Brandon ignores the voice for the moment, concentrating on the injured Tessai. He tips her head back and gently pours a potion down her throat.
Welcome back to the land of the living.he says as her eyes slowly open. Steady when you get up, you are still gravely injured. Kyle can you do something more permanent about these wounds?
Seeing Tessai being picked up Aemon shakes his head as he walks over to the downed hellknight then spits. "They thought we were that easy?! They will pay for misjudging us." He then kicks the down hellknight before searching and striping him of all his gear. "I guess they know who we are... How could they know if not for your friend talking Kyle maybe you told her alittle more than you said and are trying to cover up." He then stand a up and steps to Kyle. "Swear to us you didn't give her any information that could lead to us not even a hint!" Armon starts to work himself up blind to the man in the cell.
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You find a flaming long sword +1 and half plate +1 on the hellknight, who lies broken at your feet.
As Kyle calls out for the actress, the old man replies, Eh? You lookin' for the real pretty young chick? The warden there drug her off to his little room back there a while ago. She's been in there a while. Hate to think what he's done to something that pretty.
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At the mention of her, some of the other inmates start howling like dogs and laughing. A blond hair man yells, Wait....why are we laughing. With the Warden dead, who's going to feed us? Its not like any of hte Hellknights topside are going to give a damn when no one shows to featch our food. This is where people are 'forgotten!' Suddenly it gets real quiet and somber.
Beppo takes out a scrap of paper, writes "Disobeyed direct orders from Maralictor" on it, and sets it on the hellknight's head.
He picks up the sword and strips the dead man of his half-plate. This stuff could come in handy, or at least demand a good price.
He then turns toward the old man. You - old man! Do you know where the warden is?
Whatever that dog might have done will pale in comparison to what we will do to him if he has harmed her. Why is it that the lowest managers are always the ones that abuse what little authority they have?
He was the warden, Beppo.
Brandon moves quickly to the door and pulls it open, saying;
Calseinica, are you here? as he does so.
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The locked door to this room opens easily with Heriphis’s room key, conveniently located on his body. Once opened, the room reveals little more than a bed and a small wardrobe built into the south wall.
Strangely, the room’s east wall is adorned with a small, framed painting of an eyeless, two-headed devil hound baying against a fiery background.
The old man was mistaken... Or lying. Brandon considers, looking around the sparse room.
But hang on, what's this..?
He removes the box from the hollow and rejoins the others.
No sign of her, all I found was this.
As Kyle just turns and starts shouting Aemon just shakes his head. "Am I the only one disturbed about what just happend? Kyle doesn't want to face the facts." Aemon then draws his sword pushing past people ignoring all the cells.
"Where is she? I have questions for her."
Aemon, for gods sake do you realise what we've just done? Killed a hellknight marelictor in the heart of their own complex! We've been complacent and over confident, thats true but the time for accusations and recriminations is later. Lets just make sure we survive long enough to make them.
He hands the ledger to Kyle.
See if she's in there.
He spins back to the ranger.
Watch the stairs, those bastards upstairs must have signed our death warrant up there so they may be waiting for a signal for the all clear. Oh god. he shakes his head at the thought.
[b]When did you see her going in there? When!?[b] he asks the old man., gripping the bars with trembling hands, the panic rising in his voice.
Aemon grits his teeth and clenches his fits "Not the time? If we die now I guess we'll never get to the bottom of this, we'll just forget then. He looks away, at those in the cell "This is not the end of this! Kyle you'll explain this if we get out!" Aemon looks at Kyle points his sword, then puts it away and pulls his bow out, and walks away muttering to himself. "Not the time.. When will it be the time"
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You review the prisoner logbook. It is a record of all prisoners kept in the oubliette’s cells in recent years. Under the heading “Holding Cell Four,” the words “vacant—must remove corpse” feature prominently over a carefully redacted entry. Under “Holding Cell Three,” the words “Sascha Antif-Arah of Korvosa—indefinite” are written. Under “Holding Cell Two,” above several redacted entries is written “Markus Gael—traitor.” The only entry under “Holding Cell One” was scribbled out hastily but is still legible: “Calaseinca—execution imminent. Requested by Losarkur. Delivered.”
In addition to the above, the alchemist finds a satchel under the bed.
Aemon huffs and puffs. Could my brother have been brought to a place like this? he then punches the wall next to him, the pain bring him back to the situation and he looks on again to the stairs while he rubs his hands.
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"Looks like she's not here. She has been handed over to Losarkur. In case you aren't aware; Losarkur, also called the Beastlord of Avernus, is an infernal duke under Barbatos, that realm’s liege. Losarkur is known for keeping kennel-caverns of cerberi and hellhounds—just like the ones that served Heriphis which we killed."
