Triss took a step back and leaned against a tree. She watched the fight with some interest and saw it for what it was, an attempt to show off one's abilities. She had been late to the party and was only now starting to understand.
She laughed a bit "Alright, alright. Triss gets it, you lot are trying to show what you can do." she said nodding. She paused and feigned an attempt to look puzzled as to what to do while pulling a miniature bolt from the inside of her hat. She opened her coat and pulled out a very small crossbow and loaded it. "Well then..." she said before she brought it suddenly to bear on Godfrey and firing.
She watched the arrow sink into the man and his eyes immediately roll up into the back of his head before slumped to the ground unconscious. She held up her hands "It's alright, don't you lot fret. I ain't killed him, honestly not my job you know. You saw most of my work right? What will all the waving and red lights and such? Well, I told yah I'm a slaver. This is the best way to care for em. See, I find me my unsuspecting target, load up a little bolt to me ol crossbow here. Now remember, it's not the size it's how you use it right sugah?" she said looking at Ella, Senara, and Ileosa in particular.
"And then, if I'm lucky...this little poison me mah taught me to make does it's job and off they go to a very hard sleep. If I'm real lucky, then I got a few hours to get em tied up and ready for transport."
She looked down at Godfrey expecting him to rouse after that long winded speech. She scratched the back of her head and gave him a gentle kick. "Well s!$!, I thought that was one of me weak ones. Welp, least I can do is make him comfortable yea?" she said before stretching him out and trying to make him comfortable...unconscious.
"Huh..." Ella uttered in a mix of surprise and interest. She could understand Triss' strategy. Why would you ever face an opponent if you could just take them out before they ever knew what to expect. But to do it to someone who is supposed to trust you afterward... especially after his display of skill and magic. Godfrey seemed like a person who cared about image, and Triss just pissed over all that.
"Maybe you should see him back to his room? she'll eye a servant "Do you have a stretcher?"
If they don't Ella can carry him over her shoudler, once they are done.
Godfrey accepts Ileosa's advice with equanimity, smiling and saying, "I should hope to be a fast learner in all things, Ileosa. Even an old dog can learn a new trick or two. And in what will be our line of work, only those who can learn will survive."
A tightness of his mouth and eyes suggests that Godfrey is less enthusiastic to be hearing tactical advice then he tries to let on.
Godfrey is happy to discuss the group's probable tactics, as the subject naturally arises. A solid tactical mind along with obviously fierce strength. A glad thing to have. He adds to the discussion some thoughts on the utility and crowd control he can contribute via magic.
Triss' sudden shot catches the magus completely off guard. Godfrey has only the time to look down at the bolt standing out from his chest with alarm, eyes shockingly white when opened so widely. "You! But! ..." And he collapses into a heap as his eyes roll back in his head.
Godfrey wakes with a start in his own room, mind still foggy with the aftereffects of the drow's poison. Damn that fiendish slattern to the Ninth. To use me as her little guinea pig... A guttural growl grows in his throat, and Godfrey mentally restrains his anger. No harm done, for now. So long as this particularly indignity is not repeated. And an apology... oh yes, there will be an apology.
Sitting up in his bed, Godfrey rings a bell to fetch a servant. "Hot water for washing and something hot to eat. See to my gear if you haven't already." Shimmying to the side of the bed, he tests his legs shakily and finally stands after being sure he won't fall. He washes and shaves, then stands a moment looking between the finery the servants had laid out and his armor. Reluctantly, he sets aside his armor and sword in favor of a navy doublet.
He spends the next two days focused on his work. He is polite, occasionally even charming, but he maintains a degree of aloofness appropriate in a noble who obviously feels he was wrong. If he runs into Triss, he is icily cold even while being polite. He periodically sends for magical supplies, and servants are often running to and fro gathering things at his request. After two days of long effort, he sits back with a contented and self-satisfied smile as he looks at the last few lines of illegible, arcane scrawl in which all of his notes on magic are written.
Senara's lips twist into a wry smile utterly devoid of humor in response to Ella's brusque question. She can't fault the large woman entirely for the emotions her query stirs up; there was really no courteous way of asking about Kaellan's seeming impermanence other than not asking at all. Taking a deep breath, Senara answers, "I never truly resurrected Kaellan. At least in the strictest sense of the word, no. That would have been beyond my abilities." Certain that her explanation raises more questions than it's satisfied, the Lady gives a quiet sigh before continuing.
"In all my readings, I found nothing short of divine intervention can restore a soul to its rightful body. But grafting a soul onto a different body is another matter. I'm sure by now you've noticed the... inhuman qualities Kaellan possesses? I assure you his former body, the one mouldering away in the family crypt, had no such traits. They are holdovers, from the entity sacrificed to give Kaellan new life. Of course, since it was not of this world, it requires conscious effort for me to keep my brother and his new body on this plane."
Senara gives Ella a tight smile after she's concluded her lengthy explanation, more upset with the less than ideal circumstances of her brother's revival than the other woman's curiosity. "To answer your question, nothing went wrong with the ritual. The Warden's blood did exactly what it was meant to do; act as a stopgap until I find a way to bring Kaellan back in a more permanent manner." Helping herself to some water, Senara brings the cup up to her lips. "Which reminds me, the Warden is still alive." After her casual revelation, Senara drinks deep from her goblet before setting it back on the table and moving to assist Godfrey with his next demonstration.
Ella listens, watching the other woman in pain. Even Ella is perceptive enough to pick up on that. The reveal at the end makes her eyes widen a bit, then she says "So we find him, chop off more bits and see if they help at all." not knowing if Senara caught her statement or not.
After sparring...
Ella will stay longer than the others, exercising, burning off energy. Part of her requested supplies was javelins, and after an hour or so of practice, there is a tree in the courtyard that will never look the same.
