“Mph…flattery. I was expecting something more creative from the glorified Lazarod”, hisses through her teeth the majordomo to Catina. The woman is not looking the tiefling in her eyes, apparently scanning the crowd of guest instead. “I’m not allowed to talk about our guests in any possibly disrespectful way. If you’re looking for gossip you’re searching in the wrong place, Miss Bon Durati.” And with that said, Crosael leaves Catina to ruminate on her own, moving toward different groups of guests.
Crosael directs a servant toward the enchanting Chammady Drovenge. She’s literally surrounded by a host of admirers, vassals and sycophants. The servant has to jostle in order to reach the young Lady, and Lady Faustinia takes advantage of the gap created by him to get to Chammady. As soon as Lady Faustinia is in front of her, Chammady raises an eyebrow and gives the elder lady the attention she deserves, ignoring the idle chat of those surrounding her. “Lady Faustinia Xerysis”, says Chammady with a grin, while offering her ring to be kissed to Lady Faustinia. The silver ring is encased with a huge ruby, within which a flame seems like it’s dancing. “Everything is fine, my thanks to you. Grandpa is fine as well”. Her answers are quite hastily, as though she had already given them hundreds of time this evening. “What about you, instead? I heard you started a career as an actress…That’s pretty embarrassing, don’t you think? Acting is not something fit for a noble. But I’m sure you know it”. Chammady stops for a moment in order to nod to another vassal who insists to kiss her ring. She lets him do so, then turns to Lady Faustinia again. “But I also heard you’re a clever woman…” Chammady nods to someone else now, someone who’s passing over the ring of people surrounding the young Drovenge. Faustinia can’t see who it is. “…and I’m sure you had good reasons to embark in these despicable acting farce…Mind if I ask it directly? Why did you do that?” Chammady offers a cunning smile to Faustinia, something between a grin and a smirk.
Petals gives her best curtsy again to the General. Good Evening sir, I have heard so many songs about your battles, and would love to find out how accurate they are. If you have the time, and the inclination, would you mind terribly if we could discuss some of them?
First Impression: 28 vs. 27 (+4)
Sense Motive: 23 vs. 15
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General Vourne eyes Petals with interest, and he even stops his conversation with some officers around him to listen to what the elf has to say. His face does not betray any feelings about Petals’ question. The General replies driedly. “Songs are never accurate. A thrust, that is accurate. But what does a peasant actor whose claim to fame is surviving a play know of battles?”
Although the General’s answer is quite dry, the eyes of those around him are widened in surprise. Incredible, he’s actually talking to her!, their eyes appear to be screaming. It is a hard task to get the General to talk, apparently, and Petals managed to do it.
---
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Sascar Tilernos is absentmindedly sipping a glass of wine dangerously close to its end when Varius comes to her aid. It’s no surprise, then, that the noble woman gives a large smile at Farus the Wanderer when he offers her another, full glass. Lady Sascar happily takes the glass and darts a mischievous look at Varius before tasting the Vigardeis. She tastes it slowly, then quickly. And the glass is already empty. “I though they only served The Blood tonight. Good to know there’s something else around. Please don’t get me wrong, Mister…” Sascar’s eyes take a prolonged look at Varius, scanning him from head to toes with maliciousness. Her eyes linger in a specific point of Varius’ body for a few seconds more than necessary. “…Mister Farus the Wanderer. You’re a connoisseur of fine wine, sir, aren’t you? What do you think about The Blood?”
Regardless of Varius’ answer, Lady Tilernos cackles. Varius can discern a snort in her cackle. “Now that you mention, I have a useful piece of information…[smaller]about the mayor…that could come in handy. Besides, I know a few places in this manor that could prove especially interesting…Let’s meet again after the first course. You shall follow me, Mr. Farus, but without saying a single word. And with a bottle of fine wine in each of your hands…”
---
---
He nudges Lord Oberigo with his elbow. "Greeting m'lord. I love the robe. What's an old rogue like you doing among this house of thieves? Oh did I say that out loud? Anything you care to talk about? I'm sure you don't normally mingle with us commoners but now that we are somewhat stars, perhaps we can share a drink. The mayor doesn't put anything in them, does he?"
Lord Eirtein Oberigo is intently scanning the crowd with his eyes squinted when Alessandro approaches him. The man grins slightly at the compliment about his robe, then his face goes through a plethora of different emotions as Alessandro ensues. When Alessandro call him “old rogue”, Oberigo’s face becomes suddenly outraged. Then it becomes strangely suspicious and wary, when Alessandro refers to the manor as a “house of thieves”, his eyes clearly widened in horrified surprise. When Alessandro asks his rhetorical question, Oberigo grins, as though the surprise from before had immediately vanished without leaving any trace. And when Alessandro reveals his intention, Oberigo’s eyes sparkle with mischievousness.
“Of course we can, Mister Esposito. But first, let me check if the information I already have are correct. If one pays someone else to perform a service, one expects the service to be carried out well, isn’t it?” Oberigo grins again and sips the wine. His eyes are not fixed on Alessandro-instead, they fluctuate, apparently absentmindedly, on the guests. “Alessandro Esposito. Abandoned as a child by unknown parents. Has worked for the so-called “Shadow Hunters”.
Oberigo abruptly stops. Someone’s getting closer. But his grin reveals that his aim was reached. “Is everything right?”, he asks. Oberigo then sips again his wine. His glass is still full. “Indeed a know many things, my young friend. Information are my bargaining chip. But since you’re new to this game, let me play the host and start first. Aberian’s Folly consists of three distinct regions—the manor itself, the dungeons below, known as the Nessian Spiral, a place anyone shall hesitate to try to enter, and the manor vaults named the Asmodean Knot. The entrance to the Nessian Spiral is beyond that very black stone door, while the entrance to the Asmodean Knot is hidden elsewhere. I’m prone to get nervous when I don’t know something, did you know? On the other hand, I’m known as generous patron, and I’m always willing to pay for something I don’t know yet, if you know what I mean…”
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It only takes Varius a moment to realize he's surrounded by the most legendary wine in the country.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Aww damnation I shouldn't get drunk.
"How could I not? I'm surrounded by the best in Cheliax, and Cheliaxian wine is the finest in Avistan and beyond. The Blood is legendary. It's beautiful. Those among the lower classes - indeed even the lower houses would sell their best-looking children to just look at the legs on an empty glass."
He raises a finger.
"However, it is a rich wine and tonight is a night of rich food. Something a little lighter on the palate to start the evening."
Varius then listens intently, his eyes going wide for a moment before he composes himself.
"Well that sounds a right adventure. I will see you after the first course. Enjoy yourself until then."
After withdrawing and giving Lady Tilernos some space, Varius seeks out Faustinia, quickly whispering to her.
"Sascar Tilernos apparently knows something about the Mayor, she's going to lead me away after the first course. Also, they're serving the Blood here."
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Having pushed through the throngs of people surrounding Chammady, Faustinia offers a deferential kiss to the woman's huge ring. She tries to grin and laugh off Chammady’s pointed insults, but can't hide her nervousness. ”Lady Drovenge, in truth, I found the whole ordeal distasteful. Even with the Visbaronettes Aulamaxa for company, the company was dreadfully common. Not to mention,” Faustinia adds conspiratorially, ”this thrice-damned false beard itches as if it were a torment from Hell itself. But I digress. I saw the play as an opportunity to ply a quite different trade. You see, I've recently taken an interest in magical studies, particularly the Egorian school. There's only so much one can learn from books, though. And as farcical as acting is, it would be quite unfit of me to wander into the Rego Cader in search of trouble among the ruins. So I sought out this deadly performance so that I might put my magic to the test in a more controlled way. It's one thing to summon planar powers for practice, and quite another to summon them as allies and servants for deadly fights.” Faustinia grins. ”And as I stand here now, alive after The Trials, I would say that my cleverness paid off.”
