"It is possible it may be a name, yes." Etna nods to Erevan as she follows after the others as they explore thee now revealed corridor.
|
Knowing that the passage to the south leads to light, and not wanting to face the pain of Mitra's glare, Tkaara casts a spell which causes shadows to flit about her, scattering any light that approaches her into harmless flickers.
She then take her immaterial form and begins to scout the passage. First, she checks the passage to the south where she previously encountered the bright sunlight after scouting up through the pit from below. If nothing is found toward the outside stair, she will then move down the hall to the west. If nothing is found at the end of the hall, she will backtrack and check the first door.
Cast Protective Penumbra
She will scout as far as the third door on the left to see what is down the north hall and in the apparent room at the end. If nothing is found, then she will return back and go under the first door on the southern side of the hall.
Thankfully for Tkaara, today appears to be not nearly as sunny; a typical overcast, gloomy Abadius morning.
The outside stair spirals down toward the ground, winding around the exterior of the Horn. It's a long way down from here, nearly 200 feet straight down. Good thing undead don't get vertigo.
The hall to the West appears to open out into a courtyard. There are more doors.
Felrin steps through the secret door and considers the hall ahead for a moment, observing the peculiar layout is similar to the level below. "Funny that they like their hallways to have all these diagonals," he muses. "But not so funny we should stand here wondering about it. Tkaara, care to check that first door on the left, and proceed down the hall from there?"
Taty stifles a yawn, covering her mouth politely, and then she hums a little tune, a fine Chelish opera, as she fiddles with her parasol.
The Doctor frowns irritably at his fellows. He is on edge; this has been too easy. It does not matter that some self-righteous king emptied the place out. Places like this did not remain empty.
Tkaara does her usual routine, and you find the following in the Southern rooms
2-3
This empty guardroom has a similar arrangement to the one on the other side of the corridor, with arrow slits providing a view of the hall. There is no secret door and it is empty.
2-4
This empty chamber once quarted a dozen temple guards charged with securing this level. Now it is empty, its contents and occupants long ago committed to a Mitran pyre. Tell-tale bits of blood spray and bone chips reveal their fate.
2-5
This room contains a cage is directly underneath a pit trap in the ceiling.Unlike the other pit trap (in 2-1), this trap looks as though it is still in working order. It drops down into a cell with a good lock. The lock current sits open with the key sticking out of it. Otherwise, this room is empty.
2-6
This barracks once quartered eight guardsmen. Now it is empty.
2-7
This room is littered with statuary of men, beasts and daemons. It can be a little hard to tell which is which; many have been defaced and smashed, or carved with Mitran runes. Evidently the Victor's men had orders to collect everything that wouldn't burn in here and then destroy it.
A search of the room reveals nothing of value.
2-16
As you proceed down the corridor, it opens out into a large courtyard with a forty foot tall dome; evidently this was once a center of social life here in the Horn. The only hint of this once powerful and wicked society is the candelabra of three continual flame spells that burn an undying eerie green at the apex of the dome.
There is a magic fountain here that produces fresh water. The fountain’s centerpiece is carved in the form of a trio of exultant hydrodaemons that vomit forth the water into the basin below. Despite the fountain’s sinister appearance and the fact it was created by a disease-loving daemonic death cult, the water is clean, fresh and potable. The fountain is part of the floor of this room and cannot be removed.
More interestingly - much more interestingly - over the splash of water, you can hear a conversation through the open door of the southernmost room: two voices, if you are any judge of it. Neither is remotely human.
"I must say, I find the whole concept of redemption by suffering to be utterly intolerable."
"Oh, I quite agree, dear chap, I quite agree absolutely. I mean, if it were true, it would simply render one... ontologically otiose."
"Oh, that's good, dear boy - that's very good! 'Ontologically otiose' - I do believe you may have surpassed yourself there."
"Why, thank you, one does one's best, modest though it may be - I say! Can you smell that, my dear chap?"
"Hm, why yes indeed, I can; dinner has come early, it appears. Shall we, dear boy?"
With startling suddenness, two beings materialise at either side of your group: hideous, like monstrously deformed bears twisted into a fiendish shape. They are dressed in silk smoking jackets (one in plum red, the other in jade green) and cravats; one of them (plum red) sports a monocle. A pendant of iron is hung from their necks.
One of them (jade green) addresses you in a deep, gravelly voice
The other (plum red) chimes in; his voice is greasy as well as gravelly, like hot tarmac.
