Upon seeing the burnt out husk, Charlie says a prayer to the gods and offers the gnome a pull from the bottle before stepping aside.
Fly away cousin. Find a way to be less evil next time.
Dandilion runs out after the little gnome, watching him go, keeping her spell focused on him. She stops outside, not wanting to get too far from her friends. Something inside her churns. poor guy is hardly smart enough to speak even if he had a tongue.
Briar hunts around for a few more moments.
"Now what? Do we want to take the body back?"
If the gnome was fully geared up, Barael bolts from the stage to gain the entrance of the theater, trying to keep line-of-sight on Dandi.
I wonder if we'll have to grow eyes in the back of our heads for the gnome. Another loose end. But it's right to leave it. What's done is done.
"Is our word good enough? Does Glorio employ means of detecting lies, you think?"
Should it seem safe enough to leave watch for Dandi, Barael returns to the stage. He slices part of the musty stage curtain, then moves to Swastal's body, where he proceeds to sever Swastal's head, and wraps it up. A little theatrical, and poetic, eh, Pilts? Your head, suffering the same fate as your guillotined dozens. Barael does his best to avoid the remnant blood.
Once done, Barael moves back to the entrance. "Let's return."
Fondo grimaces at Barael's grizzly work. "Methinks our word is good enough. Let's not become those we kill, eh?"
He looks around at the theater. "The plague. This Queen. They're making monsters of all of us. It must end." He walks out, bound for the Arkona manse.
At the edges of her range, Dandilion catches just a whiff of the poor gnomes thoughts as he runs down the street. Mostly sorrow at losing his master, he's also wondering how he's going to get out of Old Korvosa. He seems to be tempted to try and run the gauntlet of Gray Maidens at the bridge, but their sheer numbers should disuade him when he gets closer.
There does not seem to be any plan for revenge however... at least not yet.
- - -
The party returns to the Arkona Mansion on the hill. Again as you close, the outer gates open for you admitting you to the well manicured grounds. As you walk to the house itself, you again see the one eyed guard in the window over the door watching your approach. And again, the front door is opened by Glorio himself. He leads you into the incredible garden, as last night, and offers you scones and coffee considering the early hour.
"I trust you slept well and refreshingly. How has your morning been thus far - eventful?"
Barael walks up to Glorio, and presents him the stage curtain bundle.
"How did you phrase it? 'To seal our friendship'. Yeah, that's about right. Korvosa's crimson seals do look like congealed blood." Barael steps back to make way for the sweeter talkers.
"Pilts is dead, and you've a souvenir to prove it." Fondo sniffs a scone and the coffee, gauging Glorio's expression for a poisoner's mien.
"He was a wreck of a man, and a murderer most foul. It's an unpleasant task, putting down a dog. Shall we get past unpleasantness and get to reuniting friends?"
Briar keeps quiet as the party gives the head to the Arkonas, still expecting some treachery.
I wish Laori was here. Surely, she'd be able to get answers out of these.
Briar sniffs a non-existent rose.
As ill at ease here as she ever was in the Field Marshall's office, Dandi dawdles about the back of the group, looking for places to be inconspicuous.
Glorio takes the offered bundle, though it's clear he's not interested in the contents. He sets it behind some plants so as to keep it out of the otherwise polite conversation.
"Yes, an unpleasant business, but a necessary one. The Queen forces many unpleasant things upon us does she not? I'm most pleased with the outcome if not the process." He takes a deep breath to punctuate and shift the conversation to more pleasant topics.
He takes out the beautiful ring of evasion and hands it to the party, "Who gets to wear this pretty bauble? I hope you will not merely sell it - it's been in my family for some time. Your help is really worth much to me and is worth much more than this."
He smiles as he hands the ring to... who?
Fondo sips the kahve and eats the scones. I'll not wear your baubles, pleasing though you are to the eye and ear. He feels the light weight of Blackjack's bag on his shoulder and feels a rush of urgency. "Surely our friends would enjoy some breakfast as well."
Briar takes the ring, still suspicious, with a smile.
Casting Detect Magic, Briar will examine it in detail.
Take 20 Spellcraft: 35ish.
There are no additional auras on the ring. It seems to be a very fine example of a ring of evasion in all aspects.
