Hound sighs and hunts down a rat or small animal. I have no magical abilities so you will have to handle the desacration in other ways.
He then stains the altar with the sacrifice.
Kitara stares for a long moment at the head and looks to Nahia. "Give me some time to rest, I think I can shape this head back onto the statue. My guess..., this is an actual person, not simply a statue."
Rose gives as good as she gets and when they're done gives Hound a surprisingly tender kiss and leaves without a word.
Hound suddenly remembers the abilities of one of their members and goes to see Seren.
Seren, in order to properly destroy the Mitrian altar, a ritual to Father must be done while bathed in unholy energies. I believe you have such magic available to you.
Nahia nods and says "Yes, I agree, he is most likely a Son. And we have the means to restore him back to his flesh. But I don't think we should do it yet. We can't trust him, so we should make sure the holding cells are in good shape first."
With a smile she trails a finger down the statues vestments. "Besides, if he is a son, then we need him for the rituals first sacrifice..."
Seren nods at Hound and adds "I can cast that, yes. And I would relish an opportunity to help in the destruction of that blasted thing... Lead the way"
Seren looks over the altar and see the fresh blood. Concerned for a moment, she then notices the animal carcass laying on the other side of the altar.
She takes a bag of silver dust and begins to circle the altar, leaving a thin line of powder. She then scatters the rest of it across the inside of the circle.
Next she takes a flask and uncorks it. Closing her eyes, she holds one hand forward, black energy arcing from her fingers. She mumbles wordlessly, her eyes clenching tighter as she feels the cold, dark power rise through her.
Slowly, she walks around the altar, pouring the unholy water in a thin stream as she moves the flask about. And as the last of the liquid falls her eyes snap open and the unholy water turns black and crimson in the shape of the symbol of Asmodeus.
There is a chill feeling, followed by a sharp crackling sound as flecks of black energy spark from the symbol. With a sharp cracking like the low, slow, distorted sound of a church bell ringing, the symbol flashes with darkness and then is gone. But the cold feeling remains.
Hound mutters laymember prayers under his breath and slashes his arm as an extra offering of blood and lets it squirt across the ruined altar as an additional offering.
Tiadora returns the following day.
The woman is still dressed in black, her platinum hair and green eyes, she gathers everyone before saying.
”Here is the Cardinal response.” the woman says and then continues ”Kitara will make a fine addition to our endeavor. You are to observe her and decide if she is worthy of joining us.” that’s all she says before handling other another clay seal.
”If you need to talk with the Cardinal, break the seal.” she instructs before waiting if there’s anyone else that wants to ask questions.
Hound remains silent.
Rose was suddenly very angry, but she kept herself calm and nodded to Tiadora. "Thank you. We'll keep you abreast of our progress."
Kitara watches the others as Tiadora speaks. She listens to the words carefully. Father is always the avid player of the Great Game. He has them watching me. I wonder for what reason he is doing that. Inviting tension into an already tense situation. Sissy looks about ready to chew nails. Hmm...
Kitara puts on her winning smile and sighs, sitting back in a chair, her leather creaking just slightly as she does so. She looks around to the others and their reactions for a moment before looking to Tiadora. "If that is what Father wishes then I will do my best to please him, and complete this mission. Do you think it would be possible, Tiadora, that you could get me a copy of the Knot's contract, so that I can understand what is expected, and can work with them as well as possible?"
Well, I guess it makes sense. He hasn't seen her in a long time, hasn't met the woman she has become. Still, best to show some solidarity.
Nahia turns from Tiadora and scowls slightly before taking a sip from her glass. "Nothing from me... it sounds as if the Cardinal is quite busy. Better to let the two of you get back to work. Still, send him my regards."
"Ask Rose or Nahia. They both have a copy themselves." Tiadora says before walking away the horn.
Kitara frowns thinking for a moment and turns to the others. "None of this is Tiadora's fault. Rose, I know you want to chew nails. Hound, you look like you are sizing up people for your blade. Its quite obvious Mysty doesn't trust me. Nahia, your upset. But please don't take it out on her. This will certainly make things more challenging but not impossible. Reserve your anger for our enemies. For they will be upon us soon enough."
