"Thank you."
Lyla does not partake in the whole effort to improve Yargin's condition, which is unlike her, and ignores the situation even after Ortik mentions her name. Instead, she keeps her distance, finishing the preparation of her extracts and bombs.
When Griggs offers to take the Varisians back to the Citadel, Lyla approaches the corporal and speaks softly, out of Yargin's earshot. "You keep an eye on Yargin. I'll bet there's a ton of pending charges against him, with Devargo's arrest and all, and we can't have this bastard walk away again. Kroft will have him in a silver plate." Whatever connection Lyla has with Devargo Barvasi does not seem to extend to Yargin; the girl is genuinely angered by the criminal's presence, and doesn't even try to hide it.
She then regroups with the others. "Let's go on," she says, fuming.
Griggs takes the prisoners (both Varisian & cultist) with him as he leaves, half-carrying and half-dragging Yargin with him to the exit.
With renewed spells and resolve, the party returns to the chamber with the abominations sealed in glass tanks. Some of them appear to have decayed overnight, their essence dissolving into the goo they're suspended in. One of them still stares at the party, its eyes unblinking.
But there's someone new in the room... a halfling in a dark green cloak, wearing pitch-black robes. He turns his head slightly as the party opens a door into the room. From what little the party can see of his face... he looks much like Lyla.
"Do you know him?"
"Familial coincidence?"
The color runs out of Lyla's cheeks. She mumbles "Guys, I'd like you to meet Hyrgan... I think." She takes a step forward, approaching the other halfling. "It's me. Lyla. Your sister."
The halfling snorts. "I doubt it. My sister's dead--"
He turns around and his sentence dies on his lips. He takes a step back. "...no. No. She's dead. Dead and gone." Though his eyes are hard to see under the hood, his surprise is clear to everyone.
One of his trembling hands clenches into a fist while the other starts fondling the unholy symbol of Urgathoa around his neck.
"You were lied to about her death, apparently. How many other lies have you been fed, I wonder?" Oh, how clever sow doubt to get your way! You *are* learning!
"Well, Lyla is right here. Is that why you worship the Pallis Princess?"
"No tricks," Ortik says softly. "No lies, no fabrications. None from us, at least. Your sister is alive and well, though we thought you were the one that perished when the Direption sank."
"Well, Lyla is right here. Is that why you worship the Pallid Princess?"
Hyrgan shakes his head. "No... no, that's not why."
"No tricks," Ortik says softly. "No lies, no fabrications. None from us, at least. Your sister is alive and well, though we thought you were the one that perished when the Direption sank."
"And perhaps I did. Or part of me did. It's complicated."
"L... Lyla," The name sounds oddly foreign to the halfling's lips. "How much do you remember of Mother?"
Nalun watches the reunion with interest, never taking his hands off his bow.
Lyla looks down. "Not much. I remember she took us all walking, all the time, and had us help her run errands. It was chaos," she chuckles, "I guees we got in the way more than we helped. But she liked to have us around." Her eyes meet Hyrgan's. "And dad... I've found him recently. I spent years trying to, and he's not doing well. But things will get better. I got them a place out of 'Thief Camp', for him and Marra, and the kids. It's in the city. We wanted you to go there, but then your ship... The Direption... sank." The girl shudders. "I thought I lost you before ever finding you again. And now, here you are."
Lyla takes a few steps forward, closing the distance between Hyrgan and her. "This is not right, Hyrgan. These cultists... they're destroying Korvosa. Their plague could infect our father, sister, nephews... then what? We have a chance as a family now. I know it's been hell for you all. Believe me, it hasn't been sunshine and rainbows for me either. But it'll soon be over, and we can have some peace. These guys," she says pointing to the group, "They're good peopls. Together we've brought down Lamm, Devargo Barvasi, and some other crime lords. We're cleaning up Korvosa, and the high-priestess is next. Side with us. Pease."
Hyrgan hears Lyla's words, and for a moment, the mask of emotions on his face falters. The party catches a glimpse of a frightened, desperate man behind his eyes before a cold, dispassionate look reasserts itself on his features.
