Varius nods enthusiastically. "I have this incredible urge to ask a stupid question or twelve and so you'd best get that one in before I lose control."
"A hidden cache, you say? Mmmh, let me think..."
Ghaelfin's spirit takes its time to meditate on the question, then answers.
"I can't remember of any hidden cache, to be honest. I believe that Bisby and Loremaster Liriam left Westcrown and teleported to Absalom immediately after sealing the lodge. Sivanshin was already gone, and Coriana was too busy organizing the resistance to care about hiding something..."
Pronouncing the name of Coriana causes the spirit of Ghaelfin to cry again, but fortunately the ghost now starts to fade, and in a matter of seconds it has vanished from existance, leaving behind only an extinguished candle.
---
It's a relief to Catina to see the anguished spirit disappear. "So long, Venture-Captain Ghaelfin," she whispers to no one in particular. "I hope you may find rest, perhaps when we recover Coriana's ashes and gives her the proper place she deserves." She dabs a sleeve at her moist eye as she turns away to the group, to take a couple of breaths.
When she turns back to the group, her face is a bit grim. "Our next stop has to be the Massacre House, but I'm not really longer forward to it. If it's the group of thugs that Petals says it is - and somewhat fanatics as well - then they won't give up those ashes just like that. I fear it'll turn into a fight, just like against the Bastards." There's a twinge on her face, as the remembers the friends lost that day. "We'd best return to our homes and rest, prepare as well as we can."
To distract herself from her previous thoughts, she turns to the items gifted to them by Lord Lucca. "What will will do with these? The staff is gaudy as I've ever seen, but it might come in useful. Varius, do you want that amulet to protect yourself? The rest we'll just keep for a rainy day, I suppose?"
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Faustinia is disappointed in not getting more on her question, but grateful for the guidance Ghaelfin’s spirit was able to provide. She remains quiet as the spirit evaporates and Catina says some words of rest.
She starts a bit as Catina starts talking, having been focused with a somber look on Ghaelfin’s bust. Faustinia recognizes the look on her friend’s face when she mentions the Bastards, and tries to meet her eyes with a shared, knowing look. “It’s unfortunate, but I believe you are right. This will be dangerous territory, and it’s best that we confront this rested and prepared.”
Faustinia, still holding the Hellcaller’s cup, looks down at her prize. “I have to say, maybe it’s silly, but I rather like having this. This is the only thing I’ve ever won in a competition. The rest of Thrax’s things are useful enough. It would feel like gloating to carry his staff around - I say we just have the Eyes work through their channels to sell it. Simpler that way,” Faustinia suggests.
---
Varius sighs as they get an unhelpful answer on the last question. He doesn't seem too bothered by Ghaelfin's misery and rage and the death of his loved one. "Well, still we know what we're doing next, right-o. And frankly... I could do with fighting some Asmodeans."
He settles in to look over the gear as Catina displays it. "I would -love- that amulet. Frankly it's rather stylish and anything that stops me from getting stabbed is a benefit. I don't like pain; it hurts me."
The party decides to rest before reaching the Massacre House. Each Iris spends the rest of the day as he or she sees fit, and the next morning the band is together again. Following Petals’ elven recollections, the Irises reach Parego Dospera in the usual way, that is by getting out of the city through the walls and then getting back inside through a breach in the walls of the northern portion of the City of Twilight.
The ruined part of the city seems a little more bustling than usual today. As the Irises walk through the expanse of abandoned house and wreckage, they spot some activity at the horizon, but when they start moving the that the direction, any activity seems to cease, with the points causing it disappearing who knows where.
Fortunately, both Petals’ memories and Faustinia’s studies are quite correct, and lead the party to the Massacre House in less than 15 minutes. Massacre House is a hexagonal stone building whose slateshingled roof comes to a sharp triangular peak. The external walls are thick, with four 10-foot vaulted passageways cutting through this stone shell to four separate heavy wooden doors (see map). Each door is fitted with a narrow sliding window.