She looks at Nahia, thinking. "Perhaps we should spend some time reading the contract. If I am going to work with you, I should know what Father requires of the Knot. And then, if you all don't mind, I believe a visit to Farholde is in order. I want to see the entire chessboard before we start moving the pieces."
Nahia stares at Kitara for few moments, her face calmer, before nodding and saying "I was going to suggest a trip to Farholde to pick up some supplies anyway. Who all wants to go? Or should we all go?"
"It has nothing to do with any of that." Rose said, pursing her lips in frustration. "You're his daughter. You've been missing for fifteen years. He should be here. He should be dropping everything to come here, or to bring you to him."
"You deserve better than this."
Kitara frowns and sighs shaking her head. "I understand how you feel sister. I do. But this task is obviously more pressing than our reunion. Or perhaps there are..., other reasons why. I need to go change if we are bound to the city. And get a small number of the Flames as well."
Nahia watches the discussion between the sisters, but she doesn't say anything. Though she does catch Rose's eyes at one point and simply gives a nod of agreement.
Hmm, diffuse the situation... or let them get heated... Let's see where this goes...
Rose nodded. "You're right. It must be something we don't know about keeping him from coming."
She smiled and shrugged. "Well, I'm glad you're with us. I'll show you the contract and then we can go shopping. Come on."
Rose walked over to the tavern they'd turned into a temporary barracks and rifled through her pack, reaching into a well-hidden compartment and pulling out a sealed scroll case. She unlocked it with a small key on her charm bracelet and handed it to her sister.
Hound gets back to getting the Horn in order.
Kitara takes her time and reads the contract over carefully, sitting down on the makeshift bunk. My my..., this is rather interesting. Asmodeus, Cardinal, Knot, Self. Promoting ambition, enforcing loyalty. Though that only lasts so far as you are unwilling to pay the price. Hmm..., those two are inseperable. That one is mostly unknown. That makes her the one I have to deal with. She sighs for a moment as she looks at the contract again. This doesn't explain why he would say no. There is something missing. A variable, a person, something is missing that makes his decision a mystery. Farholde it is then. We must search out this mystery.
Kitara stands to her feet, stretching. She looks about. "So, Sissy, are there any people of note in the city that I should introduce myself to?" Kitara seems like she is asking absentmindedly as she rummages through her packs and saddlebags, pulling out a couple bundles.
Her form changes about, still one of the high plane touched, but her facial features gain a bit more age and distinction, her hair flows long and is a silvery color, with a tint of blue. Her ears take on a much more normal shape and skin that looks like a fine porcelain.
"There's another knot in the city acting as a support network for us. We'll introduce you." Rose said with a smile.
Kitara listens, baring herself as she takes a bundle out, and unwraps it. Inside, a specific bundle of clothing and a pair of pouches. She slowly folds out the clothing, a very finely made dress, corset and boots. She works at donning the outfit, careful to make certain that everything is in place properly, the image of nobility, if a bit plain.
The the first pouch she withdraws from it two items, a silver hair comb with the stylizing of butterflies, and gems for the eyes. The second item, a golden signet ring of house Darius.
The second pouch, she pulls out a charm bracelet, and a necklace and pendant from, finishing the ensemble nicely.
Once she finishes, she turns to Rose and smiles, giving her a formal curtsy. "The Lady Ilyena Silva of House Darius." She smiles softly, her voice much softer in tone and fluid, the sound of a soft flowing brook in an early autumn cool morning. She announces herself as she smiles walking around the room. Her steps are practiced and fluid, showing an air of grace and poise befitting a woman of proper nobility. She adjusts the spectacles on her face now, making certain they fit.
She smiles and looks over at Rose with fond affection. "Are we ready?" She smiles as she gathers her things, and carries them, placing them in her haversack and bringing them to the horse. She smiles warmly at each member of the group as she passes them, letting them see her new appearance.
Nahia smiles and nods at Kitara's new appearance. Bowing her head, she too starts to change. She becomes shorter and younger looking, like a half-elven girl of maybe 15, with olive skin, light green eyes, and long black hair that she begins to weave into a tight braid. And clipped into said hair is a silver barrette that has been shaped as ivy vines running through her hair.
Again she closes her eyes and her clothes start to shift, becoming the outfit of a Noble's servant, swathed in blue, black, and gold, though the cut of the outfit seems to be more form fitting, accentuating her curves.
