"Be warned Vehemence, this place houses dangerous spiritual entities that are golden and spectral. They have demonstrated the ability to possess bodies and control them as well as a nigh immunity to non magical attacks.We also encountered a physical undead creature called a wight which seemed to be the remains of the ghost child's corporeal body. Further this wedding is supposedly of Sophia Wort, the Lying Lich. The child ghost is Tyko Wort. Please avoid entering close proximity to the two frozen in time however the outer 3 feet of the chamber between us is safe to traverse should you wish to join me on this side."
Vehemence! Thratch exlaims.
I thought you escaped! Why'd you come back?
Nay lad, only to another prison less desirable. How have you fared?
I got captured! Then I escaped by burning down their base. Then they allied with us. Then we lied our way into this wedding. Then we killed the spirit of the boy that was following us. Then we were here with this temporary discussion of a wedding that we can't go near, for some reason. Then you showed up.
"Thratch's statements are about 89% accurate, if summarized. We all are grateful for your return though as your wordcraft and knowledge is complimentary to our needs. You also are very good at breaking things."
Riven returns to examining the room with the swan for any useful things as he waits for the others to join him, activating his cloaking as he does not wish to be an easy golden specter target.
+4=24
"I assume it is because Shugenja are involved. Their ways are not of the natural world."
"Mortals interfering in the ways of daemons deserve what they get. Shall we introduce them to their sins' payments?
HAVE THEY MOLESTED OUR LOT IN ANY MANNER?? WHERE DOES THIS LICHESS LAY?"
Vehemence stops mid-traversal, grasping the hilt of his sword tighter as he peers about, searching for signs of familiars, wards, or arcane eyes.
"We are unmolested by these people."
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"There are two spirits, recently returned to the great beyond that would disagree with that statement." Ashlyn responds to Tenchi with a playful sweetness in her voice. "But, I must agree, we are unharmed."
"What of you Vehemence?" Ashlyn moves close to the godling. She guides her hands up his chest, then dances her tender touch lightly down his arms. "You seem uninjured from your time in captivity, but wounds can be hidden."
"You will find me fully intact, dear. Perhaps sturdier than before. I've had a good while to think while in the talons of that sphinx... It has served me well indeed."
Vehemence welcomes the kind touch of another. It felt like ages since his sense of dermal feeling was even cognizant. This nearly-mortal realm felt welcoming indeed, at least in comparison with the last.
"Besides this witch puzzle before us, are there any other troubles about of which I should know? Are we any closer to putting that serpents' skull in my palm?"
"We found a device that could be our escape, were it not damage."
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You explore the remnants of the gift room while waiting for your comrades to catch up.
The southern room has some decayed scraps of boxes and molded remnants of wedding gifts. Everything in the room is broken and decayed save for a large, asymmetrical golden chandelier that hangs on the ceiling. It has empty spaces for numerous candles.
You ascertain it would be worth about 10,000 GP if it can be moved. There doesn't appear to be anything else of value in the room, as it looks to have been looted long ago.
While you see an open doorway on the eastern wall close to the entrance, you also notice a section of the wall farther down that's uneven with the rest of the surrounding area and deduce it's a secret door.
Through the open doorway you see a darkened room. From the ambient light you can just make out some nearly empty shelves containing a small number of dusty books.
The group slowly makes its way through the edge of the octagonal room, one following the other. As you move through, you see about five golden spectres enter the buffet, roused by Vehemence's loud arrival. They float closer but stop at the entrance of the octagonal room, seemingly trying to avoid the temporal distortions.
One thing is certain for now, there's no turning back unless you wish to fight the spectres again and risk possession.
It takes you about five minutes to get through the chamber to the other side, though you are unsure because the distortions have thrown off your time perception slightly.
Once through to the other side, you see up close the large silver swan, floating on an endless stream of what looks like red wine that continues to cycle through a trench in the white marble floor. Neither appears to be touched by the passage of time.
