When they emerge back out into the forest, dusk is falling. Kriv leaves behind her holy symbol, as a sign to Maivera, if she survived, that the party made it, and that they can find her again. They put some distance between themselves and the cave, and then camp for the night. No Troglodytes are spotted during the night, so the party is able to rest and recover from their ordeal.
In the morning, they make the rest of the journey back to Prosepilis, where they do some shopping, beefing up their armories and unloading some of the treasure they found down in the cavern. From there, though, they are not exactly sure what to do next. Dayman is not very helpful either; in fact he says that he is done hanging with the party, that he's going to go his own way. The party pounces on him before he can get far though, and decide they will take him to Maxé too, to ask him to keep Dayman a prisioner too (and to let him know about Maivera).
Dayman, in what is obviously a last-ditch attempt, suggests that they go see Lucan. He's a hermit that lives off in the swamp; it was from some of his people that Dayman first found out about the cave and was able to buy the inscription for the lock. Lucan, Dayman says, is the guy you go to if you need information. The party is a little skeptical, but doesn't really have any other options. When pressed, Dayman admits that he's never actually met Lucan, that he discourages visitors, and is generally thought to be kind of dangerous.
It only takes a few hours to get to Lucan's home, which is set back in the swamp. When they arrive, they find an old, traditional-looking manor home, set on a large open lot ringed about by huge swamp cedars. The party is wary, and they decide to leave Rougi in the trees while they approach the house, so as to have some backup. However, they have only gone a couple of yards past the treeline when savage-looking creatures begin to claw their way up through the soil and start attacking them.
These sharp-fanged monstrosities don't prove much of a threat, though, and the party makes short work of several. However, more keep popping up as they strike them down. But the battle has not gone on long before a commanding voice calls across the lawn. A man clad in dark red robes is standing on the veranda of the manor house. He beckons the party closer, calling off the attackers, and identifying himself as Lucan. He welcomes them to his home and apologizes for the attack; he says those creatures are meant to keep out thieves, but he doesn't feel the party has come to rob him.The party warily approaches him, and he invites them in. A beautiful woman is waiting inside; Lucan asks the party if they want anything to eat or drink, and this woman, whom he calls Zalasta, goes off to get it. Lucan then invites them into the drawing room, and they sit down to talk. The party says they want information; Lucan says he is happy to give information, that is what he does, but it comes at a price. He also says that he does not give out information about himself, and repeatedly deflects such questions. The party says they have questions about Cabal; Lucan names a price, and the party (but mostly Kriv) forks over the money.
Lucan settles back in his chair, and asks them how much they know about the dragon Tubaloth. The party remembers that the kobolds in the Forest of Tryn worshipped Tubaloth, but really don't know much else. Lucan says that, according to legend, centuries ago, a great dragon named Tubaloth lived in the Mountains of Tryn. Like most dragons, Tubaloth had acquired great wealth, and hoarded it jealously. Somewhat unlike other dragons, he regarded the very mountains themselves as part of his treasure trove, knowing them to be rich in minerals. He regarded any attempts to mine, however small, to be theft, and would brutally punish any offenders. However, over seven hundred years ago, Tubaloth disappeared from this world, and now no one is even sure if he ever actually existed.
Lucan says Cabal, at least, belives himself to be in the employ of Tuabloth. Cabal is scouring the world’s records and markets, following some strange path through the economic records of the last seven centuries]. It is an exhausting task, but he has an endless supply of platinum and valuable items at his disposal somehow. Perhaps the most puzzling aspects is that when Cabal comes to the end of certain line of money, he hires a group of thieves to steal it, giving them all they could possibly need to do the job. Lucan seems to approve of Cabal's ruthless and bizarre nature. The party asks where they can find Cabal now, and Lucan says that he has a base somewhere in Mt. Thrain, which is the mountain on which Zaimier, the dwarf city their adventure started from, has been built.
Throughout this little interchange, some of the party notices that Lucan seems to be almost transfixed with the Eladrins, particularly with Rougi. He barely looks at the other party members, and when he speaks he seems to only address Rougi.
When the party has decided they've gotten enough information for the prices Lucan wants, they thank him and prepare to leave. Lucan then stands and declares that the party is free to leave - except Rougi. He has decided that Rougi must stay. They demand to know why, and at this Lucan smiles, baring his teeth, including his two sharp, pointed fangs. "To join me," the vampire lord says with an evil smile. "To join me in subjugating the world."
The party needs little encouragement. Their weapons flash, and they attack Lucan. He is not easily damaged, and seems almost indifferent to their attacks at first. He comes at Rougi, intent with drinking his blood, and very nearly succeeds. To make matters worse, Zalasta returns, and seeing these people attacking her master, joins the fight. Kriv and Kava order the pseudodragons into action, and they pin her down while Rougi feebly attempts to fend of Lucan. Berekhan and Kava bring their full powers to bear, though, and after a few substantial hits, Lucan no longer seems amused. Zalasta cannot reach him, and before long he is looking worried and then panicked as they pummel him. Zalasta finally breaks free of the pseudodragons, but it is too late; the party cuts her down. With her last breath, she whispers "Lucan", like a lover's whisper, and then she is gone. As her body sucumbs to death, an illusion falls away from her, and they see her corpse with leathery wings and a pointed tail.
Lucan, staggering and bloodied under the force of the party's attack, watches Zalasta's death in horror. In this state, he is unable to sense how weary the party themselves is becoming, and decides to flee. He dissolves before their eyes, transforming into mist and then he is gone. The party spits insults after him, feeling themselves cheated and robbed.
Rewards
XP: 500
Money: 3,300 gp
Treasure: None
DM's NOTE: I'm very sorry this took so long to get out!
