The devil resizes the ring for Annabelle and hands her two silver pieces worth of gold.
"If that is all I will take my leave." The Merchant says before vanishing in a column of black flames.
"You know how to summon me, call me whenever you like." His disembodied voice states before fading away.
A Bone Devil approaches, still looking intimidated.
"Who are you people, really? Why does the God of Hell favor you so?" It inquires.
To Annabelle the devil tells her. "It will cost you one gold piece for the resizing, is that acceptable?"
Annie accepts that obviously.
She puts the ring on and flaunts it just a bit.
looking to the bone devil, Annie smiles, just as Tibbers strides up next to her.
You really shouldn't ask such questions. Annie looks as intimidating as possible with Tibbers to back her up.
Yanev smiles at Annabelle. Good Answer, good question too but mostly good answer he thinks.
"We should get back, I doubt royal forces capable of dealing with us will arrive soon, but little point in tempting fate." he says starting to walk back down the road dragging the sergeant behind him.
Johann nods, following behind. A better question would have been who was Cardinal Thorn to involve such players in his plan.
The Bone Devil flinches away from Annie and lets out a low hiss.
Making your way back to the mansion you encounter no resistance on the way. Tiadora waits for you on the mansion's porch in a slim negligee with her milky legs crossed as she sits and sips some dark liquid out of a glass you hope is ice tea.
"Branderscar is no more?" She asks in idle curiosity.
"It is a worthless ruin. But we took out a little something to entertain us for now." Angelica says with a wicked smile as she pushes the fat Blackerly into the room.
Yanev nods towards Blackley "On top of his obvious incompetence, he was breaking his contract with the crown by stealing money meant for the running of the prison. I sure he is corruptible but his selfishness will make him a poor tool for the master. I suggest using him for fighting training until he is no good for that then having what ever other fun with him." Yanev reports.
Tiadora grins and waves the party inside. "Your rooms have been cleaned for you, it's late afternoon, tomorrow morning the Cardinal will want to see you. Do what you like till then."
"Thank you.Anyone mind if I take this thing to my room." he indicates to Blackley "Might as well practice healling him before we practice killing him."
Assuming no complaints the doctor take Blackley to his room and manacles to his working table and starts to work on his wounds.
While the doctor's care is professional he takes little care in preventing pain and Blackley screams can be heard through out the thier wing of the mansion.
Annie goes to her room and says hello to ignace. did you burn anything today? she asks but not really waiting for an answer, Annie gets some paper and an inkpen and she starts to write.
Oh I'm sorry, I almost forgot, Ignace this is tibbers, tibbers, this is Ignace, she works for me, she id not food. Tibbers lets out a sigh.
Once finished the writing, she hads the stack of papers to Ignace. now I want you to deliver one letter to each of the guests ok? and wait for a response.
the letter is an invitation to a tea party in annie's room.
complete with a bon-fire
Between screams Blackerly curses the good Doctor. "I wish I had cut all your throats rather than just torturing you!" He declares with malice.
The Doctor pauses and replies in bland tone empty of all emotion "I'm sure you do, then the others might push less for torturing you back and give you a clean death. I myself think both would be wasteful. Make yourself useful and I am sure practical voices will win out over revengeful ones. You might even find, in time, that you enjoy it here. For now find something to think about other than the pain, maybe ways to be useful, if possible alive and healthy. Maybe if you manage to find a way to be valuable enough I'll use a healing potion on you next time."
At a knock at the door he goes and answers it after reading the note writes a quick reply informing the lady that he will be late as he has to finish with the Sergeant and get changed first. The Doctor's writing in style is large and bold and only a little blood ends up on the missive. Passing the note back to the servant.
Turning back to Blackley "Sorry about that, where were we?"
Blackerly sits in sullen silence for a bit, as if considering his options.
The doctor sighs then starts putting his equipment away. "You'll be all right for a while, the life threatening wounds are dealt with and I need to get changed." Turning to his servant he says "Go get enough guards to securely move Blackley to dungeons." Turning back. "We'll continue you this in the morning that'll give you a chance to think."