One of those lovely bathes follow. Then she'll nestle in a couch at the library to read that book she rescued the still living Warden's library. Normally she'd have holed herself in her room to read, but she firmly believes to survive this contract, the group has to be able to grab on to the tiniest bit of trust in each other. Ella really has no idea how they will manage that, but she does figure avoiding each other is one sure way to fail.
Ella's suggestion chases away the hurt her earlier question stirred up and brings a familiar smirk to Senara's face. "Hopefully there'll be no need to track him down," the Lady says over her shoulder while she waits for Godfrey to signal his readiness. "Tiadora thinks it likely that the old fool will come after me before long. But when he does make this last mistake, I only ask that you not chop off too many bits. I promised Tiadora his corpse in exchange for her assistance with the binding ritual and I'd hate to have to give it to her piece by piece."
Senara offers another round of applause after Godfrey's performance. She had initially been a little concerned when the infernal hound managed to close its jaws around the nobleman's arm, having expected him to make short work of the otherworldly creature. But before she could decide whether she should dismiss the hound, the sound of thunder and a flash of brilliant light decided the hellish hound's fate. "Interesting... I recognised the spell you cast, but, as I understood it, it could only be channelled through one's hand." Senara gives Godfrey a contrite nod. "It seems you weren't exaggerating when you spoke of your unique ability to blend swordplay and the arts together. And you were right; it was quite impressive." A faint smile touches her lips when Godfrey mentions the bite the conjured mutt delivered. "Apologies, Lord Leitner. I'm afraid such creatures are suited for but one purpose and it isn't to playfight. If you'd like, I can tend to that wound for you. I'll just need a moment first."
Stepping away from the space set aside for sparring in case the others wished to practice, Senara goes to summon Kaellan again. The ritual itself is rather unremarkable. Senara speaks chants no invocations or words of infernal power. No arcane gestures are made. No blood is spilt. It would seem as though Senara had merely asked for a moment to fix herself a cup of tea had it not been for the fact that one moment she stood alone and in the next, her brother materialized next to her, watching her stir a spoonful of sugar into her tea.
Senara listens to the tactics the group discusses and the suggestions given while she enjoys her tea, occasionally nodding approvingly at something one of the others brings up. When Ella mentions acting as a sort of shield for Senara and Ileosa, using her size to keep their enemies away from two, Senara smiles into her cup. "I may be able to help with that plan," she says cryptically before taking a sip of her tea.
She drops the mostly empty teacup to the table with a clatter after witnessing the drow fire on Godfrey unprovoked. "Triss!" The glower she sends the woman's way fades in increments as she explains what she shot the nobleman with, leaving Senara feeling little more than exasperated by the slaver's antics. "That's a rather loose interpretation of the Pact you seem to have," she admonishes as the servants come to carry the unconscious nobleman to his room.
Once the villains return from the swamp and settle into their rooms to change attire, grab a small bite to eat, and freshen up, they are met with the gear requested in the parchment they filled out for Tiadora. Everything except for two small additions, a silver unholy symbol of Asmodues and an iron circlet. The headpiece itself was individually tailored to an extent to the recipient.
Ella's iron circlet looks as though it were made of ironwood itself, shaped from the vines and thorns of the rose. While it gives the look of thorns attempting to pierce into the skin when worn, it is a carefully made piece of artistry to look like but not pierce the skin.
Ileosa's iron circlet almost appears to be made of the branch of an olive tree. It's leaves and fruit woven delicately to hold back her hair and offer the cool touch of the iron upon the skin in a light, airy fashion.
Senara's was perhaps more traditional of a noble house. While not quite a match for her former household's finer wear, it held a soft sheen of red when held in the right light. The edges of the design softened into a flame like design.
Silas's was perhaps the most common in design. Seeming to match the man's desire for discreteness, the features of the circlet held nothing that stood out to help someone remember it and pick it out of a pile. It blended in well to any company, while never standing out in one's mind.
Godfrey's circlet was a bit thicker than the others, flat on the backside to press against the skin but bulging out in it's design so that it did not wear awkwardly. Two snakes coiled together in a dance as the wove and danced across his forehead to end with fangs and head biting into his ears. The scales almost shimmered despite the iron it was made of.
The rest of the day is pleasant, at least as pleasant as the individuals want it to be. While they have no true freedom, they do essentially have run of the manor. Comfort is beholden to the individual, so long as the request is not improbable or downright impossible the request is answered with enthusiasm and haste. The next forty eight hours are the same, allowing for almost any hedonistic desire that one might indulge is provided and accommodated for.
Finally, upon the fourth eve they are summoned once more to have an audience with the Cardinal. This time, however, it is he that is first and waiting. The look on his face is one of eagerness and almost childlike delight at the potential entertainment (for him) to come of the evening. As requested, you all show up outfitted for battle and travel.
Finally dressed the morning after sparring, Godfrey takes a moment to survey the room before he leaves to break his fast with the others. Having not eaten since breakfast the previous day, he's sufficiently hungry that he nearly misses the new equipment neatly laid out on a table. Smiling, he runs over a mental checklist of the items he expects. Checking the last box, he nods in satisfaction until he notices the stylized circlet and amulet sitting apart from the rest of the gear. Not something I requested. Perhaps something else that the Cardinal believes we will require.
The silver amulet is quickly revealed to be an unholy symbol of Asmodeus. He runs his hand over the inverted pentagram, smiling faintly. Not something I could ever have worn in that past life of mine. Having to hide at all times grew tiresome, when such a self-evident truth demanded to spoken -even shouted- aloud. He turns his attention to the circlet with more curiosity.
"Geryon favor those who seek the truth...", he murmurs as he turns over the circlet to study it. Frowning, he barks a word of command in Draconic, "Antdekn," while contorting his free hand into the Form of Divination.
He studies the circlet a moment longer seeking any indication that the item is magical and, if so, what its purpose is.
