"Oh, of course. Here," the Fox says as he retrieves the coil of rope from his backpack and hands it to Zagathoth.
The kunoichi closes her eyes and chomps down hard on something in her mouth... She begins to spasm in Bear’s arms, foaming at the mouth!
Within a matter of seconds, she goes limp in Bear’s arms, dead from the lethal poison she has swallowed!
Wounded and running for his life, Sifu Scorpion leaps across a broad via toward the second story balcony on a three-story Roman merchant’s house... Landing with superhuman grace upon the balcony, he forces in the closed door leading into an upstairs room... The door bows in briefly, but the lock holds! A muffled screM comes from within as an occupant of the room beyond is startled by the sudden blow on the balcony door!
Pus’n’Boots lands with superhuman agility upon the railing of the balcony behind Scorpion, and rests the glittering, razor-keen blade of his magic rapier Cat’s Claw against Scorpion’s neck...
In Cantonese: Don’t make me kill you, Master Scorpion... Who would pass on the Scorpion style kung fu to future generations if I kill you?
Realizing he was caught, and at the Pygmy catfolk swashbuckler’s mercy, Sifu Scorpion’s shoulders slumped and he hung his head in defeat.
In Cantonese: Alright! Alright... You have me... I surrender! Do not kill me, please, Mister Cat!
Do as I command, and you have my word of honor as a gentlecat, you will not die by my claw...or blade...
Pulling a bag from his backpack, he opens it to reveL a darkness within, a magical portal to an extra dimensional space within the bag of holding...
Please, Master Scorpion, if you’d be so kind as to climb inside this magical bag so I may be assured of your cooperation as we return to the Crusaders?
He holds the open end of the bag wide toward Scorpion...
Scorpion at once leaps inside the bag of holding!
Foolish Cat! You think I don’t know how the bag of holding works!?
Once inside the extra-dimensional space, he looks all of the treasures and magic items Pus’n’Boots has stowed within, and using a sharp shuriken blade, cuts the inside of the bag open, spilling himself and the remaining contents of the bag into the Astral Ane!
[i]I may be lost on the Astral Plane... But that is better than facing torture, interrogation, and execution
After dealing two shallow cuts to Fox’s right forearm, the kunoichi answers his query in whispered Japanese: The shogūn, Ashikaga Yoshinori, grandson of the shogūn who placed a generous bounty on your head, has promised to honor his dead grandfather’s decree... The bounty on your head would feed the Koga Hexagon Clan for a long time, Fox-San... I am sorry... I must follow orders!
Although the kunoichi committed suicide to avoid further interrogation by the Crusaders, Fox has learned the reason he is being hunted... The current Ashikaga shogūn has declared that he would honor his grandfather’s bounty placed on Fox’s head years ago, when Fox’s father was boiled alive along with his fellow pirates...
Zagathoth shrugs, takes the rope, and dutifully begins tying up the limp ninja. He does a very poor job of it.
Quinlan flies down to right out of reach of the two on the rooftops. ”don’t get in that bag monk. Instead why don’t you walk back to the others peacefully and know that if you misbehave you’ll regret it immediately”
[dice=knowledge (planes)]1d20+14
Quinlan flies down to right out of reach of the two on the rooftops. ”don’t get in that bag monk. Instead why don’t you walk back to the others peacefully and know that if you misbehave you’ll regret it immediately”
Sifu Scorpion sighs and nods, and begins to walk at a steady pace back toward the other Crusaders...
Sifu Scorpion confirms what the kunoichi revealed to Fox during the skirmish: that the current Ashikaga Shogūn is honoring the bounty placed on the Fox’s head by his deceased grandfather, and that news of the bounty offer has spread from Japan to China and elsewhere throughout Asia... Grave news indeed!
Sifu Scorpion and Sifu Centipede are both members of a monastery on Wudong Mountain in China called the Five Venoms Temple. All five masters of the Five Venoms Temple have left their senior disciples in charge of training the rest while they venture west to hunt down the Fox to claim the bounty. In addition to Sifu Centipede (who has had a change of heart and abandoned the hunt, and now seeks to help the Fox survive the others’ attempts to claim his head and the Ashikaga bounty) and Sifu Scorpion, there is also Sifu Viper, Sifu Spider, and Sifu Toad...