Satisfied with the answer given, Faustinia questions back, ”You know, my Lady, I never had cause to visit the Lord-Mayor’s manor before now. I expect you've received countless invitations, of course, but have you spent much time here? What do you know about it? I'm afraid I'm not as familiar with this decidedly more Egorian style.”
---
Chammady Drovenge is about to answer to Faustinia when all the ongoing conversations comes to an abrupt stop when a huge grandfather clock in the Banquet Hall signals the start of the first course of the Cornucopia. The guests hastily takes their seats as indicated by the servants and the placeholders on the H-shaped table. The table is laid with a dazzling array of cutlery, including a delicate barbed short spear on a slender thread and a fat silver goblet.
When everyone takes place, you can finally get a distinct idea of how many attendees are at the Cornucopia─in all, there are some 40 guests attending, excluding you.
The first course lasts for half an hour. As the majordomo declaims, it is called The Feast of the Gluttonous Wolf and consists of beef marrow fritters, boiled side of axebeak, loach flavored with spices and sage, eels in jelly, and smoked fillet of giant gar set in jellied aspic.
Conversations abound during the first course, but they are all about idle topics. As soon as The Feast of the Gluttonous Wolf comes to an end, you are all invited to stand up and let the servitude clean the table as you conversate freely with the other guests.
Catina takes a while to recover from being brushed off so casually, and she's quiet during the first course. She looks unsure at the cutlery displayed before her. She looks left and right for support, then does what the others do. She keeps to small bites, knowing that there will be plenty of courses left. She also takes it easy on the wine, which tastes a bit too strong for her liking.
When the course is done, she takes a deep breath and takes another sip of wine for courage. I don't suppose I can put this off any longer. She approaches Mayor Arvanxi and keeps a polite distance, waiting for an opportune moment to introduce herself. "Lord-Mayor," she greets, taking Faustinia's advice and staying vaguely in character. "I hope that our performance today was to your liking, seeing a devout Asmodean like Larazod triumph against the odds to uncover corruption. I just wanted personally to thank you for the invitation." She looks around the dining room - all of it horrible to her eyes - and tries to say something nice. "You must be very proud of your manor. It seems even bigger than it did from the outside. Can you tell me about the design and its functions?"
Goodness, it's like they slaughtered a least one of every animal kingdom. Petals whispers inside her head. While she does pick a little of each for appearances, she limits her eating to the fish. The wine is quite intoxicating, both in flavor and effect. Combined with her sparse meal, she is a bit of pickle at the standing part.
After she manages to shake off the worst of her sudden woolheadedness, she tries to further her discussion with the General.
Sir, thank you for momentary attention earlier. As you said I am but a peasant actor. The peasant part being a product of my birth, quite out of my control. The actor bit was to prove I could. One does not get the opportunity to fight undead trolls everyday. Ultimately and truly I am only a tavern wench, whose battles consists of avoiding the hoards of insistent hands. Which grows tedious, hence me being here.
She sighs, feeling like she's being a little more than long winded and boring, so she gets to the point. My goal is knowledge, in all things, but in you, one of the greatest warriors and generals alive, simple brilliance on the small scale, any little tidbit, like maybe how you would defend a place like this. Places best guarded or ambush points... she pauses in hope.
Alessandro finishes his conversation with Oberigo. "I do know what you mean." Wink. When the dinner bell rings, he excuses himself. "If you'll excuse me. But I will be back later with something for you."
Alessandro assumes a seat next to Calseinica. "Enjoying yourself?" He prods at the food with his fork but is not entirely convinced it isn't poisoned in some way. "This is the first meal? I've never seen this much food in my entire thirty years."
After the first course, Alessandro meets up with the other Irises briefly to share what he found out. "Learn anything we can use yet? Oberigo seems to know a lot and hints that he'll trade information for information. He knows about the Asmodean Knot but doesn't know where it is located. I'm going to chat up the Majordomo next and see if I can loosen her lips."
"Lady Rasdovain. You look stunning tonight. It must have been quite an undertaking arranging this event. I must tell you it is an absolute hit. I also hear you like poetry. If it's not to bold, here's a particular poem I've learned down at the Bruised Eel of all places."
"A poem written with lascivious thoughts,
Closer to the flame, what a ridiculous moth,
I'm driven by the lust, I felt so compelled
To close the distance between us,
I'm lost, can't you tell?
Are you a devil? Angel?
Neither heaven nor hell,
Could break this spell I'm in, I keep sinning, I love it, oh well.
Now its time to give in,
This night is a sin,
I lost control of my own body but this feels like a win."
"Please tell me who's your favorite poet? I'd love to continue this conversation with you."
"So can you tell me more about the Arvanxi Manor? The architecture is distinctly Cheliaxan but to an outsider like me, it is quite a maze. I'm afraid I'd get lost even trying to find the washroom."
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Faustinia excuses herself from the presence of Chammady Drovenge as the first course starts. She makes sure to fill her plate with various spiced, jellies, and boiled meats, and sets in with well-practiced table manners. She idly converses with her nearby table mates, and seeing that Catina is near her and looking lost, she says, ”Miss Bon Durati, do be sure to eat enough of the first course. Starting with the boiled meats is essential for good health and digestion.” This medicinal wisdom given, Faustinia tries to gesture with the correct utensils that her young friend should be using.
After the food and wine, Faustinia decides to try again with Chammady. Finding her again in the shuffle, Faustinia greets the young noble woman, ready to kiss whatever jewelry she should proffer. ”Lady Drovenge, I trust you had an enjoyable first course? Now, as I recall, I believe we were discussing the Lord-Mayor’s manor. Have you visited often? The place is a veritable labyrinth, I hear. I feel like I would need a map just to navigate from one end of a room to the other, don't you?” she jokes, hoping for at least an answer, even a condescending one.
---
Always game for a feast, Varius does his best to control himself and eats and drinks moderately, despite desperately wanting to just guzzle wine all night and flirt with wealthy dowagers. Nonetheless, he manages to get through the first course as a moderately charming and entertaining host. When that's done, Varius takes a moment to sort himself out. He stops by the others.
"Sascar is going to take me ah, somewhere to show a secret about the mayor. Will return with information."
Boldly, he snatches up two bottles of The Blood and a spare glass. He then makes his way over to Sascar, ensuring he's within sight but not too obvious. Patiently, he waits for her to lead the way.
“Oh, our glorious Lazarod!”, says the mayor with a large smile and open arms. “I finally have the chance to meet you personally! What a pleasure!” After the initial pleasentries, the Mayor squints his eyes at Catina’s question and takes on a thoughtful expression. At the start, he seems like sincerely outraged by Catina’s question, but then it becomes pretty clear, from his shifting expression, that he’s just thinking hard about what to say.
“Mmh…What can I say about my humble residence? She speaks pretty much for herself, don’t you think, my dear Lazarod?” The Lord-Mayor cackles, and the ones around him emulate his quite feminine laugh. “But even the best houses have their problems. I recently signaled some problems with phantoms and gremlins, would you believe it?” The Lord-Mayor laughs again, and his sycophants do the same. Grasping for Catina’s expression that she completely failed to decipher the meaning of his words, the mayor sips his wine. “Minor glitches. Troubles with the lights, the fireplaces, the hot water. Minor stuff, I know, but when one is perfect it’s natural for him to demand perfection around him. Don’t you think?” The question was directed at his lackey, and they immediately nod in absent. “I suspect that some sort of magical pest or mischievous spirit has gotten into the works—nothing to worry about…but it’ll set me back a fair amount to have it fixed later in the week.”
The Mayor sips again his wine and pats Lazarod on the shoulder without too much delicacy. Quite violently indeed, although he seems not to have complete control over his strenght due to the alcohol already flowing abundantly in his veins. “Now go, my Dear Lazarod. That was a memorable exhibition! Enjoy the Cornucopia!”
