On the southern slab, a very well made dagger is wedged into and between the ribs of a huge rat.
Lucius will scan the room with detect magic.
Saoirse scans over the contents of the lockbox for a moment before they settle on the darkwood sword case. Curiosity getting the better of her as she lifts it up closer to eye level and opens the case. Saoirse's eyes widen as the golden sword comes into view. Pulling out the sword with both hands Saoirse looks over the blade, surprised to see it still sharp.
Turning to face Nebbin, "Me... use this? I suppose I could but... this sword is holy. I don't think I'm worthy of wielding it yet." Hesitation evident in Saoirse's voice as she looks down at the sword again.
"Oh." Nebbin's face falls as Saoirse rejects his suggestion. He looks around for something else she could use, eyes scanning the room for anything that he might not have noticed before.
Disappointed, he finally gives up, heaving a heavy sigh.
Lucius will give the room another once-over to see if anything else important is hidden away before stepping up to pick up an examine the dagger.
When Saoirse grips the sword its gold shimmers and gives off a golden light that surrounds Saoirse's hand and arm.
A high-pitched sound, like metal sharpening metal, surrounds the room.
Aero will relate the history of the sword and encourage Saorise to wield the sword for now.
"What was that?" Nebbin says as the noise fills the room, panic subsiding as he notices the glow surrounding Saoirse's arm. "Um, your arm's turning to gold, I think..."
Saoirse nearly jumps out of her skin as the grinding metal sound fills her ears, a shocked look on her face as she hears the voice above the grinding metal. Not even noticing the golden light that surrounds her arm, Saoirse leans closer to the sword and whispers "You... you will fight with me?"
Lucius will look around briefly to see if he can find a sheath for the knife. If he does, he'll attach it to his belt. If not, he'll go to his pack and wrap the knife in a bit of sacking before stashing it the pack.
He looks north, toward the source of the noise. "Something exciting?"
"Help!" Nebbin calls out. "Saoirse's been cursed, I think! She's turning to gold!"
The young man's voice is clearly filled with concern, verging on the edge of panic as the strange noise and light continues and the crusader ignores him, asking strange questions.
"What?"
Lucius will rush northward, only to see the glow of the sword. "I don't think she's cursed, Nebbin. Though I have heard of swords that can take control of those who hold them, I doubt such a thing would have been kept in a museum in Kenabres."
"Soairse, do you require assistance?"
Unable to hear the others around her, Saoirse stares at the sword for a moment longer before she stands up. Turning to face the rest of the group just as Lucius asks if she needs assistance, Saoirse shakes her head. "No... No, I do not."
Giving a short smile, Saoirse looks down at the glow still surrounding her arm. "No need to worry Nebbin, the Inheritor guides and protects me. This sword is a part of her divine will."
Saoirse then speaks softly, "Inheritor, light my path." Watching as the golden sword begins to give off a glow like a torch. Then, Saoirse looks up to the rest of the group. "I believe we have prisoners to deal with yes?
The tied up tiefling gives a muffled curse and kicks around on a the floor a bit.
"Yes, and I must tell the rest of the folk here. I'll take some of the witch's hair as proof. I should be back here in half an hour. I ask only that you leave him alive." The mongrel swiftly takes a knife and a handful of hair and cuts it off. She moves back to the other room and you can hear her going up the ladder to higher level.
Nebbin follows Saoirse and Lucius back toward the prisoners, relieved that the attractive young crusader isn't cursed.
"Ah. He is awake. Splendid."
Lucius crouches down next to the tiefling. He smiles at him, taking a moment to check the security of his bonds. "Good news, demonspawn. You are yet among the living. In a moment, I'm going to remove your gag. We want to ask you some questions. My personal recommendation is that you tell us the truth. We've promised our hosts that you will remain alive, and I do so hate to break my word. Nod if you understand."
The tiefling's eyes narrow as he stops struggling. He nods sharply once. His muscles remain tensed.
"Excellent. You do understand proper Taldane."
Lucius looks back over his shoulder. "Soarise, keep an eye on the witch. Aero, it would be most helpful if you could watch this one. I don't want him to think he try anything unnoticed."
Then, he turns back and loosens Uziel's gag. He lays a hand on the tiefling's shoulder. "Lets start with an easy one. What is your name?"
"Um, what should I do?" Nebbin asks.
He looks around to see if there's anyone else he should be watching.
The tiefling's eyes try to bore into you, "Uziel. Bodyguard for Hosilla."
"I cannot say I'm happy to meet you, Uziel. I'm Lucius, a favored child of Asmodeus." Lucius smiles and taps his holy symbol with the hand that isn't touching Uziel.
"What was your mistress's purpose here? And what hold over you does she have that you were willing to risk your worthless life for hers?"
Uziel winces at the mention of Asmodeus, "What would a follower of The Archfiend know about what kept me loyal to Hosilla? Every creature should know why a man protects a woman."
"Because they're weaker and we should help them?" Nebbin pipes up, helpfully.
Aero is far more interested in Saroise and the sword than dealing with the prisoners.