"And putting criminals in their place is something that is worthy of commendation." Hyrgan's hands clench into fists. "But... I'm sorry, but I can't let it come to this."
"They were the only ones able and willing to help me restore Mother." His tone turns angrier. "Sarenrae--what use do the dead have for charity and well-wishes? Shelyn--can a painting grant new life? Can a sculpture heal old wounds? Asmodeus--why would I place my trust in a liar and his deluded faithful when they would sooner step on my throat? Pharasma--why do they dictate that all things must die naturally in time, and yet refuse to lift a finger when unnatural causes rip a mother away from her son?"
"Abadar..." His anger reaches a breaking point, but he never raises his voice. "...why, in this life or the next, would I EVER support a system that allows the poor to suffer and the rich to exploit them? A system that cares not for families torn asunder unless they can pander to their greed?" He glares at Lyla, but his hatred doesn't seem directed at her... it seems unfocused, lashing out at anything he can think of.
He's visibly cracking.
Karri feels for the Hyrgar's loss, deeply. In a soft voice she says, "I don't know of your loss, but I do know what we have found here in the Pallid Princess' halls. Death, murder, and undeath. Can you tell me true, have you ever seen these priests restore someone that wasn't changed into something dark and twisted? If your mother could come back to you, would she want to come back like one of those things in the tanks we saw?"
Hyrgan shakes his head and sniffs. "She wouldn't... she wouldn't be brought back like these things." He glances at the beast in the tank next to him. "They spread pestilence in the name of death, though they live themselves."
His voice is starting to crack.
"I'm no priest," Ortik says to Hyrgan. "At least, not of any organized religion. But I've seen what has happened to the destitute in this town over King Eodred's rule, and now the Queen's. The Pallid Princess' flock are spreading this plague for their own reasons, and their chosen prey are the poor and destitute. It's that very desperation that her High Priestess is playing upon with you, Hyrgan. Urgothoa is the first goddess who is offering to heal the wound opened when your mother passed. But she can't. Anything brought back would be wearing your mother's skin, but wouldn't be your mother."
"I can't bring her back myself, but I know people who have that ability, if the Lady of Graves hasn't weighed her soul already. If she's still waiting for her judgement, then we can bring her back to you, to Lyla, to your father and the rest of your family. And if not, if Pharasma has passed judgement on her soul, then no mortal magic can bring her back. She would be at rest, gone on to the final reward due a goodly soul like you and Lyla describe. What right would we have to pull her from Heaven and return her here?"
"Please, Hyrgan. The cult of Urgothoa cannot offer you anything except more lies, and more pain. They're using you, just like they've used everyone else to spread the blood veil across Korvosa. You don't owe them anything. Come back with us to the surface, once this is all over. Your father needs you."
"He's completely right. They aren't going to bring your mother back. Instead they're going to take countless lives from every other mother in Korvosa with the blood veil. Not to mention sisters, daughters, brothers, and fathers. Do the right thing and stop helping them."
"Listen to them, Hyrgan. It's all true." Lyla keeps walking towards her brother, and stops right in front of him. "All that you said about the gods is true, too. To see the poor folk turned away at the doorsteps of the temple of Abadar, it turns my stomach. And that's why it's important that people like us step in: to lend a hand to those who can't afford to pay for it. But this cult... they're not helping anyone but that wicked goddess of theirs. They've done horrible things... like this." Lyla pulls out Zellara's deck and starts projecting images of the plague, the slaughter in the mansion, the torture of the Varisians, and all the disturbing sights they have seen in the past days.
"See? This is what they want for the poor people of Korvosa. How could mom live knowing this is the price others paid so she could come back? Let her rest in peace... it's more than she's had in years. We'll meet her again when our job here is done. Even if it takes time. I lost you all once, and to be reunited... that's really something. And we'll have that when Pharasma judges us and sends us to her side, as long as we do our best to pass her judgement, as mother has." She takes Hyrgan's hands and looks into his eyes. "Let it go."
