This chamber is the same size as the other rooms, and again lit by a single oil lantern. It contains only one other thing - a torturer's rack in the center of the room, directly below the lantern. It looks functional and ready for use.
"Well, that's not nearly as much fun as a butcher's block." Jezabel remarks, before returning to her song. She continues to let the deluded child lead the group, with her toys and cards, walking instead behind her pal Grumblejack and beside Wraith.
She sings a mournful tune under her breath in a foreign language as she waits at the room's entrance.
Dante clears his throat. "Well, let's start with 'I'm not letting you torture me, Geborah'."
"Do torturers often ask for permission, in your experience? No, His Eminence's message is clear enough--we're to use torment as a tool. Even if the Pact permitted it, we have no reason to torture each other. Perhaps the rack is a piece of a puzzle that will make sense once the other pieces are found. As the freezing gem was the solution to the moldy door." She crosses her arms and considers the device, then produces the iron circlet the Cardinal gave her. "I've been wondering what puzzle these might be a part of. They're not part of any Asmodean ritual I know of...do any of you have a guess what they're for?"
Jezabel smirks as she sings a reply. "The circlet can change our appearance, and even allow Wraith to disguise himself as human."
With an appreciative wink at Wraith she adds, "Not that he should..."
Shifting between a human looking version of himself and his original form, Wraith quickly settles back into his original form. "Only when the situation requires."
"As for the riddle, if we don't find someone here, maybe there is someone in this test for us to question, in another room perhaps?"
"Well Geb, get to searching, I think I might take a rest and stretch out on the table till your done.
Walking over, Wraith lays down on the table, having his skeleton stand watch next to him.
"So, we're not supposed to use this thing pointlessly... And we're supposed to torment our allies... and it's a tool." He throws his hands up. "I guess we find an enemy? There's no passages that we've missed, right?"
"There were a few different doors in the last room," Jezabel reminds Dante.
He jerks his head backwards. "Let's go back and try another way, then."
"Agreeeeeeed." she sings. Urging Grumblejack to come with her, she follows Dante back to the other room, and up to the other door.
Geborah has been toying with her iron circlet, holding it and waving it with no result. Finally she settles it on her head and concentrates. The outline of her form wavers, then resolves into...
...a kind-looking old woman in dusty servant's clothes. She grins sharply and looks at her calloused and wrinkled hands. "Perfect," she says, then frowns. "Except the voice. Still mine, not that interfering old..."
She clears her throat, and then in a tone as creaky as leather but as sweet as marshmallows drowned in honey, says, "Now, children, none of your games now, you've chores to do. Nanny'll have your porridge waiting for you when you're done, so hop fast or it'll be cold."
It's a parody of an old woman's voice, but it might fool the unwary, even if there's still a hint of something inhumanly cruel in her smiling eyes.
"Now let Nanny do her work!"
She paces through the room, searching diligently.
Taking Grumblejack, you go back to the room with the vampiric mist and have Grumblejack remove the bar from the door. You step through to find that the hallway immediately goes to the left 60 feet before making a right turn and ending at another door 10 feet in. The inscription on this door says, "The chosen are revealed by their might. The weak deserve no sympathy."
After over half an hour of Geborah searching, she comes across a seam in the wall, along with a catch - a hidden door!
"Well, isn't that ommmmmminouuuuuus," Jezabel sings. She smiles and then hums a tune under her breath, causing her eyes to glow green again. Then she inspects the door.
Dante hums. "I bet there's some badass enemy behind there," he says. "Or some sick trap where it drops a guillotine on you if you can't hold it up or something. Now, maybe we should get Balam?"
"That's what Grumblejack's for." Jezabel replies with a smile. She looks up at Grumblejack. "You're strong, aren't you dear?"
Then she shrugs. "Lead on, Dante. We can tell the others. Perhaps the child's done playing 'I Spy' by now."
She begins to sing a song under her breath about caution as she follows Dante back to the others.
Dante checks the door for traps before opening it up.
Balam looks around the room with the other.s
Dante finds no traps, and he opens the door to reveal another 30 foot square room with a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. This room also contains two cobras that appear to be made of some silvery shiny metal.