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"It looks like a fortress" Petals breaths in wonder and dread. "We could attack the place or attempt to sneak in... but both seem pretty unlikely to succeed. We could knock and offer to buy the ashes? If they are more like the Bastards than the devote assassinating nuns they once were, the coin might mean much more than anything else." she offers as suggestion while never taking her eyes off of that thing in front of her. It radiates blood in her mind, probably just the stories of what the Sisters were but still she can't help to be worried about going in.
Catina catches the same vibe as Petals. "I know what you mean," she adds. "We could just try knocking, like we did at the Bastards. But with this sliding windows, that seems unlikely to work. They'll ask us to explain without opening the door. And if that fails, the entire place will be on alert." She thinks, unsure of how to proceed. "You could maybe try and see if you can force the door open, maybe tamper with the lock if there is one. But that will mean violence is inevitable, and we never really gave it a chance." She seems unhappy at the prospect.
Petals smoothed down the crisp white fabric of her skirt, wondering, not for the first time, why they picked white for the color of rebellion. Since we always seemed to be fighting to achieve it. Blood is such a horrible thing to get out of white fabric.
She listens to Catina's worry and tries to help, "By all accounts, these Sisters embraced violence as a religious experience. I don't think they will mind if we give them the opportunity to pray." she gives a wry smile, letting her friend know she is far from serious.
"We have no idea where the ashes are inside that place. So if we fight, we will have to fight them all, while searching the entire place." she sighs at the prospect. "Sneaking in, by skill or invisibility, has the same problem. No idea where they are stored. At least when violence erupts we might be in a better position to deal with it."
She pinches her outfit "Lastly, trying to bribe them in these symbols of hope and freedom, will just make them slam the door, fight us to the death, and in a last ditch effort pour the ashes into the sewer..." she wrinkles her nose at the thought.
Pulling her tools, gleaming well cared for picks only slightly showing their age, she suggests "I vote we try the sneaking bit as far as we can, then improvise if it fails."
Varius draws his swords, flipping them on his thumbs as the group approaches. "We aren't going to be welcome here. Stealth is the best option."
He makes his way to a door, going in front after Petals has her time to pick it.
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Once in the ruined part of the city, Faustinia casts her usual protective spell over herself, then dons her white mask and cape. She notes with some unease as the crowds thin out toward their destination. It strikes her as likely that people avoid this place, given the Sisters’ murderous reputation.
Faustinia weighs in on the strategy, adding, “We know that these nuns are dangerous - they are trained killers and devout Asmodeans.” She sighs. “I fear there will not be a peaceful solution here. I agree that we should be cautious and see what happens. If we are caught trespassing, we shall see if they practice their ‘art’ on us without provocation or not. Shall we check the entrance for booby traps before we intrude?” she suggests.
---
Catina sighs in resignation. "Very well. Let's see if you can get us in. And then we'll see what happens if we encounter these Sisters."
Petals will sneak to the door, search quickly for traps, and then get to work with her tools.
Petals sneaks around the building and looks for any possible danger before moving closer to the southern door, taking care to cause as little noise as possible. The others wait for her at about 30 feet of distance, to avoid drawing too much attention.
The heavy wooden door in front of Petal does not seem to be willing to surrender. The elf's efforts are useless, at least for the moment. The lock seems to be quite good, and very difficult to open, although not impossible, given the right amount of time.
She mumbles a worried prayer, sacrificing being a quiet as possible for something she hopes will work better. A twist here, a small thump there...
Unfortunately, the door does not open yet...and Petals is making quite some noise with that lock!
Stressed, and missing Alessandro a lot, she keeps trying.
Petals makes quite a noise with that lock, so much that after the first three attempts she hears some steps coming her way from behind the door. She barely manages to put her tools beneath her white coat and take on an innocent behavior before the sliding window on the door opens. Two fiery, black eyes appear.
"Leave now, or you will regret it," orders the voice in a threatful tone.
"Um... Hi, possibly but I...um.. " flustered because of her own failure more than being startled, she takes a deep breath, finding her courage and deciding to try the negotiation route. She meets the fiery black eyes with her own steady blue ones.