Obviously, at least one clan of ninja—the Koga Hexagon Clan—seeks to claim the bounty on Fox’s head, and there may be others, not to mention would-be bounty hunters from elsewhere throughout Asia!
Returning with Quinlan and Scorpion to where the others wait in the street, the legendary folk hero Pusinboots introduces himself with a courtly bow to each of the Crusaders and Sifu Centipede...
In English: Salutations, Crusaders of the Catacombs, and good Master Centipede! We have apprehended this Scorpion, who sought to do you harm, Mister Fox! I am Signor Pusinboots, at your service! It is a pleasure to meet fellow fighters of wrongs and bucklers of swashes! *Meow!*
Double-taking at Johann, he adds: I say! Weren’t you twice as big and twice as Bear-like a moment ago!? He winks and grins a feline grin at the shifter...
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"AH SIGNOR PUSINBOOTS...". Johann catches himself and lowers his voice. "Signor Pusinboots, you surely are the most acrobatic person-er... cat... that I have ever witnessed. You flew the air with the grace of a...er... cat! Most impressive, sir. Most impressive."
"You know, Fox, I am starting to think the safest place for you is down in the Catacombs!"
Quinlan settles to the ground behind puss and scorpion. He gestures lazily at the monk. "This one very nearly escaped to the astral plane, that would have been a real pain. Seems everything is well in hand now. Perhaps someone would be so kind as to restrain my friend here though."
Quinlan settles to the ground behind puss and scorpion. He gestures lazily at the monk. "This one very nearly escaped to the astral plane, that would have been a real pain. Seems everything is well in hand now. Perhaps someone would be so kind as to restrain my friend here though."
Would you have, Master Scorpion? Do you know that old trick of the bag of holding?
*Purrrr!* You honor me, Mister Bear, indeed, you do! Your strength must surely rival that of Hercules himself, I dare say!
After the cat’s grandiose greeting, Zagathoth looks over his own attire and equipment with some curiosity. ”I do not know what ‘swash’ is,” he mutters, ”but I do not have anything to buckle...”
When Quinlan mentions tying up the monk he points at the dead ninja and answers, ”we already used up the rope...”
"FOX. I STILL DON'T GET IT. WHY SHOULD THE BOUNTY BE AGAINST YOU? IS IT YOUR GRANDFATHER THEY ARE MAD AT?"
"My father was a pirate, among those captured in Japan and delivered to China, where they were executed by boiling. Perhaps the ruler of China styles himself as a deity, 'visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.' But I speculate, only. I do not understand why there is a bounty on my head."
Boga shakes his head, "We can only be responsible for our own actions. Thank goodness our Lord and Savior respects that! But evil has no need for reason or rational thought. It does what it does, and it is up to us to fight it."
Boga rests his hand on Fox's shoulder. "Fear not! God has given us to be with you. And when we are once again in the catacombs, none shall find you!"
Meanwhile, the lady griffon rider is soaring over the northern foothills of the French Alps with the imperial message secured in the leather saddlebag on her fierce steed...
Spying a flock of wyverns over the peaks of Tyrol, she guides her griffon mount into a bank of clouds to obscure her approach to the great Alpine barrier...
"Such is not the way evil works, Johann. Whatever is given is taken, but sates not. Requirements are made, disregarding the ability to satisfy them. There is no fairness, understanding, or compromise... Except when demanded by a superior force!
"This is just part of why we must be unflagging in our service to the Divine that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!" He wipes his brow and looks about as if his words are self-evident and beyond questioning.
”When we are done killing things for the pope we could go kill this man whose booty is on your head, Fox,” Zagathoth suggests.
”When we are done killing things for the pope we could go kill this man whose booty is on your head, Fox,” Zagathoth suggests.
The messenger’s griffon pumps its wings to vault over the peaks of the Italian Alps, frost forming on the beak and talons at such altitude... Below, the patchwork kingdoms of men were laid out like a map...
