The Pink one's Territory

20/08/3022
 
We left camp, not much happened but we saw where the lightning had struck a tree as the cat demon had stated, walking up we found the remains of a cart in it and an obvious patch of dirt that had been recently moved. Digging at the dirt we found a hand and in it a blue print, I did ask for something to make but I never considered it would be in a language I can't translate. Axel went to check out the cart, seems it was the remains of Vox the voice of the card shark, hand removed along with his head. Well we left as soon as we could.
 
We then headed along and got to the pink ones territory, not so bad here I guess but it is a tad bit warm, it being a desert baren land and all. When we entered the little city we were greeted by a locale sheriff and his team, seems they do in fact have some law around here, and if they had been anything but kobolds maybe I would have been threatened, but it seems more like a child's play acting, we're to spend the night here before heading further in.
 
We met some people at the inn, staff and an ogre looking for work, seems there is some work available helping with the transport of "stock" for Cythisis, slaves basically. Not great work but it might gain us an in with the dragonlord, we'll see.
 
21/08/3022
 
Today's plan is simple, we sign up with the train, do the job and then see where that leads us, hopefully it will at least get us close to the pink palace and to his vault, a lot of work for just one or two items we happen to be looking for but who knows maybe something of interest might appear or a way to translate this damned schematic. Well we made it to the camp area, we travelled with the ogre, not unpleasant company I guess. We met with one of the guards of Cythisis, seems all his personnel wear at least one item of pink, and I would assume what attire that is dictates the rank in his forces but as to who's higher up, that's anyone's guess at the moment.
 
We met with the Doktor, an interesting if a bit weird fellow, a "man of science" type seems he's very familiar with testing on himself given his attire and what might lie beneath his clothing. Seems we caught his eye though and we were invited to a meal with him, it was a fine meal. I did not expect him to get drunk and reveal what he did, but if that's how it played out I guess that's just it. The doc revealed that Cythisis was barren, a confusing thought but apparently the dragonlord can switch genders at will, the doc was asked to make him able to have children and through whatever work he has done, he has made that a reality... in a sense. Cythisis' guard force is or are his children a mix of him and another creatures blood, I'm unsure of what kind of life that is but it is not natural.
 
We were able to discuss a few other items, Axel found out about the kitty can he wanted to learn about, and during the drinks we were provided the opportunity to imbibe in a liquor containing cythisis' blood, an interesting concept to say the least, it is said to be an aphrodisiac or so the doktor says, I got some this might be able to aid me in getting through the vaults blood lock, but we'll see given the quantity I will need some sophisticated tech to do anything with it. One thing I do worry about is, during the meal we all shook his hand, upon doing so we all bar Storm received a shock, with closer examination I discovered it was a tracking spell of sorts, with a duration of 12 hours, this more disconcerting fact is that this spell stacks, each time it is applied it begins to have effects on ones sensory organs potentially creating hallucinations both visual and auditory.
 
Luckily we have Axel with us and with his magic we were able to get rid of the magic on us, whether the doc notices tomorrow will be another thing but I feel safer knowing I'm not being tracked.
 
22/08/3022
 
The new day, our plan is to watch the "cargo" arrive and then aid in its transport, hopefully this will go smoothly, although there has been some lightning in the area and I do feel static in the air, I'm unsure what this means but I assume it's weather normal to the area. We went to see the "cargo" arrive, and in doing so were invited by the doc to get a new job, given mine and Ciri's work area we were asked to aid in the examination of the "cargo". when it arrived we were greeted to an interesting sight, a portal opening from it a mind flayer and a collection of creatures, all of which had been heavily experimented on, none of them likely to be in sane mind.
 
Creatures
A giant bull like creature, wielding a giant shield and a spiked mace replacing the other hand.
A mouse/rat like creature perched the bull creature, a stand on it for a crossbow.
An Aarakocra, a bird like creature, it seemed normal...ish at first but then the fact it's wings didn't move hit us, there's some sort of device on its back allowing flight but it's wings are stuck outstretched.
 
The "cargo" was delivered with only one "broken product" which Storm was asked to leave at an x mark in the ground in what the doc called the "play pen". We looked over the "cargo" and it went relatively quietly finishing reports and looking over their current health, i dread to think what they will be used for but it is what it is, I don't fancy my chances against cythisis' people nor the dragonlord himself, I already have enough of them looking to kill me I don't need more.
 
There was a bit of trouble with one of the slaves however, the group seemed to want to help this one in particular, which made sense, it was a child, a tabaxi one at that. I do not know what clan he hailed from, my knowledge of that topic is lacking but I guess I could ask Storm at some point, I don't speak the language but I feel the conversarions they had the kid seemed quite spirited and was not a fan of his current predicament or us even when trying to help, I did my best to distract the doktor, but even with a head start he was caught again. once the work was done the doktor talked with the mind flayer and then they left.
 
