Embel takes the key from the ceiling and Gustav finds that it is fitted for the steel box.
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Geoffrey snickers at the simple trap and hammers the top of the steel box, disabling the trap and opening the lid at once. Laying within is the map of the Salhar burial vaults, and a wand of of knock (CL3, 11chr). The exploding paint bomb set by Amenopheus has been left unsprung, however, the exit door remains locked.
Awaiting you on the other side is the servant who led you here. "Amazing! You've even managed to open the door without the key -and you're not blue! The Sapphire Sage would have me congratulate you upon your success. He would do so himself, but other business has drawn him away from estate for the rest of the day. I have been instructed to inform you that the map you have recovered is yours to take. The wand you may keep as well, as a personal reward for suffering his challenge."
Saying little more, the servant leads you from the estate, leaving you just outside the gate.
To the last task...
Arriving at Paracountess Zarta Dralneen’s townhouse in the Ivy District—one of several homes the noblewoman keeps around Absalom—you come upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height. The ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures greet you, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. Moments after ringing it, a beautiful servant woman in loose, almost scandalous attire opens the door, greeting your group as if expected. With a knowing smile, she takes Adamus by the arm and leads you through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, before finally arriving on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study. Knocking upon the door and announcing her presence, she opens the darkly stained wooden door. Inside, a large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table.
Boom! Crash! Rattle rattle rattle, plang.
A cacophony of booms and crashes sounds from beyond the room’s west door.
Sitting in the chair behind the desk, doing a good job of ignoring the sounds from the next room, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen regards your group with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing and waving off the servant. “Alidani, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.” She then turns her attention to the group. “She didn't try to kiss anyone this time I assume? I wouldn't blame her. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you. Blue is not my color.” Zarta points vaguely in Falyf's direction. “I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore,” she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. “On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits."
“Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order...”
Smash! Kaboom! Crunch! Pling! Boom! Crash! Riiiiip....
She pauses at an extended eruption of noises before continuing with the conversation.
"I apologize, a servant is greatly misbehaving. The item Ambrus sent you to retrieve, a seven-lock iron case, is in that room, and you’re going to have to deal with it in order to get it." She goes over to the desk in her study, opening a drawer and drawing out an exquisite silver letter opener shaped like a dagger. “You might need this to get it to submit,” she offers with a sly grin.
Geoffrey looks around the townhouse appreciatively.
It must be nice to have wealth and power. Sure beats sleeping under a hedge on the open road...
He then raises an eyebrow.
"Exactly what sort of servant are we talking about here, if we need a silver weapon?"
Dralneen smiles devilishly, "You'll find out.", then leaves you to your mission.
[Map up]
Geoffrey moves to cover Embel, ready to unleash Hell on whatever is inside.
Embel opens the door and looks in on what seems to be Zarta’s bedroom. Decorated in the colors of Cheliax—ebon black and crimson red, silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lay about like flayed skin. A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly
resembling implements of pain.
Crouched at the foot of the bed is a small winged creature about the size of a common alley cat.
For the moment, it seems unconcerned with your presence as it bangs a dented case against the bedpost, then claws at a seam, curses in a foul fiendish tongue, then bangs it again.
Gustav reaches over Darl's servant to grab the case. The little thing screams, pulling the case and itself away, flying across the room and snarls in Common, "MINE!". Then Kath unsuccessfully Slicks the case an instant before the creature and the case disappears.
Geoffrey likewise stands in position beside the closed doors, ready to target the creature when it makes itself visible again.
ninja edit
Silence falls upon the room as everyone waits for signs of the bugger. A few moments pass.
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Geoffrey stays put at the doorway, knowing that the only way for the creature to get out is via the door...
Gustav senses the presence of magic in the room.
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Moments pass...
Kain faintly hears a door shutting on the other side of the closed door, in the foyer area.
After a few silent moments a coarse sounding voice responds from the other side of the door, "What'd you want, berk!?"
"Fine fine I'll stop the Sinker act" the voice says, "But I can't give you the summoning bag. My kind will never forgive me, so you best sod off."
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