Your time will be limited, but you will have the most of all. I see your talents lie not in combat, but in preparation.
Dex smiles, "Cardinal, given enough time, I would create arms and armaments for all of your servants and allies. I will enjoy watching my creations bring about the fall of our foes. Praise Asmodeua".
With that the big smith heads to his quarters bringing the booty won from the dungeon with him.
Dexter appraises everything they managed to retrieve from the Dungeon. The Mithral and all of Sir Balin's wares.
The Armor - Appraise
The Sword - Appraise
The Shield - Appraise
The Mithral (25 lbs!) - Appraise
The Pendant - Appraise
The Cloak - Appraise
Once he finishes, the next morning Dex discusses the options with his allies, "While the Pendant, the Potion, and the Cloak we should keep,his other goods we should sell. That money I can use to take the mithril we found and make you better arms or armor as well as more potions to keep us all healthy. Have any of you opinions on the matter?"
Dexter's appraisals go well, finding the mithral (20 pounds) is worth 2000 golden Victors The armor at 1650, quite obviously masterwork, the symbol being 250 the longsword and the heavy steel shield are standard of their type, and the cloak is impossible to price without further study into it's mystic abilities.
Over the next several months the Cardinal works with all of you several hours a day, sometimes focusing on your individual skills sometimes on your team work. Leekoo spends long hours in front of the alchemy lab while Allyson is drilled in varying styles of combat. He works with Payn on both her casting and her physical conditioning. Lukasz and he spend much time discussing Asmodeus and his teachings while Dexter is taught of both diving and arcane magics. Finally your training comes to an end as he calls you to him.
Allyson is thoroughly impressed by the Cardinal's knowledge. She had thought him a bookish cleric, yet with each session, she could feel herself getting faster, stronger, more precise. Even more impressive was the range of knowledge he seemed to possess. Able to train and hone every single member of their group. This one man was clearly superior to each of them in their own craft.
Allyson tried to push the Cardinal during each lesson. She wanted to see the full range of his power. With every glimpse of his power she saw, she fell in love. She wanted him, and she makes her intentions with the Cardinal clear over the many months.
Though having come to praise Asmodeus quite recently, Lukasz made a career at spinning the truth and sifting truth from lie. So he was surprised when the Cardinal used Asmodeus' teaching to stress the intricacies of glibness and perception. During the three months he was drilled, the Cardinal would answer any question he was asked by Lukasz. However, even after those three months, Lukasz didn't learn anything of value regarding Thorn's plans for him. The Cardinal twisted his words in such a way at Lukasz often believed the lies the man was tell him before sorting out the falseness in them as he drifted of the bed. During this time, he saw why Asmodeus had chosen Adrastus to represent him.
That didn't mean Lukasz would sit on his laurels however. Just as the Cardinal would lie to him and sift through Luaksz' tales, so to would the former barrister test himself so that he could one day do the same...and maybe even surpass the Cardinal in cunning.
Finally, a thrall fetched him, and Lukasz stood with the others, as he patiently waited for his Master to speak.
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As he worked hard on his various projects, Leekoo frowned as the pounding on his door finally caught his attention. Hopping down off of the stool he used for his work, he ran over to the door and flung it open. "Leekoo Weekoo having fun! Leekoo Weekoo not yet done!" he shouted at the unfortunate slave, barring his pointed teeth. After the slave gave his message, he was quick to flee from the small creature his master was housing. Sighing at the interruption to his all-important work -making bigger booms!- he made sure the smoking contents of his vials and pots were stable -and wouldn't explode without him- before heading out to the meeting room. "Leekoo Weekoo is now here! Leekoo Weekoo out of beer!"
Dexter's lessons improved his own formidable knowledge by leaps and bounds.
His time spent mostly in the smith the Artificer began crafting new weapons of war to bring pain and death to his foes and defense for his allies.
He answers the Cardinal's call wearing the Holy Symbol given to him around his neck, He could get used to this life, if only he had more materials to work with!
He stood in the Cardinal's study waiting for his allies to arrive.
This night he holds a banquet in your honor, the food is good and your various slaves serve both you and the other knot that has been training during this time. He has proclaimed you ready for what is to come. As the night continues he announces the night is almost over. The slaves line up as Thorn begins to chant. Before long a shape appears in the room, a monster made almost entirely of sharp corners and thorns appears. Now my friends. Choose one of the slaves to sate it's hunger.