Her transformation complete, Nahia curtsies to Kitara, adding a simple "Milady"
Hound just gives a nod at the new form. One might think nodding and shrugging forms the majority of his responses.
Rose shifted back to the elf-y looking persona she had adopted upon coming here, but made her clothes a bit finer to fit with her sister's noblewoman guise. Now she looked like a highborn lady on some kind of hunting trip.
She slipped her arm into Hound's and started toward the horses. "Come, ever faithful body guard, we noblewomen are fragile and afeared of the rough locals. We would surely be accosted in town without you to guard our bodies."
Hound nods and changes into a man-at-arms with well tended but very lethal-looking weaponry.
The cleaning and searching takes some time, and the party is yet to discover all secrets, but even then, they decide it’s best to pay Farhold another visit.
Farholde is the northernmost colony of Talingarde. This small city is a backwater, largely isolated from its parent nation by distance and danger. No King of Talingarde has visited Farholde since the Victor sat upon the throne. And yet, Farholde is a keystone of the realm’s defense. Without control of the delta that feeds into Lake Scardynn there would be no credible defense of the Borderlands.
Of course, today that matters little. The Watch Wall is already broken far to the east and war burns bright across the Borderlands. The bugbear horde relentlessly presses south towards the city of Daveryn far away from distant Farholde. Castle Hamorhall, Farholde’s great bastion, is almost empty. Its commander and garrison have left to join the war effort leaving behind only a skeleton defense. Farholde seems now more isolated than ever.
And yet, here in this backwater, the fate of tens of thousands of Talireans will be decided. This could be Farholde’s moment of triumph, where alone it met a great evil and brought it low. Or, this could be its darkest hour, where less than a day’s ride from its walls, the city did nothing as a monster was born.
==//==
A City of Floods
The key to understanding Farholde is water. Almost every structure in the city of Farholde is built on one of nine hills. In fact, its old Iraen name is actually Cannoch Naoi which means literally Nine Hills. The reason for this arrangement is simple – Farholde floods.
Almost every year in the spring, Lake Scardynn, brimming with mountain runoff, overflows its banks and floods Farholde. These floods are usually predictable and brief. They have never in memory crested any of the nine hills.
floods are a boon for Farholde. They deposit rich lake sediment all over the delta plane and create rich arable land for the growing season. No one in Farholde worries about leaving fields fallow or fortifying their soil.
The mighty Scardynn handles all such labor. But these floods also mean if you build a structure beneath the floodline, you had better be prepared for it to be underwater for at least two weeks a year.
Besides agriculture and the garrison, Farholde has another important industry – fishing. Though the sea is rough and dangerous and few bother to fish its open waters, Lake Scardynn is deep and densely populated with salmon, sea cat and amberscale. Even the occasional sturgeon is caught and both their meat and caviar are prized delicacies. The prize every captain dreams of catching though is the rare giant crayfish. No one knows why these monsters sometimes appear or why they grow gigantic, but specimens longer than seven feet have been captured in Lake Scardynn. The creatures are dangerous and more than one overambitious young fisherman has lost an arm to the beasts.
But when one is brought back to town, buyers pay premium coin for delicious giant cray-steaks that barely fit on dinner plates. Grilled and served with melted butter there is no greater delicacy. The quays where the fishing boats dock are stout stone affairs designed to survive weeks underwater. They jut out in to the delta all along the southern bank.
The northern bank has only one – a broad military quay where soldiers and supplies are unloaded to provision the Castle Hamorhall. Usually the quay is home to dozens of war galleys and supply barges, but now they are all gone transporting their troops to the eastern front.
A Conquered City
Farholde did not always belong to Talingarde. Less than three hundred years ago, it was a small hill fort controlled by a barbaric Iraen chieftain. How long the Iraen lived and ruled there, scholars can only guess but a farmer tilling a field still might find a crude iron arrowhead or a broken bit of pottery that shows the march of countless centuries.
The half-elven king Accarius IV called the Architect personally led the army that besieged the Iraen hill fort Casrhalla and through might of arms took control of Farholde. Though he burned down the original fort, he rebuilt a castle upon its foundations. This was the first establishment of the Hamarhall, named for its distinctive shape.It became one of the first nine watchtowers of the Watch Wall which guarded the frontier.
