He looks first at Andrea's hand then looks up to meet her eyes. Nodding, he replies, "Y-yes, your terms are agreeable..."
You've made it clear you don't care... for our aspirations. Obviously, they are beneath you. I have no current conflict with you, so...
I will go about my own business... If you wish to assist me, that is up to you. It will be up your infinite wisdom and divine intuition to discern if our short term goals overlap. I have no particular need or desire to return here. But, I may escort Euphemia should she return.
She simply nods at Gerard's statement.
'Eumphemia...Frank, what say ye."
She turns back to Orsin, "So tell me about your infernal concern...it is your concern?" She grins in anticipation.
Frank nudges Euphemia inside her shirt.
"A chance to help Westcrown like you've desired for years has finally been made manifest, dear mistress." he mumbles, poking his head up to lock beady eyes with the hag.
"Yes, a chance to help Westcrown...deary."
"That I understand, Mother. I am just dumbfounded at the lack of fine print. I suppose I shouldn't be, however. I have much to prove in a short amount of time, including my lack of loyalty to the council. Aside from Gerard's aspirations, I would have nothing to do with them in the future. For now, it is agreed, however. Eccardian and Chammady must be stopped. Encapsulator knows my work would never end if they kept loosing devils on the city."
The witch avoids direct eye contact, biting her lip. She appreciates Gerard's offer to escort her in the future but can't help but wonder if that could become an issue if Dogtongue kept showing up.
She also didn't like the ultimatum of killing the siblings, but it made sense, given the circumstances. Schemers are dangerous animals with natures related to said schemes.
Frank twitches in annoyance to some grammatical misdoing, but holds his tongue on the matter.
"The word has been given, then, mother of the maggot tree. I go where my mistress leads, as you should well know by now."
"Would you like a few snails to feast upon?" She teases the hedgehodge, "I'm sure I can find you a couple." She is seemingly please with the new alliance.
"As You can imagine the Council of Thieves maintains numerous secret guildhalls throughout Westcrown, but it is the one known as Walcourt that may house their greatest asset — control of the night." She looks Andrea in the eyes, "Yes, the shadowlord is their asset, and asset used to enrich themselves as they freely traveled, robbed and trafficed goods and people without fear from the dottari or Hellknights." She cackles joyfully, "They use fear of the evening to keep folks inside while they conducted business as they deemed fit....near genius"
"Now Walcourt is located at the eastern edge of Rego Laina, not far from the Trivardum itself in a former guild lodge once dedicated to followers of Founder Crucisal. This complex was abandoned shortly after Aroden’s death and the degradation of Rego Crua and never repatriated by
the church of Iomedae in the increasingly hostile clime of Cheliax during its political upheavals." She stares at the paladin, "Your own goddess failed there...she was Aroden's chosen, wasn't she." More of staetment than a question as she makes a point to needle the holy warrior.
She continues, "Falling into ruin over the years, Walcourt was used briefly as an orphanage and then later as a flophouse — both secretly serving as fronts for the activities of the Council of Thieves and overseen by none other than Sidonai Drovenge, the father of the siblings
currently in charge of the Council."
My agents have gathered reliable information that leads me to believe that Walcourt has been given over to serve as the lair of one of the Council’s most dangerous leaders — and one of the greatest allies of the Drovenge siblings — a mysterious figure most of the Council knows only as the 'Lord of Shadows.'" She waits for this information to really sink in with the party as she sips her tea. "According to my research, this Lord of Shadows controls the movements and actions of the shadow beasts that plague Westcrown’s nights, and the fact that he’s been allied all this time with the Drovenges explains a lot as to how they and their treacherous allies
could move about the city unseen and uncontested at night."
"Your Ilnerik should be there and maybe you'll get lucky enough to get one of the siblings."
Frank sniffs, his ability to emote limitted. He'd rather eat some maggots, but he wouldn't tell the mother that.
"I am satisfied as I am. However, I cannot help but query as to the nature of the brew that granted me speech. Was that an intentional doing on your part?"
