Aldren watches while Lubella speaks to the voice, but does not find anything to use in the immediate area. he remembers there are blankets in the sleeping quarters of the team members who evacuated a few minutes ago.
Talvek can tell this voice is speaking of typical operation of binding contract of a denizen of the lower planes who must serve a particular person, family or goal.
Lubella's attempts to persuade a conversion seem to be faltering.
You either torment or be tormented. This is the order of things, your simple mortal minds do not understand.
The voice seems to be moving somewhat.
The contract bound me to the Sarinis family here in Kintargo. But I do not believe there are any remaining for me to serve. So I am free, yet not free. I must remain with the contract so long as it exists. Your bringing the document here allowed me to move from where I had been trapped for years. However, your basement is does not fit in the grand plans I have for myself. I could do so much more serving Thrune than just kill or manipulate a few of your hapless minions. Who knows, I could eventually be promoted into a higher rank. the voice trails off as delusions of grandeur take over.
The courtesan briefly contemplated trying to impersonate a member of the family referred to by the imp, but... No. It was unlikely to succeed against the imp’s familiarity with deceit and his own limited knowledge of old, dead families.
Aldren growls, ”Lubella... this is not one you can convert with some pretty words. It is an infernal servant of the Lord of Lies, Arch-Duke of the Nine Hells, and murder and pain are to it as water and bread is to you. It killed Bolidino, it aims to kill us unless we free it to kill others. Stiffen your spines and make up your minds. Are you going to bring justice to this infernal thing or release it on Kintargo after it has made its designs perfectly clear? Whatever it once was, it is no longer.”
While the half-elf was inclined to step out and attack, he wasn’t sure the others were quite so resolved. And so, for the moment, he remained in cover until he understood there was a concensus. Other than killing the imp, the only thing he was more committed to at that moment was not dying in a suicide run against a bona fide devil.
"You're wrong about that — I am neither!", Lubella replied to the imp.
When the creature spoke about the Sarinis, she wondered at it's knowledge of the current state of affairs. Why would it say that there are no Sarinis left to serve? "You seem to know an awful lot about the goings on in Kintargo, for someone who's been stuck in the Fair Fortune Livery a long time!", she said sarcastically.
She replied to Aldren, "I have no intention of allowing this creature to torment the people of Kintargo." She was all for smiting this unrepentant evil, but couldn't see how that was possible at the moment.
"Perhaps you are destined to spend eternity trapped in this basement," she told the imp.
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Having heard enough from the pesky mortal startup band, the voice seems to snap from its diplomatic tone to a more threatening shriek.
YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME HERE! I will DESTROY YOU!
Initiative:
A small female looking winged creature suddenly appears, holding what appears to be a pipe or straw near her mouth as she hovers 10' above the center of the room floor.
No fools talk to Blosodriette that way and live!
plus
Lubella feels a small stick from a tiny dart (7 dmg) as she pulls it away, she can see it is coated with poison.
=== Round 16 ===
(21) Blosodriette ()
(20) Lubella(-13,diseased)
(12) Aldren( prot evil), Talvek(-1,diseased), Arcos()
"I think you're the fool! You've allowed malice to consume you!", Lubella replied, grimacing in pain. She took cover under a table and healed herself.
Fortunately, Lubella manages to extract the dart before the poison reached her blood.
=== Round 16 ===
(21) Blosodriette ()
(20) Lubella(-10,diseased)
(12) Aldren( prot evil), Talvek(-1,diseased), Arcos()
So. Diplomacy had failed. Still, it had kept the creature distracted long enough for some of their party to regain their strength after the rodent tidal wave they had faced. His confidence refreshed, Talvek takes aim at the newly revealed imp, grinning.
"Blosodriette? Oh you poor thing, no wonder you're so angry all the time with such a silly name."
Aldren sees the dart snap into Lubella as she turns a bit green. That...doesn’t look good. When Talvek begins to jest at the imp’s name, he joins in, hoping to drive the beastie to distraction. ”Bloso... Bleso...droite? What a gods-awful name. Poor thing.”
To the others, he yells, ”Get to cover. Lubella, if you come near, Calistria will heal you. Warlock, tell us you can blast the thing! Laria, if you’re still there, get that bloody sorcerer down here and away from his books!” While he talks, he drops his mace, draws his crossbow, and loads it, preparing to fire.
Arcos walks forward before slinging a bolt of electricity at Blosodriette.
While bantering with their opponent, Talvek takes aim at the now visible imp-ette but misses despite the boost to his aim.
Aldren piles on the insults and drops a weapon to load a crossbow.
