Nahia |
From there she watches him, staring at the rise and fall of his chest, listening for his heartbeat.
thump thump ... thump thump
She matches her breathing to his, continuing to focus on the sound of his heart.
thump thump ... thump thump
She can feel her own heartbeat slow and quicken, until it also beats in tune with his.
thump thump ... thump thump
She closes her eyes and concentrates, feeling the pulse of his life, of his soul.
thump thump ... thump thump
She presses her own will against his, and her shadow sinks into his body.
thump thu................
For a brief moment his heart stops as she taints his essence with her own. But it is only for a moment, just long enough to impart a feeling to him. One of kinship, of brotherhood with these new people. Of a belonging like he has never felt before.
And then she lets go.
thump thump ... thump thump
With a wicked grin, she quietly leaves the room.
Evil eye to suppress his will save and Sow Thought over time to try and help make sure he stays loyal.
- - - - -
- - - - -
DM Aku |
Like a beacon of death and disease, the cursed horn once stood in this world, spreading pestilence, death and worse.
The Sons of the Palehorseman, a name used to incite fear even into the bravest of the warriors. A demon one could fight, a Zombie one could destroy. But how do you fight something to which you cannot see? Which attack the poor and the rich, the frail and the strong?
Its influence so macabre, that even the king himself wasn’t immune. The fear crept in the back of his mind, consuming him. How could he still be called king, when a Daemon Prince roamed free in his lands, sowing plague and destruction, disease and pestilence? And so, Driven by fear, the king mounted a great crusade against the evil, marching soldier, clerics, paladins, his entire elite force to assault the horn.
But once he got there, what he saw made the king despair. How could they possible win over such monstrous thing? They could kill his material form, but the Daemon prince was immortal, they could scatter his forces, but soon the wicked would return. And that desperation made the king, for seven days and seven nights, without eating, drinking or sleep, pray to Mitra.
Sustained by his faith, the king kept his vigil and Mitra answered his prayers. After seven days, the Silver Seal appeared, warding the altar, preventing the daemon prince to ever return to this plan.
--
That until an upstart group of villains arrived. From the dying words of a madman, they learned of a ritual to break the seal, they are almost ready, only one thing missing now…
DM Aku |
Excerpt from some old gameplay: So when a woodsy looking half elf of indeterminate age starts talking about the Briar, is not everyone spend time to talk with her. Many are just too busy to stop their work, others too distracted. Her efforts however are not in vain. It take some hours, the best part of the morning but she is able to learn several interesting facts about the Briar. From legendary treasure hoard, to talking trees, everyone has a different opinion and belief about the forest.
For some, on the northern edge of the Caer Bryr are those strange hills called the Karst. They say somewhere in those hills is lost a great treasure.
Others say the Caer Bryr is full of living trees – and that everyone knows that, but it’s rare to see them so far north. Still, some heard tell that one dwells not a day’s ride from this very town.
Some others says that a devil lives in that forest, old One-Eye’s back, they say. He’s half-tiger, half-devil that old cat! Big as a house, they say.
Mysty |
A devil/tiger. Maybe a half fiend dire tiger? Or just an advanced one. Or just a story. Interesting
Mysty learns from one of the others a few command words in infernal, while learning the language, so she can direct the hell hounds, such as attack, seek, well done, no, and so on.
Kitara Moonshadow |
Kitara shivers a little and hugs Nahia to herself, whispering very low. "Thank you, dear one. I am sorry if I worried you. I did not anticipate the shadow's power, and I am fortunate to still be alive. It will not happen again."
She smiles, some warmth returning to her body and her smile. "If you aren't busy tonight..." Kitara lets the end of the question hang, and smiles, before heading out into the woods.
Hound |
Let us deal with this wraith, if it needs a sacrifice to compel it, then we can get plenty. If we need to control it we need to make the attempt, the ritual must be started.
Nahia |
And when Kitara hints at Nahia about the forest, for a moment she is torn, and glances back at the keep.
I don't like the idea of splitting up at this time... of leaving them behind with so many unknown forces in play...
She turns back when she feels Kitara shift and step away, the new warmth of her skin parting with her.
