"You'll need to persuade each of them of Dralneen's innocence. Whether you can convince them will depend on your evidence and social acumen." The Field-Maralictor says to Melufiuos before turning to Halkale, "If you have firm command of your wolf, you may bring it with you."
Lastly, she answers Rufus' queries, "I have no idea of the circumstances of Zarta's Dralneen's imprisonment or her future. It's not my duty."
With no further questions at that moment, she leads the group further into the fortress.
The siege walls of Bastion Dominus create a small bailey around Lictor’s Keep. Rows of barracks line both the east and west ends of this open-air yard. In the center of the bailey stands a two-story keep with eight Hellknights positioned at each of its entrances, stoically guarding the interior against incursions. Makorios stops the group here and hands Quiella a legal document with the title 'Affidavit of Prisoner Release.' A quick scan reveals that it possesses the proper legal authority to free Zarta, but requires three signatures.
Once everyone's attention turns back to her, Makorios begins to speak once again, "You are responsible for presenting your evidence to both Paravicar Acillmar and Mistress of Blades Maidrayne Vox. I will escort the you anywhere in the citadel you wish to go, but I cannot accompany you in meetings with the order’s leadership. Who would you like to speak to first?"
Perhaps fortunately for the group, Field-Maralictor Makorios is quite detailed in her answer to Quiella's question.
"Paravicar Acillmar believes tradition, protocol, and decorum are paramount to everything except the law itself. He will not tolerate boorishness or disrespect of the law, the Order of the Nail, or his authority. If your evidence adequately proves the Paracountess innocent of her crimes, the paravicar will provide you his signature. I must warn you that you must absolutely not show him any disrespect. If you don’t respect him, you’d best be good at hiding it; the paravicar is an excellent judge of character."
"The mistress of blades is pragmatic to a fault, and takes her role as the military commander of the order very seriously. She is particularly set on bringing civilization to the wild lands of Varisia, which she believes to be the greatest good for all. If you can convince her you share these ideals—and that you have forwarded these goals yourself—she should be more amenable to hearing your request with an open mind."
"Paravicar Acillmar will be in Paravicar’s Keep, where his personal staff of slaves and signifers attend to his needs. The mistress of blades is performing a routine inspection in the armory in the Tower of Tyranny. You may choose who you speak with first."
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Mel thinks to himself that he had better keep his mouth shut until the mission is complete and we are safely out of this keep.
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Rufus feels a chill runs down his spine while entering the fortress. Back in cheliax this is the kind of place where his kind was sent to die. After hearing the hellsknight's explanation he thinks it will be easier to fake respect than to pretend that spreading cheliax's ideals anywhere would be anything less than madness.
How about we try the Paravicar first? I remember once hearing about a gypsy medicine that was called like that too.
Field-Maralictor nods at Rufus' suggestion and leads the group to the keep of Paravicar Acillmar.
This two-story keep features a number of desks, bookshelves, and austere officers’ barracks. On the ground floor, an ironclad gate leads out to the cliff side beyond that castle walls, guarded by a contingent of experienced Hellknights. A well-armored tower rises from the keep’s northeastern corner, its doors blocked by a stern signifer (Hellknight spellcaster).
Entering the keep proper, you find yourselves on a crowded research floor, where slaves chained to their desks transcribe the contents of scrolls full of charts and tables into leather-bound tomes, all under the watchful eyes of several high-ranking signifers. Makorios makes her way to the lone signifer standing guard at the entrance to the tower, and declares, "These are representatives from the Pathfinder Society here to present an urgent matter to the paravicar." The signifer nods, and steps aside, granting the field-maralictor and the group access to the large tower.
Makorios then leads you up a set of stairs hugging the cylindrical tower’s interior wall, past a floor full of strange artifacts being catalogued and analyzed by an equal number of slaves and signifers, to the third floor, where a lone man sits at a desk in the center of the room, ceiling-high bookshelves filling all the walls around him. Makorios motions you all toward the man, makes eye contact with him, then backs down the stairs to the level below to await your return.
A ruddy, red-haired man whose lithe frame is clad in the Hellknights’ traditional black armor, who you assume is Paravicar Acillmar sits at an orderly desk crowded with neatly stacked piles of paper and ancient tomes, penning a lengthy report.
As you enter, he looks up at the group and says simply, "I’ve been expecting you, Pathfinders."