Arcos has magic ready to cast at the imp but his aim is not very good and the bolt sparks into the ceiling.
Blosodriette calls down with a sardonic laugh.
Oh, dears! You must do better than that! I have been insulted by dukes of the nine hells and had more sport from goblins!
And to think you could dream to be successors of the rebel Ravens who trapped me! Preposterous!
But I am feeling generous since you entertained me tonight like I have not had in years.
I am going to do you a solid favor and just kill you all here. Slowly.
She does this while you see her prehensile tail, tipped with a stinger come to her hand and she collects a drop of venom, which she places on a dart and loads into her blowgun tube.
=== Round 17 ===
(21) Blosodriette ()
(20) Lubella(-10,diseased)
(12) Aldren( prot evil), Talvek(-1,diseased), Arcos()
While the imp was monologuing, Lubella peered up over the edge of the table and cast a spell, trying to coat its blowgun with grease. She then took out her crossbow.
"Blah blah blah, natter natter natter. No wonder you've been stuck here; nobody in the Nine Hells would want to talk with something so annoying."
Aldren takes aim and snaps off the bolt from his crossbow, then reloads.
Arcos hurls another bolt of lightning, but it misses badly.
Laria calls from the doorway as her voice recedes into the hallway. Rexus? Right. I will be back! Don't do anything foolish. Running is always an option.
Lubella conjures a spell from beneath The grease fails to hit the pipe as Blosodriette pulls it away quickly.
Aldren's crossbow bolt hits the chatty imp squarely in the face. Which would have easily killed a large man. But it appears like the bolt practically bounces off her red skin. But draws some blood nonetheless.
OW! You &#$**# twerp!
He now has her full attention even as Arcos hurls more lightning into the ceiling.
=== Round 17 cont ===
(21) Blosodriette (-8)
(20) Lubella(-10,diseased)
(12) Aldren( prot evil), Talvek(-1,diseased), Arcos()
"That was certainly entertaining!", Lubella called out, after Aldren's bolt smacked Blosodriette in the face.
"Perhaps we should just banish her. My heart breaks for all the suffering she's endured, being stuck with us boring mortals."
Talvek continues to banter as he notches another arrows and lets fly at Boresorriette.
Talvek's arrow slips off the swing as his sweaty hands shake.
You see the imp Blosodriette turn her attention to Aldren with a sickening smile. The gash in her forehead from the perfect quarrel starts to close.
I bet you will wish you had not done that, lad.
She slowly pulls the pipe to her lips and 'pppooof' another barbed dart shoots towards the cleric.
as the tiny dart embeds itself into Aldren's exposed cheek.
Her confidence builds as she continues to mock you with a haughty laugh from above.
=== Round 18 ===
(21) Blosodriette (-6)
(20) Lubella(-10,diseased)
(12) Aldren( -1, prot evil), Talvek(-1,diseased), Arcos()
Lubella loaded her crossbow and took a shot at the infernal creature.
Lubella fires her crossbow, but the cold-iron bolt veers wide of her mark.
=== Round 18 cont===
(21) Blosodriette (-6)
(20) Lubella(-10,diseased)
(12) Aldren( -1, prot evil), Talvek(-1,diseased), Arcos()
The blowgun dart snicks a bit of bare flesh and the poison begins to run its course. The half-elf quips, "I've taken drugs that were stronger than that, and certainly had bigger pricks. You'll have to do better, my little rat-buggerer."
Still, the environment here clearly favored the regenerating devil and if Calistria continued to curse their efforts, the half-elf knew the poison could leave him flat on the ground at worst, and unable to hit a thing with his crossbow at best. So, Aldren grabs the mace he dropped earlier, then moves over towards Talvek to take cover behind a table.
Aldren feels the venom reaching into his blood as his movement slows.
Blosodriette laughs maniacally. HAHAAA!!!
You have provided some sport. But I fear the end is near. You should have just surrendered. It is not too late to offer my services to the Thrune. He may reward you with a position in his organization. Someday you might even amount to something. Well....would have amounted to something, if you are not already DEAD! AHHAHAHAHAAA!
A moment later, Laria comes running down the hall with a piece of parchment in one hand and her lantern in the other.
Hey, Is this it? I think I have it....the paper.
What do I do with it? as she runs towards Arcos as fast as her little legs can carry her.
Blosodriette's eyes grow immediately wide What? No! Leave here is what you do with it!
"If we destroy it, will that banish this miserable creature?", Lubella asked. "If it will, let's do it!"
Arcos runs toward Laria as he said, "Hand me the paper or rip it in half! We need to destroy it."
