".... and Zag is swing left and right, but he can't make contact. The stone devil is too fast, too armored. So what do I do? I jump in there, grab that devil with my two paws, and ROAR in its face! Heh heh, I tell you all, if that devil had a bladder, it would have been a mess. As it was, I think a few pebbles fell on the ground. So I just hung on, keeping it from moving, holding on despite all it's bucking and screaming. Twisting my paws like so and really bringing the pain. And my good ol' buddy the Fox just kept piercing it again and again with these mystical bolts. It was a scene, I tell you. Just unreal evil! But we put it down in the end."
Johann sits back and takes a big swig of warm mead laced with extra honey. The three blind mice, his primary audience, sit in rapt attention, but by the end of the story most of the bar had gathered round the table.
"Quite a scene, indeed," the Fox chimes in from another seat at the table between sips of wine. "And you should have seen the lights of many colors there. They weren't just lights, oh no. Good Lucius--the cardinal, yes--charged into that red light to retrieve Flamefang from its pedestal, and the light blasted him with fire for his efforts. What a sight!"
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Lucius meanwhile gives his report to the Holy Father. He is more factual, and therefore much less entertaining.
"The lower levels were well guarded - by demons, traps and a golem of great strength. The thing that truly worries me Holy Father is that the only way onwards is through a circle of teleportation. I feel that leaving such an object open beneath us is an invitation for disaster. On the morrow we plan to return and I suggest that we be provided with a scroll of teleportation and an assistant or two, who can destroy the circle once we have used it. The scroll will help us return safely and a great danger to Rome will be averted."
Lucius meanwhile gives his report to the Holy Father. He is more factual, and therefore much less entertaining.
"The lower levels were well guarded - by demons, traps and a golem of great strength. The thing that truly worries me Holy Father is that the only way onwards is through a circle of teleportation. I feel that leaving such an object open beneath us is an invitation for disaster. On the morrow we plan to return and I suggest that we be provided with a scroll of teleportation and an assistant or two, who can destroy the circle once we have used it. The scroll will help us return safely and a great danger to Rome will be averted."
Pope Eugenius IV listens to Cardinal Lucius’ report and nods in agreement with his assessment of the grave danger leaving the teleport circle active could present.
It shall be as you suggest, then... A scroll will be provided for your safe return, and we shall send brave and trustworthy servants to destroy the portal behind you... Let us pray, Cardinal Lucius...
The Holy Father extends his hand to Lucius and prays fervently for the Crusaders’ success against the Enemy...
Father Yahweh, I pray that you will guard and guide your humble servants, the Crusaders of the Catacombs, as they do your will in the dark and dangerous places of the Underworld. May Saint Michael the Archangel shield them with his outspread wings and ward away evil with his flaming sword, as they delve into those dreadful depths! In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I pray! Amen!
Emperor Nero clasps his skeletal hands and prays before the great golden idol of Lucifer with giant glittering ruby eyes...
In Infernal: Hail Satan! Prince of Darkness! Master of Evil and Subordination! Hear the prayer of your son, the Antichrist, and grant me all that I desire! Let not these meddling Crusaders prevail! Let their efforts come to naught! Let the Whore of Babylon rise and rule over all the corners of the Earth! Let the fiery dragon Wormwood destroy and incinerate the infidels in a holocaust of hellfire! So mote it be!
Dusk approaches on the evening of January 11, 1437...
The impending doom of holocaust by red dragon looms over Europe, for the Crusaders of the Catacombs have unearthed a plot by the Antichrist and the fire dragon Wormwood to incinerate Rome on the Feast of Saint Valentine, February 14th, just over a moon away...
The more personal doom of ninja assassins hunting the Ogon Fox looms over the Crusaders, who have become bonded to one another in the fires of combat and adventure, cheating death together having forged them into an unbreakable brotherhood. It is known that a clan of kung fu masters also seek to claim the bounty on the Fox’s head...
It’s a Thursday...
The town criers call out the daring adventures of the Crusaders of the Catacombs, including their victory over the vrock demon, and the stone devil, and their penetrating the rainbow in the dark...