Have you or your agents ever seen Ilnerik? We know he is a vampire, but knowing whatever skills and powers he has, such as what the Totemrix grants him can be a valuable asset.
Do you know of any notable lieutenants of Ilnerik or the Drovanges who make Walcourt their home?
Frank sniffs, his ability to emote limitted. He'd rather eat some maggots, but he wouldn't tell the mother that.
"I am satisfied as I am. However, I cannot help but query as to the nature of the brew that granted me speech. Was that an intentional doing on your part?"
"Unexpected surprises tend to occur with my m'shroom tea." she waves his question away, "it'll pass soon 'nuff."
"Ilnerik has the ability to bring forth terrible night creatures from the plane of shadows, he has a nightstalker that is loyal to him." She pauses, [b]"The trinket Ilnerik carries equals the one you have in your possession. It's actually stronger than yours as it permits, it's vampire weilder to call forth the shadow beasts."
She grins, "Ilnerik is a mastermind, who does not have the ability to shapechange but rather he has a greater number of spawn under his control."
She does not answer the question regarding ever seeing Ilnerik.
"Mind you that Walcourt is a large place with several floors, filled with traps and numerous bad guys. It will be hard to finish in a day's time, if you need to retreat to rest fear for your safety, he will not rest idly by, he may even send out his Shadow Lord, known as Nihiloi, to hunt you down."
Andrea looks to her friends Perhaps that could be used to our advantage, bloody his nose and then set a trap for anything he sends out. We best be prepare din any event. As a vampire and 'lord of night' he will no doubt have many undead with him, protecting ourselves against the draining power of the shadows is a must.
Andrea muses. If there is one thing Ilnerik no doubt wants, is the destruction of the Morrowfall. I remember Bisby speaking of the vampires in Delvehaven who were trying to claim it. If we have one of us who is unknown, perhaps Euphemia or Gerard, use sending magic to contact him and 'offer' the Morrowfall, we could at least dispose of some of his minions. Of course Ilnerik would never come, but perhaps being able to kill this Nihiloi? It has potential.
Do you have ghost touch weapons? A mere dagger would do, if the intent was to truly help. Something to see through their darkness? Gerard continues to listen carefully.
The paladin ignores the barb. Yes, I seems undead bane weapons will be the order of the day. We will need every weapon we can muster to defeat them on thier terms.
"I suppose I don't really want to help," she cackles. "So, I'll simply provide you with a few items to prolong your miserable existence." With that she has a small chest brought forth that contains a dozen potions of cure serious wounds, a wand of restoration (14 charges), a wand of secret door detection (10 charges), and a scroll of resurrection.
As I know, it takes a stronger level of light to pierce a spell of darkness. The Morrowfall is a powerful source of light.
[b]Holy water is one source of damaging the undead. Since you seem very capable at flinging daggers, Gerard, a steady rain of vials of holy water could be rather effective.
I have several miracles that can detect the presence of undead as well as shield us from their sight. I can also attempt to make them vulnerable to material weapons
I believe we can also use Ghost Salts, a special weapon coating that can let our weapons harm undead but for only one blow. The Dusk Market might have some available.
As for vampires themselves? Weapons that are magical and silver allow full effect of a weapon.
For info about the Nightstalker/Nihiloi
Thank you for these gifts, Mother.
"The bond between Ecarrdian and Chammady is deep and together they form a formidable adversary, that even your group would have difficulty defeating." She looks over at Orsin then to Andrea, "The information that I have is a means to drive a wedge between Ecarrdian and Chammady Drovenge and possibly even turn them against
each other." She pauses, "The great strength of the siblings is their devotion to each other — between Chammady’s guile and Ecarrdian’s prowess in combat, the two are nearly a perfect team."
"Yet if the you can sow seeds of anger between them, you’ll have a much easier time defeating the Council when the final battle for Westcrown begins. Unbeknownst to Sidonai Drovenge, when he willingly
swallowed the gold coin of Mammon gifted by the Flies, he voluntarily entered an infernal pact with the archdevil. The seal for that pact is Ecarrdian himself — the fruit of the pact’s execution. As a result, Ecarrdian’s very existence is a link to his infernal paternal father, embodying his very traits of lust and greed. The infernal pact created a connection between Ecarrdian and his closest familial tie."
