Upon returning from the Water expedition, Caster puts up a note on the notice board requesting Agates, and then disappears into the College tower. Flint, wandering around the markets, encounters ole buddy Ken! along with Motzu (under recommendation from Reed) and Drake, eager to help.

Figuring the local mines might have some gem output, we went to ask the new Foreman Artichoke if they had any leads on finding some agates, and after much paperwork, pointed out to us the recent story of an allegedly wandering fortress discovered by one of the prospectors. His directions led us straight to… well we found the prospectors encampment in a tunnel, but no sign of him nor any – vwoomf, suddenly mosaic portraits line the walls, adorned by precious gems including nice agates, and – vwoomf, plain tunnel walls again.

With the trail growing cold, we’re left to ponder the meanings of the mosaics, and – vwoomf they return again, this time we notice a doorway between the portraits, and quickly reaching for it – we fall down some stairs into a well adorned fortress, with a poem enscribed on the walls:

seekers of death take your cue
any of these options will do

deceptions in the words I write
cannot mislead your mind so bright
but when you topple from that height
grab a rope with all your might
or die and prove that I am right

pawing at shiny rocks are you?
stop now
the one you missed won't see you through

when the air around you crackles and dies
see my transformation and avert your eyes
behind the door your destiny lies
only blood can pay the price
persevere and aim for the skies

you'll find your end i have no doubt
accept your doom before your time runs out

in the chapel of death I worshipped the shadows
delighted to pay such dues as a man owes
kneel at the altar and dwell not on keyholes
His gifts will exceed what a mere mortal pawn knows
so don't gamble your life you won't like where that goes

• jack Skellington, rock dog, liquid loot coins

Previous Chapter: Water

Next Chapter: Brownwater

Dramatis Personae

• B - Flint Stone, amnesiac wizard, Wizard/Monk School Headmaster and Head Mayor of Greenstone
• R - Drake the bounty hunter
• M - Ken Leaves, the down-to-earth Furbolg Cleric Druid
• T - Dr. Motzu, “naturopathic” poisons doctor