This is Council of Thieves AP. Westcrown, City of Twilight, once was the center of Aroden's faith, but now it symbolizes despair. By day, the city remains a vibrant center of trade; but, by night only those with a death wish venture out.
The third door on the left is an empty cell, and the bolt locking the door is not engaged. Andrea you are standing in front of the cell being described.
The moaning continues for the last door on the right.
Male Dwarf Inquisitor 6(Witchunter) Int+4, F7, R4, W7, +5 vs Spells/PoisonAC20/T12/FF18, HP3/50
Duncan casts Detect Magic to look for Magical Auras on the door. He focuses for 3 rds, hoping to at least get a feel for a magical trap.
Then he examines it for mundane traps.
Perception1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
The sound of the bolt sliding seems like a trumpet announcing your arrival. There is brief pause as Duncan finishes, then the door bursts open, "Yes, Avengen's Edge will have its way with the captors. Szasmir must stay...No, no Szasmire must go attack...kill...Szasmir needs to kill the filthy captor."
A wild red eyed bearded devil kicks the door open. In his hands is a smoky red crystal glaive. "Freedom!", bellows the devil. The tip of his glaive in the doorway. Thrusting towards Duncan.
The devil hesitates just a slit second, "BACK dogs...BACK!" His glaive clearly pointing at Duncan, he eyes crimson in color. "BACK up and we have no reason for death." His voice cracking a bit towards the end of his command, "Yessssssssssss, kill 'em, they are Vheed's agents....yessssss, kill them precious...yes, yes." He mumbles to his smoky red glaive.
He holds until someone takes an aggressive action.
He hisses, "He called me and we worked together....he crossed me and bound me." He steps out of the cell lowering the glaive slightly. "Old mayor?" He looks odd at Duncan's choice of words.
Female Human Cleric/Holy Vindicator 7/2 Init +0 HP 72/72 AC 23 (touch 12 FF23) F10,R4,W13 Per+14
The current Lord Mayor is Aberian Arvanxi, third mayor. I forget if the second mayor vanished according to city lore. I don't know if Vheed is dead, elsewhere in the Knot, or comewhere else entirely. Maybe he is still down here. Hmmm.. Maybe we can use this thing. Andrea thinks. Might be worth while at least taking a look around the Knot before you go. There was nobody back where we came in.
Diplomacy to convince Devil to check out the Knot:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Lucrezia nods along with what Andrea is saying. "She's got a point. We know Vheed isn't the mayor anymore and that we haven't seen any living people other than us since we've come in. He could be hiding in here somewhere."
"If he's in the knot, I'll find him." He looks around, " Avengen's Edge will cut out my foes heart, so I can dine on it with a juicy Infernal Red to wet my palate." He snarls, then vigorously shakes his head, "Vheed must be dead...he would not give up power."
Female Human Cleric/Holy Vindicator 7/2 Init +0 HP 72/72 AC 23 (touch 12 FF23) F10,R4,W13 Per+14
Well lets go find him or his corpse. We're looking for something called the Chelish Crux and that is pretty much all we need. Andrea points to the south hall that leads to a door. That leads further into the Knot I believe. So, non-interfeance agreement? We'll let you have your crack at Vheed if he is still down here or have his corpse, and we will just continue our search for what we need. What do you think, Duncan, John,Orsin?
Male Dwarf Inquisitor 6(Witchunter) Int+4, F7, R4, W7, +5 vs Spells/PoisonAC20/T12/FF18, HP3/50
Duncan shrugs.
Never known a Devil to break a fair deal or a slight. If he bound ye then ye're welcome t'drag him back t'the hells. We freed ye, so find yer satisfaction with him and ye should be unbound t'return home. We'all nae interfere if ye afford us the same.
He steps outside his cell and uses his foot to close the door. with one hand he strokes his beard, it's unkempt, his red eyes bulge as he considers the proposition. He takes in a deep breath..."Freedom,...I don't smell or taste his living presence in the knot." His eyes focusing on the party.
Female Human Cleric/Holy Vindicator 7/2 Init +0 HP 72/72 AC 23 (touch 12 FF23) F10,R4,W13 Per+14
Yes. We need to to lift a curse on the city. Beasts made of shadow prowl the streets and the Crux will aid us in achieving this goal. It has been placed in the Knot and we seek tor ecover it.
"The darkness you speak of began in the months before the death of Aroden when two pathetic Pathfinders, Donatalus Bisby and Ilnerik Sivanshin came back from a 3 year exploration of the Mwangi Expanse. The only two survivors of over 50 original expedition members." He laughs. "They discovered what should not have been. They found a trinket or what you may call a relic." He looks over at the bard, "This relic consisted of two interlocking parts: a golden bird's head and an obsidian bat's head."
He grunts when he gets to about 15 feet from Andrea."Put your protective circle done lass, I will not harm you we are parlaying." Likewise, he puts his glaive in a non threatening position with its point up towards the black ceiling. "I've been imprisoned a long time...sensible chatter is welcomed."
History not being a topic she's very knowledgeable about, Lucrezia remains quiet for a bit to seen if any of the others recognize those names or the description the devil gives.
Lucrezia also gives the devil a good looking over. He doesn't seem much the worse for wear after being imprisoned for a while and she wonders how the old mayor managed to trap him.
Female Human Cleric/Holy Vindicator 7/2 Init +0 HP 72/72 AC 23 (touch 12 FF23) F10,R4,W13 Per+14
Andrea nods and cancels her Magic Circle against Evil.
Indeed, it does. Andrea looks over to Orsin to see if he recognizes the names. So this artifact was the root fo the problems with the shadowbeasts then.
"It is the source of the problems you could say." He is noticeably relieved by Andrea dropping the circle.
"The two Pathfinders were thought lost when they reappeared with their fantastic story. Donatalus receive much praise ant he other, Ilnerik grew jealous and broke the relic in two, before he fled to Nidal. Care to guess which half went with Ilnerik?"
Male Dwarf Inquisitor 6(Witchunter) Int+4, F7, R4, W7, +5 vs Spells/PoisonAC20/T12/FF18, HP3/50
Duncan continues to listen intently, never taking his eye from the devil. He keeps his Cold Iron Axe in hand but let's his arm hang with the blade near the floor.
"Good...good. Ole Ilnerik journeyed towards Nidal and each day his flesh burned in the sunlight, unable to sleep at night and useless during the day. The same day he crossed into Nidal, he crawled into a hole and died. Ironic that was the same day Aroden died and Cheliax was thrown into chaos." His claws flex.
"Oh...don't worry, Ilnerik rose again the next moon. Since then he has learned to bend shadows to his will and he learned about the real power of the bat head relic - once a sacred treasure of a now-dead demon lord of the bats and shadows named Vyriavaxus." He spits when he mentions demon lord and then again at Vyriavaxus' name.
There is flicker in the green glowling light and the shadows shift. The devil smiles, "Oh, it feels like Hell is about to erupt soon." He grins, "Don't worry, Hell's fury is still harnessed for the time being. You have some time to find your precious Chelish Crux."