Accarius’ troops made permanent camp atop the nine hills and it is this camp that is direct descendant of Farholde today. Some of the oldest street names like ‘Quartermarch’ and ‘Kingscamp’ hint at this origin.
The Iraen tribesmen are not memories. They inhabit the Caer Bryr in great numbers and even a few still make Farholde their home. Some worry that the forest-dwellers merely wait for a chance when Talingarde is weak enough that these barbarian may take back what was once theirs.
The City in the Jaws
With a little imagination, you can see that the delta is actually a great monster closing its jaws upon Farholde. The town seems like little more than a morsel this great beast will soon devour. Though simply a coincidence of geography, this is an apt analogy.
North is the savage frozen frontier – the land beyond the Watch Wall. It is the domain of the bugbear tribes, the mighty Naatanuk and the enigmatic ice elves. More than once, Hamarhall has been besieged by these barbarous neighbors. Every time the Talireans have fought them off. If the invaders tried to bypass Hamarhall, the fortress deployed its war galleys armed with batteries of ballistae and battering rams. These warships made quick work of any crude flotilla the bugbears could cobble together.
To the south is the Caer Bryr (usually simply called the Briar by locals), an endless and alien jungle. The forest teems with barbaric tribes with different religions and tongues, weird ruins of inestimable antiquity and vicious super-predators that do not distinguish between men and prey. There are a thousand stories told of the dangers that lurk in the Briar and the terrifying truth is that a great percentage of them relate something close to fact.
In the middle of these wild perils lies Farholde – a thin strand of Talirean civilization. The people of Farholde do not decry their place or their fate. Instead, they take pride in their resilience. Farholde is just shy of three centuries old. For three centuries, bugbear hordes and Briar-born beasts have done their best to wipe it from the map.
Farholde remains.
Notable Landmarks of Farholde
Different from the last time you were here, this is what you find avaliable in the market.
Here are your findings:
Armour +2 scale mail (4,200 gp), breastplate of command (24,500 gp)
Potions & Oils bull’s strength (300 gp), protection from chaos (50 gp), remove paralysis (300 gp), shillelagh (50 gp)
Ring improved swimming (10,000 gp)
Rods flame extinguishing (15,000 gp),metamagic silent spell (11,000 gp), viper (19,000 gp)
Scrolls (Arcane) invisibility (150 gp), misdirection (150 gp), nondetection (425 gp), sending (1,125 gp)
Scroll (Divine) produce flame (25 gp)
Staff defence (62,000 gp)
Weapons +3 sickle (18,306 gp), +1 adamantine greatsword (5,050 gp)
Wondrous Items dusty rose prism ioun stone (5,000 gp), winged boots (16,000 gp)
Common items and MW quality are available as well.
Places already visited in the last visit to Farhold:
Other place of possible interest:
Hound stays with the group, escorting them around.
|
Mysty will gather the required ingredients for the hell hound ritual and the nightmare ritual. But not the animals just yet.
She goes and sees Rose
"Wow, you work fast. Yeah, I'll go talk to a hostler."
After speaking with Mysty, Rose takes Hound to go talk to a hostler to see about purchasing a horse.
Hound will make sure to examine the horses for quality.
Kitara lead Nahia through the town. She smiles at the people walking up and down the street, just wanting to get a sense of the city. She looks about trying to understand the flow and bustle of the city.
As she speaks she keeps her voice to Nahia, making certain not to speak too loudly. "They just go about their life. No knowledge, no understanding of what is about to befall them. I truly wonder if these people have the strength to rise up and throw off their shackles?"
She looks about, musing before she shakes her head. "First we need to see the Baron I suppose, inform him that there is a proper liason for his efforts. And also I suppose that I should meet with your..., associates that are here. And I also want to see this Drownington place."
Nahia follows Kitara, playing the slightly mouthy servant, pointing out the places that are worth visiting, and those that are not. And seeing their discussion turn to business, she takes a moment to give a brief invocation of the wind spirits to help keep their secrets.
"Some of them will. Most will not. And when things get tough we will see which is which, and the strong will rise to the top, while the weak fall underneath boot and tombstone." At first her voice sounds a little harsh, but by the time she is done she has softened to more of a gentle boredom, as if stating fact.