The three talking mice are quite enthralled to Johann’s story telling, as are the pretty young serving wenches and spit boys...
A serving wench massages Johann’s shoulders as she listens to his stories of bravery...
Oh Signor Johann, i tuoi muscoli sono così grandi
Another pretty young wench serves the shifter another flagon of honeyed mead...
Bevi ragazzone!
A lovely wench brings Ogon Fox a goblet of red wine and a wedge of cheese...
sei così coraggioso, signor volpe... she whispers seductively in the Fox’s ear...
A pretty lass keeps Zagathoth well fed, sitting on his lap and feeding him grapes, olives, cheese, and lamb shanks, and pouring ale down his throat to wash it down...
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"I don't undershhhtand a word you are shaying, but keep it coming, keep it coming..." Johann lets out a big sigh and settles back to enjoy the shoulder rub. He takes another big gulp of mead.
"You know, Foxxshh, you are very myshterious character indeed. Yoush hashh to tell me more about yourshhelf. In particular, why we had to fight of a japeneshhhe ashashin that one night. Not that I minded, though. That washhh the mosht fun I've had in a fight... ever! Hic!"
”They say you have big muscles,” Zag informs the bragging bearman, ”but they must mean ‘for a human’...”
The orc gives the woman on his lap a big toothy grin. ”Are you married?” he asks her.
”They say you have big muscles,” Zag informs the bragging bearman, ”but they must mean ‘for a human’...”
The orc gives the woman on his lap a big toothy grin. ”Are you married?” he asks her.
No, Signor, I am a maiden! Wench Molly blushes and flutters her eyelashes at the orc brawler...
A lovely wench brings Ogon Fox a goblet of red wine and a wedge of cheese...
sei così coraggioso, signor volpe... she whispers seductively in the Fox’s ear...
Somehow, the Fox blushes visibly, despite his red fur. "Beh, sì ... suppongo di esserlo. Sono! Molto coraggioso, intendo."
He smiles sheepishly at Lizzie. "Grazie per il vino e il formaggio."
"You know, Foxxshh, you are very myshterious character indeed. Yoush hashh to tell me more about yourshhelf. In particular, why we had to fight of a japeneshhhe ashashin that one night. Not that I minded, though. That washhh the mosht fun I've had in a fight... ever! Hic!"
Fox takes one, two, three long drinks from the wine Lizzie provided before responding to Johann. "That is a question I'd like to know the answer to, myself, Johann. My father was a pirate, executed for his crimes, but I see no reason why that should mean anyone has reason to want me dead...My, this wine certainly is delicious."
The Fox smiles at Lizzie again. "Riesci a immaginare perché qualcuno vorrebbe farmi del male?"
A lovely wench brings Ogon Fox a goblet of red wine and a wedge of cheese...
sei così coraggioso, signor volpe... she whispers seductively in the Fox’s ear...
Somehow, the Fox blushes visibly, despite his red fur. "Beh, sì ... suppongo di esserlo. Sono! Molto coraggioso, intendo."
** spoiler omitted **
He smiles sheepishly at Lizzie. "Grazie per il vino e il formaggio."
"You know, Foxxshh, you are very myshterious character indeed. Yoush hashh to tell me more about yourshhelf. In particular, why we had to fight of a japeneshhhe ashashin that one night. Not that I minded, though. That washhh the mosht fun I've had in a fight... ever! Hic!"Fox takes one, two, three long drinks from the wine Lizzie provided before responding to Johann. "That is a question I'd like to know the answer to, myself, Johann. My father was a pirate, executed for his crimes, but I see no reason why that should mean anyone has reason to want me dead...My, this wine certainly is delicious."
The Fox smiles at Lizzie again. "Riesci a immaginare perché qualcuno vorrebbe farmi del male?"
** spoiler omitted **
In Italian: No, Mister Fox! You are adorable! Who would want to hurt you?
