Elise eyes Rose suspiciously, "Has she been vetted by the Cardinal? He get her to sign the paperwork yet? Because if not, I don't trust her any more than I trust Herr Baron. So let's just say that we've been setting up our informant network. Once done, we'll have eyes and ears all over this city. Anybody shows up looking to cause trouble, and we'll know about." She gives Albrekt a wide grin, "And of course we'll be happy to send warning of any do gooders along to you, but to do that, we'd have to know where to send that warning. So where did you say this horn was Horn again?"
At Rose's defiant challenge, Albrέkt merely matches Elise's grin with his own cracked toothed smile;
"Vunderbar is she nicht? Truly ve gained vun of Herr Baron's most prized treazures ja?"
Maintaining his wizened visage, the vampyr's tone shifts to a harder edge;
"As I said Frau Zadaria she is vith us. Now tell me more of der Geheimdienst... the informazion you und your Knotten have been harvezting... zhen ve may sprechen of Der Horn..."
Elise points a finger at Rose, "If you were bound to the cause, then you would have no concerns as to where my loyalties lie. For my part, you could be a Mitran spy for all I know. The Cardinal will judge where your loyalties truly lie.'
She turns her finger towards Albrekt, "I see nothing to be gained from divulging the nature of my network. Suffice to say that there is nothing that you need to concern yourself with at the moment. I will be letting the Cardinal know that you a fraternizing with outsiders. I would expect him to be in contact shortly."
She stands up, "If you are not planning on providing me with a means of contacting you in case of trouble, then you had better check in often. You know where to find me."
If not interrupted, she ends the meeting and moves off.
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At Elise's words the bowed old sage straightens and his visage melts away to one of cold iron and colder flesh.
Towering above her Albrέkt sneers, his lip pulling back to reveal jagged fangs;
"You. Threaten. Me? Ein Unheiligen Krieger des Blassen Prinzessin!"
The monstrous wretch chuckles, the sound akin to the repeated death rattle of a dying man;
"You zhink yourself kalt Frau Zadaria? Eis is nicht kalt... nicht like der erkältung ov death..."
The vampyr leans toward the woman, allowing his fetid breath and drool to seep from his jagged maw;
"Know zhis... I vill suck der marrow from die bones of you und Cocytian Knotten if you qvestion me again..."
:
She will: give me information I desire; take actions that do not endanger her & offer other limited assistance for x10 minutes
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Elise sits back down. "Fine. If you must know what we are doing, I'll let you know. A murderer now wanders Farholde, not that anyone suspects it yet. Certain meddlesome individuals have been dying in unfortunate accidents. Anyone who might be problematic in our endeavor is going to find themselves a target of this killer. Farholde is about to be bathed in blood. Once people become suspicious, we'll use their fear to keep them all in line. Happy now?"
As the story wraps up, Abrekt and Rose feel the subtle pressure of sharp blades against their backs. A quick glance reveals a couple of nondescript individuals that neither of you recognize. One of them leans forward, "You should watch who you threaten around here bloodsucker." Albrekt recognizes the voice, if not the face, as belonging to Drosten, another one of the 4th knot.
Before things can escalate, the door opens and the tavern falls silent. A beautiful woman in a stunning red dress glides inside. Tiadora sends you a dangerous smile and makes her way towards your table. "Oh my lovelies, this is no way to behave. We are all friends here." She tsks Albrekt, "My dearest Albrekt, you disappoint me so. Threatening an agent of your master. Remember where your loyalties now lie and play nice. We wouldn't want you to be working at odds to the grand purpose."
"Elise, Drostan, Trik. Know that the Cardinal approves of your progress, but if you'll please excuse us. I need to have a few words with our mutual friend here." The knives are removed from your backs and the fourth knot makes themselves scarce.
