After hearing what the items do, Katrin dons the crown and hides away the holy symbol. She says the command word and makes the circlet disguise her as a man. A man who could be her twin brother, tall, blonde, and strong. Her grin is absolutely devious. "Ah, finally a way to avoid the fickle cards that fate has dealt me. Now that I've rid myself of most of the prejudice against me, I just need a magical way to stop my moon blood." Her tone lets everyone know it's a joke. In fact, it's the first time she's said anything without pure ice in her voice.
Elise smiles at Katrin's comment. "I wonder why the Cardinal distrubuted them to us as well? Well, I suppose that it won't be long before our group is as infamous as yours, if we're not careful. Not to mention we're obviously foreigners. Tania will be glad to get one of these, she's so sensitive about her looks. And disguising her with mundane means would be a nightmare. She's our rogue. Excellent at what she does, even if she's a bit... odd. Maybe she'll actually come down with this on." The way she says it sounds like she doubts it'll happen.
Henar grins slightly. "Oh? Do tell. What makes her so strange? I mean, she can't be much more strange than myself." Which is quite true, considering he is a blue skinned, reincarnated freak of a being.
"I am quite happy with the way I look. Beauty and fire. That's me. Well, not a great beauty. But I understand the need for secrecy and subtlety more than most. We are wanted criminals, afterall."
Kaythor grins broadly, looking over to El'la. "Beauty and fire indeed. Luckily you have the beauty covered, I would hate to think we would have to depend on Henar for that end" He chuckles just a bit, trying to get the others to lighten up just a bit. After all, they are going to have to all work together for as long as they survive. He tries out the circlet, attempting to change his features a bit, shifting his skin color through the rainbow, followed by his hair color. Obviously just hoping to get the feel for the device.
Elise replies, "She is a catfolk of the north, much like a cross between a woman and a lynx. There are very few of her kind, if any in Talingarde, but there are far more in our country. Even so, people love to tease her so about it. And why not? It's quite amusing to see her squirm so." Elise gives a slightly sadistic smile at the thought, then quickly adds,"Well, it does make her an excellent thief. Catlike reflexes and the like. I'm sure she'll be an asset to the Cardinal's organization."
Taemon'dow stands apart from the others, looking over his gift with a unreadable facial expression. He dons the unholy symbol without hesitation, but for a long while only handles the circlet. Eventually he tries it on, and shifts his appearance to something less resembling himself. Being pale as snow on a regular basis, his new visage looks similar, but has a swarthy complexion by comparison.
At first Artorius ignored the conversation with the White Raven's member, or at least he appeared to do so, continuing to read the book set out in front of him, but as it continued he dropped the pretense of disinterest and set the book down after slipping a copper coin in to mark his place. He considered getting further involved in the conversation, but ultimately added only a single sentence.
"I am Artorius Pavo, a Deacon in service to the Prince of Darkness and his Infernal Duke, and as such I suspect I shall serve readily as a mouth piece of the Prince of Hell to issue forth the dictates and guidence our own group requires." He offered a faint smile and glanced over to the Dhamphir, then to Katrin, the only member of the group who was not knowledgeable of the Asmodean faith. "I am ever an instrument of Asmodeus commandments."
He opened the boxes and noted the ease at which some of his new group trusted. With his own incantations in the rasping, haunted, and grave touched tongue of the dead he called forth the ability to see magic as well and studied the circlet for some few minutes.
Being already in possession of a symbol dedicated to both Asmodeus and the Infernal Duke he accepted additional patronage from, the self professed Deacon snapped his fingers and uttered a command in that same ghoulish tongue. Bound to Artorius, the corpse of Wencelas stepped forward and bent at the waist. Artorius pulled away the hood, revealing the cleaned and naked skull of his minion, before he placed the silver unholy symbol around the skeleton's neck and then placed the circlet on it's skull, leaving his hands upon it as he willed an illusion to cloak the corpse with the appearence it held in life.
"How very useful." Artorius said with that same faint smile.
Titus watches as Artorius casts his spell and examines the circlet, but waits until he's finished with disguising the skeleton to speak to him. "Very useful. It is nice to meet another priest of Asmodeus besides the Cardinal himself. I am not sure what my ranking would be, as I've before worshiped on my own, apart from any other followers. It is nice to finally find others who share the faith."
