Adria here is your first line say it verbatim or add your own flare if you like. I will advance to the next line after Adria has said hers or 24 hours from now whatever comes first.
Your father was the model of a devil's squire. Summon his wiles now, and keep shut that Abyss you call mouth, before we all tumble down into its darkness. Had you been born deaf and dumb, this loyal servant would yet live to see another midnight.
(Adria)
Hold your tongue, boy, and we'll escape the firebrand yet.
Your father was the model of a devil's squire. Summon
his wiles now, and keep shut that Abyss you call mouth,
before we all tumble down into its darkness. Had you been
born deaf and dumb, this loyal servant would yet live to see
another midnight.
(Shorsha)
Hurl his arrogance and accusations back at him, Larazod.
He wants precious golden-yoked truth? Give him more
than he can choke down. For whether revealed by the
brilliance of Aroden's eye, or the long red shadows cast
by your Dark Lord's fiery gaze, a man false at heart and
shrouded in hollow faiths is nothing more than a traitor to
all. Let him that judges false be judged by wraiths—smote
by his own brand shall he fall.
(Garrand)
Larazod knows no lies, great magistrate, and no slanderer's
tongue caresses my dignity. The accusations you speak are
as true as Asmodeus's sword. They cleave clean through.
Let the witnesses suffer no more lash. To burn their
innards with pokers and steal their eyes is simply to waste
precious toil better spent in Asmodeus's service. There is
but one point misaligned in this dark constellation—I
seek not your death, though the secrets you harbor in your
feeble heart deserve a gruesome demise.
I carry no assassin's blade, nor breath-stealing spell
to rob your mortality. To end you I need only know you,
and to cast you in an honest shade. I pierce your "shadows
of truth" and show you for what I know—a false knave, a
demon-supping wag-tail, a balor's bawd, a pus-leaking
cataract in the eye of Asmodeus's justice, and subject to the
multi-handed ministrations of a marilith whore, dretch loving
plunderer, and traitor to our great Dark Lord.
There is much commotion among the council.
(Aside) And to think I almost spent this session in the orgybaths
of Kalrath. None of their fleshy delights could compare
to the ecstasy this half-breed's words stroke within me! See
his fierce aspect burn in fury, even below the tribunal's
culling justice. But how shall Haanderthan answer?
Heavy words for a forked tongue to manage, boy. You
juggle them well enough, but like a poor fool, offer jest and
jape. I assume this glib outrage, obviously a threadbare
attempt to throw off the keening blade of justice, is backed
by the testimony of a thousand law-loving fiends? Perhaps
the ancient augurer at your side, ever your father's faithful
lap-lizard, probed the ancient secrets of the cosmos and
uncovered my blasphemous treachery? Or have you a soulbonded
scroll of bone-white parchment upon which my
scrawled hand appears next to some Abyssal conspirator?
You amuse me, half-breed, and it is the only reason your
sniveling soul is not yet blasted away in hellfire and borne
on a river of sorrow to some ignominious corner of the
Nine. Whereof comes this lunacy? What disease vexes your
broken mind? From what mystery of psychosis do you
draw your lies?
You mewl lies like a sullied maid on her wedding night,
O Great One. Even a lord may be smote in darkness as
Asmodeus sees the truth of you—a base and lowly thing,
snivelling in crimson robes. These devil-bowing citizens
about us are affront enough to Aroden's divine will, but
ye, whose left hand clasps devil's claws, and right reaches
out for demonic boon—oh double-dealing fiend-lover,
who allies with the Abyss. Infernal oaths and Abyssal
blasphemy spew in one breath from your twisting lips.[b]
[b]Does your Aroden arse-kissing pall-a-dine put you up to
such resounding blasphemy? Have you no tongue of your
own, half-breed, to answer my charge?[b]
[b]Truth is spoken freely in many tongues, false magistrate,
and by agents of light and dark. You know what you are.
