"A spot of m'shroom tea to help revive your senses?" As she stomps her staff on the ground, there is slight rumble underfoot and two unusual looking birds flutter down carrying a tea pot and dainty cups. "My flock tends to me... well."
Dogtongue moves over to the birds and begins to pour tea for everyone. passing out full cups to each person the small pot never seems to run dry.
After he serves mother last, he takes his own cup. "Nothin' like it,' he boosts.
Mother watches each person as they stare at the cup of tea, chuckling out loud.
Gerard silently sips at the tea... as he makes "eye" contact.
Tthe chuckle rumbles as Gerard is the first to sip the tea, "Now, I wouldn't have invited you out here just ta kill ya now...that wouldn't be a proper hostess. I may be wicked and evil finds refuge in my body, but I ain't stuupid...we have a common foe that needs killing."
You regain 10 Hp and 2 Ability damage. If don't need the Hp then you get a temporary 24 hours bonus to your HPs. For example, if you were 5 HP down you would get those 5 back then 5 temporary HPs.
Andrea sips at the tea along with Gerard, her palate having been accustomed to food of questionable quality.
Thank you for the refreshment, and yes, we have grudges that need to be addressed.
You get 3 Hp back and a 24 boost to your Wisdom of 2.
While the others sip, or decide to... Will you be killing the humans summarily? I would ask you tell them their lives are forfeit, unless they follow Gerard Nisroc. Who will destroy the leaders of the current council.
Replacing it with something more palatable and just. Instead of allowing the vaccum created rip Westcrown apart. The Unseen Hand.
Gerard finishes his tea.
Perhaps Frank should have some. Bracing...
Andrea imagines Frank lapping tea out of a teacup and squees.
Dmpc please
Dmpc please
The paladin gives a quick blessing to his godess then reluctantly takes a sip. Smacking his lips, tasting the earthy mushrooms, algae and redoak bark mixture.
You get 20Hp back. If you don't need the full healing the excess is wasted.
Orsin doesn't hesitate "Bottoms up."
You get a +2 Luck bonus for 48 hours. It can be used on attack, skills, and saves.
Euphemia, eyes wide like a horrified child, drinks as is suggested, a slight tremor developed in her wrists as she takes some of the tea. Whatever it is, it's of the mother rather than the tea itself, which she gladly shares with her familiar, who rouses at the feeling of something being crammed into his mouth.
Don't violate me! I'm just a poor, spiny bas-.... Oh... I'm.. alive. Mistress...?
The creature opens his eyes as he feels nearly overpowering fear, but drinks what he's offered, scrutinizing everything happening with practiced logic where his mistress's failed.
Ah, well, pardon the sentence fragments. I feel better, so it would seem the poor Andrea has tended to me, and we must be in the presence of the Mother of Flies. At least, that's what the smell would lead me to suspect.
He squeaks.
The thief prince lives, too. All-in-all, I would not hesitate to say this time has been productive. Now, if you could just steady your knees, dear mistress, as their shaking certainly gives you away?
The bitter sweet aroma warms your nose and tickles your skin, while Frank's nails curl as he laps it up.
You get 5 HP back, and ability walk on water for the next 24 hours.
Frank's gets 1 ability point back plus he can speak in common for the next 24 hours.
"So the spot of tea was tasty guud....hmmmm?" She clucks the roof of her mouth with her wilted tongue.
Orsin muses on the tea as he lets the strange concoction slide against his palette. He'd eaten little more than crust of bread and dirty water at the orphanage as a child, and dined as a guest at the finest noble houses in Egorian. This tea was...somewhere in the middle.
"Very, ah...fragrant," he appraises, trying to keep the earthy mixture down.
"Yes, I suppose it was. Surprising, in all honesty. I'd have thought waking up with something made by the mother in my mouth would have been exponentially more disturbing." Frank enunciates from inside Euphemia's arms, experiencing mirrored alarm as he stares at his mistress...
...and she stares back at him, lips pursed and brows furrowed in alarm, realizing that...
Indeed, most stimulating, thank you.
Hopefully this will not lead into a trecherous but inevitable betrayal
....Frank is speaking? Can familiars do that?
"Yes, I suppose it was. Surprising, in all honesty. I'd have thought waking up with something made by the mother in my mouth would have been exponentially more disturbing." Frank enunciates from inside Euphemia's arms, experiencing mirrored alarm as he stares at his mistress...