It’s not entirely clear wheter the Lord-Mayor is just mocking Catina, or he’s serious.
_____________________________
The General shakes his head, clearly rattled by Petal’s long lasting talk. Anyway, for some unintelligible reason, he decides to answer to her. “This place is well guarded, trust me”, he simply answers. Then, as the crowd of sycophants leave him and Petals alone for a few second, the General looks her in the eye. “Almost everyone here never knew about it, or is too young to remember it. But I was there when it happened. A pit fiend is imprisoned deep under this manor, a gift years ago from benevolent and generous House of Thrune and the source of the manor’s extravagances, such as its hot water and self-lighting fireplaces.”
Seeing the reaction on Petals’ eyes without too much difficulty, the General grins. “I know what you’re thinking about. Chances of the pit fiend escaping its imprisonment”, says Vourne, “are remote. Andoran is more likely to reclaim Cheliax’s respect than that devil is to find its way out of its Thrune-built cage.”
The General then gives a last look at Petals. “I must go now. Farewell.” Following the General with her eyes, Petals can see the General offering his thanks to the mayor for a delightful repast and then apologizing for his early departure, citing a need to return to his ship at the imperial marina before sundown to prepare for the journey back north to Egorian the next morning. After he leaves, what was an imperceptible pall over the Cornucopia fades and the rest of the evening is even more filled with laughter and revelry.
____________________________
Calseinica clings to her Alessandro for the whole first course, and even as it ends, the young starlet remains close to him, her arm in his. “It’s a plentiful feast for sure”, she says, staring vacantly at the guests. “Even too abundant, for my tastes…”
Alessandro has some difficulties in convincing Calseinica to give him some time to meet up with the other Irises.
And in fact, he fails to. Calseinica won’t listen and won’t let him get away from her without a good reason.
And even when Alessandro tries to speak to the majordomo, Calseinica clings to his arm and does not seem to be willing to let him go. “Please, don’t leave me alone…”, she whispers in his ear, making his life much more complicated.
“My favorite one is Nevezandius, since you asked. His rhymes are so…” The Majordomo abruptly stops and orders one of the servants to bring more wine to Mrs. Tilernos. “I like you, Mr. Esposito. Your fondness for poetry is as unexpected as remarkable. Few men share your inclinations, I must say. And since I like you, listen to me. If you want to remain sensible by the feast’s end, you should pace yourself and eat carefully. The food and wine is particularly potent tonight.”
As the conversation ensues, Calseinica notices that Crosael seems to be worried about something, and the starlet can’t resist her curiosity, and asks the majordomo about it. Crosael seems undecided on what to do for a few moments, but then her face relaxes. “Nothing important, my dear. It’ just that I’m a little concerned about one of the newer hires in the staff. A servant by the name of Sian who’s been missing for two days now along with a relatively valuable bust of the Prince of Darkness”. Crosael smiles to someone at the opposite end of the hall. She keeps talking without looking neither at Alessandro nor at Calseinica. “I’m worried that she may have stolen the bust and fled into the city to pawn it.”
Calseinica doesn’t take the bait. “Are you hiding something from me?” The starlet seems clearly offended. “In that case, you’re free to go. I don’t want to be a dead weight. Go on and talk with whoever you want. But forget about me, because I will be doing the same!” If Alessandro knows something about women, Calseinica is really angry at him.
Fortunately, Alessandro manages to find a way to calm her down. But honeyed words won’t suffice. Calseinica demands a choice, it’s clear from her expression. Alessandro must decide whether he wants to give up on the plan to talk to the majordomo and spend the remaining time before the second course with Calseinica, or risking to make her even angrier by pursuing his end regardless of her protest.
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Chammady Drovenge smirks as soon as she realizes that Lady Faustinia Xerysis is coming her way. The beautiful young lady orders those who surround her to leave with a simple but authoritative gesture, and the host of lackeys around her are extremely quick to do as they’re ordered. In a matter of seconds, Chammady is alone, and Faustinia reaches immediately thereafter. This time, Lady Drovenge does not demand a kiss on her ring or any other form of subservience form her vassal. “Now we can talk”.
“This place is a mystery to me as well, Lady Xerysis. To be honest, I’m not really all that interested in it. The whole manor is too much pompous for my tastes”. Judging from the disdainful look in her eyes, Chammady Drovenge’s distaste for the current Lord-Mayor is clear and undoubtable, although, in truth, that’s a pretty common feeling among the older noble Houses of Westcrown.
“There are a lot of things that are more interesting than this pompous place”. Chammady smiles to someone at the other end of the Banquet Hall with an absentminded look. “Magic, for instance, is something interesting. You said you've recently taken an interest in magical studies, particularly the Egorian school. What’s the most powerful devil you are able to summon?”
Chammady smiles graciously. “My apologies, Lady Xerysis. As you can see my presence is claimed elsewhere. It was a pleasure to meet you after such a long time and I wish you luck in your magical studies. Who knows, perhaps one day they could prove useful for our Houses common goals…”
And with that said, Chammady Drovenge leaves. As soon as he takes a step, the host of lackeys surround her again, smelling that they’re again allowed to talk to Lady Drovenge.
___________________________________
As soon as the first course ends, Lady Tilernos stands up and instead of joining the host of guests in the Banquet Hall, approaches a servant and whispers something in his ear.
Varius’ senses are not keen enough to allow his to understand what Sascar is whispering to the young servant. Anyway, with two bottles of wine tucked under his jacket, Varius follows the noble woman in a wide space south to the Banquet Hall. This room contains a sparkling fountain of crystal clear water, an illusory sky similar to the one in the garden, and three large tropical trees filled with fruits. The fruits range from pineapples to mangos to papayas to more obscure fruit, all scattered and hanging from the same branches of the three trees. The trees grow out of circular holes in the stone floor. Several guests are gathered here, engaged in conversation in small groups of 3 to 4 people each.
The young servants makes a quick stop here, but then he goes on and opens a door in the southeast corner of the area. The servant lets Lady Tilernos in and then tries to close the door, but the noble woman commands with a gesture to leave the door open. That allows Varius to enter the room where Sascar is. This is a small shrine dedicated to Asmodeus that features two marble statues of the Prince of Darkness. While clean, the shrine shows clear signs of the fact that it hasn’t been used for years. “Close the door, my dear”, says Lady Tilernos with a smile.
As soon as Varius closes the door behind him, he and Sascar find themselves alone in the shrine. Lady Tilernos’ eyes linger on the statues. “Gossip abound about my House’s devotion. Every now and then, I must prove to the nobles that their gossip in just that, and that we pay service to the Prince of Darkness as everyone else”. Lady Sascar stops and turns to Varius, looking in his eye. “What about you? Do you worship Asmodeus?”
Lady Tilernos then kneels down before one of the marble statues and invites Varius to do the same. She doesn’t say any prayer, but for a few minutes she stays silent.
“Good, this is enough for now, I suppose. Now, my dear, did you bring what I told you? Nice. Then follow me”.
There are two doors in the shrine, one to the north and one to the east. Sascar Tilernos opens the eastern one revealing a comfortable bedroom which appears to be clean despite years of disuse. A large double bed stands in the center of the room, against the eastern wall and next to a fireplace.
Lady Tilernos’ fine, silken dress slips off her skin, revealing a lean body. Although she’s not in her prime anymore, Lady Tilernos is still quite attractive, especially in the right circumstances. “Now, let’s have some fun…”, mischievously whispers the woman as she approaches Varius.
After the intercourse, Lady Tilernos lets Varius hold her for a few minutes as they conversate. Varius manages to take her to the point he’s interested in. “Did you know that Arvanxi has a sick, deformed son? Poor boy. The child lives in a secret room in the attic, his affliction making him both susceptible to terrible sunburns and unpleasant to look upon…”
Talking one’s way out of such a situation would be hard even for the most honey-tongued of lovers. But for Varius, whose tongue proves to be very far from being made of silver, things are even harder.
