Hovering over to where Dreng 2 is bound, Argor removes any sort of gag he may be wearing and asks, "What was the first mission we undertook on your behalf?"
"Right. I don't know what I was thinking. Ridiculous, really."
Though her face and neck hurt fiercely and she still wasn't terrified of the possibility of lasting damage, she forces those fears aside for the moment. She steps over to the compliant Dreng and eyes him. "Onyx Alliance, I take it? What are you and what were your plans?"
'Dreng' shifts form into something that looks like a blank humanoid. It looks malformed and incomplete, translucent skin only hinting at facial features. The hairless figure stares at Cladissa with cold contempt. "Do what you wish to me, I will tell you nothing."
Hovering over to where Dreng 2 is bound, Argor removes any sort of gag he may be wearing and asks, "What was the first mission we undertook on your behalf?"
Dreng blinks a few times, working his jaw. "Argor! Thank the gods, was beginning to think I'd never be rescued." Dreng thinks for a moment, "I sent you to the Tri-Towers Yard if I recall correctly..."
Cladissa's frustration builds as the creature reveals itself, but then refuses to speak of its plans. Hopeful that it will remain docile, she coos softly as she leans in close, letting her temptation take control and unleashing the powers of her demonic form. "Don't be like that. You want me to know what was going on, right? How clever you were? How it was supposed to play out?"
The faceless thing stares long and hard at Cladissa's buxom chest. Finally it sighs and says, "I guess we are friends, aren't we? I am a member of the Onyx Labyrinth, actually. You were supposed to find Sidri and either kill him or bring him to me as I told you to begin with this morning. Unluckily for me, he seems to have found me here before you found him."
Cladissa's fake smile sours a bit while she endures the leering, but remains cordial since she sees that her spell has taken hold of the thing. "Oh! My apologies. Onyx Labyrinth. I'm sorry to hear that Sidri didn't play along as you had hoped. Is he the other man in the back room with Dreng? And can you tell me more about the Labyrinth? I'd like so much to learn about them." She wills her smile to become more alluring, and she bats her eyelashes at the unformed face.
Argor nods and turns to Rutai, signaling him to untie the venture captain.
"What can you tell me of what transpires here, as well as who your bound comrade is?"
Gianluca stands beside young Grommesson. If the halforc seems to appreciate it, he places a calming hand on his shoulder.
Then, once he's confident their young charge is OK, Gianluca stands back--not wanting to spook the (currently cooperative) Onyx agent, but keeping a hand lightly on the pommel of his greatsword just in case.
Cladissa's fake smile sours a bit while she endures the leering, but remains cordial since she sees that her spell has taken hold of the thing. "Oh! My apologies. Onyx Labyrinth. I'm sorry to hear that Sidri didn't play along as you had hoped. Is he the other man in the back room with Dreng? And can you tell me more about the Labyrinth? I'd like so much to learn about them." She wills her smile to become more alluring, and she bats her eyelashes at the unformed face.
"Yes, Sidri is tied up back there with Dreng. Which Labyrinth are you referring to, the Ivory or Onyx?"
Argor nods and turns to Rutai, signaling him to untie the venture captain.
"What can you tell me of what transpires here, as well as who your bound comrade is?"
Dreng takes a moment to regain himself as best he can crammed in a dummy suspended from the ceiling. "An old friend of mine, Nordris Kalm, revealed himself as a member of the Onyx Alliance...Labyrinth, whatever they are calling themselves now. They've apparently had agents deep within the Society this whole time. He had me abducted, and replaced by a filthy doppelganger. Luckily, Sidri discovered this and tried to rescue me," Dreng motions to the boy bound with him. "Sidri’s interference made Nordris sloppy, and thankfully led you here."
"Yes, Sidri is tied up back there with Dreng. Which Labyrinth are you referring to, the Ivory or Onyx?"
"Both, please? Their philosophies, goals and plans? What's the difference between them?"
