The Order of the Hidden Heptagon proceeds to discuss the grave matter of the imminent Apocalypse foretold by the Prophet John in the Book of Revelations, lamenting that the time-travelers' Code of Kronos prevented any of them from directly intervening to alter the course of a River of Time, also called a Strand of Fate...
They could only act through mortal agents...heroes. Merlin and Flamel had recently adventured with a band of such mortal heroes, known as the Lucky Fools (also as the Lusty Fools), and other formidable adventurers were on the rise...
Although the pygmy catfolk wizard Prospero Blue, and his companions, Roman aasimar paladin Tunes D'Holiday and Egyptian human cleric of Ra Pamentet, had not been seen ever since their second foray into the Underworld via the Cave of Hercules, there were now the brave newcomers hunting for the Church of Lucifer in the Roman Catacombs, whom some were calling the Crusaders of the Catacombs, and in Morocco, Prince Henry of Portugal's cunning band of Desert Jackals (as some bards were beginning to call them in song)...
Quinlan seeks out boga in the palazzo while the Ogon Fox is recovering.
"Boga my friend, I had a question for you. It may not have a clear answer of course but my curiosity would have me ask nonetheless. The scrolls I borrowed from you, I managed to figure them out, but there were parts that I simply couldn't understand. In some places I had to cut corners or make changes in order for a spell to function properly. Is it because you draw your power from the divine? Do you cast your spells like I, or do you channel another's power?"
Boga looks down and pauses before raising his head in answer while briefly shaking his head side to side, "Oh, I do not cast as you. I call upon the divine power of the Lord. It is His power and will that you witness when I beseech Him through a 'spell'. At best I am but an agent. It is never my power. On my own, I am nothing. It is only when I am in concert with God that my prayers may be answered.
Boga puts his arm around Quinlan's shoulder, "Come. All power comes from On High. I bet if we were to examine your scrolls and learnings that we would find signs of the divine throughout. Let's take a look!"
Quinlan looks at Boga inquisitively. "Hmmm, I suppose I hadn't thought about that. I guess it would make some sort of sense." Quinlan takes his spellbook from his belt and goes over his shorthand with Boga. He points out some of the pages where he scribed the spells from Boga's scrolls. The spells are written out in there entirety, then pieces are scratched out and surrounded by notes on diagrams for changing from divine to arcane.
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"Unfortunately there is little we can do." Lucius explains to his companions after Arc's outburst. "Until Signor Toshiko has competed with Signor Dunn, Ogon Fox cannot do anything without risk of compromising himself. Which is unfortunate - I am certain that the enemy spies upon us with divinatory magic and I would have us defended - but that will cost a large sum of gold to defend even one of us, and the Catacombs are the only place where we might do good, and find gold unused also."
The night of Saturday, January 6th, passes uneventfully. A cold winter rain falls on Rome again, from about ten o’ clock at night until about one o’ clock Sunday morning, the 7th...
Dawn breaks the morning of Sunday, January 7th—the day of the musical contest between Toshio Okumura and John Dunstable...
Pope Eugenius IV holds morning mass in the Basilica of Saint Peter...
The Duke of Florence and his bodyguards attend the morning mass, sitting in a reserved pew near the altar...
English composer John Dunstable is also in attendance, sharing guest organist duties with Toshio Okumura—a preview of their musical talents before the evening’s much anticipated contest and ducal feast...
The choir performs some of Dunstable’s works: Quam Pulchra Es and Veni Creator Spiritus... They also debut some of Toshio Okumura’s marvelous contrapuntal motets, much to the delight and wonderment of all present...and somewhat to Dunstable’s mix of admiration and envy...
That music! That is the birdsong duet I heard the other day outside the Palazzo D’Borja! So it was not birds singing, but Okumura making magical music somehow... He must have used an enchanted organetto...
When Okumura plays his enchanting motets, Orpheus perches atop an organ pipe and adds his sweet voice in counterpoint...
Do not forget your duties to the Church of Lucifer, my arrogant young pet! Your hoard and your mastery of sorcery will increase, but only if you obey the will of the Prince of Darkness! The pathetic Pope Eugenius deploys a company of crusaders against us, so be vigilant! Do not let them catch you slumbering in draconic torpor, or they will claim your beautiful horned head as trophy, understand, Ceruleax!?