”Presto dovrò attraversare un cerchio magico che mi manderà in un posto sconosciuto per continuare a uccidere cose per il Papa.” Zagathoth confides to the woman on his lap, ”Non so se vivrò, o mai tornerà, e non ho mai fatto sesso...”
”Presto dovrò attraversare un cerchio magico che mi manderà in un posto sconosciuto per continuare a uccidere cose per il Papa.” Zagathoth confides to the woman on his lap, ”Non so se vivrò, o mai tornerà, e non ho mai fatto sesso...”
** spoiler omitted **
Transported from Florence to Rome via teleport spell (cast by Cosimo de Medici’s astrologer and personal conjurer), renowned architect, sculptor and mechanical engineer Filippo Brunelleschi presents himself to Pope Eugenius IV at the papal court in the Basilica of Saint Peter, and offers his services in repairing the ancient aqueducts of Rome in preparation for the coming dragon attack...
A crew of master stonemasons and carpenters are placed in his command, and plans are immediately drawn up and set into motion...
”Presto dovrò attraversare un cerchio magico che mi manderà in un posto sconosciuto per continuare a uccidere cose per il Papa.” Zagathoth confides to the woman on his lap, ”Non so se vivrò, o mai tornerà, e non ho mai fatto sesso...”
** spoiler omitted **
Whispering in the orc’s pointy green ear: Allora dobbiamo rimediare stasera, coraggioso guerriero...
That night, Wench Molly takes Zagathoth’s virginity...
As the Crusaders bask in the warmth and glory of heroism and enjoy the various fruits of their brave labors, efforts are under way to ready the great eternal city of Rome for the coming holocaust. A legion of laborers and tradesmen are employed to treat the wooden buildings and rooftops around the city with an alchemical flame retardant formulated by several Roman alchemists promised papal absolution in return for their services, and Master Brunelleschi’s crew sets to work restoring several ancient aqueducts...
The Crusaders spend the night of Thursday, January 11th, at Cardinal D’Borja’s Palazzo again, enjoying the hospitality of his staff, the comforts of his hot, oil-scented baths, and the culinary delights of his table. They have some opportunity to discuss what they have discovered thus far in the dungeons of the Enemy, and what ought to be their next steps...
A slender but athletic man of Asian features, clad in the nondescript garments of an oriental trader, sits quietly in the corner by himself, not far from where Bear, Fox, and Zagathoth are entertaining the pretty young wenches with tales of their perilous adventures in the Catacombs...
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"There is no guarentee Johann." Lucius responds in a somber tone. "However there is little to be done about that. If we wish to purge the catacombs once and for all we must press on. I have spoken to the Holy Father and he will provide Quinn here with scrolls to return us to Rome. Additionally he is sending trustworthy soldiers with us, they will destroy the circle behind us and prevent evil ever using it as a way into our Holy City." He looks around the table with a fierce stare.
"It will be a great blow against the forces of the Anti-Christ."
In the spiderweb-choked pipes of the ancient Roman aqueduct Aqua Appia, a nest of stirges must be exterminated by the papal paladins providing security for Filippo Brunelleschi’s excavation crew...
In Italian: Good Heavens! What else has taken up a lair in these old channels? First chokers, then giant spiders, now these dire mosquitos—stirges, the people call them—filthy pests!
In Italian: Fear not, Master Brunelleschi! We will cut and burn them out by flaming sword!
The devout soldier hacks down a flying stirge intent on sucking his blood, then clips off the wings of a second such pest with the backswing of his flaming greatsword...
[dice=Buzzed Sense Motive]1d20+9-2
Fox locks eyes with Scorpion for several seconds, and there is an undeniable sense of destiny exchanged between the two...
Two travelers from the Far East, here in Rome, in the same tavern, at the same time... It is no coincidence...
The Asian monk quickly finishes his leek soup and leaves...
The sun rises on the morning of Friday, 12 January. Roosters crow at the golden disc of Sol as it peers over the hills east of Rome’s seven. Vendors appear in the ancient cobbled streets, and laborers rise, break fast, and return to their daily labors, as tradesmen return to plying their trades...
