should use the *Staff of the Courts* to help with staying silent or a possible way to help with the dark and Sterling suggested he peer in first before making that decision. Rezo handed off the brass keys to Alaerith, used some magic to create a partial smokescreen of ash and sand for them to open the gate, get inside and lock it, before he walked past the gate like nothing had happened.

The party gathered together and just took a breather in the dark of the tunnel before Sterling cast *Arcane Eye* to get a lay of the land ahead. Sterling led the party and noticed salamanders and creatures that looked like magma rock armadillos, along with lava rivers and magma pits. As the party moved quietly as they could Kaz tripped over some loose down a nearby incline, making a clattering noise that echoed down the hall, into the cavern ahead where only Sterling's Arcane Eye could see several salamanders who heard the sound and turned in the direction of it.

1. ↑ The large, mysterious, supposedly natural occurrence mentioned by Arcus Malasana in "Doing What Is Right". It is ever growing and often produces terrible creatures and rarely do explorers come out alive.
2. ↑ Ilvwinter's *Invoke Authority : Aspect of the Death Dealer* to make a 20 foot radius bubble, requiring a 20DC Constitution Save on all targets within, deals 3d10 necrotic damage and possibly leaves the target *Restrained,* though if they fail by five or more are left *Restrained* and *Prone*
3. ↑ As seen in "Quarry Hold"