Dressing in his now-repaired tunic and feeling satisfactorily armed, he makes his way to the appointed room with an eye to arriving a moment or two early. He's surprised to find Cardinal Thorne waiting for him and he bows to the man in a courtly fashion. "A good evening to you, Cardinal. I trust it finds you well?"
Not expecting an answer, he stands and waits patiently for the rest of his Knot to arrive.
She stares at the symbol. Asmodeus... the others were believers, well followers as much as any of them could fit that term. Ella believed, one would have to be blind or stupid not to, but worship is a whole other thing.
Ella left it sitting there, after staring for quiet a while. She would try and read, then find herself looking at it again and again.
She knew next to nothing about religion, especially Asmodeus since his followers were banned. Only the propaganda the good people of their country cursed about. None of it good, but all of it meaningless.
Three days it took here to pick it up. Metal, cold to the touch, and... nothing else. She expected to be burned for heresy, or to hear sweet whispers of corruption, or... well something.
Now she felt simply foolish, and slipped the symbol over her head without further hesitation.
Ella arrives looking ready for war in her heavy breastplate, tinged black as she requested. She had done so to keep reflections to a minimum, but the contrast of the bright red of the unholy symbol resting against it is simply stunning. Her rose and thorn circlet pushing back her hair, thick iron spear in hand, javelins poking past her shoulder, and a pack full for traveling.
She nods to the Cardinal and to Godfrey in turn. Then leans shoulder to wall and waits.
Senara and Kaellan walk into the room next, the Lady looking more prepared for a night of rubbing shoulders with the gentry rather than whatever task the Cardinal has planned for them. While the elder Davorim appeared to be dressed more sensibly in a black jacket and breeches of military cut, Senara arrives in a less practical ensemble; a fine gown of crimson silk with floor-sweeping sleeves. Head held high, she wears the iron circlet upon her brow like a crown. To the young woman's credit, the sound of tiny metal links chinking against each other can be heard with every step she takes. Senara nods politely to Ella and Godfrey, but the air of self-assuredness that surround the summoner dims slightly on spying the look of gleeful anticipation on the Cardinal's face. A moment passes by wherein Senara eyes Thorn with open suspicion before a practiced smile lights up her face. "Your Eminence," she greets the man with a deferential nod.
Silas was breathing quite heavily by the end of their duel and he had a wicked grin on his face. He bowed his head to Godfrey as they stepped away and he started looking to his wounds. Those blows had almost knocked him unconscious, he had definitely underestimated the man. Sheathing his weapons and sitting down with his back to a mostly overgrown stone wall he said, “The magic might have made the difference but your form was quite good. I must say I underestimated your skill with a blade. It will be a pleasure fighting beside you rather than against you in the future.”
He nodded to Ella as he settled down to recuperate. He was glad to be able to impress her. She was a frighteningly strong looking woman, the only one in the group who he expected could easily overpower him directly. As they watch the fighting further he begins talking to Ella, “That fight took more out of me than I expected it to. I would love to have a chance to practice with you over the next couple of days if you are not opposed. Finding out how we can shore up each others weaknesses could only be beneficial.”
Upon waking up with all of his purchases laid out ready for him Silas set about getting his equipment in order. Especially taking in to account what had happened to the Acolytes he had sworn he would never be in a position where he was unable to escape again. The circlet was interesting but a healthy dose of paranoia kept him from placing it on in order to figure it out. Since it came with a note from Tiadora he assumed he would be expected to wear it but for now he simply carried it with him. The design was simple and clean, he could appreciate it. It looked like something a high ranking soldier might wear and in that regard it was perfect for him. The two days he has to himself are spent training sparing some with Ella and Godfrey and seeking out Trik to better acquaint himself with the young sociopath. He’s not really looking to pry deeply into anyone’s past or present for that matter but anything he can learn could potentially be beneficial. And besides he enjoys Trik’s company and is quickly growing to respect the talents of his companions. At some point he would also probably seek out either Senara or Godfrey to identify the crown for him and assure him of his properties. Once he recognized how to make it work he’d definitely spend hours just altering his appearance slightly and tweaking things to discover exactly how much use he could get out of it. As someone specialized in disguising himself as other people the circlet is a true blessing.
When it came time to meet with the Cardinal a man dressed as a middle ranking Talirean soldier. The effect was likely quite surprising. It had been something he was working on for quite some time. He wasn’t sure exactly how Tiadora was able to obtain the uniform he had requested but he was immensely thankful for it since it completed the look so spectacularly. He was wearing a true Talirean soldier’s uniform with a goal that was reversible so that he could flip it and project a different look at a moments notice if need be. The details of his appearance included a circlet that looked very similar to the simple one he had been given earlier though it bore a symbol of Mitra in the center of it now. Upon closer inspection by his companions familiar with him it was clear that largely Silas’ physical appearance hadn’t changed too much. His coloration was different. His skin, hair and eyes a shade lighter, a somewhat noticeable attention-drawing scar on his cheek. But overall the physical changes were enhanced by non-magical means to make the appearance as believable as possible. He nodded to them all and took his seat in one of the chairs before allowing his kukri to slight out of his wrist sheathes so he could begin twirling them. Other than that he simply waited patiently for the Cardinal to address him.
Ileosa couldn't help but find the circle odd, she was unsure why it had been sent to her as she remembered everything she had asked for and it wasn't upon the list. For a moment she wondered if it had gone to the wrong person. This after all to her looked like something a druid would wear, but after thinking it over more and more she doubted they would make a mistake like that. She set it aside, debating upon what to do with it. The unholy symbol was a nice thing to have, even if she already had one, just incase the other got stolen, lost, or destroyed. A backup was very nice.
Over the next few days, finding out either through sight or speech, that each of her companions also received a circlet of differing appearance, Ileosa began to wonder if it had been meant as a gift. It wouldn't have been the gifter's fault for not knowing her least favorite food was olives. So in the end, after taking to time to look over the circlet for magic, Ileosa wore it. After all, there was only one among the known here who would be sending their party any kind of gift.