"HOLY CRAP, A TALKING HEDGEHOG!"
"BY THE ENCAPSULATOR! I said that outloud in common?
His spines stick out, pricking Euphemia's hands in response to Orsin's yells. He quickly scrambles onto his little paws.
....Frank is speaking? Can familiars do that?
"Not normally!" Euphemia articulates through the yelling, grateful that her familiar's distraction may let her get away with using a sentence fragment or two. Distracted from the source of many a nightmare, she hits upon a glorious thought. "At least, not so you would hear them!"
"I have to show him to Rance! I'll PROVE to him I haven't just been insane all these years!" she calls out gleefully.
At this point, I think a talking hedgehog is actually pretty mild. We've fought gangs, been in a murderplay, traveled to a demiplane, fought giant dinosaur skeletons, gotten our heads kicked in by devils and fought at the side of a giant bug deep in the Hagwood. Talking critters shouldn't even get a blink.
Orsin huffs and puffs as he struggles to regain composure. "...yes, yes, you're right..."
Speaking to Frank. "We still have time my needled guest."
Then without pausing she begins, with a little history...
"The Flies have been a part of Hagwood for as long as anyone can remember—long enough that the scattered and sodden woodlands within which we have made our home have became known as Hagwood. We were far enough from Westcrown that we weren’t considered a major threat, yet close enough to remain a constant menace in folktales and bedtime stories."
"There were once three of us "hags" (the Mother, the Sister, and the Daughter) and for years we played upon the fringes of Wiscrani society, working our nefarious plots for our own unknowable ends beneath the noses of the government of arguably Avistan’s most powerful kingdom."
"When that fool Aroden died, it had no real impact on our lives and insulated positions—save perhaps in making it easier than ever to prowl the streets of Westcrown to further our needs." She cackles evilly.
"You know, since the rise of House Thrune, we Flies have maintained our fastness at the aptly named Maggot Tree in the heart of Hagwood, where we did our "own"thing. Then Sidonai Drovenge approached in 4686 AR
seeking an infernal heir, we Flies cackled with glee. From the depths of Erebus, we procured a coin from the archdevil Mammon’s own treasury that, if swallowed within 24 hours of his heir’s conception, would impart the power of that duke of Hell upon Sidonai’s offspring."
"Of course, the vain noble fool didn't heed the warnings, nor read the fine print. Sidonai Drovenge by accepting this potent gift, he was cuckolding himself—the coin in fact held the possessing spirit of Mammon, and the heir would not be Sidonai’s but Mammon’s own son, begat upon the world through a mortal coupling."
"When Sidonai’s son was born a fiendish freak 9 months later, Sidonai’s father Vassindio flew into a terrific rage. He ordered the deaths of all involved—midwives and house staff alike. The hapless mother having escaped this fate by dying herself from complications in birthing the infernal heir. Poor weak little soul. While Vassindio tempered his rage when it came to his son, he only exiled him rather than having him executed. Regrettably my family did not escape his wrath."
"Of the three green hags, only me, the Mother of Flies survived, because I was away when Vassindio’s forces stormed Hagwood with a deadly combination of fire, assassins, and charmed giants and fey. I learned of Vassindio’s rage and, nursing my own grudge against the Drovenges for the deaths of my sister and daughter, then I relocated deeper into Hagwood and began the process creating a new Maggot Tree."
"I set out on the slow process of thoroughly learning about my foe — Vassindio Drovenge, de facto leader of the Council of Thieves — and the many secrets of his criminal order. We have a common enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Duncan would definatly disagree with the whole 'my friend' thing..Sigh..I wonder if he would want to kill her later.
Indeed Mother, the Council and Drovanages have not only deprived you of you kin but the people of Westcrown as well. Slaver gangs have kidnapped and killed people in the sewers and they are responsible for the explosion that leveled the mayor's mansion and the near unleashing of a major devil of Hell upon the city. We seek justice and revenge in varying measures. However, simply marching up to the Drovange estate and laying waste to them would have Thrune come on our heads.
So.. Andrea sighs. Right now we are trying to achieve a goal that will help both the city and perhaps get us enough leverage against them. By ending the Shadowcurse by slaying Ilnerik Shevrison. The shadowcurse has turned Westcrown into a ruin as you no doubt know. The nobles prefer to engage in murderplays and commerce withers. So cutting the Drovanages' legs out from under them can give somethignt o everyone.