You persist in this foolishness? It shall go hard for you and
yours. Recant and your deaths shall be swift, your souls
consigned to diligent service in Hell. Refuse, and enlist in
agony's service, consign your soul to wallow in the most
ignominious corner of the Nine, and take eternal suffering
as your bedmate.
(Aside) He's to have a much more interesting bedmate, if
I've anything to say. The fire that one shows at tribunal,
will no doubt burn even stronger between my sheets.
(Aside) That one grows hot betwixt her infernal thighs.
Hope beyond hope. One voice of dissent on the council
and the slenderest chance of salvation is ours to clutch. Let
this waxen sliver of hope not melt until she does—let her
find her tongue.
Speak, boy. Do you still baffle with false charges, or have
your battered wits returned? Speak.
I recant nothing. You, accuser, so stand accused. How do
you answer?
Innocent, of course. And so judgment is passed. My right
as magistrate puts you to the flames on my command. My
word is law.
Respectfully, my lord, when I was a barrister of the tribunal,
it was common practice to ask Consular Consent in any
judgement of a matter involving the Magistrate personally
in the case. Has the ancient code of Asmodeus's court,
scorched on the Tablets of Law by our Great Lord's own
fiery talon, so fallen as to warrant its complete disregard
in this tribunal?
Of course, you are correct, old man. I've no intention
of affronting our Great Lord. Council, what say ye on
this matter? Do you concur with my judgment? These
heinous slanders cast upon my great name warrant utter
annihilation. So sayeth I, Magistrate of this Gloried
Tribunal. Do you agree?
"Aye."
Nay.
My ears deceive me. Do you, august erinyes, daughter of
Hell, speak against our cause?
I speak against your judgment. Our cause is yet
undetermined by my mark. According to our oldest
codes, truth can be drawn from an offender, as pus from a
wound. Asmodeus's Trials show the true heart from the
false. Why, simply put the half-breed to the flames. Let
us try him properly in accordance with the old ways.
Well done, lad. Your pretty infernal face is good for
something, even if your tongue offends all who hear. We
may live yet.
Tut, the business of the tribunal heaps higher day by
day. We've cases waiting in the wings by the thousands.
Penitent souls singing out for justice. Shall we delay their
flight to Asmodeus's waiting embrace to engage in infantile
contests? Nay, expediency is our charge when matters so
lacking in evidence are brought before our bench.
Come, come, sweet magistrate. The spectacle of a few trials
would do my poor heart well. I wane at these tiresome
sessions. Let the trials commence. 'Twould arouse me.
'Twould tickle me. 'Twould drive me to distraction.
Trials you say? How now? If it is to be so, let us sweeten
the pot. A price I would exact for trials as you insist. If
this half-breed fails, not only is my name cleared of all
preposterous charges, but you shall compact to me for a
full moon's service, to do my bidding and satisfy all my
unwholesome needs.
Let it be so agreed. I hunger so for trials, I happily wager
my body to your whim. We shall see if this half-breed's
words strike true or false.
So be it. Larazod, you stand in trial. By my discretion you
shall face six of Asmodeus's fell tests. You stand alone in
the face of terrors over which no mortal has prevailed.
Not alone, my lord. I stand with him.
You are under no obligation to do so, Arodenite. Back down
and be discharged, to keep at your slobbering benedictions
for a few more years at least.
I am true to Aroden, my lord, but I am also true in loyalty
and kinship. This man, though half-fiend his blood may
turn, is bound to me in brotherhood, as I stand bound to
him. Our blades both matched the enemies of Cheliax,
and what faith divides, common cause unites. You cannot
sunder me from his destiny. I stand trial at his side, as is
my right, if I so beclaim it. Is it not so, Dentris?
'Tis true, my lord. If the half-brained, light-blinded knight
wishes to perish alongside my good master, he is within
his lawful right.
Very well. Burn with him, fool. Dentris Maltrada, you are
hereby discharged.
Nay sir, though I wish nothing more. This boy, as wayward as
his fancies take him, is in my care. I never waivered from his
father's service, and I shall not turn my back on the son.