When the meeting was called Ileosa dressed in her armor and tunic, but with the sleeves she requested altered her clothes to look more like a simple crimson blouse with black leggings and a black corset. Normally she enjoyed dresses more but even with her combat style a dress would look ridiculous next to her crossbow in her hands and blots hanging from her belt. She placed the circlet upon her head before braiding her hair though it and into one long braid behind her. The first unholy symbol was tied around her wrist and tucked into her sleeve, the second was hidden away in the pouch that held her bolts.
Upon entering the chamber and noticing the rest of her group was already there, Ileosa just simply smiled at them before moving around them gracefully to find a place for herself. Upon seeing the Cardinal's face she couldn't help but smile a bit, after all it was infectious. "You look as giddy as a child upon their birthday." She pointed out.
Triss made her appearance within a few moments of the others. Her attire didn't look any different than it had the first day and if it wasn't for the ability to detect magic on the woman, none would be the wiser about her wearing a circlet as well. She bowed politely and sweeped her bicorn in the process at the Cardinal before straightening up and nodding towards the group.
The Cardinal sits up and beams "I see you have found your gifts, I do hope the styling was to your liking. But the true gift is of course always hidden within the mundane. These circlets will allow you to move amongst your enemies as one of them. The holy symbols will remind you of your true loyalties. And of course, the other items you requested personally...Well, you'll need them now." he said, his grin growing a bit wicked and mischievous.
He gave a small but hearty laugh before continuing "You have done well to escape from Brandescar and to accept my humble offer. However, you are still not ready for my service. Tiadora will lead you to the basement of this domicile. There you will find nine chambers, each more dangerous than the last. Somewhere hidden within these chambers is a pendant of silver and sapphire. Recover the pendant and bring it to me. Let nothing and no one stand in the way of your task. Do this and prove to me you are ready." he said growing more serious as he spoke.
He stood up, throwing the rest of his brandy into the fireplace and making his way to the manor window. He stood there gazing across the grey moor in silence for a few moments before turning towards the group. "Dusk approaches, you have until the sun has fully set tomorrow to bring me my prize. Do. Not. Fail. Me." he said punctuating each word of the final sentence.
The Cardinal makes his way across the study past the lot of you and takes his seat behind the luxurious desk in the room. It had been perhaps strange to notice that Tiadora, whom was a constant sight beside the Cardinal's side, had not been there at the time. But, almost as if on cue, she arrived as the Cardinal settled down and began looking throw some scrolls.
The Cardinal makes it apparent that he will be taking no questions from the group as Tiadora poignantly motions to follow her. "This way." she says and leads them down to the basement. She makes a motion and the illusion of a large cask melts away in one of the corners. There, a trap door creaks open with another twist of the wrist. A set of stairs leads further down. "Below you will find the Nine Lessons." she said with slight malice in her voice. "Your time is limited, but if you have any questions...you may waste your time asking them now, because no one will help you or let you out till the pendant is procured." she said in a rather eerily pleasant tone compared to the last line.
Godfrey watches as Triss joins the group with an icy smile that makes it obvious to any observer that he's irritated by her antics on the sparring grounds. As the Cardinal begins to speak, he breaks his frigid glare to pay close attention to Thorne's instructions. They will aid us in moving among them, though certain caution will be warranted. The effect is an illusion that breaks all to easily. Still, a helpful bit of magic. The mischievous malevolence Cardinal Thorne's wicked grin elicits a small involuntary shudder from the magi. No simple task, if that smile is anything to go by. The pendant will be guarded certainly, but by what?
"As is your will, Cardinal Thorne." He bows to the retreating figure. He follows when Tiadora beckons, though he is preoccupied by the magic of the illusion. Fascinating. I wonder if that is a persistent effect or if there is an item which causes the illusion to manifest.
"I've only one question. Are there any other distinguishing features to this amulet? If this is the task we are set, then it wouldn't do to bring you the wrong amulet." Godfrey watches the stairs tensely, trying not to think that he might be descending into his tomb.
Senara runs an appreciative hand over the delicate metalwork on her brow as the Cardinal mentions his gifts to the group. For a few moments the finery she wears becomes ethereal, revealing the noblewoman's true outfit of a shapeless chainmail shirt over dark leather breeches and functional boots. She adjusts the circlet again and once more appears adorned in the more elaborate attire. And while Senara is not so naive to think that Thorn bestowed them these gifts for the simple parlour trick she's demonstrating, being reminded that they'll be used to walk amongst their enemies brings a certain wistfulness to the young woman. They had all escaped from or en route to the most infamous prison in Talingarde. They are all fugitives from so-called justice and wanted criminals. Forsaken of Mitra. Senara doubts that any of them will be able to show their faces in public again until they brought about the fall of House Darius and restored true order to Talingarde. The thought is a melancholy one for the vainglorious noblewoman but she pushes it to the side in favor of more immediate concerns.
Senara is certain the respectful nod she gives to the Cardinal once he's dismissed the group goes unnoticed. Her lips form a thin white line as she follows Tiadora down the now familiar path toward the wine cellar. There's no hiding from anyone that being so disregarded rankles the lady. But the irritation she feels in regards to the slight is overshadowed by her determination to prove her worth to the Cardinal, to rise up and become more than another pawn in the Master's scheme.
But even with this newfound determination, Senara is reluctant to forgo the creature comforts that should be afforded a woman of her station. "'Let us out'? Cardinal Thorn intimated that these lessons could take nearly into tomorrow evening. Surely you don't mean for us to sleep in the basement?"