Allyson eyes this other "knot" with suspicion, judging which of them is the most capable in her field.
The most obvious swordsman of the group is the large half-elf Doston Alfson whe even as he enjoys the feast wields a broadsword on his back.
Enjoying the food, Lukasz occasionally glances at the members of the other Knot as he conversed with his associates. About half way through this meal, he decided to learn when he could of them, engaging anyone who looked to be the leader of that group in conversation to learn more about them. He didn't trust any of them, but that didn't mean he couldn't make a good show of it.
After the Cardinal summoned the creature, Lukasz' almost betrayed the awe he felt at such a sight. Digging into what he knows of the planes, Lukasz attempts to figure out what this creature was and what its tastes are before choosing from among the thralls present.
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The dinner was good for Leekoo, with food flying off to the sides as he eagerly dug in. Barely paying attention to the conversations around him, he none-the-less looked to see if there were any more boom makers in the room.
After the feast was finished, Leekoo joined the others as the red man summoned up a demon. Eyes wide with awe, Leekoo tried to remember if he had ever seen anything like that before, or been told of it by one of the old goblins.
Lukasz yes they are, and no checks have succeeded, they either are not from talingarde or not famous enough to recognize. that said over the last few months your paths have crossed numerous times and you know that they number a female witch named Elise, the aforementioned half elf Doston, and two men who are obviously brothers who are mostly known as Trik and Trak. One is a hunter and the other being a cleric
Nothing coming to mind related to what the infernal creature could be, he volunteers the slave who had just taken over for the thrall he had sacrificed the night before. He hadn't given the thrall a name, so Lukasz simply pointed to that individual and said, "I choose her."
The Cardinal smiles as he beckons the man closer to the creature as it rushes forward to rip him apart. He pulls a silver Athame from his robes and slices in the beast, then dips it into the man. He calls each of you one by one to him and draws the mark of Asmodeus on your heads.
The Nessian Knot is forged just in time Cardinal Thorn remarks. Your assignment is soon to begin. He gestures out a window. On the river dock behind the manor under cover of darkness, a square-sailed longship sails into the slip. It sits heavily in the water, laden with a substantial cargo.
He beckons Elise into his private chambers, and allows you to continue feasting, when he is done she leaves and he beckons the Nessian knot in after him.
Welcome, my children, he says in a deep resonant voice that has an almost inhuman quality to it. Training is at an end. You have proven yourself worthy. Now, it is time for you to use that training and take on your first mission.
Your mission is war, my children. You will bring war to Talingarde.
You have two objectives. First, you will see a shipment of munitions delivered to a bugbear chieftain named Sakkarot Fire-Axe. He makes his camp on the northern coast of Lake Tarik beyond the Watch Wall. With this shipment, the Fire-Axe will have resources enough to unite the barbarous humanoid tribes of the north and light the fire
of war.
Sitting on the dock as we speak is the longship Frosthamar captained by Kargeld Odenkirk. Tomorrow when the ship is resupplied it will be your transport. The captain is a ruthless mercenary and not to be trusted. He knows nothing of the specifics of our mission and you should keep it that way. He knows he is smuggling cargo to the north beyond the Watch Wall. That is all he need know.
Once the cargo is safely delivered, he will take you just south across the lake under cover of darkness and land you near the town of Aldencross. There our contract with Captain Odenkirk will be concluded.
It is shame how greedy he has proven. I had hoped to let the captain serve me again but it seems he is too much of a liability. Kill him. Kill his crew. Burn his ship and leave no survivors. It is crucial that no one suspects our involvement and that loose ends are taken care of. Be sure to reclaim the coin I gave him. Best not to be wasteful.
That done, you will begin your second task. We will do more still to aid our ally the Fire-axe. The bugbears are mighty warriors but poor siege engineers. You will infiltrate the tower Balentyne, keystone of the Watch Wall, kill its commander and open the gate for Sakkarot’s horde.
Once the shaggy monstrosities pierce the Watch Wall, the bugbears will pillage and lay waste to the townships of the north and the local garrisons will have no choice but to meet the Fire-Axe in the open field. Sakkarot is the most brilliant, gifted and murderous bugbear of his generation. I expect these battles will go poorly for the knights and yeoman of fair Talingarde.
Do all of this and then when your task is done, break this clay seal. He hands them a delicately carved clay seal adorned with a tangled knot of thorns surrounding the holy symbol of Asmodeus. I will have more instructions then. Succeed and I will see you rewarded handsomely. Fail or betray me and you will pray for the comfort of Hell before I am done with you.
