"Alright, what is the payment?" Xander said, worried he knew the answer already.
Milo squeezes his eyes shut a moment at seeing the fingerbones and hearing Xinvara's words. Yes, sacrifices to Zon-Kuthon alright. He wonders if two of those are Anya's.
"Right, I was wrong, clearly nothing we need in these cells," he mutters hurriedly, staring at the shadowy-guardian-snake things. "No prisoners here! SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, GOODBYE!"
Milo moves to shut the door.
Xander looked sidelong at his partner, letting the door slam shut in front of him. Then nodded slowly. "Good call."
For those who wisssssh to ssssseek the dead, a pieccccce of their flesssssh mussssst die asssss well... a sibilant voice begins to intone, and the snakelike creatures begin to weave back and forth in a strange dance...but by the time they start to sway, the door is already closing on them, and the last hiss of their call echoes against the shadowy timbers.
Back up the stairs waits the diverging hallway, two doors to the left, a door and a dripping black wall to the right.
Xander moves straight down the hall, moving carefully.
Behind the door, Xander hears a faint growl and several small barks; he's reminded of Gavril's hounds worrying over the meat and bones their master had been bestowing on his charges the night previous. He sees nothing out of the ordinary around the door frame, and a gentle test of the handle reveals that the door is not locked.
"Thanks," Milo mutters to the 'good call' t hing. He throws glances back over his shoulder as they leave the shadow-things behind. "They didn't have thumbs, right?" he whispers to the others. "Or hands? I hope they can't get that door open..."
He stands with blade ready for whatever is on the other side of the door.
"Dogs." Xander says quietly. "Might bark. Let's keep moving."
Leaving the barking and snuffling sounds behind, you continue down the hallway. The strange black ooze emerging from the south wall seems to stop about two-thirds of the way down the hallway, with no source apparent.
Turning the north-western corner, you note another door on each side. Listening at the eastern door , you hear only silence, and a look at the door frame shows no signs of surprises. An ear to the western door and a search of the frame gives no hint of anything untoward, but a test of the handle quickly shows that it's locked. Another door lies at the corridor's bend ; silence reigns beyond it, and there is no sign of traps, nor resistance to a tiny wiggle of the knob.
The wall opens to the south side of the southern hallway , revealing several doors beyond. The area between the doors looks to be a small common room - a dilapidated table and a couple of chairs sit in the center. Two people rest in the chairs, halfheartedly playing at a game of checkers sitting on the table; you hear faint sobbing behind the far door. As you draw close to the wall's opening, however, the two at the table suddenly start and look up. Piercing yellow eyes glint in the pale torchlight, and together with the stark white skin, it becomes clear they're shadow-born.
Huh. More new ones, the man sitting at the table remarks disinterestedly. Like those nobles. How long ago's that been? the woman adds.
With no point left in being stealthy, Xander leans in the doorway casually. "Didn't mean to interrupt your game. Anything new arrivals should know about this place before we start wandering around?"
Maybe they're in for rudeness, the man remarks laconically to the woman. New guy doesn't even give his name before digging for the dirt...
He turns back to Xander. This is Merys, he says, nodding to the woman across the table, and I'm Lucoth, since you care. I imagine your rooms'll be showing up soon, unless the house wants you all to share that one. He nods to the door across from him . Taryn left it behind at the end of a rope...when was that?
What is "when"? Does "when" really matter when time doesn't pass? Merys responds with dismay. But he's right. You'll get sorted soon, I imagine. Maybe your room's already upstairs, if you're here for the updwellers.
Milo has followed Xander faithfully, ten feet behind him more or less, just in case there's trouble. He... was not expecting to run into anyone here but shadow-monsters, and his shock is evident in his initial speechlessness.
He recovers, clears his throat, and drops a quick bow to the two kayal.