Surely, you've no wish to die?
There are worse fates, magistrate, than even can be
promised on the deepest level of your Hell. To walk alive in
a world, my duty undone, my sworn oath broken, is to walk
through fires more smolderous than any Asmodeus keeps
below. Though he be a fool, and possessed of a diseased
wit, Larazod is my master, and I shall stand by him. Do
your worst magistrate. I've rolled bones with demons, and
gazed in dragons' hearts. Let us have these trials and be
done with my life, if the lords of darkness so command.
Doddering old sack of bones. No demon's dice, nor dragon's
musings await you—only torment beyond the stars' most
infinite imaginings. When you mewl out for merciful
death, I shall look on in pleasure, as your soul's wake burns
from a withered old corpse. Make ready, supplicants.
The trials begin anon. May Asmodeus take pity on your
blighted souls.
Act 2: Trial by Torture
Enter DROVALID.(Nilus)
Good Keeper of Pain, Tormentor of Liars and Demonsuckling
Miscreants, we are honored by your presence. Show
these supplicants the favor of your stinging lash, and with
rack and fire, purge lies from their lips. Break their souls, and
let the mad and guilty appall our ears no more with ranting.
Magistrate Maleficarum, I come before you a simple hand
whose lash is guided by the greater glory of Asmodeus,
may my scourge do him and this devoted tribunal proud.
With your permission I shall begin our first trial.
Begin at your leisure, Tormentor. End this fool's mockery
of our court with cleansing agony.
Enter the Device and other implements of torture.
Drovalid begins administering agonizing pain upon a stoic Larazod.
DENTRIS
Fools, my good master may be a fool of a tiefling, but if you
think to wrack his spine, and wheedle mewled recantation
from his black lips, you are even greater fools than he.
Larazod is no coward, and he sneers in the face of pain
with true faith in Asmodeus—he cannot waver. He faced
Abyssal Tyrants and hordes of their slime-ridden minions
in battle. His coal-black soul did not quake then. He stands
resolute now. You cannot break his spirit.
DROVALID
Recant half-breed. Admit your twisted falsehoods, serpenttongued
traitor!
LARAZOD
Even an ocean of agony cannot turn truth to lie.
More bone-crunching, skin-flensing torment.
DROVALID
Recant and end this trial! Swift death shall embrace
you and Asmodeus smiles upon those who admit their
falsehoods—he may not rend your soul completely, may
leave some semblance of your spirit intact.
LARAZOD
I recant… nothing! Grind on, honeyed torment. Sing
sweetly as I may, no cries of “recant” shall you hear. I hate
lies, as I hate demon-loving traitors.
More torture.
LARAZOD
Had enough, Magistrate? Can you withstand it any longer?
Please give in and recant, for the only torment I cannot
bear is your continued duplicity. Recant, Magistrate!
Recant your own lies, and Asmodeus may have mercy on
your slimy soul.
TYBAIN
Ha! Even in the face of soul-crushing pain, he taunts
this ridiculous Magistrate of Hell. Hear me, Aroden,
if Asmodeus has such as Larazod in his employ, all our
efforts are doomed. Would your white fist command such
steadfast loyalty as this one here, who laughs at death and
grins at the grimmest pain.
ILSANDRA
(Aside) Such a sweet voice. I long to hear his screams
more—ah, but to elicit them myself, with a soulburning
kiss, and an aching embrace. This torture is
most stimulating, though I do hope the Tormentor
doesn’t mar the tiefling’s choicest parts. Leave off those!
They belong to me alone!
DROVALID
(Exhausted) Recant!
LARAZOD
Never! Lash every inch of flesh from me, leave only a bloody
ruin where I stand—that skinned wreck of a man will
gurgle only truth and never recant.
Drovalid ends torment and casts down his whip.
DROVALID
He is as unbreakable as a marble tide—dragon’s scale would
have shattered long ago—and yet he stands unbowed. No
lie can evade this unholy lash of mine, gifted to me by
Asmodeus himself. Larazod must speak the truth!
