You see a lanky, huddled figure shrouded in a ragged cloak and hood. It moves with cautious, wary steps and glances furtively about the room. Pulling back the hood, you see a human male. Or at least, something resembling a human male. You might react with some alarm to see that his eyes resemble that of a goat and his hair is chalk-white. Looking closer, you see that a long, sinuous tail sits idly between his feet, dull-gray in color with faint scales resembling a lizard. Besides the ragged cloak, he wears simple leather sandals, a sling pouch over one shoulder, and a small backpack.
He smiles and extends a hand. "In a way, perhaps. The universe is a puzzle of infinite pieces, some of which I know well. I am Sejanus, an alchemist and Pathfinder." He turns to the Crux and smiles. "Ahh, so this what I've heard about for so long." His tail whips out from underneath his robes, reaching into his backpack and withdrawing a small pair of lenses. It places the lenses delicately on his nose as he squints and peers at the box. "But as for baroque Chelaxian puzzle boxes, I am afraid that I am not as knowledgeable as I would like." He smiles and rubs his hands together. "Which means we need to experiment." Almost unconsciously, his tail again reaches into his backpack and withdraws a small notebook and pen, apparently holding them at the ready while Sejanus continues his visual inspection.
Addie arches an eyebrow at the white-haired... man's... enthusiasm toward deciphering the Chelish Crux, but remains quiet so as not to disturb his examination of the object.
Valeron arches an eyebrow at Arael as Sejanus makes himself visible and known.
Yet, as the tiefling speaks and confirms his expertise and affiliation, the Iomedean relaxes.
"Another alchemist -- our late friend, Wart, pursued such arts. I am certain they could be useful in this lodge of your people. Is there advice you can offer for us to prepare for this trip into Delvehaven?"
Elaborating on his question, Valeron adds, "We have just returned from some sort of... pocket dimension. I'm certain we could have prepared better for that journey had we known we would be facing cursed mummies or disease-ridden otyughs. Any clues to what may protect Delvehaven would be welcome... A golem perhaps?"
It's good that Kevorin kept the scarab - I'd bet Cayden a lifetime supply of drinks on needing it.
Valeron brims with confidence as Sejanus picks up the crux and begins his efforts to "solve" it.
Valeron places a reassuring hand on Sejanus' shoulder and urges him to, "be careful."
Kev will aid another, being an extra set of hands working at the tiefling's direction.
Sejanus spreads his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "You will have to ask my superior about Delvehaven." He gestures with his head toward Ailyn. "She would know more than I do. Knowledge is a protected resource in the Society, and I am not privy to the sources at her disposal."
"Thank you." Sejanus lightly takes the Crux and turns in over in his hands. His tail flicks out and reaches into his backpack, withdrawing a small leather pouch. It flicks and rolls out, revealing a set of various tools and lockpicks. Sejanus selects one and carefully inserts it into a seam in the box, attempting to activate the locking mechanism.
Disable Device
Disable Device
Disable Device
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Sejanus works at the Crux, for awhile with his first two attempts ending in a bit of pain as the runes on the outside heat up, burning the tiefling.
Finally, on the third attempt the dodecahedron unfolds, dumping a number of things on the ground, the most notable being a shrieking, disembodied, female head. Other items falling to the ground include: a leather portfolio inscribed with an ornate "D", three scrolls, a silver box engraved with dancing skeletons, and a pair of matched slender oak wands.
"What the...?" Kev hollers as the disembodied head nearly rolls into him. He stumbles back and fumbles his axe into his hands. If no ill effects become immediately apparent, however, he stays his hand.
Morghrim exclaimed in alarm as he saw Sejanus. The other Westcrown Defenders could easily recall the last time they had faced a Tiefling she had been shooting crossbow bolts at them and the time before that, one had cut off one of his precious braids, causing him to head-butt the fiend unconscious. Morghrim's face struggled not to show emotion and then downright alarm and suspicion as the man seemed keen to fiddle with the crux.
He took Ailyn aside and carefully explained the role the intelligent Glaive had played inside the mansion and talked about his hopes to have it smuggled out to a major Shelynite church. Occasionally his suspicious eyes darted to watch the newcomer Tiefling but Valeron and Addie seemed at ease...
Sejanus grunts in pain as fire washes over him from the puzzle box. Despite his fiendish resistance, several burns and blisters form on his hands. He gasps in delight as the Crux opens, and stares in wonderment at the head that drops to the floor. He bends down to study it.