She watches everyones reactions, "Well, Mammon had hoped
this tie would be with Sidonai himself, but the father’s vanishing prevented this bond from forming. Instead, Ecarrdian’s close relationship with his sister Chammady became that bond. As a result, Ecarrdian’s very existence is connected with that of his sister. With each personal success and increase in power by Ecarrdian, Chammady’s soul has become entwined further and further with Mammon’s,
such that if Ecarrdian truly comes to rule Westcrown, then Chammady’s soul will be eternally forfeit to exist as a lemure in the Infernal Court of Erebus, a plaything for Mammon’s every whim!"
"Chammady has great loyalty to her brother but this secret may change things if it were to be revealed, not even her filial ties to her tiefling halfbrother could overcome her desire to not succumb to such a fate—a fact that could very likely create an irreparable rift
between the siblings. 'And then,'” the Mother says, "'things
should get very interesting.' She goes on to state that, " Sidonai was given a copy of this infernal contract, though he never
bothered to really read it and the Mother doubts he ever understood its true ramifications, blinded as he was by his own ambition. Since Walcourt has been used as a repository of incriminating documents over the past several decades, chances are very good that a copy of this contract still exists somewhere within the manor, forgotten or simply
unsuspected by the building’s current caretakers."
Euphemia bows slightly, more grateful for the bad blood between the Drovenges and the hag than she should be if it meant gaining such extravagant gifts.
"Andrea, your ploy to bring this nihiloi out is quite clever, however, where would we meet the beast?"
"Oh, I was providing a warning and information about a trusted lieutenat, not an action plan. The guildhouse is large and will tax your resources. I suspect if you must rest, that the Shadow Lord's lieutenant will be sent out to find you." She shrugs, "Nidal could, for what it is worth, be in the guildhouse...that I do not know."
Andrea listens intently to the Mother's reveal of the infernal pact. So we might either get an ally in Chammady, or at least get her to start stabbing her brother so he doesn't rule Westcrown.
In any case, at least one of them is going to die.
Andrea looks to Euphemia. That is what we will need to decide if we do it. No doubt Ilnerik would insist on the meeting place and either place an ambush or expect one. Of course, we can't risk the actual Morrowfall and should have an enchanted replica on hand or magically ward the real one.
Feeling his mistress's subtle indignation, Frank adds to Andrea that:
"We assumed as much. It would be folly to bait a possibly faulty trap with the original article. However, it is important to note that we do not possess sending magicks."
That is the sticking point, yes. I am capable of praying for a Sending miracle, but Ilnerik no doubt knows what color my socks are at this point so he would know instantly who sent it. Unless we have someone use it from a scroll we could be out of luck usin that tactic.
"Good day to you all, I trust that you will be leaving very soon." It's more of statement than question. Several swarms cover her body as she walks away form the group towards her tree.
She turns and motions to Dogtogue who then bounces forward removing his crimson cap, "Been a real pleasure killin' wit ya, and much 'ppreciate that Madjaw affair."
Lucrezia and Wink come forward, each looking like they've seen a better day. Both covered in blood and gore, smelling of death. They survey the carnage in the quadrant that you occupy, "Did you get those bastards?"
Indeed, Mother. Good day and thank you.
Andrea turns to Dogtongue. Best of luck on being the new leader of the redcaps, may your cap never go dry.
Andrea hugs Lucrezia a hug and casts Cure Light Wounds on Lucrezia and Wink. We killed Stiglor, but The Dealer got away once again. I guess halflings really do have incredible levels of luck.
"Well, that we're speaking to you right now definitely helps assert that we have succeeded." Euphemia smiles, still a little pale, in reference to Lucrezia and Wink.
"I am happy that you made it through the crucible, though I think all of us could use a bit of washing... and sleep."
Euphemia looks to the mother before flinching and looking down.