Lady Sascar feels clearly insulted by the denial, and she drives out Varius with harsh words.
The grandfather clock signals the start of the second course. The guests interrupt their conversation and all take their seats at the table. The Irises do the same.
As you eat, you get the chance to see that both the director, Robahl Nonon, and the Visbaronettes, Delour Aulamaxa, appear to be enjoying the feast. The director finds himself at the center of attention, while the Visbaronettes uses his nobiliary savoir-faire to get the attention of those around her.
The second course, called “The Fat of the Land”, starts at 09:00 P.M., while outside of Aberian’s Folly the curfew is in effect already. This course consists of honey-roasted hogfish, venison, sturgeon, and lampreys in hot sauce. In addition, a vast caravan of fruits and breads, olives, jars of curious pickles, huge stuffed peppers, figs, dates and honeycombs is offered as well.
The course ends at about 09:30 P.M. and the guests are invited to leave the table, allowing the servants to clean and prepare for the next course. The vast majority of the guests leave the Banquet Hall and gather in a large area north of it. Known as the “Pool of Honey”, this room has walls with thick, thorny hedges of roses and other rare flowers and a long, thin pool of what looks to be honey sits in the room’s center.
_____________________________
Catina is amazed at the variety of foods on offer, and has to consider that this is only the second course. Of nine! She leaves her wine this time, only sipping at the glass a few times for the sake of propriety. She takes several bits of the lighter foods, picking up some of the fish, fruits and olives.
When the course is done, Catina finds the others as they make their way to the "Pool of Honey", to see how they are doing. "The Lord-Mayor is... difficult... to talk with. I'm never sure whether he's serious or not. I did hear about some problems with the house, though: lights, fireplaces and hot water. He assumes it's some sort of magical spirit of pest that's plaguing the house." She looks around. "We haven't talked to Lord Oberigo yet, have we? I could try, I suppose. Maybe one of you could join me?"
As they reach the Pool, Catina places herself close to Eirtein Oberigo. She remarks to her fellow Iris about the rose hedges, making sure she can be heard by others as well. "I suppose, with the Lord-Mayor being such a lover of the arts, a chamber full of roses - eternal no doubt - is a must. I wonder what else kind of wonders the Lord-Mayor has hidden in his manor. Lord Oberigo," she says, shifting the attention to the nobleman. "You must have been here more often. What other marvels can we expect from this place? Is there anything we should ask the Lord-Mayor about? Anything we shouldn't ask him about?" she adds with a smile meant as disarming.
She remembers Faustinia telling her of some connection between the houses of Oberigo and Aulamaxa. If she finds any chance in the ensuing conversation, she mentions what a pleasure it had been to work with Visbaronettes Aulamaxa during the play, and that she'd certainly learned a lot about performing from the woman.
Petals is delighted at all the fruits, and peppers, and olives, but especially the honeycombs, never having an actual honeycomb in the all the years she can actually remember. This time she keeps her wits about her more and partakes in the wine a little less.
---
Problems with the hot water and... oh! The General mentioned a pit fiend controls all that! at the potentially shocked looked she quickly fills in the gaps. It's imprisoned, has been for a long time, a gift from the House... um... Thrune! How did I almost forget that part. she shakes her head, internally blaming the wine from before. Long and short, he assures me it won't ever escape, but if the house is having issues... she leaves her worries hanging in the air, and pops a grape in her mouth, before agreeing to go with Catina on her hunt for more information.
---
Following Catina's lead, Yes, please, kind lord. she shifts to Eirtein's other side, hoping being flanked by two attractive women distracts the information out of his tongue easier. This place is almost overwhelming to folk such as us. The theater produced amazing spectacles. Our illusionist, Millech, is a master, but this.. she looks in awe at the flowers. ... is truly breathtaking. Are there more like this? Even better? Her excitement is not faked, just who she is directing it towards.
With his wine in hand, Varius slinks off after Sascar, keeping quiet as he moves along with her. When she invites him to worship at the statue, he doesn't hesitate despite his incredible hatred of Asmodeus and his worshippers.
I falsely prayed for years. One more won't kill me.
After reciting prayers he promised he'd never recite again, Varius sees the noblewoman approaching him. He grins mischievously at her. One thing Varius was never uncomfortable with was seducing, or being seduced by bored gentry.
"I thought you'd never ask."
Afterwards, Varius gently steers her conversation, letting her talk about whatever she pleases until she lets drop the tidbit about the child in the attic.
A child in the attic? Those monsters! Unsurprising. I'm sure my father half-wanted to lock me away. Still, slept with a Tilernos, even a drunk, irritating one. I'm moving up in the world.
Kissing her hand, Varius takes a moment to fix his now smudged makeup before he lets her take the lead in returning to the feast while he returns from an alternate route.
He settles into his feast, glad for the lighter course. He keeps mostly to the olives and pickles, trying to ensure he's not bloated for whatever comes next.
---
After the course, Varius makes his way over to Faustinia and Alessandro.
"I was out of the room but have some information from Tilernos. Who do we have left to speak to? Oberigo?"
|
|
At the second course, Faustinia makes sure to eat only the healthiest foods - she sticks mostly to the venison and slowly drinks a small amount of The Blood for better digestion. She can’t resist partaking of some of the lamprey and dates, though. She follows the other guests into the Pool of Honey, marveling at the excessive basin of honey occupying the room’s center. She resists the childish urge to go back for a morsel of bread to dip into it and finds the other Irises.
Faustinia pales slightly as Petals informs them all of the pit fiend under the manor. ”The mayor has what? By the Dark Lord, I hope whatever Thrune installed something like that intended for it to be properly bound. If it had escaped, I doubt we would be alive, never mind a few mishaps with the hot water. Perhaps there is something else going on?” Faustinia muses, recovering from her shock.
When Varius approaches, she nods at him and tilts her head as she asks, ”Oh? What have you heard from Lady Tilernos? We indeed have yet to pry any information from Lord Oberigo; Catina and Petals are heading off to talk to him now and I’m sure you could catch up if you followed them right now.” Faustinia swirls her wine glass, watching the crimson liquid and then glancing over toward Chammady again. ”I keep trying myself to get any information out of Lady Drovenge, but she is a woman who is as busy as she is intimidating. She seems bored with the party but interested in magic and devils. I think she may be able to shed some light on what’s going on here, but I could always use some backup…”
Approaching Lady Drovenge once again, Faustinia silently prays that she isn’t annoying the noble with her constant approaches. ”My Lady, I hope you are finding the night acceptable.” Faustinia smiles nervously, glancing at the still vicious-looking wolf-headed fur draped around Chammady’s shoulders. ”I also hope you don’t find me a bore for continuing our last conversation, but there are so few who can appreciate the magical arts as your Ladyship does. Currently I am able to summon only the most lowly of the true fiends, the lemure. However, I have researched a technique that strengthens the creature in the summoning of it. They are simple brutes, but sometimes that is enough, no?” Faustinia asks rhetorically, then clears her throat. ”I heard that the mayor managed to secure a fantastic gift in the form of a devil that powers the lavish frivolities around his estate. I also hear that he’s having a few problems with it recently - I of course have my own hypotheses, but I was curious if your Ladyship had any insight into what could cause these trifling interruptions?”
---
Taking the Majordomo's advise, Alessandro paces himself during the second course even though all the food looks extremely appetizing.
Once the course is concluded, before attempting to meet up with the Irises again, Alessandro takes Calseinica aside to a semi-private corner of the room and whispers. "Listen Lady Calseinica. Since it is clear that I cannot escape your amorous attentions, I have a secret that I must share with you. I am more than just the handsome and talented actor that you know. I am also a spy on a dangerous mission for the good of Westcrown. However, for your own good, I cannot share with you any further details, lest I put you in grave danger. Now, it is imperative that I meet up with my fellow conspirators among the other actors or I will put the mission's success in peril. I've learned that you have an impish curiosity and that I am unlikely to dissuade you, so I ask, "Are you up for a little adventure?""
