"I do not joke about my work." Sir Balin said grimly. He cleared his throat and took a moment, speaking slowly and carefully choosing his words. "The new cult is small, but very dangerous. They have an... ally. Or figurehead. We are not sure if it is a man with tainted blood, or an actual demon summoned for their blasphemy. They call him the Son of the Apocalypse. None who have faced him have survived, but priests have managed to call the power of Mitra to speak with those who were slain before they were laid to rest. The answers of spirits are always cryptic and brief, but we have learned that the Son and whoever directs him are here. He is our target, along with whoever directs him."
"Every place is different. You know your people best. We will need your help to come up with a plan for how to go about our work without causing too much disruption or panic."
"Lydia will help you."
The Mayor's breath comes in gasps, "Well that is just... that is just terrible".
He turns to "Lydia", "Is it alright if I consult my advisor on this issue and get back to you in the morning about this?
Sir Balin, does the Citadel Commander know of this?"
"No. The commander may already be..."
Sir Jack paused again, trying to find the right words. "We think that some of these cultists are able to shapeshift. Taking the places of loved ones and trusted allies seems to be how they have been getting close to their targets."
"We think they are here to target the fortress. It is the only thing that makes sense. The common folk are probably fine, but we cannot be sure if the commander or anyone else in his chain of command has already been... replaced. The same is true for your advisors."
"Lydia and I's blessings include the ability to see the purity of a person's soul, which is how we knew you were not a cultist in disguise. We have to be close to someone to use the Divine sight though. These cultists are not stupid. They know Witch Hunters when they see them. If we are close enough to see their souls, we are close enough to be seen in return."
"That is why we need your help. We need our presence to stay as secret as possible, we need to know if anyone has been acting strangely in the last few weeks, and we need to get close enough to the commander and his captains to get a good look at them without them seeing us."
"Can you help us?"
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Giving a shudder for effect, Kristos spoke quietly. "We know this is hard to hear, my good man, but unfortunately it is true. Not everyone glories in the peace brought by the rise of Mitra. When I heard the rumors of the return of this cult, I immediately knew what I had to do. After receiving permission, I gathered together those best suited for this subtle venture. So please, any help you can provide will allow us to finish this horrible business and get out of your hair."
"Sir, I understand your trepidation, but Sir Balin is correct. We cannot risk that anyone else in town may be compromised, and so you'll need to keep this a secret from everyone--you cannot speak of our presence to anyone, not even your family, until we've cleared them as being who they say they are. It's of utmost importance that you adhere to this rule, do you understand? These cultists are extremely dangerous, and the best defense--not only our's, but the entire town's--is for them to believe that they're still operating clandestinely. If they become suspicious, they may begin to act with haste in order to complete their plans before we can stop them. That won't end well for any of us."
While her words are dire, Soren's body language seems calm. She reaches out, touching the mayor's trembling hands with her own. She stares him in the face, and nods slowly as she speaks. "If you follow our instructions, everything will be fine, and Mitra's light will burn these fouls cultists away like the morning sun burns away the fog. But you must follow our instructions to the letter--you cannot deviate from the course we set forth, lest the darkness rise up and swallow the town of Aldencross whole." She gives one of the man's hands a reassuring squeeze, the ease with which the lie came to her being feigned as confidence in Mitra's power. "The town's safety is in your hands, Mayor Vance." She lets go of the man's hand and returns her's to their folded position on the table.
"Now, our first priority will be to ascertain the true identities of as many political or military figures within Aldencross and the citadel, but we must do so without arousing suspicion. While I would love to ascertain the status of the Citadel's commander immediately, I'm... afraid it may be too dangerous. Even if he remains himself, others may catch on if we approach so quickly. No, we should start small, perhaps with your advisors?" Soren takes a deep breath, continuing slowly to keep the mayor's nerves calmed. "I need you to feign some sort of meeting, something innocuous that might involve the town so you can gather them all together. I can disguise myself, prevent them from seeing me for what I am, and determine the status of those you surround yourself with."
"Can you do that for us?"
