The circlets that the four wear all radiate the same faint magical aura, but without a deeper understanding of the nuances of magic you're unable to discern what it's function is.
The list:
hunting knife 2 gp 1 lb
fishing line and hook 1 sp
flint and steel 1 gp
tent 10 gp 20 lbs*
waterskin 1 gp 4 lbs*
hooded lantern 7 gp 2 lb
4 pints of oil .4 sp 4 lbs
crowbar 2 gp 5 lbs
5 pitons .5 gp 2.5 lbs
grappling hook 1 gp 4 lbs
50-foot hemp rope 1 gp 10 lbs
3x chalk .03 gp
caltrops 1 gp 2 lbs
3 Alchemists Fire 60gp
1 Tanglefoot Bag 50g
GP 136.03
Mi'Dre looks at the fruit and juice selection with some distaste, as he had the previous night. He should have eaten more of that goat back with Grumblejack and skipped this whole business. With a distinct lack of anything resembling manners he grabs hold of a roll and takes a bite, before reaching for the Kahve, giving it a sniff and helping himself straight from the jug, seeming pleased with the bitter-tasting coffee if nothing else.
|
Albina enters to the sight of Mi'Dre helping himself to the kahve, and sits next to him, hoping to keep him out of trouble.
The four strangers rouse her curiousity, but she does her best to keep it to herself. She has an inkling that their matching Asmodean sigils and iron circlets seem less like proud symbols of devotion to the Left-Hand Path and more like the sorts of matching attire that a master would use to decorate his pets (and so mark them as his own creatures).
"I am certain we are not to poisoned so soon in this relationship, Mi'Dre, you do not have to test my drink for me, although I appreciate your concern." she says to Mi'Dre, taking the decanter from him as he pauses for breath, and primly wiping the edge of the decanter with a napkin before pouring herself a cup of the bitter brew, apparently not too terribly concerned with any infernal germs that might reside in the devil's mouth.
Rather than drink from the cup, she instead takes a roll and meticulously tears pieces from it, which she dunks in the kahve before eating the sodden morsels, reducing the roll to shreds with a torturer's eye for detail.
Noting Mi'Dre's disatisfaction with the fare presented, she finds a plump purple grape, and offers it to him, saying softly in Infernal. "Close your eyes and pop it in your mouth. Imagine that it is an eyeball, and squish it in your mouth, so that the juices spurt forth. It makes the experience a bit more interesting, at least." she says, clenching her small fist as she says 'squish,' a small grin on her face.
Mi'Dre gives Albina a slightly confused look at her opening statement, before giving a grunt and letting her take the decanter from him. Albina had apparently been fortunate enough not to catch a whiff of his belch the previous night or she might be a bit more concerned about what came out of his mouth. The devil just sits back then, taking an occasion bite from his roll and glaring at the four strangers until Albina caught his attention again. He smiles slightly at her efforts, doing as she said, it still tasted the same but it was something at least.
The other guests mostly ignore Albina and Mi'Dre, though the twins seem to enjoy a chuckle between each other as the devil mangles his way through the kahve. After a few more minutes the woman asks without a hint of emotion "Are you but two?" though she speaks out into the air without regarding either of you directly.
Jack nods back at MiDri on their brief enconter in the training room. For better or worse they were together in whatever the High Priest had in storage for the future.
Wearing his new noble's outfit with a dagger up his sleave he arrives at the breakfast room in the middle of an unconfortable silence. No reason to break the cheerful mood. Jack thinks to himself as he sits in silence in the middle chair and engage the food giving some side glances at the new characters. I wonder, are these people allies or competition?
"Is there a purpose for this breakfast? Because I'm done eating..." Mi'Dre mutters in a bored manner, leaning back in his seat, balancing on it's rear legs as Black Jack arrives. He'd much rather head back to Grumblejack and eat properly down there.
Whistling a jaunty and no doubt dirty tune he heard in soem seedy tavern somewhere Shendalyn arrives fashionably dressed, fashionably armed, and fashionably late. Seating himself with a smile he gives the others a small wink before spotting the others. "Ah, welcome! Welcome! I take it that since you are not tied to some onyx slab being measured for a neat and orderly evisceration you must be fellow guests in the home of our hostess! Welcome! Surely you have already met my fellow escapees?"