He then finds where the others have gathered an shares what he's learned so far. "I've spoken with the Majordomo and Lord Oberigo. If you haven't noticed already, the Majordomo warns that the food and drink is especially potent. If you partake in consuming too much, you'll likely be too inundated to be of use by the end of the night. She also mentioned that one of the servants has gone missing with a valuable bust. She thinks the servant made off to pawn it, but perhaps there's something more to the story."
"Lord Oberigo mentioned that he knows of the Asmodean Knot that we are searching for, but he doesn't know its location either. I have a feeling that there is more to learn from him and the best way to learn what he knows is by sharing gossip of our own."
Alessandro joins the group speaking with Lord Oberigo again and aids in their inquiry.
"Lord, I've returned with something that may be of interest to you. I've found out that there is a thief among the mayor's staff. A maid named Sian made off with a valuable bust of the Prince of Darkness with the intent to sell it. Should it become public knowledge that a disloyal servant made it past the Majordomo's watch, it could become quite the scandal."
Lord Eirtein Oberigo welcomes the Irises with a clever grin. He listens to your introductions as well as your question with an imperceptible, cunning smile betraying his thin lips. He raises an eyebrow when Alessandro mentions Sian and the theft of the Asmodean bust. For a moment, but just a moment, Lord Oberigo seems to be gazing directly into your souls. But then that impression fades, revealing the slight grin on the Lord’s face. “Mmmh, very interesting…It seems like most of the guests here have underestimated you, taking you for peasant actors without any knowledge about how to deal with the subtle game we call politics…I won’t make the same mistake.” And again, he grins, this time more openly.
“You seem to be very interested in Aberian’s Folly. As though you may benefit from having a knowledge of this place. This is very interesting, very, very interesting…” Lord Oberigo calls a servant, takes a glass of wine for himself, and waits for the servant to go away before ensuing. “I will provide with a share of the information I have. As you certainly know, the Asmodean Knot is the most interesting and talked about of the many amenities this manor has to offer”. With an ample gesture of his hand, Lord Oberigo indicates the pool of honey and the sky. “But very few know what is its precise location. Rumor has it, the Asmodean Knot, unlike the rest of the manor, is said to be contained wholly in a pocket dimension accessed from a special mirror hidden somewhere in the house…The guardians of the Asmodean Knot…and you can be sure there are guardians…”, Oberigo says as he carefully analyzes the reaction of his interlocutors, “…the guardians, as I was saying, are likely to be a mix of devils and shadowy undead, if rumors hold true.”
Eirtein sips his wine, then grins again at the Irises. “We have talked enough for tonight. Come to me again, and someone will start to get suspicious. And I’m sure you don’t want them to get suspicious, given the nature of your task, don’t you?” Lord Oberigo giggles briefly, then takes his leave.
________________________________
I really dislike that one Petals whispers, watching the giggling man leave. Then looking to the others I mean I don't like any of them... but that one scares me. Like he'd happily peel back your skin just to see inside. shoulders shivering at the thought. Time for another round of 'way too much food'?
"Yes, we wouldn't want anyone to get suspicious. Let us depart." Alessandro dismissed Lord Oberigo.
Once the party has stepped away from Oberigo, Alessandro talks among them. "So let's piece together what we have so far. The Asmodean Knot is located in a pocket dimension in a mirror somewhere in the house. It is unlikely to be located in the Nissian Spiral and getting down there is probably beyond our ability right now anyway. Where else would the Mayor hide a mirror such as this? Likely somewhere not easily accessed. I spotted a secret door in the illusory garden we passed through earlier but I doubt it is that easy. If I had to guess, the mayor could be keeping it in his own room or another secret room upstairs. Did Varius mention something about a secret room in the attic with a deformed son?"
"Is there anyone left we need to speak with?"
Catina looks doubtful. "Wouldn't that be cruel, to keep a mirror in what's essentially a prison for a deformed boy? I saw that door in the garden as well, Alessandro. Who knows... Maybe we'll have to ask the mayor himself, later in the evening when he's had more to drink. We could pretend to be vain, and ask to see a mirror to check up on powdering?"
LADY FAUSTINIA AND CHAMMADY DROVENGE
It takes some time for Lady Faustinia to find a good moment to approach Chammady Drovenge. Her family being the most powerful and influential in Westcrown, Chammady finds herself surrounded by hosts of lackeys who hope to win her favor. Faustinia must wait for about fifteen minutes before a chance to approach the young Drovenge Lady presents itself when the red-haired girl excuses herself out of the conversation.
Judging from the bored expression in her eyes, Chammady was not at all involved in the conversations being held around her, but if she’s happy to see Lady Faustinia again, this is hard to understand, since the girl wears a mask of impassible imperturbability. Chammady listens to what Faustinia has to say absentmindedly, her eyes floating on the attendees gathered elsewhere, but as soon as Lady Faustinia mentions the devil bound to the manor, Chammady raises an eyebrow. An imperceptible reaction in her otherwise immobile visage. Faustinia could swear to have surprised Chammady, but just for a moment, since after a second Lady Drovenge’s face turns back to being impassible.
“I’m not an arcane scholar, Lady Faustinia, nor a trained devil binder. But I think it’s not necessary to be one to understand that it’s wiser not to get involved in something which could potentially turn out to be more than one could handle. I trust you to act according to the wisdom of your age and leave this matter alone, for the moment. Who among us do not have his own secrets?”
With that said, Chammady smiles charmingly and slowly walks away.
CALSEINICA
Calseinica looks deeply in Alessandro’s eyes, as though she was trying to pierce his soul and swim into the vastness of his eyes. After a few moments of intense meditations, during which her eyes never leave Alessandro’s, Calseinica smiles graciously. “Of course I’m in. Let’s go”.
|
|
Faustinia returns to the Irises shaking her head. ”I don't think anyone could drag any useful information out of Chammady Drovenge if their life depended on it - and I'm sure some lives do. I suppose - hold on,” Faustinia interrupts herself as she registers Calseinica hanging off Alessandro with a determined and focused attention. Faustinia sighs and closes her eyes as she folds her arms and pinches the bridge of her nose with one hand. ”Oh no… Alessandro, how much have you told this poor girl? It's clear as day by her expression that you've whetted her appetite for more than just your romantic advances.”
Faustinia shakes her head and takes a deep breath as she looks up and fixes a serious expression on the actress. ”Listen, Calseinica, I don't know what you think you're getting into, but it will undoubtedly be dangerous.” Faustinia takes another deep breath and lets it out in a long sigh as she searches the girl's face for understanding, then continues. ”Listen. If you trust us, and you want what's best for this city, and you think you're brave enough, I won't stop you from coming with us. But,” she adds, turning now to Alessandro, ”if this goes wrong somehow the blood is on your hands as far as I'm concerned. I absolve myself. Calseinica’s protection comes first.”
---
Varius listens intently as the group speaks to each other in an aside from the feast.
"Sascar said that the mayor has a deformed son locked away in the attic. Not sure how that serves us directly, but it's worth investigating. The poor kid may know something."
On the subject of Calseinica, Varius winces.
"I've never been good at breaking bad news to people. Someone with a softer touch may be good for it. I also don't think she should come along. We have no idea how dangerous this is and she could be used against us."
Once someone decides to broach the subject with Calseinica, Varius does his best to offer stern nods. Unfortunately, he's dressed like a Varisian clown and doesn't quite look as impressive as he'd hoped.