The Crusaders rise, refreshed from their travails after a night’s sleep in clean, warm beds, and break their fast in the fest hall of Palazzo D’Borja...
Inspired by the tales told in the taverns of Rome about the pope’s brave Crusaders, English composer John Dunstable rises on that Friday morning with a heroic melody spinning through his head, and thinking on the lovely duet of “bird songs” he’d heard coming from the garden of Palazzo D’Borja, he realized that by having a second voice take up the theme four or eight beats after the first, a beautiful counterpoint could be created...
At once, he leaps out of his bed and takes up quill, ink, and paper, and begins to scrawl out staves on which to write down his musical ideas. He begins work on what would eventually become an oratorio praising God for blessing mankind with such heroes as the Crusaders of the Catacombs. This, in combination with the effect that watching plays in the major cities of Europe has upon the Maestro, will later inspire work on a kind of proto-opera about the adventures of the Crusaders of the Catacombs, but alas, Maestro Dunstable will die before he completes this magnum opus, which, unfortunately, is lost to history...
When the adventurers are ready to return to their quest in the Catacombs, they find that a platoon of pious Roman knights has garrisoned in the upper levels of the subterranean complex to keep it secured against further use by the Church of Lucifer. These steadfast paladins are prepared to destroy the teleport circle after the Crusaders have used it to venture on to the deeper environs below the levels thus far explored.
Upon returning to the surface, Boga retreats to his room and loses himself in scribing scrolls to prepare for the difficulties to come. But his mind is not with his body; the question introduced in the catacombs will not give him peace, "Are there other gods?"
He tries to rest, but none will come. Lucius' words and the evidence he has personally beheld weighs heavily upon him. "Creatures I have seen with my own eyes have wielded great power when calling upon other gods! Clearly they are powerful beings, but are they gods? But if they are not, why does not God, the Father, simply cut them off?" He crosses himself. "Could it truly be that they are all gods of some sort?" Boga vigorously shakes his head and tears the sweat dampened sheets from his body. The night is in no way cool enough to prevent the sweat that Boga suffers. Desperate, Boga rises, pulls on a gown and goes to Lucius' door. Initially, he knocks lightly, but they become progressively heavier and heavier until Lucius can ignore them no more. "Cardinal, I must speak with you. I can wait no longer."
"Brother, my understanding is failing me. I turn to my faith, but now, I wonder. What is the meaning of all these other gods whose altars we have seen?" He looks up with pleading eyes, hoping for sage advice. "I have always held that there is but one God, the Holy Trinity we workship." Boga pauses as he says this, further questioning his original position. "But now I must know." he continues, "Are there other gods. Is the god we worship but one of many. Clearly He is the most powerful, and we must hold Him above all others... But there are others?"
EDIT: Once the conversation is over, Boga will get rest and be ready for entering the catacombs once more...
At some time just before dawn on the 12th of January, as the Crusaders lay dreaming in their beds at Palazzo D’Borja, the ghost of Jan Hus appears again to the troubled young Hand of Jan Hus, standing before Boga on a hilltop in Bohemia...
The peace of Our Lord be with thee, my dear Brother Boga! Thou art my Hand and my Voice, the voice of one who cries out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord!” Like John the Baptist, we must never be silenced, even if it cost us our heads! We are preparing the way for Our Lord when He comes again in greatness to judge the quick and the dead!
Jan Hus extends the handless stump of his right arm toward Boga and smiles at him in a fatherly way. Your faith is strong, even when it is tested, my Hand! Keep the faith, Brother Boga! The Lord said unto Moses, “I am the Lord, thy God, who hath delivered thee out of Egypt! Thou shalt worship no other god beside Me!” He never said that He was the only god, only that we should worship Him alone. This very commandment implies the existence of other divinities, which mankind has worshipped since the Creation. We know not where these other gods came from—whether they were created by Our Lord, I Am, or whether they have no beginning, like our Great Alpha and Omega. Various “myths” describe the Creation, but we Christians believe what is written in the Book of Genesis, and that’s all that really matters for you and I, is it not, my dear Hand? Do not be troubled by questions of other gods. You will fully understand when it is tome for you to fully understand. To everything, a season, good Boga! The blessings of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, be upon thee this day and all days!