The mission you start upon today is a holy mission. The people of Talingarde think they have seen the last of the mighty Asmodeus. Soon enough we will remind them that there is no escaping the grasp of Hell. Let us toast our success.
He pours one glass of deep red wine for each of you and then finally pours one for himself. He raises the glass and offers a toast.
To war.
Allyson glares in jealousy and Elise is invited into the master's private chamber, glaring suspiciously at the door the whole time she is alone with him.
Once he returns she listens intently to their mission committing it to memory. Once the wine is offered she will loft it into the air, "To war!"
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If any thought it odd that Payn chose to bathe alone the first night back, she didn't mind. Or care.
But every night during their training Payn selected three strong young men on her way to her bed chamber. They would each emerge some hours later panting and sweating with fresh, red scars in various places throughout their body.
During the training it seemed as if she had been struck mute with only skill enough to nod her head at instruction and utter the same three words. "Will it hurt?"
At the dinner she keeps her own council, and as the creature emerges she is struck sill, as if cast in stone. She is unable to move, as within her she fights off a sublime urge to rush into battle and test her mettle against the thorned horror. But then she would be killed, and, worse, violate her host's hospitality. She stays struck in frozen awe and allows a moment's emotion of gratitude in Lukasz selects a slave and removes the temptation.
She flutters from massive curiosity to utter disinterest in the newest knot of persons. Eventually she just gets bored thinking about them and does nothing.
As they are given orders her hearts sings with flies above the rooftops.
She lifts her glass and does not toast to war. That would be like praising the greenness of the grass. Instead she simply whispers, "At last."
She does have one question and her internal editor deems it appropriate to speak out loud. "My lord, do you want any trophies from the captain and his crew? Any mementos or proof of the deed?"
Though part of his mind has begun focusing on the details of the plan that the Cardinal had divulged to them, Lukasz raised his cup at the Cardinal's proclamation, smiling enthusiastically before drinking down the wine.
That night, he begins devising a way to keep their voyage as under the radar as possible. As they travel to and past the Watch Wall, the group might draw close to settlements on the way and Lukasz would like to have an excuse for traveling so far north that they could tell to others. As such, he spends the night before heading to bed devising a persona he would disguise himself as during the travels, an Matharyn army commander named Talis who was ordered to lead an expedition north of the Watch Wall. To lend credence to his persona, he takes time to forge official correspondence from a military general relaying these orders.
You roll Lucky. Get back to the rest of you when I get home to my computer.
Lukasz makes sure to inform the rest of the group of his plan to travel in disguise and would advise them to do the same. They could travel as members of the same expedition. If that is agreeable, then he makes sure to include their numbers in the forged orders.
Allyson nfortonately you've learned little of Aldencross in the past, the commander of it's fort Balentyne on the other hand is familiar to you. Thomas Havelynn was the son of Richard Havelynn and became a knight years ago. He commands Balentyne though in recent years the fight has left him some since his wife died. He has a son Richard named after his father and some years ago there was a scandal about his brother.
The Cardinal turns to address Payn. I need no proof. If you fail or shirk your duty, I will find out. And you'll learn that my displeasure will be far in excess of your perversions.
This is your mission, you will decide how to proceed with it.
Dex stays quiet during the dinner and shows little interest in the other group. He raises his glass during the toast, "To War, for Asmodeus and for Thorn".
There are some matters to which I must attend. Go enjoy your banquet, the real work starts tomorrow.
In the morning you all assemble in front of the ship and are met by A grizzled blond man from the north with a wiry beard and seemingly countless scars. He turns to Lukasz.
You will guard our boat all the way north, yes?
Lukasz makes sure to inform the rest of the group of his plan to travel in disguise and would advise them to do the same. They could travel as members of the same expedition. If that is agreeable, then he makes sure to include their numbers in the forged orders.
[dice=Linguistics]1d20+12
Hearing Lukasz's plan Allyson curtly replies, "Do whatever you wish to pass yourselves off, but I am a woman of noble lineage. While the guards transporting me confiscated my papers due to the false accusation I was imprisoned for, I expect your "forgery" to reflect my rightful station. I can provide you with the names and words necessary to accurately recreate the papers. Also, I would consider a different approach for the goblin. A dimwitted halfling servant seems more befitting."
