The twin flighted ones make a reconnaissance of the grounds while the others stand still before the servant's quarters. There are no signs of movement within any of the buildings, nor outside the grounds. Indeed you sense nothing alive or dead present. Getting closer to the stables and kennels you find that there are the crumpled skeletons of horses and dogs within the pens and holds - but they neither retain life nor have they been animated in death.
They also seemingly have some sort of preservatory magics as they seem old yet are in good conditiond despite the exposure.
Arcana
Vesta returns to the group to report.
" It's odd, but There are no signs of movement within any of the buildings, nor outside the grounds. I saw nothing alive or dead present. The stables and kennels you find that there are the crumpled skeletons of horses and dogs within the pens and holds - but they neither retain life nor have they been animated in death. They looked weird, but they're just bones."
"How odd, one would think a demi lich would keep its subjects animated, not as piles of bones."
Grigore waits until Vesta has finished speaking before shifting back into his humanoid form and mumbling, confused slightly.
"They are magicked, they cannot rise and they cannot decay. I can name no reason why the effort would be wasted on beasts."
"Maybe they're tools for some sort of alarm, transport spell, or other utility spell." Vesta says, grasping at straws.
Gathroc ponders this new, odd information "I'm not sure there's anything else to do but strike at manor house. Unless one you has a better sugggestion, which I would be open to"
Gathroc ponders this new, odd information "I'm not sure there's anything else to do but strike at manor house. Unless one you has a better sugggestion, which I would be open to"
"I'm always up for some wreckless destruction. Perhaps he has catacombs where he actually resides. If nothing else, we can burn the place down just for spite. "
"Very well."
Moving around the main manor building to the front door you find nothing out of the ordinary apart from what appears to just be a dilapidated manor house in various states of disrepair.
Reaching the front entryway you move to the covered entry and find a twin set of doors before you.
Gabriel checks over them and finds them unlocked and devoid of traps.
Vesta makes sure she is able to pass through, testing with her hand.
If so she sticks her face through ever so slightly to see what's on the other side. She then withdraws and reports.
The door does not resist your passage and the interior edge shows a cloak room. No cloaks are present, but there is naught that raises suspicion.
"This has the feel of a trap," I hiss. "We foolishly believed the creature with the boat."
"This has the feel of a trap," I hiss. "We foolishly believed the creature with the boat."
"So burn it to the ground?" Vesta asks with a gleam in here eye.
"Perhaps we need to actually investigate this further, find or create us a door" The undead warrior unsheathes his blade.
You stand before the main door to the estate, in front of that through the (still closed) door is a cloak closet (which is just a place to leave your cloaks and such in an up-market house). Beyond that is a second door that might very well lead into the main house.
Since Vesta seems to think the house is empty, I step up to the door and open it. Stepping into the building if I am able.
Daemon opens the door and steps into the cloak closet. The air within is musty as though it is rarely disturbed, and as Vesta reported there are no cloaks. As Daemon turns to usher the others within, the second set of doors swing open and a voice can be heard in the distance "Come in little ones... I would see you"
Through the second door lies a grand staircase that serves as the main entry into the manor house proper. The room is large and though you cannot see from the cloakroom likely has exits in all directions. If anything the voice came from the upper level of the stairs... though you cannot see anything without moving within.
Well, that is not ominous in the slightest, Gabriel manages to remark dryly.
I guess that we should not keep our 'host' waiting...?
Well, it would be rude, wouldn't you say?
Ignac strides in, not oblivious, but confident nevertheless.
As Ignac strides into the grand room with the staircase, he sees that the chamber shares the dilapidated decadence of the rest of the manor house. The only item within that shines brightly is the chandelier above your head. At the head of the staircase a tiny skull can be seen to float just above the bannister and look down upon you.
It is an aged skull of likely a human and has gems encrusted into the bone to make a rudimentary crown of sorts. As the mouth opens and closes you see flickering flame play behind the eye sockets "Welcome emissaries of shadow... I see that you have arrived by daemonic means?"
Nice place you've got here. And such a gracious host, as well.
Ignac stops walking forward when he sees the Demilich, and merely holds his armaments.
Gathroc walks in right behind Ignac and surveys the manor's interior
Entering through the cloak closet there are exits to your left and right, as well as exits straight ahead between the grand staircase and on the first floor. Only the doors on the first floor are open.
The surrounds are befitting a manor house of this size, but are dilapidated and decaying to various degrees. This being the grand entrance, it consists of some moth-eaten paintings and tattered carpets. The wood below and wallpaper bear scratches and have paled from their original colour. The only decoration that draws your attention is the chandelier - as it is pristine and sparkling.
The skull maintains it's position and responds "Graciousness is a virtue not lost to me... though it's maintainment is dependent upon the manners of the guests that grace it... and what has brought such guests, I must wonder? and what do they intend?"
Telepathically to the group via Gabriel
::You realize we're standing in a "kill box," right? I'm sure there are all manner of things reading to fire upon us from the shadows.::
Vesta looks around with detect magic to sweep a 60' radius from where they stand. If she finds anything she will concentrate a few rounds to determine the strength, etc. If it's close enough she specifically looks at the chandelier.
Vesta can detect a scintillating radiance of magic issuing from the skull above on the banister and another source at the chandelier.
::Not exactly much we can do about that with him right there, though, now is there?::
Ignac ignores the demilich's question for now. Looking around, he says: "Wow, did you get an authentic Egorian architect? They'd be fairly hard to come by way out here, I would think."
::"Kill box? That would be where one would go to die, except we're already dead. Where would you have us stand?"::
Since everyone else is ignoring the skeleton I will address it so that our manners will not seem remiss.
Moving to the front of the group again and giving a slight bow I state. "I have come for answers to questions, ever am I on the path of knowledge, and little use have I for violence. Why is it that you oppose the Shadow Claw, and why would the daemonic one offer his services to bring us here after he seemed to be working for you to attack the Shadow Claw's ziggurat?"
The demilich chuckles lightly at Ignac's diversory talk, an ominous sound before responding only to Daemon "I oppose all who will be present at the confluentem. The árnyék karom no more or less than the others... As for the hooded one, I would assume mercantile interests outweigh all else." flickering flames still present in it's eye sockets "Now... to my query... what is your intent here?"
Árnyék karom... Árnyék karom..
Our intent was to find out more about you, and your forces. Forewarned is forearmed, after all. However, we were under the impression that the purpose of the Confluentem was *specifically* to weaken the position of the Shadow Claw, alone. If that is not the case, perhaps a mutually beneficial arrangement could be entered into, in order to weaken the position of the other participants? That would serve both your's, and my Master's interests, whilst not compromising the position of either.
** spoiler omitted **
Gesturing again at the map "My ascension to the Blood Lord council was recent by the standards of Geb, and was at the expense of others. The council itself is divided and has called for a formal per pugnam provocare for me to justify my position. Although the act is unlawful within our code, Geb is absent and the Harlot Queen does not risk intervening... so we must fight."
The rite referenced by the shadow claw is a challenge by combat. It is conducted in an area of plains that lies near Mechitar. A ruined citadel lies at the center of the area as the armies of the aspirants rally themselves nearby. When the sun dips below the horizon, the challenge begins. The goal is to be the only surviving party within the citadel when day breaks. Aspirants can use any and all means deemed necessary to achieve the objective.
"The confluentem will not take place for a month, so I must use that time to prepare... and hamstring those that would challenge me."
Vesta telepathically shares her knowledge of the chandelier. See spoiler above. .
The skull chuckles once more "My forces as you say are not here... there is but myself. I would need hear your proposal to gauge it's worth."