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Quiella offers a bow of her head to the paravicar. "Paravicar Acillmar, my name is Quiella." She quickly introduces each of her companions by name. "I see you keep this place well-ordered. I respect that and don't want to waste your time. We are here, as you know, on behalf of Paracountess Dralneen. We bear proof that she is not guilty of the crimes she has been imprisoned for. In the name of the law, of order, and of correct justice, we request that you do your part to have her released."
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Acillmar eyes Quiella intently for a moment, then nods, "It's excellent to see you have proper respect for authority and also the rule of law. What is this evidence you have to show me?"
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"We found the paracountess's personal travel logs. They show she could not been present to perform the treason she has been accused of."
Quiella presents the log.
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The Paravicar takes the logs and other evidence presented by Quiella and begins carefully examining it. After several minutes, he looks up from the papers, "This evidence appears to be quite exculpatory on the face of it. Is this all you possess? Are you certain there are not other papers that show the contrary? What you've shown me would suggest a great miscarriage of justice."
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Quiella shakes her head gravely. "That is not all. We also bear this proof that Tancred Desimire forged letters in the Paracountess's hand to make her appear guilty." She delivers the notes.
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He takes a look at the forged letters and frowns, "Yes, now I see that your cause is justified. I'll sign the Affidavit." Once given the form, he provides said signature. "Our business is now concluded, please return downstairs to Field-Maralictor Makorios."
* * *
Makorios is indeed waiting below and with little fanfare begins to lead you to the armory to meet the Mistress of Blades.
This two-story, two-towered keep serves as the military command center for the Order of the Nail. On the ground floor, racks of weapons, armor, barding, ammunition, and other implements of war line a number of aisles whose shelves rise to the ten-foot ceiling above. The second floor serves as a strategic command center, where detailed maps of Varisia, the Mindspin Mountains, and Cheliax hang on the walls. A three-dimensional replica of the areas surrounding Korvosa occupies a table in the center of the room, on which miniature armies are positioned in strategic locations. From the cellars below the keep, the sound of clinking hammers and billowed forges echoes through the building.
The Field-Maralictor guides you past a number of low-ranking armigers (Hellknights in training) polishing armor, shields, and swords and repairing broken crossbows. You then go up a flight of stairs and are summarily presented to presented to the Mistress of Blades, who is in the process of meeting with several of her lieutenants, and looking at strategic maps and reports.
Standing nearly 7 feet tall and probably weighing more than 1,000 pounds the Mistress of Blades Maidrayne Vox is a looming presence in the room. The heavily armored centaur looks up from her work after signing a form held by a lieutenant to see Makorios leading you into the room. She immediately silences her subordinates and strides forward to meet the party. "So," she says. "I understand you seek the freedom of our Chelish guest? Leave us, Hellknights, so that we may converse."
Makorios and the Mistress of Blades’s lieutenants excuse themselves to the armory below, while the centaur paces back and forth waiting for a response.
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Mel stays to the back and says nothing, politely waiting for his betters to speak.
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Quiella offers the Paravicar a bow as she accepts the signature.
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Quiella smiles at Tealeaf and gives him a nod of acceptance for the compliment, but says nothing in reply.
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Quiella bows "My name is Quiella." She introduces each of her companions one at a time. "You have a well-ordered fortress here. I respect that. You are a centaur who clearly has much to do so I will not waste your time. We are here with evidence that shows the Paracountess Dralneen is innocent of the charges that brought her here. In the name of order and the proper carriage of justice--the very foundations of civilization--we formally request that you do your part in helping us release her."
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She doesn't appear especially swayed by Quiella's formal style, but it seems to work well enough, "Well, let me see this evidence. How did you get involved with with this investigation? Do you really care about furthering the cause civilization or are you just following orders? How do you feel about all the barbarians that live in Varisia?"
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Halkale clears his throat and says, stuttering, "We all have a c-c-code we live by, while I don't just blindly follow orders, I do seek to restore order wherever I roam. And, the parac-c-countess is c-c-clearly innocent and freeing her is lawful and also our mission. But, please don't judge her on my ability to..to speak well."
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Quiella hands over the documents. "As a Paladin I care greatly about civilization. The order brought by civilization can be a great aid in alleviating suffering--when it doesn't bring more suffering through oppression." She pauses a moment. "I suspect the Varisian barbarians could benefit from many elements of civilization. But I do not know much about them, honestly."