"I am certainly in no hurry to stay put."
Her eyes flash briefly with concern over Orsin, however, as the man had twice asked about infernal bargains in the past 24 hours and clearly overlooked the warnings she had made into forming pacts with the mother. One devil's deal to escape another had... serious consequences.
Her doting on Gerard, however, was nowhere near so subtle.
"Come, thief prince, we've a marsh to exit, and I'm going to assume running around like this will do nothing for your constitution."
Nor is it on Andrea.
"You, dear woman, may need to take an hour off of all this seriousness to eat another full meal and take advantage of some soulful victuals. In fact, you're all invited to eat a wholey cooked, gourmet meal at my apartment to regain your spirits as we must venture on."
She tuts.
"Now, now, Mistress, you're acting patronizingly once again to assume that they would drop everything simply to sample your cuisine, which isn't to mention what you're likely to say ne-,"
"I also have to get back to visit my brother before the magic wears off to prove to Rance I'm not crazy!!"
The witch is real. She knows me. My hedgehog can talk!
Andrea smiles and nods to Euphemia. A good hot bath and a meal wsounds very good. I will be taking a short detour to bring an extra dinner guest since I have promised always to stop at home after I go out on a perilous mission such as the one we were just one.
Andrea blinks. Rance? As iin the fellow who runs the fighting arena?
"He's my brother. Please don't take it upon yourself to now complain that he fell out of contact after a night in the hay spent in a level of satisfaction that can vary."
Euphemia responds, sounding like an actor dispassionately performing a line they'd spoken hundreds of times.
Um..Not at all. He hosted a summoning battle we were in several months ago. Seemed more interested in.. Andrea'a voice catches somewhat. ..in an old friend of ours.
Smoke and mirrors... What of Mammon? How does he benefit?
Wink looks at Gerard, "Mark did not make it." he leaves it at that short and to the point.
Andrea replies to Gerard .How does any archdevil benefit from schemes like these? Most likely power. Power in some infernal scheme that might take millenia to bear fruit and might even fail, the deaths and damnation of thousands gone to waste.
Gerard seems cross, upset by Mark's demise. But this is war. Sorry to hear that. Glad you did.
To Andrea, And the Church, how would they feel about this?
Stigor had the following on his person:
potion of cure moderate wounds (2)
+1 breastplate
+1 cold iron battleaxe (2)
masterwork composite longbow (+3 Str) with 20 cold iron arrows,
belt of mighty constitution +2,
key to a chest
We have...had no contact with the Asmodean church. While some faiths such as Shelyn and Iomdae are tolerated in Cheliax, others such as Calistria are shunned and forbidden. So at best I would get the door slammed in my face if I ever made my faith known.
We would need to speak through a go-between to see what the Asmodean church's stance on this is. Perhaps John can help.
Stigor had the following on his person:
potion of cure moderate wounds (2)
+1 breastplate
+1 cold iron battleaxe (2)
masterwork composite longbow (+3 Str) with 20 cold iron arrows,
belt of mighty constitution +2,
key to a chest
Daniel watches the had walk away, making the symbol of his deity to ward the evil.
Then he begins to strip Stigor of his gear.Andrea, Em, would you be so kind as to tell me what enchantment these bear if any. Wink wanted an axe, he never said which, though as the one who slew him I claim whichever of the two would be most helpful to us. Unless you wish to Argue over it Wink.
The paladin speaks with finality.
These have an enchantment to help it pierce armor and skin but there is nothing exceptional. The cold iron is no doubt a material that allows the weapon to wound creatures that are vulnerable to it, like silver is effective against vampires.
"Ah... I made a promise, too, to give a reincarnation to Mark, I would think... His life is a decent payment; especially if he has done wicked things. Wink, if you would... please take me to Mark. Or bring a piece of him to me."
Daniel hands wink the lesser of the axes.
I do not claim the other for myself or in truth, any of it or that which is to be taken from the fallen today. But much of it could go to funding and equipping the Lantern Bearers, or Andrea's noble cause.
The value could purchase the freedom of many slaves.