Ashlyn and Vehemence both sense strong magic coming off the swan, suggesting that it's definitely enchanted.
You feel a tinge of recognition upon seeing the swan. You vaguely recall an ancient wedding tradition practiced by some cultures where the souls of the couple-to-be are magically bound in silver swan during the wedding ceremony and released back when the marriage is sealed with a kiss.
You see Riven in the darkened room just south of you exploring quietly.
"I would imagine that is blood, as Bloodspeakers often create such things." says Tenchi as he points at the substance the Swan is floating on.
Riven continued to blend out of sight of the others exploring the next room.
This is... reminiscent. When...? Ah yes. That long lost GORGEOUS world of gusto. That rake tried to have his day of glory and crushed the bird mid-rite... and both his lover and nemesis dropped dead. What a bittersweet day... His blood tasted so tart in the end.
The ebon eyes of the furnace lord wander slow from the silver altar to the golden ghasts as he inhales for a bit longer than a moment.
At least then there were sufficient mortals to imbibe...
"PITIABLE!
...Friends, would any of you care to be wed on this most momentous day of reunion?"
He gestures towards the swan statue casually, as if the rest of the motley crue understood its' significance.
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Attero had few words as the Warlock re-apparated. Secretly glad to have been rid of so bothersome a rival, he had no joy to give at his return. Beneath his armored helm he glowered and, unseen in their gauntlets of steel, his knuckles clenched until they were white as Ashlyn patted and prodded the returned Vehemence.
Only his iron will allowed him to keep his peace as the party crept along the periphery of the time-bubbled to gaze at the mercurial swan, the Warclerics jaw still clenched less his tongue take up reign and charge into unknown waters.
Despite himself his jaw drops in stupification as the Warlock announces a _truly_ random challenge.
"Ahem. Ah...whyfor would you ask this, Vehemence?" Aterro asked, quite purposefully looking at anything _except_ Ashlyn.
Seeing his referential jest flounder, the furnace king decided to spill the beans. In spite of the failure, for this second in time at least the devilish lord's countenance seemed mild and yellow, lost in a moment of fun.
"'TWOULD BE CONVENIENT FOR ANY AMIABLE PARTIES PRESENT, DEVOUT ONE! What you see before you is a nuptial altar from a far off land... The souls of those enticed meld into one within the swan upon touching it, and are thence reimbursed into their lungs with a kiss, stitched together as one for aeons unbound..."
Vehemence spoke unaware of the knight's mannerisms, and was generally oblivious of whatever sexual tension may indeed exist between anyone among his entourage. Yet, the capricious gaiety in the breast of the muse left him himself inspired.
"Come now Aterro! Surely you've caught glance of a maiden since my seasons away that has caught your eye? I could understand a distaste in serpentine waifs, but if I recall in truth there were more than one woman we've found who wasn't an outright witch... ...Nothing like MY wife..."
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Tenchi chuckles at Vehemence's comments and says "I believe that you are right Shugenja. Aterro does seem to have his eye affixed."
Contemplating Vehemence's offer, Tenchi will say "I am already married to a proper wife. Her face is like the moon and her hair smells faintly of almonds. She has upheld my honor by bearing me three sons to serve my Daimyo when they are of age."
Thratch just watches with a smirk on his face.
"Let it be so, soul warden. I'm certain a flame undeniable will cross your path in due age... When that time comes, don't spurn her..."
Vehemence feels the weight of the putrid heart hung 'round his neck thicken as his immaterial son and wife move as one to pierce again wounds now so old. His penance indeed, embraced now instead of scorned.
The Furnace King moves in step with the squad, deferring the helm to whomever would take it.
Tenchi shifts Wan'di's body and then falls into place with the others.
"Where did the metal one go?"
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He's gone! Maybe the gods took him out?
Riven materilized from the shadows nearby as he returned to the group from the room south of the Swan room. As light bent back into solid form he took the time to properly greet Vehemence with a three fingered fist placed against his silvery chest plate and his glowing optic lens focused on him.