HAANDERTHAN
Fool! Continue the trial, you’ve yet to probe deep enough
into his soul’s painful lies!
DROVALID
My work is done. My findings true. You have never doubted
my hand before. Why do you so now? Could it be this
tiefling speaks true? Are you allied against our august
master of darkness?
HAANDERTHAN
Mind your place, Tormentor! You speak blasphemy in the
face of this land’s own Magistrate Maleficarum. Beware,
your words endanger your very soul. Take you this halfbreed’s
part? Then you would join him on his trials? Don’t
be a fool.
DROVALID
If Asmodeus wishes it so then my soul stands with his. If
my hand has failed you, then I shall burn for it. I shall face
the remaining five trials at Larazod’s side.
Nilus makes a good show of whipping Garrand but no real harm comes to him. The crowd is not pleased at this lack of blood that they were promised. Booing Ensues. At this point Act 3 should begin but it does not. Haanderthan decides to go off script.
HAANDERTHAN
Drovalid this court has decided that you are part of this treachery as well. You are not fit to do Asmodeus's bidding. Let us have a real torture of souls take you place.
With that the actor begins to read a very real incantation from a scroll. Knowing this is not part of the play you quickly cut Garrand loose.
An unearthly fire of hell erupts close to you on stage as a Bearded Devil deftly wielding a vicious, saw-toothed glaive, takes in its surroundings and quickly finds its prey. Below its toothy maw writhes a hideous, twitching beard for which it gets its common name.
Party goes first. Let me get a battle map up
Devil Stats:
AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +7 natural)
hp 57
Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +3
DR 5/good or silver; Immune fire, poison; Resist acid 10, cold
10; SR 16
Map is up for the stage under Battle map grid.
Adria casts Weapons against Evil. to Bypass the DR. I think she can affect all 3 of you with the spell but I do not have it in front of me.
Finally get to kick somthing's teeth in
Nilus moves to engage....
+1=silver for DR correct?
Sorsha ponders fighting like a paladin but swiftly rejects it as foolish. Instead she runs to behind the devil.
Alas, +3 to overcome silver. Weapon Enhancement Bonus Equivalent
Garrand will start singing, inspire courage, +1 to hit and damage. He'll pick up his bow and arrows as a move action.
The Devil attacks Nilus awkwardly with its glave not wanting to get into close combat this soon.
miss
Now the crowd gasps with anticipation and blood lust.
Start round 2. Adria cast her spell on Nilus.
Garrand casts grease on the devil's glaive (DC14 reflex to avoid dropping the weapon.)
he drops the glave. The crowd cheers
Nilus grins....
Big mistake bub....
He smashes the Devil across the chest with a mighty blow from his morningstar.
Shorsha Sneak attacks.
..
One hits
25 damage to the creature so far. (taking into account Garrands bard song)
Devil 32/57
New Round.
Nilus moves right with the speed of a viper and lashes out again with his enhanced morningstar but the Devil manages to dodge aside!
Nilus moves right with the speed of a viper and lashes out again with his enhanced morningstar [dice=Pw Morningstar] 1d20+10 but the Devil manages to dodge aside!
Did you add +2 for flanking?
Sorsha goes all stabbity again.
and
for and damage.
Sneak attack damage:
Shorsha does 7
Devil is at 25/57
The devil lashes out at Nilus with its claws!
...
One claw rips through armor to skin
Garrand Your up.
Adria will have used 2 channel negative at this point.
..
..
Adria has done 12 total to the Devil
Devil is at 13/57
Garrand continues singing and takes a shot with his bow.
Great shot but only hits for 1
12/57
Start round 4
Garrand continues singing (+1 to hit and damage) and takes a shot with his bow.
|
Having heard the mayor was having a staging of the six trials, Xeno was initial excited at the potential spectacle but then ashamed of her diabolic blood. No actor is likely to survive a performance so normally some poor sods are duped, or normally worse, into the role. For all she knew her father might will have supplied the victims. Resolving to attend and perform a daring rescue
Knowing the opera's reputation and her plan Xeno dressed for a fight, however it would not be wise for Xeno to be seen before time, and besides her name and father's money had got her the seat. So having finished dressing in her vigilante alter ego she put on her hat of disguise to copy the dress hanging in front of her.