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The Mistress of Blades leafs through the evidence while Quiella and Halkale explain their views, "It does appear that someone is twisting the law, it happens all too often. Will you bring the people behind this criminal fraud to justice, or is freeing the Paracountess your only goal?"
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"It would bring me great satisfaction to personally bring the fraud to justice. However, I am unsure how things will shake out. I certainly hope that I am part of a mission with the society to do just that, but I cannot tell for sure. There are many injustices in the world to correct. I must not object if this one does not fall to me to handle."
"Your papers here suggest that Tancred Desimire is responsible for the false charges, you'd know better than me if there were others involved." She replies to Halkale's question, then announces "This looks like it's an open and shut case, I'll gladly sign."
The Mistress of Blades takes the affidavit and quickly places her signature, "Hmm, you convinced Paravicar Acillmar's to sign? I surprised he was so understanding of your case. In any event, we both have a lot to do. Good day."
Making your way back down to the armory, you meet back up with Field-Maralictor Elixia Makorios who leads you out and back to Lictor's Keep.
* * *
Also called the Keep of Tyranny, Lictor’s Keep rises in the center of Bastion Dominus. Rising two stories above the open bailey, this forbidding structure features few windows, each seemingly narrower than the last, and a roof rife with spikes of iron and stone. On the first floor, is the Hall of Edicts, an austere courtroom of sorts where the order’s lictor and lesser tribunals judge those who have violated the law. On the floor above are the private quarters of Lictor DiViri, though these are guarded and strictly off-limits to anyone but the lictor and his guests.
At the entrance of the tower, Makorios shows the affidavit to a contingent of Hellknight guards who stand aside to you and your liaison pass. Once inside, the Field-Maralictor hands Quiella the affidavit, gives her a stoic glare, then turns and exits.
This ominously furnished room contains a low-hanging chandelier made of smoky glass and bookshelves filled with leather-bound tomes. A wide stack of yellowed, black-bound volumes sits atop a raised dais—the ebony-colored judge’s bench—in the center of the room. Hard at work on reviewing some papers, the human man who you assume is Lictor Severs “Boneclaw” DiViri sits behind the imposing bench. The Lictor’s right hand is fully engulfed in a prominent, black steel gauntlet; shadows from the candlelight chandelier make the scars on his face seem even more ghoulish.
As the party walks in, the Lictor looks up at you, seemingly annoyed at the interruption. After a few moments pass the anger fades and he extends his left hand out as if demanding the affidavit and makes a tight-lipped demand, "Tell me what you know."
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Quiella hands over the affidavit abs prepares the paper evidence. "We have proof here that Tancred Desimire forged the letters used to incriminate the Paracountess. Further, we have the Paracountess's personal travel log, which shows she could not have performed the treasonous actions of which she was accused--she was away at the time. We come requesting that you release her in the name of the law and correct justice."
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"It's not like she can be in two places at once." squeaks the elf from behind.
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Taking both the affidavit and the evidence, the Lictor looks over the papers for a minute or so before sighing and slamming them down on his table. After swearing profusely to himself, he signs the affidavit and begins a gruff address, "That my order would accept a falsely accused prisoner, and one who is a Chelish paracountess, no less? Completely unacceptable! No payment assuages that fact! Pathfinders, I know now that what you say is true: Paracountess Zarta Dralneen is innocent. And thus, she must be freed. I assume you wish to escort her from our custody? Yes, good. This embarrassing error must righted."
"Travel to the southernmost end of the keep; there, beneath a tower called the Forgetful Spire, you’ll find an entrance to our oubliette—a place we call Caina. Pay no mind to what or who you find there, for they are meant to be forgotten. Just give this certified affidavit to Maralictor Ganden Heriphis, the oubliette’s keeper. He’ll know what to do. Now, quickly, be on your way—this blunder will be rectified promptly or not at all!"
* * *
Yet again Makorios is waiting for you after your meeting with a Hellknight officer. Noting that you all now have a legal affidavit, the she offers, "I can take you to the Forgetful Spire now, unless you wish to have a look at our Garrison Library first. I'm told you Pathfinders value knowledge."
Field-Maralictor Makorios nods curtly and leads you past the library doors and towards the spire.