Silas listened as the Cardinal informed them of their first task in training. He didn’t let his disappointment show but he was somewhat irked by the simplicity of the task before them. Although he understood the purpose, for the Cardinal to see how they reacted under pressured situations and employed their various talents, it still seemed pointless. When he had been in training with the Apostles of Asmodeus he had undergone training courses that sounded like what he expected this to be. Various challenges, riddles and obstacles that had to be overcome to train their members to handle anything that got in their way. But he supposed that he shouldn’t have expected the Cardinal would accept them without proving themselves in some way before being given a more important task. When Tiadora appeared Silas stood and stretched languidly to begin loosening up. He had done some morning exercises to limber up as was his habit but it never hurt to stay warmed up. He suspected most of these challenges would be physical in nature.
Silas drew his kukri as Tiadora led them to the trap door leading down into the basement. He had no questions for the Cardinals pet at this point. The Cardinal himself had given them the only permission he needed “let nothing and no one stand in the way”. If he had to kill or break something down there he had the Cardinals implicit blessing with that command, that was good enough for him. At Senara’s comment about being let out Silas smiled, “I doubt it will be as bad as sleeping in a cell at Branderscar. And besides I have no intention of spending longer on this task than is necessary. The sooner we finish it the sooner we’ll be trusted with a real assignment.”
"For all we know there might even be a place for us to use if we need to sleep down there." Ileosa stated as she looked at the stairs that lead down into their trials. "We never actually slept in the cell." Ileosa said. "Unless you could when we had been knocked out so they could put us in there without trouble." She said with a shrug before adding "We broke out in the first night." her tone one of pride.
"Now, come along. Also remember it could be on any of these nine chambers. So we just need to find it and bring it back. However things such as this almost always end up at the very bottom." Ileosa explained with a small laugh. "It could be over too soon if it isn't in the ninth chamber, isn't that right Tiadroa?" She asked offhandedly as she slowly began to take the first steps down.
"I did. It wasn't comfortable." Ella corrects for no real reason. It had been while their now dead cleric was praying for an hour. "They told us to prepare for travel." She also points out to Senara. "If it is only one night, I have rations enough for any. If you did not pack any."
Tiadora raised a brow as Godfrey asked his question "I am sure you will figure out that is the amulet you seek when you find it." she answered simply.
It was Senara's question to brought a hand up to the Tiadora's face in an attempt to hide her smile at their potential missed comfort "There may be times in you path that you will not find the comforts you so desire, if you cannot handle this then there is no reason for you to continue any further." she said in earnest.
To the others comments, she only offers a wry smile. She looks around at everyone once it seemed everyone said their piece. "Is that all? Well then, I suggest you enter. Time only waits for the dead and immortal." she said calmly.
A set of stone stairs lead down, through an archway and into an unfurnished chamber beyond. Inscribed upon the archway in the common tongue is "Deception is a tool. Self-Deception is death. Deceive always thy enemy but never thyself." The room beyond is lit by a small oil lantern hanging from the center of the chamber.
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Senara cuts her eyes at Silas as he offers his assurances. "So says the man who never actually made it to Branderscar," she replies, a teasing quality to her usual smirk. "Though I agree with your point about completing this task as quickly as possible. Finding a pendant in a basement shouldn't take too long, after all." When Ella mentions that they were advised to prepare for traveling, Senara gives a defeated sigh. "I did prepare for travel." Reaching through the illusion of her noblewoman's finery, Senara adjusts a pouch fastened to the belt of her breeches and the sound of coins jiggling together echoes through the cellar. "More than enough to hire a coachman and rent a suite for a week or so. ...It seems my idea of travel differs from all of yours," the Lady says in a glum, almost self-deprecating manner. But she manages a brief smile in return for Ella's generosity. "Thank you."
Rather than deign to respond to Tiadora's stinging reproval, Senara draws herself up, letting her actions speak for her as she turns to follow Ileosa down into the first lesson. Taking note of the inscription, Senara casts a wary look around the bare room. Waving a hand in front of her, the conjuror intones a pair of words of infernal power—"Geheimnisse enthüllen"—and searches the room for arcane auras.
Ella grunts at the inscription, thinking this first lesson will be trouble for her. Unless something deceptive is simple something hidden, and self deceptive is simply being too stupid not to look for... "Traps possibly?" Ella isn't particularly great at traps but she'll look (or aid another at looking) at the floor of the room, testing it with the butt of her spear before stepping on it.
Godfrey's mouth twists and he arches an eyebrow at Tiadora as she answers. What a delightful non-answer... He replies, "Very well. We're a clever bunch, so no doubt you're right. We'll be back shortly." Suppressing a snort of laughter at Senara's reply, he draws his blade as he begins to descend. "Shaynen," having said the word of of command, a glow blooms from his newly gifted amulet as he touches it.
He pauses at the archway, studying the words for a moment. A fool who fails to see reality as it is deserves his fate. A simple enough lesson. He steps through the doorway and scans the room quickly for threats. Seeing nothing immediately, he follows Senara's example -"Antdekn dem sud"- and casts a spell. He scans the room for any magic auras, starting with the lamp and working his way methodically outward. "Traps probably. If not in here, then in one of the others."
Having found nothing magical, Godfrey shrugs and says, "Nothing magical of note that I could sense. I'd like to have a closer look at that lantern, it being the only thing in here. That said, if there are mechanical traps, I'm afraid I have little to no experience spotting them. Perhaps you'd care to take point, Silas?"
Light
Reveal a secret
Silas doesn’t know a great deal about the arcane, but given that he had several practitioners with him he decided to let them feel things out magically before proceeding forward. If he got the okay to move ahead he would proceed with caution, looking carefully where he planted his feet until he got to the center of the room. Then he would take a careful look around and see what their options were in terms of possible passages. He spoke up as he moved forward, “Traps are likely but it could also be simple deception. The passage we need might not appear as the most obvious way forward. Careful where you step and don’t touch anything until we are certain it wont trigger something else.”
The party starts slowly trickling into the room. With both Silas's warning and Godfrey's, the group enters and fans out carefully on the western wall (The wall you enter from.) Silas with his careful, prepared approach manages to uncover directly in front of the eastern door a pit trap. Ella's manipulations with her spear, uncovers it fully for all to look down upon and see it is a delightful pike lined with painful spikes in it after a nasty but short fall.
