Agents of Cheliax Abroad (Inactive)

Game Master Molech

Magnius knows that there is no password, there is no secret greeting or code. If one knows where the Dusk Market is to be during a given twilight then one knows that is sufficient for entry. The Dottari is clearly being cagey for some other reason.

Perhaps some kind of gambit, bluff intimidation or diplomatic tactic could fish out what's going on with Eco Drumanis. Or perhaps the blunt approach. The Dottari seems alone. Finally, one could just ask for an agent of Pangolais, as it is Winnow whom you are searching.

Major Eco Drumanis
Westcrown 'Dottari' (city guard officer)

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The city guard officer remains somewhat uncertain, tentative on how to proceed with Magnius. He still has no idea of The Bogeyman's presence.

Seeing the Dottari obviously hiding something and hindering their investigation, The Bogeyman decides to make an appearance. He appears out of nowhere, stepping effortlessly from the shadows into the dim light, and confronts the major abruptly: "you're hiding something. Speak the truth or I will call upon you the terrible vengeance of Asmodeus!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (4) + 32 = 36

Major Eco Drumanis
Westcrown 'Dottari' (city guard officer)

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Seeing the creature of Westcrown's nightmares in the flesh, the Dottari becomes visibly shaken, beads of sweat just start to form on his forehead.

He stutters at The Bogeyman. "I, I thought you were on our side?" He looks back at Magnius, then at The Bogeyman who appeared seemingly from nowhere under the veranda. He addresses both, back and forth. And he takes a few steps closer, to the edge of the steps further away from those still inside. "The Dusk market is technically illegal but, you know, er, 'some' of the Lords and Ladies take advantage of it from time to time. I'm suppose to, er, 'make sure nothing illegal is going on.' And enforce the law of Westcrown and Cheliax.

"I'm sorry," he looks at Magnius; "I just wasn't sure if you were here on behalf of a Lord or Lady of Westcrown or if you were here illegally."

"The wrathful justice of Asmodeus has no side," the monster warns the presumptuous Dottari. "I am looking for Winnow. And you had best not say a word about my being here or I will hunt you down and stuff your tongue down your throat!"

Major Eco Drumanis
Westcrown 'Dottari' (city guard officer)

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Though he does not know the person's name, he quickly recognizes Winnow's description: quiet, pale, thin, seemingly androgynous and walks in shadow, or a shadow seems to follow 'him' -- almost certainly an emissary of Pangolais in the Uskwood, a disciple of The Midnight Lord.

Eco Drumanis confirms 'he' was here, quietly bartering for something with a Hell-blooded Dwarf, a Durzagon, Warpriest of Dispater. The Dottari does not know who the Durzagon is or to where he departed after he bartered with Winnow. He does not know what they were trading.

Eco Drumanis does know where Winnow is now, however. The pale man coldly asked the Dottari the location of Parego Dospera's Pleatra -- the slave market. Winnow is heading to the Pleatra now, presumably to purchase some chattel.

The Pleatra is a large, concrete pavilion on the bottom end of the Parego Dospera, where chattel is regularly bought and sold.

Magnius smiles at Eco "You're just doing your job, which is to be commended. As for me, I'm here for my own reasons." He hands the Dottari five gold. "I would appreciate it if you kept our visit quiet, yes? I have yet to see my uncle, the Lord Mayor, as I have had pressing personal business to attend to first, and I don't want him thinking I'm ignoring him." 1d20 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 21 + (4) = 29 Diplomacy

At mention of the Midnight Lord, Azlain rolled his eyes in disgust. Nothing involving those lunatics ever went smoothly.

Gonna make some Knowledge checks. Wanted to keep it separate from my dialogue for sake of ease

Cosmology for Midnight Lord(Zon?) and what would I roll to learn more about the Warpriest, and who or what a Durzagon is?

Durzagon are essentially Tiefling Dwarves or Tiefling Duergars. But maybe more like Half-Fiend Dwarves or Duergars. A Durzagon in Cheliax would be nearly as common as a Tiefling in Cheliax, (Dwarves being less common than Humans as progenitors of Hellspawn). Being a Native Outsider built with Class Levels, a Knowledge: Local check (DC: 12) is sufficient for this information.

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The Midnight Lord, of course, is the Pathfinder god of masochism, sadism, darkness, torture, the Shadow Plane -- Zon Kuthon -- formerly a beauteous god of goodness and brother to Shelyn, now ruler of, well, Pathfinder Cenobites. Knowledge: Cosmology DC: 10 is sufficient for this.