Tessai puts a hand on Brandon's sholder. Calm down. Let's use our heads for a minute, before a bunch of Hellknights come down here and remove them from our sholders. What did you find in his room? Any clues?
Beppo's face takes on a grim appearance. I don't like the sound of "Requested" and "Delivered" when it comes to Calsenica and a beastlord. Perhaps we should return to our gatekeeper, or to DeViri, to find out what this could mean and how much farther we have to go to get her back.
...
As for killing a hellknight, well, he was disobeying a strict order from his leader, backed up by two other hellknights of some importance. We probably saved him from a worse fate.
Aemon looks on not saying a word. I guess I get no response, let's all take this charmly like we didn't just get attacked.
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"I guess they know who we are... How could they know if not for your friend talking Kyle maybe you told her alittle more than you said and are trying to cover up." He then stand a up and steps to Kyle. "Swear to us you didn't give her any information that could lead to us not even a hint!"
Kyle responds to Aemon, "If she knew something about us, they would have all that information from her and would come for us directly and legally. She knows nothing."
Tessai sighs. Aemon, calm down. Kyle's probably right on this. The Order of the Nail isn't known for being subtle once they suspect someone of conspiracy against the government.
She turns to the prisoner, What do you mean she's in hell?
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The old man replies, I heard the warden talkin' to man a while back. He thought I was asleep, he did. But, no! I may be blind in one eye, but my hearing is as SHARP as ever! There's a painting or something in the Warden's room. It's a gateway to hell! That's where he gets his flaming pooches from. He trades prisoners that won't be missed to the demons in it for them dogs! There's a word you have to say near the paintin' to get it to work. I don't know if that pretty girl will still be alive, though.
Aemon throws his hands in the air. "Is it just luck that they caught her, and then we came running to free her as there was clear growed to get her out then we get set down here and get attacked.... You really think his bastard." He kicks the dead man again. "You think he acted alone? I'll let this lie for now but I'm sorry something is not right here."
A gateway to hell. Really. Well it was nice knowing you guys.
Hell? As in plane of devils? You're kidding, right?
Tessai looks at the others, with her eyes landing on Brandon.
I think I might agree with your sentiment, Brandon. It might be biting off more than we can chew. On the other hand, the portal must be two way to allow the hellhounds to come to this plane. If we can activate it, we could scout the situation out, and see if she's there, alive. If it looks bad, or too overpower, we retreat back and close the portal. Somehow. I'm not sure. What do you all think?
Beppo raises his eyebrows and wrinkles his forehead. What? Go to hell and back - literally - and argue with some infernal dog-breeder about whether he gets to keep Calsenica? Look, I'd love to have her back, but that sounds like a bit much for us. He looks around for agreement from the others. Even "scouting" out there seems like it's asking for much more trouble than we've ever dealt with before...
Some of us have already been to hell.. Brandon thinks, visions of his abusive father swimming up before him.
I agree with you Beppo. Risking everything for one person when the lives of so many others are at stake? Its madness. Walking into the very jaws of hell? Beyond foolish. But to abandon her...?
He shakes his head.
I think we should get out of here and discuss this. As much as it pains me to see her left to agony and torment... the alchemist looks physically sick. ...I can only think the cause has nothing to gain and everything to lose in this endeavour.
Beppo gives Kyle a sympathetic nod and half-grin. Do you know if destroying the painting will be enough?
Aemon having his back turned to everyone else, not wanting to be apart of the conversation finally turns around at the talk of leaving. "I'm glad you see reason here Kyle. We went through all this for one woman, we don't know what they got from here but atleast we know she's silent... in that hell." He looks towards the painting.
Aemon then turns to the old man as he grits his teeth. "So what is this place? who are you?"
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Heh! That's funny. This hellknight goes to hell and makes a pact with a devil. You guys kick his ass, but then are too chicken to go and save your really perty friend. Hahahaha. I think there's some irony in there somewhere. Maybe. The old man behind bars roars in laughter.
Maybe I'll find a way to send a message to those heroes I heard about. There's a group out there that's been kicking the shadows into oblivion. Rumor has it they even broke into the mayor's secret vault. Shades of purple. Or was it Blue. Hehehehe. I bet if I could find a way to get a message to them, they would come over here and kick that devil's ass! That would be the stuff of bard songs right there, it would! They're much braver than you all.
Of course, running my gums about them got me put in here in the first place. You would think that I'd learn my lesson. Oh well! It's not like HE is going to do anything about it, hahahah!
