Vencarlo takes the healing and looks much more hale afterwords, even with the pain. "Thank you, Jarha," he says. "We may not have met, but I have known of your good works for some time. I am a fan of any who sacrifice to help the poor and downtrodden of Korvosa. Blackjack would approve," he adds with a wink at Absinthe.
"Vencarlo, we haven't seen Neolandus," says Melianthe. "Who bound you so? Did you see him down here, or any hint of where he might be?"
Vencarlo's face darkens. "The Arkonas put us in this dungeon, and a vile darksphinx was our jailer. Have you dispatched the creature?" He explains how he learned of the friendship between Neolandus Kalepopolis and Salvator Scream, and that Salvator brought Neolandus to the Arkonas for help. He then details the attack by the Red Mantis at his academy, how he fought them off but was badly wounded. He then went to the Arkona manor to find the Seneschal, but was taken captive instead. His story verifies much of what you already learned on the trail.
"Neolandus is probably in the torture chamber, but I have not seen him in some time. Our first priority is to rescue him, and then get the hells out of Korvosa." He thinks for a moment then adds, "There's an illusory wall near the entrance to the labyrinth. If you can get us out of here, I can show you where it is."
"Yes, we did dispatch the darksphinx, and the moving walls of this labyrinth made sure it was final. So does your story mean you were betrayed by the Arkonas? They led us to believe you entered the labyrinth of your own free will. Where do their allegiances lie?"
"To themselves," Vencarlo replies sharply. "Glorio and Vimanda Arkona are no allies of the queen. They serve whatever cause brings them money, power and influence. I don't know why they were keeping us down here, nevermind whatever creatures designed this sadistic place."
"Beware their diabolic torturer as well. She is an upasunda asura called Sensiir. I doubt she will release Neolandus without a fight."
An upsunder what? Segang asks What kind of creature is that?
"I'm not sure..." Melianthe knots her silver brows in her smooth greyish face, thinking. "Have you seen this Sensiir? Do you know any of her strengths, weapons, weaknesses?"
She whispers to the group. "There's a possibility we are being scryed for entertainment. Hard to say."
Melianthe only knows that asura are immortal outsiders whose origins are rooted in destruction and rejection -- the results of unspeakable divine accidents.
"Sensiir is hideous... humanoid, but has six arms and three faces on her head. Her every movement and speech were emotionless and precise." Vencarlo adds, "I know only what she told us as she plied her trade. Sensiir said she came here on a contract to a man named 'Bahor', agreeing to stay as long as a fresh supply of subjects were provided. She said the majority of her kind seek enlightenment through brutal combat and mastery of life-ending weaponry, Senshiir has narrowed her focus a bit through the observation of pain and its effects on the mortal mind."
"She sounds charming. It sounds as if you are saying the next step is for us to confront this Sensiir to rescue Neolandus, at that they are nearby behind an illusory wall near the entrance to the labyrinth? Are you able to fight with us if we heal you further and provide you equipment?"
I think I will show her her own pain to study. Let us seek her out.
"If you have a spare weapon, I will gladly fight at your side. I only hope we are not too late to save Neolandus from that creature."
"I believe we have the weapons of 'Blackjack', do we not?" says Melianthe with a grin towards Absinthe. "Let us prepare. I'll be on my trusty mount and can keep up hexes against this Senshiir. Segang, I can ward you and give you power of flight. Abby, I can make you invisible to start and flying. And I can summon something, like a hound archon, again."
Using the levers you have found, you navigate a way back through the labyrinth until you return to the entrance. Vencarlo leads you around a bend in the natural corridor, eventually coming to a place with a small recess. He then steps straight through the wall... an illusion!
On the far side, the natural passage continues for another twenty or so paces before ending at a set of double doors. Vencarlo holds a finger to his lips and points towards the doors.
Segang readies himself.
Jarha will heal himself fully, turn invisible, and gather energy.
Seren will use the cat's grace wand on Abby and Segang and then toss the burnt out husk aside.
He will cast mage armor, levitate and detect thoughts on himself and invisibility sphere on the crowd centered on himself.
Seren will use a scroll of Enlarge Person on Segang.
You quickly apply your spells, finishing with Seren's invisibility sphere to completely hide the group. A moment later, Segang pushes open the doors to the torture chamber.
This large room is lit by a heartily burning firepit in the room’s center. Cages hang on chains dangling from hooks in the ceiling, while racks, strappados, gibbets, and other implements of torture fill the floor space. A set of immense wooden doors stand in the wall to the north, while to the north stand several narrow cells.
A tall woman in red loose-fitting robes stands over the far rack, where she has just strapped down a sobbing middle-aged man. She is far from human, however. Her head has three faces, giving it no true back, and she has six arms, each wielding a sharp or vicious tool.
Caged in a box of spiked bars... is Vencarlo Orisini! He looks bloody and dazed.
The asura's face facing the doors immediately reacts to your presence. She does not seem affected by your invisibility. "Oh? Visitors, I see," Senshiir's three mouths greet in an echoed voice.
Seren steps away from the Vencarlo in the party, "Shit."
Segang eyes the Vencarlo the party and demands Explain yourself.
Vencarlo (the one standing with you) is shocked. "That's... a trick. An imposter!"
"Your blathering is interrupting my work," Senshiir sighs. She begins to cast a spell.
ID the spell?
"We're going to feed your faces to your other face," snarls Melianthe, looking very much like an annoyed Pharasma. The fact that her sentence doesn't quite make sense doesn't detract from its fearsomeness.
"Apologies," Absinthe says to Vencarlo, her face expressionless, "but one hopes you'll understand the request to disarm and stand down immediately."
Well I know that one is an enemy. Segang says as he enters a controlled range and moves forward, ready to attack any enemy that comes near him. as he moves in he looks about for clues as to what might be going on.
As Jarha prepares to act he comments, ”The Vencarlo who is beside us knew of my work with the forgotten people of this City, which is not widely known....”
Seren concentrates detect thoughts covering both Vencarlos if possible. Given it was cast before we walked in, I'd like to argue that this is round 2 of concentration.
Segang moves forward, weapon readied. Senshiir finishes her spell, augmenting her speed.
Vencarlo (the one with you), grits his teeth and backs up, weapon point down. "Whoever that is, it isn't me," he says, nodding towards the caged Vencarlo. "Its a trick, I tell you. Keep focused on the real threat here!"
"You stay put, Vencarlo, and you tell us something that guarantees to us you are who you say," says Mel to the freed 'Vencarlo' rather savagely.
Senshiir appears somewhat shaken by Melianthe's vicious threat.
Seren continues to concentrate, trying to pick out surface thoughts in the area.
The Vencarlo in the cage comes to as he hears the commotion. He perks up, grasping the bars. "Look out! That's a shapeshifter... a doppleganger pretending to be me!"
Jarha tried to figure out if the person he thinks is Vencarlo is lying.
Regardless, he stays focused on the true main foe, and flies into the room about parallel to Segang but out of Senshiir’s reach, and unleashes a torrent of electricity at her.
Segagn takes a step closer, pauses, and readies an attack for when the creature closes with him.
Absinthe focuses on the hideous creature, and... just points her empty hand at it?
Eldritch energy flares, and three darts of force hurtle towards the Outsider.