They hiss at you and one slithers forward to the doorway, lashing out Dante with its fangs. He feels them pierce his thigh deeply, and poison pumps into his veins.
You take points of dexterity damage.
Dante, Jezabel, you are up.
Geborah opens the secret door and within sees a young teenage boy - about 13 or 14. He is curled up into a ball hugging his knees, wearing a filth-stained tabard over a chain shirt. He seems quite frightened.
Upon seeing "Auntie Geb", he stands up and says, ", I don't know how you came to be here, but it isn't safe! There are monsters and foul creatures, along with a cruel man and a woman who live in the manor upstairs. I was able to hide from them here. I am Timeon, squire to Sir Balin, Knight of the Alerion! He's a great knight. I am sure he is down here somewhere." Timeon's gaze then goes past Geborah to see Wraith and his skeleton. With a cry of alarm, he shouts, "There are walking skeltal monstrosities behind you! Quickly, you must get in here! We shall be safe from them." He begins pulling on your arm to pull you into the secret room."[/b]
All of you know who Sir Balin of Kierkegaard is - the famous witch hunter and Knight of the Alerion. Perhaps some of you have even encountered him?
Dante - 7/19
Dante gasps in pain before retreating. "F+&~ this," he mutters, withdrawing into another room.
Jezabel lets out a mad laugh. Then she shuts the door in the snakes face.
Jezabel closes the door as Dante falls back towards the room the vampiric mist had been in. Grumblejack says, "Metal snakes not good for digestion. We go back to others?"
Wraith has sudden inspiration. With a scowl he shouts "Foul child you ruined my ambush! Pay with your life!“ while ordering his skeleton back, Wraith quickly casts a ray of frost above the child's head.
Hoping his allies pick up on the ruse he slams the door behind him planning to inform his other party members of the situation.
'Auntie Geb' lets Timeon pull her into the secret room, gesturing for Tatienne and Balam to follow her. "Oh, quick thinking, young master!" she croaks. "That sneaky devil nearly had us!"
"Give us a moment to prepare, and we'll rush out and confront him. Tatienne and Balam will protect us, they're, ah, witch finders. That's, that's why they have an 'F' branded on their arms, 'F' for 'Finder'. Looks a little like the 'Forsaken' brand, doesn't it. Ha! Ha! A lot of people get them mixed up! Probably shouldn't use the same letter!"
Balam scowls behind his helmet. Either this was a trick, or this boy really was the squite of an enemy of his faith. Either what, he could be a useful tool.
"Stop that.". He tried to make his voice sound authoritative, yet kind. The way one of those fools who served Mitra would sound. "The skeleton currently means us no harm. It follows us around, but hasn't attacked us yet. It's actually attacking our enemies. You.must forgive my friend, he's a but on edge from this place. Come, out of there and help us, tell us what you know, and perhaps we can find your master together.
Still, the boy was obviously wily; his motives appeared inscrutable, his face blank of emotion.
Taty waits, patient, like a scorpion, for the prey to spring into action.
Jezabel laughs again, then looks at Dante. "Need a hand, dear?"
Jezabel pulls out her wand and with a flick of her wrist, presses it against Dante's wounds.
She stows her wand, then looks up at Grumblejack. "Weeee dooooo..." she replies in song.
As they walk back to the others she sings a happy little bit of nonsense which starts as the word devour, and slowly transforms into the word satiated.
@ GM: Let me know when we're back with the others time-wise.
Jezabel, Dante, and Grumblejack walk back up the northern corridor and see Wraith and his skeleton standing outside the door.
Inside the room, Timeon's eyes widen as he realizes Geborah's deception - her old woman voice needs some work. His eyes go to Balam as he speaks - he knows no Knight of the Alerion would talk about the undead in such a way. His eyes focus on the knight - and then see the Asmodean holy symbol about his neck. He cries in alarm and flings himself backwards, shouting, "Devil worshippers! Villains! Stay back!" He cowers in the corner, holding a wooden holy symbol of Mitra before him like a talisman to keep the evil devil worshipers at bay.
You don't recognize the name Timeon - it's common enough in Talingarde. It does sound like he might be from up North - perhaps the Borderlands?
Geborah takes the iron circlet off her head and her disguise melts away. She rolls her eyes at the squire's protests.