She hands over the paper to Arcos.
”Here you go! This will not blow up my shop will it?.”
Arcos gives a sly smile and says, ”Only one way to find out.” He then grasps it firmly and tears it in half.
As Arcos takes the parchment from Laria, the imp Blosodriette looks on in dismay.
I knew you cowards did not have the stomach to serve the Thrune with me. I am sure soon enough you will end up under his boot. Rebels? I think you overestimate your skills or underestimate his. Very well. I did not want to persist in this basement for years after I kill you all.
Arcos starts to tear the paper. It proves a bit tougher to get started than he expected, but once he breaks it, the tear starts to glow a faint crimson red and the power of the contract binding Blosodriette to this plane is undone. With a clap of thunder the parchment and the imp fade from view.
I will see you in hell, baby Ravens!!!
Laria stands mouth wide open. Well bless me! I had no idea this creature lived here...in my very basement! Oh my.
Lubella explained to Laria, "It was apparently bound to stay close to that document, which we found in the Fair Fortune Livery. So I'm afraid that we unknowingly brought it with us when we moved the papers here.
"She was a halfling slave once, or so she claimed. I don't think she really knows how she came to be an imp; I feel bad for the suffering she must have gone through. I don't know that there's much that can be done for someone once they've become an imp though — her mind is probably too twisted to redeem her."
Her feet and ankles were pretty badly torn up, so Lubella cast a spell to heal her wounds.
After a moment, she said, "It seemed like the imp was regenerating her wounds, just like that woman at the protest — Barzillai Thrune's bodyguard. Someone claimed that she's part devil; we should find out more about devil regeneration, and if there's any way to stop it. Something tells me we're going to face more devils at some point."
Talvek looks sadly at his own body, bite marks still faintly visible on his skin. "I wish that regeneration was something I inherited from my infernal bloodlines. Alas." He looks up and grins, running a hand along one beautifully curled horn and striking a pose. "Still, I got these puppies to be proud of!"
His fake cheer doesn't last long as he casts a look around the Nest and his shoulders slump with fatigue. "I don't know about the rest of you, but this has been a very long day and I would like some shuteye. Oh, and we should probably let the others that it is now safe to come back down. At least," he yawns hugely, "I hope it's safe."
Lubella realized that Talvek was still injured, and that she had thoughtlessly used the last of her healing on herself. "I should have healed you Talvek! I'm sorry," she said.
She went upstairs to the coffee house and gave the people there the all clear. "We've gotten rid of the thing that killed Bolodino; it was lurking in the Wasp's Nest, invisible, but it's gone for good now."
You can almost sense peace return to the Wasp Nest as the evil spirit departs with the broken contract.
Laria recomposes herself as if this is a daily occurrence.
Well, devils roam Kintargo, that is nothing new. But I don't want you bringing more into my cellar.
And now I have a dozen sleepy eyed folks upstairs and it is too late for all this nonsense. You can deal with them.
I am going back to bed before morning comes with my first customers.
"Good night, Laria," Lubella replied. She addressed the people upstairs, "OK, we've got work to do in the morning. Let's all go back downstairs and get some sleep."
She conferred with Aldren, Arcos and Talvek. "Unless there are any objections, I propose that we deal with Scarplume tomorrow. I don't like getting ambushed in an alley."
As the imp faded from this plane, Aldren screamed a curse in infernal and threw his mace, haft rotating over pommel, towards the space where the thing had been just seconds before. ”Gods DAMN it!!! That thing killed one of our people and you just....” He stared at the suddenly empty space, panting as the imp’s poison continued to pulse through his veins, then heaved a great sigh and collected himself.
”Fine. It’s gone. That will have to do.” He removed the bolt from his crossbow, stowed it, and collected the mace in a furious silence before storming past the others. ”Plan as you like. If She hasn’t had my flesh — or yours — devoured by a thousand wasps, I’ll pray to Calistria to heal those who need it in the morning,” he growled as he went by, blood trickling down his own trembling arm.
He then spends the next hour before Her shrine on his knees, soaking in the cold, fetid water, praying for forgiveness and promising to do what he can in the future to call the imp back to this plane for its final destruction.
Once the smoke has cleared,You are eventually able to coax the dozen team members back down into the wasp nest .
”Are you sure it is safe? How do you know it’s gone if it was invisible?.”
Another shudders as the halflings call out in unison..,
” Or that there are not more?.Huh???”
Fortunately with the summons and extra planar departure there is not much left but a few rat carcasses.
Lubella said to the half-elf, "I'm sorry we weren't able to destroy the imp, Aldren; she had a black heart. We'll have to better prepare ourselves for the next time we meet one such as that."