"A venerable and loyal house of Westcrown is seeking certain historical artifacts from key periods of change." Petals finds lying easier when peppered with truth. Faustinia's house is venerable and loyal to Westcrown at least, and she is looking for the ashes, which was involved in a key period of change for the city. "There is a lot of coin involved for whoever can fulfill their requests. It has been determined that you, the renowned Sisters, may have at least one of the items. So if you have the item, then I have a buyer. Can we come inside and talk?"
In response to Petals' question, the sliding window closes, and silence follows.
After a few minutes, the sliding window opens again. "Only two of you will be admitted inside, and you must leave all your belongings outside. Including your clothes. You will be searched for magical auras before entering," says the voice from behind the door. The voice seems a little different from the one who ordered Petals to go away a few minutes before.
Petals will give nod, "Let me confer with my associates to see if the terms are acceptable. One moment please..." she'll head back to street, after a brief curtsy.
To her friends, "I'm sorry, I was unable to pick the lock. Alessandro was much better at this." Guilt will play across her features, as she tells them about the Sister's terms. "I'm willing to try but I have little hope of my ability to convince them for a long negotiation, or if once they hear what we want, they won't just kill us. We could agree, I can re-offer just me and then you all rush them once the door is open?"
Varius winces as Petals does her best, but it still attracts the unwanted attention of the Sisters. As she comes back, he looks warily at the door. "I do not trust them. They're devil-worshipping murderers. I think rushing the door is our best bet unless we want to take another attempt under a spell that makes us quiet or something."
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Faustinia is frustrated by their failed attempt at breaking and entering, and her thoughts turn inward to calculate a plan. “Damn these Sisters,” Faustinia gripes, gritting her teeth. “We could do as they say… but how undignified. Besides, I highly doubt we can trust these nuns. What’s to stop them from killing whomever we send in if they don’t like what we’re looking for? And letting them see our faces…” Faustinia starts to pace, adjusting and readjusting her mask nervously. It makes sense for these Sisters to take precautions with anyone who enters. But sending our Irises into a den of killers? Faustinia thinks. An image flashes in her head: Sev dragged down by dogs, his and Lorenzo’s coffin next to each other. She grinds her teeth together, and in a rare moment of letting her composure slip she clenches one hand into a fist and slams the butt of it against a nearby wall.
“Dammit!” she mutters, her eyes searching the stones for answers. She takes a deep breath, releasing it slowly and shifting back to her more usual posture and demeanor. She pushes a stray hair out of her face and looks at the others with most of her usual poise, but mixed with a steely resolve. “I agree with Varius,”[b] she declares flatly.[b] “We could try to enter with subterfuge, but I did not prepare for that. I prepared for a fight with a den of murderers who are devoted to Thrune. They are pustule, sprung from the diabolical infestation of this city, and Westcrown would be better off without them. We’ll take what we need from them, and let the Archdevil himself interfere if his followers hope to stop us.”
Catina gives Petals an empathic look and puts a hand on the elven woman's shoulder. "It's ok, you did the best you could. And your quick thinking got us another opportunity, slim as it is." She sets her jaw and looks grim. "I agree with Varius in this case. When they open the door, we'll have to be ready for them and try to force our way in." She looks uncomfortable, but adds "I should be one of the two to go. Even without weapon or armor, I'll have Shelyn's protection." And my tiefling skin, she adds to herself. She's not looking forward to having to undress, but steels herself for the task. "All I need is my bracelet to cast spells. That seems innocious enough. And even if that doesn't work, I still have some tricks up my sleeves." She makes a gesture, then realizes she doesn't actually have sleeves any more. "As a figure of speech, of course," she adds sheepishly, taking some effort to cover herself up with her arms.
--
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Faustinia still seems dissatisfied with the safety of the plan. “I don’t know if the nakedness is worth whatever advantage of surprise we’d get. If we rush in after they’ve opened the door, they’ll obviously attack us. I say we just go around to a different door we haven’t tried and knock the damn thing in. We’ve got the tools for such a thing,” she suggests, gesturing to Petals’ hammer and the gaudy-but-magically-sturdy staff won off of Thrax.