Knowledge (arcana)
Knowledge (nature)
He reaches out to touch it, then notices the burns on his hands. He retrieves two vials from the pouch at his belt and drinks them. The blisters recede and fade and his skins returns to its normal pale coloring.
"Hmmm" is the only sound that Valeron can make as the items within the Crux become known.
"Should we start with the portfolio? Let us be careful of any magical wards..."
Valeron will detect magic on all of the items while he warily regards the silver box and wands. He will unfurl the scrolls and see if they are divine in origin, as well.
If Kev looked shocked at the appearance of the head, it was nothing compared to his face now that Valeron has started rummaging through paperwork. "Are you seriously worrying about some scrolls when there's a f$*#ing screaming decapitated head just lying right there? Pardon the pun, but doesn't that just scream, 'Examine me first, I'm a little unusual!'?"
After brushing his hand against his longsword, Valeron stares in shock at the head, trying to comprehend how it could be "alive".
If Kev looked shocked at the appearance of the head, it was nothing compared to his face now that Valeron has started rummaging through paperwork. "Are you seriously worrying about some scrolls when there's a f&*!ing screaming decapitated head just lying right there? Pardon the pun, but doesn't that just scream, 'Examine me first, I'm a little unusual!'?"
"Well, it definitely screams," Addie replies drily, moving over to examine the shrieking, decapitated head with a clinical detachment as she casts a spell to discern magical auras.
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Ailyn, Arael, and Janiven stand in stunned silence as the objects drop out of the Crux. Unfortunately, none of the items present seem to be a key.
After being out of the Crux for a few moments, the bodiless head finally stops shrieking, but now switches to random burst of Infernal profanity and moments of nearly catatonic silence.
Valeron seems to believe that only strong necromantic magic could achieve such effect as what he sees looking at the woman's head. Moments later Addie's own investigation confirms the presence of strong necromancy. While her spell of magical detection is still ongoing, Addie determines that the two wands, three scrolls, and four auras from within the silver box radiate as magical.
Quickly glancing over the scrolls, Valeron indeed confirms that the scrolls are divine in nature, and quiet powerful at that.
Ailyn's eyes light up seeing the portfolio with the script "D". She smiles as she quietly says, "At last, something useful about Delvehaven."
Addie offers quick prayers to The Gentleman as she examines the wands.
"The first wand contains magic that can break enchantments," she announces after a few moments' study. "The second wand contains magic to ward against death effects."
Hearing the decapitated head speak in Infernal, Addie addresses it in the same language.
Morghrim thought that perhaps he had read of something like this...
Sejanus takes a knee and bends down close to the screaming head. He whispers in a guttural language, dark and sinister.
"I have a suggestion," Kev says, hefting his axe.
"If it was included with the information about Delvehaven, it must have some sort of use," Addie theorizes, pointing to the screaming devil head. "Maybe we should put it back in the Crux for safekeeping until we can look at those documents - maybe they'll shed some light on the head's purpose"
Erinyes. Still a devil. Maybe make a deal with it. That or sew the damn thing's mouth shut.
"Maybe our captured glaive can talk some sense into the thing."
A Restoration spell mebbe... Morghrim suggested to Valeron. Best not to involve the Glaive... the mind inside it will not aid us.
At first reluctant, Valeron sighs as he resigns himself to "dealing" with the screaming, severed head.
After sorting through his bag, he produces the restoration wand and attempts to remedy the head's issues with a charge.
Valeron arches an eyebrow as the head's sanity returns and begins asking questions.
"I... do not know. Tell us your name and how you came to be in this box, and we will see what questions of yours we are able to answer."
"The name is unfamiliar. Which infernal lord did you serve? And how did you come to be in that box?"
"It's been 80 years since Vheed was made the first Lord Mayor of Westcrown by the House of Thrune. There've been four other Lord Mayors since then. Vheed's been gone for a long time," Addie informs the erinyes head, an expression of mixed curiosity and revulsion on her face.
"Well then. Since we were the ones who released you from your imprisonment, perhaps you'd be willing to do us a service in return. Tell us everything you know about Delvehaven - what happened there after the House of Thrune came to power, what happened to the Thrune Pathfinders who took it over, and why did the government seal it?"
Her eyes narrow as she adds, "Remember, we can always put you back in the Crux."
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"Delvehaven? Yes I lived inside its walls for a time with Vheed." upon uttering the name of Vheed, Khazrae launches into a long string of profanity in Infernal all concerning her former "master". Eventually calming down long enough to say, "Although I have to admit it has been quite sometime since I have been there and my memories are a bit clouded. Perhaps if you were to bring me with you, my memories would be rekindled within Delvehaven's walls."