In the pit, they notice the remains of either a small child or perhaps a gnome or halfling who had perished in earlier run throughs of the Nine Lessons.
In this room with your careful scanning for magic, you find nothing useful with your careful scanning.
"Possibly traps yes but... It is an odd incribtion for traps." Ileosa commented as they entered the room. "No I think this lesson has far more to do than with simple traps." She added as she looked around the room
"This trial wishes us not to lie to ourselves... the lies we tell ourselves are often the ones that lead to our downfall." Ileosa said as she gestured to the body in the pit. "Thinking we are infallible, thinking that status, wealth, or simply raw strength would be enough to accomplish our goals... when really ones needs all and more."
After Ileosa gestures to the body, Ella leans down to visually study the pit. The walls, the placement of the body and of the spikes. If nothing is apparent, she'll try to fish out the remains of the child/gnome, with her spear if it is beyond reach by hand. She'll give the inquisitor a shrug, saying up to her "It might be a clue staged to be ignored. Doesn't hurt to check."
With a dissatisfied hmph, Senara dismisses the simple enchantment that allowed her to perceive arcane energies and voices her agreement with Godfrey's assessment. "I sense nothing magical, either." Her confidence bolstered by watching her companions fan out through the room, Senara makes her way down from the stairs and into the chamber proper. She listens as each of her companions seems to come up with a different theory about the meaning behind the inscription. She, too, has her own idea about the grim proverb, but feels no need to share it. Rather she focuses her attention on trying to locate any other hidden features the room might hold, enlisting her brother's aid in the task given the man's infernally augmented sight. The pair both start their search at the western wall, Senara moving south of the door and along the room to the pit trap while Kaellan scours the northern half of the room.
Godfrey, having stopped in the center of the room, casts a sidelong glance at the newly revealed pit. A glad thing to have someone skilled at spotting that sort of hazard. It would be a damned foolish way to die. Returning his attention to the lantern, Godfrey spends a moment studying it from every angle, looking in particular for any additional inscriptions.
Silas nodded as he uncovers the trap in the eastern wall. Considering it was the only door it seemed somewhat obvious given the inscription that it would be trapped. But that didn’t mean that there was only one trap. He shared that with the party, “Just because we found one trap doesn’t mean we found the only one. Be careful as you keep inspecting the room.”
If any of the walls hadn’t been inspected yet Silas would go over and look them over carefully for any sign of a concealed doorway or paneling. If he found nothing he intended to return to the east wall and attempt to open the door on the other side of the pit, obviously with as much care as possible so as to avoid falling into said pit.
With the uncovering of the Trap pit, the group begins to fan out slowly. Everyone checking along the ways and kicking at the ground to try and trigger another trap before they might fall victim to it.
Silas following along the northern wall from one way and Kaellan from the other, the two meet in the midden when the devilishly handsome man stops and clicks his claws against the stone spot again. His eyes narrow a bit and he stoops, letting the pointed tips scrap along the grout of the brick till sure enough he finds a small gap. He reaches in with two fingers and pulls the brick free. Instantly a small blue light fills the room from the now missing brick. He looks up at Silas for a moment before reaching his hand on in and wrapping his clawed fingers around something and pulling it out.
The item in question looks almost like a jewel but is cold to the touch. A small note attached to it falls to the ground as Kaellan bring the crystal up to his eyes. "Curious little jewel...colder than it should be, I doubt it is simply a jewel." he says, his voice cold but soft.
Silas picks up the note and looks at it. The note reads Thou hast seen through deception to uncover a useful tool.
At the word Jewel, the drow's eyes light up and her boots dance across the room to bring her right up behind Kaellan, her head practically resting on his shoulder to get a good look at the jewel he is holding up above his head. "Oooh, that's a pretty little thang ain't it. But you're right, that you are. That there tain't no jewel a tal. That tere is liquid ice. One toss of that fragile little "jewel" and you'll be screaming as frost claims the spot it hits. Nasty little tool, also helps make a fantastic table to put yor tankards on so that they make yor ale all nice and frosty. Delicious." she said going slightly off topic.
Around the same time, on the South wall, Ileosa and Senara meet. Ileosa tapping her fingers against the wall pauses hearing a bit of a hollow sound. A quick check again reveals a hollow spot in the wall. Between the two women checking, the manage to find the portion that slides inwards and a passageway is revealed.
Ella, poking and prodding at the skeleton, notices there is some faint writing in what looks like very old dried blood. Thou wert deceived. Pain is thy reward. Alas, beyond that, the pit holds no further secrets. The skeleton is simply a very dead person.
Godfrey stops his inspection of the lantern, convinced that there's nothing of interest about it. "My own search turned up nothing of interest, which I suppose is no surprise. We can infer that someone has been down recently to light the lantern, but I don't think that is particularly useful information." Walking over to the passageway that Ileosa find, he listens carefully for any sounds from down the passage. To the others, he opines, "We've two paths, and in time I imagine we'll want to have a look at both. I'd think the less obvious path would be a better starting point, given the room's -ah- " As he waits for the group's opinion, he casts his divinatory spell again, "Antdekn dem sud", and studies the passageway.
"I agree." Ileosa said as she stepped aside so another could enter the newly exposed doorway first. "I think this is the path we should take, though I am not one you wish to go first. I am poorly equipped for such a place." She went on to say with a small sigh. "Though I am curious what the next lesson will be..."
Ileosa waited till after Senara to enter, oddly enough the inquisitor seemed to stay close to the summoner.
"I can go first." Ella offers, besides being big and armored as reasons, she points out "I can see in the dark" Moving to the entrance she pauses and then pulls out a jar of oily paste which she rubs into the joints of her breastplate. "We should try and be quiet."