Yanev gets ready and once the prisoner is taken away. He walks over to Annabelle's door and after knocking wait politely.
Grumblejack shows up at Annie's room wearing an oversized suit and tie, still it seems designed for a more strictly human shape and is comically tight and ill fitting.
"Stupid slave, how is this how people dress for tea?" He mumbles to himself as he tries to loosen the strangling tie.
He knocks on Annie's door. "Miss Annie, I am here for tea." He announces himself.
Seeing Yanev waiting there too he narrows his eyes. "How come you are not dressed for tea?" He inquires.
As Blackerly is dragged off to a secure holding cell below he attempts to bribe the guards into letting him go, telling them about the embezzled funds he will hand then if they help him escape.
When that fails he slumps in their grip and considers the Doctor's words further.
Ignace answers the door.
the first thing everyone notices is how hot the room is. there is a large fire in the fireplace. but instead of candles or lanterns to light the room there are several mini bon-fires to provide illumination.
welcome, Lady Emberspark is expecting you. she says being a good servant. Ignace escorts each as they arrive just across the room to a table set up with tea.
Annie and Tibbers are present.
the center of the table has a bowl with a small fire and a teapot set among the coals.
Annie stands to greet each person as they arrive, and shows them to a seat.
If anyone has brought their servant, there is a separate table set up for them.
Grumblejack looks for a seat that might support the weight of an Ogre.
"Hello Miss Annie, thanks for inviting me to tea!" He says as he plays with his tie some more.
Johann arrives in some formal-looking robes, easily conjured up by his magical sleeves. "My apologies, I do hope I'm not late," he says. He waves his servant over to the separate table as he takes the seat Annie offers him.
He greets everyone cordially and smiles at the rare sight of an ogre in a suit. "We've till tomorrow morning until the Cardinal sees us so I've just finished up some of my scribing work with the spellbook we found."
Trying to find a teacup that he won't break in his massive paws Grumblejack says hello to Johann.
Yanev nods to Ignace before turning to Grumblejack and speaking in a quiet voice "My servant obviously didn't properly inform me of the appropriate dress code. I doubt Miss Emberspark will mind though."
Nodding to Annabelle he says "Thank you for the this lovely opportunity for a distraction. I am looking forward to sampling your tea."
Yanev nods to Ignace before turning to Grumblejack and speaking in a quiet voice "My servant obviously didn't properly inform me of the appropriate dress code. I doubt Miss Emberspark will mind though."
"Either that or my servant lied to me about what the dress code is." Grumblejack replies with humor, finally just removing the strangling tie around his throat and tossing it aside.
The doctor smiles back. "You do bring up an interesting point, can the servants lie? Or has it been conditioned out of them along with everything else."
The doctor smiles back. "You do bring up an interesting point, can the servants lie? Or has it been conditioned out of them along with everything else."
"Not sure." Grumblejack admits. "Maybe they don't lie, maybe they're just kinda stupid."
Yanev smiles "Almost certainly. If the cardinal could condition people without making them stupid he would have had us conditioned already. Unless he has and we are too stupid to know."
Yanev smiles "Almost certainly. If the cardinal could condition people without making them stupid he would have had us conditioned already. Unless he has and we are too stupid to know."
Grumblejack considers that, then his eyes widen in paranoia at the possibility!
Ignace scowls at the stupid comment but says nothing and goes about serving the tea.
Annie smiles and greets everyone. Thanks for coming, or at the least humoring me. but this party is also a chance for us to discuss our plans. how we can work together. knowing what our strengths are, as well as our weaknesses.
Annie sips her tea, as does Tibbers, which is a sight as Tibbers tries to grab the tea cup with his big claws.
The tea itself is both hot (temerature) as well as a bit spicy.
Johann interrupts before that train of thought continues further. "If he can do that, then there's already nothing we can do. But I doubt he would want to damage our capabilities if we are to do whatever he has in mind, and we've already signed a binding contract in the first place."
