Flynn scratched his beard an turned to North and the others.
¡±Does this sound like the rod we are searching for?¡±
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DM-
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¡°You check for secret doors?¡±
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¡°Not yet,¡± the Rogue answers. ¡°We were still searching for traps when we came upon this.¡±
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In the alcove, framed by pillars, stands a stone bench on which a shriveled corpse huddles. Scattered around its feet are various trinkets- straw dolls decorated with colorful feathers, braided grass necklaces adorned with animal teeth, and
shiny rocks that have been cut but not polished including an agate carved in the shape of a heart, a tiny gold llama, a ring of polished pink granite, and a silver plaque bearing the face of the sun.
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¡°Nothing magical about it,¡± Mira explains, gesturing at the mess. ¡°The mummified body of some ancient sacrifice. I don¡¯t have a name, but it might¡¯ve been some King by the looks of this room,¡± she says, glancing out into the area.
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In the center of the room is an enormous, tarnished copper raft, crafted to resemble a dragon, bearing a copper coffin. The raft is afloat on a sea of silvery-white, flowing metal, fed by several rivers that trail along the floor of the room.
The flowing liquid appears to be cool.
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Between the waterways, stepped pyramid-temples rise skyward in mute paean to the gods of ancient Olman. Three of the pyramids appear to have tops that can be removed. In the rest of the area, a royal complex sprawls across verdant fields, and
courtyards and ringed marketplaces dot the miniature countryside. There is a blight on this spectacle, however, for several of the models have been smashed and melted.
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¡°Fenn, this rod you seek can you tell us more?? We also seek a rod-type object."?
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¡°Greyst¡¯s Rod of Ixtzul,¡± Fenn explains. ¡°A Commanding Hishna-enchanted Rod. An artifact variant of the more common Staff of Command with one major difference in function ¨C it affected insects and insectoid creatures only.¡±
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"Whom told you about said rod? I find it interesting that the nine of us are seeking the same item.¡±
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¡°Mira was in the Library of Prose in the Bardic college of New Olamn when she discovered a diary of Mirandos of Helm,¡± Fenn says.
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Mira takes over, explaining, ¡°Mirandos of Helm was a missionary sent to Maztica to convert the native population. Until she went rogue, Mirandos was considered an excellent missionary. One of her duties was to gather and interpret native texts
and while engaged in this activity she stumbled upon books that referenced the ruined city of Ixtz and its guardian, an entity called The Star Worm.¡±
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Mira pauses momentarily to see if that means anything to anyone, then continues. ¡°According to her journal, Mirandos became convinced she could use magic as a means to control the Star Worm and turn it into a tool for Helm's greater glory.
She went missing with a small group of Payit warriors shortly thereafter and hasn¡¯t been heard of in the hundred plus years since.¡±
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¡°However,¡± Kallan takes over the tale. ¡°A merchant mariner with trade route between Murann on the Sword Coast of Amn and Helmsport here in North Ulatos whispered of rumors that Greyst Seven Cloud and Mirandos of Helm were interred deep within
a tomb in High Payit.¡±
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¡®Levenfingers digs through his pack and pulls forth a scroll tube. ¡°Sold us this map, he did,¡± he says, popping off the cork and spilling out a rolled parchment. He peels it open show you.
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The image is waterlogged, badly creased and the edges are burnt, but Cerina is confident it¡¯s a map. And she does see the resemblance to the areas you¡¯ve been traveling. It very well could be an authentic map of this tomb.
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¡°And you think this Rod of Insect Control is somewhere in this temple?¡± Brother Ashley asks.
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¡°Aye,¡± Fenn answers. ¡°Our guide took one look at th¡¯map and as much told us so. He¡¯d be here for you to ask him yourself if it wasn¡¯t for those terrible lizards. Tall as a tavern, I swear,¡± he says, raising his arm to gesture the height.
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¡°With the Rod, Sir Fenngrave shall be able to raise an army to drive out the Shadow Witch and her minions,¡± Kallan says. ¡°What need have you of it?¡± he asks.
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And what do you do?
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/DM