"What was their goal in abducting you?"
Grommesson doesn't flinch at Gianluca's touch and welcomes the calming influence. So much has just transpired for him.
"Isn't there a real Venture Captain that we should helping?" He asks uncertain of the history of their conversation.
"Yes, Sidri is tied up back there with Dreng. Which Labyrinth are you referring to, the Ivory or Onyx?"
"Both, please? Their philosophies, goals and plans? What's the difference between them?"
"Well, I don't know much about the Ivory Labyrinth. They are demons and demon worshippers. The Onyx Labyrinth was formed as an alliance between them and the Onyx Alliance in order to deal with you lot. You seem to have made some powerful enemies of late."
"What was their goal in abducting you?"
"Well other than replacing me with a dopple, they talked about my vault and a catalogue I keep there. This catalogue, the Prospectus of Artifacts, lists the entire inventory of the Grand Lodge's vaults. Worse, it reveals where each artifact is located, and how to bypass the vaults defenses. He magically persuaded me to tell him how to access the vault." Dreng smiles. "But he never asked about my guardians."
Cladissa leans back for a moment while she thinks. Then she sighs, and brings up her usual illusion. "So you said you're with the Onyx Alliance, which was created to deal with us. Us, as in, the Freaks? Or us, as in the Pathfinders?"
She waits for the answer, then smiles. "Could you tell me who's in charge of the Onyx Labyrinth? You would help me out so much by letting me know."
Cladissa leans back for a moment while she thinks. Then she sighs, and brings up her usual illusion. "So you said you're with the Onyx Alliance, which was created to deal with us. Us, as in, the Freaks? Or us, as in the Pathfinders?"
She waits for the answer, then smiles. "Could you tell me who's in charge of the Onyx Labyrinth? You would help me out so much by letting me know."
"Your group of Pathfinders specifically, my dear. I could tell you who is in charge, if I knew. They keep everything compartmentalized to avoid just this sort of scenario, I imagine. Magical compulsion is annoyingly common in our world, isn't it?"
Argor arches an eyebrow at Dreng's revelation. "Well what can you tell us? Because it would seem only logical to prevent whomever is doing this from retrieving the Prodpectus. And as such, we need to know everything we can to give us a tactical advantage."
"Your group of Pathfinders specifically, my dear. I could tell you who is in charge, if I knew. They keep everything compartmentalized to avoid just this sort of scenario, I imagine. Magical compulsion is annoyingly common in our world, isn't it?"
Cladissa forces a smile. "Indeed." Then she forges ahead. "Well, you still have to receive orders, right? How do get those? And how would you have let them know you succeeded, had you replaced him? And really, I'm not all that bad, am I? Wouldn't you rather I join you, instead of all this back-door plotting against us?"
Argor arches an eyebrow at Dreng's revelation. "Well what can you tell us? Because it would seem only logical to prevent whomever is doing this from retrieving the Prodpectus. And as such, we need to know everything we can to give us a tactical advantage."
"Right. The Onyx Alliance has always had agents in the Society. This splinter group used to be called the Shadow Lodge. They believe we should use the treasures we chronicle to rule Golarion, exalting us to near godhood. Only recently has the Decemvirate even acknowledged the existence publicly. It appears they have morphed into something else now, but are probably only more dangerous. Nordris left to access my vault several hours ago. We need to stop him. I’ll escort you to my office, but you need to take care of Nordris while I alert the Decemvirate members currently in Absalom." Dreng makes to move and then remembers he's still stuck inside a giant mannequin. "Can you please cut us down now, Argor?" he asks with some irritation.
Cladissa forces a smile. "Indeed." Then she forges ahead. "Well, you still have to receive orders, right? How do get those? And how would you have let them know you succeeded, had you replaced him? And really, I'm not all that bad, am I? Wouldn't you rather I join you, instead of all this back-door plotting against us?"