The morning of their departure, Allyson dresses herself, her new armor snugly fitting under the clothes provided by the cardinal. Her sword slipped comfortably on her hip. Using the magic of the iron circlet, Allyson alters her appearance to hide the gaudy circlet as a braid holding her hair back. The magic also shifts her clothes to a noble's outfit, her sword still visible on her hip though the handles pommel is far more ornate than the actual blades.
As they wait for the boat, she eyes the grizzly man, her face scowls as he speaks to Lukasz over her. Glaring at the man with a fierce growl, "Yes captain, we will guard your boat in exchange for transport."
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After the Cardinal's words, little shivers keep running up and down Payn's body. 'Mmmmmm...perversions....'
She stands in a dream-state as Ally and Lucky discuss their bureaucratic subterfuge. The part of her brain that stays constantly frozen takes over long enough to actually think about her roll. She says, in a monotone, "With a noble and an army commander, you'll be looked at askance if you have no man-servant. I shall remain a sword-woman...in thy loyal service." She curtsies then goes back to her privations.
On the boat she nods to the captain. "Yes, we will make sure that the shipment...remains safe." Then she giggles.
She wanders about the boat. For some reason she wants to touch everyone who will die.
She touches every man on the boat.
[u]During the planning session the night before[/u]
At Allyson's remark, Lukasz replies, "That is noted 'my lady'. Just note that I expect that lineage won't protect you where we are going...as mine has not and will not protect me." However, he made sure to reflect her status, saying she was from a minor house who was on this expedition as a request from her father.
[u]The next day on the dock[/u]
The next day, Lukasz appears armed and armored as a Matharyn army commander, his armor and sword polished and appearing gilded with the proper insignias and markings. His face was still his however, something he was sure to change as needed. "As the ladies have stated, we will protect your ship as necessary, so long as you get us to our destination in a timely fashion."
Dex merely grunts as he steps onto the ship.
The captain is about to answer when Leekoo pipes up. Tis a SHIP ya ignorant beast! Boats be little more than toys when compared to a ship like mine. Get on if you're coming. The captain immediately begins calling to his crew members, the ship's sails unfurl and the journey begins.
With no other word, Lukasz climbed on board and stashed his pack where it would keep dry.
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Shrugging his shoulders, Leekoo made his way onto the ship, his eyes taking in everything. Heading to the other side, he climbed up onto the railing and gazed out into the sea. It was the first time he'd seen a body of water so large, and it was a bit scary to him. But, like most things, the feeling left as he thought about all the destruction he was going to cause when they landed.
The ship takes half a day before it reaches the sea and begins it's journey north. You all manage to get your sea legs well enough to function. You occasionally see the captain waving to settlements along the coast. It isn't long before it's time to bed down and discover that there are no cabins. This is a second horrific discovery after finding out that going to the bathroom requires you to go over the side of the ship.
You spend a week sailing when in the distance you can see Daveryn.
Allyson is utterly repulsed at the accommodations groaning inwardly at how long this trip is taking.
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Payn actually manages to by put-off by the experience. Being forced to go to the bathroom in front of sadistic prison guards is one thing, but simply displaying public nudity for the sake of utility just...lacks character.
She really only has one goal in mind, and that's the location of the captain's strongbox. Finding the crew to kill shouldn't be that hard, but money has a way of being secreted in small places.
The mind-numbing drudgery starts to get to her, and daily she is forced to visit Dexter for curing potions to close self-inflicted wounds.
Like many of the group, Lukasz is put off by the traveling arrangements. One would now know it by looking at him though and is often seen either looking over the documents he forged for consistency, using the iron circlet to manipulate his face until he lands on one that fits the character he would be portraying, or keeping an eye on the horizon, as if trying to sort out what course they were taking. He also engages the crew, willing to partake in any games they might play in the evening though never offering to assist in their tasks as the crew and captain were a tool to achieve the plan and nothing more.
Once Daveryn comes into view however, Lukasz becomes much more pensive. He stands at the side facing the city and simple gazes at it. Slowly and surely, a look of anger and determination crossed his face and those good at reading people could feel the contained fury that was boiling in the man, just beneath the surface.
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Leekoo was actually having fun on the trip. He got to pee wherever he liked, there were always people to grin toothily at, and tall things to climb. Well, climb when the captain didn't have him chased down, which was fun in itself. She, meanwhile, kept constand vigil above the crow's nest, ignoring anything the crew did to get rid of her. All in all, not a bad trip.
You sail past the city of Daveryn continuing on your way.