Oren moves to the side of the person flashing the contract/book that he imp was going on about. When the imp made its move, she was prepared to bonk it right in the head.
Valrani moves over to Lirotha to put their heads together and try to work out which page of the book holds the creatures contract.
"Who says we need to find the hidden page to burn it," Rocco shouts at the others. "How will that affect your little deal with the Sarini's, eh?" He turns around, scanning the room for any sign of the little demon.
Kurglunn simply backs up to take up a better defense of his friends.
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Healed again Morricone moves forward and takes a look at the contract.
Sighing he does not understand one thing. Feeling the evil presence in the back of his head he starts the bardic performance again.
The Hound shakes his head and holsters his pistol. "Damn thing gets hit but it isn't going through."
Then pulls out the whip he got from a few nights ago and waits.
"Lets pull back and shut the door for the moment..." suggest Valrani.
"It may be constrained about where it can go.."
She leads the way back to the secret room.
"OW!"
Lirotha pulls the dart from her neck and backs away with Val, calling out behind herself.
"You want it? Come get it!"
Raising his crossbow Morricone shoots one bolt towards the little pest.
The Hound see's Lirotha's tactic and does the same, he backs up aroun d the corner and lies in wait.
Oren moves with the remainder of the group, happy someone had come up with a plan rather than just letting it shoot at them.
Seeing the others take a "tactical retreat," Rocco and Kurglunn follow suit and head back around the wall to the other large chamber.
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Valrani, Lirotha and Oren, carrying the ledger, retreat towards the room leading up to Laria's bakery. Rocco and Kurglun instead opt to stay in the hall west of the secret harbor. The Hound hides nearby while Morricone takes another shoot at the Imp but misses it again.
As that happens the creature turns invisible and the game of imp and ravens you were playing starts anew...
"So... how might one find out the word to open the page? " asks Valrani.
She tries some obvious ones "Freedom, Raven, Silver Ravens, Rebellion, Down with Hell."
"I suppose guessing is not likely to work. Do we know the names of the original ravens?"
Morricone siehst and terrestrischen wird the others.
"Anyone know names that run in the Sarini family?"
Then she tries looking at the page and saying "Sarini"
With the danger at least not visible for the moment, Rocco hurries over to the ladies and looks up at Lirotha. "Alright, hag. You're supposed to be the expert on devils and such, right? That's why you took that special book and all. So why don't you use the damned thing and tell us what the hell that was...is. Whatever. How do we kill it?"
"Fine ghost-kisser! But keep that thing off me while I read!"
"Oh my godless garters! It's right here in the manual! Thanks for suggesting I look in the Index under 'contractual fiends' runt!"
"Let us burn the contract! Destroy it. And let this little pig return to hell and be the butt joke for a millenia or two!"
The Hound waits for his chance to strike...
"TAke another move and we'll burn it" snarls back Valrani.
"Who in house Sarinis should we return it to...if we were going to return it that is."
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An eerie silence reigns inside the Wasp Nest after Valrani speaks. Then the disembodied voice you heard before answers:"That would be unwise... I would spend eternity to get my revenge on you... but I could choose to be lenient if you return it to the Sarini's represntatives... Once she sees it, Countess Urora Sarini will know what the ledger is and what to do..."
Sense motive
"I say we be safe and just send the beast back to hell. By the time it gets back here, we will be long dead and gone..."
- even with a bonus for being in the HQ that would fail by a mile.
"I'm thinking you are sounding desperate!" she calls out.
"What reward will you give me for not destroying the page. Throw down your pipes, where we can see and reclaim them. Then we can talk."
Quietly she adds "Light a torch, just in case..."
"Why do you want us to return it to the Sarini's? Does not the contract bind you? Wouldn't you prefer to be free?" she asks.
"Quickly, go pick up those pipes" she says to the other Ravens.
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Valrani's words echo into the empty halls. Then the voice answers, yet again from a different spot.
"My reasons do not concern you. Give back what was stolen or die. I don't need my pipes to kill the likes of you!"
"We need to end this. NOW."
Lirotha then pulls out a tindertwig and hands it to Valrani who is still holding the book, whispering in her ear.