It was not long after that when Cythisis showed himself to us, flying down from his castle or pleasure palace.... diving on the creature at the X mark, eating it in one gulp, making sure to put as much flair into the act as one could. He spoke with the doktor before taking interest in the child and flying off with them. seems his fate is worst of all. The static in the air was getting worse, whilst I wasn't sure what it meant before, the thunder was also getting nearer. Then it struck me, the words of the prophet and from other places as well, the blue one was headed south, I just at the time did not expect him to be arriving so soon, or that he would be here.
 
Our encounter did not go well, the fight, if it can be called that ened fairly fast, though we lasted longer then any of the other mercs that Cythisis hired, so I guess that is something, also we are still alive, if only because we were needed to do a job that he could not be bothered with. All I can say is that big man was not a fan of the guy and that Storm seemed to have some sort of history with the guy, guess we will see what comes next. It's a shame that Gary had to go that way though, I know if was hard for Axel, but I'm just glad I'm still alive.
 
Apparently the job we need to do is to get into the vault and find a crown of some sort. I do not know what this crown will look like but it will likely stand out, either that or the blue priest also does not know what it looks like which does not help the situation.
 
We are currently taking time to rest, I don't know if anyone else made it out alive but hopefuly some were able to escape.
 
23/08/3022 - 24/08/3022
 
The rest was quiet, the statics died down and the thunder has stopped, we took a moment to have some food and talk about what to do next and what we plan to do about the blue prick. It seems there were survivors though, I can see someone in the distance, we will see how it goes but here's hoping they're not here to kill us.
 
Seems all is good, the person we saw, or rather the people we saw was the Doktor and a small group of slaves he had managed to capture/keep alive. Given that the other mercs were dead and much of the "cargo" was gone he knew that Cythisis would not be happy but he was clearly doing all he could, we spoke for a bit and then he hired us on the spot for transport protection, given the situation it makes sense, there was no one else to hire bar dead corpses. We discused the path the take, 2 options available and we choose the longer but safer path, going to X then to Guest House before getting to BBB and then onto the path of shame up to the... palace.
 
Before we set off, not wanting to waste time the Doktor asked if we would take a drug to On our way there we went past the guest house, apparently its for the guests of Cythisis as he doesn't like them sleeping in the palace, each to their own I guess, I imagine there's plant of room but I'm not the size of a dragon so who knows. Sadly as we passed some of the group felt as if we were being watched, apparently the Blue priest is taking residence there, I can't imagine with what has happened that Cythisis is pleased with this turn of events.
 
We then made it to BBB, the Doktor does not seem to like this place, something tells me that he would have been happier taking the more dangerous route just to avoid this place. We made it partway through the settlement before the Doktor broke and asked us to stand in a circle, with whatever he has on his body he charged some sort of device or spell, I'm unsure as I didn't get a good eye on it, but it did not seem to have a positive effect on the people around us as the place went into chaos but it seemed everyone part of the spell, in the centre of the eye of the storm as it were, we were transported closer to the palace.
 
We then spent the next 3 hours walking through the desert to the palace, it was relatively quiet, and as we got closer to the palace it was distinctly colder then I would have expected. As we walked we did have a small incident with Storm who decided to throw gold on the floor, not sure what that was about, I think he mentioned something about a contact but I'm not sure.
 
At the end of the last hour we could see the palace, at that time we also saw a dust cloud, and this is where we met the assisstant of the doktor a "centaur" he refers to as his "fräulein", seemingly one of his creations or patients from the look of all the stitches covering the body and a device locked onto it's head with a similar sparking to that of the Doktor's equipment. The doktor introduced us and then announced she would be here to guard us. We then headed on.
 
We eventually got to the castle, walking up the stairs and into one of the main corridors of the palace. The temperature was a lot nice than outside but the art is certainly fascinating, in a way. All of the art was of Cythisis, pre injury. We met with some of Cythisis' guards, one of whom wore a pink sash similar to one we met before. the doktor spoke with him for a while before they turned to us. Apparently we have arrived earlier then expected but due to the recent events with a whole lot less "cargo". For a moment it seemed like he recognised us but I guess thanks to this place being slightly out of the loop our current situation is not known here by a majority of people.
 
I spoke to him about one of the other guards we saw in a sash, apperently that person was to be their replacement for their retirement in 3 years but, not anymore I guess. We were then shown a way to a place of rest and told we would be provided with refreshments and a place to bathe within the nest day. Axel managed to talk up the guard and with a little bribery managed to get in good enough to get us the code, this should allow us to access a few places within the palace, shame it had to be "cunalingus".
 
We discussed for a bit with the guard and he eventually got around to asking us for help, we are to attend the event, will be allowed to take weapons with us, and should the need arise (which apparently it will, and always will) we are to step in and help with the issue, which I am unsure how this will go.
 