He turns to Aemon. Me? They call me Pete. Just an old man that flaps muh gums too much, or so I've been told. Got me threw in here. But I don't care. I think these Hellknights will get their's one day. You mark my words...an uprising will happen! Oh yeah!
Tessai looks pensive, as she considers the words of her friends, and the old man locked behind bars.
"Yes you do talk to much. How about you come along with us? you seem to know a lot about hell dimensions." Aemon then turns his back to the man. "These Shades of colours will help her, but WE need to think on our next move how to get out of here."
Enough. Tessai says. He's right. We walked into the heart of the Hellknight stronghold. Risked our own liberty to rescue a friend, and, more importantly, find out if she did say anything compromising. If we walk away now, we're no closer to either of those goals than before we stepped in here.
And now that we're close, we're going to let fear of the unknown scare us from taking the next step and completing the mission we set out to do? And make no mistake, we have no idea what's on the other side of that portal. Maybe it is something we finally cannot handle. She looks down at the Hellknight's body. But this guy didn't let that kind of fear thinking stop him from pursuing what he wanted to get from hell, and neither will I. I'll be damned if I ask for Cayden's strength again knowing that I cowered before that which a Hellknight was willing to face!
She moves far enough away to be out of earshot of the old man. Boys, we knew sooner or later, we might have to face devils. We saw some of that in the Crux, and we survived. More than survived, we triumphed. Holding up her silver mace, she continues, We are prepared. Looking at Kyle she says, We have to protection of our deities. I won't command you to come with me, but I will go in there and see what darkness really pulls the strings of Westcrown and look it in the eye before I decide what to do next. You asked me to lead. I didn't ask for this role. But, this is my conviction. Who is with me?
So this is how the Hellknights are going to get to us. Through the people we care about, even if they don't know who they have.
I'm not afraid of what lies beyond that portal, Tessai although God knows I should be. I'm afraid that if we fail on a fool's errand then there will be no one left to bring down the Hellknights, to show the people that change is coming. We've had some victories and we've lost ... some friends along the way.
But what have we really achieved so far? when we destroyed the shadow creatures, the government will just find some other monster to stalk the streets in their stead. We stopped the bastards. But how many other bands of criminals still prey on the weak while the Hellknights look the other way. Going into that portal could end any chance of us doing anything meaningful to change this city.
Brandon is stopped in his tracks.
Edmond rarely comes forward to speak whilst Brandon maintains control of their form. Indeed, without the alchemist's allowance, the monster cannot talk through him.
This is a rare occasion when he does allow it.
The girl can die for all I care. She knows nothing of us so she can't sell us out. Let them torture her for all eternity, it's no bone off my claw.
But... if we did go there and get the dumb sow. And she were to use her influence to spread the word of how the mighty Shades of Grey, stupid name by the way, chanced Hell itself to rescue her. Well. That would show the sheep of this city that the wolves aren't so scary after all wouldn't it..?
Hmmm. Careful Edmond. One of these days I might start thinking you do care about something other than just us.
He's right though. To return from a place so awful and live to tell the tale? Everything else we have done to now would pale to insignificance! If the old man is right about an uprising brewing, this could be the match that lights the touch-paper!
Beppo fails to hide the grin that creeps into the corners of his mouth as his colleagues discuss the acclaim a hell-bound rescue would earn them. Fine. An actress isn't worth it, but I'm not letting you people get killed by yourselves. Besides, he lets the grin out, someone has to take the credit when you make it back.
Aemon hangs his head. "I can't support this. What happens if we jump through this portal now and all die, no one will know what happened to us. IF you lot decide to jump through this portal now i will follow you the time we've spent together means i wont leave any of you behind but who is she to us?"
Aemon then look at the painting. "But we really should find a way to shut this thing down and destroy it..."
Beppo puts a hand on Aemon's shoulder. I understand how you feel, Aemon - I do. Part of me feels the same way. But once we come back from the other side, I'll help you trash the painting. Then, when we are back at the hideout amazing everyone and listening to Amaya figure out how the song is going to go, we'll have a couple of beers and talk about the risks and rewards of some of the s*%+ we've been through lately. Fair?
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That's the spirit! Tessai says, look at everyone. Looking towards Aemon, she says, I guess I just like the idea of saving the damsel in distress! I think Cayden would approve of the irony!. She laughs and looks at Brandon. Edmond makes a very excellent point. One that I had not considered. Yes, certainly word of this would do wonders to bolster the confidence of the people even further.
She leads everyone to the painting in the private room. In case she's conscious...and I certainly hope she is to tell this story, let's put on our disguises, boys. Assuming Brandon and Kyle are right, and she knows nothing about our ties to the Shades of Grey, we don't want to give our identities away.
Umm....hmmm...does anyone know how this thing works?