---
I could cast an illusion of us still talking, and then we could go around to another door. Petals offers, but there is no surety they will fall for it. Best bet would be to tell them sorry, not going naked and defenseless for that amount of coin. That we'll just sell the location of the relic to the party interested and let them negotiate. Otherwise they'll just be waiting for us to come back. When we do come back and attack the door. she'll look to the others to see if they agree.
Varius lets out a sigh of relief as the plan gets modified. "I'm more comfortable with that. No sense in stripping down. Try to challenge them on the relic location and see if they'll negotiation. It'll be clear on if they are interested in talking or just murdering us. All else fails, we rush them."
He glances over to Faustinia. "Could you summon something on the other side of the doors? May help split their attentions so we don't fight a bunch at once if it comes to it."
"Well yes, maybe that's better," Catina says at the change of plans, lucky she won't have to undress after all. "If we can create a diversion here that will keep a few of them busy, we can hurry over to the other side and force entry there before that know what happened." As she mentally goes through the list of prayers she had prepared, she makes a sour face. "I guess I should have thought about the spell that muffles all sound. Well, you don't know everything in advance. I can make Petals stronger, though, to more easily break down the door."
--
Petals nods in agreement, being naked and fighting is a bad idea. Listening to the rest of what they have to say, glancing back and forth between Varius and Catina. She shakes her head and then asks "I'm a little confused, sorry. Am I going to talk to them and push for a location to see their reaction?" she gestures to Varius since she believes this is what he is saying, "Or am I casting an illusion as a distraction, while we go bash open the other door?" nodding to Catina.
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Faustinia nods. “I could even summon a creature to attack the southern door first, before we make our proper assault on the northern door, if we didn’t want to chance the flimsiness of an illusion. Or even better, perhaps both - our illusory forms adding credibility to the threat of the very real creature trying to pound the door down. Once we get through I can hit them with any number of disabling spells,” she explains.
“I’m ready if you all are,” she says as she gets into position.
---
The Irises set their plan in motion.
Petals goes back to the Sisters and knocks on the door. The sliding window opens, revealing two fiery eyes, but no voice comes from inside. Petals explains that she and her group are not willing to accept the Sisterhood's conditions.
"Then you should turn around and run away together with your friends, before we lose our patience," replies an harsh voice from behind the door.
Petals tries to explain that she will be attempting one last time to convince her friends, but the same voice admonishes her.
"You go NOW, or you won't see the sun rise again."
Petals decides to stick to the plan and walks to her friends. Fortunately, that's far enough not to allow whoever is spying from the sliding window to see the scene. The Irises are out of sight of the Sisters, right now.
Petals casts her illusion so that the scene of her and her friends can be seen from the sliding window. At the same time, Faustinia starts to cast her summoning spell while the other members of the group move around the building and prepare for the assault.
As soon as Faustinia's elemental appears, the summoner gives the orders and the creatures throws itself at the door, while in the meantime, on the other side of the building, Petals does the same with her hammer, magically bolstered by Catina's spell.
Catina sighs as they hustle over to the other group. "I was afraid it was going to come to this. You did a good job in trying though, Petals." With the stout dour barring entry, Catina prays to Shelyn and grants Petals a boost to her physical strength. "That should help you swing that hammer even harder. The sooner we get in, the better."
Taking a deep breath, she pull her hammer back, quietly thanks Catina and Shelyn for the strength, she brings it down with all she has.
With the illusion in place, Varius draws his swords, and nods to the others. After Petals' hammer whacks into the door, he follow up with a hard shoulder check, trying to knock out the latch.
Ok guys, so it seems like everyone has a lot of stuff going on currently. That's quite sad, considering the amount of time and love we all invested in this, but I believe this game is starting to become more burden than fun for you, so if you all agree, I would call it a night and turn the campaign inactive for a while of forever, depending on your preferences.