But, if they're going to take such a threat so lightly, then the fools deserve what happens. If they can't survive a night without me, then they weren't going to make it anyway.
She looks up and says "One moment Kitara, please."
She then pulls forth a piece of parchment and makes some quick scribbles before handing it one of the men following them and saying "Please deliver this to Seren. Thank you."
And with that task done, she turns to the flame haired girl and joins her with a smile.
- - - - -
Nahia sighs as the discussion comes around to Ezra once again. "I still say offering it sacrifices, or at least actually giving them to him, is a terrible idea. It's only going to make him stronger. And who knows what he could do once he has some energy in him."
She shakes her as she pulls out her pipe and begins to pack the bowl. "No, I still think the best way is to go in and just try and sweet talk him. If that fails then we buy Seren a minute or so to try and influence him into telling us how to find the last eye, and then taking him out whether he tells us or not. It's just too dangerous otherwise."
Hound |
Then that is your and Rose's area. Just how do you sweet talk a soul eating undead though?
DM Aku |
After preparations, coating weapons and more weapons with alchemy salves, preparing to face a possible deadly foe, the knot move into the third floor to confront the Shade.
As ornate and baroque as the entryway hall (3-1) is it pales before this expansive and vaulted chamber where you have last met Erza. This is the Horn’s third temple -- reserved only for the High Priest and his elite retinue. Most of the Sons of the Pale Horseman never entered this temple and never experienced the strange rites conducted within. The fane is adorned with a riot of lurid color. Brilliant bas reliefs depict daemons of every sort engaged in countless acts of wanton evil, callous destruction and inhuman savagery. Rows of pews allow a congregation of the chosen to gather. The podium is doubtless where foul sermons of Abaddon’s wisdom and bile were delivered to those gatherings.
At the front of the chamber are four shrines (A-D).
A – A white shrine decorated with bas relief depictions of open pits of the dead and lepers crying in anguish.
B – A shrine of red stone decorated with cruel iron weaponry and scenes of slaughter.
C –A shrine of black stone decorated with images of mortals wasting away from hunger and starvation.
D – A shrine of pale green stone adorned with a skull with two coins over its eyes and an inscription of jagged abyssal writing which reads “Behold a pale horse. Its rider is Death and all shall follow him.”
E – A large bas-relief image of Vetra-Kali sitting crosslegged holding his greatest work, his masterpiece, a vial of some sort. Below the vial is inscribed a name ‘The Tears of Achlys.’ Vetra-Kali also holds three blades and a strange jagged key with an Abyssal inscription “Hail Vetra-Kali”. The three eyed daemon prince pays homage to the four shrines, but there is no doubt that this fane is built primarily to honor him. Anyone who approaches this image of the daemon prince without saying “Hail Vetra-Kali” is afflicted by fearful visions (as the fear spell; DC 18 Will save to resist).
On all the other walls are litanies of the deeds of this monster. It was Vetra-Kali who crossed the great void and came to the prime material plane to establish the Sons of the Pale Horseman. It was he who oversaw the construction of the Horn of Abaddon and it is because of this that the Horn superficially resembles this horror from another world.
There is a secret door hidden in the east wall. It is well concealed but radiates a strong conjuration magic. If the secret door is opened (by pressing all three of Vetra-Kali’s eyes in unison) then it leads to the treasure vault full only of worthless discarded temple paraphenalia covered in cob webs -- wrecked pews, discarded masonry, piles of mouldering boards and the like.
Erza is nowhere to be seen. Intentions?
Mysty |
before @ Mysty drinks a potion of mage armour
current touch AC 21
Lady Rose |
Preparations: Ghost Salt on Axe, Hammer, Sword. Two extra longwords brought along and salted as well. Armor and shield left behind. Instead, potions of mage armor and shield have been purchased. Magic Weapon and Litany of Sloth are memorized.
Rose stood at the front of the pack, a pair of potions held loosely in one hand. She was unarmored but bristled with weapons. None of them were drawn yet.
"Come on out, Ezra. We need to talk. We have an offer for you."
