With a last topiary to deal with Momijii unleashed a pair of lightning strikes on it. The first shatteringly strong followed by a lighter but effective strike.
Momijii shreds the last topiary, sending bits flying everywhere. Suddenly the compound falls quiet but for the companions breath.
Luxina throws away the unstable torch and waits for it to burst into flames.
"I should be careful with using those chemicals. They have a tendency to explode when they don't hit."
"That's not always a bad thing Lux." Filbert says rubbing his shoulder where the plant creature raked him. "While I was out I remembered something, some grey fishy smelling things killed my horse in the barn right here, cleaver wielding sea trash came here with the pointy teeth mercs." Looking at the bath house close by. "Let's clear this first"
Agrippa creeps forward to inspect the door to the bath house.
The one-story wooden building is outfitted with an outhouse and an external awning to shelter firewood. Nobody is inside and judging from the dust and cobwebs, it's been unused for some time. Inside the service building are wooden bathtub and a fireplace. A small shelf holds bars of soap, towels, brushes and pieces of pumice stone.
Agrippa makes hand motions that this building is empty, he pockets the soul soap.
Agrippa makes his way to the Guest Lounge and checks the door.
Heinrich sneaks up to a window and looks in. He sees a well-appointed lounge which includes a brick fireplace, a low mahogany table with three matching leather chairs, and an antique sideboard acting as a liquor cabinet stands near the foot of the stairs leading up. Seated at the tables are a couple dressed in the finery of nobles, sipping wine from crystal goblets.
Agrippa listens intently at the window for a while
(Taps her foot on the floor in a melody rhythm.)
"Heard anything?"
Filbert joins the others creeping forward to check out the guest lounge, shaking his head as he spots Agrippa taking the soap, Hmmm, he planning to take a bath right now?
Moving up Filbert listens below the window sill....
"Melisenn has them cooling their heels right now, something is happening they think we can throw a monkey wrench in."
Momijii moved along with the others, ready for trouble, as they continued their explorations of the area. Not finding anything at their first destination she moved along to the second with them though she stayed well back knowing she wasn't the stealthiest person around.
Agrippa says Cultists. Perhaps we can get them to speak candidly with a bit of subterfuge. Put away your weapons. Stay vigilant.
Agrippa plans on entering the home pretending to be a new cultist sent by Melisenn sent to gather them. If they attack, well so much the better.
"Alright. It won't hurt to try."
Lizzie puts her morningstar back.
Filbert subdues his Elemental overflow so that his hair settles into a normal position, which probably looked strange to his friends now.
"Lead the way, my suggestion was to hold the doors closed while I brought the house down around their ears, not near as subtle."
Glancing in the window from his tiptoes, Filbert sees a set of stairs on the far side of the room, Gathering up Momijii and Luxina he speaks quickly.
"Just two within the sitting room below but there are steps leading above, want to scout above and if clear you can come in behind them. If it is not clear you can let us know how many are there." Indicating Luxina's grapple Filbert offers to set the hook. "Allow me perhaps there will be less clatter."
grasping the end of the hook with nothing but Aether, Filbert slowly spins the hook so that two of the hooks will settle in fully on the ledge above.
Filbert can raise the hook up to 35' quietly
Agrippa whispers to Momijii If you can grab one of them and hold them down, we can tie them up. It will make interrogation much easier...
Agrippa gestures for Momijii and Lizzie to come with him and he gives the door a good knock.
Hello there. I've been sent by our mutual friend
Momijii listened to the plan and nodded in agreement. "I'll try." She followed Heinrich to the door and stood ready to charge in and grab one of the people inside for interrogation.
The female noble blinks in surprise, "Goodness Daelene, visitors!" She smiles at Agripps, adding "Impeccable timing We were just about to open a new bottle. Take some glasses from the liquor cabinet and relax. Let us pour you all a drink or two." She points at the well appointed cabinet which seems to have a number of pricey vintages and single malts. "So what brings you to Iris Hill? A friendly amber merchant perhaps?"
Filbert will follow the others inside unless Luxina decides to go upstairs
Smiling in return Filbert nods in greeting and defers to Agrippa as he is unskilled dealing amicably with religious zealots - or at least that what he thinks they are.....
Indeed. My friend has shown me the Sign in Yellow. Has he shown it to you perhaps?
Agrippa watches the two, studying their movements and patterns.
"But of course." she replies at one, before glancing at the one called Daelene, "The Greenridge '07 seems appropriate I think?" He nodded before fetching an expensive looking bottle containing an amber liquid. He expertly uncorked it with a tiny silver knife and a cork screw, before pouring a small amount into a glass and smelling it, "An excellent choice Asa as always." He took seven shot glasses from the cabinet and poured a generous measure in each.