The young blue dragon sighs forcefully, spitting blue sparks that drift like lightningbugs in the dark, tiered chamber where he lairs...
*SIGH!!* JEEZUS PLEEZUS, OLD MAN! I GOT IT!!
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Up til now, Johann has been keeping up his midnight watches and sleeping during the day. He also has been going back to that first tavern the group found when they arrived in the city and enjoying the fine honey and the music of the three blind mice.
But on the day of the big concert, Johann sticks with the group, and tries to provide as much moral support as he can to Toshio. "FOX, I KNOW YER MUST BE PRETTY NERVOUS, A BIG CONCERT COMING UP TONIGHT AND ALL. IN THE HEAT OF COMPETITION, WHEN YOU ARE FEELING SCARED, JUST ASK YERSELF, "WHAT WOULD JOHANN DO"? KICK ASS IS THE ANSWER, OF COURSE. I MADE A NICE LEATHER BRACELET TO REMIND YOU. W.W.J.D. CARVED INTO THE BAND THERE."
The day of the 7th progresses. It is a chilly but sunny Sunday. The Duke of Florence throws a grand feast for all the people of Rome to enjoy. A score of oxen, two dozen boar, and three dozen plump hens are roasted on spits, rubbed with garlic, herbs, and butter. Baked cod and swordfish are served by the scores, as well as rounds of cheese, loaves of warm bread, leek soup ladled from large kettles, cakes, pies, puddings, and all other manner of sweet deserts crafted by the Duke of Florence’s personal chefs.
Acrobats and jugglers perform, and the violent puppet show “Bear and Fox” is debuted to the delighted amusement of children and adults. Dancers dance sarabands and jigs to the music of street bards. Everyone enjoys the delicious food and marvelous entertainment leading up to the evening’s main event—the contest between the renowned composers and organists, John Dunstable of England, and Toshio Okumura of Japan...
Duke of Florence speaks from the lectern near the altar in the spacious sanctuary of Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Italian: Benvenuto, brava gente di Roma! Grazie per aver partecipato alla mia festa per celebrare la mia visita nella tua!
The crowd of spectators filling the sanctuary and nave of the Basilica roar with applause and cheering! EVIVA!! VIVA IL DUCA DI FIRENZE!!
The Duke smiles and waves, and waits for the cheering crowd to quiet down again before continuing: Stasera, ho organizzato per il tuo divertimento un concorso speciale di improvvisazione sull’organo a canne tra due dei suoi migliori maestri... Maestro inglese John Dunstable, e maestro giapponese Toshio Okumura!
January 5th, 9:00 PM, Cairo, Egypt, the villa of Venetian explorer and wizard Niccolò de' Conti:
Finishing a late supper after a long day of recording accounts of his travels throughout India, China, Mesopotamia, and North Africa in one of his several travel journals, de' Conti is suddenly jolted to attention by a magical alarm spell triggered to ring in his mind if his family home in Venice were ever threatened by fire or other catastrophe...
A fire at the Palazzo de' Conti!? I will go there at once to see what can be done...
Rising from the table where he had been dining alone, the explorer-wizard checks to make sure his decanter of endless water is in place on his harness, then utters the incantation to teleport from Cairo to a seastack in the Mediterranean midway between Egypt and Italy, and from there on to Venice, where he is horrified to find the City of Bridges on fire in several places, and the great fire dragon Wormwood hovering several hundred feet above the Cathedral of San Lorenzo!
He makes the sign of the cross and casts a spell to allow him to fly, soaring up above the rooftops, but keeping the tower of a Palazzo between the dragon and himself as concealment...
Flying closer in spite of the growing dread that grips him the closer he gets to the great red dragon, de' Conti peers from around the side of the palace tower at the crimson winged nightmare hovering above the Cathedral and belching flames at the slate shingled roof!
After what seems like an eternity, he sees a ghostly figure rise up through the roof of the Cathedral, which he identifies as the Ghost of Marco Polo, his boyhood hero! An exclamation of exaltation escapes his awed lips! It is the Ghost of Marco Polo, rebuking the dragon in its native tongue! And now he leads the beast on a merry chase to the south!