Catina doesn't look too happy to see Alessandro with Calseinica in tow, despite her best wishes for them as a couple. She follows Faustinia's lead and tries to pursuade Calseinica not to come. Be firm, that will be easiest to understand. "I'm sorry, Faustinia, but I can't shake myself of responsibility to easily." She then turns to the actress. "You can't come, Calseinica. Faustinia is being kind, but it's going to be [i]too dangerous. What we want through on stage, in the play, it was meant to be a challenge, but still doable. What we're doing here. I don't want to drag anyone else in there. And I don't want anyone else to drag themselves in as well." She tries to find more arguments, but feels like they would only prolong the argument and maybe let Calseinica find a way to deflect them. "You're not coming, I'm sorry."
--
What Catina means Calseinica is that you could die, which you might be willing to risk, but you could also cause us to die as well. You think this lug will be able to concentrate on what needs to be done when all he wants to do is protect you. she gives the actress a warm smile. I'm sorry, but you can't come. We'll bring him back safety though.
"I think what my companions mean to say is that we need you to play the most important role. Someone needs to stay behind and watch our back in case anyone gets suspicious of our absence. If we are discovered missing, the entire mission is in jeopardy. The future of Westcrown hinges on our success. With your unparalleled acting skills, you would be able to provide a most convincing cover story to anyone who might ask. I leave the details up to your imagination. I know your curiosity is piqued but it truly is for your own safety that you do not get involved any further. Do this for me, my darling."
Alessandro dips her and gives her a big sloppy kiss in front of everyone.
"If we do not return tonight, that means that either ill fortune has befallen us and we are all dead, or we succeeded and made our escape. Look for my return at your estate the coming eve. And if I don't, promise me, you'll never love again."
CALSEINICA AND THE IRISES
Calseinica initially resists. “I don’t fear what we are going to face, wherever we’re going. I just want to do this. I want to contribute to my city’s improvement, no matter the risks”. Catina’s words fall like a hammer on Calseinica’s morale. “You…I…I just…”. Quite temperamental by nature, Calseinica is about to verbally lashing out at Catina when Alessandro turns to her. “This…Is this what you want? I…I don’t want to be a dead weight. For a moment, I thought I could help. I’m not an adventurer, but you weren’t actors at that. But you did well. Because you were given an opportunity. And please don’t say that the cases are different because different things are at stake. We all know that our very lives were at stake at the theater, but yet your tried. Because someone allowed you to. Now you’re doing the same as Thesing, pushing me away just because I…I’m not a professional. But you weren’t professional actors either. And…Well, I can see why you’re doing it. You’re doing for me, you don’t want me to risk my life, but…I don’t want you to risk your life as well, so what’s the point now? I…” Calseinica shakes her head and closes her eyes, a hand covering them. “I’m so confused now. I need to get some fresh air”. And with said, Calseinica leaves the Banquet Hall for a few minutes. You can see her in the garden staring vacuously at the illusory sky above her.
₪₪₪
For the remainder of the night, Calseinica avoids the Irises, even Alessandro, and sticks close to the director.
With Calseinica’s problem addressed, the group of heroes waits for their chance to put the intended plan in action to come. The Cornucopia goes on for several hours and four more courses.
9:00—The Worshipful Hog: This course consists of roast peacock, thick broth with salty strips of worg flank, fresh chuul soup served with Chelish black bread, and a roast dire boar of such size that it takes 12 bearers to bring it into the Garden.
10:00—The Dance of the Engorged Vulture: This course consists of whole roast baby squid served with honey sauce, minted lamb with fresh vegetables, sauced hatchling alligator, tureens of cod spawn in garlic, and leveret stewed in wine and parsley.
11:00—The Ambrosial Serpents: A particularly unsettling course that involves the guests eating live serpents that have been gorged on drugged mice and other mind-altering substances. The snakes are harmless, but Irises not expecting them might be shocked at discovering living reptiles upon lifting a platter’s lid.
12:00—The Insatiable Hungers: This last “course” consists of exotic tobaccos and potent liquors that deliver the coup de grace, rendering many guests insensible and resulting in what can only be called an orgy.
During and in between the courses, nothing noteworthy really happens, except for Chammady Drovenge’s sudden departure. Not long after the third course, she announced that she must, unfortunately, leave early to attend another event. She wished the other guests a good evening and called for her carriage—the fact that she rided back home after dark without apparent care for the shadow beasts became the favorite topic of discussion among most of the nobles for the remainder of the hour, with most whispering of how those Drovenges “always were something of fools.”
₪₪₪
By the end of the last course, all of the guests of the Cornucopia are either too drunk or too tired to care about what’s happening around them. The vast majority of them are taken by house servants to the guest rooms prepared for them, and the same happens to you. A young girl with blonde hair and cornrows, likely of Ulfen descent, leads you to the guest rooms reserved to you. On your way there, you have the chance to glance at several features of the manor that could come in handy for the second part of your night, the one in which you’ll be setting your plan into motion.
Ingrit, as the Ulfen servants introduces herself to you, leads you out of the Banquet Hall through the garden, which you have already seen. From there, she takes you back in the carpeted entrance, and then to the upper floor via a set of stairs to the south. Once at first floor, you find yourselves in the Upper Gallery. This large open space has a polished hardwood floor and serves as a place for guests to mingle. “Sometimes, the chamber is used as a ballroom”, explains Ingrit, who has been tasked with acting as a sort of guide as well as a servant, apparently.
“Those are the Guest Baths”, says Ingrit pointing to a closed door on the western side of the Upper Gallery. “Although you rooms contain a sink with hot and cold water, the Guest Baths have a washtub with hot and cold running water”.
Ingrit then guides you through a door in the southern part of the Upper Gallery which open in a corridor at the end of which are two doors, one to west and one to the east. “Would you like to see the Gallery?”, the girl asks as you reach the end of the corridor.
There are three doors in the Gallery, one to the east and two to the north. They’re closed, and Ingrit does not offer you any explanation about what’s inside of them. After a few minutes, Ingrit takes you back in the corridor.
Ingrit opens the door to the east, which leads into what she defines as “the Guest Lounge. A place for guests to relax. Feel free to use it, if you wish so.” Several chairs and sofas sit in this well-lit room. The stairs in this room lead down.
From the Guest Lounge, Ingrit takes you through a door to the north into yet another corridor. The corridor has three doors, two to the north and one to the west. “Beyond each of these doors is a room for you”. Ingrit opens the door to the west and indicates the room beyond. “The guest rooms feature similar furnishing and commodities”. Each chamber contains a fireplace, a bed, a dresser, and a small sink with hot and cold water. At the center of each fireplace’s mantle is a cloth covering what seems like the head of some hideous creature carved in black marble. The fireplaces are all lit and burning wood. “This wing of the manor contains three guest rooms, but wo of them have double beds, so you can divide the chambers among yourselves as you see fit.”
Ingrit smiles. “I believe that’s all. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. You have the permission to roam freely in the wing which has been reserved to you, including the Guest Lounge, the Upper Gallery and the Guest Baths. To the north of the Upper Gallery you can find a Game Room, and to the northeast of the Game Room you can find a library. You can freely access those rooms as well. The manor will stay lit for the whole night. Lord-Mayor Arvanxi strongly advises his guests against roaming in other parts of the manor during the day. If you want to take a look at other parts of this manor, you will have to wait until tomorrow, when you will be able to ask the permission to do so to him directly. I wish you good night.” And with that said, Ingrit takes her leave.
________________________________
--- ---
Catina fusses when Calseinica leaves the group. "I wasn't too hard on her, was I?" she asks her companions. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so abrupt, but I was thinking... Well, I wasn't really thinking. Sorry." She's almost glad for the next course, when it comes.
--
As the courses turn more extravagant and the guests becomes more and more inebriated, Catina finds less inclined to talk to them. "The drink was supposed to loosen their lips," she complains, "but I can hardly have a decent conversation with any of them. Not that I'd rather want to," she adds. "Do they live so detached from the world, to see that it's wrong to hold such... such travesties of a dinner party?" And all that was even before the baby alligators, live snakes and hard liquor.