Hyrgan's face drains of all its colour as Lyla uses Zellara's deck to show him just what the Urgathoans have been up to recently. "That's..."
He makes a strangled sound in the back of his throat and he falls to his knees. His hood falls back, revealing the rest of his features--messy brown hair, and green eyes that are rapidly filling with tears. "...what... no..."
"...what have I been doing this whole time?..."
"Helping the wrong people. But now you can help the right ones. What do you know about what goes on here? Is there anything we can use as evidence?"
Karri's eyes well with tears. Followed lies and now look at where he is. Kasdaye croons into her soul, Come now, Fleshling, we do not want to see you hurt - that would be a punishment for us, as well... be fair. We are here for you...
Hyrgan swallows and wipes his tears on his sleeve. "...I didn't know much while I was here. I-I remember that the chief doctor upstairs kept a journal... maybe that can be used as evidence. There was also the Varisian prisoners they hadn't yet tortured to death..."
"...and there's the inner sanctum."
Ortik's eyes widen as he realizes just how deep into the Pallid Princess' grasp Hyrgan had fallen. "The inner sanctum, you've been there?", he asks. "What can you tell us of the High Priestess and her remaining allies?"
"Lady Andaisin?" Hyrgan swallows. "Her knowledge of Urgathoa's rituals & prayers is unmatched among the clergy here. I don't know what she saw in me, but... she took a rather unusual interest in my training. She has no other allies in her inner sanctum--she believes that as long as Urgathoa is with her, she needs no one else."
"She believes that so completely & utterly that I honestly think it to be true."
"Well that line of thinking will help us. If she is over confident, she'll make mistakes and take us lightly."
Hyrgan shakes his head. "She's earned that overconfidence."
He takes a large iron key tipped with a skull out of his pocket. "You'll need this key to open the sanctum doors."
Lyla accepts the key. "Thank you, Hyrgan. You're making the right call. Will you wait for us here?"
Lyla walks up tot eh double doors in the back and slides the key into the keyhole. She unlocks the doors and looks at the rest of the party. "Let's do it."
Hyrgan timidly nods. "...I will. Please, don't underestimate her."
The double doors swing open with an ominous *CREAKING*. A gust of foul-smelling wind blows through them, carrying with it the stench of disease and death.
"Hold a moment," Ortik says, praying to the Old Dame to protect them. "I can't protect us against any attacks upon our souls, but I can protect against any attacks against our bodies. Any idea if she favors any sort of elemental energy, Hyrgan? Fire? Cold? Electricity?"
Hyrgan shakes his head. "She does not need such attacks--she relishes ripping heretics apart with unholy energy and her scythe."
"Nothing I can do about that, then," Ortik says, completing the spell. "Well, good news, Lyla - the Old Dame will protect us from the worst of your explosives. Hopefully, she won't have the same sort of protections up."
"Hopefully." Lyla stuffs her hand in her backpack and pulls out two flasks, which she promptly chugs. She then shrinks to about half her size, and displays distinct feline features.
CG Tiny humanoid
Init +6;
AC 22, touch 18, flat-footed 16 (-1 when fighting tiny or smaller enemies)
Ref +12
Ranged repeating light crossbow +12
Special Attacks bomb +13
Str 6; Dex 22;
Demitri will also cast some protective spells on the party before
Karri at first smiles at Demitri and then chuckles in an otherwordly voice. Then she covers her mouth with her hand and mumbles an apology. She does however return the favor, beginning a chant to empower Demitri's limbs. Though he can feel the power coursing through his muscle and sinew, he can also feel the physical changes. His arms take on an almost scaly appearance, and his fingers end in rending claws.
Karri looks down at her work and she shrugs, "But you have the strength. I can take it away if the source is an issue."
"Though, interesting. It is not a problem." Demitri replies.
Ortik frowns as Demitri's arms take on a decidedly unnatural physique, and inwardly debates for a time. "I'm not sure if I trust wherever it is you get your powers, Karri," he says at last. "But I trust you. Do it - we may need every edge we can get."