After settling the workers down, she prepared for bed. Lying in her bedroll, she went over what she knew about the Red Jill leader, Scarplume. Lubella needed to make sure she made use of all the information they had. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep.
The morning comes with the aroma of fresh brewed coffee reaching you downstairs. Both teams had already departed to ply their trades in the streets of Kintargo, convinced they are really part of something special after last night.
Laria greets you as you climb up from the cellar.
Good morning sleepy heads. I was still wondering if it was just a bad dream or if last night really happened. Get some coffee and a muffin. I think we need to talk about next plans after the incident.
Rexus is standing there as well.
Yes, I want to hear about this. Laria mentioned only some vague details, but this is the first news that is more interesting than the documents I have been researching for the past couple weeks. So what HAPPENED?
After her morning prayers, Lubella joined Laria, Rexus and the others for breakfast. She did her best to relate what she knew about Blosodriette.
"That magical document — the one that you described as a poem, Rexus — turned out to be a contract that bound an imp into service with the Sarinis. Somehow, the original Silver Ravens got a hold of it, and it ended up sitting in the basement of the Fair Fortune Livery with the other documents.
"For reasons I don't really understand, the imp was compelled to stay close to the contract. When we brought the contract here to the Wasp's Nest, she had no choice but to follow. She can turn invisible, and was responsible for the cave-in that killed Bolodino.
"The imp, who called herself Blosodriette, was originally a halfling slave, although she didn't seem to remember much of her mortal life. She wanted to gain possession of the contract, and offer her services to Barzillai Thrune. We weren't inclined to hand it over, so she attacked. We defeated a summoned crocodile, and a horde of rats, but we couldn't seem to damage her very well; her wounds were regenerating. We were forced to destroy the contract, which banished her back to hell." She could tell that the last part was a sore point for Aldren, who wanted revenge for Bolodino's death, but she left to him to mention that if he wanted.
After the others added to her account, and more questions were asked and answered, she asked Rexus, "There was a woman at the Aria Park protest, Barzillai Thrune's bodyguard, who was hit in the throat with a dagger, but the wound just closed up. Someone said that she is a half-devil. Do you know anything about that type of regeneration, and how to counter it? We're going to need to figure out some counter-measures, if our rebellion is to succeed."
The next morning, Aldren woke in a mood even more foul than the one he’d gone to bed with. His dreams had been haunted by scenes of failing at every task before him. Revenge upon his family. Defending the temple. Watching Kyra sold off into slavery. And now Boladino’s murderer escaping to the Nine Hells. The wrath of his Goddess and descending from the delights of Her domain in Elysium into a dark hole and an eternity of torment. Whether it was a vision or just a series of foul dreams, he wasn’t sure, but it was still unsettling.
After praying for his spells and renewing himself to the restoration of Her faith, he went up to join the others for breakfast. His affect was largely flat, neither angry or humorous. And there was still a slight tremble in his fingers from the after effects of the imp’s poison.
When Lubella was done, he looked at Rexus and asked, ”Now that it’s in the Nine Hells, how easy will it be for it to come back? If it does somehow make its way to the Thrune’s — or communicate with them — it will surely reveal our presence here and our identities.”
After the discussion, he adds, ”We need to find and question the man who tried to stop us last night. He may have been under a magical compulsion, but we need to make sure. If he knew the imp was here and was trying to protect her, he is an after the fact accomplice in Bolodino’s murder.”
Lubella summarizes for Rexus and Aldren summers as he recalls the challenges faced. Definitely not an easy road ahead.
Alden is able to track down the team member Morgar, who tried to stop you last night.
When questioned he shrugs and says ”I was just really concerned you might get hurt like Bolodino. “
When she first woke up, Lubella felt like she might be coming down with something, but the symptoms were very mild, and quickly cleared up.
She had a look at Talvek's wounds, and cast a healing spell on him.
After the discussion about Blosodriette, she moved on to plans for the day ahead. "How is everyone feeling? Should we move against the Red Jills leader today?"
”Hurt by what, Morgar? You let us search all of the Nest until we got to that room, and it was then you tried to stop us. How did you know she was in there? How did you know what she was? How did you know we would be hurt if we went in there? And... why did you not want Bolodino’s killer brought to justice? You’ve cost us greatly, Morgar.”
[ooc]Also, Lubella, last note from the GM was that Talvek was only down 1 hp, and that was before rest, so he’s probably fine.
Well, I did not know anyone was in there. I was worried you would be hurt by another collapse. Which was odd. Since we were all in there afterwards. I am not sure why I felt so strongly about it.