Quietly moving to stand next to Laurence. Not bothering to say anything now that might break the spell the others are weaving but instead opting to stand in awe at the show she wondered down to see.
I did not expect that from the Oger. Nope, not at all. I though for sure he would bungle it and the demon and dark elf would have to do it. Biting her tongue. Do not be a raciest you a$$. And shut up so I can listen. The dead are supposed to be silent. Blissful silence fills her mind until Soren touches the the mayors hand Zombies are not quiet. Glancing at the ground and trying to ignore the taste of the blood leaking from her tongue. I hate you. No, you do not.
Not being one of honeyd words or sly lies, Alice stands silently next to Morana, hoping to add to the story by being the calm professional.
Not wishing to ruin the spectacle before his eyes Laurence chooses to remain silent. While not actively speaking Laurence uses his facial expressions to do it all showin this fear at the mention of th Sons of Apocalypse. His body language mirrors as he puts on a display of true fear for the mayor.
The Mayor's eyes go wide at the statements issuing forth from your group, "This is... this is indeed startling news. I... I will do what I can to help. For today remain here. I will send word out for a meeting here in the Inn tomorrow I suppose the afternoon would work. In the meantime, I will spread rumors that your identities upon first arrival were mistaken and that you are mere travelers this way you will not be identified too quickly. Does that sound smart?"
"Perhaps that would be wise, yes." Soren nods slowly, before clearing her throat. "Mayor Vance, my other question for you is a bit more... pointed," she says, lowering her voice. "Have you noticed anyone behaving oddly in the past several weeks? In particular, anyone of high standing in the town or perhaps related to the Watch Wall in any capacity? It may not be something egregious, but something small that wouldn't normally attract attention. Perhaps someone who broke from their normal routine, or who didn't display certain mannerisms you've come to expect? It could be something as simple as walking to work a different way that could tip us off as to whether or not anyone has been compromised." She speaks slowly and deliberately, dragging out the conversation as she searches the auras of those nearby to determine if anyone in the establishment has a particularly powerful aura of any variety, starting with the most obvious choice.
The Mayor sits and contemplates the question after several minutes he shakes his head, "Afraid not... Sister Lydia is it? Or at least if anyone is suspicious they have hidden it well from me. I would have noticed too, I am a pretty observant man!
If there is nothing else, I will step away and begin to perform the tasks you have all asked of me, I shall return in the morning to break fast once more, then I can give you detailed impressions I have on those I shall bring to meet with you".
"Don't worry sir, we'll get to the bottom of this whole mess. Purging is what we do." Nate says with a grin.
The Mayor stands, "It is settled then. I'll be back in the morning. For now I would head back to your floor else the other guests will begin to discuss your presence here in the Town".
Jack nodded and went upstairs without another word to the Mayor.
Something wasn't sitting right with him. He wasn't smart enough to figure it out though. Any time that had happened before, he'd sought only one refuge.
He prayed.
When the others came upstairs he was kneeling in a tight circle of his own blood, dead center of the Asmodean pentagram speaking softly in a low rumble.
"Prince of Darkness, Arglwydd Hell, Great Duw-frenin Asmoseus, yr wyf yn gwasanaethu chi yn barod ac yn ffyddlon. Yr wyf yn gwneud eich cais yn fy nghalon a chan fy nwylo. Yr wyf yn gofyn am arweiniad yn unig. Mae'r tiroedd dynol yn rhyfedd i mi. Ni fyddai gennyf eich ewyllys rhwystro gan fy diffyg dealltwriaeth. Grant eich cipolwg i mi a byddaf yn gweld eich ogoniannau wneud."
"Prince of Darkness, Lord of Hell, Great God-king Asmoseus, I serve you willingly and faithfully. I do your bidding in my heart and by my hands. I seek only guidance. These human lands are strange to me. I would not have your will thwarted by my lack of understanding. Grant me your insight and I will see your glories done."