Major Eco Drumanis
Westcrown 'Dottari' (city guard officer)

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At the mention that the GrandCount Aberian Arvanxi, Lord Mayor of Westcrown, is Magnius' uncle, Eco Drumanis' eyebrows raise sharply. His fright of seeing The Bogeyman compartmentalized, at least for now, he reappraises the man who first addressed him. Taking the pitiful amount of gold with grateful thanks, he quickly assures Lord Magnius Arvanxi that he will not volunteer this encounter to the Lord Mayor unless, of course, he is required to.

At mention of the Midnight Lord, Azlain rolled his eyes in disgust. Nothing involving those lunatics ever went smoothly.

Yaos, who has moved up since the stealth ended and discussion began, notes Azlain's re-action and takes him by the arm, cheerfully stating "Don't be so glum Azlain. Zon Kuthon cultists are not so bad, for sadistic lunatics anyway."

She then takes The Bogeyman by the other arm, flashes the guardsman a radiant smile and says "Thank you sir. Come gentlemen, we should make haste to Parego Dospera's Pleatra before Winnow concludes his business there. It has already been a long day."

1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 9 + (6) = 33 Local on the Durzagon. Looking to figure out as much about him as possible(not just his class levels, like his whole life, lol), let me know if I should also make a Society check to supplement this info.

1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 14 + (2) = 30 Cosmology on The Midnight Lord.

At the mention of Winnow's meeting with a Durzagon who wore the accouterments of and carried himself as a Warpriest of Dispater, Magnius is reminded of a Durzagon named Bowrick Tongueeater, a violent and ruthless mercenary, merchant and bounty hunter for the Empire who plies his trade in Rahadoum, the Thuvian desert, and occasionally even as far as Osirion and Katapesh. What he was trading at the Dusk Market in Westcrown is anyone's guess, probably something he found in the parched lands down south -- and what Winnow of Pangolais could possibly want of the Durzagon is equally anyone's guess.

"I am not sure which Kuthonites you have dealt with, my dear, but in my experience they are all exasperating at best." Azlain's tone was half amusement half resignation. "A complete waste of potential, very one of them."

"I don't know, they're awfully good at torturing people," Mindy piped up. She was currently in the form of a raven sitting on Azlain's shoulder. "It's not as easy as it seems. There's an art to it."

"True, but for Kuthonites there is no functional purpose behind it. Their art is... abstract. They don't even try to claim that their ends justify their means. The ends are the means. It's nonsense." Azlain argued.

"Don't you think there's some ideological purity to that?" Mindy asked.

"Torture is a tool," Azlain shook his head. "If I use a hammer and nails to build a house, I am an artisan. If I randomly hammer nails into wood just because I like doing it, then no matter how good at it I get I am still an idiot."

"You are quite right Mindy. Performing a Blood Eagle even half correctly requires knowledge, practice and physical strength. And I actually agree with you Azlain, I was being flippant and have had nothing to do with Kuthonites. Despite my somewhat grim reputation I have never hurt anyone without a reason. Torture is for interrogation and the final hours of those who have really incurred my wrath"

"Quite right," Azlain said with an approving smile.

The Parego Dospera is quiet in the early hours of night, that time after twilight yet before the moon has risen over the midnight hour providing shadows along the crumbling buildings. The squatters of Dospera have all shut themselves into their preferred abandoned structures. Closing their eyes to the darkness and reality. Hiding as much as sleeping.

What to many would be an eerie, even ominous walk along the quiet streets toward the Pleatra was turned pleasant by conversation of The Midnight Lord. And art.

"Art is suppose to be abstract."

The voice comes from the edge of an alley. A small child, not more than an impoverished whelp, aged six or eight, stands unshod and more than half naked. He barely looks at you as passersby and makes his response to Azlain's remark as much to himself as to you.

He looks away and slowly walks across the street to a half-burnt manse. Three other small children, equally impoverished and unclothed, huddle together to sleep, half in the open. The child joins them and closes his eyes to sleep.

The Pleatra is a block away, visible from here.

The Pleatra
Slave Market of Westcrown in the Parego Dospera
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A concrete pavilion stands just inside the southern edge of the Parego Dospera, not forty feet from one of the plank bridges over black water that leads to the lively Parego Spera peninsula.

