Marvin retreated another step, retrieved a potion from his pack and downed it.
Without pausing, Celestine hurled another blast of destructive energy at the creature. The sooner it was dead and gone, the better off all of them would be - chances were they still had a ways to go, after all.
for
Zyxtyvia will cackle to keep the hexes up for another round...
Sholano cursed, giving up his hunt for flammable objects and dashing into the room, drawing one of his daggers as he did so. For all he knew, plain steel wouldn't hurt the thing at all, but it might at least keep it distracted.
Linus slashes at the enemy with surprising speed.
Erick, Celestine, and Linus connect with their attacks. Seeing that it's faced with overwhelming odds, the mist creature hisses and retreats back into the floor. As long as nobody lingers here overlong, it's likely safe to proceed.
"I suggest we use this opportunity to leave the room... and with haste..."
"Agreed, though someone else can take the lead. I don't feel all that well."
"Here....feel better..." and the witch touches the shifter with her long nails and provides some healing energy to his body...
Celestine kept one hand pointed at where the creature had retreated, carefully stepping around the room and to the northern door. With a few firm tugs, she managed to open it, glancing back at the others and shrugging slightly before going through it.
The door leads to a short corridor ending with yet another wooden door. The inscription on this one reads, "Cruelty is a tool, not a pastime. Be ruthless to thy enemy, but reward those who serve thee well."
The room holds only two objects: an oil lantern hanging from the ceiling, and a fully functional torturer's rack.
"Well, that's what bandages are for." Celestine said blandly as she looked around the room. "Now this I can work with..." she examined the rack quite carefully. "The question is, who might we put on it...?" she began to examine the room in more detail. There was definitely more to this than they'd seen thus far.
"Perhaps one of the later rooms has an enemy from whom we need to extract information? It seems like each of these rooms is here for a reason, and abduction and torture are likely things our new patron may require of us."
Celestine finds a removable panel in the west wall. Inside a small cubby is a young man wearing a Talirean squire's uniform. He looks absolutely terrified.
Well, well. This was going to be interesting, and Celestine didn't waste any time at all summoning up a Barrier to keep the squire pinned inside the cubby. (That would also stop anyone else from rushing forward to pound him - she didn't get to practice her techniques very often, darnit, and was not going to pass up the opportunity.)
"Well, now." she said with a faintly amused smile. "Why don't you tell me your name, child?"
Zyxtyvia looks over Ericks wounds as the others inspect the room...
The lad trembles. "Squ-squ-squire Ti-ti-timeon. Are you here to rescue me?"
"Let me put it this way..." Celestine said. "Rescuing you is within our power, but to be quite frank, there's a nasty creature between here and the exit and we have no reason to risk ourselves against it just to help you. However, you're not out of luck just yet. Nobody else is going to come to help you, Squire Timeon - they've abandoned you when you needed them the most, but if you help us, we can help you. Say... any information we'd valuable. Otherwise, people are going to start using this on you." she put a hand on the rack. "Have you ever seen one of these at work? They're quite amazing, really. They stretch out all of your limbs beyond the breaking point, and these holes are here for additional punishments, like burning you or ripping out your nails. This one has all the tools with it, and anyone who actually has something like this knows how to use it. And then a real professional will use magic, heal every injury you have, and do it all over again, repeating the process until your mind is so shattered you look forward to the torture because you know it means the healing comes afterward. That victim could be you, Squire Timeon. Or you could see those in charge for what they really are - liars who talk big, but are never truly there when they're needed. You don't need to be loyal to someone who's abandoned you - and if you join us, you'll never be abandoned again."
[dice=Diplomacy (Trying to at least start corrupting him - you destroy your enemy when you make him your ally. XD Celestine's not the "murder everyone just because" type, or even the "torture them because there's an opportunity" - she prefers the idea of a silver-tongued devil who can gain everything the righteous lose)]1d20 + 7[/dice]
'we should kill him like the Count desires....just a suggestion' Zyxtyvia says in a whisper out of earshot to the boy.
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Erick nods to Zyx as she bandages his wounds. Erick uses his new hat provided to him and alters his appearance to that of a knight of Taligarde.
Slowly he walks in front of the squire, eager to see the mans reaction at one of his superiors willing to enact such pain on the young man. he rests his hand on the crank. You have one chance to tell us what you know young squire. We have deep corruption within the ranks and need men we can trust.
The squire's nervous gaze shifts rapidly between Celestine and Erick. "No, no, no! Don't hurt me! The Asmodeans captured my master and me, but I didn't tell them anything. I swear on Mitra's name! When I got loose, they tried to find me, but I hid and listened to them. I know all their secrets! Let's make haste back to Brandescar so I can make a report!"
Celestine glanced back towards Erick.
For the love of... a child could see through a deception that thin. And the whole point of my speech was trying to get him to trust us, not hit him with a lie that would be transparent to anyone with the slightest bit of experience. If he can't learn to restrain himself and shut up when he shouldn't talk...
...Although mostly, she was just angry at Erick interrupting her when she was trying to corrupt a bright young soul to the worship of Asmodeus... as called for in the First Loyalty of the contract they'd signed. If he was going to interrupt her efforts every time, especially when it was done so poorly, maybe she could get Cardinal Thorn to... ensure it didn't happen again. Contracts and agreements were serious matters in Hell, and those who violated them tended to be dealt with in one way or another. They needed intelligent talent, not goons who would ruin everything.
Sholano waited quietly behind the others, observing from just inside the shadows of the doorway as he tried to get a bead on the real skill of his new partners. Celestine's attempt to convert the young man directly was undeniably artful, if perhaps a bit less subtle than the approach Sholano himself would have tried.
