That is Lord Tilernos, patriarch of House Tilernos. The symbol he has on his cloak is of Iomedae, that is pretty odd considering this is Cheliax.
"Aye, it is Lord Tilernos come to check things out and look for his missing relative, Sascar Tilernos."
"Not sure if she was at the Mayor's House."
"Do you know anything about what's happened?" Truk says as he steps forward.
The sergeant says, "A massive explosion destroyed most of the Mayor's mansion and quite a bit of the nearby estates. The mayoral manor is all but destroyed, while the surrounding estates all show at least some partial damage. Many of his loyal allies are facing ruin today. Residents of these manors have fled their homes but some are missing. Right now it's a jurisdictional nightmare between the dottari and the Hellknights," he eyeballs John's armor. "We've got an outer perimeter set up and an interior perimeter line, trying to gain control."
If she was drunk as usual, then she no doubt didn't feel a thing. Andrea thinks to her self somewhat sarcastically.
Andrea looks about and waves Lord Tilernos and Maurice over to them, away from the rest of the Dottari and speaks lower.
Maurice, Lord Tilernos. I believe it is very important that we investigate the manor. I would normally keep quiet about this because we did something illegal but during the party after The Six Fold Trial myself and my friends went into a hidden pocket plane called The Asmodaian Knot that past mayors have used as a prison and vault. Inside we meet a devil who was held captive who told us that a devil of extreme power was imprisoned under the manor. We didn't say anything of this earlier because we no doubt be arrested, but with that...
Andrea waves at the columns of fire.
We think that this has been caused by said devil, so we need to see if we can reach the Knot and stop this from getting worse.
"So young lady, you and your friends knowingly choose to break the law with a criminal action conducted at the very house that is now in rubble. By your own admission you conversed with a fiend, who disclosed to you that an omnipotent abomination of the nine hells was imprisoned under the Mayor's mansion. With that knowledge you then did nothing but jeopardize the Public's safety and welfare; when you had no backbone, whatsoever, to face the law for your underlying criminal actions." His steel eyes burning holes into your conscience. "Now countless people, including a member of my family, are feared dead or missing. Did I sum up your involvement and responsibility appropriately?" The Paladin asks.
Absolutely not, why would I do such an illegal thing and endanger the lives of this entire city in such an irresponsible manner? Please forgive me for being hysterical and allow me the chance to properly atone in your eyes for acting in such a manner, my friends here know I tend to become hysterical under stress.
Truk beams with pride as Andrea lays everything on the line only to be confused as she tries to take it all back.
The big orc watches anxiously for the paladin's reaction.
"Please forgive Andrea, she's been having a few hysterical outbursts since the untimely death of a close friend of hers. Perhaps Maurice recalls Duncan and what close friends he and Andrea had become? We more than likely should have left her home, but feared for her safety if left alone in case of rioting. Seeing all the smoke from afar we feared for lives of all within and came here with the intention of offering some help to look for any survivors."
Andrea feels a rush of grief through her and her eyes waert.
Duncna..I'm sorry we didn't get to you in time. The smoke the fir... Andrea sobs a little and turns her head to lean on Orsin.
Orsin uses up his last glibness, putting his hand inside his handy haversack as he makes the silent gestures of the spell.
"Please forgive her, she's delusional. The death of our friend has indeed weighed heavy on her."
If she was drunk as usual, then she no doubt didn't feel a thing. Andrea thinks to her self somewhat sarcastically.
Andrea looks about and waves Lord Tilernos and Maurice over to them, away from the rest of the Dottari and speaks lower.
Maurice, Lord Tilernos. I believe it is very important that we investigate the manor. I would normally keep quiet about this because we did something illegal but during the party after The Six Fold Trial myself and my friends went into a hidden pocket plane called The Asmodaian Knot that past mayors have used as a prison and vault. Inside we meet a devil who was held captive who told us that a devil of extreme power was imprisoned under the manor. We didn't say anything of this earlier because we no doubt be arrested, but with that...
Andrea waves at the columns of fire.
We think that this has been caused by said devil, so we need to see if we can reach the Knot and stop this from getting worse.
"So you're that group, eh?' He eyes Andrea with suspicion then turns to the Lieutenant, "Find her...please." He turns back to you all, "His eyes focused on the Bard now, there is certainly nothing evil about your group....perhaps chaos runs in some of your souls but no evil." He looks at the Hellknight, "Law breaking does not justify the ends, keep your comrades on the righteous side of the law." He then walks away.