They grin, or at the very least, bare their jaws wide...
|
|
Although completely clueless as to what these creatures are, the former barrister knows, or at least things, that they wish to be thought of as cultured, and, thus, responds to them as she did to so many noble brats in her former life.
Tkaara resumes her material form and steps forward, curtsying as she does.
Noble folk of this fine chateau, it is a pleasure to meet you. We have arrived through the lower level and were very saddened to find it deserted. We had hoped that the great powers of Abaddon would have returned to rebuild this great center of pain and disease. And we, although confined to these mere mortal shells, or "ontologically otiose" shells as I believe you referred to them, are too servants of the lower planes.
She pauses, licking her red lips while standing tall to both show no fear, and also to allow the creatures to get a good look at her sunken bloodshot eyes and pallor appearance after more than a day without proper sustenance.
If it is a proper meal you seek, I am sure that we can work an arrangement. There are thousands and thousands of tasty morsels simply waiting to be drained of their lifeblood in this sun worshipping land. All that needs be done is to demonstrate to them the glory of suffering.
Tkaara hopes that by reusing their words against them, as she did in so many trials before the Talingarde courts, that her inquiry, and thereby the creatures' response, will be further mollified.
Knowledge(planes):
Diplomacy:
Stifling a laugh at the ridiculous appearance of the two twisted, fiendish bears, Etna curtsies with Tkaara and addresses the creatures after the barrister.
There wasn't much to add to what Tkaara had already said: hopefully, the creatures were actually civilized, and not just pretending to be so.
I must admit, they don't even look completely terrible in those clothes: for two Daemonic beasts, anyway...
Felrin is just about to ask what the overheard conversation is about when the elegantly, even decadently, clad daemons appear on either side of them.
Daemons, of course. Not surprising, given what we know of the place, though I wonder why they're still here after the rest of their kind have vanished. It would come in handy to speak their language...
Though he can't follow the conversation, it's reasonably clear that the daemons have not come to offer them cigars and brandy - and that Tkaara and Etna are endeavoring to bring the creatures around to a friendly, or at least cooperative, outlook. Felrin waits quietly as the conversation continues, trying to nod at the appropriate pauses and appear as genial as he's able.
Tatienne cocks her head as fragments of the past come to her. Slowly, she walks the room, repeating what she hears for the others. "Evacuate now...get to the throne...upper levels lost...stairs a deathtrap...only way out...Yah.”
The whispered fragments fade, and Taty absently picks up a bone fragment from the floor. "There's that Yah word again. I don't think they made it, poor things."
"Oh, and we should be careful on the stairs. Perhaps I should send the templar up and down both of them before we ascend any further?"
---------------
Tatienne doesn't speak Daemonic, but she understands that she should not put herself in the general reach of these creatures. Stepping away from the daemons, the relic hunter's good hand goes to her wand, while the small woman's mind wanders to thoughts of her body - and how much stronger her vessel would be in undeath.
"Well, they certainly do not look friendly," gripes the Doctor, slipping his spectacles into their case once more to protect them from the rigors of combat. "Do they want us to resurrect this Vetra Kali or not? Not on the same team, are they?"
"Yet they do present themselves quite the civilized gentlemen, yes? If a little on the unusual side as far as appearances go."
As the conversation between the daemonic... gentlemen and the two women who know their language goes on Erevan simply leans against his spear, his eyes moving from his companions to what are possibly enemies. He takes no threatening stance, appearing calm and composed, letting the chat drag on. After all, perhaps it will not devolve into a fight. Perhaps. But even if it does, the pale golden-eyed man is more than ready to let his weapon do the talking if its "language" ends up being required in addition to the one already being spoken.
In addition to powerful claws, they have a breath weapon of electricity and some magic (including teleportation and flight) at their disposal.
The daemons affect a polite interest in Tkaara's speech, until she mentions being servants of the lower planes. That - and her obvious undead status - is enough to convince them that you aren't Mitrans. The fact that you have come to try and free Vetra-Kali from his long imprisonment is also welcome news: smiling, the Jade-green one bows low.
Etna smiles and curtsies again to the Daemons.
Tatienne clucks with approval as she registers just what these creatures are. "They're Ceustodaemons, outsiders which live to guard. Which is of course quite fortunate for us, as we have a large spire in need of guarding. Etna, ask them how we call them if we are in need of help against our mutual enemies, and if they monitor the whole horn, or just this level?"