As he awaits an answer Shendalyn digs in as if he had no fear of poisons disease or sudden assassins appearing out of his coffee.
The haughty woman speaks in return to Shendalyn "We share your purpose... but where you are ninth, we are eighth" being cut off as Tiadora enters the room, moving daintily to the head chair and refraining from any of the food. She speaks "I see you have met... you will be sharing this manor house with others of your... unique abilities." but does not allow herself to be drawn on elaboration during the meal.
When breakfast has been taken, the eighth are dismissed and you remain with Tiadora. Servants quickly clear the table and she snaps her fingers for replacement items to be laid upon it. Four iron circlets (the same make and shape as those worn by the others) and four silver symbols of Asmodeus are laid out on the table. "Take them, they are yours... gifts of your master. You will find perhaps that the circlets will ease your passage through this land."
"Eighth and Ninth what?" Mi'Dre asks the other four with a furrowed brow. He settles quickly down into his chair as Tiadora arrives, glaring at her in an attempt to hide the cold ball of fear that settled into his stomach at sight of her again, doing his best not to cringe. He very noticeably doesn't talk back to her, just watching the other group leave, and then watching the slaves as they lay the same accoutrements the others had been wearing in front of them. He looks at them distrustfully, glancing towards Albina as he concentrates again, confirming he gets the same aura of magic from the circlets.
The Devil was clearly distrustful, waiting to see what Albina does, before following her lead.
The circlets all bear the same magical aura - and you identify them as having the same powers as a hat of disguise. They should be most useful for allowing you to move through genteel society without your brand becoming obvious... and also perhaps will make it easier for Mi'Dre to pass for something less... devilish.
|
|
Albina dons a circlet, and demonstrates their utility, changing her hair to short and tightly curly, her skin to dusky and raising her cheekbones and widening her eyes, while also attempting a single piece shift, in place of her current outfit.
If her reflection in one of the serving platters matches her intent, at least somewhat, she'll nod approvingly, and hand Mi'Dre his circlet. "You can make yourself look like a halfling or a human child, if you wish, and save your true appearance for those who will never live to speak of it..."
Mi'Dre takes the circlet, turning it slowly in his hands. He didn't particularly like the idea of having to look like some human, but on the other hand, it opened some interesting possibilities for mischief... He glanced at Albina again, looking over the changes there, and then set the circlet on his head, and concentrating. Soon the ugly little devil wost replaced by a sweet looking blonde haired boy, the illusion only marred when he then grinned, revealing Mi'Dre's pointed teeth.
Shendalyn spends much of his time browsing the library looking for clues and doing research into infernal summoning and similar magical works if they can be found. It was less about curiosity and more about answers. He required them. Pacts, compacts, faustian bargains, things of that nature while looking into rituals to call devils, communicate with dark spirits and otherwise summon them.
The pact he made guaranteed his soul to certain devils once he died, or rather, was allowed to die. The exchange was for his wife and child. Did they violate the compact? If so he was under no obligation to follow it. But somehow he doubted it. Something else was at work here. Perhaps a third party interfered. He could not be sure. Ultimately he reasoned that he could nullify the compact by meeting his "benefactor" and slaing him utterly if he could manage to weasel his wife away from him. An impossibly suicidal task but Shendalyn found it easier to work around such inconveniences once he realized that the worst had already happened to him. The "benefactor" would have to wait. Shendalyn had archdukes to fry. A mythical task no doubt.
When tired of reading the tired talks of old men about infernal geometry, the sexual habits of cornugons, and other interesting but otherwise pointless information he is in the training room or otherwise relaxing making a point to not put on the circlet or the chain and in fact keeping them hidden in his room for now. Whatever enchantment had been placed on them he was sure that "keeps track of the wearer" had to be a design feature.
After a time as a form of amusement and a bit of information gathering he summons Gurthock and sends him to spy on the other group. Whether he found anything useful or died horribly it would be entertaining. For now he let people approach him rather than the other way around.