--
Catina is more than happy when the dinner is over. She's skipped almost everything of the later courses, hasn't found anyone sober enough to talk to, and her stern talking to Calseinica weighs heavy on her mind. As such, it's a relief to be in the company of the Ulfen servant. "Yes, Ingrit. I'd like to see the Gallery." She does a quick tour of the room, looking at the paintings and recognizing several of the scenes. "That's nice," she remarks. "I've also been a fan of the theater, like the Lord-Mayor," she says truthfully, although it stings a bit to acknowledge something she shares with the man. She also notes with interest the stairs, although she doesn't remark on them. "It's getting late, we should probably go. Thanks for showing us, though." She follows Ingrit on the rest of the tour, delighted to find yet another secret door in the Guest Lounge. "Thank you for the tour, Ingrit. I suppose it must have been a busy day for you as well, so you can leave us. We have everything we need."
--
When the Ulfen woman has left, Catina puts a finger to her mouth and says a quick prayer to perform some magic. Shen then slowly turns on the spot in the center of the Guest Lounge, checking for magical aura. You never know if there could be some kind of alarm system, I suppose. When she's happy that they aren't being spied upon and confirms this with Faustinia, Catina starts planning, keeping her voice low. "Finally! I thought the dinner was never going to end. What a... What a... Agh! I don't have words for it." She takes a deep breath to clear her head to negative thoughts. "So, where do we start. There's a secret door over there," she points. "That could be an easy start. After that, we might check upstairs, if we think the mirror is really there. It could be a risk, though, if we run into the Lord-Mayor's son." As an afterthought, she adds "Did any of you note that Ingrit only mentions a warning against roaming during the day. I suppose the assumption is that all of the guests will be too drunk to do anything other than pass out and sleep, during the night. Hah!"
Varius shrugs helplessly at Catina.
"We did what we could. I'd rather her be upset than dead."
---
Dearly wanting to be one of the insensate nobles on the ground, Varius reminds himself he's above this sort of thing now and does his best to consume in moderation. He does enjoy the sumptuous food, not being particularly put off by the snake and enjoying the meal for what it is. Being one of the (mostly) sober people at the feast leads Varius to slowly realize what an absolute bore drunk people are. He therefore resolves to never be sober at a party again.
---
Varius happily goes along with Ingrit, not saying much. "I'd love to see the gallery!" he enthuses, but otherwise stays quiet and lets Catina and the others do the talking. Slowly, the buzz of the wine lifts from him and he becomes alert and ready for anything. He also swipes a couple of bottles of The Blood when nobody is looking.
---
When the group is finally alone in the guest room, Varius lets out a loud groan of relief and takes a moment to relax.
"Ye gods that was .. an experience." He trails off awkwardly, not really volunteering much as he remembers his encounter with the voracious noblewoman. "Still though, we're where we should be. And we could consider this deformed son an asset rather than a liability. People who are locked up can be very helpful. Secret door is our best bet though."
Varius loosens his swords in his scabbards and does a few quick squats as he tries to relax himself. He shoots a glance at Alessandro and Petals.
"Well, shall we violate some house rules? Somebody with light feet and good ears should be in front."
Regarding Calseinica. "It needed to be done." He frowns that she is upset but inwardly is relieved that she won't be exposed to danger.
The galley is interesting but Alessandro was never a connoisseur of art. He shrugs as he looks around but eyes the velvet rope by the stairs keenly. Do not enter? Is that supposed to keep us out? I expected more for the lord-mayor. Perhaps I overestimated him?
Back at the guest rooms. "I'm definitely ready to violate some rules. The servant mentioned a few rooms that we are allowed to enter. I suggest we visit those first. We can get a better idea of our surroundings without looking too suspicious. We can take note of the locations of the other guests and servants if they are out and about and the best way to avoid them."
The party meets in the Guest Lounge and discuss the infiltration plan. A common decision is reached after a few minutes of discussion. The group will start from visiting the rooms in which they're allowed to enter, as Alessandro suggested, then return to the Guest Lounge to check where the secret door found by Catina leads. Finally, the Irises will take the stairs leading up found in the Gallery.
---
As explained by Ingrit, access to the Game Room is not restricted. As such, the group can reach it without having to resort to stealth. A few tables and chairs in here give a place for guests to play card games or one of several board games stacked on a shelf to the west, including three different copies of Aberian’s favorite—Pits and Perils. Two guests are found here, playing a board game. They say hello to the Irises with an absentminded gesture of their hands, but don’t ask them any questions.
In order not to raise any suspicion, the group splits. Varius, Petals and Alessandro stay in the Game Room, pretending to search for a good game to play. In the meantime, Lady Faustinia and Catina move north and enter the Library.
---
The library has comfortable leather chairs surrounded by shelves of books. The tomes are generally about art, opera, and the theater. No one is in here. Two doors are in the library, one to the east, leading to the corridors above ground floor, and the other leading back into the corridor from which Catina and Faustinia came. In the corridor is another door likely leading into the northwestern wing of the manor.
---
Catina and Faustinia meet up the the rest of the group in the Game Room. After a few minutes spent pretending to find something potentially interesting, the party leaves the Game Room. The two guests there are so drunk that they don’t even realize the Irises have left.
The party gets back into the Guest Lounge. Here, Petals opens the secret door, which isn’t trapped, and after Lady Faustinia and Catina provide some magic light to aid exploration, Alessandro and Petals scout ahead silently, while Faustinia and Catina stay in the room and Varius stays on the lookout outside the lounge.
The secret door found by Catina leads into a dusty corridor, completely dark. The corridor takes east, and ends in front of a simple but concealed wooden door. After opening it, Petals and Alessandro find themselves on the other side of the corridors above ground floor, in the eastern part of the first floor, where several wooden doors give access to other bedrooms.
---
The group meets up in the Guest Lounge again, undisturbed. There’s no one roaming around. As such, the group decides to get into the Gallery. Once there, with Alessandro scouting ahead, the party takes the stairs leading up.
---
The stairs lead into the attic. Dusty and vast, this attic is cluttered with crates, old furniture, and miscellaneous items. The clutter is tremendous. The attic is completely dark, so the group has to resort to magic light cast by Faustinia and Catina.
There are five doors in the attic. Four them are places in the western wall, while one is to the north. The northern door, alone of all the doors in the manor you’ve seen so far, is locked with a particularly impressive padlock.
________________________________
Petals loves board games. She'd often play by herself in the temple for hours and hours. So she is quite happy to feign playing Pits and Perils with Alessandro and Varius, only a little disappointed when they need to get back to their task. Exploring around is both exciting and anxiety producing, never knowing if they are going to run into Someone making them talk their way out or Something that would require being bashed.
Now in the attic, she thinks about the deformed son locked in the attic and can't help thinking maybe that is behind the door with the padlock. Is he a monster or just a scared little boy needing to be rescued. Worried more than a little with a potential of simmering anger, covering both emotional bases, she investigates each of the doors for traps.
|
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Faustinia casts an interested look over the books in Aberian’s library, surprised that the mayor actually seems to have put some thought into the content of his library and not just its appearance. Still, there are only a few tomes that catch her eye, and she moves on with satisfaction knowing that the library in her own estate is at least comparable to this one, in volume if not comfort.
After climbing the stairs to the attic, having cast a few floating lights that illuminate the motes in the air, Faustinia wipes tears from her eyes that well up from the dusty air. ”No sense in making this place livable if the mayor doesn't expect guests, right?” Faustinia mutters under her breath. To the other Irises she whispers, ”There's no telling what we'll find up here - well, except the son is likely behind that massive lock if those rumors were true. We should search the rest of this place first. We don't need that poor boy making a racket while we try to find the Knot.”
Catina is of two minds at seeing Aberian's library. On one hand, it reinforces his love for the arts, which she has to commend. On the other hands, books about theater and opera seem a consolation prize, at best. Those of all the arts have to be experienced. She's not mournful to leave the library behind, on to the true goal that they came for.