"Fine--we'll do this His Eminence's way. Tatienne, Balam...take him to the rack."
Once Timeon has been brought to the rack, Geborah makes a show of demonstrating its operation, spinning the great wheels with sadistic glee.
"You're our prisoner. You will tell us everything you know of this dungeon, of the man and woman who live upstairs...and of Sir Balin. I warn you, I will know if you lie." She fixes him with her red eye. "Say anything but the truth, or refuse to answer, and we'll stretch you on this rack. We'll break your arms, your legs, your back, leaving you a ruined cripple. You'll be in agony, and on the day we decide to release you, you'll be a helpless beggar on the streets your whole. Pathetic. Life."
She seizes the wooden Mitran holy symbol from him, lights it on fire with a firebolt, and tosses in the corner like garbage.
"Now start talking."
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"Boy." Balam crouches down to look the lad in the eye. "You have little options here. Your master is gone, either dead, or so lost in this place he may as well be dead to you. We, however, are alive, and would like to stay alive."
He gestures towards Geborah. "She will hurt you. She doesn't care about how scared you are. Or anything. She will, however enjoy what she does. Very much. If you escape, the torments in here will kill you. That is a fact. IF you tell us what you know, you will avoid all that. You will leave here, and you will not be tortured. Come out and help us."
Tatienne and Balam drag Timeon from the room and strap him to the rack. Once Timeon has been brought to the rack, Geborah makes a show of demonstrating its operation, spinning the great wheels with sadistic glee.
"You're our prisoner. You will tell us everything you know of this dungeon, of the man and woman who live upstairs...and of Sir Balin. I warn you, I will know if you lie." She fixes him with her red eye. "Say anything but the truth, or refuse to answer, and we'll stretch you on this rack. We'll break your arms, your legs, your back, leaving you a ruined cripple. You'll be in agony, and on the day we decide to release you, you'll be a helpless beggar on the streets your whole. Pathetic. Life."
She seizes the wooden Mitran holy symbol from him, lights it on fire with a firebolt, and tosses in the corner like garbage.
"Now start talking."
"Boy." Balam crouches down to look the lad in the eye. "You have little options here. Your master is gone, either dead, or so lost in this place he may as well be dead to you. We, however, are alive, and would like to stay alive."
He gestures towards Geborah. "She will hurt you. She doesn't care about how scared you are. Or anything. She will, however enjoy what she does. Very much. If you escape, the torments in here will kill you. That is a fact. IF you tell us what you know, you will avoid all that. You will leave here, and you will not be tortured. Come out and help us."
The action of strapping Timeon to the rack and Geborah and Balam's words easily breaks the boy. He breaks down into tears of fear and, blubbering, begins talking. "Please don't hurt me. The man who chased me down here wore robes and had an Asmodean symbol about his neck. His head was completely bald, and I swear his eyes held Hellfire in them. The woman was beautiful with a cruel light to her eyes and dressed all in white." You easily recognize his descriptions as Cardinal Thorn and Tiadora. "I found that secret room and hid from them so they couldn't find me. I overheard them talking. They said these chambers of death held no escape. There are vicious metal snakes nearby, and drowned men who rise when they hear a high-pierced shriek from another room. The way out is in a secret door across from the stairs."
He seems to regain some of his courage as he begins talking about Sir Balin. "Sir Balin is a famous witch hunter and Knight of the Alerion. He's a fierce warrior, highly skilled with his blade who can cut down any foe who faces him. That he chose me for his squire was great honor. I know he's alive down here somewhere - and when he finds me, he shall free me. And he shall cut you all down in the process."
Timeon shows a bit of defiance towards the end there, but you can tell he hasn't attempted to lie.
Take Dexterity damage as the paralytic poison continues pumping through your veins.
"Does Sir Balin own a pendant of silver and sapphire, perchance?"
After looking for them he missing companions, Wraith quickly informs him of the discovery of the boy. Once done and questioning why Dante seems hurt, he returns to hear that his attempted ruse failed and that they started a proper interrogation...
"Ahh poor boy, I did try to spare you but alas...By chance can I have his bones when were through... I could always use a second minion?"