At that moment, the first ray of dawn creeps over the windowsill and onto Boga’s face, and he awakens...
Boga awakens with a start, "Jan Hus!" "Jan Hus!" He looks around, surprised by his own outburst, but his thoughts continue, "A vision from the Lord's emissary! I do not understand, but I can serve! Understanding will come, but I shall serve the Lord, now."
He dresses, then prays and meditates, calling upon his Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ. For the first time, he feels that he is in a true battle, not a token one orchestrated by God, but one in which the outcome is truly unknown. He feels a new level of commitment, a surge in the importance of his actions. "My Lord! I shall not let you down. I hold thee above all others. Thou art my way, my truth, and my life. I shall have salvation by thee or damnation at the hands of thine enemies, but no matter! I shall always be true to thee!"
He gathers his belt, his pack, his scrolls. With a vigor never before experienced and a commitment buttressed beyond his imaginings, he opens his door, ready to serve and strike for his God.
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Lucius comes to his door in a robe and, seeing a brother in (similar) faith distressed, he pulls the door open and ushers Boga in.
Once the younger man has made his confession the Cardinal sits silently for some time, he would appear to be asleep if not for the rhythmic tapping of his fingers.
"The short answer, Brother Boga, is yes. There are other gods." He smiles slightly and leans back in his chair. "I know, a Cardinal of the Holy Catholic church recognises that his god is not alone... many of my fellow Eminences know this, still more understand it instinctively, but it is," He pauses for a moment, "not the done thing to admit it. For fear of what is happening to you."
"I am much older than you, my Son." He says, "You have been touched by the Lord, as I have. The spark of his light is clear for those with the eyes to see and I believe that you will give Him long and true service, but by the time you reach my age you may appreciate the things that I have seen."
"From before the time of our Lord and his Son." The cardinal continues, his voice slipping into the measured tones of the pulpit. "Man has seen God in the workings of the world. He has cried out to the heavens and great powers have answered him. Apollo, Helios, Mithras - the names change but our need does not. I believe that the Lord reveals himself to us in the ways that we may understand. Our ancestors, the Romans of the past, were not ready - they could not understand the Oneness of God, his existance was too vast for them to comprehend without the word of His Son. So the Lord spoke to them in the ways they could understand and even though now we understand truly - we understand that there is only One in Heaven, those shades, those old beliefs still hold power. They are not gods - for there is but one true God but the Devil may imitate God's almighty power and these echoes of the Old God's are no less the the Great Deceiver."
By now the Cardinal is sitting upright, meeting Boga's eye clearly. This is clearly something of importance to the older priest. "Despair not, Brother. Trust in the lord for he is good. And now," He smiles. "If you will take some advice from an old man. Get some sleep!"
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The next day Lucius is pleased to see Boga's renewed faith and optimism. "Before we go, we must make preparations. Beyond that circle we know not what we will face. What resources do we have, and what preparations do we desire made? If Quinlain, you have the time, I would commission an example of your work."
In the morning, having mostly recovered, the Fox leaves the Cardinal's palazzo after breakfast to find a warrior/combat training school to do some training. Paying a fee of 300 ducats, the Fox then spends the next 5 days (8 hours each day) training in defensive combat techniques and skills.
Boga does indeed take Lucius' advice and returns to his room to sleep. Carefully, he repeats Lucius' words over and over in his head, trying to make sense of a reality in which there are competing gods. "A battle of great powers has waged from the beginning? Our God, is but one who battles for supremacy? How can this be!? We are to serve our Lord in His fight to emerge victorious? Thus ensuring salvation for us all?" He falls into a troubled sleep, only to be awakened upon the conclusion of a vision from Jan Hus, emissary of God!...