"Lucoth, Merys; who's winning?" (a little nod at the checkers table). "I'm Milo. I'd say it's a pleasure, but as unwilling guests, all of us... that doesn't seem appropriate. How long have you two been here, if you'll humor me, and if the question has any meaning if 'time doesn't pass'? And, if you'll humor be a bit more-- who are these 'updwellers'?"
Milo's rummaging in his pack as he speaks, and pulls forth... a small wooden box, which slides open to reveal a deck of cards. "Of course, if you'd care to talk over a game a little bit more fun than checkers...."
He wriggles the deck, temptingly.
Lucoth always wins. I expect he's the torment meant for me in here - you'd think I'd learn after a while, but no... Merys picks up one of her checkers, spins it on the table, then returns it to its place. Haven't much played with cards...they're pretty new, although I suppose not to you. But I expect I'll lose at that, too. Well, nothing for it but to see. So, what'll it be? That Tian one, the leaf game? A round of naib, perhaps?
She deftly sorts and stacks the checkers, piling them into compartments built into the bottom of the checkerboard, then takes the board to her room on the north edge of the small area. I learned how to play Karnoffel from one of those Chelish upstarts once, she comments to Lucoth. Plucky, but I doubt they'll ever amount to much. Although that one Chelish lady general in the Crusade against the Whispering Tyrant - apparently she's making quite a stir. Iomedae, I think it was?
As for how long - months, years, decades? You'll have to tell us that. She takes the deck of cards and begins to thumb through it. Well, either it's been a long time or this is a card deck I've never seen before...not that that's hard. Tell you the truth, I've not often seen cards - they're pretty rare. Those Tians and Keleshites want to keep fetching high prices for them, I think.
Lucoth sighs. But all that's probably old news to you. I imagine it's been a good long while since we were sent in here with Nicasor. Suddenly, he pounds his fist against the table. Nicasor! What promises he made! But this gods-forsaken place sure wasn't one of them...Aroden's thumb, I wish I had it to do over again! Sorry...could've, would've, should've at this point, I suppose. There's no getting out of here...
Oh, the updwellers, you asked. Nicasor, his brother and niece. Those among his kayal followers who didn't have the backbone to quit kissing his ass after he got us thrown in here. Oh, and those two noblemen they brought in a while back. They all stay on the top floor while we're left to ourselves down here.
We mostly just keep to staying in here, but Nicasor's hounds are down here off the other hall...and then there's the room where the H- where all the old stuff gets put. A room where all the keys are kept when their rooms disappear. The room with all those paintings - hey, have you gone and checked if Taryn's portrait's there yet? The dining room, that sitting room with the fireplace...oh, and Elenuta's room down that way. He jerks his head toward the east hallway. Just...stay away from her. It's probably best.
As for what to know about this place - just sit tight. Learn not to worry too much about being late for dinner. There is no dinner, and no such thing as late. And...be ready for when the Heart decides it's your turn for some sport. He glances worriedly toward the center chambers, and Merys bats at his arm with a shushing noise.
Desire to leave? Sure we've had a desire to leave - ever since we got chucked in here. So for centuries, apparently. Merys chuckles derisively. But our jailer's not much of one for mercy, nor the idea of rehabilitation. Some succumb to the harsher punishments meted out; others fall prey to their own minds, take their escape path into their own hands. But not a one's been released from here alive. If there was a way...
Lucoth's head falls into his hands. We'd make no trouble, I swear it. We were with Nicasor in the revolt, it's true, but what kayal wouldn't have been? He promised us power, wealth, a chance to turn the tables on the humans and have our turn living like kings. Of course we wanted him to be victorious, but most of us weren't so dedicated as Elenuta or the updwellers.
And we're changed - the mirror's seen to that. You don't know how good it is to see your torches - we haven't seen light in ages. No light, no warmth, none of the joys of living...gods, just a bowl of hot soup sounds like Heaven itself right now. And with the Heart's attentions on top of it all...
Merys shushes him again. Call upon it and it'll answer... she whispers, her words tinged with fear.
