Stepping into the spacious entrance hall of you stop to turn and watch as the door closes behind you.
As the servant is closing the door you notice a woman across the busy street watching you. She catches your eye and in a slow but purposeful turn she puts a large throng of people between you and her.
She is gone just as quickly as you saw her. Was it all in your mind? Or did she seemed to be watching us?
"This way please."
The servant heads off to the left and down a long hallway. A grand staircase leads you to an even grander over head view of a massive study fronted by floor to ceiling windows.
A ballroom and several sitting rooms later the servant stops and waits before a closed door.
Once everyone has caught up the servant raps softly on the door.
"Mistress Dralneen, you have visitors"
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.
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen sits in the chair behind the desk as you enter.
The Paracountess regards you with a wry smile before putting away a few papers and standing to address you.
“Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.”
She then turns her attention to the group. “It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up."
"Well, maybe not you.” Zarta points. “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."
After her eyes linger for too long, she continues.
“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.”
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Assuming Zarta wasn't pointing at him for no other reason but that he is the only one this sultry minx probably could literally eat, Ticco disrobes taking her "terribly overdressed" comment to heart.
He then runs over to the west door to listen for the noises. Ticco attempts to peer through the key hole and underneath the door to see what's on the other side.
Of course this all happens in accordance with her conversation and he largely misses everything she says about order and knowing one's place.
Zarta raises but an eyebrow seeing the blue haired gnome disrobe.
Seeing him peering at the door and trying to see what lies beyond she states matter of factly,
"“A servant is greatly misbehaving. You’re going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket loaned to me by the Society.”
She then pulls a open a draw on her desk and produces an exquisitely carved silver dagger*.
She offers the dagger to Ticco.
"You might need this to get it to submit. I would also suggest putting your clothes back on before tackling this particular troublemaker.
The trinket is a magically sealed box with 7 locks on its front. I was attempting to bypass its locks but had no luck. I strongly suggest you do not tamper with the box yourself. I'd hate to see such freshly baked snacks as yourselves come to an abrupt end."
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Ticco accepts the letter opener and runs it through his wispy blue hair while standing atop his robes. He surveys his compatriots and eventually offers the dagger to Solace.
"Here. You will probably have better use for this than I would. I have no talents with such things unless it involves melting them down."
Ticco bends over shamelessly and pulls his robes back on.
"HooYA. Let's go silence the servant!" he says with a renewed enthusiasm.
Alliver wonders if he knows anything about these people or this situation.
"You referred to your ...servant as an 'it.' Is ...'it' not humanoid?"
"It... him... If you want the box, it is in that room."
Alliver merely raises and eyebrow and turns to the room.
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Solace took the dagger from Ticco and frowned as the others seemed eager to do as asked without taking a moment to consider what it might mean. He looked at the others and expressed his concerns.
"I know we are supposed to retrieve the box, but at what cost? Torture or worse? Is this really what we want to be a part of?" He turned a slightly glaring eye at the Paracountess.
"Is it fun to torture? To put those you consider lesser in their place?"
"Human, I have no intention of doing any such thing. I simply see no logical reason to converse with the Paracountess at present."
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Wren stands in the shadows of the Paracountess's room. Her disgust is apparent. She is not even trying to hide her emotions.
"So, the Pathfinders are mere playthings for you to chew up and spit out? No wonder the local Chellish faction has fallen on hard times. I hear the Inquisitors are taking a special interest in House Dralneen. What will they find?"
KN: Planes
KN:Religion
KN:Arcana
Zarta's eyes flare as a rush of blood runs through her face in anger. Her eyes study Wren, filing away all she can of this impudent girl that stands before her.
"Yes, I really must remember to thank Valsin for sending such visions of eagerness and naivety to my doorstep."
She then excuses herself as she storms off to find the servant on an excuse of 'house matters'.
Assuming you mean her answer to your question, Zarta seems insulted but not threatened by your answer.
No sounds or sights are triggering any pertinent knowledge.
Zarta’s bedroom is 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 lie 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.
You open the door and see the culprit that caused the havoc. A tiny creature thrashes, smashes and throws a locked box around the room.
Rnd 1 order:
Wren
Ticco
Alliver
Karal
Creature
Solace
"Tsk." Alliver tries to identify the creature and the device.
Wren studies the implements on the table next to her. A few vials of clear liquid, a riding crop with a barbed metal tip at the end and what looks like leather restraints with inward facing spikes.
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** spoiler omitted **
Wren studies the implements on the table next to her. A few vials of clear liquid, a riding crop with a barbed metal tip at the end and what looks like leather restraints with inward facing spikes.
She will pick up the riding crop and vials. If only one item this turn it will be the crop.
Wren picks up a leather riding crop from the table.
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Ticco moves into the room across from the commotion. He notices the imp trying desperately to get into a box. With a giggle and a whisper he opens his mouth and his jaw drops wide open as he focuses his stare on the creature. To everyone else it would appear as if the gnome is simply gawking in amazement but the imp knows better as it is washed in an unbearable shriek.
The Imp barely seems to notice the damage it took from Ticco's spell.
Alliver moves into the room and studies the Imp.
The box is moving around too much for you to get a good look at it.
Solace steps into the room and approaches the imp. Just short of the creature he stops, holding the letter opener in a threatening manner. "HEY! Do I need to use this on you or will you settle down?!"
Solace moves into the room and brandishes the letter opener at the Creature. It pays him no attention.
Solace moves into the room and brandishes the letter opener at the Creature. It pays him no attention.
The creature still intent on the box heaves it across the room and the chest bounces off the cabinet in tile D8.
It then moves to D8 intent on damaging the box further.
Wren moves into the room and picks up a crop
Ticco moves and casts a spell at the creature
Alliver studies the creature
Karal shuts the door and move towards the creature
Creature throws the box and moves to where it was thrown
Solace moves in the room and brandishes the letter opener
Rnd 2!
Wren
Ticco
Alliver
Karal
Creature
Solace
For the first time the creature looks at something besides the box. But not for long.
Ticco's bolt goes streaking high and unnoticed over the creature's head.
"I suppose it is an it after all. Evil thing."
Alliver takes out his bow and shoots. ;