Dane advances back into the fight cautiously seeing the raging attacks of Sir Balin. Yet also realizing that this is neither the time nor the place to attack when the knight is guarding himself so vigorously, Dane slows himself and takes his time to move into a flanking position with Mordesel.
Sion drops to the ground, stabilized but unconscious.
Mordesel and Dane are now flanking Sir Balin.
Caster level check
Some of Sion's wounds heal over.
Mordesel watches Sion drop. He grits his teeth then swings his leg around, attempting to sweep the legs out from under Balin. He makes a quick hop attempting to bring his other foot down into the man's throat.
Mordesel kicks Sir Balin's feet from under him and the armoured knight falls hard. Mordesel brings his foot down but sir Balin manages (barely) to bring up his shield, blocking the kick at the last second.
Seeing an opportunity, Donovan casts a spell as he approaches the fallen knight. His hand glows a pale blue light after he finishes the incantation. With a cruel chuckle, he tries to touch Sir Balin.
The knight cries out in pain, his face winces as though the life was being drawn from it. Cursing, he tries to stand up...
Donovan tries the trick again, his hand still glowing with sickly, pale light.
The knight miraculously dodges the attack, causing Donovan to curse. Still, the magical charge remains on the sorcerers hand.
Durova moves behind Dane and casts Guidance on him, giving him a plus one to his attack.
Dane roars and swings the Rhomphaia down on Sir Balin.
Mordesel tries to strike the man as he tries to stand. He follows this by a quick succession of blows.
Dane, realizing the absolutely incredible structure of Sir Balin's armor, not to mention the knight's skill in using it, shakes the buckler from his arm to free up his range of movement and swings with the most precision he can muster.
Coughing up blood, but with defiance in his eyes, Sir Balin makes a heroic last stand, swinging his sword at multiple foes.
With a final roar of "For Mitra!" he swings his blade to cleave through Donovan and Dane.
Donovan ducks back into the shadows as Mordesel delivers a punch that shatters several ribs, despite the knight's armour. Dane finishes the job as he impales Sir Balin through the neck.
Sir Balin crumples to the floor and expires.
Durova taps Sion with the wand again, trying to rouse him from his unconscious state.
CLW
"Nice job, squad. That'll teach that Mitran scum. Let's give him a once over and take anything of use before proceeding in our task.
After a search, Sir Balin has upon him a longsword, dagger, masterwork full plate, heavy steel shield, silver and sapphire holy symbol of Mitra.
There is also a potion (labelled Cure Light) and the cloak he had on is clearly magical.
Caster level check
Sion opens his eyes and uses his arms to push himself up to lean against the wall. He sees the pendant and hopes it is the real thing this time but the armour is what really catches his eye. "Lets get back to Thorn with that pendant. I'll send a servant to recover the armour and weapons."
"Not so fast, Sion. Let's be sure there is no other pendant around here. Master Thorne would think less of us if we returned with the wrong item. Let's be sure all possible avenues are explored before rushing off," he looks at the others to see their response.
Mordesel nods. I believe this is the right one, but let's be sure. He first examines the amulet, then he searches the room to see if there is any secret doors or hidden compartments.
As far as you can tell, there are no other doors (secret or otherwise) here.
It seems to be clear, Mordesel says, let's get this to Cardinal Thorn. He raises the amulet, then begins to move towards the exit, pausing to grab a dagger from the pile of gear, then sticks it in his boot.
Sion stands up after a few moments of catching his breath.I'll be fine after a couple days, maybe the cardinals offer isn't so bad after all. Hmm.
"Good, lets go." Sion leads the way back to the original entrance and then straight to Thorn. Standing straight but looking rather worse for wear, he speaks. "We have it." He looks to the others for whoever grabbed the pendant to step forward.
Dane grabs Sir Balin's corpse by the collar and drags him behind, letting Sion lead the way through the darker portions of the dungeon.
