Bromsby cradles his arm sheepishly, wisely concealing the blackness encroaching up it until pressed by Meega about his sudden sullenness. Haerelben, proficient medical practitioner, determines immediately [critical 1 medicine check] that Bromsby has mere moments to live before succumbing to black arm and directs Theren [23 persuasion versus critical 1 wisdom check] to amputate. Theren suspects wyvern poisoning is more likely than black arm, whatever that is, but readies his longsword anyway. Bromsby transforms to a crystalline orange turtle in self defense, balking at the lack of consultation regarding his medical treatment. Lefty offers to provide care for Bromsby if the others want to go explore or something, just please go away for a while.
Meega leads Haerelben and Theren stealthily and cautiously back into the Howling Hatred cult area following along the right wall, keeping distance from the stirred-up temple pyramid. They enter an unlocked living quarters scattered with bits of bone and rubble. A neat, recently made bed poses an obvious mystery considering the only footprints in the dusty floor belong to the intruding adventurers.
Proceeding through to the corridor continuing beyond the dusty quarters, the party notices a single existing footprint but cannot determine a reasonable context, other than recalling that the cultists in the temple did tend to levitate a bit.
A second living quarters has existing footprints, ironically left by birds. The bed is poorly made as is a desk improvised into a bunk bed.
Proceeding through to the corridor continuing beyond the birdy quarters, the party encounters a recently installed, padlocked, black iron gate blocking the corridor. Lacking thieves tools or Bromsby’s navigational talents, they elect to bypass the gate and double back to the nearest junction to continue along the right wall. The passage wends around taking the party to a section of floor made of cracked aquamarine flagstones. The distinctive sounds of stoneworking emanate from just around the corner.
Haerelben carefully peeks around the corner, but the large, blue craftsman working to restore the section of stonework points out that Haerelben need not bother being sneaky. Air djinni Ahtayir knows the three have been creeping closer the whole time, easily detecting them from their hot breath. He is friendly and informative while he continues repairing the worked stone.
Once upon a time, back in the days when the Besilmer dwarves constructed Tyar-Besil, king Torhild Flametongue found an etched horn capable of summoning servant Ahtayir every century or so. They became besties. Then a long time passed until Aerisi Kalinoth found the horn and directed Ahtayir to single-handedly rebuild Tyar-Besil. It’s not like Ahtayir to complain, and he wouldn’t like to characterize his situation as enslavement, but he’s enslaved to Aerisi Kalinoth until the horn is destroyed or used to nullify his obligation. In fact, he’d be obliged to explain their meeting to Aerisi if she asks, so Haerelben explains *wink* that they are from Black Earth impersonating Howling Hatred to wreak mayhem *wink*.
Ahtayir goes on to describe his summoning horn in detail. He knows the air elemental artifact, a filigreed sapphire spear called Windvane, will be found with Aerisi in the highest level of the temple pyramid and is somehow tied to the elemental evil eye. He reveals that although Aerisi Kalinoth presents herself as a winged elf, a recently absent race of flying elves, she is actually “just” a moon elf. He also completes their knowledge of the Howling Hatred secret whistle, a refrain from a tune called Close Encounters.
The party bids adieu to Ahtayir and continues along the right wall, skipping the corridor back to the temple pyramid. Theren takes the lead, bursting into side rooms with perfunctory efficiency. A couple of angry cultists demand the air from Theren’s lungs. His crossbow bolts take the air from cultist Yellow’s lungs. Meega’s axe takes the air from cultist Red’s lungs. Haerelben notes these sky weavers seem to have authority over Theren, still dressed in his flight suit disguise. Haerelben helps himself to a looted feather-mantled cloak just before Theren begins removing the sky weavers’ lungs with one of his many, many purloined daggers. A smear of Black Earth Rulez graffiti on the wall completes the scene.
Continuing the systematic exploration along corridors, the party comes to a closed door from which agonized screams can be heard. Theren throws open the door dramatically, a cult-like unamused look on his 10% lofted countenance. Three kenku torturing five bound commoners. Theren requires the air from the kenkus’ lungs. The kenku can only mimic their orders by way of explanation. Theren and Meega release the air from the lungs of two kenku, and the third surrenders. Let’s use this kenku as a meat shield, suggests Theren. Let’s use this kenku as a meat shield, mimics the kenku.
The party leads the liberated commoners to the unlikely safety of the entrance to the cult area and releases them. One begs for the rescue of prisoner Nerise Gladham. Haerelben assures him that is their highest priority, why not.
Meega, Theren, and Haerelben check in on Bromsby’s progress while taking a short rest. Lefty has packed his grounded arm with goodberries and dances around him with smoldering incense. Lefty invites them to come back just a little later.
Theren leads Meega and Haerelben around to an unexplored door. From outside the door they hear grinding, yelling, whipping, and an order to reverse the direction. Theren opens the door dramatically, a cult-like unamused look on his 10% lofted countenance. Two gaunt priests encouragingly whip five commoner initiates into rotating a mill of unseen purpose. A second mill is unoccupied. The commoners mob Theren angrily, forcibly propelled through the doorway by a wind gust generated by a priest. Theren bolts down the commoners while Meega chops at the priests. The priests attempt to escape their inevitable demise in gaseous form, but Meega and Theren run them down. Haerelben notes the Howling Hatred priests seem to have authority over Theren in his sky weaver cloak disguise. Haerelben helps himself to a looted robe.
The party drags the bodies into the mill room. Then it’s time to go check on Bromsby.