"Ah. You were hoping for a chance to continue your disgusting bloodline. Did she actually deign to let you touch her, or just dangle it before your nose like a tidbit before an eager hound?"
He just keeps smiling and closes his eyes for a moment, focusing on the visions of Hell that perpetually simmer in the back of his mind.
"That is what keeps me loyal to my patron, demonspawn. The might and grandeur of His Kingdom." Teeth flash from behind the smile and his voice lowers. "However, I am forced to admit that most people I've shown it to do not see it in quite the same way. You're almost a person. What do you think?"
The smile snaps flat again. "But I digress. What was she plotting?"
The tiefling twists and turns and grunts at the visions. "She was waiting for someone...She found a holy sword and they were to corrupt it!"
He breathes hard at the brief respite in his hellacious imaginings.
"That's better. Who was she waiting for?"
The tiefling bites his lip for a moment then bursts out with, "Staunton Vhane!"
Lucius nods, trying to make a note of the name, and trying his best to appear as if he knows what the tiefling is talking about.
"Excellent. How does a demonspawn comes to speak deviltongue?>>
"And what kind of a maniac would still try to attack a man of Nebbin's size without a sword?"
Aero thinks to himself:
What kind of maniac would attack him WITH a sword?
Why does anyone want to attack me? Nebbin thinks sadly. Wait!
"Wait! Who's Stanton Vine?"
Nebbin, as usual, looks a little confused.
The tiefling doesn't seem to notice if Lucius has any hesitancy with the name. "Lord Baphomet's followers all speak the Abyssal tongue in which he rules."
He coughs and laughs hoarsely. "A big man, true, but judging by how he held his weapon it was more of a tool than a weapon."
"Vhane...Staunton Vhane. Are you not from this city? He was responsible for one of the greatest betrayals in generations!"
"Hiding out in Drezen will not protect Staunton from the holy light of justice."
Nebbin looks taken aback at the tiefling's harsh words about Vhane, his mouth snapping shut.
I'm sorry I've never heard of him. And I'll show *you* that this can be a weapon! *You're* nothing but a tool!
"Lady Hosilla found me worshipping a false god, Baalzebul, on the edges of the 'Wound. She did not kill me, mercifully, but showed me the truth. I came to learn the favored tongue of Baphomet as I studied."
Lucius laughs. "That explains much. There is none more zealous than the convert, or more dangerous than the heretic."
He picks up the note found on Hosilla. "Tell me more about this. What does your little cult want with the Wardstones?"
"We don't want them...we want to be RID of them!"
"This note if from Vhane, then?"
"Who is Vorlesh? What is he going to do to the Wardstones?"
"Tell me about Nyserian Manor."
"Tell me about Topaz Solutions."
"Tell me about the Tower of Estrod."
"How does one exchange the passphrase? Under what circumstances would the passphrase be changed? Is there significance to 'the archives'?"
"What is this evidence that must be removed? Just signs of your squatting?"
"What..particular...use would the sword be, corrupted? Surely your mistress has better things to do than taint museum pieces. What makes it special?"
"Yes, Staunton Vhane...SV."
"Areelu Vorlesh...she who created the 'Wound those many years ago. I believe she is half fiend herself. Pray you do not meet her." the tiefling shudders at this. "She is going to finish what she started and corrupt the Wardstones to use against the Crusaders."
"Nyserian Manor is safe house, as well as the Tower of Estrod, for the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth. Topaz Solutions is an alchemists shop that was run by a Templar wizard named Topaz. He was especially skilled at making our poisons in his secret lab there."
"As far as I know the passphrase changes only once Vhane meets with his trusted few...Lady Hosilla among those. The archives...that must be where they corrupt powers of good."
"Evidence of our existence. The Templars are far more effective if the Crusaders believe we are few or disorganized. There are...things...that Vhane would not want the Crusaders to get back in possession. I don't know exactly what, but that sword was something he wanted and Lady Hosilla was very happy to be able to give to him. She kept talking about radiance as if it were the name of a legendary sword."
Uziel shifts uncomfortably for a moment then looks up. "I've told you all I know. Please...kill me quickly. Do not make me suffer without Lady Hosilla." He closes his eyes in preparation.
Nebbin shudders are the thought of meeting Areelu Vorlesh.
I hope that never happens.
His eyes widen as he realizes Lucius might kill the man.
Is that OK? I guess he is with the demons, and kind of admitted it, so he'd probably be sentenced to die if we were on the surface...
Lucius's smile never breaks. He almost laughs. "I told you I had promised not to kill you. You belong to the mongrelfolk now, and what they do with you is none of my concern. Perhaps they will grant your wish, perhaps not."
He stuffs the gag back in the tiefling's mouth. <<My advice is to contemplate Baalzebul, and Baphomet, and what kind of afterlife might await you.>> He makes the five-pointed sign over his chest.
His attention turns to Hosilla. "Can she be roused? We have a moment or two before Wendaug returns."
Nebbin looks around to see if anyone wants to wake up the mongrelwoman.