6/17 - Into The Portal

As we approached the Cockatrice Den, we noted that the glow of the portal had become so strong it could be seen from outside the cave. We managed to sneak past the two guards posted at the entrance of the portal and Kal was able to see the tiny invisible creature. We discreetly crushed it and snuck through the portal.

On this side of the portal we were met with a town square, a fountain at the center. The portal on this side was glowing misty blue with a single crystal. Kal spoke with a pair of adventurers walking blissfully through the town. They refused to answer any questions, saying that only the Master Leader can answer questions for us. They offered to take us to Master Leader.

While at the entrance, Kal managed to make one of the adventurers answer a question. The man started to panic and weep, begging Kal to say that he had not answered a question. Guards emerged from the side doors of the castle and took the man off, knocking three times.

Kal followed them, relying seemingly only on his boldness to impress the several guards we passed. Inside we found a hall lined with market stalls laden with goods, but no one around to staff them. We came across a minotaur smoking a hookah who seemed shocked that we’d found our way inside. Master Leader offered us a tour of his “facility” which he called The Fortress. He told us that he was from Hell itself, though he does not personally know The Devil. He said that people who spent time inside this place seem to slowly “transform” into someone else, taking up to 48 hours, but often instantly.

Master Leader offered us magic lessons if we would entertain his masses. Kal and Eldon agreed. We battled with an enormous two headed ogre who split himself apart into two separate ogres. After we defeated the ogre, Kal leapt into the stands and started to break the spell on all of the residents in the stands with his Channel Divinity. As Fritz and Eldon escaped the arena floor, a woman Kal had freed offered to teleport one of his companions to safety. Kal chose Fritz.

Master Leader teleported Kal and Eldon from the chaos of the stands to a stark white room where he cut a deal with them. Kal managed to succeed in convincing Master that he would take both of the “meals” Master insisted they eat. Kal seemed miraculously unswayed by both doses of the food. Master Leader accepted that Kal had fulfilled their bargain and sent both Eldon and Kal safely back to White Wall with 600 gold and three small treasures.