Aldren gets the impression Morgar is confused why he acted the way he did. However, you also notice he does not say sorry as part of this admission.
***
Rexus replies to Aldren's questions. I am by no means an expert in the ways of Infernal Contracts. I could probably find out with more research, but I suspect unless the imp is re-summoned or a new contract is forged, that you will not see it return any time soon....if ever.
***
As breakfast continues and the four of you are conversing with Laria and Rexus, there is a pounding as if a heavy weapon on the locked front door of the Longroads.
OPEN IN THE NAME OF THE Duxotar!!!
Laria springs to her feet and looks out the window to spot 3 Dottari standing on her doorstep.
LARIA, OWNER OF THIS LONGROADS COFFEEHOUSE OPEN! WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF "suspicious activity and unsavory practices”. We have a letter and will search the premises.
One moment! I am coming! The halfling woman looks back to you all as she holds the door and prepares to unlock it before the door is broken down.
"We need to distract them so they don't find the secret entrance," Lubella whispered to the others. She got up and casually walked towards the kitchen, hiding in a position where she could peek around the corner at the dottari when they entered; she wanted to see if any of them looked familiar before showing her face.
She is able to move without them seeing into the coffee house. She does not any of these three as dottari she has directly met previously. Maybe she has seen them from a distance on a patrol. The uniforms look right.
Talvek is still feeling queasy from last night, although his wounds have closed and are no longer bleeding. He refuses food and coffee, taking only a cup of weak tea to try and settle his stomach. He doesn't contribute much to the discussion, only nodding here and there and adding the occasional brief comment as he blinks bleary eyes. He only perks up at the mention of the Red Jills, seemingly fired up to move against the gang. But before he can say anything, the pounding at the door interrupts them all and sends Talvek running for the Wasp's Nest.
Aldren nods in acceptance when Rexus speculates the imp is gone more or less for good. Until I can call it to this plane and destroy it for good.
Aldren listens to the weak explanation and excuses lacking any remorse. While half-inclined to brain the man with his mace, the Calistrian instead listens with a bland expression. I wonder if the imp confounded him. It's what I would do. A fool, but an innocent one. "Alright, Morgar. I think the devil cast a spell upon you. Still, you impeded our efforts to catch Bolodino's murderer. I'll discuss this with the others and we'll..." And then the sound of the pounding from the door upstairs rings through.
"Everyone, get to the back and stay quiet! Grab weapons if you're able but they're only a last resort. Quiet now, go!"
As for himself, he moves into the room below the secret passage. Another body above would be increasingly hard to explain and he wasn't sure how long he could maintain the image of a common worker.
Laria waits a moment, takes a deep break and opens the door.
Well, good morning. Please stop denting my door. So what can I do for you? I am assuming you are not here for a cup of hot coffee. Your loss.
The Dottari sergeant does not seem impressed.
Laria, I presume? Close enough. Please step aside. We are here..."
He waves a letter written on a piece of parchment.
...we are here to search of the coffeehouse with reports and complaints of “suspicious activity and unsavory practices” within this shop.
The three guards push past her and into the main bar and restaurant. The push over tables and tapping walls and doors behind the bar. Not overly destructive, but definitely looking for something.
Do you have anything in the back? the leader points while waving the letter.
Laria shakes her head. Just more coffee supplies and broken cups. And I'd appreciate you not add to the pile if you could.
The guards step around the halfling woman despite her attempt to interpose. You can tell she is not putting up as much resistance as she would if she thought her life were in danger.
They are approaching the door....
You four are behind the doors to the backroom and hear footsteps 20' away as the three dottari approach.
Lubella took off her cloak and stowed it in the kitchen. She checked her appearance to make sure nothing suspicious was showing, and then hurried out to the main room to greet the dottari.
"Welcome to the Long Roads Coffee House!", she said cheerfully. "Can I offer you some coffee? Would you like muffins? They're really very good you know!"
.
The first two men look at Lubella with a discerning eye.
”No! We are here on official business. Not muffins. “
The second turns to Laria
”Who is this wench? Your sister? Who else are you hiding back here? “
They poke around a bit more in the shelves and boxes before noticing the trap door.
"Second cousin," Lubella piped up. Second cousins were hard to keep track of; many people couldn't name all of their own second cousins (although halflings generally paid more attention to such things). "I'm sorry — I didn't mean to offend you. It's just — you dottari work hard keeping the city safe. I just thought you could use a snack is all."
Lubella watched the men as they investigated the trap door, waiting to distract them if they got close to finding the secret door.