Want me to make a diplomacy check or anything?
Mysty |
can't have a potion of shield, it's a personal spell, cannot be put in a potion
DM Aku |
Armed, buffed and prepared. The knot doesn’t even try to pretend they aren’t there to exact their will by force if they must.
Silence answers Rose command. No dark mist or unnatural presence.
Nothing.
Rose in special starts to get impatient, at the thought of being played at by the ghost, and wasting their precious gold in with all the waiting. She calls the shade once more, but nothing answer her calls.
Assuming you’ll do as you stated in discussion:
With their preparation spells running out of time, the knot decides it’s best to leave, and return other time.
It’s then they turn around that the room gets cold, freezing cold, though you see no dark mist this time.
”Ah, you are back…” the voice whispers and then adds ”…I was sleeping…”
There’s an edge of laugh in the voice and it’s clear Erza is mocking your efforts.
Lady Rose |
"I didn't know the dead slept." Rose said conversationally. "We have an offer for you. It's pretty simple really. You ally with us, we break the Mitran seal holding back Vetra-kali, together we kill all the Mitrans that come to stop us, and then we revel in the rewards granted us when the Daemon Prince walks the world again."
"What do you say?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
DM Aku |
”You are still alive, after all this time. Do you still doubt I’m your ally?” the voice asks feigning being hurt by your mistrust.
An unnatural silence follows and then is disrupted as the clear and crystalline sound of glass hitting the floor, followed by a huge emerald, in the exact same shape as the other two you found.
”The Eye of Hatred.” the voice says after one of you picks up the emerald.
DM Aku |
Different from the other, the cold time feels particularly welcoming and comfortable. You feel its need and hunger, but this time it feels different, as if once it wasn’t aware that its touch could, would hurt others.
You feel yourself, experiencing the same feelings of need and hunger…
Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
...and you finally realize that Erza, might not have been trying to hurt you. He might just not be aware of what its touch effect on the living is and how it might be fatal to you. That also explains why he, instead of confronting you, just told you to run, as if the shade had been struggling with something that not even he understood.
Lady Rose |
Rose smiled. "Thanks, Ezra. Now we can get this party started."
Hound |
Hound just grunts, somewhat annoyed that all this effort went into something so easily dealt with.
Hound |
So what about the gold and silver you talked about earlier? The dead to no need them and they could be very useful for making us better equipped and for hiring replacement troops.
Kitara Moonshadow |
Kitara comes in her eyes ablaze as she is prepared to handle the spook.
As they turn to leave, Kitara seems a bit irritable. That is, until the chill in the room descends. Kitara braces as her fingers start to work their patterns to bid the flame, and then stops. Her irritation seems to slowly melt, and her shivers stops, as she look at the wraith oddly. She seems to be considering something in her head.
She instead just falls in next to Nahia, and watches Erza closely.
Mysty |
Mysty smiles. All is going well. So far
She examines the door for...surprises.
Seren Little |
As they prepare for the confrontation with the shade, Seren's hands can't stop twitching, the cold and mild pain of the black energy crackling along her arms when the bony tips of her fingers tap together.
I can't wait to see him again... to see what is is, compared to what he was... To see what death has brought him...
When they being their approach she couldn't qipe the smile from her face if she wanted to. She walks next to Grumblejack, her... apprentice. She glances at him occasionally, smiling at his new features.
Our Lord blesses us each in his own way... Yes, my strength is in my essence, in who I am... But Grumble's... his is in his strength... in what he is... I understand now... why our Lord destroys my flesh... why he tears away what I thought I was... What might have been...
And then they make their grand entrance. The waiting feels unbearable, the anticipation filling her like little else had up until this point. And as she waited more, her impatience became palpable, the tapping of her fingers more frequent.
And just as a frown was overtaking her face, Ezra appears, and Seren glances at him with a renewed appreciation.
Yes... such grace... Will given form by death... The purest representation of the power inside each of the undead... Unmuddled by flesh, unrestrained by pain...