This slender tower rises from the northeastern tower of the citadel, with barren walls and barren floors given credence to its name: the Forgetful Spire. Aside from the door to Bastion Ferox’s bailey and the stairs climbing the cylinder’s inner wall, the tower appears to be a hollow, empty shell.
Entering inside, Makorios immediately moves to the floor, inserts a key into a small hole and turns it. She then pulls up on the hidden trap door that leads down to a set of spiraling stairs. "My job is done." She announces and steps aside.
Although Everburning Torches are placed every 10 feet or so down the musty stairs, they seem to spiral down indefinitely until, after a couple of minutes, you finally reach the bottom.
These stairs lead to an oubliette containing a dark, dreadful grouping of prison cells that the Hellknights call Caina, after the infernal realm of torture and pain. Prison cells dominate both the room’s north and south walls; the largest of these serves as a torture chamber for prisoners whose sentence also includes correction with devices such as racks and bottomless chairs. A thick column lined with bloody stains stands in the center of the main room; the torches mounted on it throw grim light upon all the oubliette’s horrors. A desk sits along the east wall; from there a single guard can keep an eye on all of the cells. On top of the desk is is an enormous black helmet tipped with wicked-looking horns—a traditional Hellknight helm.
Standing behind the desk is a tall human male, with sharp green eyes and dark, shoulder-length hair streaked with white. Sitting beside him are two creatures that resemble a thin, lanky wolves with reddish-brown fur, white claws, and burning, fiery red eyes.
"Approach the desk." The man commands as he sees you, concentrating on the group as you all come into view.
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Mel is very uncomfortable in this place and the sight of those unearthly creatures makes it worse. He thinks hard about what he was taught so long ago. He whispers what he knows to the rest of the party, especially anything about their weaknesses and immunities.
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As Quiella places the affidavit on the table, the man continues to stare at each one of you intently for a few moments, before picking up the paper and reading it over.
As he does so, Quiella stares back and notes that the man and his two pets are all evil.
Valik and Melufiuos realize that his dogs are actually hellhounds. They are evil outsiders that can breathe a cone of fire about two or three times a minute, they are immune to fire damage, but vulnerable to cold. Their only other major attack is a bite, but it does fire damage as well.
An ominous look falls over the man's face as he looks over the affidavit. As he finishes inspecting the document, he mutters to himself, "I should have known this would get messy." He then looks to his hellhounds and commands in Infernal, "Kill them!"
Initiative (Round 1)
Melufiuos <= Up
Rufus <= Up
2 Hellhounds
Ophelia
Halkale/Frostfur
Hellknight Warden
Quiella
Valik
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"Not today!" shouts Mel as he leaps into action. You hear him humm as he crosses the room and attack one of the puppies.
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Melufiuos rushes in to attack the northern hellhound, but he can't quite capitalize on his advantage and his blade misses its mark.
Rufus places his hypnotic stare on the Hellknight and then promptly blinds him with a spell.
The hellhound next to Melufiuos breathes fire on the poor elf, while the southern hellhound breathes on Quiella.
Initiative (Round 1)
Melufiuos [Ref save needed]
Rufus
2 Hellhounds
Ophelia <= Up
Halkale/Frostfur <= Up
Hellknight Warden
Quiella [Ref save needed]
Valik
Ophelia prays to Pharasma for some divine aid in the battle and moves into melee with one of the hell hounds.
Frostfur advances one of the hellish dogs and attempts to bite, but can't find a good opening for her bite.
Halkale then fires an arrow that unfortunately misses due to the cover of his allies.
The blinded Hellknight draws two weapons: the first a longsword that becomes wreathed in flame as it's pulled from its sheath, the second a short sword of high quality. Despite his new found disability, the warden stands defiant.
Initiative (Rounds 1-2)
Melufiuos [2 dmg] <= Up
Rufus <= Up
2 Hellhounds
Ophelia
Halkale/Frostfur
Hellknight Warden
Quiella [4 dmg] <= Up
Valik <= Up
Effects
Prayer: +1 bonus to PC's attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, and skill checks
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Valik, moves up and tries to bash the viscous puppy with his weapon. He than focuses his inner ki to protect his vital organs.
His swing, is in perfect form. The angle of the section of the staff, swings in a perfect arc to connect solidly with the hellhound's ribs, making a sickening thud.
Valik turns to the HellKnight, You don't have to fight us. Surrender now if you value the law as much as you CLAIM you do