There is not even the slightest hint of remorse in her demeanor and tone for what has been done or the deeds to be done.
"I am aware that you have your own reasons for pursuing the Council of Thieves, perhaps it's to take it over and rule for yourselves," She looks at Gerard and shrugs nonchalantly, "or maybe, it is to make Westcrown a better place, it matters not to me." She flicks her wrist and flies buzz for a moment then resettle in her hair. "I merely want the Drovenges dead - brother and sister. That ungrateful bastard, Ecarrdian, attacks the person who brought him forth in this world in order to hide his little devilish secret." She spits and sizable acid splash hits the ground. "We are not friend, nor are we enemies, I will not doublecross you and I expect the same consideration. You are obviously capable individuals and, in fact, after this we should not have any further dealings, as long as they agree to defeat the current leaders of the Council."
"I know where the one your looking for resides in the city. Yes, you can end the shadows....FOREVER!"
I am agreeable to us going our seperate ways after this and I very much agree to putting down the Drovanges as well.
Andrea leans in and looks intently as The Mother talks about finding Ilnerik.
"And the rest of you are you agreeable? I can provide you useful information disclosing their secret guild-house, some special gear that could be useful during your venture, and a secret of such magnitude that it should forever destroy Ecarrdian and Chammady Drovenge and that special sibling bond they share." He black eyes meet each and every adventurer, including Frank.
"I... I'm still allowed to, you know... come back to this place to pick herbs if I pay tribute, though... right?"
Euphemia asks, scared to lose her chance to gather some important alchemical ingredients.
Frank quivers a bit, but stands his ground on Euphemia's forearm.
"Now, now, Mistress, stand up straight and speak clearly. Where is all your fearlessness from earlier?
Dogtongue snickers at the witch's comments.
Mother stares at Euphemia, "You know the boundary and the tribute required, your business can continue...as before." She gives you a broad brownish green smile.
You mean giving Dogtongue kisses?
The hedgehog darts back into the witch's frock at the sound of Dogtongue's chortling. However, an exasperated sigh at Andrea can be heard from within.
Orsin looks back and forth a little franticly. Now or never, old boy...
"I-if it pleases you, O great Mother, could you answer a question for me...?"
Orsin tries to give the hag a charming, if clearly fear-stricken smile.
He continues to address the hag, but in third person, fearing that addressing her directly would seem too bold. "The vastness of the Mother's knowledge is legendary. Clever enough to know the secrets ways of devils, even. Might she know how to escape from an infernal bargain?"
Daniel feels restored by the tea, but he takes caution with the mother's words.
We might have an accord. I am a sword of the inheritor, Mother of Flies. I will honor an agreement for aid to destroy the council of Thieves. I would further seek no action against you on terms of no trespass or harm against Westcrown or her people. Know I will keep this word on my life. Any subsequent action against such terms will render my stance void. I know you are likely beyond me, Mother of Flies.
For now, our terms are to fight the council. Whether I return will be up to your actions in future. I hope this is agreeable to you.
Mother's ears perk up when the charming bard speaks, "Hmmmm, depends on the bargain and well," long pregnant pause, "the price a person is willing to pay for that knowledge." A toad jumps out of her hair and lands on the ground, then begins to hop away.
'I seek a simple, very short term, and matter specific bargain young man. I'll provide you information and a few items, in return you kill our mutual enemy." She looks the paladin. "no double-cross or hidden meaning...we all get what we desire in the end." She smiles sweetly at the half-orc.
She then looks around, "So Daniel and Andrea have agreed to the terms. Euphemia hasn't quite indicated, nor Frank."
She reaches over and touches the back of Orsin's hand and it feels like tiny tentacles are tinkling him, "Cutey has not agreed to the task at hand but has another matter to discuss."
Finally her eyes fall on Gerard, "Observant Gerard has yet to agree or say much of anything."
Andrea looks nervously over at Orsin, hoping that the price doesn't become even worse than what he has endured.
Clearing his throat and swallowing hard, Orsin asks, "...and what sort of price should one be willing to pay for that kind of knowledge?"
'Well that depends on the infernal bargain the individual seeks to skirt around, why do you beat around the bush?" She smiles, "Before you go push that issue forward, do you agree to the COT deal like Andrea and Daniel?'
Andrea lightly touches Orsin's arm and nods, indicating the deal the Mother requests.