Gurthocks stealth
Gurthock's perception
Jack examine the circlet and amulet before storing them in one of his vests pockets.Humm, very pratical.
He will spend most of his time in the training room playing around or on his bedroom with the slave girl. If he bumps into any of the 8 he will try to start a casual conversation or watch them practice in the training room.
After presenting the circlets, Tiadora remains for a short time - but does not eat. Any questions as to what is happening and what to expect are met with a condescending answer of "All in good time children, you will needs be patient" Under duress, the other internees are bid to introduce themselves and you find they are:
- Elise Zadaria
- Dostan Alfson
- Trak Rackburn
- Trik Rackburn
and they have dubbed themselves the White Ravens. After breakfast is concluded, you find that they keep very much to themselves and do not approach you further during your stay.
Guthrock's investigations are mostly futile, stymied from discerning anything useful about the others in their chambers by locked doors... but he does overhear some tidbits of useful information. The older twin Trak is infatuated with the witch Elise, and the younger is trying valiantly to keep from indulging his inner voices that tell him to kill. He also hears the witch speak of The Endless Winter but without context to clarify it.
Mi'Dre glances at the others as they simply stow away the gifts, making the devil momentarily paranoid enough to make sure he can still take the circlet off. Assuming that works however he sets it back on his brow, pulls on his unholy symbol, and adjusts his appearance again, leaving the symbol visible.
As far as the rest of the meeting he mostly remains silent, watching the other. Since the 8th had their circlets and symbols he had assumed they were some symbol of rank, but with their own presented and no sign of additional magic on the others he doubted they were much above their own position. Still they might be worth paying further attention to.
After three days of idle relaxation and sin that seems to stretch to an eternity compared to your days of incarceration... you are called to attend to the Cardinal once more.
The decadent nobleman is seated and with glass of wine in hand. Speaking languidly, but with definite intent “Have you enjoyed your gifts? The iron circlets allow you to move amongst your enemies as one of them. The silver amulets will remind you of your true loyalties. And the other trinkets may come in useful."
“You have done well to escape from Branderscar and to accept my offer. However, you are still not ready for my service. Tiadora will lead you to the basement of this house. 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. Fail me and die... succeed and be rewarded.” Cardinal Thorn takes a seat at his desk. Tiadora smirks behind you and beckons “This way, if it pleases you”
Mi'Dre lounges in a seat when they are shown into the Cardinal, enough time having passed that he has recovered some of his normal arrogance. He frowns at the prospect of these tests; It would be good to be doing something again however... As much as he had enjoyed some time to indulge, he wasn't one to just sit around idly.
AS their audience ends he simply rises from his seat and falls into step slightly behind Albina, following her down to the basement.
Shendalyn smirks. "No one? I am to assume that the other erstwhile guests have been put up to the same task?"
Jack is not happy to have his vacations cut short. He will miss the slave girl soft skin tonight. But he tries not to let his displeasure show.
He follow Tiadora out of the meeting room not seeing much choice.
More fun and games... Damn it.
Shendalyn's comment make him stop on his tracks. He awaits to see if any answer will be given.
"Them's the rules after all..." Mi'Dre adds to Albina's observation. He had gotten the impression from what had been said about the other group that they had already accomplished some task given to them, which suggested to him that they had already completed this test. He wouldn't have any concerns about killing them if they were to be involved however.
Cardinal Thorn does not reply to Shendalyn, but Tiadora does state "The eighth do not share your task, they have been given another."
Black Jack just shrug his shoulders before continuing.
"I see." Shendalyn says noting the non-answer darkly. "Very well. Let's be done with it then. I've lots to do before supper."
The rum from the trunk is powerful, though not particularly well tasting. You try Blackerly's medicine as well, but even just a taste numbs your tongue and makes a fog of sleep descend around your head so you do not finish it.
Tiadora leads you to the head of a set of stone stairs that spiral into the basement below the manor house. There are lit torches in sconces that provide light, so you do not find any need to create your own means of sight. At the head of the stairs, Tiadora remains atop and merely smiles and gestures you to move below.
