There can be little doubt what purpose this chamber once served. The dank room stores an ancient rack, a fanciful brazen bull, an iron maiden, a cauldron, iron chairs with sharp edges and cruel protuberances, and a wooden table upon which sit various implements of torture. A bronze plaque affixed to the western wall depicts a crowing rooster above crossed spears. Underneath the spear, a short phrase is inscribed.
"Confession Cleanses the Soul Pain Clarifies the Mind."
"I like it."
Following the Brave Little Demon, Azruk repeats whats on the wall for those outside of the room.
"Confession Cleanses the Soul, Pain Clarifies the Mind." Any ideas who this place used to belong to?
As Azruk enters the room he hears a whispering in his ear You look weary, please rest in one of these chairs here Azruk takes a seat in one of the Cruel iron chairs.
You take the following damage
As the rest of you walk into the room a small black raven appears perched atop the bronze plaque.
in a shrill voice it says
"Greetings, line citizens of our glorious empire So good to
have visitors, though I fear I have no refreshments to offer. I assume you are here for the treasure. Well, I'd be happy to assist, provided that you give me what I require! It has been so long since I was able to ply my trade. I require only that each of you shed your life's blood in this room-simply take a seat in one of my lovely chairs.
"Uh, yeah, that's not happening. I'm not bleeding for someone's familiar. Where's your master?"
He narrows his eyes at the bird.
As Azruk causes the chair to creak in the closest sound to pain that ordinary furniture can make, the metal needles fold slightly under him as well.
Why am I sitting here?
Should I destroy the bird? He gets up.
The bird begins cackling loudly as Azruk sits down, it's form changing as it hits the floor rolling around into a small reddish winged humanoid with a scorpion like tail. It's laughing ceases as Azruk gets up
Wait, wait i can help you all, i know many things...Like for instance my master The Good Baron Sarvo has been dead for many moons The creature pleads for it's life
Azruk grabs the thing, gripping closely on it.
I don't even know what you were hoping to accomplish. Now, talk. He points it at the rest of the party.
Anyone who looks at the chair Azruk sat in notices small spikes on the seat.
Shaking of fear of the large lizard, he points to the wall, There's a Secret door leading further into the tower an... and you will have need of a password, The Good Baron Sarvo Will's it I also know of the history of the tower, everything about it just please let me live!
Azmaria was wandering along seemingly confused as to her location. she kept examining the walls and the floors, looking for signs if they were there before.
eventually arriving at the room where the voice, well now creature, is she suddenly looks up from her wondering getting a look at the thing.
But she does not have a clue what it is.
"Doesn't seem like a demon to me. They don't usually offer to help. Ever."
"The blue skinned meal is correct. I was forced onto him, and frankly, would kill, eat, and crap out all of you if given the opportunity. Not in that order."
Bazo stares at the imp(?) And narrows his eyes. There was something about this creature he just didn't like.
"I could eat his wings. He would live through that. I could eat many parts he lives through."
I... don't trust that at all actually. All in favor of crushing it, say "aye."
Azruk waits for exactly one "aye" before doing the deed.
Bazo joins the party, because he's a demon, and this is pointless killing, and that's what demons do.
He cares not where it's been. It should care where he's been.
Azmaria considers what this thing may be. If it is indeed a demon (or devil) then it has no place here, however, It was brought here by someone else.
But it did claim that its master has been dead for a while.
She approaches the thing as Azruk holds it.
placing her gun to its head, About this password, mind sharing it?
If it refuses, she pulls the trigger.
Daelendross facepalms. "I have two to deal with now, only one walks on two legs and isn't Bound to me."
"Wait, why the heck are you people killing a creature that just offered to help us? All we know is he's someone dead's familiar and you want to rip him apart? You sound like Bazo! And you, holy woman, you point a weapon at it as it tells you what you ask without compulsion? I wasn't gonna sit in a spike chair, but that's no cause for murder of something sentient, whatever it is."