"Your group of Pathfinders specifically, my dear. I could tell you who is in charge, if I knew. They keep everything compartmentalized to avoid just this sort of scenario, I imagine. Magical compulsion is annoyingly common in our world, isn't it?"
"I received my orders from a follower of Father Skinsaw and a high ranking member of the Onyx Labyrinth. I would never dream of asking to see under his mask, or something like his name. Honestly, after the new merger the chain of command hasn't been exactly clear. Demons are so chaotic...Though I guess I can see the advantages they provide. That demonic duke you freed from imprisonment is certainly among the leadership. Anyway, my current mission is ruined now thanks to you. Sidri and Dreng will be free to reveal the priest's plans and you might even have time to stop him if you run. Say since we're chatting so nicely like this, what do you say to freeing my hands? My wrists are starting to hurt quite a bit."
Cladissa glances in the direction of the back room, wondering if Argor is having success getting whatever this priest's plans are. She certainly didn't like the fact that their day didn't seem to be over. Then she looks back to the faceless thing, rubbing her neck. "Yeah, but you hurt me real bad, remember? You can hang on for a little longer, while I decide what to do next. Say, when you met with this priest, how did you look? You can change your appearance, right? Did you look like this now, or do you have another face that he knows you by? You know, so I can smooth things over for you, when I go to meet him. What's your name, by the way?"
"Rutai should be finished getting you loose soon," Argor replies. Once free, Argor leads Dreng to the main room of the shop, and the others. "We managed to capture your imposter," he comments, studying the creatures true form with an academic interest.
"Dreng has filled me in on some information. Nordris appears to either be a member of, or at least in collusion, with a branch of the Onyx Alliance called the Shadow Lodge. He is attempting to procure the Prospectus of Artifacts from Dreng's vault. We should make haste to deal with him before our arcane enhancements wear off."
He looks to Cladissa and asks, "Have you gained any information from the imposter?"
Cladissa glances in the direction of the back room, wondering if Argor is having success getting whatever this priest's plans are. She certainly didn't like the fact that their day didn't seem to be over. Then she looks back to the faceless thing, rubbing her neck. "Yeah, but you hurt me real bad, remember? You can hang on for a little longer, while I decide what to do next. Say, when you met with this priest, how did you look? You can change your appearance, right? Did you look like this now, or do you have another face that he knows you by? You know, so I can smooth things over for you, when I go to meet him. What's your name, by the way?"
"Yes, I can look like whoever I please. I met him like this, as myself. You may call me Mr. Xis."
Dreng and Sidri plop down with groans. They survey the doppleganger with disgust.
Sidri says, "Thank you for freeing me. Before we rush off to stop my father, perhaps we should search this shop? We might find something informative."
Dreng shrugs, nodding in agreement.
Xis hisses as the two of them from his bondage. "Why do you associate with these rubes, Cladissa? They know nothing of power...ambition. Fah!"
Argor chuckles at the bound creature. "Gianluca, Sabrina. Remain here with Cladissa for security. Grommesson, join us in a search of the premises."
Cladissa gives Xis another fake smile. Then she glances at Argor, and lets a bit of her old bitterness into her voice. "For the moment, they suit my purposes. You understand."
Then she sends a mental missive to Argor. ::A bit. Apparently, Xis' boss is a Norgorberite priest, and a high-ranking member of this new alliance, which was created just to deal with us. Makes me wonder if there's more secrets to our serum within Dreng's vaults, if that's what they're after. I've got him charmed, which should last for several days, and he's under a compulsion to remain calm and docile for at least eight hours. I'm still not comfortable leaving him behind, unless Dreng and Sidri are well enough to watch him::
When they others start to search the costume shop, she eyes Cole. "Go help." He meows and dashes off to nose around the place.
"Mr. Xis? Is there any fancy treasures hidden around here? Or any traps my familiar should watch out for?"
::Interesting. And I shared your theory regarding the serum, and intend to find out, once this is all over. I wonder if this Xis could be convinced to act as a double agent, reporting the Alliance's actions back to us?::
As he hovers again towards the back room, he turns and gives Cladissa a meaningful look.