The bedding area was called the sand room, entering it the name makes sense, an entire room fille with sand, comfortable warm to the touch, which is nice. Apparently it was a room requested by Cythisis but then abandoned when he lost interest in it. We rested there for a good while, myself due to exaustion but the others to help deal with the side effects of the medication, looking over them it seems they will be fine though.
 
25/08/3022
 
We woke up, upon doing so we found Ciri awake, given the bags under her eyes it does not seem she was able to sleep well, but it was well enough to avoid the affects of the drug. Apparently she met with the catsith, the creature that Axel is looking for. acording to what was said we need to do a few things:
Kill the blue one
Steal the crown of nobody
- Free the Catsith
- He wont kill us
 
There was additional information but it seemed like something that was private to Ciri and Axel. When that was done we headed to the baths, a nice enough place, apparently the water cleans itself, a useful ability, although not perfect apparently given the stain at the other end of the room, which apparently was one of Cythisis' pets. We were greeted by the catsith before being able to take a bath, this did not help with Ciri's state of mind but neither did the doktor walking in and undressing either.
 
We rested for a while before heading out and getting food. We then headed to the lab, a very busy place, lots of differing species as well. We then made it into the doktor's office, a lot cleaner then I would have thought. on one wall was a human, unconscious, another wall had a plastering of notes, a desk in one corner covered in books and notes. looking over the other tables and shelves I noticed some fairly high tech filtration equipment, although it seems I was not discreet with the ogling, but thanks to how the doktor seems to view me I was able to get him to agree to me using his equipment.
 
I took some time to look over his notes as well, although the field of biology is not one I am studied in or have any real interest in at the moment I was able to understand to a certain capacity what the doktor was trying to achieve. The doktor whishes to find ways to alter what people see, to be able to induce halucinations in a subject and control what they see, hear and feel. Currently he is using fear, the side effect of most of his experimentations as a means to see how effective his work is progressing. From what I can see he is able to get the results he wants but is lacking when it comes to the control aspect that he truely wants.
 
Looking over some of the notes I find myself wondering how he evaluates the effectiveness of certain concotions to the degree that he does. Though they may just be mad skriblings. From what he said after we talked, it seems he has been at this for at least 4-5 years, and he got this inspiration a few years after his work placement with Cythisis started.
 
His assisstant was also with him, Ciri mentioned that they looked somewhat familiar, the doktor heard this and went on to talk about the origins of her, it seems an event 50 years ago caused this individual to find themselves here, tortured by Cythisis for attempting to steal something, the previous person in the doktors position apparently left them as a head and torso, but when the doktor got into the possition, with the help of a centaur servant who was killed in an accident, the body was used to allow her to move around.
 
The doktor was very pleased with the fact that all the organs were moved to the human portion of the body, allowing him to make a breeding chamber in the horse part of the body, disturbing as it is, apparently this is where Cythisis' children are born from, but due to a bad batch recently she has been given time to rest.
 
The moment he mentioned the incident 50 years ago it seems both I and Ciri remembered who it was, I from what Ciri had said before and Ciri from what she had read about the freedom fighter Sozu. which is slightly distrubing. We then left and managed to get the assisstant to follow us for a short chat. I'm not sure how Ciri did this though they seemed to be taking in a language I had not heard before, apparently the doktor had though but was surprised to hear it, as apparently druidic is more of a writen language than a spoken one.
 
Before leaving the doktor warned us about the party which was occuring the following day, first there was a warning about unseen servants who apparently have been set up with trigger words to pinch, slap and otherwise interact with the patrons of the party, although the doktor knows this is happening he is unaware of what the code words are that activate them. He then went on to discuss some of the guests of the party, one being the blue priest and the other being the blue priestess a lady Oliver. The doktor also mentioned that the party is leaveable when the fruit comes out, which is usually served on platters but nothing stops Cythisis from serving them on people which is apparently a event he revels in.
 
We discussed for a short while and managed to ask a few questions, we were able to find out quite a bit.
Sozu wants to kill the doktor, which is fair.
 
Sozu wants the catsith to be freed, and to do that we must enter the vault. In line with this she has provided us with a vial of sorts, apparently it is pheromones, with this we will be invisable to the guards of the vault, the sons and daughters of Cythisis. it should last an hour apparently. We discussed how long it would last if less of us went but the vault is filled with traps so it would likely be best i everyone were to go.
 
I asked her how the blood lock worked and if my plan of extracting blood from the drink we had with the doktor would work, she agreed that this would work and that I would have to wait for the doktor to leave before getting the job done, which should not be too difficult.
 
We then head back to the sand room, discuss the nest plans, the big man seems worried, he might be worried that the priestess recognises him so he plans to keep a low profile. an hour later I was able to get the work done with the help of Sozu, the key should work.
 
heading back to the sand room we prepared for the party and the next day as a whole.
 
26/08/3022