The fact that the secret passage leads just to another wing of the manor, is a bit of a disappointed. "Maybe it's just for servants to move about unnoticed," she comments. "Or for guests to have the opportunity for some private means of visiting" she adds ruefully.
--
The tension of what they're doing finally gets to Catina as they ascend the stairs to the attic. "There's really no turning back from this point, is there?" she asks, somewhat rhetorically. She takes another look at the padlocked door. "You're probably right, Faustinia. We'd best start at this end and work our way to the north."
--
Varius is delighted to settle into a board game with Petals, and less delighted when he finds the board game enthusiast beating him. Although it's clear the elf could spend a good twenty human years on the game, Varius is pleased to see Catina and Faustinia return.
"I'll get you next time," he winks at Petals.
---
Disappointed that the secret door didn't really yield much, Varius finally gets excited about some proper adventure as they creep into the attic. He keeps a hand on one of his swords as he approached... and does see a hideously deformed secret son named Hugo or something sinister.
"Hrm. Well, let's see if this secret son can be found here. I doubt there's much dangerous up here unless the son is a half-fiend or something."
Varius keeps his swords sheathed, but is ready for a fight at any moment as the doors are checked.
The fact that the secret passage leads just to another wing of the manor, is a bit of a disappointed. "Maybe it's just for servants to move about unnoticed," she comments. "Or for guests to have the opportunity for some private means of visiting" she adds ruefully.
"Or for the mayor to sneak around his home to check on "guests"."
Alessandro helps Petals check the doors too. "I trust your skill as well as mine but an extra pair of eyes never hurts."
"This attic looks completely unused. Has anyone been up here recently? If there is a deformed son up here, I hope he is fed. With all this dust, perhaps I can detect some tracks?"
Giving him a delighted formal bow, she says with enthusiasm Anytime good sir... and thanks
Never a worry about lending an extra pair Petals whispers back to Alessandro as they check the doors. Not that you need it, but I can help with traps a bit as well.
Following Lady Faustinia’s suggestion, the group starts from opening the doors to the southwest before moving to those on the north. There not seem to be any tracks up here.
The first door is unlocked. The room beyond has been half converted into a private theater—your new knowledge of how theater works gives you the impression that several months of work remain before it can serve as a functional performance hall. There’s another door leading further to the west here. You open it, and beyond it you find a small, empty room.
The second door is unlocked as well. It gives access to an empty room with several sets of empty manacles hanging from the walls.
The third door leads into another empty room, although larger than the previous one.
The fourth door is locked, but Alessandro easily opens it. The lock was nothing special. Inside the room, several filing cabinets, chests, and boxes contain old paperwork from Westcrown mayors dating back to the manor’s original construction hundreds of years ago.
The door to the north takes some time to open, about five minutes, but eventually Alessandro manages to win against the padlock with the help of Petals. Preparing for the worst, the group opens the door.
Inside…there’s nothing special. The contents of this room are similar to those of the main attic, but much dustier. No sign of any deformed son at all. The group members start searching the room for something noteworthy, apart from an empty storeroom accessed through a door in the southwestern corner of the room. The walls of the empty storeroom are scratched, as if by fingernails, although no other clue to the room’s original use remains.
Fortunately, after a few minutes of examination, Catina and Petals find something! A secret door in the northern walls of the room. They call Alessandro, and he opens the secret door, giving access to the next room.
The only feature of this bare room is what appears to be a pair of double doors made of flat gray metal in the northern wall. The surface of the doors seems moist and reflections in the doors look more like vague shadows and smears of light. Those who stare at the doors for too long note that the “reflections” seem to writhe and move of their own accord.
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Varius looks at the papers, and shrugs, stuffing them in his pack.
"This isn't our last mission, and we need information," he says in a low mutter before following the group. When the secret door is finally opened and the strange room is revealed, he pulls out his swords.
"Well, no deformed son. Remind me not to get information from someone who drinks more than I do." He points into the room with one of his fancy silver shortswords. "This has to be it. Right? Faustinia? This is the right kind of magicky planar stuff for the Knot?"
Wary of traps, Varius doesn't approach the doors. Yet.
Catina scarcely dares to breathe as they search room after room, especially when they finds so many empty rooms. She's mortified when she sees Varius stuff the papers in his bag. However, she wouldn't take the time to argue, and (on second thought) she considers that he's probably right. We're going to break into his vault and steal things. Some stuffy papers are a drop in a bucket, compared to that.
She feels her heart beating in her threat when Alessandro and Petals have finished with the large padlock and the door to the final room finally opens. She's ready for anything, except an empty storeroom. Determined that such a lock must be guarding something, she sets to searching the room. "So, the rumour about the Lord-Mayor's son is just that? A rumour? Then what about all the other things we heard at dinner? Do those people just make up things to bargain with, and sound important? - Ah-hah!"
She feels less nervous as the second door opens, and is intrigued when they find the strange double doors. "I think you're right, Varius. This must be it." She defers to Faustinia, but can't help but spout some theories. Maybe we can step right through? Or we should try to mimic and mirror the movements or those 'reflections'? Any ideas, anyone?"
A theater, chains, and fingernail scratches... this does not bode well. Neither for the sanity of this place or for us who are stuck with nothi- Petals notices the secret door, seconds after Catina, happy as a lark there is actually something.
Standing in front of the mirror she's strangely fascinated. The swirling shadows through the mist are beautiful, stunning... attractive. Should I... we.. touch it? she asks Faustinia softly, holding her hand to her chest as if she doesn't trust herself.
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Faustinia desperately holds in a sneeze as they all prowl through the dusty attic. It quickly becomes clear that this whole area serves as storage space, both mundane and… unsavory. Surprised by Catina finding the hidden room, she loses focus and lets out a wet sneeze. She covers her face as her heart rate shoots up, then quietly wipes her nose on a handkerchief when nothing happens and she has space to calm down.
Examining the strange metal doors in the secret room, she frowns and knits her brow in concentration. ”I'm sure I've never seen anything like this…” she mumbles as Varius and the others turn to her for answers. As a precaution, Faustinia takes a moment to cast a spell, with a flash of magical force that washes over her before becoming invisible. She gets closer, scrutinizing the doors and absentmindedly stroking her false beard in thought. She closes her eyes and shakes her head as she thinks she sees her reflection move on its own. My mind is playing tricks on me. Or at the very least there must be some magical explanation… she thinks. What could be on the other side of this…
---
"A private theater and some shackles." This is the mayor's sex dungeon. "The mayor is into some kinky stuff. Now who do you think goes in the manacles? The mayor or the girl?" Alessandro mind wanders and shivers at the thought of the pudgy mayor's bare flesh as he is "tortured" by a dominatrix. Eww.
"As tempting as the filing cabinet is, it's probably best to not take anything we don't need and leave evidence someone was here."
"No sign of the deformed son, but someone made those scratches on the wall. Perhaps he was up here, just not anymore. That's probably for the best. I wouldn't want to have had to harm an innocent if he did see us."
Alessandro stares into the door at the dancing shadows. "Lord Oberigo said the entrance to the Asmodean Knot was a mirror. But I have a strange feeling that we've found what we are looking for."
Alessandro waits to see what happens when Faustinia tries to open the doors. She's the arcanist. She must know more about these kinds of things that any of us.
Faustinia's magic detection does not reveal any magic properties of the doors. She can perceive that the doors are magical in nature, and are imbued with a very strong magic aura, but apart from that, she does not learn anything about it.
"Well, now what?" Catina asks rhetorically. "We didn't get any clues on how to actually open the door, did we? There doesn't seem to be any locks for Alessandro to work on, either." Since Faustinia doesn't seem to have details, Catina just starts doing some things that come to mind. She stares at the door until the reflections start moving, then mimics those movements. When that doesn't work, she simply attempts to touch the door and push.