5) Brother James and the Eye Tyrant

[Jandolar]

Opyeen teleports out of the area and with in a few minutes returns bearing a sack of coins and an overly large ink well. An assembly type line is quickly set up where each kobold is handed a silver coin by Opyeen and then marked by either Hermia or Mae since they have the skills to do underground ink. When it is all said and done the CoS is out 388 silver pieces (it would have been more had not Opyeen finally called a stop to all the chaos of other creatures running in from other parts of the dungeon). The old man has watched through the entire exchange and even smiled a bit as Giovanni cast Continual Light on a rather jagged and rusty dagger for Garbles.

Pike, holding his shiny coin close, has decided that he'll lead the company to the cursed monk as long as he gets his "hunnerts feet o' rope" when the job is done.

IIRC all of you are carrying silk rope with you, it'd be a simple deal maker if you gave up a couple hundred feet of it. It is easy for you to purchase more up top after all.

Pike looks to the group. Yous wanna go straight to him or yous wanna go down and up into his cage?

[Hywaywolf]

whichever route makes it easier for this kobold army to tackle the monk

[Woe]

"Cage? Perhaps a detour to his cage may explain what is going on, before we encounter him. If he's somehow turned undead like Talpyn, we should know before meeting him."

"Oh, and Oypeen... you didn't happen to buy garlic when you went topside, did you?"

[Hywaywolf]

"no, sorry about the garlic. "

[Woe]

"No garlic? In that case, we should definitely investigate the cage first."

[Jandolar]

Pike looks back at the old man and at the old mans slight nod the Kobold takes off to the east waving the companions along as he goes. A few twists and turns and through two doors later they arrive at the barred entrance to a cave. (map has been updated)

Siting in the middle of the cave is a long haired and bearded man. Clad in only a loin cloth and surrounded by filth the man sits cross legged with his fists upon his knees and appears to be meditating. His skin is white as if far removed from sunlight, his skin is stretched tight over bones and taught muscle, all that remains as his body long ago consumed whatever fat he might have had on him. Perhaps a sound or smell comes to him for as the companions approach the gate he looks up. His vacant eyes stare without recognition. Brother James is a forlorn and starving thing left here to rot.

Pike speaks up. We gives him food when wees has extra. Not nobody needs to starve. Not even the cursted one.

[Woe]

"Oh James..." Ravoneth moves up to him. Any recognition?

"Why is he caged? How long has he been here? Mae, can you do something about this lock?"

[Jandolar]

"Oh James..." Ravoneth moves up to him. Any recognition?

"Why is he caged? How long has he been here? Mae, can you do something about this lock?"

As Ravoneth speaks the man tilts his head to one side and there is a faint hint of a smile upon his lips.... then confusion.

Pike speaks up How long?? Oh most of times so fars. Hims caged cause the floating one no needs him no mores. Well.... not no needs but no needs you know. Hims here cause hims is needed for the other to be here.

[Woe]

Ugh, do all kobolds describe so well?

"Pike, what do you mean? The cursed one is here because why?"

"Oypeen, once Mae is done with that door, can you teleport us back to the elevator? James is worse than I feared."

[Jandolar]

Pike looks up at Ravoneth and smiles a sad little grin and backs away. A subtle hand gesture and the Kobold becomes the old man you all met before. Standing in his robes with a staff in one hand and a wand in the other he speaks.Little bitch. Your brother failed as we feared he would. Money and power makes the man weak and useless. But we knew your master would send someone pure of soul and untainted by pleasure to save him. And now we have you...... little pure bitch. You are untouched by man, untainted, unloved.... you are stupid and blind and innocent.... and perfect. Your brother found the companionship of women, and an occasional man or three, welcome and invigorating. But I see that you hold no stock in pleasures of the flesh. You do however hold the purity we need to open the lock once we have the key. Time to go meet your new master....

A quick phrase and a gesture and the old man and Ravoneth disappear. As the they depart Brother James jumps up and crashes into the bars. Screaming and pounding the metal he wears himself into a crying mess on the floor. No... not her... please.....