But she shudders slightly when the Baron is mentioned. "Yes, we should see the Baron, introduce you to him, and see about gaining some of his assistance. Be warned though, he is a greedy and selfish man, and in many ways is not to be trusted."
She reaches walks over to a vendor and buys a couple of pastries coated in honey, offering one to Kitara before licking her fingers clean. "And similar can be said of our companions. I'm... close with their leader, and she is competent though a little... aggressive. The others I would watch out for. I've almost come to blows with one of them already, and another speaks with honeyed words though I hear he has a bit of an... interesting cruel streak... particularly for ones such as us..."
Kitara nods, using Nahia's spell, so that she can be silent. She becomes thoughtful, taking in Nahia's words as she makes her own evaluations.
At the mention of the other knot, she looks about for a moment, and then whispers even more softly if that could be done. "What were the Master's orders regarding the other Knot?"
Nahia shrugs and whispers "They're supposed to support us from here in town, keeping people off our trail. As far as loyalties go, well, that's fuzzy again. We have no direct vows with them, only through our dedications to the Cardinal and our Host. Hence my warnings."
Kitara nods thinking as she looks out across the city, heading towards the Baron's manor. Her vision cast up to the hilltops, she simply asks once question.
"Nahia, dove..., do you trust me?"
That's a surprisingly forward question... she moves fast... and I do trust her... maybe not as much as I make it seem, but far more than our brief time should allow me to... Maybe it's that whole nature connection thing... I mean, she's not a witch... but she isn't too far either...
Then again, Elisa IS a witch and she's probably playing me... Was that spirit right about me?... Do I crave acceptance that much that I'll risk myself for a bit of sisterhood?
She bites her lip for a moment in her doubt before pushing away those thoughts and convincing herself of her own strength.
... no, no this isn't weakness... it is an opportunity... an opportunity to have someone else on my side for these trails... and someone else on my side should the group come to blows... and maybe, just maybe, another guard against Rose should that time ever come... yes, that's it...
Her confidence returning, she smiles and says "Honestly... more than I probably should. I mean, you even told me yourself that part of your skill was a pretty face and a friendly smile. And trust me, I know those skills well, being taught them from someone whose whole life's purpose was to bring down others like that."
She gently places her hand in Kitara's. "But... I'm still taking that risk. And I can only pray that this isn't the moment where you tell me I'm making a mistake." Her smiles shows warmth, her eyes amusement, as she gives their fingers a gentle squeeze.
Kitara nods, watching her face a moment. She seems quite sincere. Though I suppose I should remember that I am now in a world where being sincere, and being truthful are two very different things.
She gently takes Nahia's hand, lacing her fingers inside the other woman's. She keeps looking forward as they head down the street. "Stronger together. Though I fear I may need to walk down paths you cannot, my dove. Father's choice to leave me..., unjoined with you all was deliberate. If anyone knows how to ply contracts, it is him. know that..., in my heart, I am with you. But you may have to hold onto it, so that I may do what needs doing."
Flame's breath, Why am I doing this to this poor girl? She doesn't deserve it. Perhaps one day she can forgive me for what I will have to do. But the work must be done. And I can spare no one from the flame, or the word. Not until my task in completed.
She sighs. "All must walk the paths before them. Know that I will watch your back. A trusted ally, and hopefully, one day, perhaps more."
Poor girl... I think maybe this whole family thing has done a number on her. Then again, I can't imagine how things would go if I saw my sister again...
Nahia smiles a concerned smile and adds "His decision was deliberate yes, but not necessarily a ploy. We each received our pacts in person as part of a ritual, surely some magical bond. Perhaps he simply could not make it at this moment, or is involved with something else."
With a slight shrug she continues "But that bit of potentially self-deceptive comfort aside, I know that we all walk different paths. But for now our paths have us walking together. And so far I am quite thankful to share your companionship in this journey... just as I look forward to what our future may hold..."
As they walk she swings their hands gently, almost child-like. "Though, if I may ask, why did you feel the need to ask that? What thoughts are running through that mind of yours?"
Kitara looks over at Nahia, thinking for a moment, then whispers softly and quite affectionately. "All I can say is, learning to read between the lines is a necessary skill in our profession. And Father's new..., servant made it very clear to me."
She focused forward, letting her slightly ominous answer hang out in the air.