Mordesel follows along silently, nodding to himself as Sion passes by the stairs in the room that was never satisfactorily solved. Finally as they reach the Cardinal, he presents the medallion from Sir Balin.
Original entrance.
passes by the stairs in the room that was never satisfactorily solved.
Adrastus sits in his study seeming almost as he has moved not an inch from where he gave you your orders at dusk yesterday.
“You’ve returned. I trust you have something for me?”
Durova stays toward the back of the group, afraid of the back of his Master's hand, if the pendant was not what he desired. He peeks around behind the late forms of Dane and Sion, checking for his. Master's approval.
"Yes we found the pendant. On one sir 'Balin'. We killed him. Here." He directs whoever has it (Mordesel did) to give it to Thorn, who now holds it in his hands. "I hope we have passed."
The high priest holds the trinket and pauses as if in deep contemplation. He watches the holy symbol glitter in the light.
“A pretty enough thing, eh?” he muses.
“This is a holy symbol of Mitra in particular the sort favored by the Knights of the Alerion. Perhaps you already knew that. Remember this symbol. This is the mark of those who destroyed our faith and sought to banish all trace of the worship of our Father from these shores. These, my friends, are your enemies.”
He tosses the holy symbol to Sion.
“Keep it. It may aid you in disguising yourself.”
He smiles.
“Durova, my young apprentice. Tell me, how did your companions conduct themselves during these trials and tribulations?”
"This group seems promising. They are skilled warriors. They used the clues given and other than Sir Belin almost getting in a lucky blow, they handled the task with some measure of ease," Durova speaks up, as he peeks around the broad shoulders of Dane, up at his Master.
Mordesel stands tall, a smile spreading across his face at Durova's assessment. He remains silent though, waiting for further direction from the High Priest.
Cardinal Thorn nods as Durova gives his report.
"Indeed. The Knights of the Alerion can be quite tenacious foes."
He smiles, now addressing the whole group.
“You have all done well. Escaping from Branderscar, slaughtering Sir Balin … yes, you are worthy. Now, let us complete your training…”
For the next few weeks Thorn puts you through a rigorous training program. Tiadora aids him in the training and is revealed again and again as cruel sadist who revels in your hardship and suffering. Her cruelty is most apparent when giving orders to the slaves, who are present during the entire ordeal performing more menial tasks.
As for Thorn himself, he often departs during the training sessions leaving Tiadora to take over. Nevertheless, Cardinal Thorn proves himself a cold genius and a teacher par excellence. His lessons are focused and never wasteful, although his training is relentless and brutal. He drills you not only individually but also as a team. By the end of it, you learn much, however.
“Asmodeus is with you.”
Adrastus Thorn indoctrinates you into the deeper mysteries of worshipping the Prince of Hell. Whenever you channel energy, you gain a +1 trait bonus to the save DC of your channeled energy.
“Deception is a tool. Master it.”
Adrastus Thorn teaches you the subtle arts of deception and how to sense when they are being used against you. You gain a +1 trait bonus to Bluff and Sense Motive.
“Discover what is real and what is illusion.”
Adrastus has taught you to see through deceptions and to never lie to yourself. You gain a +2 trait bonus on saving throws against illusions.
“Fear nothing save our dread lord.”
Adrastus Thorn has shown you fear and taught you to master it within yourself. You gain a +2 trait bonus on saving throws against fear effects.
“Focus strengthens your will.”
Adrastus Thorn drills you on ways to avoid magic that seek to take control of your mind and divert you from your mission. You gain a +2 trait bonus on saving throws against charm and compulsion effects.
“Let us perfect your favorite spell”
Adrastus Thorn drills you again and again in the use of one particular spell. Pick one spell. This spell’s effects manifest at +1 caster level.
“Quiet as death”
The Cardinal trained in the arts of being silent and stealthy. You gain a +2 trait bonus to Stealth checks.