The large woman moves slowly and carefully through the passageway Ileosa and Godfrey suggested. Pressing her foot down lightly, testing any give, and then again with the next one. The pit trap has her wary for traps, scanning the floor and walls as she goes. She knows there may be other dangers, but splitting her focus too much seems unwise. Plenty of other eyes, ears, and noses hopefully following behind her.
Senara pauses in her inspection of the southern wall as blue light filters in through the secret crevice Kaellan uncovers. Turning to watch as he pulls free the incandescent gem, Senara takes a moment to praise him via their mental link—"Well done, brother,"—but her satisfaction quickly turns to irritation when she sees Triss cozy up to Kaellan under the pretense of inspecting the "jewel". The drow's disregard for personal space brings a faint scowl to the lady's face, but, in the interest of harmony, she quickly goes back to examining the southern wall before much can be made of the look she gave the slaver. "I hadn't considered that the pendant may be hidden within these walls," she comments idly after the discovery, not at all enthused about how much time it would take to search the basement brick by brick.
Senara nods her agreement with Godfrey's assessment once she and Ileosa find the hidden passageway leading from the room. Trusting the nobleman to uncover any arcane secrets the next room might have without her assistance, Senara keeps an eye out for more mundane concerns as Ella braves the first few steps. She does take notice of Ileosa's closeness, half turning toward the other woman to regard her curiously but making no other mention of it before turning her attention back to the new chamber. Either the two of them had formed a bond over the past few days and Ileosa was starting to appreciate the lady's company, or the former handmaiden had plans to use Senara as a sort of human shield for whatever traps might lay ahead. Either way, Senara couldn't blame her, but she certainly hopes for the other woman's sake that her desire to be close was due to the former.
The party begins to move forwards carefully, though it seems once out of the first room the party is safe. A short jaunt down a small passage brought them to the next door. Carefully scrawled in blood that shown eerily in the light "Following the herd is for fools. Fear not their icy derision. Instead, Fear only thy Infernal Lord." it read.
Once the party steeled their nerves and opened the door, they entered into another room of similar design as the last. Similar except that a door lay upon every direction. If one was to count the door they enter from as north, then there was one due south, one due west, and one due east.
The entire room felt eerily cold. The ground is dirty and dusty. Ella paused the group and pointed out the ground. Easily discernible was about a dozen or so individuals worth of footprints leading towards the Southern and Eastern Doors. The western seemed to have not a footstep towards it.
The rest of the party noticed this quickly but it seemed Senara was watching Triss carefully after her ignorance towards personal space with her brother earlier. Meanwhile, Kaellan himself seemed preoccupied with watching over his sister and the bit of Alchemist's Ice.
"Little to no footsteps towards the western door." Ileosa pointed out with a hum. "The door said 'Following the herd is for fools', thus one could easily say that the western door is out way out. As each of the other doors have many paths leading to them."
"Aaah, that is it." Ileosa said as she snapped her fingers. "One would think that if the looked at the room logically alone. The western door is covered in a Mold. That mold will attack anything that had body heat if it comes within five feet from it. But anything cold will kill it. Ironically, it is why the room is so cold. It pulls all of the heat out of the air and replaces it with this cold." She looked to Senara and her dear brother Kaellan. "Kaellan, do you still poses any body heat? If not would you be a dear and take that alchemical ice you found and remove the mold?" She asked. "Of course, you have the right to refuse, but I don't see why. We're not suppose to follow everyone else so I doubt the other doors will help us."
"That is fascinating." Ella with more interest in her voice than normal "Does it have a name, the mold I mean?" She'll step out of the way of Kaellan, and look around from traps again, concentrating on the floors first. She'll also take a slight bit of interest at the other doors, not opening them, just curious if they are trapped.
"Sadly the one who named it had no form of creativity. It is simple called violet mold." Ileosa answered with a sigh. "Do you like learning about this sort of things?"
"Yes." responds with her typical succinctness, pausing long enough making Ileosa to think that is all she'll get, but then adds "It started with researching what I am, then... ballooned." she looks up from peering into a keyhole and smiles. "Maybe combine Violet and Ice, something like Violice mold?" shaking her head "No, that is bad." then gets back to hunting for traps.
Senara wordlessly agrees with Ileosa's reasoning regarding which door they ought to go through next. The lesson was simple enough to grasp once Ella had pointed out the tracks littering the floor to the south and the east. She was certain, had they thought to bring him along, that even Grumblejack would have been able to solve that one. But Senara is a bit more hesitant to accept Ileosa's identification of a strange mold on the door. While Ella shows an interest in learning more about the hazardous fungi, Senara is more curious about how Ileosa could know such a thing when she seemed, to Senara, neither the scholarly type nor the sort of person who spent time in places where such a mold might grow. Perhaps I've underestimated her, Senara considers, glancing at the woman with newfound appreciation.
"As a matter of fact, he does," Senara says evenly, either unconcerned about or unaware of any implications that might be drawn from her answer. Senara plucks the blue crystal from Kaellan's open hand, turning it hither and thither as she studies it up close for the first time. "You said you could just 'toss' this at an enemy?" Her eyes flick toward Triss as she asks, and one could be forgiven for thinking that the look she gives the drow might be the Lady considering throwing the icy jewel at her. Assuming Triss answers in the affirmative, Senara starts to ask, "Then why not just..." before pulling back her arm and throwing the crystal at the mold.
Silas examined the note and allowed the strange jewel to be passed off and inspected. It apparently wasn't a jewel at all but some sort of artfully designed alchemical item. He didn’t know a great deal about alchemy, he’d had very rudimentary education in manufacturing poisons but he never took to it especially well. Complex creations like this alchemical ice might as well have been arcane spells as far as his understanding of them. Best left to his companions.