There is very little activity at the Pleatra this night.

A few merchants are on the pavilion, chattel in cages or manacles, mostly Halflings. They lean on the pavilion, more than half bored. On the cobbled ground below one or two prospective buyers look at the chattel and walk away.

The individual described as Winnow is there as well.

Winnow
Agent of Pangolais in the Uskwood, Disciple of The Midnight Lord

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Pale, thin and unremarkable, an androgynous, black robed person delicately peruses the slaves in the Pleatra.

'He' inspects each individual by clutching the slave's ear, or ears. Feeling the bumps and ridges. Massaging them. Looking into the ear canal for a moment. Some slaves take only a few seconds of 'his' time, barely a clutch of the ear. Others 'he' spends more time with. Only one does he look deep into the ear canal. A Halfling female, unremarkable.

Unsatisfied he begins to step away. He has not found a slave to purchase.

Eighty feet away, about one block, you stand not too far from the unafraid, homeless children, sleeping half out in the open so unlike the adults of the Parego Dospera, frighteningly cloistered out of sight.

After a pause, Winnow steps back to the concrete pavilion, kneels before the Halfling female he showed interest in, and shows her a glossy black disk. It is barely the size of 'his' hand. She stares at it for a minute. Nothing happens.

Then she dies.

Winnow arises quietly. He doesn't react to her death. Quietly, slowly, he pays the Chelaxian slaver.

And Winnow begins to leave the Pleatra behind. There is nothing for him here.

When comes the time to head to the Pleatra, the Bogeyman politely extricates himself from Yaos' friendly hold without a word. Not so much a monster after all...

The man beneath the mask makes a note to stay a distance away from the charming woman to avoid such awkward situations in the future. Not that her company is anything but pleasant, but such embraces break the decorum and gravitas of the part that he is playing!

He fades once more into the shadows, keeping an eye out as his companions continue their investigation.

Stealth: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (16) + 25 = 41
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Yaos, I believe this scene is yours. I know I'm waiting on her lead.

"Okay guys. We can see our mark Winnow. I could talk to him, but I want to see what we can find out before he knows we are here. Particularly, I want to know where he goes. He may go to his dwelling and maybe we can search that."Says Yaos softly but clearly, and very conspiratorially. Then Yaos seems to want to play fifty questions, continuing "Bogeyman, can you follow him? Azlain, do you know, and particularly have memorised, the spell Detect Thoughts. Same question for all of you regarding Speak with the Dead? And does anyone have any idea what he did to the Halfling he killed?"

First, sorry all, I hadn't looked closely enough and was waiting for a response to the stealth roll. Mea culpa.

Second, questions for DM. Is there a knowledge roll for knowing what Winnow did to the halfling and what race or manner of creature Winnow is?

Using the rolls above, The Bogeyman will follow the mark, as instructed by Yaos...

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28

One of Alzlain's manicured eyebrows rose as he watched the scene unfold.

Yaos also asked "Azlain, do you know, and particularly have memorised, the spell Detect Thoughts?"

Winnow
Agent of Pangolais in the Uskwood, Disciple of The Midnight Lord

.

Pale, thin and unremarkable, an androgynous, black robed person delicately peruses the slaves in the Pleatra.

'He' inspects each individual by clutching the slave's ear, or ears. Feeling the bumps and ridges. Massaging them. Looking into the ear canal for a moment. Some slaves take only a few seconds of 'his' time, barely a clutch of the ear. Others 'he' spends more time with. Only one does he look deep into the ear canal. A Halfling female, unremarkable.

Unsatisfied he begins to step away. He has not found a slave to purchase.

After a pause, Winnow steps back to the concrete pavilion, kneels before the Halfling female he showed interest in, and shows her a glossy black disk. It is barely the size of 'his' hand. She stares at it for a minute. Nothing happens.

Then she dies.

Winnow arises quietly. He doesn't react to her death. Quietly, slowly, he pays the Chelaxian slaver.

And Winnow begins to leave the Pleatra behind. There is nothing for him here.

. . . .

Eighty feet away, about one block, you stand not too far from the unafraid, homeless children, sleeping half out in the open so unlike the adults of the Parego Dospera, frighteningly cloistered out of sight.

Azlain recognizes something of what has happened. Though he has never witnessed it, in Cheliax many are taught of the ways of Pangolais in the Usk Wood.