Asa took one shot glass and raised it up, "I propose a toast! To the most remarkable haste in which you've traveled here! We weren't excepting any of the faith for several days at the earliest, however did you get here in time?!" She then raised the glass to her lips.
"I apologize, madam, i'll have to respectfully pass on the offer. Wine is not my kind of drink."
"I'll join you in a toast in gesture, though."
Lizzie holds an imaginary cup.
"Luckily for you it's whisky not wine!" she laughed, "Sure you don't want some, it's very good..."
"From what i gather, i'm a bad one when having consumed alcohol.
For the benefit of all, i therefor hold off on alcohol. But thank you all the same."
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Agrippa figures out what is going on.
Well magic, of course, the Stelae are most powerful. You do not know the depths of power I have plumbed...
Agrippa takes the glass and raises it, he turns towards and his companions and in a startlingly clumsy movement he stumbles into Momijii, knocking the glass from her hand and spilling his own glass all over the floor.
Oh. Silly me.
She seems confused, "How in the hells did you manage that?! The Stelae only let us teleport within the towns environs..."
Daelene adds, "Aye the energy required for distant travel must be enormous! Two sacrifices are required to stride through the city. Besides the Stelae never revealed anything to me about being able to do that, how come you're so blessed?"
They both look at Agrippa expectantly, ignoring for now his clumsiness.
Momijii was quiet as the Heinrich and Lizzie spoke with the cultists. She accepted the glass with a nod but did not drink from it. She wouldn't sip such concoctions when she was needing to focus and even then she would likely not have drank.
When the woman began asking how they arrived so quickly and offered a toast Momijii knew that something was wrong. She was entirely too eager to have them drink and something was definitely wrong. Momijii's eyes narrowed and she dodged Heinrich as he tried to stumble into her and she threw her drink in the nearby fire with a resounding shatter as she demanded angrily, "You would dare poison the followers of the Yellow King?!" She channeled her draconic heritage into her voice and stance as she approached the woman and demanded, "You have betrayed him and shall pay with your life if you don't explain yourself!"
Concentrating on keeping his elemental flow in check Filbert simply accepts the proffered glass and begins to join in the toast, when Agrippa and Momijii start acting strange.
Glass already to his lips, Filbert stops and draws it away slowly as Momijii begins talking about poison.
"Poison?!?! Perhaps you should drink this first" the glass floats from his hand towards the one who poured the drinks...wisps of hair beginning to float around his head.
The woman bat's away the gloating glass and as if it was perfectly reasonable, she replies, "You're not the ones we where expecting. There have been a few, ah, theological disagreements with some of the faithful who are always attracted to such events. We couldn't be sure which camp you belong to."
She glances at the man who spares her no heed, because he's watching you like a hawk.
"Sir, madam. It is obvious our side is knowledgeable and capable, to have gotten in here. Your foilant security has been disposed of.
I suggest, if you value your lives, you surrender and answer any questions we have to the best of your ability."
Filbert watches the pair, waiting to see whom would make the first move. This could get interesting in this small room.
Agrippa says Well, now that the jig is up thanks to our small friend here. It's best that you answer our questions truthfully.
"Sir, madam. It is most unpolite trying to spike the drink of your guests. Now, if you would be so kind as to enlighten us on these theological disagreements, we can set this misunderstanding away."
Daelene sighs, "I'm sure you've heard the stories about the Briarstone Witch. At one time she was the favored hand of our eternal master, may he conquer all from his holy city. Naturally they wished for the greater glory of the second vanishing, but they could not wait for the slow but certain route. Instead they hatched and insane plan to bring the witch back. In her greed and foolish pride she sought to offer the town as a gift for our master, he was well pleased with this plan but the multitude of sacrifices caught the attention of something other which intervened to thwart our master's plan. They knew this of course, but they thought Aridnah could be bargained with the fools! Mellisan's hand was forced, with reluctance she summoned a creature from beyond the stars to deal with them. That foolishness has been stamped out, or so we hope, the creature drank deeply of their heretical blood."
Agrippa nods along. Indeed. This "other" do we have indications of what that might be? Who dares to interrupt the holy rites of our King?
Filbert wisely keeps his mouth shut and his eyes open.
Cryptically she replies, "We understand it was the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young. Sometimes that one works in harmony with our master, other times not. None can fathom the reason why."
Lizzie will share the spoiler with the others, when in private, she'll be trying to beat Agrippa to it for fun.
Filbert continues to keep his mouth shut, religion being far from his forte, trying to read those that they are here to oppose.