Chapter 23

In the aftermath of our battle with the cultists, Helike discovered a horrifying octopus monster that followed him around and whispered that he should use the skulls of two zombies to open a portal. Scourpax managed to set half the group ablaze with a fireball and knocked Helike out before he could open it. We then received a message from Cesta Melora sent us a message through a rat that something was coming and reinforcements were on the way. We left the cave and were greeted by a group of dragonborn soldiers, who cheered at our victory against the cultists. They then warned us that the followers of Tiamat were coming to Melancrot for the first time in centuries. We retrieved our horses and fled for Gumnell.

During our travels, we ran into an orc who claimed that we were enemies of Ylil and attacked us with blood monsters, his "gift of Ylil." We managed to knock him down and take him prisoner to interrogate him. He seems to have some information about the whereabouts of Castelis' daughter.

But Helike once again had other plans. His devil lord instructed him to kill our new prisoner (who called himself Guide). Helike failed to kill him in battle and his warlock powers completely left him. We locked Guide in another portal, and Castelis gave him goodberries to keep him fed, but Helike slipped in some poison berries. We finally reached Gumnell, and made preparations to meet Duluth just outside the city gates. Then Helike admitted the truth.