Winnow, servant of The Midnight Lord, was looking for talent, for potential. Pressing into the ridges on the ear and looking into the chattels' ear canal, or eyes, mouths and nostrils, he was looking for an inner charisma, the gnosis of one who may have a sorcerous bloodline of shadow and darkness, of one who may be able to conjure forth an eidolon of tenebrous pain.

Unsatisfied, Winnow was prepared to leave with nothing. The unremarkable Halfling woman who caught 'his' eye for a moment not good enough.

But it was worth a try.

Winnow's glossy black disk is magical. Many arcane masters in Cheliax have studied these tools of Pangolais. It acts not merely as a scrying device into The Shadow Plane, where the cenobites of Zon Kuthon dwell in sadomasochistic suffering, but also as a conduit, a tiny Gate.

Initiates are shone the glossy black disk after the Kuthite activates its magic. Invisibly, something from Beyond will attempt to exit, to leave its Plane of torture and twilight and escape into the beauteous Material Plane.

If the Initiate can control it, force it back into its realm or, even better, control it enough to bargain with it, the agent of The Midnight Lord will know that the Initiate is worthy to join the ranks of pupils in Pangolais, eventually to become conduits of Zon Kuthon's will in the Prime Material.

If the Initiate doesn't have sufficient gnosis, the inner charisma to control a fragment of Cenobite consciousness, it will kill the Initiate and feed. And the Kuthite will know, definitively, that the Initiate is unworthy.

Winnow, having conclusively learned the Halfling was unworthy, paid the slaver the bit of gold for killing her, and is prepared to leave.

Winnow
Agent of Pangolais in the Uskwood, Disciple of The Midnight Lord

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Quietly, slowly but deliberately, Winnow departs from the concrete pavilion that serves as The Pleatra of Westcrown. 'His' Shadow seemingly to follow him independently, rather than as a part of 'him.'

Even more quietly, The Bogeyman of Westcrown follows Winnow, the agent of Pangolais unaware.

The Bogeyman makes sure that his recent allies, Azlain, Magnius and Yaos, notice where he is going, so they can follow The Bogeyman from a distance, yet far enough from Winnow that he cannot see them.

At his destination still in the northern district of Westcrown called the Parego Dospera, Winnow enters an old manor of House Jeggare, wherein the Jeggare slaves used to live, generations ago. Now the building sags and the roof looks about to fall in. Winnow enters as though the dilapidated structure were his own.

Inside, with The Bogeyman watching stealthily from the yard as any voyeur, Winnow casts a minor cantrip of pale light, less even than candlelight, barely creating lowlight conditions in the interior room. Outside, The Bogeyman turns from the crack in his partly-boarded window to motion to Azlain, Magnius, and Yaos, further away and approaching.

Winnow prays then to his god. Not prayer as much as plea, begging for more power. He cuts himself in a sensitive area and begs through cold tears. Has he inflicted enough pain on himself to appease his god? Winnow applies acid to his wound; he almost faints, almost cries out.

Undressing himself completely Winnow appears originally masculine of form, but as one who never fully developed due to malnourishment, neglect and abuse. His pale body is marked with gray scar tissue. He has no nipples. He has no belly-button. He has no genitalia.

His Shadow flickers around him. Is it watching him or is that just a trick of the low light from his cantrip? Is it merely copying his writhing in prayer and pain, supplication and entreaty?

Out of breath, still in agony, Winnow finishes. Perhaps Zon Kuthon heard the plea of this servant of The Midnight Lord.

After a pause Winnow, still unaware of The Bogeyman's presence outside watching him, or of the presence of Azlain, Magnius and Yaos, retrieves an item from his discarded clothes. His Bag of Holding.

From it the agent of Pangolais retrieves two items of property.

The first is a small boy, a homeless boy with features similar to those homeless children not afraid of the night, sleeping half outside in the Parego Dospera.

The boy, ten or eleven, is naked and barely conscious. A cast iron cage holding his head like a headpiece serves as an implement of torture, a thin chain linked to the "neck" of the cage and an iron spike pointing into the cage, into the boy's mouth, preventing speech. The Bogeyman can just make out that the spike is barbed, pressing into the roof of the boy's mouth. Winnow sits the boy down a couple feet away from himself and retrieves the other piece of property. This one is a four year old girl.