The ring itself is quite delicate, as only the strength of magic can provide, and there is a special luster to the deep green bloodstone in the setting. It almost seems to swirl under your gaze and you find yourself admiring it longer than the few minutes strictly needed to examine the item. No magical compulsion mind you, just an appreciation of such a fine specimen.
Though admiring of the magics within, Briar has no special interest in keeping the ring. He offers it to whomever would want it, a itch in the back of his mind growing with every moment of holding the ring.
It is an scrying object and these here do magic. This will allow them to see our comings and goings. Too valuable to sell, too useful not to use...it is not to be trusted, Briar's face is etched with worry as he readies to hand it over.
Still it is a nice gift for finding my third bard. I wonder what I shall collect when I find a fourth? And a fifth?
Dandi reaches out for the ring, her fingers trembling, "oooh, may I? It's very lovely."
"But really, Barrie should wear it." He earned it, after all.
Fondo shrugs. Tis certain that shan't encourage his bloodlust. Not in the least...
"That is a handsome bauble. If no one else is interested, that would look good on me.
If Dandi passes it to Barael, he immediately puts the ring on.
"What a boon today, I must say. A rod, a headband, and a ring. All thanks to Swastal's death it would seem."
Barael looks at himself in one of the window's mirrored effects, and sees himself, rod in hand, ring on finger, and headband tied tight to forehead. His posture changes from Swastal at high tide, to Swastal at twilight.
"I should be more..." Barael moves further away from Glorio. "Fine by me if someone wants to bear some of this." His eyes move from Harrowed to Harrowed.
For no reason at all, Briar feels the need to pray after the death of the Emperor. Is it because Briar was feeling sad at the death? Or did Briar need some moments to reflect upon the non-magical doom given? Or maybe one of Nethys's agents just insisted.
Briar prays for about an hour, seeming more confident in his power and potential after the session.
Fondo turns his attention back to the task at hand. "You're kind to give gifts for what was already our aim. The truer gift would be letting us see Signore Orisini and the Seneschal. I would hate to dishonor your hospitality by going in search of them myself." He gestures toward the interior of the mansion, his posture indicating that he's on the brink of motion.
"I, too grow impatient to see your other 'guests.' I wonder what other baubles we might find within." Charlie cracks his knuckles and says a little prayer.
Orsini ignores the aggressive rudeness of his guests but responds to their query none the less. "Now, you were inquiring about the health and good well being of the Seneschal and messr. Orsini. They are quite safe, but," and he shakes his head sadly as if unhappy about the entire situation, "there is nothing I can do to bring them to you. I'm afraid you must go to them."
"Unfortunately, and against my preference, they have both been sent to the Vivified Labyrinth."
"I apologize humbly for the complication. I cannot, myself, go against the wishes of the family and retrieve them for you, but I can help you - a little - to retrieve them yourself. I can do two things. Firstly, I have locked the labyrinth down so the rooms do not shift."
He looks a little concerned and glances over his shoulder as he leans in and says in a stage whisper, "I am really pushing my luck with this one, but otherwise the entire area becomes a never ending complicated maze and you might never find your way out."
He leans back and continues, standing up and walking toward the elephant, "There is also a secret door which leads to the labyrinth beneath us." He goes on to tell you where it is and how to operate the latch (it's in the cavern below). "To access the labyrinth, you merely need to climb down these stairs!" he reaches out and manipulates a hidden clasp near the base and the entire platform slides silently to the side revealing a set of spiral stairs leading into the darkness below.
"Be careful though. There are many guardians - guardians who would have your heads as surely as you had the old emperors. I cannot advise you further - I can only wish you the best of luck, and my heartfelt thanks that you are going to release those two fine men!"
He seems genuinely pleased that their torment will soon be coming to an end. He comes across as a good seed in an otherwise bad family. He seems, overall, to be fairly trustworthy.
"Surely you must have a map to the dungeon or a way to navigate it. Otherwise, how would you or your family ever place or retrieve prisoners."
Nikolay waits for the expected negative answer before continuing. "Guardians? Surely you can be more specific, sir. And what about traps or other hazards? I believe there is more you can do than wish us luck. If you really wish to see these two men released, your knowledge would be most helpful."