"Your presence once more increases the probability of a successful outcome to our goals. I have a report of the southern chamber."
After pausing for a moment he continues.
"The room lacks any threats perceived and has some remnants of possible offerings for the union. There is also a crystal chandelier worth approximately 10,000 gold in material value according to my sensors. Further there are two other exits, there is an open way on the eastern wall north of a door also in the eastern wall approximately 14.5 feet apart. This ends my scouting report."
"Since we are all together, we need to have a discussion about going off on your own. I would humbly request that we cease to do so, as I would hate to have to carry more of you."
"While that value makes my heart sing. I can't imagine we will find many shops in this maze. Not even speaking of the fact that value here may be as twisted as everything else we found. It would not surprise me to learn that gold is worthless, but dung is worth its weight in diamonds."
"Gold makes a valuable magical conductor for many rituals. Only bat guano is known to possess similar value in relation to magical materials."
He addresses the samurai.
"It was not my intent to seperate as you all were in my sight the whole time though I was not visible to you. I agree with your tactical assessment that stragglers or lone units will be targeted by calculating enemies. Let us proceed for now together to the open doorway to the east north of the door."
"Very well Riven. If you are going to scout in the future, please inform us before you leave. That goes for you as well Thratch."
Hey now, the only times I've gone off on my own were, Thratch holds up fingers as he counts them off, Hit by fear spell, ordered to scout ahead, capture by the stupid snake women.
"That seems to be the way of it, but I thought a word might be worth saying regardless." Clearly done with the topic, Tenchi turns and walks to catch up with Riven.
As the group slowly catches up to Riven, the Warforged peers into the adjoining open doorway on the east wall.
The room is rather dark, the walls lined with books. Standing in the center of the room is a full suit of plate armor, gray-black. You can see moving wisps beneath the armor along the seams and openings like thin clouds, suggesting some sort of entity inhabits it. But otherwise it stands perfectly still and shows no response to your presence.
You see another open doorway on the north wall, but a clear view is blocked by the armor.
The door immediately north of the silver swan opens slowly. You detect a tall, thin humanoid figure peer from behind the door and you and catch glints of a large silver blade and plates of armor on it. It has noticed you and is quietly watching.
Between the shouldered corpse and trying to keep an eye out everywhere, Tenchi ends up not noticing much.
Hey, who the f%!+ are you? Thratxh says, pointing out the tall thin guy.
Riven was too focused on the new room to see what the others did. He studied the armor and was about to call out to it and the entity but was stopped before he spoke. Instead he waited listening to see what would be said/happen in the room behind him.
Mid to rearwards of the pack, Vehemence notices Thratch's point of surprise, but fails to get a better look.
"What befalls us, boy?"
Noticing the tenseness of the thief's reaction, the Furnace King readies himself appropriately.
The silent observer realizes his cover is blown as Tratch points at him and calls out.
The tall humanoid grunts and growls and draws a large, ornate silver greatsword, charging at the group.
He takes two swings with the sword, targeting Tenchi and Aterro as he recognizes them immediately as fellow warriors and the likeliest to cause trouble.
However, he misjudges the distance, affected by the nearby temporal distortions and misses both as his sword twice slashes air.
As he comes into better light, you are able to fully see your attacker. He's tall and slender, but looks to be solid muscle. His skin is tight and pale yellow. His head is a shock of spiked brown hair and a braided beard. His ears are large and pointed and his eyes sunken. He is covered in jeweled silver armor plates.
69/5 ⇒ 13.8
Thratch pulls an arrow and draws it back, taking aim.
Thratch sets down Wan'di body, Draws his blade, and attacks the fool creature who attacked him.
Vehemence pities the fool who disrespects the strength of numbers, and his THIRSTING BLADE!
"Pity..."
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"The only true test of honor is the last one." says Tenchi.