I knew there was a good reason to never trust solicitors.... Paddy says quietly.
I am getting a little uneasy here...anyone else feel the same?
Paddy looks around cautiously, but trying to not be too obvious.
Iommi-Tyr Magnusson, being suspicious of all aspects of organized Christianity -- introduces himself as "Magnus Sverreson" before Paddy gets a chance again to accidentally say his real name -- stays both cognizant and wary of Canon Grey.
Not wanting to rudely interrupt his noble friend, Alphonse Veritas, Iommi-Tyr Magnusson instead scrutinizes the Cleric from a few feet away from great Paladin, trying to discern the Christian's emotions while hearing our tale:
Is he thinking how he could manipulate us to work for his vile goals?
Is he growing concerned that we may be a threat to his true master, Conflagratious?
Is he just a typical greedy and ambitious religious figurehead, typically trying to get a bit more gold from some rich adventurers before never seeing them again?[dice=Inspired Sense Motive]1d20 +13 +1d6
Tyr feels that Canon Grey is a basically trustworthy cleric, albeit a greedy one, eager as ever to fill the temple coffer "for the poor, of course".... Barristers and judges have their offices and courts on Fleet Street, so Temple Church is the natural church of choice for them by virtue of geographic proximity....
I knew there was a good reason to never trust solicitors.... Paddy says quietly.
I am getting a little uneasy here...anyone else feel the same?
Paddy looks around cautiously, but trying to not be too obvious.
[dice=perception]1d20+20
Aside from a handful of lawyers and judges feigning piety on their knees before idols of saints in the Round Church, Paddy sees no cause for discomfiture....
While uncomfortable Nacht sees no particular danger from these beings.. though that may be from the creature's particular method of fighting and durability, or the multiple forms of.. escape.
The Lusty Fools return to The Warrens by way of the trapdoor in the riverside warehouse....
This time, Catrina is not with them to guide them, but with a high enough Diplomacy or Intimidate check, the heroes can convince the wererats they meet along the way to either escort them to Grandmother's parlor (where Kiyu awaits their return), or at least not bar their way....
"Could any of you kind people guide us back to Grandmother's place?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+13
"Could any of you kind people guide us back to Grandmother's place?"
Alphonse's overtures grant The Lusty Fools a grudging escort of six wererats who lead them back through the winding, labyrinthine ways of The Warrens to Grandmother's Parlor, where they are reunited with Kiyu.
The Lusty Fools are led back to the secret door that supposedly opens into the wine cellar below Bolingbroke's manor....
Paddy examines the door and checks for sounds on the other side.
Nacht preemptively blends into the shadows before wading into the new territory of this being. His stalking stance more like that of a prowling Scorpion.
Hisao, goes invisible after Kiyu points out the traps that need to be disabled and works on it.
Iommi-Tyr Magnusson stays back, with the other non-stealthy Lusty Fools, well behind the specialists in quietude. But walks in as much silence as he can.
Alphonse doesn't even bother trying to keep quiet, since he knows anyone with a functioning set of ears will hear him moving regardless.
Finding the secret door free of traps, Hisao opens it into a 25-foot-square chamber stacked to the 20-ft-high ceiling with barrels and crates. A stone spiral staircase ascends from the center of this chamber to another door. There are no obvious occupants in this dark chamber....
The escort of six wererats who have accompanied and guided The Lusty Fools to this secret door recede into the gloom of The Warrens, with warnings not to betray them....
It is quiet for a moment in the chamber, then the sounds of children playing at make-believe become apparent from the other side of the door....
Hisao moves further in continuting to check for traps and any other thing of interest still invisible
Paddy motions to the non stealthy party to hold up and stay silent. He then joins Hisao in creeping forward.
As Paddy and Hisao are listening quietly at the door, the voices of two young children can be heard from the other side....
First voice (a young girl):We mustn't play with that box! That's papa's ghost box! He says it contains an angry ghost!
Second voice (a young boy): Haha! He just told us that to keep us from poking around down here! You didn't actually believe him, did you!? Silly girl!
......
First voice: Leave it be, Thomas! Papa says we mustn't!
Second voice: Quit being such a ninny! Heheheh....
Nacht in his well cloaked form, takes that as a cue to creepily push the door open. Whoever inside would see.. nothing there. (Unless they beat his stealth)
Whispers:
Pssst, guys, let me go up and talk to the children in disguise. I can convince them to leave and not tell anyone we're here. Then we can all enter.