HAHAHA!! BRAVO, MARCO POLO!! BRAVO!! HAHA!!
Attending the feast and serving as one of three judges (Duke of Florence and Pope Eugene being the other two), Bishop Alonso Tostado smiles and applauds, already appraising the two composers by their composure at the feast...
I wonder which will prove the greater? East or West? As a man of the cloth, I will do my best to be an impartial judge...
The Holy Father smiles and applauds the Duke of Florence’s speech...
Cardinal D’Sforza is in attendance, sipping red wine from a silver chalice...
Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, is visiting Rome and attends the feast with several condotierri, all clad in shining full plate and armed with longsword and halberd, as if the Duke were expecting trouble...
Padre Giuseppe Arcangelo is present, jovial and boisterous...
Arc attends in the finest scarlet clothing he can muster, topping off his ensemble with a red tricorne sporting a tuft of white feathers in the band. Prior to the concert, he offers Toshio some encouragement.
"Play well and trust that you will deliver a performance to remember, monsieur. Your fellow 'crusaders' wish you the best."
During the feast, he cuts loose just a bit and treats himself to some wine, but generally maintains an air of quiet withdrawal.
Zagathoth arrives at the festival with his companions, dressed in the only clothes he owns, still stained with bone dust and his own blood. At his new friends' instructions he left most of his weapons at the the Cardinal's home, but he wears his martyr-infused chainshirt and carries doomcresent in its scabbard.
When dinner is served he amasses a monumental mound of meat on the table before him and digs into it with enough gusto to attract a small crowd. More than one man leaves impressed by the quantity the orc consumes before leaning back in his chair with a bloated groan. He rubs his belly and walks with a bit of a waddling sway as he makes his way in to the basilica for the performances.
Toshio wears the same white robes he always wore while playing and leading the choir at the Church of Sainte Waudru, and he certainly looks the part of a church organist. After Pope Eugenius finishes the blessing at the close of Mass, Toshio approaches John Dunstable. "Hello, Mr. Dunstable!" Toshio says cheerfully as he shakes Mr. Dunstable's hand warmly. "I can't say how glad I am to meet you. It is a great pleasure to hear you perform your works. Have you enjoyed your stay in Rome so far? I am a newcomer here, myself."
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In between courses of the feast, Toshio (no longer in robes, but in fine clothes suitable for a celebration) leaves his seat and greets Duke Cosimo in Italian: "My lord, I must thank you for putting on this splendid affair. I have long admired Maestro Dunstable's work, and the opportunity to meet him and hear him perform in person is magnificent!" Toshio leans in to speak a little more quietly. "I would love to meet any of your friends who are in attendance, if you would do me the honor of an introduction."
Toshio wears the same white robes he always wore while playing and leading the choir at the Church of Sainte Waudru, and he certainly looks the part of a church organist. After Pope Eugenius finishes the blessing at the close of Mass, Toshio approaches John Dunstable. "Hello, Mr. Dunstable!" Toshio says cheerfully as he shakes Mr. Dunstable's hand warmly. "I can't say how glad I am to meet you. It is a great pleasure to hear you perform your works. Have you enjoyed your stay in Rome so far? I am a newcomer here, myself."
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The pleasure is all mine, Master Okumura! I have heard that there is an ethereal—one might even say magical—quality to your music... I’m not sure I’m equal to such competition...but I shall do my very best to provide for you a worthy challenge! Dunstable winks and smiles knowingly at Okumura...
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In between courses of the feast, Toshio (no longer in robes, but in fine clothes suitable for a celebration) leaves his seat and greets Duke Cosimo in Italian: "My lord, I must thank you for putting on this splendid affair. I have long admired Maestro Dunstable's work, and the opportunity to meet him and hear him perform in person is magnificent!" Toshio leans in to speak a little more quietly. "I would love to meet any of your friends who are in attendance, if you would do me the honor of an introduction."
Duke of Florence smiles warmly at Toshio and replies: Thank you, Maestro Okumura, for accepting this friendly challenge! Your God-given gifts will provide a wonderful entertainment for the people of Rome, and I eagerly anticipate hearing your performance, and that of Maestro Dunstable! I would, of course, be honored to introduce you to some of my friends and acquaintances present here this evening! Come with me... Over here is Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, Defender of the Holy Shroud of Turin...