In the morning, having mostly recovered, the Fox leaves the Cardinal's palazzo after breakfast to find a warrior/combat training school to do some training. Paying a fee of 300 ducats, the Fox then spends the next 5 days (8 hours each day) training in defensive combat techniques and skills.
On the morning of Saturday, January 13th, Ogon Fox presents himself to the holy knights of the Order of the Bronze Dragon, paladins who are sworn to defend the pope, the Vatican, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Castle Sant’Angelo, and Christendom in general, at their stronghold in Castle Sant’Angelo. Agreeing upon a tuition of 300 golden ducats in exchange for training in defensive combat and strategy, Fox begins his education in the art of intelligent combat...
The Roman knights teach him about parrying and riposting as opposed to dodging and evading, and how to properly integrate the two dynamics...
As the paladins of Saint Peter’s Church direct their attentions downward and at monstrous enemies of mankind that make themselves obvious—chokers, stirges, gremlins, et cetera—Filippo Brunelleschi works diligently, his evil unnoticed by the paladins by virtue of distraction and the magical amulet he wears to obscure the paladins’ ability to divine his intentions...
Just as one can prepare for holocaust to prevent, one can prepare the way for holocaust to be encouraged... These aqueducts can conduct fire as well as they conduct water, given the proper adaptations... oil...Greek Fire...these can run in those ancient channels to spread the conflagration just as easily as irrigating Roma with water...
While his comrades are engaged in more meaningful endeavors, Zagathoth brings the tavern wench back to palazzo d'Borja. Having no concept of what her standard of living might be, he remains blissfully unaware of how ostentatious he may seem as he shows her to his room and offers her fresh exotic fruits and perfumed baths.
When the time comes for her 'remedy' the young crusader eagerly strips down. Once she recovers from the shock of discovering for certain that he is one-hundred percent orc (or perhaps even part ogre), they ease into the evening's activities. After ninety-seven ecstatic seconds he fills the palazzo with the bellowing declaration: "Io sono il campione!!!"
Lying down for a moment of recovery, he explains (in a reasonable voice), "Ora capisco perché i gladiatori umani che hanno vinto sono stati premiati con il sesso ... è fantastico ..."
"Now I understand why the human gladiators who won were rewarded with the sex... this is awesome..."
His sentence is barely over before he's ready to resume and he spends most of the night enjoying her company until, as dawn approaches, she stumbles off to a hot bath. She opts for a nap in the soothing water rather than accompanying him to breakfast with the other crusaders but he leaves her with a broad toothy grin and the invitation, "Puoi restare qui con me per tutto il tempo che vuoi se possiamo continuare a farlo!"
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Lucius is awoken from a peaceful sleep by some thoroughly odd exclamations ringing throughout his house. A few moments thought get a likely explanation into his sleep-wrapped brain and he cannot help but smile, before pulling an extra cushion over his head in an attempt to secure his continued rest.
The next morning he seeks Zagaroth out and gestures for the large orc to sit down with him. "Zagaroth. I assume that you had a companion last night? I do not object to this, but I would prefer that when you... copulate, you do so a little more quietly."
He smiles gently, "Older men like myself, we are past the pleasures of the flesh - and it is difficult for us when younger men interrupt our sleep, no matter how much they are enjoying themselves!" He stands to leave and turns back to the orc briefly.
"I am not an expert in these matters Zagathoth, but take care. There are many diseases which you can catch during sex. You had best be careful, or consult with Brother Boga for healing."
With that he leaves, chuckling to himself at the situation.
In the morning Zagathoth seems both more chipper and less well rested than normal. After loading up a heaping plate of breakfast he sits down next to the healer. ”Guten morgan,” he says grinning widely, ”Der Vater sagte zu fragen Sie über Sex Krankheiten ...”
Dusk (7:30 PM), January 13th:
Fox is sore and fatigued from a long day of grueling drills and calisthenics at Castle Sant’Angelo as he is strolling through the darkening streets of Rome...alone...on his way back to Palazzo D’Borja...
The streets are empty and quiet at this time of the Saturday evening, and Fox hears only the echo of his own footsteps as he wearily trudges toward the Palazzo...