Xander dug out some jerky and a wineskin from his satchel and passed it to them. "Here. It isn't soup, but its what I have." Out of a pouch he drew a small stone and looked around for a fire place.
"Where's this heart?"
The fetchlings fall to the jerky and wine with gusto. The prison sustains us, Lucoth replies, but there's just something about sinking your teeth into actual food... Merys nods, but can't talk around the mouthful of wine and dried meat she's currently working on.
Lucoth turns to call softly over his shoulder. Jerda, get out here! There's food! And lights! The sound of crying in the other room pauses, and another fetchling woman emerges from behind one of the far doors, tear streaks on her face. She sees the food lying on the table and the ioun torches circling and immediately breaks into a new round of sobs, though they sound less morose and more joyful than before.
She falls in with Lucoth and Merys, and when Xander sets his campfire bead to crackling away, all three cluster around it, sitting on the floor with knees drawn to chests and eyes fixed on the flames struggling against the darkness. Just like the torches, the campfire's flame is pale and somehow slightly cooler than usual, but it makes a noticeable difference, and tears begin to roll silently down Merys' and Lucoth's cheeks as well.
We'll never be able to thank you enough for this, Jerda remarks quietly once her sobs begin to subside. But...how is it you were allowed to come with all this? She gestures to the food, the torches, the weapons, the campfire crackling on the floor. We came with almost nothing but the clothes on our backs, when they sentenced us to this place...
At mention of the Heart, the three fall silent. At the center, Jucoth finally mutters fearfully, but it will have no visitors.
"We came on purpose. To see the heart." Xander said with a slight shrug.
On purpose? To face the Heart? Mad...mad, the lot of you. It's at the center...that's all we know. We've never even seen it...just its will, working throughout the entire house, reshaping the place to suit its whims. Tormenting us. It truly is the beating heart of this place, and whatever kind of thing it is, a being with that kind of power is not something I plan to go toe-to-toe with.
What do you hope to accomplish, anyway? It'll probably just get angry, rip the prison apart and all of us with it. You want my advice? Either get comfortable and prepare for the long haul in here, or find a more pleasant way to take your own life. Because squaring off with the Heart is suicide. Lucoth crosses his arms across his curled-up knees.
Xander shrugged. "Maybe. If it is, nothing changes for you I suppose, other than getting a nice reusable fire out of our intrusion."
"Any idea where we can find a fellow named Nicasor?"
Upstairs, like I said. Nicasor, his family, and those of us kayal who've kept licking his boots this whole time have the run of the top floor, except that Elenuta's probably in her war room down here. Probably mostly just their quarters and such up there - we wouldn't know, we haven't been.
Xander nodded. "Which room is the War room?"
Down that way, he answers with a jut of his head toward the eastern hallway, on the right-hand side coming from here. Leave her room alone and she won't be any trouble. Too busy plotting revenge for her and the rebellion - I think the house keeps her at it just to torment her. She was one of Nicasor's most loyal, you know.
"Anyone else around here that feel the way you do? Others who don't care much about revenge?"
It's...hard to say. The three of us are pretty fed up with Nicasor, I know, but it's been so long since I've seen the others that I really couldn't say. But if they didn't have Nicasor to draw them together, I don't know if any but Elenuta would have the will to fight any longer, especially after this place. Nicasor truly was the figurehead of the revolt.
"Alright. Here's what's going on. Nisacor has managed to somehow poison the people of Karpad, which is the village on the other side of the mirror. People who don't even remember it are dying for Nisacor's rebellion. We came here to stop him."
"There's probably going to be some violence pretty soon. Stay here, go back to your game, and wait it out in front of your fire."
Go for it - you'll have no issues from us. Win your own little slice of shadow to call home. Lucoth's eyes dart back to the flames; Merys' and Jerda's haven't left them. And...thanks for the fire. It's the nicest thing I've seen in a long while.
Xander looked to the others. "Milo, you want to play cards first, or should we go pick a fight?"