At hearing the name of Balin, Wraith grins a wicked grin... "I know that name, Sir Balin was the man who sent me to Branderscar... now would make great material...."
Wraith wanders into the corner, but before doing so he whispers to Geborah..."You should try and convert the lad, magine what things he might tell given time. Plus most squires have blue blood connection and could be used to spy."
"Good lad". He ruffles the boy's hair, offering a bit of comfort as a reward for faithful service. He chuckles at the boys bravado. "you are very brave, and wise. But, remember we are all that stand between y you and certain death. Do you know why they sent you down here?
Dante stands stock-still as the group threatens and tortures a boy. He just stands and watches, unsure of what to do. Should he help? Should he stop them? Should he do nothing?
Dante doesn't know. His situation has thrown a wrench into everything he believes. First everyone he thought believed in him left him behind and threw him in prison. Then servants of his country's greatest enemy saved him from death. Then, they were all roped into servitude for life.
And then he was bitten by a giant metal spider, and the poison is slowly twisting him up. Ugh.
Focused on terrorizing the squire, Geborah pays little attention when the others reenter the torture room--at first. Then she notices the bloody tear in Dante's clothes, and the puckered, red, swollen flesh beneath it.
"That looks poisoned, Dante. Did you stumble into a trap?" She stoops for a closer view. "Or...venom, from Timeon's vicious metal snakes. Let me guess--Jezabel sealed the puncture wounds up without getting the toxin out first. We'll need to act fast."
A two-fingered pinch of Geborah's nails opens a neat incision just above the snakebite. Then she vigorously kneads his body, stroking away from his heart to force a quantity of blood and serum out of the wound.
Jezabel smiles at the child and begins so sing a gentle song...
"Come little children, I'll take you away..."
She moves over to comfort the boy, and runs her finger down his cheek. "Oh, you poor thing... All skin and bones..."
Jezabel laughs, and although it sounds pleasant and comforting, her blood stained hands and sharp-ish teeth make her seem eery.
Timeon responds, "Sir Balin's holy symbol of Mitra is silver and sapphire - you will find it far less flammable when he strikes you down."
You know Sir Balin of Karfeld is a Knight of the Alerion, famous for personally hunting down followers of Asmodeus. You remember very well his look and the silver and sapphire holy symbol of Mitra about his neck as he arrested.
As much as he appreciates the leg massage, Dante is still suffering.
Torture was an unfortunate necessity, but Tatienne had little use for engaging in it herself. Thankfully a distraction presented itself in the poisoned detective - well, maybe not thankfully for Dante.
Placing her hand over the man's forehead, as if a concerned mother, Taty frowned. "You're warm, dear. The poison is making havoc on your body."
Still, there was a little that the relic hunter could do. It always helped to have some warding magics in place. Taking her recently purchased traveling cloak from her shoulders, she wraps Dante in it.
"There you go dear. This will help settle the chills."
Geborah has Dante lie down as she administers a poultice to the wound.
Dante sinks to the ground as he slowly starts to become paralyzed by poison.
"So other than the poison, how was your little adventure?" Geborah tries to distract Dante, keeping him from panicking and pumping the venom through his body faster.
Wraith wanders into the corner, but before doing so he whispers to Geborah..."You should try and convert the lad, magine what things he might tell given time. Plus most squires have blue blood connection and could be used to spy."
"This twerp, a spy?" Geborah snorts. "Serving Asmodeus as we do is a privilege, not a punishment. If he's fit for anything above emptying our chamber pots, he'll have to prove it. But perhaps a seed of darkness could be planted in his heart. I'll ask Tiadora's opinion when we're done here. But for now..."
Geborah directs Balam to tie the squire with his hands behind his back, the end of the rope dangling from his neck like a leash, but with his legs free. She smirks as she takes the end of his lead. "If you try to run, I'll burn you," she says.
Then she turns back to Dante and Jezabel. "Now...do you two have anything to tell us before we go deal with the snakes?"
Wordlessly, Balam does as directed. He firmly holds the lad's rope in his shield habd, while still.maintaining a ready grip on his sword and shield. Then, he stands, and waits, ready to.lead his betters deeper into the maze
"Follow meeee...." Jezabel sings eerily. "They were this waaaaaay...."
"Right behind this door..."