I wasn't gonna sit in a spiked chair either until this thing brainwashed me. I don't care if I sound like your pet! What makes you think whatever the hell this thing is won't try again? If the rest of you are really gonna be giving it a chance, then fine. He turns it to face him.
I gotta say I really didn't appreciate that attempt by the way.
If your expecting a sorry your not getting one, I've been bound to this room for nearly 200 years and stuck alone. My name Harzogopas I was the familiar to the former Baron of Belhaim Sarvo. Before the revolt that is. Also if you don't kill me there's one more thing you will need...
Azmaria was listening, the gun to the thing's head, at the revelation of more info. she withdraws the weapon and un-cocks the hammer, go on we're listening
Well first big and scaley here has to let me go
"Whoa, let's not get hasty here. I said don't kill you. I didn't say let you go. There's a lot of dead kobolds upstairs with what look like weapon wounds, and you're the only thing with opposable thumbs we've run into. Meet us halfway, little guy. I did just save your life."
That plaque over there, you'll need it. There are no actual key's used in this tower, that and a set of daggers unlocks the vault. As said i am bound to this room, i cannot leave at the moment. Also i have not seen any Kobolds.
Good. Look how much easier things are when we work together. Now, about this vault you mentioned. What's in it, and where is it?
Deeper in the tower, Sarvo kept treasures taken from prisoners, hell the daggers themselves are worth a good amount.
"Incidentally, what are you? You look a little like mother's quasit, but theres something off, something different. You don't look like a demon, and most of my experience with familiars are demons or animals."
Bazo, meanwhile starts to get bored and starts to wreck some of the furniture.
"For one thing, your manners are an improvement compared to my usual company..."
Dael glares at Bazo, who shrugs and goes back to wreckin stuff.
You mortals would call me a devil imp and of course my manners are better than that demonic scum. So Pointy ears, you related to the other one that's been poking around?
The Imp reveals itself as a devil and Azmaria "re-cocks" (?) her pistol.
Now can I shoot it?
Tell me Deary, what's the difference between a devil and a demon hmm? Haven't actually broken any laws, just followed as i was ordered, the man you actually want to kill is long since dead. I think 200 years of solitude is payment enough for crimes The imp lets off a torrent of words questioning the woman
In my eyes, there is little difference, both seek the same but approach that ends by different means. In the end, all of your types are brought forth by the dark places in mortal's hearts, your kind feed on that, filling yourself with our suffering and our sorrow. bringing the chaos and darkness from your home, here.
She stands firm in her belief, attempting to show she is strong against evil. I am a Crusader of the Holy order of Iomedae, I have sworn and oath before my superiors and before my god to destroy the evil you bring, and send you back to the plane you belong. so long as it is within my power to do so.
It is true, or so you say, that the one that summoned you here is long dead, but his power still resonates here, otherwise you would be long gone. If your destruction weakens evil's hold here than I am bound to carry out that task.
Azruk adds
I feel like intent counts for something. Just because you couldn't do it, doesn't mean you didn't try to get me to kill myself. And I don't want to hear any of that "I was doing what I was told" garbage. You're just terrified. Pitiful.
Fine then kill me, i'm done talking it's pointless talking of magic to an idiot holy warrior who clearly understands nothing of how binding magic works, hell you didn't even know what i was until i told you. And Scaly yes i'm scared, i'm in the grip of a massive lizard being threaten and my home intruded upon, Right now you two are no better than thugs. At least the Elf is giving me a chance. The imp is clearly done speaking
"Little one, if you're a devil, are you not summoned here from another plane? I know it will hurt, but wouldn't you simply return home to where you came from if your body here came to end? Wouldn't they, in effect, be giving you freedom from your prison here? That's the way of it with demons, at least."
Daelendross frowns. I understand why she wants to kill it. I know it's intent is wrong, but it hasn't actually wronged us...yet. Maybe I should remain neutral in this...
*Damage rolls occur*
Azruk will continue to do so until it's dead/banished.
Sounds good enough for me.