Scorpion is handed over to the city guards, and is locked in a cell at a guard station to await judgment.
The rest of the night passes without incident.
Sunday morning, the 14th of January, dawns over the Eternal City.
The town criers recount last night’s street brawl involving the Crusaders of the Catacombs, Signor Pusinboots, and the Asian bounty hunters.
In the morning, before he leaves for his fourth day of training with the knights of the Order of the Bronze Dragon, the Fox casts a spell to learn about what is happening in the great city of Rome...
Gather Information: You can also use Diplomacy to gather information about a specific topic or individual. To do this, you must spend at least 1d4 hours canvassing people at local taverns, markets, and gathering places. The DC of this check depends on the obscurity of the information sought, but for most commonly known facts or rumors it is 10. For obscure or secret knowledge, the DC might increase to 20 or higher. The GM might rule that some topics are simply unknown to common folk.
The target of this spell sees and hears a stream of past scenes and pieces of conversations related to local people and events. The flashes are so brief that it is impossible to identify individual people or places, but when the target concentrates on a particular topic or individual, she can piece together a coherent narrative told in a multitude of changing voices in her mind.
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***The night before***
Johann is tickled to meet another talking animal. Folk like Signor Pusinboots remind him of home.
"MR. CAT... <ahem>..., it's been a long day and I'm tuckered out. But are you interested in a breakfast buffet at a great bar that I know? They serve me mulled honey and I'm sure they will have hot milk. And the entertainment is conducted by three blind mice!"
***The night before***
Johann is tickled to meet another talking animal. Folk like Signor Pusinboots remind him of home.
"MR. CAT... <ahem>..., it's been a long day and I'm tuckered out. But are you interested in a breakfast buffet at a great bar that I know? They serve me mulled honey and I'm sure they will have hot milk. And the entertainment is conducted by three blind mice!"
Sounds delightful, Mister Bear! Lead the way, sir!
Pusinboots follows Johann to the aforementioned watering hole and carouses the night away with him. The Three Blind Mice are at first nervous by the Cat’s interest in their performance, but eventually relax when they realize he is genuinely entertained by their shenanigans and not bent on eating them...
In the morning, before he leaves for his fourth day of training with the knights of the Order of the Bronze Dragon, the Fox casts a spell to learn about what is happening in the great city of Rome...
Gather Information: You can also use Diplomacy to gather information about a specific topic or individual. To do this, you must spend at least 1d4 hours canvassing people at local taverns, markets, and gathering places. The DC of this check depends on the obscurity of the information sought, but for most commonly known facts or rumors it is 10. For obscure or secret knowledge, the DC might increase to 20 or higher. The GM might rule that some topics are simply unknown to common folk.The target of this spell sees and hears a stream of past scenes and pieces of conversations related to local people and events. The flashes are so brief that it is impossible to identify individual people or places, but when the target concentrates on a particular topic or individual, she can piece together a coherent narrative told in a multitude of changing voices in her mind.[dice=Diplomacy Round 1]1d20+13
[dice=Diplomacy Round 2]1d20+13
[dice=Diplomacy Round 3]1d20+13
[dice=Diplomacy Round 4]1d20+13
[dice=Diplomacy Round 5]1d20+13
Ogon Fox is inundated with a flood of sensory figments that quickly and chaotically Weave a general newscast concerning the Eternal City.
Of particular interest to him are the sensations pertaining to his and his companions’ exploits, including the foiled attempt on his life and/or liberty by the Asian bounty hunters, and the fact that an imperial griffon riding elf messenger arrived with an imperial “invitation” (command) for Japanese composer/organist Toshio Okumura, requesting a commission for marching music for His Imperial Majesty!
Besides this, there are whispers of the Saint Valentine’s Day Holocaust to come, and how a renowned engineer and architect named Brunelleschi has been summoned to Rome to help prepare the city for this coming catastrophe... and dark whispers of sabotage concerning the project of restoring the ancient aqueducts that crisscross the city...
There is mention of a young blue dragon named Azurulea lairing somewhere in the Catacombs under the city, being vetted by the satanic Church of Lucifer, and rumor that this arrogant adolescent dragon has been responsible for several deaths by apparent lightning strike when there were no storms over the city...