Not bad, not bad at all...pushed a touch hard on the threat, maybe, but not so hard that it's broken the kid. Just a little nudge from another direction, and then - oh, Hells.
Erick spoke up, then, doing what seemed like his best to help. Sholano suppressed the urge to put his hand over his face, instead reaching up to swiftly adjust the ear cuff he'd coaxed the disguising circlet he'd been issued to appear as. His fine clothing, layered over the leather armor beneath, shimmered and changed. It became a silver vest of chainmail emblazoned with a symbol very like that of the Talingarde military, with a few small alterations. On a close examination, it would appear to be of a similar order, allowing for a plausible shift of words to dodge any direct questions about it.
Passing Celestine with a quick, subtle roll of the eyes at Erick that seemed to say may as well go with it, he stepped up to the eager strangler, placing a hand on his shoulder. "There's no need for that, soldier," he said, an air of confidence and righteousness infusing his words. "I'm sure the lad will tell us anything we need to know and more. He looks like the courageous sort, I'm sure he'd be glad to come along and help us navigate this maze of villainy." He faced Timeon. "Isn't that right, squire?"
Timeon gulps but attempts to stand up straight. "Y-y-yes, sir. My master, Sir Balin, is in here somewhere, and if I left without him, I'd never forgive myself. How can I help?"
"I imagine this room's seen some use." Celestine said, glancing at the wonderful rack and its set of tools. As much as she would have liked indulging, though, the lesson above the room had been clear. Cruelty was a tool, to be used properly and with intelligence, not indulged in just because torture was fun. Having self-restraint was important, and just the threat of cruelty was often enough. "Tell me everything you've heard here, and anything you know about this facility. I think we'd all like to find Sir Balin, after all, and it wouldn't do to miss him if he was hidden in a cubby like yours or something."
Marvin stayed out of the way of the more eloquent speakers, content to play the part of a concerned soldier and carefully checked the rest of the room for additional hidden compartments or traps.
Zyxtyvia bristles at the mention of the Mitran Knight...but stays in the back of the group and lets the others play their mind games with the boy...
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Passing Celestine with a quick, subtle roll of the eyes at Erick that seemed to say may as well go with it, he stepped up to the eager strangler, placing a hand on his shoulder. "There's no need for that, soldier," he said, an air of confidence and righteousness infusing his words.
Erick smiles as he steps back, proud that he was able to contribute and aid in the young man's torture.
Sholano nodded along with Celestine, practically radiating an aura of paternal care and concern. "Once you've told us all you can, you can come along with us. We can always use another brave heart."
They always make the best meat shields.
Squire Timeon nods and composes himself. "Of course. The master of this hellhole is named Thorn. While he was searching for me, I overheard him instructing a servant about the compound's defense system. In a nearby room are a pair of vicious metal cobras. In addition, there's a shrieker somewhere that will awaken four drowned men if it senses light or movement. I also believe that a secret door across from the stairs hides the way out. That was all I heard."
"Is there anything else you think is relevant or important?" Celestine pressed, intending to be sure she'd gotten as much information from him as possible. "Even if you're not sure, say it anyway. Anything this... Thorn individual thinks is important probably is. If we can find out what he's planning, we can make sure it ends the right way."
Their Second Loyalty was to Cardinal Thorn - and it was a given that he had plans. To think otherwise would have been ridiculous. What was important was being as prepared as possible to make those plans succeed.
'so we are not killing this boy' Zyxtyvia whispers to the others...
Sholano's head cocked to the side ever so slightly at the boy's concise description of the dungeon's threats.
That was...precise. I wouldn't have thought a mere squire's discipline would hold up under these circumstances.
Timeon shakes his head. "I've been hiding for a while and don't remember anything else."
@Sholano: The boy seems to be trustworthy.
"Would it be safer to allow the Knight in training to lead us through this maze since he knows some of the dangers that lie ahead. It would also provide this squire an opportunity to showcase his skills in the event we find the other Mitran kept down here." Zyxtyvia suggests to the others.
"What do you think?" Celestine asked, glancing at the boy. Truth be told, she didn't really care what he wanted... but knowing people's preferences made it easier to manipulate them. He could be good cannon fodder... but honestly, she'd prefer to simply subvert him to Asmodeus. Getting rid of an enemy was good, but gaining their power was better. "If you'd rather stay here where it's relatively safe, I won't blame you."
The squire's answer came without hesitation. "Our enemy is strong, but if all of us work together, Mitra will lead us to victory. If anyone has a spare weapon or shield, I will fight with you."
"You can use mine," Marvin offered, handing over his longsword and heavy wooden shield. "I've been meaning to get some practice with my crossbow anyways, and it will give you a chance to show off your skills."
Sholano nodded approvingly at the squire. "Well said, lad. Lead the way."
Arming himself, the squire leads you back the way you came. Upon arriving at the (still lit) room with the orb, he looks at the two possible exits in confusion. He's clearly lost. The eastern exit leads down a winding passage that ends at yet another wooden door. This time, the inscription reads, "The chosen are revealed by their might. The weak deserve no sympathy."
"Why don't we let Erick take the lead?" Celestine said, gesturing for the brawler to head through the door. Her instincts were telling her that this was something up his alley... and even if it wasn't, it would probably be entertaining.
"I think he is doing a fine job." Zyxtyvia says and smiles at the boy urging him to go forward...
Sholano, not bothering to check the door for anything untoward, nodded toward Zyxtyvia. "True enough. Onward, son. We're right here."
A few steps back, sure, but right here nonetheless.