The girl is equally naked and head-caged, barbed spike in her mouth and only half conscious. But her features are recognizable. She has the odd blue eyes of a noble member of House Oberigo. Perhaps a grand-niece of Countess Tanith Oberigo herself.

Winnow takes the thin chains of the two children's cast iron head-cages and connects them, then sits himself crosslegged between them.

How far is Winnow? Within striking distance?

Winnow is on an empty floor in the abandoned manor. The Bogeyman is about fifteen to eighteen feet away, outside the structure, peering silently in through gaps in the planks boarding up a broken window.

Azlain, Magnius and Yaos are close behind, having been able to follow The Bogeyman from a distance.

The room is cast in lowlight conditions.

The front door, maybe twelve/ fifteen feet from The Bogeyman, is ajar.

(The Bogeyman can quietly withdraw to describe the scene within to Azlain, Magnius and Yaos. Azlain can use this moment to explain to The Bogeyman what occurred with the Halfling at The Pleatra — I *think The Bogeyman has separated from the rest of the group, briefly, on the way from The Dusk Market to The Pleatra.)

"Of course I do," Azlain answered Yaos as they observed Winnow's actions. "I am not sure I wish to use it on a Kuthonite though. Some abysses are not worth staring into. What do you wish to find out?"

After they followed Winnow to his destination, he waited outside the building for the Bogeyman to report back.

Can I roll society to recognize the girl as nobility, once I get within sight of her?

1d20 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 12 + (6) = 25 Local on Winnow

Winnow
Agent of Pangolais in the Uskwood, Disciple of The Midnight Lord

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Magnius, having watched intently as Winnow ‘used’ the glossy black disk with the Halfling slave, and with some cognizance of the level of magic being controlled in that moment, and in considering the Shadow that seems both a part of and independent from the agent of The Midnight Lord, plus Winnow’s holy symbol — believes that he’s observed another Summoner, not too unlike Yaos, but clearly not precisely like Yaos. A different type of Summoner, one who has merged with his Eidolon in some fashion, synthesized with it, and is powerful enough to cast mid-Level spells.

But there’s more. Winnow acts equally as a Priest of The Midnight Lord, as though he advanced equally as a Summoner and as a Priest.

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Winnow is a Gestalt Priest/ Synthesist Summoner— above CR 10 (which is how high your Knowledge:Local roll went: DC 15 + CR)

"Excellent Azlain. I know what you mean about Kuthonites, and that is before being told this one is torturing children. Does anyone have any idea who the children are or why Winnow is doing that to them? Or what this Winnow is capable of? As to what I am trying to learn, I was trying to extract some information from a young Ganymede by the name of Kylian Phandros. He wanted any and every piece of information about Winnow in exchange. I want to cultivate Kylian as a contact as he might prove useful. But that only goes so far, the hope Kylian might prove a useful contact ... is not the most important thing in the world. Winnow seems less sane and more dangerous the more I learn of him. I would like to know what Winnow's capabilities are and who those children are before deciding what to do. And consult with you gentlemen, this could prove to be a serious decision." is Yaos's reply to Azlain's question, keeping her voice low.

The perceptive may note in the narrowing of her pupils and her tone of voice when speaking of Winnow that Yaos thinks he is vile. Is this the same woman who put four people to death in an agonising manner a few hours ago?

This is getting rather erudite for a RPG.

"I am not sure I wish to use it on a Kuthonite though. Some abysses are not worth staring into. "

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you." Nietzsche (Beyond Good and Evil, 146)

I guess we're just rolling with the idea that Boogy came back and told us what was going on to speed things up.

"Indeed. This is clearly not a lawful or warranted form of torture. I would be derelict in my duties not to investigate and take action. I will wait to Detect Thoughts until he can be properly questioned. My strong suspicion is that his unguided surface thoughts right now will be less than useful. "

"Mindy, inform the nearest Dottari that the Hellknights will be conducting a raid at this location. I believe that will be Major Drumanis. The Dottari's aid is not required, but help maintaining order in the streets will likely be necessary."

"I know the routine," Mindy said, zipping off in the direction of the last Dottari they'd spotted.

Azlain put his mask on. His form rippled and bulked. The amiable, charismatic wizard was gone. In his place once again was the imposing visage of a Hellknight Signifier.

We can roll with it. And The Bogeyman is more than ready! Question: is there any way for any of you to lock him down if/when The Bogeyman terrorizes him?