Duke of Florence introduces Toshio to several influential personages in attendance...
Warmly embracing Toshio and kissing him on both cheeks, Amadeus, Duke of Savoy seems particularly pleased to be introduced to the Japanese composer.
I have heard much of your rare talents, Maestro Okumura! I am a great lover of music, and I have some modest talent on lute and organ myself... I was wondering if you would do me the great favor of accepting a commission for a mass in the Aeolian mode, to honor the Lucky Fools, who a few years ago recovered and returned the stolen Shroud of Turin from the fire dragon Wormwood’s lair?
Cardinal D’Sforza warmly embraces Toshio as well, whispering discreetly into his ear: Please pass on this message to your friend the Ogon Fox: The courageous and faithful service you and your companions render for Mother Church shall be handsomely rewarded. Thank you for your continued heroics on behalf of the Church of Rome!
In Italian: Without further ado, our first performance will be by English composer and organist extraordinaire, Maestro John Dunstable!
The Basilica of Saint Peter resounds with thunderous applause!
Dunstable walks briskly up to the magnificent masterwork pipe organ of Saint Peter’s Church, sits upon the bench, and tests the keys with masterful hands and the pedals with deft, slippered feet, whirling through modal scales, particularly the Dorian, before looking to the Pope, and the Duke of Florence, and Bishop Tostado, and nodding to signal that his performance is about to begin...
A sudden anxiety wracks Dunstable! So many powerful patrons of the arts present, carefully scrutinizing my performance!... My boring, hamfisted performance!... Oh God, John, play something else, you’ve played that same motif with no appreciable development five times now, you dullard!...Um...Um...What to play! What to play!... Maybe they won’t recognize a little Dufay if I sneak some in... Oh, bloody hell! Duke of Savoy is humming along! He’s obviously heard Dufay play this himself! Such an unoriginal dolt, Dunstable! G** d@+n me blind! The hapless English bard’s performance seems stiff, derivative, and uninspired...
PEEEEUUUUU!! That stinks! HAHAHAHA!! BOOOOO!! BOOOOOO!! Mister big shot English composer John Dunstable! What a maroon!
HAHAHAHAHA!! Who said that!? What a cute little voice! Was that you, Madame Du Berry?
HAHAHAHAHA!! Who said that!? What a cute little voice! Was that you, Madame Du Berry?
It wasn’t me, My Lord! Hahahaha! Hahahahaha! A typical sample from Maestro Dunstable... I must confess I am not impressed... The dashing Maestro Dufay wrote that little bit he threw in there when he choked up! Hahahahaha!
Hahahahaha!! A maroon!? I believe you meant moron, my dear Madam Du Berry! Hohohohoho!
Hahahahaha!! A maroon!? I believe you meant moron, my dear Madam Du Berry! Hohohohoho!
HAHAHAHA! But My Lord! I swear to you, it was not me who called Maestro Dunstable a maroon, or a moron! Hahahahaha!! I am sure he is neither of those things, he was merely nervous and distracted to a sloppy performance by our stellar presences, My Lord!
As Toshio Okumura seats himself upon the organ bench, his hands are trembling slightly. He takes a deep breath, and then another. Somewhat calmer, he begins by going up and then down the Dorian mode once with just the foot pedals. As he starts the 2nd time the fingers of his left hand begin to join in with half notes over the moving quarter notes of the bass line. Toshio's mind begins to wander back down to the catacombs as he continues. He remembers each color of flame being lit...in truth, he was so distracted by his own thoughts that, were it a normal performance, Toshio surely would have faltered. But Saint Cecilia was watching over him today, and what would have been only a distraction became an inspiration. Toshio played a new theme in the right hand as his left hand continued its pattern, and he continued to embellish it, the bass now moving more quickly, then slowing and the left hand taking the melody for a time. And suddenly, it seemed to Toshio, for his sense of time had vanished, the music had wound itself to an end. Toshio stands up from the bench and turns to face the crowd.
Unknown to Okumura, a kinsman from his native Japan is also at the feast, disguised as an Italian fisherman...