The blood of the pentagram pulled inward, congealing and lifting into the air as a small ball, bubbling and cracking as though heated and expanding from within until it was the size of a child's head. It burst open with a rush of fire and the smell of charred meat, seeming to turn itself inside out. Hovering there in the air, now free of it's bloody cocoon, was a spherical maw that took up most of the creature's body, along with five burning eyes arranged around the mouth.
The creature is a Cacodaemon, the least powerful of Daemonkind.
The creature is a Cacodaemon, the least powerful of Daemonkind. Usually, Cacodaemons serve the Horsemen of Abbadon, but this one seems different than usual. It's eyes are arranged in an upside-down pentagram.
Jack seemed surprised at the creature's appearance, and then grinned wildly.
"Thank you, Black Prince." he rumbled, standing up to look at the floating demon in front of him.
Nate walks back up to the room with a weary sigh. Then he walks into the room to see an unholy, bloodstained chamber. "What...why did you...didn't you..." Nate stutters through as wheels about the room. And then the daemon appears in a gory spectacle. Nate stares on for a moment, then goes to the side of the room and sits to look at his weapons.
Aurex gives a vicious grin at the whole spectacle. "Well hello little creature. What are you?" He inquires with a tooth-flashing grin.
"Hungry." the little orb of fangs and eyes said in a rasping hiss.
Jack fished out a large hunk of meat from his pack. It had been cooked, but certainly wasn't anything they'd been fed since arriving. It was probably leftover from the feast at the Bugbear camp, which meant it was probably Odenkirk or one of his men.
He bit a piece off for himself and offered it out to the little creature. "I'm Grumblejack." he said with his mouth full.
The little orb snatched the meat out of Jack's hand and bore it to the floor, sounding like an entire pack of hyenas. The sphere split five ways, opening up to reveal strange mandibles that stabbed and grasped tearing the meat and drawing it into a round hole full of fangs and a rough prehensile tongue.
The chunk of meat was actually bigger than the creature itself, but within moments it was noisily gone and the creature was sucking and licking what remained of it off the floor.
It spoke telepathically as it ate, it's rasping hiss echoing in the heads.of everyone present.
I know who you are, Thorn of Nessus. Grumblejack. Ogrekin. Daemonspawn. Son of the Apocalypse. The Horn's Inheritor. I am bound to your service. You called. I was sent. You have questions. I answer.
You may call me Raaven.
Soren excuses herself not long after, walking into the room just in time to see the summoning of the cacodaemon. She shuts the door behind her swiftly, making sure no one outside saw what was going on. "Well, I wasn't expecting to walk in on that. You... you're a daemon that serves Asmodeus? I didn't know creatures such as yourself could actually choose your own masters, rather than being bound by planar laws. Unless... you're a unique case, which I suppose is possible." Soren pauses for a moment, listening to the creature speak, before she nods. "I detected no aura that clung to the mayor as I suspected it would; it isn't even that goodness didn't radiate from him, nothing did. He may just not be strong enough in spirit to manifest such an aura, but his bodyguards were much the same... and in a town so close to the Watch Wall? It seems... unlikely, and I wouldn't know of a reason why they would mask such a thing." Soren folds her arms across her chest, a frown etched onto her features.
"Unless anyone has some better ideas, I think I might devote the rest of the day to that little mystery. If they're hiding who they are, they'll have to drop their guard eventually... and if not, spending a day gathering intelligence about town isn't the worst use of my time."
We cannot choose. I belong to Lord Asmodeus as part of a bargain. the Daemon answered.
"I don't like it. Something about the mayor. It doesn't smell right. I don't like that we don't know what he's doing now." Jack grumbled.
You can send me. the Daemon offered.
"You can listen in? Tell us what the mayor is doing without being noticed? In his house?" Jack asked
"Indeed" the little daemon said, speaking allowed again now that it's meal was finished. Where it stored that much food in it's tiny body was anyone's guess.
Keeping quiet during the conversation and following Sir Balin upstairs when the others follow.
Eyes widening and staring at he little creature. Things just keep getting stranger.
Nodding to Soren, "How ever I can be of assistance I am happy to do so."