Henar chuckles, letting his form return to the familiar. "If you didn't find other worshippers or faithful here, you'd never find them anywhere."
He nods. "Ah, true, quite true. Though I hope the faith will spread so that this gathering will not be a rare event, but one throughout all of your nation. It will be a glorious day when such faith returns once again."
Artorius turned his suspicious gaze to the other follower of the Prince of Darkness. He clasped his hands together and offered a respectful dip of his head to the other priest.
"As you well know our faith has been in retreat for generations and it is understandable that you have had rare chance to be titled within the heirarcy. I learned the faith under instruction from Bishop Esus. My own title was bestowed only due the established ranking of my mentor." He gestured to Henar and then continued to address the White Raven priest.
"Henar is correct. His excellency the Cardinal has done well to gather here many followers of the Prince of Hell, but look around you, we are all in hiding. The time will come when we can preach the faith of Asmodeus openly, but it is not yet here." Artorius felt a spasm clutch his leg and caused the muscles to convulse, but since he was sitting he largely ignored it. He studied Titus for a few seconds before speaking further.
"Titus, can you tell me anything of what you have done in service to the Cardinal?"
Kaythor eyes the leg of Artorius, but tries not to draw attention to it. Everyone in the group was certain to have their own foibles, even if they were not quite as obvious upon first inspection. Looking towards Titus he smiles, "You need not worry, that day will most certainly come. The enemies of Asmodeus are weak by comparison and their time on this plane and others will prove to be short lived. I think we can all rest assured that we have found ourselves, unsurprisingly, on the winning side. We must only wait for Asmodeus to reveal his plan and bring it to fruition."
Titus shakes his head nervously. "Yes, I have not proved myself worthy to the Cardinal, I fear. I hope that once the training is complete I'll show my value, but until then I've really done nothing since coming to this land. I hope the training may involve some sort of hands on component? It seems likely it shall." He tries to smile nervously, but cannot.
Elise sighs. "Now, don't act so pathetic, Titus. We may not have done it in service of the Cardinal, but we did manage to desecrate a Mitran paladin's tomb. It attracted Thorn's attention, at least. Whatever we do here will probably be at least as successful." Unlike her companion, Elise oozes confidence. She kicks him in an attempt to make him stop his behavior, clearly having little to no pity for her companion. Titus turns around and glares at her.
Into the room strides a dark-haired young woman with a plain, pale face but piercing eyes. At her waist is a simple longsword, on her back is a massive polearm, too big for a normal-sized human to wield. She seems to wear plain black chainmail, but close examination reveals that it shifts and flows over her and she moves like shadow or smoke. She walks into the centre of the room and runs her eyes measuringly over each one of you, sizing you up. Completing her analysis, she nods in satisfaction and addresses you all in a clipped, precise voice. voice. "My name is Elara Korechilde, Lord of the House of Kore, and fellow contractor to the Cardinal and his master, Asmodeus. I expect most of us will fall, either in battle or to treachery, during this venture. May he who dies, die well; and may our deeds and power be remembered in this land, and beyond it." Looking each of you in the eyes, she nods in satisfaction. "And now my piece is said; your names?"
El'la also stands at the entrance of the intriguing woman, her gown a glittering cascade of copper, gold, and fiery red. "Welcome, Elara. I am El'la Scaldrein." The first name is a rush of crackling and sighing noises, obviously not intended for the tongues of mortal men. "But most just call me Cinders." As though to enunciate her name, a glowing cinder from a shifting log in the fireplace finds its way into her general vicinity, where it glows even brighter, bursting into a full flame for a brief moment before vanishing completely.
Elara nods humorlessly in acknowledgement to El'la. "Because you are from the town of Cind to the west, of course." She turns to the rest expectantly.
"Henar is my name. You could say I'm a specialist in the art of cursing." he smirks, showing off his very blue skin. "Or a warlock, if you wish to be specific." Henar obviously wishes not to be called a witch.
Kaythor grins broadly at the newcomer. "In this life I am called Kaythor. In my former life I was nothing, but in this life I take what is being squandered and give it to those who are much more worthy. Typically, this means their life itself." He gives a slight bow towards Elara, "And its a pleasure to meet another worthy of our cause"
Artorius did not trust this new comer, not that he trusted those who had arrived previously, but at least he had seen them sign the contact in their blood and thus bind themselves to him. Was this another member of the White Ravens or was this women garbed in smoke and shadow a different servant of the Cardinal. Her words proved interesting, but he did not take solace in them and in fact he had to fight hard to keep his expression neutral. He had no intention of falling. His ambition ran contrary to an early death.