Milo can't help but gawk a bit at the whole 'thousands of years' thing that Kinvara reveals. He is silent a moment, unable to imagine anything more utterly miserable than an eternity in the shadows-- the shadows he fled from when he first left Nidal.
"....keep the cards too," he mutters. "My gift to you. Just..."
He shudders and steps back. "No, let's go. Maybe this Eluneta will agree to fight by our side."
Will wasted away to nothing, eternal boredom... Milo resolves that if they fail, he will find a way to take his own life, at least. But he doesn't intend to fail.
"I didn't get that impression. Elunta sounds like a Nisacor hardliner to me. I was just going to lock her in her room and deal with her later." Xabder said with shrug moving back toward the hall.
"I was hearing it as though she resents him now and is trying to think of a way to revenge herself upon him," Milo says with a frown. "Still, easily enough sorted--"
He looks back to the kayal huddled around the fire and the food. "Sorry, just clarifying-- is Eluneta still one of Nicasor's most loyal, or does she have an axe to grind?"
Lucoth scoffs. She's Nicasor's, without a doubt. That's what she spends all her time doing in that room, trying to figure out how to get out and continue his revolt. She would help you fight the Heart, though. I have no doubt of that - she's one of its favorite playthings.
"My mistake, then," Milo says with a shake of his head and a frown. He looks back to Xander and rubs at his forehead with one hand. "Well, let's... go start a fight, then."
Well, stairs up are in the dining room, Lucoth finishes with a gesture toward the last door before the hallway bends . And...good luck. He turns back toward the fire, huddling in its light and warmth.
"Usually it's me trying to look on the bright side. This job is really getting to you, isn't it?" Xander said with a wry smile.
The Pathfinders fall silent as they turn the corner, and watch mutely as Xander drives his ensorcelled spike into the frame of Elenuta's door. At the impact, you hear a panicked shriek from the room beyond, but you hear no move to open the door - in fact, it sounds as if the footsteps recede into the back of the room. Come and get me, monster! I've beaten your minions before, I'll do it again! Beni koğuş!
Xander shakes his head sadly and keeps moving toward the stairs, leaving the tormented woman stuck in her room.
Xander nodded. "A punishment should always fit the crime. This place is as far away from justice as it is possible to get."
"So we'll be looking into the heart of darkness."
"Eventually. First, the stairs of darkness."
"Just hope we don't need allies against this 'Heart," Milo mutters. "If it can really distort the house itself... well, I guess we'll see."
He sticks close, and at Xander's perceptive question about his current mood, he merely shrugs and swallows.
"This place is basically what I grew up believing hell was like." And still more or less believes it, but hey.
"My grandfather says 'when you're going through hell, keep going." Xander said with a supportive hand on his friend's shoulder. "We'll get out of this place."
Milo barks a short laugh to that, and nods a little. "Sage advice, I suppose. Don't worry, I won't turn and run on you all... there's nowhere to run to, for one thing."
Still, he squares his shoulders a bit, takes a deep breath, and climbs the Stairs of Darkness (tm).
The group proceeds to the doors that Lucoth had indicated. Though they're locked, there's no sign of any surprises, and Xander and Milo working together crack the locks within a few moments.
The door opens to reveal a long table, set for a beautiful formal banquet, with every available surface between settings covered with ornate dishes filled to overflowing with every luxurious food anyone can think of. Compared to the rest of the house, it's almost inviting. But it quickly becomes apparent that this is another creation of the Heart's - the soup dishes are as cold as the bottles of champagne, and there is no smell or savor to anything on the table.
Climbing up the stairs , you end up in another corridor. Three doors line its walls - one is just to your left as you reach the stairs' top, the second is on the right further in, and the other is at the hallway's end. As Xander listens carefully at each door , only silence reigns behind the first two, though faint sounds of movement can be heard behind the last.
At the last door Xander motions that he hears movement. Barging in just doesn't seem right. He wasn't sure if this was the right door.