As they moved through into the next room things seemed fairly straight forward. He considered briefly whether there was risk in interpreting the rooms individually, “As long as the lessons are not supposed to compound I feel as though we have the right of it in this room. If each room is inscribed with its own lesson than this one is about not following the herd. If the message of avoiding self deception is also in play here than that complicates things but I think as long as we’re careful proceeding through the western door would be the best course.”
He watched as Senara took the alchemist ice and tossed it at the mold. Not the most accurate pitch but then she wasn’t exactly aiming for a mobile target. He noted with curiosity that Ella seemed interested in the mold. That was interesting, she was so quiet it had been hard for Silas to gauge her interest or motivation much in the past few days since meeting his fellow companions. He moved to help her inspect the room for traps, just to be certain that they weren’t supposed to avoid deception in this room as well, “I like Violice. Although the Violet Mold is a pretty low bar to overcome frankly.”
Before they leave the first room, Godfrey opines, "If we're going to attempt to move stealthily, I'd suggest I form the rear guard. Stealth and sneaking about has never been a strong point, regrettably."
Bringing up the rear, the quiet grace with which Godfrey moves seems to belie his words. Stepping cautiously into the next room, his weapon in hand, Godfrey runs his eyes over the footprints and each of the doors. He arches an eyebrow, "A trite way to make that point, if we are to avoid those two doors. I am forced to wonder if it is in fact a bluff, like you say, Silas."
Godfrey listens with interest as Ileosa shares what she knows of the bizarre mold on the western door. "Some fascinating properties, to be sure." Godfrey casts an appreciate glance at the Amazonian woman, before turning his attention back to the room, "I regret that I've never heard of such a thing. I wonder if there is any real intelligence there or if its merely an instinctive or even alchemical reaction. As for names, so long as the thing can be adequately described and differentiated from any similar peers, I give not a fig."
Godfrey stands to watch as the reaction of the mold to the liquid ice, then returns to sweeping the room for any magical auras.
Kaellan had pulled the small jewel out and was willing to offer it when his sister snatched it up and checked it at the mold. He sighed softly "Tis shame, perhaps a true simile to beauty itself. So fragile, so useful, so fleeting..." he said solemnly.
He smiled at his sister "Perhaps we can find or craft another. It would make a nice bit of jewelry to match your eyes." he mused.
The mold immediately shriveled up and sloughed off to the floor revealing the door's hidden message. "Thou hast made thy own path."
Silas and the others inspect the other doors carefully. They quickly find them to be trapped. Once the western door is opened, the group finds a rather odd path. In almost a u shape, the path leads slowly towards the next door.
The door leading to the next chamber once again has a message warning them. "Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn thy adversary to ashes." it reads, glowing softly in the darkness when light is applied.
When the door to the next chamber is opened, they are surprisingly met with pure darkness. A look into the magical realm reveals the soft glow of a orb like object towards the center of the room permeating evocation magic.
"What do you think those are?" Ella asks as she looks down at the floor. Looking to the others back at the others, she sees she has forgotten they cannot see any of it. Sighing she explains "The room is like the others in size and shape. Two doors- she points in the direction of each.
"A pedestal is in the center with an orb resting on it. The floor is covered in small holes. About the size of knuckle to tip on your thumb."
Ella will kneel down and look at the holes.
With Ella leaning forwards near the entrance to it's little lair to inspect the holes in the ground, suddenly red mist pours out of the holes nearest the entrance and coalesce just enough to produce a mouth. The mouth, complete with fangs reach out and snatch at Ella's throat. A voice hissing out in some unknown language.
With speed beyond what would be considered humanly possible, the mist retreats back immediately.
Caught off guard by the sudden bite, it seemed the creature was more prepared than the party was and it seized on the moment to attempt to gorge itself.
The fangs sink deep into Ella's arm this time but while the woman pales considerably from the two bites, the second wound looks shallower. Then, the red mist retreats deeper into the room before disappearing into the ground once more.
A number of different emotions and expressions flit across her features. A triumphant little smirk plays upon her lips as she watches the little blue gem sail from her fingers and explode on impact with the door, desiccating the violet mold and freeing their way forward. She turns her head to regard Kaellan with a slightly raised brow when he begins to wax poetic about beauty, but her smirk slips when her brother mentions the ephemeral nature of it. Although she couldn't be certain of it yet, Senara has a suspicion that Kaellan was unable to grow old in his new, inhuman form. He had no need of food or drink or sleep, after all; why wouldn't aging be just another human affair to shrug off. It is troubling to think about, that Senara's beauty would fade over the years while Kaellan remained young and strong and handsome. Senara lifts a hand to her cheek, feeling her supple skin and wondering how long she had until that changed. Perhaps if she curried more favor with their Infernal Lord she could strike a new bargain. Drawn from her vain thoughts by Kaellan's suggestion, Senara nods, lips parting to tell him it is something they can look into when the man finishes his thought. Her answering smile is nearly bashful, the young woman's cheeks showing the faintest pink under the lantern's light. "What a thoughtful idea," she remarks in a hushed tone, glancing up at Kaellan from underneath her lashes for a few charged moments before exiting the room with the others.
In the passageway proceeding the next trial, Senara turns to Kaellan once again, her demeanor serious after having read the inscription. "I think we can expect an upcoming confrontation in the next room," she comments, laying a hand on her brother's arm. "Beschütze ihn." An image of a diabolical suit of armor materializes over him but a moment before fading away, but the protective enchantment endures.
Ella's question is met with a blank look and a slow shake of the head from Senara, and even when the robust woman goes on to describe what she's seeing, the Lady still doesn't know what to make of them and says as much when she replies. "I haven't the slightest idea, I'm afraid. But are you certain you want to put your face that close to them?" While keeping a wary eye on Ella in case anything should crop up from the holes, Senara reaches behind her to free up her crossbow and load a bolt into the flight track. "It seems a shame to break something so potentially useful, but—" Her sentence goes unfinished as something attacks Ella, and any consideration Senara might have given for not immediately shattering the darkness-emitting globe leaves her at once.