He continued to rest in his chair, making no effort to rise and accord this supposedly titled lady with a greater degree of respect. He was of noble blood himself once upon a time.
"I am Artorius Pavo, a Deacon in service to the Prince of Darkness and his Infernal Duke. The silent, grim faced fellow behind me is Wencelas." He gestured faintly behind him to where his minion stood with weapon and armor, masked in the illusion of a common sellsword. Though at the moment a silver unholy symbol of Asmodeus could be seen about the neck of the quiet figure named as Wencelas.
After Pavo's introduction the door opens again and a a thin man dressed only in plain clothes walks in.
I see the party is in full swing he says in a dry whisper.
he carries himself like a commoner. one who has seen a hard day's labor, his hands calloused and scarred.
He makes a tour about the room looking at everyone present that is plainly visible
this gathering is quite interesting indeed he comments. his voice very calculating, like he chooses his words with care.
Finally, taking some refreshment. he finds a seat.
After the three days are up, Tiadora appears again, requiring the group to come with her. She takes them to the same room, and just as last time, Cardinal Thorn is there. Tiadora stands behind her master, and the Cardinal waits until all are in the room and seated before speaking. "Ah, you have had time to relax and meet each other? I'm sorry for moving Taemon'dow and Katrin, but as it is, I feel their talents would be better used in another section of the organization. It would be easier for you to start afresh, in a way.
Have you enjoyed your gifts? The iron circlets allow you to move among your foes as one of them, and these holy symbols shall remind you of your true loyalties. You've done well to accept my offer. These shall only be the first of my rewards. However, you are not truly worthy of my service- not yet. Tiadora shall lead you to the basement, where you shall find nine chambers, each more deadly than the last. Hidden within them is a pendant of silver and sapphire. Bring it to me. Recover it, and bring it to me. Let NOTHING and no-one stand in your way."
He stands up and goes to the window, opening the curtain so all may see the desolate grey moors. "I see it's almost dusk. You have until dusk tomorrow to retrieve the pendant." He pauses for a moment, then adds. "Tiadora will be able to answer any questions you may have."
Elara half-bows politely to the Cardinal. "By your order, your Eminence." She turns and looks out the window and gives a small smile. "It will be a beautiful night."
"Is it a particularly beautiful sapphire?" El'la asks, more out of curiosity than desire. She is already resolved to retrieve the pendant for Asmodeus' representative.
Tiadora shrugs slightly and bites her lip. "It is lovely enough. You shall know it when you see it."
No flowing bow was given to the Cardinal, though Artorius bowed his head by lowering his eyes in compliance and drew the pentagram symbol of the Prince of Darkness in the air before him. This was another test. The first had been escaping potential imprisonment and this would likely test their ruthlessness and ability to function both as a team and within the parameters set by Cardinal Thorn. He would not fail.
He glanced to the one called Cinders and pursed his lips in annoyance. Was she but a petty thief easily distracted by a pretty baubble? He would have to watch her and the two new-comers as well.
Returning his gaze to Cardinal Thorn, he decided to test the man himself, offering forth his words not in common, but the forbidden tongue of the ghouls. It escaped his lips as low, gutteral rumblings and rattling breaths, the kind of vile sound uttered by those things that go bump in the night. His words were slow and occassionaly the silence was punctuated by living breaths of his companions. "கெட்ட வார்த்தைகள், கெட்ட திட்டங்கள். தப்பித்தல் பேச்சு."
"I will do as you ask. These tests will not stop me. We shall meet again."
When he finished the words in Necril, doubt lingered in his mind. There was the distinct possibility that he would not make it out of the test alive. Yet he dashed those doubts aside and he followed his gut instinct. If he was wrong, the death awaited him.
Artorious suddenly turned to his companions, placing one hand on the armored shoulder of his silent bodyguard Wencelas and offered a thin smile. "I believe we have a saphire to recover. Let us begin."
Cyx remained quiet as the task was presented. then as several other began to head out Cyx just watches.
i wonder how well these ones shall work together. none seemd interested in what I could bring to the cuase, but at least my benfefactor does and that is what trully matters.