Iommi-Tyr Magnusson drinks an Extract of Disguise Self and imagines the visage of the Bastard, , Cardinal in England and one of the major powers behind the Throne of young King Henry VI.
Hisao shrugs and says Hai quietly.
Disguised as the Cardinal Beaufort, Iommi-Tyr opens the door to the surprise of a young girl of about 8 years, and a young boy of about 10. Both shriek in fear and surprise when the secret door opens and a strange man emerges....
It does not become you to show so much fear, children, at the sight of your Cardinal.
Do you not recognize me from Mass every Sunday at church? ....Or is it perhaps surprise that The Word of God would appear to you before you commit the sin of releasing a Ghost?
Nacht however ignores the small beings, inspecting the current room.
It does not become you to show so much fear, children, at the sight of your Cardinal.
Do you not recognize me from Mass every Sunday at church? ....Or is it perhaps surprise that The Word of God would appear to you before you commit the sin of releasing a Ghost?
The children hastily bow before "Cardinal Beaufort", apologizing....
Boy: W-we're s-sorry, Your Grace! W-we didn't expect to find you....down here....in our cellar....
Girl: Very sorry indeed, Your Grace! H-how did you....um.... Why are you here? Did....Our Lord....send you to stop Thomas from opening Papa's ghost box?
Boy: Mary! I wasn't really going to open it, I swear, Your Grace!
Girl: Swearing is a sin, Thomas! Isn't it, Your Grace?
Boy, squinting at the shadows beyond the secret door: Who....who else is back there, Your Grace?
Nacht however ignores the small beings, inspecting the current room.
As the children notice the cowled and robed figure of The Beetle Man emerging from the secret door, they grow even more white with fright, and both turn and scurry away up a flight of stone stairs ascending up the back wall of this cellar to another door, slightly ajar, some 20 feet up....
There are many chests, wardrobes, barrels, crates, and boxes in this cellar. One particular box, about 2 feet long by a foot wide and deep, bound in red leather embossed with copper filigree and inlaid with semiprecious stones, with a brass lock and fittings, sits in the center of the floor. A brass key is inserted in the lock....
Were they dressed in rags or silks -- my reaction to them is quite different to them depending on how they're dressed.
I call out to them as they start to leave, beckoning them to hold.
The children are well dressed in silk, velvet, satin, and ermine trim. No doubt, they are the children of a noble house.
Young Thomas and Mary, you have been told not to touch that box; I know.
Let me tell you a story of another boy and girl who were commanded not to touch something. A lad, Adam and lady Eve, and a Tree of Knowledge -- but not merely a Knowledge Tree but a Tree that reveals knowledge of Good and Evil.
This lad and lady, as you well know, lived in a Prelapsarian World, a world with no Sin, no misery. Yet when they touched the fruit of the tree -- as you were about to do with the Box -- it condemned them and all their children and all their children's children until the end of time to a Postlapsarian world, a world of Sin and misery.
You've heard this story, yes, children?....
....Ah, but for us there can be a different ending; you did not touch the box. You are still innocent children, and -- I don't think I need to tell your Maid about this, or your parents.
So children, shall we agree to keep this a secret between us? I'll not tell you were going to touch the box and you will go upstairs and pretend that you did not see your Cardinal today.
Thomas and Mary in unison: Yes, Your Grace! Thank you, Your Grace!
Both children bow courteously and withdraw up the stairs hastily....
Perception checks, please....
Alphonse quietly twiddles his thumbs, left alone in the catacombs.
"I should have bought a game of jacks or something." he sighs.
Paddy and Nacht both perceive something odd: a single-file line of hundreds of black ants runs directly across the path of the red-leather-and-copper-filigree box on the center of the floor, but instead of marching over or under the box, as one might expect, they give the box a wide berth of about two feet, curving well out of their way to go around it....
Paddy points out the ants' behaviour.
Clearly they know something is amiss with that box. Perhaps it does contain a ghost or some such creature..
Nacht seems to systematically follow along the same lines as the ant-beings as if it were natural.. though no one can see it. He follows them to where they might be going to observe these.
Iommi-Tyr Magnusson quietly motions for Alphonse Veritas and Hisao of The Yellow Reeds into the room and suggests everyone whisper and move more slowly.
Is what is in the box not enough proof of witchery? Or do we scout further in?
We don't yet know what is in the box -- anyone want to check it magically?
Alphonse checks to see if it has an evil aura of some kind, but that's all he can offer.
Alphonse checks to see if it has an evil aura of some kind, but that's all he can offer.
The box radiates evil....
"This is an evil box. I don't trust it."