She was pleased that she got one of the seats she wanted, being near the front at this opera made her look brave and would please her father but more importantly it was closer to the action, and being to the side would make it easier to sneak out of the audience.
As the opera starts. Hey wow, that Larazod isn't bad, a real actor and nice voice too. settling into her seat more Maybe I was wrong, maybe this is one of the edited version, without the real danger. The rest of the casting is less impressive, a Halfling to play up Tybain’s comic side, I guess I should have been surprized but a serious Tybain would be more interesting.
Nilus taunts the Devil a bit
Thas all you got? Damned Tieflings hit me harder.
Nilus crumples the devils head with a massive blow from his morningstar!
I Drovild will show you that I am greater than the court of Asmodeus!
|
|
She edges forward on her seat Drovalid might look the part but he and Dentris can't act, this is going to be bad. Looking around the audience Well at least they are bring the crowd along. Whatever they have done to end up as tonight entertainment, they'll need support of a few key members of the audience to survive the aftermath even if they survive the play.
Knowing she has a little time before the real danger she uses the Act 2 as a distraction for those around her. Touching her hairnet she changes to look like a serving boy and moves out of her seat and side of the stage ready to leap to the rescue in the 3rd act.
Her body tenses ready for the 3rd act but when it starts she is shocked into inaction These 'actors' know how to fight, and judging from their action have fought together before. Realization dawns and she relaxes a small amount They plan to do this as per script and have Larazod win. This might be more entertaining than I thought.
Staying where she continues to watch enjoying the fight. Drovalid's good with that morning start, the devil's suffering. Larazod shouldn't be using a bow, its all wrong and besides I don't think the devil's even noticed him.
Damned Tieflings hit me harder? That seems a little out of character, might have be careful around that one. The devil's down, that last blow was nasty I'll have to be very careful. She cheers with the rest of the audience.
Sorsha renews her attack.
"For Aroden, because good always wins in the end!"
and
for and damage
and and sneak attacks
Garrand looks around at the audience as the devil falls. The play has clearly gone off scrip but the show must go on. He'll ad lib a line to try and get things back on track
You summoned a servant of our great Dark Lord to do battle. And yet, instead of fighting it threw it weapon away and gladly sacrificed itself to Drovalid's mace. The trial by combat has ended and I have been found true to my word and to the Dark Lord. Have you another summoning great magistrate? Another for you to accuse in your stead?
(I think there's an acting bonus but I've lost track)
The crowd cheers and Thesling merely scoffs. You notice a slight nod from him to Adria.
I don't remember that line, it doesn't seem as flowery and over the top as most of Sarini's prose. Infact now I think on it I don't think the second trial was combat even... She starts grinning more This is interesting
Act 3: Trial by Pleasure
Enter the bailiff bearing four vials and four curved flensing knives.
He hands one of each to Dentris, Tybain, Larazod, and Drovalid.
HAANDERTHAN
It is said that a liar’s pain is easy to bear, but pleasure steals
truth from even the most well-tended fortress. So let it be
with ye, Larazod. Here before you now are the Flukes of
Asmodeus. Their bite more pleasurable than the caresses
of a thousand succubi (which you no doubt have enjoyed,
you treacherous Abyssal-loving fool). Taste of their deep
burrowing bliss. Their rapturous journey through
your body shall explore the deepest, darkest pleasures
any mortal has ever known. Their soul-shuddering
wanderings end in your skull, where they plant their
young who consume you in an orgiastic frenzy—leaving
you an empty husk of a thing—a spent lover, drooling in
blissful oblivion forever. Unless, of course, you can resist
these god-bending pleasures. This time, the trial is not
yours alone to bear. Let us see if your trusted companions’
faith remains as unshakeable as yours. Who shall be the
first to die in spasms of ecstasy?