"You are most correct good sir, I can provide that information and more. But I must not. To do so would be a violation of trust within the family. I would lose my position as head of the family, and lose the ability to do what good I am able to do - within the rules. The Arkonas would also stop being a foil to the Queen and kowtow to her like all the other noble houses."
"If I thought you would fail, I would step down from the family for the sake of those two men. However, I have every confidence you will succeed." he smiles uneasily as if unsure himself that you will succeed. Perhaps it is something he's convinced himself to avoid the unpleasant thoughts that might come otherwise.
"I assure you that while the dangers are very real, your reputations speak for themselves. You are the perfect group to overcome our little labyrinth!"
Fondo nods at Nikolay's words, and arches an eyebrow at Glorio's. "Yes, you're such a good man. No selfish motives whatsoever."
I've little trust in your words and schemes, in part because of this labyrinth, which I somehow knew about before now. And now you'd trap us inside, your greatest remaining rivals to controlling this island. Though why a power hungry jackal'd limit his sights to Old Korvosa is beyond me, poor sibling to the mainland that it is.
But we needs must.
Fondo walks towards the secret door, projecting a confidence that would be more genuine if he did not so dread prisons.
The noble man smiles at Fondo and takes the bait, "Of course I have selfish motives. If I'm to be honest. But so I suspect do you. I wish I could impress upon you the chains that bind me to my family, to my past, my honor."
"We are more alike than you believe, and have more goals in common than you know. Please give me a chance and you'll see. This, " he gestures down the stairs, "is nothing. This is merely a bump in the road. The real challenge is the Queen's power and the future of all Korvosa!"
Nikolay draws his sword, casts a light spell, and heads for the secret passage.
--You didn't expect anything different did you?
No, but it didn't hurt to ask.
As the Arkonan speaks, Briar tries to stymie his disbelief.
Sense Motive
And, as more answers come...more disbelief...
Sense Motive
And yet more disbelief....
Sense Motive
"I know well how hard it is, family to spurn. But you're mistaken if you think your family's what stands between the Queen and Korvosa. Ileosa fears most the people themselves — those she needs to secure her wealth and pay her taxes. Your charities and schemes're nice, but next to worthless if you're not helping small folk find their own voice and speak their will."
Fondo follows after Nikolay, smiling at Glorio with the fondness one feels towards a fellow artist.
While it does stretch credulity, Briar does believe that he's telling the truth. At least as Lord Arcona believes it. Perhaps there are cultural differences here that Briar doesn't understand. Some sort of human issue that doesn't make sense to an elf...
He smiles and looks at Fondo. "There are many paths to the Queens downfall, and we must each take the one where we have the most skill. May we meet on the throne!" He seems a little shocked at his own honesty and quickly recovers his demeanor. He looks uncomfortably around him as if looking for listeners. He casts a Detect Magic and looks for scrying auras.
Briar makes a disgusted face, shrugs, and follows Nikolay.
Fondo's smile also turns to disgust. "To be sure, we do have different ends in mind, if it's throne you seek. Until later."
Once the door is shut and the party has descended a bit, Fondo casts a spell. He instantly takes on a passable resemblance to Glorio.
"I am not certain of you, of thi mission or your motives. I am happy to have an action to take. So, for that, thank you. Meeting at a game of musical chairs is not in anyone's interests, I believe. But it should make good sport. Good day to you, sir. Hope to see you soon."
Charlie says another prayer for good measure and does some creaky, noisy stretching that end in overstretching a muscle that causes him to limp to the trap door.
Barael rubs his temple. "Why were they sent into this labyrinth in the first place? What kind of noble house has a labyrinth built beneath their estate?!" No noble house at all.
"Your family. They're not here, are they? Aren't you in charge while they're away?" Barael steps closer to Glorio. "Show them to us. Surely, you have magic that can prove that the Seneschal and Orsini are where you say they are."
Dandi, completely lost in this conversation of family's and labyrinths, tries to keep up, whispering to the closest of her companions, "What? Where are Vencarlo and the Seneschal? Are we betrayed then? Shall I turn him into newt?"I don't know how to turn him into a newt! Oh, but I will learn, someday, I will learn!Lying louse!
She looks from one to other to see if it's an attack, but they each seem to be falling into line at the secret door.
"Fine! But this isn't over!" Louse is too good for him!