"Well let's get this over with. First, congratulations on finding the Horne. The Cardinal is happy to see the 9th succeed where the 7th failed. He looks forwards to your continued success and acquisition of the Tears of Achlys. He does recommend that you be careful around the wraith, undead are notoriously unreliable. Second, while the Cardinal approves of your acquisition of useful allies, people really should be vetted before they are privy to the inner working." She turns her attention to Rose and pulls out a rolled piece of parchment, along with a pair of iron circlets. "Alright my little flower, if you want to play the games, you need to obey the rules. On behalf of Cardinal Thorne, I hereby offer you membership to the ninth knot. Just put your named of the dotted line and you get one of these fancy circlets, just like your fangy friend here." She hands a quill and the contract to Rose. "Albrekt, do be a dear and invite your friend inside to join us. She'll need to sign as well. And don't worry, I'll make time to visit the Horne to get the other half-orc to sign as well. We need to all be on equal footing, no?"
The Bound shall know and understand the Four Loyalties.
The First Loyalty is to their patron and god – mighty Asmodeus, first among the fallen, prince of the nine hells, our father below. They shall do all that can be done to further his worship and his glory.
The Second Loyalty is to their master – He who is called the Cardinal Adrastus Thrune, High Priest of Asmodeus in Cheliax. They shall do the Master no harm and obey his every commandment as long as those commandments do not clash with their First Loyalty.
The Third Loyalty is to their companions – the other Bound who serve alongside them. The Bound shall deal with each other fairly and honorably as long as doing so does not clash with their first or second loyalties. All treasure, wealth and reward garnered in their exploits will be equally shared with all of the Bound who aided in its acquisition.
The Fourth Loyalty is to themselves – for Asmodeus is the Lord of Ambition and all who serve him should strive to become great and powerful in his service as long as doing so does not clash with their first, second or third loyalties. By their weakness, ye shall know the unworthy.
The Bound swear that they cleave to and uphold the Four Loyalties even in the face of death and damnation.
The Master swears that as long as the Four Loyalties are upheld, he shall reward the Bound as they deserve for their deeds. Thus it is written, and thus it shall be. We being of sound mind and free will do so swear and let they who violates this Compact know all the wrath of Hell unending.
At the 4th Knot's interjection Albrέkt merely eyes Drosten with an intense scowl, but any retort is swallowed as Tiadora makes her grand entrance.
Der Kardinal's richtig hand. Just vunderbar...
At her mention of undead being unreliable, the hulking vampyr merely flashes a rictus grin;
"Ov korse Frauchen Tiadora. I vud hate to enttäuschen Herr Kardinal."
When Sariana joins them he watches his fellow vampyr's actions with a wry smile, then waits patiently as Rose and Sariana are invited to sign the contract...
Tiadora gives Rose a cold smile and takes back the contract. "I see my reputation precedes me," she says, inclining her head. "I agree with your accessment dear, the cowards will step forward once victory is all but assured. Remember though, our patron favours the bold, not the fearful."
She turns to Albrekt, "Play nice with Elise. I won't always be available to pop in to stop you from doing something stupid. Our position is not yet so secure that we can tolerate infighting. Maintain your streak of successes, though, and perhaps we can think about removing some redundancies.
"Now, before I depart, is there anything you would like to report to the Cardinal?"
With Hexor and Vexor relieved from guard duty, Haruk's scout is sent in.
S1:
This large domed chamber is baroquely decorated and everywhere adorned with jagged daemonic iconography and visions of spreading pestilence and mortal suffering. It is a grand chamber: eighty feet across at its widest, ninety feet long and rising at its apex to a dome fifty feet high. Low partition walls section off two ritual preparation chambers. And dominating the chamber is the statue of Vetra-Kali himself carved from hard green alabaster. He holds three knives and three bowls and leers eyeless over the altar before him. He presents a figure of brutal alien malice.
The green stone of the altar is stained black in many places, doubtless from the countless victims who met their end upon its block. There is a reservoir at the base of the statue. The statue radiates evil. Circling the dome in perpetual motion is a huge creature of living energy.
Completely out of place is the heavy silver chains that bind the altar and connect to a heavy argent seal pressed with the holy sunburst of blessed Mitra.