Later, when the group is away from the daemons, Tatienne fills them in on just what the creatures strengths and weaknesses are, just in case the daemons are in need of corrective action.
Vexor smiles, clapping his clawed hands together at Etna's words.
Hexor chimes in.
Etna tries to look as apologetic as possible as she replies to the two well-dressed gentledaemons.
"They are ecstatic to know that their lord can be brought back, but I'm explaining to them that we will need first to fortificate the Horna and find a Daemonic follower to sacrifice to proceed." Etna translates for her companions, nodding to Tatienne. "Let us first explain the situation to them, and then I'd be happy to ask them specifics for you."
"Yes, I had been thinking about that. Perhaps we can obtain a means of resurrecting the priest who was entombed with the book. It would be most amusing to sacrifice him to his own ritual." The Doctor smirks at the irony. He changes tack suddenly. "Have you yet asked them if there are any dangers yet lurking within the spire? I mean, dangers to those who are mad enough to loose a virulent plague upon the world."
Felrin listens along, grateful for the occasional translation by Etna and very pleased they've found allies in the Horn.
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Tkaara nods in agreement with Etna, but otherwise stands unmoving, and unbreathing:
As my companion has said, we need a follower of the Four Horsemen, a follower of the god of light, and a child of the victor who sealed the great Lord away.
Tkaara pauses and looks to her companions:
We need to learn what else these gentle-daemons know of the Spire.
She then looks back at the oddly dressed pair:
What else do you know of this place? Are there others as noble as yourselves here? Are there any other denizens of the Spire?
She pauses for a moment.
We have come from below. Are there any more levels above? Or anything that we should be aware of which could harm us during the lengthy period that will be required to free the great Lord?
"Yes, I had been thinking about that. Perhaps we can obtain a means of resurrecting the priest who was entombed with the book. It would be most amusing to sacrifice him to his own ritual."
A smile slowly spreads across Tatienne's face, and she raises her good hand to rest lightly on her neck, her tell-tale sign of genuine pleasure. "Ohhhh Doctor!"
If the two fiends are disappointed in your news of how long the ritual will take, they hide it well. At the question of what remains in the Horn, Vexor grins and claps his claws together; the pair of them invite you in for tea.
2-8
This room is dominated by a magnificent 4-poster bed; even the passage of 80 years has not spoiled it, although it's clear that it was not built to hold ceustodaemons and sags in the middle as both of them perch on the end, drinking tea (perhaps best not to ask) from clay cups.
The room contains a kettle and a stove, both of which have seen better days.
Clearly enjoying the company of voices other than their own, the two prove to be forthcoming: you learn in particular that - in addition to the seal binding Vetra-Kali - the knights set up a shrine on this floor. Hexor and Vexor can point you to it, but refuse to enter that room. They aren't aware of any other dangers, but this may be a comprehension issue: there are plenty of things that might be a danger to you, but which wouldn't affect them at all.
2-9
This room once quartered the Horn’s Master of Beasts. This chamber was thoroughly ransacked and then set afire. It is now choked with ash and rubble. Still, once searched and cleared, you locate three stout lengths of chain bound to iron collars with good locks, large and strong enough to cage a wild beast.
There is also an intact mural that shows the Master of Beast’s greatest triumph. The mural shows two suspiciously familiar horned and clawed bear-like creatures being summoned from the nether planes and bound using plates of iron. Alas, the mural is not detailed enough to reveal the true names on the iron plates.
2-10
This barracks once quartered eight guardsmen. Now it is empty.
2-11
This chamber has a human skeleton nailed to the western wall by a spear with a broken haft. Written above the impaled skeleton is the phrase: “The Master of Acolytes, stealer of children. Let all who would turn to darkness see his fate and return to the light.” Other than this grim display, this room is empty.
2-12
Once this chamber housed the finery and furnishing of the Master of Acolytes. It was ransacked like everything else on this level. But in this case, the ransacking including smashing murals that showed the Master doing his wicked business and going amongst the people of Talingarde to steal children to serve the “Sons”.
The knights were so vigorous in smashing the murals, that there is now a sizeable hole in the western wall. Through this hole has come the aggressive greenery of the Caer Bryr and now vines and creepers fill this chamber.
As you enter this room, Felrin, Ottakar and Tatienne take a deep breath - and fall sound asleep. Several vines and creepers suddenly twitch to life, binding around their ankles and slowly dragging them towards the mass of plants...