With magics prepared and blades readied, the party ventures forth into the inner sanctum of the temple. Darkness stretches before them for several feet as they move, with a sickly green light at the end of the tunnel.
The long hall opens into a circular chamber rising into a high dome. Seven basins jut from the walls, ensconced within evenly spaced alcoves that circle the room. Each is filled to the brim with a unique liquid corruption—blood, bile, milk, or other unidentifiable fluid. Each fills the air with its own distinct reek, creating a noxious, eye-watering bouquet. Upon the floor around each basin lie several small, empty metal boxes, each carved with images of skulls. At the room’s centre, rising from a wide pool of crystalline water, rises a golden statue of a sight both erotic and horrifying. The statue is that of a beautiful nude woman, human above the waist, but below this the figure is nothing more than a skeleton.
"So you have finally come. Clearly, Hyrgan's faith was not as strong as I had believed." An icy voice says from the back of the sanctum.
Standing at the back of the sanctum is a woman with long, pitch-black hair and incredibly pale skin. She's dressed in a green, silken gown & breastplate, with pauldrons decorated with black crow's feathers. A massive scythe is in her hand, its blade carved to resemble an ivory-coloured crow's beak.
"You have demonstrated yourselves to be... impressive pests. You are more effective bringers of death that I gave you credit for." She taps her scythe against her heel. "A pity I have to slaughter you like the animals you are now... the Queen would have made great use of your talents."
She twirls her scythe and brandishes an onyx unholy symbol of the Pallid Princess at the party. "Come forth, then. Come forth and die."
"We will not die, not here anyway. But you will answer for your crimes." Demitri moves forward and will cast , his sword igniting with a holy fire.
Almost unbidden Legion comes forward, Karri's eye change and she begins tearing fiends from her flesh. "From all the Abyss I bring you these gifts!" Legion's mockery echoes against the domed ceiling as Karri's own voice is swamped by the sheer excitement of her demon's unleashed.
Lyla dashes in a straight line and, just before plunging into the central basin, jumps over the pool, aiming for the statue of Urgathoa.
She easily covers the ditance and lands between the statue's legs. The girl pulls out a bomb and throws it against the high-priestess.
"So, you're friends with Queen Ileosa, are you?", she asks boldly.
Nalun darts forward with his Rapier drawn, he engages the Priestess on the far side of the room.
CG Tiny humanoid
Init +6;
AC 22, touch 18, flat-footed 16 (-1 vs. tiny or smaller enemies)
Ref +12
Ranged repeating light crossbow +12
Special Attacks bomb +13
Str 6; Dex 22;
Skills Acrobatics +16 (+21 to jump), Disable Device +16, Sleight of Hand +11, Stealth +20
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"We haven't come alone," Ortik says, his eyes leveled at the High Priestess. "We've brought someone you've tried your damnedest to kill, but she's a tough old bird. She'd like to have a word with you." The earth rumbles as Ortik intones the ancient language he learned from the Old Man.
"THE OLD DAME COMES FOR YOU," Ortik says, his voice carrying a deeper, older tone along with his own. "AND BY ALL THAT IS HOLY, SHE IS RIGHTEOUSLY PISSED!!!" A flock of ghostly pseudodragons appear, fluttering around everyone, guiding the blades of his friends and attempting to restrain Lady Andaisin.
The bomb explodes around Lady Andaisin's legs, but she doesn't seem to notice it. She does nothing except laugh in response. "Oh, really."
Her tone immediately turns cold. She glares at Nalun, Ortik & Lyla. "Prostrate yourselves before me."
Ortik is able to resist the compulsion to throw himself to the floor, but Nalun and Lyla are unable to. They immediately fall prone.
Lady Andaisin chuckles. "Good. Such obedient fools." She then starts walking up into the air, casually twirling her scythe as she goes.
Demitri engages Andaisin. "We'll see who the fool is."
The sheer force of Demitri's conviction shines through his words... they actually wipe the smug look off of Andaisin's face for a moment. She flinches.