Finally, mutterings about a noble couple, known for their debauchery and sinful natures, who were excommunicated for their licentiousness, and who recently committed suicide by drinking hemlock to escape mob justice over missing children they’d been accused of abducting, abusing for their lecherous and debased amusement, and bathing in their blood to preserve youth... Interred in the Catacombs, it is feared that they have risen as vampires and are the ones responsible for several bloodless corpses found recently in the vicinity of Vatican hill...
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"I will have to speak to the... woman first, Zagathoth. Could you send her to me when you two are... not engaged."
"Mistress Molly, I believe. I am Cardinal Borgia. You are currently engaging in carnal relations with a protegee of mine, and he has requested that you be permitted to remain here in my house in order to facilitate this." His voice is stern.
"Now I am inclined to grant his request - but there are conditions. It is obviously unacceptable that a man in my position should have a common whore in his home." Lucius's voice isn't judgemental, 'common whore' is merely a statement of fact. "Therefore I will offer you employment in my kitchens. The position is not contingent on your dalliance with Zagathoth but be fully aware that if you hurt him then you will not only be thrown from this house but the full force of the Papal Guard will be brought against you and anyone with whom you associate."
Reaching into his robes Lucius produces a small purse and offers it to Molly. "Your first wages. While you serve in my house you will remain discrete and loyal, exactly as I expect from my other servants. If you chose to leave then I trust this will serve as sufficient incentive."
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Molly’s normally tan face is pale as she stands before Cardinal Lucius, and she is noticeably nervous and mortified as the cardinal begins his stern speech. Her face reddens at his frank statement of the facts, but her eyes widen in unconcealable surprise and excitement when he offers her employment in his luxurious palazzo. She is trembling and damp-eyed when she smiles and nods vigorously to signify her consent to the cardinal’s conditions.
Oh, My Lord! I won’t disappoint Your Grace! Thank Your Grace very much indeed! It’d be a proper honor to serve in Your Grace’s palazzo!
She courtesies and kisses Lucius’ ring several times...
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*** The next morning***
Being still at his favorite watering hole, Johann switches from mulled honey to honeycomb for breakfast. "COME FRIEND PUSINBOOTS, REGALE US ALL OF ANOTHER TALE OF YOUR TRAVELS WITH THE OGRE AND THE TALKING DONKEY. TRULY, THAT IS STORY THAT DESERVES TO BE HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN! WENCH! BRING MY FRIEND HERE SOME CATNIP TO KEEP HIS HEAD UP!"
*** The next morning***
Being still at his favorite watering hole, Johann switches from mulled honey to honeycomb for breakfast. "COME FRIEND PUSINBOOTS, REGALE US ALL OF ANOTHER TALE OF YOUR TRAVELS WITH THE OGRE AND THE TALKING DONKEY. TRULY, THAT IS STORY THAT DESERVES TO BE HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN! WENCH! BRING MY FRIEND HERE SOME CATNIP TO KEEP HIS HEAD UP!"
Ah, yes, Signor Shrek and the Donkey! Such adventures we had! Did I already tell of the Castle of the Beauty and the Beast, which we visited once while we were in Avignon? A powerful curse had been laid upon the Baron Du Bois and his Castle by an old hag whom he’d refused to shelter during a winter storm, and the baron was afflicted with a unique form of lycanthropy which causes him to be ever in the shape of a wolfman! Even stranger, his servants were transformed into animated household items! Monsieur Lumiere was polymorphed into a talking candlestick! Monsieur Cogsworth into a talking clock, and Madam Potts was made into a talking teakettle!...
Signor Pusinboots huffs the pouch of catnip deeply, slit pupils dilating with euphoria as he regaled Johann with the tale of how he, Shrek the Ogre, and Donkey were chased by a mob of xenophobic peasants into the sanctuary of the Beast’s Castle...
No, no... By the time we’d arrived, the hag’s curse had finished it’s cruel work. We weren’t transformed into anything else, somewhat to our relief, and perhaps a bit of disappointment...