The stairs spiral down and around a couple of times before opening into a small corridor ended with an open archway that enters into an unfurnished room. Etched around the top of the arch are the following words: Deception is a tool. Self-deception is death. Deceive always thy enemy but never thyself in the common tongue. Beyond the arch is a thirty foot and square room that has a single door directly opposite the entrance.
There is an oil lantern hanging from the roof in the center of the chamber, but no other details of note.
Mi'Dre glances at Tiadora as they arrive at the stairs, before simply starting casually down. As he nears the bottom however he begins to place his feet a little more carefully, stopping when he notices the words above the arch, looking around slowly.
Cautiously he moves into the room, and if nothing else grabs his attention, he moves to check the door.
Mi'Dre finds that a ten foot square before the door cunningly hides a trap. The floor is made to drop away if any weight is placed upon it. Wary of that section, you turn to check the remainder of the room.
Mi'Dre stops still as he spots the slight seam in the floor, crouching to peer closer and gesturing the others back whether or not they have followed him into the room. He takes a step back and turns around slowly, scanning the room again, looking for another exit.
Shendalyn sidles toward them clearly not happy. Next To him Gurthock pads along most unhappily carrying a lit hooded lantern splaying quite a bit of useful light.
"So, who wants to take odds that the eighth have the task to keep us from our assigned task?" He says mirthlessly. "I see our little devil friend is making himself useful again. Why can't you be more like him Gurthock?"
Gurthock growls. "Not my fault you don't know what-"
"Shut up Gurthock"
The little pitfiend shuts its mouth suddenly incapable of responding.
"Can't say I care for such menial and fatal tests. What do you accomplish with them? Wasted effort on dead servants who might have otherwise been useful in other capacities? Really, is it so hard to ask for some sensible villainy? It's no wondering the boot licking Iomedeans have such an easy time."
Jack avoids the trap as he follows the little devil. He cant help to smile at Shendalyn's remark.
No other features reveal themselves... initially, but an extensive search reveals two concealed doors - one in the North wall and one in the South.
There is also another inscription: Thou hast seen through deception to uncover a useful tool.
When nothing sticks out Mi'Dre does indeed start tapping walls and occasionally sniffing as he looks for another way. He could disable the pit-trap and go that way but that didn't seem to be what the message over the arch suggested. Finding the northern door he eyeballs the gem before cautiously picking it up, turning around with it and holding it up to the light for a few moments before shrugging and passing it to Albina and going back to searching, finally finding the southern door.
"Hmm. The door suggests perhaps we should split up?" he observes, glancing back at the others for their opinion, riddles were not something Mi'Dre was too used to dealing with.
Appraise
Shendalyn looks at the gem. "Hrm."
The door at the end of the short hallway is not trapped, and once opened leads to another room of thirty feet square. Entering through the North door, you find doors leading East, South and West from the chamber. The room is lit by another hanging oil lantern, that strangely seems to have a light coating of frost upon it's glass panes. The air does feel colder in the room as compared to the corridor.
There are no tracks leading to the Western door.
The Eastern and Southern door are both wooden and conventional in appearance. The Western door is covered in a strange pulsating violet mold.
Mi'Dre surveys the floor for a few moments as he opens the door, then leans back to read the riddle again. "Well, if we can trust the riddle then I'd say the Western door. Can anyone tell if that pulsating mold on the door is real, or what it is?"
Mi'Dre frowns as the fungus remains stubbornly in existence despite his efforts to see through it. Regardless if nothing else sticks out to him about the room and other doors he will cautiously approach the western door, hopefully he could count on his devilish resilience to get past the mold.
As Mi'Dre approaches the mold on the door he gets a feeling of intense cold radiating from the creature. The unnatural chill saps at his strength and makes his joints groan as they scrape o'er each other. It would appear that the mold is quite real...
Mi'Dre pulls his clawed hand back with a pained cry, clutching it to his chest, seeming to have lost all feeling in the digits. He blows on it and rubs it with his other hand, trying to get some sensation back into it, and hissing in discomfort again when he does. He glares at the door, before looking to the others. "The gem maybe? I don't how how something else that's cold will help though..." he mutters, clearly not happy with the current situation.