Cyx gets up and heads to the door dusk approaches weatehr we sit or we go. he opens the door and awaits those that will join him.
Like those anxious to go, El'la twirls towards the door, the swift movement throwing up glowing embers from the fire she was standing too close to.
"Alright.. Let's find this thing."
Elara turns from the open sky and follows.
As the group nears the stairs or entry to the dark basements below, El'la pauses a brief moment, and a field of dense mental force surrounds her, warmer than the air. After a brief second of closed eyes, another inertial force projects out from her.
"Not really sure what to expect down there."
The Cardinal continues to just look out the window, and so Tiadora leads you to the door. Opening it, it reveals a flight of stairs, ending in an archway. Past the archway is a simple stone chamber. The only object in it appears to be a small oil lantern, hanging from the ceiling, in the dead center of the room. There is a door in the exact opposite direction of the stairs, as if one could walk directly from the stairs to the door in a straight line. Other than that, the only thing of interest about the room is the inscription on the archway. In slightly curved letters it reads, "Deception is a tool. Self-deception is death. Deceive always thy enemy but never thyself."
Elara tsks. "So we are not permitted to start at the most difficult chamber and work backwards? Irritating."
"While that might make things easier. I think this way is more interesting." El'la remarks.
Kaythor follows down the stairs and examines the rooms at the bottom. He turns to the others, "So exactly how deadly do you think these chambers will be?"
Artorius let his servant Wencelas lead the way for him, though he himself was also armed and ready for potential conflict. As he began down the flight of stairs, he touched the holy symbol devoted to both Asmodeus and Ruzel that hung about his neck and whispered an incantation.
When he removed his fingers, the accursed symbol began to shed a cool red light, illuminating the darkness around them. He felt a spasm seized his leg and paused before the archway, placing one steadying hand on the boney shoulder of the circlet wearing Wencelas.
"Deadly enough to weed out those not worthy of Asmodeus. I do not think that the Cardinal intends to test us gently. Some of you may not exit these chambers alive." Artorius said to the question. There was a bit of harshness in his answer, partly because he felt the question did not need to be spoken.
Kneading the muscles of his leg with obvious frustration, he gestured for the others to examine the room beyond the archway.
El'la frowns also. "The point was taken at 'Deadly Enough'."
Cyx has made his way down the stairs his old prison garb transformed into more practical clothing of a pair of dark red pants and white shirt. and soft leather shoes.
reading the inscription then looking at the room.
deception hides in the darkness, light dispels the darkness to reveal deception.
Henar just smirks. "I'm no expert in the area of traps, magical or otherwise, but I would say with fair certainty that this room has something going on with it to prevent us from walking one side, straight to the other."
The samsaran witch looks around for a stone.
It doesn't seem like there's anything obvious to prevent someone from going to one side to another. Whatever's making this chamber more difficult than just going from point A to point B is hidden somehow. If this room isn't just an entry-way, it's not going to be obvious.
Coal, the small black and red lizard emerges from the hood of El'la's cloak to grip on her shoulder.
"Alright, let's see what there is to see. An inscription, pretty obvious statement. Could be coded."
She looks around the room for any other signs or clues.
Kaythor inches into the room with the others, looking around carefully. He was used to not trusting his surroundings, and this place has him set on high alert. He looks towards El'la, "Or perhaps its just a creedo. After all, we all deal in deception"
His eyes flash over the walls, quickly trying to take in everything.
Artorius had eased the cramp out of his right leg and soon strode into the chamber, the light from his unholy symbol shedding illumination within the darkened chamber. His servant Wencelas walked dutifully beside the deacon of Asmodeus.
Looking one way and then the other, the keen eyed priest sought out any threats unseen or clues undetected. He had a sense that Kaythor was benefiting from that strange link that he had established earlier, but Artorius himself felt as of yet no benefit.
"I doubt that, there's a choice involved. And one of those choices is 'Death'. Considering that we had been told this is a deadly dungeon, I am inclined to believe that this death is literal rather than figurative, and that the prescribed action will inevitably lead to it."
El'la nods to El'la, "Oh I certainly agree, death is a real danger here. I am simply saying the inscription might be nothing more than an inscription"
[ooc]Taking 10 on Perception, so 14 in total here.[/b]
"I would say that anything or anyone that were to walk directly across would run into quite large issues."