ILSANDRA
Oh, how I long to face this judgment!
DROVALID
Master Larazod, most unholy saint of our dark Asmodeus,
please allow me to prove my devotion to your cause. To
think my biting lash flayed your chaste red skin, and
cracked such a noble hide as yours. I shall be first to face
this trial, if you so wish it.
LARAZOD
Your courage is beyond question. Show this lickspittle
Magistrate the meaning of devotion, my friend.
Drovalid administers the fluke, convulses in sheer orgasmic
ecstasy, but as it crawls up his arm he suddenly plunges
a flensing blade beneath the skin, skewering the fluke and
removing it.
DROVALID
Asmodeus bear witness to my devotion. This half-breed
speaks only truth!
Likewise, Larazod applies the fluke to his flesh, where it hungrily
burrows beneath the surface. Larazod shudders in pleasure.
ILSANDRA
Oh, to be that fluke! To burrow into such sweet flesh!
LARAZOD
I sing only of the joy of supplication to our dark lord.
This pleasure is only a gift of Asmodeus’s truth. I
would gladly die at this f luke’s bite, but alas, my duty
here is yet undone, and so I scorn this pleasure with
a bleeding blade. I shall not relent until your lies are
revealed, foul Magistrate.
Larazod cuts out his fluke.
Dentris applies his fluke.
DENTRIS
Oh! It has been so long! Sweet, aching ecstasy!
Improvises a rendition of the Tallis and his Three Wives, and then
cuts away the fluke when it is nigh in his neck.
DENTRIS
(Sourly) Between you, my hideous half-breed young
master, and a dream of three succubi’s frolics on my
flesh—a hard choice, Larazod, but somehow your sweet
countenance won out.
TYBAIN
My turn, I suppose.
Tybain applies his fluke and begins giggling uncontrollably.
TYBAIN
Ooooh! Aaaaah! I know not this feeling!
DENTRIS
Ha! Watch the virginal knight squirm!
TYBAIN
It is as if a thousand feathers assault my f lesh—
especially my most… tender… parts. What strange
pleasure is this!
LARAZOD
Ah, Aroden’s servants, so like sweet children they be. Hold
true, my dear friend!
Tybain suddenly tears loose his fluke.
TYBAIN
I am well, though I may never be the same.
HAANDERTHAN
Curse your persistence. All lies eventually reveal their
ugly fangs. I shall draw them as venom from a wound.
Act III—Trial by Pleasure
In this act, four of the actors are subjected to the trial
of pleasure—the “Flukes of Asmodeus” are fictitious
creations of the playwright, but the rot grubs who play
their roles are very real. When each is applied, it is the
actor’s duty to act as if in the throes of unbridled passion
while the rot grub burrows through his flesh before
cutting the rot grub out with the offered knife. The
knives bear minor magical enhancements that make
them particularly efficient at cutting out rot grubs—this
magic only persists for the length of this act, but while
it does, any Heal check made to cut out a rot grub with
one of these knives gains a +6 circumstance bonus (using
these special knives is tradition, as having the actors die
so soon is generally regarded as anticlimactic, even by the
most bloodthirsty of directors or audiences)
Trial by Pleasure
Torment—Rot Grubs A rot grub inflicts 2 points of Constitution
damage per round as it burrows.
A DC 17 Fortitude save negates the Constitution damage for that round. In order to remove the grub, a victim must cut the grub out with
a knife—this takes a DC 20 Heal check and inflicts 1d6 points of damage to the victim per round the grub has been burrowing (1d6 the first round, 2d6 the second, and so on).
The PCs are free to attempt to cut out their grubs at any point
after they make their Perform (act) check to pretend to be in
the throes of ecstasy.
Nilus grimly plucks the grub out of his body.
Oh yes, yes, this is so good. He says in a monotone voice, obviously bored with the creatures.