::Either way, you've done some impressive work with the creature. Well done. I...:: his thought ends before he turns back and continues on with Grommesson, Dreng, and Sidri.
Cladissa stares at Argor's back as he floats out of sight, frowning slightly. Then she shakes her head and refocuses on Mr. Xis.
A search of the shop turns up Xis's journal, containing hundreds of portraits, including one of Dreng. There is a letter with the journal.
"Istraxis Xis,
Take these golden baubles as payment and replace Dreng. Go into the light and have those fool Pathfinders see you masquerading as Dreng. Shroud their eyes, and let them go about their days ignorant of the creeping blackness that soon comes to devour them all. I am pleased with our progress, and once we penetrate Dreng's vault, we can kill that whimpering old fool. My master shall rain rewards down on us for our service to the Onyx Labyrinth. With the Prospectus secured, my master can unleash his plan and take what is his.
Patience, my old friend, stay the course, and to pass the time, turn your charcoal to canvas, for I believe it is Sidri's turn to meet your wrath. Silence my son, before he warns other Pathfinders. The last thing we need is the involvement of the Freaks. Stop Sidri, and the only threat to stopping us ends with him.
Nordris Kalm"
Cladissa gives Xis another fake smile. Then she glances at Argor, and lets a bit of her old bitterness into her voice. "For the moment, they suit my purposes. You understand."
Then she sends a mental missive to Argor. ::A bit. Apparently, Xis' boss is a Norgorberite priest, and a high-ranking member of this new alliance, which was created just to deal with us. Makes me wonder if there's more secrets to our serum within Dreng's vaults, if that's what they're after. I've got him charmed, which should last for several days, and he's under a compulsion to remain calm and docile for at least eight hours. I'm still not comfortable leaving him behind, unless Dreng and Sidri are well enough to watch him::
When they others start to search the costume shop, she eyes Cole. "Go help." He meows and dashes off to nose around the place.
[dice=Perception]1d20+15"Mr. Xis? Is there any fancy treasures hidden around here? Or any traps my familiar should watch out for?"
"No, just my journal and lots of costumes. There is the room where we first met in the back as well. Ironic that all this started out here earlier."
Grommesson nods to and follows Argor toward searching the shop. Eventually, he finds a journal which he identifies to Argor as something useful. He didn't touch it having read too many tales of trapped tomes.
Listening to Cladissa confirms his idolization of her. He regretted avoiding her realization about his father. But, the prisoner was right there and conscious. He wouldn't want to give that information to the Freaks enemies.
Argor studies the journal briefly, as well as reads over the letter before folding it carefully and storing it away inside one of his scroll cases. He then returns to the main room with Dreng. "I will arrange for an armed escort to provide some protection for yourself, Sidri, and the captive as you travel to the Lodge. I will give the Society a day to question it while I make arrangements for its transfer to the First Guard for further interrogation. We must make haste to your office to deal with this Nordris."
Argor then floats into the street and flags down a city guard, shows him his credentials as Varlokkur, and commands him to muster up an escort for Dreng, Sidri, and the captive mimic.
He looks to Cladissa before telepathing ::I have proof of Nordris' involvement, should we manage to take him alive. But if it comes down to either his escaping or his death, we cannot take any chances. But if we can arrest him, further information on this Alliance and Shadow Lodge would prove most invaluable.::
Dreng nods. "No time for an escort! You lot are more powerful than any guards. Come on, let's be off! Let the guards deal with the damned doppleganger."
Cladissa nods at Argor in agreement to his thoughts.