S2:
This open balcony overlooks the surrounding countryside. From here you can see the other strange jagged hills that rise around the Horn. The hills seem almost to be bowing as if each of these ancient stone giants recognize they are lesser than the grand and magnificent spectacle that is the Horn of Abaddon
Allowing his vampyric visage to shift back to his chosen disguise of the crooked old sage, Albrέkt bows his head dutifully at Tiadora's commands;
"As you and Der Kardinal dekree Frauchen Tiadora. I vud welcommen a khange in zuch cirkumstanz allowing us to remove der Cocytian Knotten vunce zhey haf zerved zheir purpose."
His pale tongue brushes across yellowed old teeth at the thought...
At her question, the vampyr-in-sage's-skin nods to himself as if struck by an epiphany;
"Ja. Ve vish to kontinue to bolster Der Horn's defenzes. Der ungeheuer Grumblejack kan he be dispatched to us? Der brute iz a uzeful veapon..."
Tiadora brushes a hand against Albrekt's cheek. "Your viciousness is delightful... but for now the White Raven's serve the Cardinal's purpose. Keep your fangs at bay, for now."
"The ogre? Yes.. I can see how he might be useful to you. I will bring your request to the Cardinal."
If there is no further discussion, Tiadora takes her leave.
Albrέkt chuckles dryly at Sariana's words;
"Ja Schwester. Ve vil feed on her vun day..."
Even in the guise of the old sage, the vampyr's eyes glitter coldy;
"Ve schud rekruit more bodies for our endevours..? Kraftsmen und zervants ja?"
Once his devilish companion returns and informs him of the layout of the rooms upstairs, he shares the info with Xanos. "There's apparently some creature of pure energy circling the statue. Any idea what that could be?"
"Describe it. What kind of energy?" Xanos asked. He was reading a book, slightly awkwardly turning the pages with his wrist-stumps while his six disembodied hands worked on stirring and measuring various alchemical mixtures around the room.
Albrέkt nods in agreement at Rose plan to meet with the Baron, then looks to his undead sister;
"I vish to pay somevun a visit. Zhen ve schuld hunt. I hunger..."
The vampyr in sages skin nods with a yellow toothed smile;
"Der Waisenhaus iz run by Ein Bergill Mott. Ve excecuted vun Franz Mott who vas a Kaptain at Fort Balentyne. I am kurious if zhey are geblüt ...
You probably don't want the vampires feeding on that Baron's talent pool. Also it is a good place recruit minions and runners for your operation.
"A lightning elemental." Xanos said flatly, his eyes slowly panning to the golem on the assembly table. "What a coincidence." His tone made it clear that he didn't beleive for a second that it was coincidental.
"Could it not be the formerly bound one that powered the now inactive golem?" Haruk asks.
"Possible, though I suspect not." Xanos said. "I suppose it does not matter. When the others return we will kill it."
Still wearing his sage's skin, Albrέkt raises an eyebrow curiously;
"Kalm now Fräulein Silversting..! I merely vish to visit upon Der Waisenhaus und its headmeister... zho now its konnections to Der Baron are revealed it meritz perhapz more scrutiny?"
Albrέkt scowls, his jocular mood seemingly fleeting;
"Deliveries? Der trinkets? Zhe kan viat Meine Kleine Schwester... A pity ve kannot feed upon vun of Der Cocytian Knotten. Let zhem know shier doom."
The lanky sage hobbles towards the inn door;
"Let us dine... Perhapz Fräulein Silversting kan provide a useful honey to our trap? Perhapz even try a new diet?"
Despite his disguise, the old man's eyes glitter with the hunger of undeath...
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Molasbar is practically climbing the walls waiting for the others to return from town. He is relentless in walking the Horn, inside and out, searching for anything relevant to help them in their quest. Anything to break his boredom waiting for supplies. Once in a while, he looks off in the direction of the city, considering going to check on their progress. But each time, he stops himself.
When Xanos builds the lyre, Molasbar is grateful for something to do. He wholeheartedly throws himself into the process of enchanting it.
When the rest of the crafting supplies come in, Molasbar is clearly delighted. He checks with Xanos to pick a quiet, clean workspace for him and then dives into it.
Xanos does not think going to the alone sanctum is a good idea.
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Xanos does not think going to the alone sanctum is a good idea.