Seren gathers her will, readied to put her will against Ezra's... but as soon as he appears, their battle is over, the gem ascending from the spirit. And just as quickly the fire that Seren felt within her is extinguished, the emptiness inside her returning. There is a flash of something in her, and she goes to take a deep breath, to sigh, but for a moment her lungs fail her before her breathing resumes in her normal, steady rhythm.
Nahia |
As they stand there, preparing themselves for what might come, Nahia unfurls a long piece of parchment and, standing before each of them, recites a short chant.
Aklo: "Spirits of fortune gather your precious light and be our armor, to protect us."
And each member, in turn, has a haze of blue light appear and coalesce around them, closing in on them, before disappears with a faint tink, as if a small glass bell had been rung. And each of them feels something faint, as if there was someone behind them placing hands upon their shoulders, the faint and rhythmic pressure feeling calming... reassuring, like someone was watching over them.
Nahia looks towards Kitara for a brief moment before speaking to the group. "All right, we need to be on our guard. Remember, we can not trust him, and while we may need something from him, I trust that we could find it without him, if need be. While we may be able to continue on our mission without him, if we slip up and let him claim us, then we have definitely failed."
C'mon Rose... do not underestimate this one... He would have been strong in life... and there is nothing holding him to us now. He is not one of our faithful... and he never will be.
- - - - -
While they wait for Ezra to show himself Nahia glances all around, watching for any sign of the long dead priest. It is clear that this one worries her and that her nerves are on edge.
And when it seemed that he would not show, Nahia was unsure if she was more irritated at the shade nor showing or that they would still have to deal with him in the future. But when he does appear, and gives the gem so readily, she still watches him carefully.
Just a little bit more information priest... and then we can be rid of you forever...
Mysty |
oh, I thought he indicated a door. My bad
DM Aku |
She examines the door for...surprises.
Well open it up.
Looking over her shoulder, for any ‘surprises’ Mysty puts herself to examine the door that radiates magic once more.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27It is as she already knew, a very good and hidden door, hard to see and detect. She also knew how to open the door as well, walking closer to the bas relief of Vetra-Kali, while muttering ‘Hail Vetra-Kali’ in Abyssal to avoid the fear effect that almost sent her fleeing the first time, Mysty press the three eyes in unison to open the door.
The door opens to a room full only of worthless discarded temple paraphernalia covered in cob webs -- wrecked pews, discarded masonry, piles of moldering boards and the like.
For this particular door, the DC of Disable device is 40. Something that Mysty can’t achieve yet.
DM Aku |
E – A large bas-relief image of Vetra-Kali sitting crosslegged holding his greatest work, his masterpiece, a vial of some sort. Below the vial is inscribed a name ‘The Tears of Achlys.’ Vetra-Kali also holds three blades and a strange jagged key with an Abyssal inscription “Hail Vetra-Kali”. The three eyed daemon prince pays homage to the four shrines, but there is no doubt that this fane is built primarily to honor him. Anyone who approaches this image of the daemon prince without saying “Hail Vetra-Kali” is afflicted by fearful visions (as the fear spell; DC 18 Will save to resist).
*Hint* *Wink* *Hint*
Lady Rose |
Rose looked over Mysty's shoulder into the junk room, then back at the statue. Then to the shrines. "We're missing something here..."
Hound |
Hound starts checking the trash-strewn room carefully.Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Lady Rose |
"Are there things that are supposed to be on these altars? The statue has three knives and a key and it's looking at the altars. Maybe we need to put three knives and a key on them. Or three... Hearts? And a lock? Maybe I'm grasping at straws."
Nahia |
Nahia glances at the shrine and thinks about all of the people in high positions that she has dealt with before. It only took one simple thing to get them to show their good side: reverence. She approaches the shrine of Vetra-Kali and takes a knee before announcing "Hail Vetra-Kal..."
Mysty |
Mysty watches carefully.
brains on strike
DM Aku |
Approaching the shrine, taking a knee, praying and haling the dark prince, it felt right and just, but nothing out of ordinary happens.
4d20 ⇒ (2, 19, 15, 7) = 43
With everyone’s attention glued to Nahia, Mysty’s attention if drawn to the others that stayed behind just in time to see the darkness surrounding Kitara. Before any warning can be voiced, the woman shudders and in voice not unlike Rose’s.