Andrea looks very very small. I will stay quiet from now on. Perhaps we can try to divine the location of his relative? We do have a scroll of scrying
The Lieutenant puts his hand on Andrea's shoulder, "Don't mind him, he's focused on his relative now and the safety of others. If what you say is true, he will be holding the Mayor accountable. Lord Tilernos marches to his own drummer, and well...most folks tend to leave him be." He chuckles, "there is always a bigger fish...and he is whopper that even the Rack avoid."
Thank you. Turning to the others. What should we do now? Perhaps explore the ruined manor for the missing nobles?
"Well looks like we will be arresting the Mayor, if we can find him, and at least will keep him safe from this angry crowd," the lieutenant says.
"We have two barricades erected across the two surviving streets leading into the Mayoral Plaza," he scribbles a note authorization you access. "I suppose this should be able to get you through the barricades."
Truk gives the guard a nod of thanks.
That woman has a silver tongue alright.
"Let's go. This city is going to hell."
Andrea silently follows behind and mutter to Lucrezia. Kick me if I try opening my mouth like that again.
As you get closer to the ruined area of town you hear, "Psst, PPPPPssssst, PPPPPPPPsssssssssssttttt" from a debris riddled alley.
Someone is trying to get our attention. Andrea uhooks her mace and looks over to where the noise is coming from.
Lucrezia looks over to the sound of the noise.
Aberian, the Mayor, steps out and he is in terrible condition—his clothes are filthy and torn, blood cakes his head and hands and stains his clothes here and there, and his expression is one of fear and persecution. He warns I have something of dire importance to speak to you about before you take another step toward the ruins of his home. I need to speak to you all somewhere safe." He head is on pivot looking around, obviously scared.
Well Mayor Aberian, I'm sure we can spare a few momments of our time, considering we were all so worried about what happened to you and the manor. Andrea looks around for a suitable place. I'm sure there are several empty shops we can get into while we think of what what to do next.
Grimm surveys the scene and nearly coughs his phlem listening to Andrea's admission. Maybe she hadn't been around paladins much?
He follows along waiting for something bad to happen.
Grimm surveys the scene and nearly coughs his phlem listening to Andrea's admission. Maybe she hadn't been around paladins much?
He follows along waiting for something bad to happen.
Something bad always happens.
The frazzled mayor and the party do find out an out of the way ruined carriage house to talk. His is clearly worried and stressed.
“I’m talking to you because I love this city. I know I’ve not been the best mayor, and those who hate me have plenty of reason to, but what’s happening up the hill will ruin everything. You’ve doubtless heard the rumors—that there’s a devil imprisoned under my home and its infernal power is the source of my manor’s extravagances. Those rumors are correct. The devil’s name is Liebdaga the Twin — he’s an infernal duke from Avernus, and the House of Thrune put him there. But now something’s gone wrong. I caught my majordomo, that b&+*@ Crosael, trying to steal the contract that details the conditions of Liebdaga's imprisonment from a hidden safe in my chambers, and now the ruins of my home are crawling with devils, thugs, diabolists, and worse. Seems Crosael’s more than she appeared — not only is she actually a damnable tiefling, but she’s been working for the Council of Thieves all this time!”
So this devil finally got tired powering the mayor's toilet. Surprise.
We'd be very interested in seeing this not get any worse. I have heard that you have a secret vault that holds this devil. Is this vault still reachable?
This was the mayor of Westcrown? This frightened little man. Truk snorted as he struggled to contain his laughter.
At least he loved Westcrown. He was a coward and a fool but his heart was in the right place.
”Your pet needs to be put down”, the big orc said aloud. ”Before any more damage is done.”
This was the mayor of Westcrown? This frightened little man. Truk snorted as he struggled to contain his laughter.
At least he loved Westcrown. He was a coward and a fooland a sadist but his heart was in the right place.
”Your pet needs to be put down”, the big orc said aloud. ”Before any more damage is done.”
"Technically, I did not acquire him, he was gift from Thrune to first mayor. Sorta came with the house and job. Heck, I barely went into the attic or basement," he mutters. "it was scary there."
John you recall something about a Liebdaga the Twin being a missing pit fiend. That is all you know.
Answering Andrea's question, Most of my home has been destroyed. I guess it ws more than gremlins in my attic, it appears as my majordomo and her friends damaged the infernal engine that contains the pit fiend. I've never seen the engine though...just know its there from what the workers tell me." He nervously grimaces.
In the Nessian Spiral, in the west of the chambers, there’s a prison that contains the angry pit fiend, but I'm not sure why he's so mad he signed the contract." His eyes pleadingly look at the bard. "I don't know much about the basement but can give you a little sketch of the couple areas I'm familiar with though." trying to sound helpful. "Maybe the infernal engine can be fixed, it always worked before, The infernal engine — I had he tieflings who lived down who maintained it. They were kept happy with food scraps and i wasn't a hard disciplinarian, so they promised it would be fixed." He looks perplexed.