After Bogey returns and informs them of Winnow's vile practices, Magnius replies "It sounds like he has a noble child of House Oberigo. We need to rescue her, and likely eliminate Winnow. Be warned, he is similar to Yaos in his capabilities, though his power is in his shadow as opposed to the hordes our Widow friend calls forth. Also, he is some sort of priest of the Zon-Kuthon."

Bogey, possibly the Barbed Chains spell I can cast?

"I agree totally Magnius. Let us kill this loathsome cockroach and return the young Oberigo to her family. Does anyone need to be invisible or hasted before we start? I intend to bury Winnow in summoned creatures in case you hadn't guessed." replies Yaos, the anticipation of combat obviously energising her body.

Active Effects, Heightened Senses, Defending Bone, Extended Shield , Unseen Servant, Message (all party members linked).

Casting just before the fight: Eagle's Splendor, Spectral Hand. Casting Magic Circle Against Evil on Boogy (since he'll be close to Winnow)

"I certainly would not mind being invisible. I love the look of surprise that tends to cause." Azlain chuckled behind his mask. Apparently he wasn't quite all the way into character yet.

"Spellcasters are tricky opponents, but they happen to be my specialty. Boogeyman, you should be protected from his summoned creatures now. I'll be concentrating my efforts on locking down his ability to cast spells."

Ready to go.

"Indeed. But we have spells too, and have him outnumbered. And I haven't started summoning minions yet. My plan is to have Winnow in melee combat from an early stage. Invisibility coming up Azlain. Anyone else for haste, invisibility or enlargement?" replies Yaos, who proceeds to cast invisibility on Azlain and herself.

I have 2 more level 2 spells and 6 level 1, so knock yourselves out with the buffs guys. We haven't replenished spells since fighting the Bellflower Agents, so I am still down a 2nd and a 3rd level spell.

Winnow is on an empty floor in the abandoned manor. The Bogeyman is about fifteen to eighteen feet away, outside the structure, peering silently in through gaps in the planks boarding up a broken window.

Azlain, Magnius and Yaos are close behind, having been able to follow The Bogeyman from a distance.

The room is cast in lowlight conditions.

The front door, maybe twelve/ fifteen feet from The Bogeyman, is ajar.

A couple of questions about the setting Mr DM Ray.

There are several ways into the house other than the front door (which is ajar) — boarded windows and a back door or two, likely a cellar door. But these, unlike the front door, are all shoddily boarded or locked.

Of more concern may be various hallways or arched exits from this large room in which Winnow sits, praying to The Midnight Lord. There are FOUR exits from Winnow’s room that lead further into the home, in addition to the front door leading outside. Five total. The windows of this room, including the one The Bogeyman is hiding behind outside looking in, are all boarded up, but with gaps and cracks.

Winnow
Agent of Pangolais in the Uskwood, Disciple of The Midnight Lord

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Unaware of the grisly fate being planned for him, only a few seconds away, Winnow continues as The Bogeyman spies on him.

He awakens the children with smelling salts and ammonia, startling them from whatever reveries they may have begun.

”Soon you two will join other initiates in our Midnight City.” Winnow’s voice is soft, as pale and unemotional as his pallor, marked with gray scar tissue as it is. ”You have passed your first test and each controlled a Cenobite from The World of Shadow.” He looks at the boy, the homeless wretch Winnow took from the other homeless children in the Pareto Dospera. ”And you had the will to bargain with yours." The four year old girl looks at the boy in surprise. Was he better than she?! A mere slave boy!

”Both of you may yet attain great power, power which you have never dreamed of before. Or you may die during a test. The Midnight Lord does not suffer the weak to join his slaves.” The four year old girl looks up at this word. It is not a word she likes to hear pointed at her. She is defiant, strong willed. And as well disappointed in herself that the slave boy chained to her own head-cage was able to do more when he stared in the Shadows of Winnow’s glossy black disk than she was able to.

”Yes, child of Hell, you are a slave to The Midnight Lord. As I am. As are all in Pangolais. Our God of Shadows does not allow servants, only slaves.” There is still no emotion in his voice. Winnow is a true slave, broken of all passion or emotion, with no drive, or even ego, of his own.

”There is one more test tonight. Even more important than the one I gave you when we met, where you both looked into the Void of Darkness and controlled the Shadow of a Cenobite. You will pass this test and return with me to Pangolais, or you will die in agony, and be left on this floor to decay naturally.”