He recounts how the Beast and his Lady Belle treated them hospitably, protecting them from the mob, and how they in turn rid the woods surrounding the castle of a clan of evil werewolves who had framed the baron for several of their murders...
Quinlan Finds Lucius and the Ogon Fox gestures for them to join him briefly. Lucius I have been working on something for you. A headband something a kin to these" He gestures to the metal rings around his horns. "It should help your magic as well as general perception and awareness. Fox, I'm working on something for you as well but i'm not sure I'll be able to finish before we head back down to the catacombs. At least with our current plan."
"BWA HA HA! YOU ARE TOO MUCH FUN, MR. SIR CAT. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT JOINING MY BAND OF COURAGEOUS HEROES! WE COULD USE A FELINE OF YOUR AGILE TALENTS!"
Well, you flatter me, sir! Your proposal is a tempting offer, I must admit... Mayhaps after I’ve concluded some pressing pirate business I’ve promised to attend to in Neverland, I will take you up on your offer!
Pusinboots picks a bit of catnip out of his nostril with a claw and laps up some cream from a dish. More honeyed mead for my friend here, and I’ll have some fish if you have any! cries the catfolk swashbuckler to the serving wench...
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Johann gives Signor Pusinboots a great manly hug before stumbling out of the bar at dinnertime.
Twenty-four hour stint in a bar? I think that's my new record! What a character that cat is!
He slowly and drunkenly weaves his way back to Father Lucius' estate.
Someone might have said something about going back to the catacombs soon. Evil never rests and all that. Of course, I could just go by myself...Who needs those other guys anyway? I'm super strong!
Johann wanders over to a open sewer manhole and yells in.
"HELLO DOWN THERE! I AM COMING TO KILL YOU!"
Like a flash he turns into a huge python and slivers his way inside.
Johann gives Signor Pusinboots a great manly hug before stumbling out of the bar at dinnertime.
Twenty-four hour stint in a bar? I think that's my new record! What a character that cat is!
He slowly and drunkenly weaves his way back to Father Lucius' estate.
Someone might have said something about going back to the catacombs soon. Evil never rests and all that. Of course, I could just go by myself...Who needs those other guys anyway? I'm super strong!
Johann wanders over to a open sewer manhole and yells in.
"HELLO DOWN THERE! I AM COMING TO KILL YOU!"
Like a flash he turns into a huge python and slivers his way inside.
Constrictor Johann finds himself in a hitherto unexplored region of the sewers, adjacent to the Catacombs... It is dark and dank in the 10-foot-by-10-foot sewer tunnel he is slithering down, and after about thirty feet, it opens onto another corridor running left and right...
From the right comes the sound of mens’ voices, speaking in Italian...
Johann overhears the following, in Italian: Listen carefully, and keep secret all that I tell you now! You have sworn yourselves in service to the Church of Lucifer, as have I... Great shall be our reward if we but serve faithfully! So the Antichrist has promised! We are going to prepare the way for the great holocaust to come... Rome shall burn in dragonfire, and we are tasked with making certain these aqueducts will spread ruin and destruction rather than salvation. Oil will run through these channels instead of water, and ignite to further the destruction of Rome! Keep this secret, or face a dire punishment at the hands of the servants of Lucifer, Our Dark Lord!... Hold, something stirs down yonder passageway... Go and make certain we have not been discovered...
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Johann's tongue wisps in and out, taking in the air around him.
That is definitely honey scent. Is there another bear down here? Oh, that's me. Ha ha ha, that story of Shrek and Donkey was so funny. That cat was hilarious. Uh oh, human smell! I knew evil would try to hideaway from me! STAND AND DIE, evil doers! Wait, what are they saying? Something important! Oil in the aqueducts! That would be a disaster for the entire city! Should I get back and warn the others? No, I shall stay and slay these evil ones. They do not expect a snake! But am I able? I am alone!
I should go and get the Fox and Zag, maybe the others too! Flee!
The severity of the situation sobers Johann up and he does his best to slither away from the voices.
Four figures appear out of the gloom from the right bearing torches and drawn daggers...
In Italian: Zounds! A snek!