Andrea hands over some parchment and ink for the mayor to write on. How do we get into the spiral? Also can you tell us anything you know about your majordomo and the Council of Thieves and why they would try damaging the infernal engine? Plus what is this about a contract?
The map that he provides has the only access point that he knows of, itsin the main dining hall behind the tapestry. "I think the Council was balckmailing her but she is bytche for doing this to me. People seeking power may want a powerful devil as an ally."
"Where can we find this contract?'
He produces contract, it is only a copy of the original, I will sign partial ownership of the contract over to the you with his signature. This should grant the you a bit of leverage against Liebdaga when you confront him, and they might even help you out."
"Lookie here I think this may be important to you," he points to a clause that quite clearly states, “The undersigned shall be
considered bound by this contract, and shall be granted access to the Nessian Spiral’s workings should the need for repairs or adjustments arise.”
Aberian also points out a section of the contract that mentions what could be a way to shut down the infernal engine safely — somewhere in
the Nessian Spiral are five “cooling pools,” where waters from the River Styx are drawn in from the Great Beyond to regulate the infernal energies drawn off of the pit fiend, and in the event of a “cataclysmic failure,” the flow of waters from the Styx can be shut off with the application of a device called a Stygian Keyrod once kept by the Spiral’s Keepers. Shutting off this flow of unholy water should throttle the engine’s energy output, and while this could cause the engine to falter and fail, it is a much preferred solution than the destruction of the engine and subsequent release of its occupant. The contract itself closes with a notation that “This contract remains binding and legal for all perpetuity so as long as the consigned component of the infernal engine be a viable source of power, as witnessed here by Signatory Vaccha, Kolyarut of the Scriptures of Adamantine.”
"Besides imprisoning the Devil, what else does the engine do? And where can we find the Stygian Keyrod?"
He shakes his head, Maybe the tunnel rats know." He points to the contract that refers to the tieflings that lived in indentured servitude in the dungeons below the manor as the “Spiral’s Keepers,” Those tieflings were responsible for cleaning the complex, making minor repairs and general upkeep, and guarding against intrusion. They took up the task semi-voluntarily, having been offered the job by the House of Thrune as a way to work off a “debt to society for being an otherwise inexcusable stain on the purity of the Chelish race.” Tieflings who assumed the role of a Spiral’s Keeper and spent 20 years servicing an infernal engine were to be paid
a healthy fee and be granted citizenship — otherwise, they would be kept as slaves for life by the House of Thrune.
Aberian adds with only a hint of rue and shame, "Those tieflings who did serve their 20 year contracts were granted nothing of the sort — they were packed off to parts unknown by Thrune agents, I can only assume, to be enslaved elsewhere or simply exterminated. I mean they're only tieflings.
In any case, the Westcrown infernal engine has been in operation for close to 70 years. The tieflings currently serving there are the fourth
generation of Spiral Keepers, and Aberian recalls, Once Thrune agents arrived to install them and take the old ones away. In particular, there was a tiefling priest who Thrune had selected to be the commander of the Keepers — Veladness, a dark-eyed, evil-looking mongrel with glowing spidery stripes along the sides of his head and whose grating voice sent chills down my spine. That thing being locked down there is another reason why I stayed out of the inner workings of the place, and left the shipments of food and supplies for the tieflings to his majordomo, Crosael."
He suggests that "The Stygian Keyrod they’ll need to help deactivate
the infernal engine’s cooling pools is likely to be in Veladness’s possession, but warns them not to trust the tiefling. He makes your skin crawl, if you get my meaning."
So if we all or those that want to sign our names on the contract, we can have authority over the tunnel rats and any other guardians. I believe this would be very useful.
Andrea will sign her name on the contract.
"So the contract was broken? That is probably what has upset the devil."
I just wanted hot water and powered lights." He looks pretty petty and stupid.
He offeres a bit more advice, “Avoid the thieves and devils and make your way into the Nessian Spiral, find the key rod to shut down the Stygian Cooling Chambers, and then make your way to the Spiral’s center to banish or even destroy the pit fiend, certainly weakened by its long imprisonment as a fuel source, before he can regain his power and escape.”
He starts to look towards the exit, convinced it is now your problem. "Probably the last thing I do as Mayor....i need to get out of the City catch a boat.
Truk casts the pathetic man a dismissive glance.
"Will you be safe? The dottari seemed to think your life would be in danger from the mobs."
His eyes widen, "The dottari are looking for me, eh? Of course, they think that the mob will harm me. Truth be told its the dottari who would harm me.
"Spit it out. Unlike the rest of this lot, I ain't afraid of stinking Hellknights and dottari."