"Burn the contract. We can't trust a devil, ever. Not in this town at least. Once its back in the Hells, it will have to answer for losing it's contract."
Valrani grin's wickedly.
"My pleasure."
She sets fire to the book, fully expecting some type of repercussions before the devil can return to its home.
"I think it is time you were freed of your obligations. Let's face it, the house Sarani is not likely to use you for...public service obligations."
"Burn it, quick. He is cheating bastard. Well a devil, is a devil"
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As Valrani burns down the ledger you hear a shrill scream in the air:"You will pay for thissssss...." hisses the voice before disappearing completely but for teh pipes it threw at you.
The Hound waits for a moment then emerges from the shadows and rolls up his whip and hooks it to his belt. He looks around as he walks to the group. "That it? That's all it took? Looks like I showed up late to some kinda party. Everyone okay?"
Picking up the dropped pipes from the ground, Lirotha detects them as magical and surmises their use quickly. She looks at the others.
"Ugg. Gross but useful my pretties! Pipes of the sewers. Anybody interested? Does anybody know how to use these?"
"Er...no. I'm not a huge fan of rats. The folks made me and the other kids clear the mouse traps around the bar. Maybe our fancy new performer friend here will want to strike up a tune now and again though."
"Rats are natures creatures, just like any other. While I can't play these, I'm willing to put in a bit of effort to learn them."
offers Valrani.
"My worry is that he will take his knowledge back to hell and....rat on us."
She tries to keep the smile off her face, but can't.
Lirotha sits down with a profoundly tired sigh.
"My guess Val is that he will have to answer for losing his contract. IF he survives that, then his masters will have more important things to worry about than us. However, if we see him again, we should not hesitate to remove him. Agreed?"
She also waves her hand around as if swatting at a bug.
"We also need to buy some silver or magic weapons as well my pretties. Holy types are preferred...or ones dedicated to chaos at least. If we are going to fight devils again, we need to be prepared. Hound? Can your boom stick use silver ammunition?"
"That's the first devil I've ever run across. Yes, some preparations to deal with those in the future would be wise. I have some draughts that can help with that temporarily, but we do need long term solutions."
"I think so. I'll have to just get some made."
"Yeah, me too. Though I'm sure yer right that the little bugger won't be the last or the worst that we run into. Let's just hope we're a little more prepared next time. In the meantime, I'm feeling strapped for cash, and I know my folks have been complaining about me not being around to help out in the inn for a while. I'll keep my ears open for anything interesting, and I'll make sure to keep up with things around here, but I'm gonna go get some work done."
Rocco heads out soon after and makes his way back through the city to his family's inn not too far from where they had faced the Red Gills. He eventually walks into the Rose and Thorn Inn, and a familiar voice calls out from an open doorway behind a multi-leveled counter. "Welcome to the Rose and Thorn," the voice calls.
"Hey, mum, it's me," Rocco calls in reply.
A rotund older halfling walks out of the room behind the counter, her worn apron covered stained with beer, grease, and various types of sauces and stews. Mrs. Elouise Hardweather walks around the end of the counter, her hands on her hips and a skeptical look in her eye, and regards her son. "Well well...nice o' you to come back 'round. Don't s'pose you're gonna tell me where ya've been these past weeks?"
Despite the gruff exterior he displays to his new companions in the Ravens, Rocco still can't avoid wilting under his mother's stern gaze. "Sorry, ma. I can't. You know how the city is these days. There was gang warfare practically on the Rose and Thorn's doorstep until someone took one o' the gangs down a peg."
"And what does that have to do with you skipping out on work for a month, huh?" his mother shoots back. "It's not like YOU were involved in any of that, is it? Ach! Bugger it. I s'pose you'll be wanting to come back to split your brother's and sister's tips a bit thinner, huh? Or are you just hoping for a free drink, cause I tell ya you won't get one outta me!"
"No, ma, I'm here to work. Just put me where ya need me."
"Alright, you can tend the bar. Oh, and welcome home, son."
Valrani likewise continues to run her small legal business from the coffee shop. Visitors are frequent, if not always happy with the advice she offers.
"Well, six months in prison is probably a little better than summary execution with your soul consigned to hell for eternity. I'm sorry, but next time don't insult your neighbor. Especially when they are a diabolical priest."