Erza voice sounds once more ”Yes…” the whisper fills everyone’s head and as Kitara drops to a sitting position, holding her body a moan escapes her throat.
Soon after, the shade disappears again, leaving a panting and flushed Kitara sitting in the cold floor.
Feel free to RP this part, I’ll just move things so you can start planning in Discussion as well.
--
Later, when Kitara is finally able to gather her voice, she says ”You were almost right, Nahia. Devotion is the key. The door should be opened while you hail the Disease Prince.” and to prove her point, that’s what Kitara’s do, pressing the three eyes while whispering ”Hail Vetra-Kali…”
DM Aku |
The door opens to a room that is not a room. Instead it is a pocket dimension overlaid over another room of exactly the same size. This is the treasure vault of the Sons of the Pale Horseman and this is where the lion’s share of their wealth remains.
This treasure vault is what the Victor and his men never discovered. It’s hardly surprising – they were not seeking riches. Instead, they sought to purge every last daemon and priest from the Horn of Abaddon and that they accomplished. And so for eighty years, the vault has lain undiscovered and quiet.
Heaped about this room is the accumulated wealth of the Sons of the Pale Horseman.
An ornate silver belt studded with obsidian (belt of giant’s strength +2).
A plain golden ring (ring of mind shielding).
An ornate teak wood box holding a glass lens (a lens of detection).
A walking stick of hard black wood adorned with silver fixtures and green semi-precious stones (rod of elemental metamagic [acid], lesser).
Two iron plates both carved in abyssal that read “Aticus” and “Andian”
A ton (yes, 2000 lbs) of solid silver furnishings -- plates, silverware, goblets, candelabra, cirlets, jewelry and the like worth 10,000 gp total.
600 lbs of similar golden items -- worth 30,000 gp.
Six chests full of mixed coinage from dozens of nations worth 5,500 gp total (approximately 550 lbs of coin).
A carefully packed crate holding a dozen potions of cure moderate wounds (labelled as such in abyssal).
In addition to all of this, there is at the center a small podium that rises like a claw. The podium is empty.
Lady Rose |
Rose whistles low at the sight of the Horn's treasury.
"Oh, Lord, your rewards are sweet." She walked among the treasures, eyeing it all with satisfied appraisal.
"Now, we can get this place ready for action..."
Lady Rose |
"This hidden room is wasted as a treasury. We can lock valuables up anywhere. This should be an oubliette."
Hound |
Quite, I will get the blacksmith working on manacles to be installed. Hound puts on his new belt. There is still the question of the ritual is there no? We have all that we need to start it?
Gets Blacksmith to put in manacles and other equipment to make it a prison.
Nahia |
Nahia glances about the room, looking for magic gear. Noticing the items, she pulls out a red cloth and begins to study them. But first, she says to the others "We're still short one eye. But give me a moment."
She takes her time, inspecting each magic item in turn.
Identifying the items.
She rattles off the ability of each magic item, before turning her gaze on the empty pedestal.
Anything magic/hidden there?
Lady Rose |
"This place is just endless with it's secrets, isn't it..." Rose muttered. She shook her head at the empty pedestal inside the otherworldly room. "Must be pretty important for this many layers of security."
Mysty |
Mysty cast detect magic as well, and examines the pedestal as well.
strange it is not here. Or is it
She looks at the iron plates. interesting. Rose look at these
Lady Rose |
Rose looks over Mysty's shoulder. "Ooooohhh yes. Its about time those showed up. Those two, I'm going to have words with them..."
"Nahia, other than owning the plates and knowing thier names, is there anything else that needs to be done to exert control over Hex and Vex?"
Hound |
We have all three eyes so there really is no reason to delay further. We need to start the ritual.
DM Aku |
@Nahia
Searching for magic reveals nothing other than what you have already found.
There’s neither magic on the pedestal nor any secret.
@Nameplates
Knowing the names and having the plates isn’t enough to command the daemons. To secure their loyalty you need to ‘complete’ the nameplate in their neck, to form a new ‘contract’.