“Strike first, strike ruthlessly and thus be victorious”
Cardinal Thorn has taught you never to shirk or hesitate in a combat. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Initiative checks.
“Wear your armor like a second skin.”
You have drilled extensively in wearing armor in combat. When you wear armor of any sort, reduce that suit’s armor check penalty by 1 to a minimum check penalty of 0.
“You shall be my angel slayer.”
Adrastus thorn spends exhausting amounts of time teaching you about good celestials, their strengths and weaknesses. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Knowledge (planes) checks about good-aligned celestials and receive a +1 trait bonus to any damage roll you make against them.
After they are dismissed from their audience after their trials, Dane stays behind as the others step out. Once the room empties, Dane stands quietly in the room before Cardinal Thorne, then speaks. "Cardinal Thorne, I... wish to reconsider your offer. During the training, I couldn't help but notice that everyone breath still accelerates when they breath, that blood still spills when they're cut, that venom still takes its toll. For now, despite the clear benefits, they're alive. I still have time to establish my legacy it seems, and given our coming assault on Talingarde, it sounds as though I'll be on tour of this 'great' nation 'fore long. I'm certain I'll be able to find one or two strong women to take along the way." He finishes this last remark with a smirk. "I no longer wish to be the only fool who stumbles in the dark, if you're still willing, I wish to accept your gift."
Sion catches the pendant tossed at him and looks at it quizzically while wondering what he meant. Training was a start. He supposed he could learn a thing or two from this powerful man. If he still was a man, giving powerful gifts so 'freely' to the others as he had. To live forever... more a curse than a gift.
The days go by, some quickly, some slowly and painfully but Sion never gives up for a second until he collapses. He has learnt much, but there is still much to learn.
Durova had never seen his Master adopt a group so quickly before. It seemed as if he was teaching them most of the tricks that he knew. Durova could only wonder how much Thorne was holding back for himself. Still, he was an eager student, picking up every new ability, like a raven picking up a breadcrumb.
Cardinal Thorn listens to Dane's request, nodding as the warrior explains his change of heart. The next morning, Dane arises strangely fatigued and a little hungry...
The training continues over the weeks. Donovan quickly disappears from the group but your group continues to be trained.
You soon realise that your team is not alone. Another group is also being trained by Thorn in another area of the mansion. Nikita has been placed in a leadership role, and her new companions consist of:
A surprisingly friendly cleric of Asmodeus nicknamed Trik.
An indifferent ranger nicknamed Trak.
A humourless, brooding barbarian named Dostan
It is obvious that Trik and Trak are twins, although their personalities are quite different (Trak is fairly quite compared to Trik)
Cardinal Thorn eventually calls your training to a close. Calling you into the main chamber, he holds a banquet in your honour. The food is a mix of standard (but exquisite) delicacies to somewhat unpleasant appearing faire that subtly resemble human flesh (for good reason).
As the evening draws to a close, Tiadora draws the mark of Asmodeus on your forehead, using the blood of a freshly slain slave.
"Congratulations are in order. You have completed your tasks and have become more than you once were. I declare “The Nessian Knot” forged, and may our arrangement last for an age.”
He raises a glass in toast. With the formalities out of the way, he continues.
"For now, rest and prepare yourselves. In the coming months my plan will be put into motion. On the river dock behind the manor a square-sailed longship will arrive, laden with substantial cargo. You will escort it to its destination. I shall give you more information when the time comes.
For now, relax and enjoy the hospitality of my house. Speak to my other minions if you will, for they are the Knot Hibernal. As for Donovan, I have sent him to an old companion of mine to serve the Stygian Knot. He is fine."
Dane's initially concerned by his fatigue, but quickly comes to find himself enjoying his new found abilities. Yet as the onset of the gift quickly progresses, Dane finds himself intently focused on his legacy and his plans to fill it. But finding new purpose in a legacy that can last the generations through himself and himself alone, Dane takes solace, and awaits his opportunity to continue his family's legacy patiently. Busying himself, he starts work on the long list of armoring projects he's set for himself, enlisting the aid of the potential owner of the gear he's working on to stoke the bellows for him. Working in rotating shifts, Dane tackles two projects at a time, placing one project in the forge as he removes the other for hammer work, then switching.