There is something - two somethings, actually - doing a very good job of hiding in the greenery.
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Tkaara looks to Etna and Erevan.
Suppose we should help them. The Cardinal would probably be rather unhappy if we let some plant eat them. You try to get them free, I will see what is outside.
With that, she takes on her gaseous form and drifts out the hole to see what is outside.
Perception: <-- Oh so far
Assume Gaseous Form and go out through the opening.
"Of course. If I'm not mistaken, I'm fairly sure this is the third time in a week that foliage and assorted pants tried to attack us." Etna nods to Tkaara, drawing her dagger.
Moving to the Doctor, the ifrit first tries to wake him from his sleep, and then proceeds to cut the vines to free him. If nothing goes awry, she proceeds to do the same for Tatienne and Felrin.
Just as Etna approaches Ottakar, so does Erevan move to free Felrin, albeit with a soft chuckle at Tkaara's words. Using the blunt end of his spear to poke at the tielfing once and then twice in an attempt to rouse him from his slumber, he then reverses his weapon, using the spear point to try and cut the vines binding him.
Tkaara turns to mist and flies through the plants, which seem to ignore her completely.
The hole in the wall is perhaps 10 feet by 10 feet, and completely choked with vines, creepers, moss, and fungi. Outside, it's a sheer drop several hundred feet straight down, unless you were somehow able to climb - or fly. Anyone normal trying to get in would make heavy going of it. Nevertheless, it's good to know that there is another way in - or out, if it comes to it.
The vines lash and writhe, but make no move to attack Erevan or Etna. They manage to drag the bodies clear and; after about 30 seconds, they wake up.
There is something - two somethings, actually - doing a very good job of hiding in the greenery.
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Seeing nothing outside, the ghostly form of Tkaara floats back inside and inspects the vines around the hole and where it has taken up root in the home.
When she spots something in the vines, she pauses momentarily before moving on and returning to the group where her wispy immaterial voice speaks to them.
Quietly: Something is watching us from over there. Not sure what.
Take-20 on Perception for a 35
Knowledge(nature):
Tatienne thanks Etna and Erevan for rousing her and squints into the mass of vines for a good minute before sighing. "Something indeed, though I just can't quite get a handle on what. And if they're not interested in Tkaara's, uh, physique, I doubt that the Templar would draw them out. But I'm happy to risk the disappointment, if there is no better option."
Without Tkaara having a physical form to point in the direction of the "something, Etna shakes her head.
"I can't see anything, either, but if they tried to knock us asleep and drag us in that direction, I doubt they are harmless."
Felrin looks around in confusion for a few moments, unsure quite what has happened. "I passed out, and now...what? There's something hiding in the plants?" He studies the tangle of vegetation carefully, then says, "Oh, yes, I see them, a couple of them, whatever they are. And you say they tried to drag us away and you stopped them? Well, that doesn't make me like them very much."
He gets to his feet and offers the doctor a hand up, asking as he does so, "Any idea what the things are?"
With leisurely time in hand, and suitable descriptions, Ottakar is readily able to identify the things in the undergrowth as a pair of Verdurous oozes. The two of them will hungrily consume pretty much any living flesh they encounter, and are capable of animating the plants and undergrowth around them to assist. Essentially, the room as it is represents a trap, albeit one open to the outside.
Which leaves you with a question: will you leave the oozes to it, and let them - unknowingly - form a part of the protection for your new domain? Or will you destroy them and reclaim the room, which means having to repair the hole in the wall?
Tatienne wrings her hands - not in worry, but delight - as the Doctor explains the creatures. "Of course, it is up to you what we do with these creatures, but if we leave them... since they aren't attracted to the unliving, this would be a perfect place for a few guardians raised from the charnel pit!"
The thought of a combined trap laying in wait, both ooze and undead uncaring, and perhaps unwaware of each other, focused on the eradication of the living...
Drawing a fan from her satchel, the relic hunter swings it as briskly as her maimed hand will allow, a deep black curl of hair swaying slightly across Tatienne's forehead.
The hole in the wall of the Horn is West-facing; it would catch the afternoon/evening sun, although the undergrowth would likely block most of it.
...
..
.
Probably.
Tatienne claps her hands together one time, a sharp and resounding reverberation throughout the room. "Excellent! I shall get you some guardians then, to watch over you while you sleep."