"Your family. They're not here, are they? Aren't you in charge while they're away?" Barael steps closer to Glorio. "Show them to us. Surely, you have magic that can prove that the Seneschal and Orsini are where you say they are."
"Ahh, but my family is here. Perhaps not in this room, " he looks around to be sure, "but they are here none the less."
He opens his palms up, "Alas, I am no wizard and have no spells powerful enough to show you what you seek. You must take my word as a nobleman that they are where I say they are."
You descend maybe 30' down the spiral staircase in the dark until you reach a well lit cave. The air in this vast grotto is cool and moist. You walk down an iron-framed flight of spiral stairs that winds down through a hole in the ceiling in the northwest section of the room from the top of a semicircular ledge. The ledge winds down along the cavern’s inner wall to a series of rope bridges that descend even lower from ledge to ledge.
The upper ledge, before it reaches the ropes, is a strangely breathtakingly beautiful place - a garden of all manner of strangely colored fungi, lichens, and molds. The fungi have been cultivated, shaped into a mixture of symmetrical patterns normally not seen in nature, transforming the ledge into a beautiful underground fungal garden. Here and there, flickering torches burn in sconces above the fungi, while from deep in the darkness below comes the soft splash of water against an unseen shore.
There is also a hallway leading off to the southeast into darkness.
Barael
Briar
Charlie
Dandilion
Fondo
Nikolay
Majenko
Majenko takes a look around the neighborhood.
Content that there is nothing to be seen, he enjoys the spectacle of the pretty colors and hangs on Briar's shoulder.
Round 1, Init 15*
Briar commands magic to do his bidding, binding the air itself to allow his feet to find purchase.
Briar will march 15' up (at a 45 deg angle, G12) to above one of the walkways and look around.
Perception
GM Evilan, Briar's Init is now +7.
Round 1, Init 6-
Nikolay admires the odd beauty. "Briar, Dandi, you should add a place like this to the Dollhouse."
Nikolay double moves foward to I-17 (assuming it's still open).
round 1, init 1
"It is beautiful, Nikolay. We'll have to look into it. What's it look like from the air, Briar?"
In search of an answer to her own question, she spins and her hair flies out behind her, weaving itself into large gossamer wings as she follows briar into the air. Dandi flies up 15' and toG13, makes a perception check on the beautiful fungi.
Charlie moves to F13 and watches. And is twitchy.
Round 1, Init 16-
AC = 21
HP = 75/75
Weapon Equipped = Black Tooth
Conditions = None
Barael eyes Nik and Fondo. "Why were you two so quick to want to do what Glorio requested?" Barael looks down at the northern platform.
"Last time, I found myself eating at his table against my will. Are you two feeling funny right now? Like you're doing this cause it seems normal? We're going into a labyrinth on his word, and you trust him?"
Barael readies to jump down, but would rather hear more sense outta his friends first.
"I'm feeling just fine Barael. Our choices seem rather limited at this point."
And this should be fun.
Round 1, Init 6+ {>M17}
Fondo/Glorio strides into the room as though it belonged to him, light shining from the open locket on his chest. "Come along, then. I shall show you to my guests, your friends."
Charlie moves up a bit and keeps a weather eye out (can't get to F13 unless you drop 20' so I put you a D13). Majenko looks around and hangs onto Briar over the chasm. Dandilion flies up as well and checks the scene from the air - very pretty! Briar walks into the air above the walkway and looks around but does not see anything else of note. Barael chats with his allies. Fondo briskly enters the chamber as the head of the Arkona Family. Nikolay rounds the corner and sees that the hallway ends in a rough stone wall.
Suddenly Majenko cries out (telepathically). "There are invisible creatures forming out of the fungus! They're all around us, watch out!!" He describes a beautiful process of formation rising up out of the fungus - well beautiful to his senses anyway. He also accurately describes where they are.
Round 2, Init 16-
AC = 21
HP = 75/75
Weapon Equipped = None, yet
Condition(s) = None, yet
Barael takes inspiration from the potential invisible foes rising up to meet them, to Vanish , produce a Mantis Mask , and don it , preparing to activate See Invisibility and Deathwatch.
This already bodes very badly.
Nikolay waits to see if Fondo will move away from the one next to him or engage it.