Alice strokes her chin thoughtfully. "Masking their auras would be the thing I would do. If someone means harm, they would take out the good spellcasters first. Masking themselves makes them less of a target and seem a lot less important then they are. Its good tactics."
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"But the question still remains: why do they believe it is a good idea? I know that they guard and protect the rest of the country from things beyond the wall, but how often does the city itself come under attack? Kristos asked, choosing to ignore the summoned daemon for the moment. "Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the mayor is a swell, upstanding citizen, abiding by the laws and virtue of Glorious Mitra, but he doesn't seem to be a 'lead from the front' kind of guy. To he honest, any kind of infiltration before a pending attack, other than ours I suppose, would more than likely take out the military leaders first ,not the civilian ones. I'm with the lovely Lydia on this one. It just doesn't smell right."
Jack narrowed his eyes at the little demon floating in front of him. "How can you spy on the mayor?"
Raaven floated low and seemed to suck into itself, it's form twisting like it was turning inside out. With a light thump a small black snake with red accents hit the ground.
Then it wavered and vanished completely.
Like so. it whispered in their minds. I can be quite unobtrusive.
"If you want to spy on the mayor, be my guest." Soren raises an eyebrow at the invisible snake, but seems fine with the plan. "I can do some preliminary investigation around town, or take a look around the Watch Wall. I'll keep an eye out for any good targets in town, too." Soren furrows her brow for a moment as she switches through a few different disguises, nodding once she's happy with one and then re-assuming Lydia's appearance. "Won't do to be poking around looking like a Mitran inquisitor," she says, before giving Vandour a sidelong glance.
"Don't think you can get away with compliments just because I'm impersonating a Mitran; you know the rules." Her tone is just as icy as ever, a sudden shift from her more casual tone of voice just previously.
Jack nodded. "So, you're going into the town to look around, and, uh, Raaven? Raaven will go drop eves at the mayor. Sounds good."
I go. the disembodied voice said as the window opened slightly, seemingly of its own accord.
With Raaven gone, Alice nods approvingly at Jack.
"That was quite the summoning feat. I am impressed."
"Are you sure you can trust that Cacodaemon? Something about it seemed off."
"As a am I, that feat will certainly come in handy in accomplishing our mission" says Lothyrin. Is there anything I could do help. I am not particularly good at sneaking but I could go out pretending to be a cleric of Mitra and heal the sick and bla bla bla, however I don't want to ruin our plans if that is a bad idea As he speaks his robes writhe and shift into the holy robes of Mitra with his symbol emblazoned on it. He waves his hands mockingly when he speaks of healing the sick.
Nate inhales the cold morning air from the open window. "I could try to get a job as a soldier on the watch wall." He suggests.
Aurex scowls as the little creature leaves. "I'm open to suggestions."
"Are you sure you can trust that Cacodaemon? Something about it seemed off."
"I prayed. It came." Jack shrugged.
Alice cracks a small smile. "Always the practical one."
Note that for each hour you are out you will begin to generate rumors of your own presence in town.
Alice looks at her companions. "As I've said before, I am not very good at telling lies. Unless I can accompany someone, Id rather stay here, and see if I can work on preparing some things we can use later, like a scroll."
"Sore- er, Lydia, you want me out there, or not? I don't know nothin' bout fortresses, but if we want 'em startin' to get worried, I can do that just by walkin' around."
"I would wonder the town or go with Laurence since I am learning to be a better person." By the time she has finished speaking her voice has gone monotone.
Nate alters his disguise to appear as a common looking man, slightly tall with working shoulders and a few faint scars, brown haired and brown eyes. Aurex is disguised as a towering dark haired man with green eyes and a big jaw.
The two walk up to the Wall, Nate leading slightly with a loose smile. "Oi! Coming to report for duty, reinforcements from the south. Just got transferred over."
Perhaps I will go out for a few hours or so just to see what the town is like, Mirna I would be delighted if you would accompany me, pretending to be good can be so dreary and having you be there would make it that much less painful. Casting guidance on himself, Lothyrin puts on his best cleric of Mitra disguise and heads out into town.
Nodding, "I would be delighted to accompany you."