Felrin's eyebrows lift slightly at Tatienne's reaction, as an amused smile quirks his lip. "My, Taty," he comments, "that notion piqued your interest even more than the talk of manacles the other day. It's always so fascinating to see what makes people tick, especially when it's such an intriguing tick."
Turning his attention back to the strange green oozes, he says, "Makes sense to me to leave it here to guard this entrance - and perhaps keep Tkaara company as she enjoys her rest."
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Tkaara nods in response, her inbreathing body otherwise motionless.
The oozes could also be useful in questioning people. Seeing you friend dissolved in a most unpleasant manner often has a unique effect on loosening one's tongue.
With it decided that they will leave the oozes and their plants in place, she looks over at the rest of the group.
We will need to get some type of an alarm or other method of alerting us should some Mitran fool attempt to enter this way.
She suddenly pauses.
I wonder whether there is anything hidden in the vines. I cannot imagine that these creatures would have taken up root here, unless they had something to feast on. And we all know that oozes are rarely seen walking about in the fine jewelry and gowns that their victims might have dropped.
Perception: <-- searching for goodies, she will go gaseous if attacked by the oozes, and search in gaseous form
"It looks like the Mitran did us at least an unwitting favor, at least." Etna nods at the proposal of keeping the oozes as guardians.
"We will just have to make sure that no one accidentally enters the room...but if it will be Tkaara's, I hope that no one would be as uncouth as to enter her room without permission." the ifrit smiles wickedly "And if they do, well, disturbing a lady's privacy is reason enough to become that lady's next breakfast."
"My dear Felrin," Tatienne says, holding her arm out as if she is about to accompany the tiefling into a high-society ball, "It is so easy to be enthusiastic in such an intriguing place! Shall we see what other wonders this spire holds?"
"And before the night ends, Tkarra, if nothing better presents itself we shall have to find you a boggard to slake your appetite. They'll be useful for that, if nothing else."
Felrin's expression shifts from a slightly sardonic grin to a smile of pure pleasure as Taty expresses her enthusiasm for the Horn and its wonders, and he links his arm in hers. "It would be a pleasure, Tatienne," he responds breezily, "let us see what awaits us!"
"Who knew that this place would serve to lift our spirits," Erevan quips with a shrug and a crooked smile. "I am not used to this side of you Felrin. It is an... interesting change of pace."
He turns then to Ottakar. "What about your spirits, good Doctor?" The smile does not leave his face as he feels he knows what the half-elf's reply is most probably going to be, or at the very least the tone of it.
Ottakar narrows his eyes and growls half-heartedly at his companions' flippance. His attention seems to be focused on the mindless predators in the next room. 'Animation of verdurous matter and powerful soporific qualities... most likely a combination of air-borne enzymes... further study required...'
A search of the rest of this level reveals the following:
2-13
These quarters once housed eight acolytes. They are now empty.
2-14
These large quarters once housed twenty acolytes. They are now empty.
2-15
These quarters once housed eight acolytes. They are now empty.
2-17
This chamber once housed four priests of the Pale Horseman. Now, it is largely empty with only a few remaining wrecked pieces of furniture remaining. Most of the furnishings here were dragged out of the Horn and burned in the great pyre alongside the dead priest’s corpses. There is nothing of any interest or value here.
2-18
This room contains the shrine that Hexor and Vexor mentioned. They hover at your shoulders as you look in, but refuse to enter.
Little more than a plain wooden table where many candles have burned down to nubs, there is also the drawn image of the sun on the wall. An inscription has been carved below that reading “Mitra lucet omnibus, Mitra omnia regit” – “Mitra shines on everyone, Mitra rules everything.” This is one of the mottos of the Knights of the Alerion rendered in an old holy tongue.
2-19
These quarters once housed six acolytes. But now all that remains is broken, headless statue. Even a cursory glance reveals that the statue is very detailed.
2-21
This long L-shaped corridor extends almost 220 feet.
Every ten feet is a new mural carved in larger than life detail. Together these murals depict a detailed history of the Sons of the Pale Horseman. Some of the murals have been defaced, but there is simply so much adornment throughout the Horn that after a while the knights in the Victor’s service simply could not deface it all. They instead contented themselves with annihilating its defenders.
Anyone with a working knowledge of the Daemonic tongue and with patience could catalogue every major event in the Sons’ history -- from their founding in a distant land, their expulsion, their search for a new home, their building of the Horn, the summoning of Vetra-Kali and then the many years of serving the daemon prince.
It is actually an epic tale (though doubtless agrandizing of the Sons).