Abyses 44: Out of the Swordgeon

## TL;DR

* The Acquaintances recovered the temple’s sword, and learned it was sentient
* A party of goblins was also sent after the sword, Bernhol made friends with one of them
* Bernhol learned the identity and location of Slinky Tinker.

## Clearing the Temple

* The Acquaintances poured the blood of one of the entombed zombies into the chalice, opening an entrance to the temple's lowest layer.
* In the center of the room was a sarcophagus identical to the one covering the secret entrance.
* Rat King began slowly opening the casket, and a brilliant light shone out which was blinding for some but a relief to Fergus.
* Upon seeing the sunlight Rat King tried to close the coffin but it was forced open by the corpse inside, presumably Brysis', which began attacking the party.
* The sword the undead wielded was the source of the sunlight. As it attacked the disembodied voice rang out again, apologizing to the party and pleading for them to flee. The Acquaintances made the connection that the shining sword was both the item they were sent to recover, and the source of the voice they were hearing.
* After making the long-dead body inanimate once more the sword began to give some words of thanks before being thrown into Rat King's bag of holding.

## Hobbling Goblins

* After recovering the sword, the acquaintances began to rest.
* Just before Fergus was able to fully conjure the protective dome, the gang heard thunderous footsteps approaching.
* It was a mechanical giant accompanied by 3 goblins and Freally Jcool.  One of the goblins was adorned in an apron and several bandoliers holding colorful potions, the other two were imposing hobgoblins one red and the other blue.
* The party fired a warning shot and ordered them to stop approaching.
* The blue hobgoblin replied by throwing a javelin. The Acquaintances efficiently reduced him to a smoldering puddle, Bernhol dealing the finishing blow with his lightning launcher.
* Seeing this, the iron biggun put his arms up in surrender and asked to speak peacefully. The red hobgoblin was blinded by rage and rushed towards the temple to avenge his brother. The biggun prevented his angry ally from advancing by encasing him in a magical sphere, then beckoned the Acquaintances to approach. He pleaded for a 300GP diamond so he could revive the blue hobgoblin, to which the party claimed to have none. Then he asked them to help incapacitated the still raging red hobgoblin, and so they assisted the metal man in beating his friend unconscious.

## Talking Tinkerers

* Afterwards he introduced himself as Jimbo, and explained that his party was sent to recover the same sword the Acquaintances had just recovered.
* The Acquaintances refused to entertain any kind of negotiations for the sword, but told Jimbo that they would be delivering it to their employer in Gracklstugh.
* Then Jimbo took notice of Bernhol's infused armor, and the two began talking shop:
	+ Jimbo even stepped out of his armor to allow Bernhol to take a closer look, revealing himself to be a standard goblin.
	+ Rat King denied Jimbo’s request to take a look at the magical sword.
	+ Jimbo mentioned that Slinky Tinker, the creator of the Slinky ThinkBox, is a former mentor of his. Slinky is a Deep Gnome artificer currently held prisoner in Blingdenstone for selling his inventions to the Drow House Hunzrin. Jimbo also told Bernhol the exact location of Slinky’s cell.
	+ Finally Bernhol showed Jimbo his dagger of guitar solos, which Jimbo was immediately enamored by. Bernhol gave Jimbo the dagger for free. In return Jimbo admitted that he was planning to steal the sword when the Acquaintances let their guard down, apologized, and made his departure. The two members of his part who were still conscious followed him, but were clearly annoyed by his sudden burst of honesty.