Sion trained tirelessly, sometimes remembering his people and his former home far north beyond the watch wall. He had failed his mission and didn't dare return. If this was the second chance that Asmodeus had granted him then he didn't want to mess it up. Whatever the Cardinal had planned he wasn't sure. But showing Talinguarde how mistaken they had been to outlaw the worship of the First.
He watches Dane for a few moments resize the armour for his build after it has been measured against him. He seems to be a skilled blacksmith and the mithral set looks more and more impressive as the weeks go on.
He doesn't seek out any of the other knots, leaving them to their business, but wondering how many knots the cardinal has for his plan. He has had substantial years to plan.
"The other knots. They all have different missions? How many are there?"
Durova felt strangely as his dream began to progress. He knew his power was growing as he was capable of many new things, due to his Blessing. Physically he weakened a bit, but knew this was to be expected. He had to be torn down to be built up.
The sun was the only problem, however. His urges to sleep during the day and avoid that cursed globe of fire, became commonplace. He was unable to stand that accursed light. As a result his habits became much more nocturnal. As he knew his ascendance to vampirism was drawing closer, he made arrangements for a coffin to be built/bought.
Durova made an effort to be at least friendly with the other knots. He approached the fellow cleric of Asmodeous, and began a dialog. "Hello there. I see we share the same beliefs," he nodded, showing his own holy symbol. "Is the Master treating you well?"
The cleric beams at you as you initiate dialogue.
"Ah! How wonderful to meet another member of the faith. Master Thorn deems it necessary to keep our groups apart during the training period, but now that we have been inaugurated, we can converse."
He chuckles, realising he is rambling.
"Forgive me, I am Titus Rackburn, but call me Trik. Yes, the Cardinal has been more than generous. Ambitious and powerful, he is a true gentleman. Of course, his training is harsh, but necessarily so. I hear you had a training session in the basement? My companions and I have just returned from raiding a paladin's tomb. Very exciting. Great fun."
He continues to smile broadly.
"I'm not sure, but I suspect Master Thorn will have our teams working in concert. If so, I do look forward to working with you. Brothers of the faith and all."
Dane continues to work the mithral and resizing Sir Balin's suit to Sion's size with a dedication that Sion in watching slowly realizes is born not entirely of mere work ethic, so much as an enjoyment of his craft. "Are there any particular flourishes you'd want?" Dane asks as he raises a portion of the pauldron he was working on with tongs, holding them visually in front of Sion's shoulder, turning it in the tongs as he mentally sees if the shape matches, before returning it to the anvil and giving it a few more strikes, then replacing it in the forge to reheat. "Can't do anything too fancy, unless we want to try to raise the heat to that of a smelter and melt this down. But that's more work than we should really go through with. But I could probably put one of those Asmodean stars your lot is so fond of on the breastplate or something if you'd like."
Dane next pulls out a portion of the mithral helm he was also working on, having heated during the time he worked on Sion's pauldron. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity, by the way. Never have gotten the chance to work with this much mithral before. Only occasionally would get some small bits to make into trinkets or ornaments, nothing of any real value. ...It's coming along nicely." Dane murmurs the last part to himself as he carefully continues chiseling out the edges of the helmet. The work began to form itself into the shape of a snarling wolf's face, down to the upper mandible. When compared to the rest of the helmet coming into shape, It's apparent this piece is going over the eye-slit, where the snout of the wolf will serve to hide Dane's eyes from the enemy and the sun.
"No markings. Nothing that would give away anything. Besides, with this," he holds his iron circlet in his hands tracing the edge, "I can manifest anything I want on my armor, or myself."