He smiles at Ignace, continuing, "And I wouldn't say they are stupid."
He sips some tea, smiling at Tibbers, before nodding to Annie. "You've already seen some of my capabilities. I excel in the art of conjuration, particularly focusing on summoning and binding. I am serviceable in most other areas of magic but less so in divination and enchantment. I am also an artist and painter and have some skill in navigating social and political situations. However, I'm not very strong nor as flexible as I once was and I easily tire out due to my age."
The heat of the room seems to be somewhat affecting Johann as he begins to sweat. He shows no other sign of it, though, and does not break composure. "As for our plans, we'll have to see what the Cardinal tasks us to do first. It should be something grand as even The Merchant is involved. But I always look forward to new experiences and beautiful sights. The burning of Branderscar was quite lovely, my dear."
"I'm not too good at much aside from breaking heads." Grumblejack admits as he finagles his hands around a teacup and drinks the spicy tea with relish.
"I'm a doctor by training, so I'll try to keep you alive. However my studies into immortality have let to some surprising side effects which should allow me to break the slightly smaller heads that squirm away from our bigger friend."
Meanwhile in Ghastenhall...
Werner, having finished collecting a bag of gory evidence to prove his kill, wraps his injured hand as he leaves the bar with the woman.
"You'll need a team, I think, to hunt these Asmodian heretics." The finely dressed woman tells him as they walk.
"I work alone." Werner snarls as he pinches off the bandage with his teeth.
"I know how capable you are." The woman says as she pops an umbrella to keep the rain off her fancy hair as they leave the bar. "But trust me, you'll need help with this lot."
Werner snorts. "I choose my own team, who you will pay in full, spared no expense."
"Of course." The woman agrees. "Spared no expense."
A vicious grin spreads over Werner's face. "I know just the sick puppies I need for this."
Yanex takes a sip. "Very nice, I haven't tasted tea like this before. What is made from?"
"Yes, What is it?" Grumblejack inquires as well. "It tastes like fire!"
Meanwhile, In Ghastenhall...
As they approached the city limits Werner turns toward the finely dressed lady. "I know who you are." He states.
"Oh course." Says the lady. "Everyone knows who I am."
"No...I mean I know who you REALLY are, and I suspect I know who you work for." Werner replies with a slight lopsided smile.
A frown crosses the ladies face as she stares Werner down. "And...?"
"Just curious why they would want Talingarde protected, what's in it for them?" Werner asks with honest curiosity.
"The King of Hell has made many enemies in his immortal lifetime, some of which aren't ready to confront the Dark God directly. Having a Mitra run nation oppressing his church in this nation is just one of many buffers some would prefer to keep to limit Asmodeus and his influence." The woman informs the Bounty Killer.
Werner raises his eyebrows. "A surprisingly honest response."
"There is no need to lie, and furthermore if these adventurers manage to arise it will be bad for everyone." She admits.
"Yeah, I'm getting that." Acknowledges Werner.
You are called to meet with the Cardinal, who lounges on his black throne dressed in the finest crimson silks.
“You have done well to destroy Branderscar. However, you are still not completely 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 your way.”
He stands up and looks out of the manor house window across the grey moor. “It’s almost dusk. You have until dusk tomorrow to bring me my prize. Do not fail me.”
Cardinal Thorn takes a seat on his throne. Tiadora arrives right on cue. “This way,” is all she says.
Tiadora is silent as she leads you into the depths of the manor, but right now seems like the best chance you will get to ask questions if you have any.
"I'm sure we can complete this test." Bowing he turns to the others "I will be a few minutes collecting and preparing equipment for this test shall we meet in 30 minutes at the stairs?"
Johann follows Tiadora, not seeming to have any questions and content to delve into the chambers.
He nods to Yanev. "Very well. I will also fetch a few things as well as my familiar."
"Alright, I guess I can wait a bit." Tiadora says, tapping her foot impatiently. "But hurry up, I have some new victims to torture in my room and I don't want to waste more of the day then I have too."
The doctor will go prepare some extracts and then get his armour and weapons.