When the oddly echoing voice of Sabrina rings in her mind, Cladissa looks uncertain. ::I can't think of a more dangerous creature than this one, but I still think we can learn much from it. I won't stop you if you decide that's what's best, though::
If Sabrina decides to stay her hand, Cladissa leans forward to Xis and whispers into what should be his ear. "Do me a favor and behave while I'm gone? Don't bother trying to escape, or I can't help you. But if someone rescues you, just act normal and don't mention our friendship, please? I might get hurt if the Onyx Labyrinth finds out we're friends. Come see me right away if you find yourself free. But I'd much prefer you just remain as our guest. All right?"
With a silent prayer to all the good deities that her enchantments hold, she follows Dreng to his office.
|
Sabrina slowly draws her massive, greatsword-sized scimitar.
::...He's committed numerous crimes against the Society:: both voices chime back to Cladissa. ::And if escapes, he will no doubt continue to terrorize us. I'd rather not spend the next few months wondering if he's killed Mr. Goodpies and taken his place or some equivalent nonsense. Thank you for understanding, Cladissa::
Yig's Champion raises her blade and carefully sinks it into the creature's head.
At the sight of the sword, Xis resumes his struggles but to no avail. Already wounded as he was, a blow from Sabrina is more than enough to decapitate him. Dreng smiles grimly. "Good! Now can we get on with this?"
The group hurries from the shop back towards the Grand Lodge. By carriage the journey takes another twenty five minutes. When they arrive at the Lodge, Dreng immediately calls a page to summon a meeting. He deposits Sidri in a waiting room, and then promptly leads the Freaks to his private office. Inside he points out a secret door which has been left cracked open. "Looks like we're in time, he must be inside!" Dreng leads the group through the door and down a flight of iron stairs below the Lodge.
"I should warn you, I left three very powerful invisible stalkers guarding the inner sanctum of the vault. Nordris will have activated them and now they are bound to kill anyone who enters. I can't call them off. Assuming Nordris is already inside, they may have gotten to him already. Either way you need to go in there and make sure he's captured or killed, and that the Prospectus is safe." He hands Argor a key. "This will get you through the final two doors to the central vault."
The massive metal door of the vault lies before the group, set in an intimidating no-nonsense stone wall. The wheel and bar lock is already unlocked, the door is ready for the Pathfinders to enter and foil the plot of the Onyx Labyrinth once again. Dreng turns and starts to climb the stairs back to his office. "I must go and inform the Decemvirate of what's happening. Good luck, my friends!" With that the old man totters up the steps as fast as he can.
As Dreng leaves and they stand on the cusp of another deadly task, Cladissa thinks to everyone, ::Are we sure that's really him?::
When Dreng departs, the thought of invisible stalkers attacking him flurries around Grommesson's mind enough to trigger another transformation. In the horrifying and painful process, his muscles bulge, and his hair falls away. His servant's outfit magically resizes. Within a few seconds, he becomes a beast the size and ugliness of an ogre. What hair remains hangs in patches. He breathes heavily looking around with beady red eyes, but this time you see that Grommesson remains in control of the beast.
He stretches wide his knuckle-dragging arms and magically adjusts his servant's clothes to a many pocketed explorer's outfit with purple pants.
Argor pockets the key, Argor considers what he knows of the guardians...
Back in the privacy of the group, Cladissa lets her illusion drop once again. Her eyes widen at Grommesson's change, but relaxes once he appears to be in control of himself.
::Invisible stalkers, hmm? I will be able to see them, and have one additional casting of glitterdust available to me. I shall endeavor to target all three, but that may not be possible. Listen for my instructions; I'll spot them for you and tell you where to swing::
Grommesson nods and tries to pet Rutai to thank him for healing him, but the demon flutters away indignantly.
Argor pockets the key, Argor considers what he knows of the guardians...
[dice=Knowledge (Planes)]1d20 + 24
This ability is constant—an invisible stalker remains invisible at all times, even when attacking. As this ability is inherent, it is not subject to the invisibility purge spell. Against foes that cannot pinpoint it, the invisible stalker gains a +20 bonus on Stealth checks when moving, or +40 when standing still—these bonuses are not included in the statistics above.