The crowd of spectators in Basilica of Saint Peter roars with enthusiastic applause!
Bravo! Bravo Maestro Okumura!! Bravo!!
As the crowd of spectators applauds and cheers, the disguised ninja assassin makes an attempt on the life of his target, Toshio Okumura, hurling a shuriken coated with lethal venom at the kitsune... striking even at a significant penalty for range, and piercing for damage plus poison
The shadowy figure attempts to disappear into the crowd...
Toshio's jaw drops as he feels the pain of the shuriken embedding itself in his chest, and the poison takes hold.
Toshio cries out in pain and points at the Italian fisherman that attacked him.
Gullroost Tower, at the same moment Toshio Okumura is in competition with John Dunstable:
Lucrezia, Queen of Gulls, squints in frustration at her crystal ball...
In Abyssal: Damnation! Where has the Fox disappeared to!? It’s as if he fell off the face of the Earth!
Her bat familiar Figaro chuckles dryly in Abyssal: You fungus-addled slut! Why on Earth did Demogorgon stick me with a dumb b@@$$ like you!? You still haven’t sussed out the Fox’s secret, because you’re a bird-brained, illiterate, promiscuous little trollop! You’re no witch! Hahahahaha!
Lucrezia snarls at Figaro, tries to grab him to fling him against the tower wall, but the little fruit bat is too nimble and swift, and deftly chomping her little finger hard enough to draw blood, the demonic bat darts up to a rafter to sneer at his mistress, chirping: Oh! You almost had me there, Mistress! You’ve got to be quicker than that! Hahahahaha!!
[dice=Fortitude save DC 17]1d20+2
[dice=Perception]1d20+2
Toshio's jaw drops as he feels the pain of the shuriken embedding itself in his chest, and the poison takes hold.
Toshio cries out in pain and points at the Italian fisherman that attacked him.
Oh my Lord! An assassin has tried to slay Maestro Okumura, who is also the vigilante known as the Ogon Fox! I must try to save him if it be God’s will!
Pope Eugenius IV hurries to Okumura’s side, taking the Japanese organist’s right hand in his own, and helping him to sit back down on the organ bench.
Be not afraid, my son! The Lord goes before you always!... And well it is that He does, for it seems you have enemies out for your life, Maestro!
The pope closes his eyes and makes the sign of the cross over Toshio Okumura. In Latin, he chants: Lord, let your servant Toshio Okumura be healed of all afflictions, may every venom that assails his humors be neutralized, and may he be restored to full vigor! In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I pray!
At once, Toshio is healed of wounds, poison neutralized, and Constitution restored in a wave of euphoria and golden radiance!
While most of the crowd sits enraptured by the performance of Fox’s human form, Zagathoth, who lacks any context or basis for comparison, remains aware of his surroundings despite the pleasant tune. So, when a man seeming to be a fisherman throws some kind of weapon at his companion’s back it does not escape his notice. Leaping to his feet, he draws doomcrescent and calls to mind the brief training he received on fighting like a dragon...
Moving swiftly, with fluid, frequently-drilled motions, the shinobi warrior retrieves a potion of haste and quaffs it in one flowing motion, then attempts to use acrobatic maneuvers to pass through the throng of spectators...
Enraged, Zagathoth bolts for the fleeing assassin. With a series of leaps that look like a young dragon just taking flight, he bounds over pews and deftly moves through the stunned crowd as he charges the ninja. As they both near the door, he whips doomcrescent around like a swinging tail, as he attempts to chop into his prey.
,
Enraged, Zagathoth bolts for the fleeing assassin. With a series of leaps that look like a young dragon just taking flight, he bounds over pews and deftly moves through the stunned crowd as he charges the ninja. As they both near the door, he whips doomcrescent around like a swinging tail, as he attempts to chop into his prey.
[dice=power attack (rage/charge)]1d20+10+2, [dice=for]2d4+16
The ninja gasps in shock at the speed with which the hulking orc bounds through the crowd, like a young dragon! Doomcrescent opens a gash across the “fisherman’s” back! *GASP!* HUUUNGH!!
"Treachery! The assailant is attempting to flee!" Arc springs into motion and tries to push his way through the audience, cursing his limited repertoire of magic and its lack of movement-enhancing spells.