As soon as Tiber steps back toward the door, he finds the halfling peeking around the door frame, wide-eyed. "Most spectacular, Sirs and Madam! Please, let your servant help as he is best able. If there's blood on your boots or weapons, please, let him polish them for you. If we find a sink, he can even wash your clothes!"
Pavo glances at the halfling out of the corner of his eyes. "I think we can wait until we've made it back to the land of the living before worrying about polish," he says.
"Besides, I do my own work. But, uh, thanks..." Tiber says a little uncomfortably. Stowing the offered handaxe in a belt ring and strapping the new shield to his arm, he waves it around a bit. "Feels good! A nice weight to it. Wonder if there is a story behind it..."
"If we're all ready, no sense in delaying the inevitable, eh?" he says with a few steps towards the middle of the room in the direction of another door.
"Uh. Well, I don't need a servant or anything like that." Thalasou looks conspicuously at his own clothes. Maybe there is something about him that makes Imistos suggest he needs a servant. As a distraction he starts trying to find a place to hang the new crossbow on his belt. Without a proper hook or loop it is a futile effort.
Seeing Tiber begin to move to the next door, Thalasou sighs in relief. Moving on. "I'm ready."
Delena looks at Tiber and Thalasou. "You don't just know what it is like to have a faithful servant with you, who helps the master achieve even greater things", she says to them. "And that's what he is, a faithful servant", she continues, her emphasis hinting what happens without faithfulness.
"Before we go on, let's split these. Healing ones to us who don't have it in their blood, and the strength to where it helps most", Delena says as she gives out the potions she examined.
"Most faithful, my Lady, most faithful! Shall I carry anything for you?"
Thalasou thinks back to the time that he spent around the church. There it was taught that serving others was what demonstrated greatness, not being served. "But if a master needs a servant to be great, then is that master truly great? Maybe it is the servant who is great." Thalasou asks the question innocently.
Tiber takes the two offered potions and tucks them away. "This pocket," he begins, pointing to a side pouch on his bag, "is where you need to go if Thalasou can't get to me in time."
"Pavo, mind bringing the light over to the next door? This shield can't try out itself!"
________
Imistos's head bobs up and down several times as Thalasou speaks. "You have dug up the root of the tree, sir! Devotion to a great noble makes the servant great, and with a great servant, the noble becomes even greater."
The statuesque woman, barely listens to Delena’s words, mind numb, lost in thoughts of the past and of her father. Her face is a mask of steely determination as her gaze lingers on the spot where Pavo fell reminding her of a similar scene with her father’s crumpled body, Father shouldn’t have died here or anywhere.
Malphene is startled from her musings at the mention of her father and her focus turns from the floor to Delena. How dare she, the young noble thought as she stared at the mage, her ears tuning red, grip tightening, white knuckled, on her borrowed sword.
Malphene’s chest heaves with every breath, her anger building with the rise and fall of her bodice while she listens to the scathing words. She is about to retort in anger when the ranger interjects himself into the conversation building on Delena’s lies. They take me for a fool, and coward Malphane concluded with a grimace, tightening her grip on the sword.
Letting her tongue run free, Malphene places her free hand on her hip, cocks her head to the side, while she retorts to Delena, ”Take care with thy words Harpy you’ve made enough enemies already. Your falsehoods ring clear and betray your desires.” Unable to control herself she turns her gaze to Tiber, ”and you ... you fool.
Turning back to Delena Malphene waves the rapier in the general direction of the other party members, ”even your allies could not be bothered to open their mouths in support of your falsehoods. Their disinterest marks the depths of your lies.”
"Can we please forgo the political posturing until we're somewhere where it might actually matter?" Pavo says, his voice strained with weariness. "When did you get here, Malphene? I said to go get the other nobles. No matter.
"Historians can debate who was on the right or wrong side of the chaos that went down in the senate building, but I've nearly lost my life two times already in as many days. Thus far the demons and constructs that have tried to kill me have shown little interest in politics. If we do not cooperate to get out of this necropolis, we are going to be less of a footnote in this event than that dead nobleman in the hallway.
"So, can we cooperate long enough to survive this tomb?"
Malphene sets her jaw and crosses her arms as she is lectured by the bard, A footnote, my father reduced to a footnote! Her resolve hardens, someone will pay.
When Pavo finishes Malphene let’s out a sigh of frustration, ”Now you find your voice bard? Where were you when your cohort pleaded her case?” She considers for a moment and continues with a steely calm, ”Sir, thy words show more wisdom than your companions and are pleasant to my ear but beware the common way in which you address me.”
Malphene stands to her full height pronouncing, I am Dame Trant and will not be ordered about like some common servant. If you want someone to get the nobles have that little boot licker go, she says as she points at Imistos.
"So you think you know my desires? How impressive", Delena says to Malphene, seemingly not shocked by the accusation of lying. "This might prove to be an interesting relationship after all".
Delena walks back to the weapon room, ready to continue.
Thalasou stands with his mouth open, gobsmacked. He can hardly believe the ferocity of Malphene's words. He backs away and tries to stay out of her line of sight. He'll let Lady Delena and Pavo deal with her.
When Lady Delena walks back to the weapons room he falls in step behind her. He moves up next to the door on the far side of the room and waits for someone else to open it.
Tiber rolls his eyes. "Let me know if you want to spar, otherwise a bare weapon is a threat," he says flatly. A spoiled brat, wooo. If it were up to me, they'd all just stay here. More good can happen in Taldor that way. With a sigh, he hurries along the remaining nobles and returns.
"Anything but more of this," he mutters to himself before pushing the door open.
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"To be fair, I didn't leave her with the sheath," Pavo comments as Tiber heads out to retrieve the nobles.
He gives Malphene a tired look, "And you very well know that I am Lord Kastner. But I didn't tell you to go get the other people."
”Sorry my lord,” the irate nobles says with mock gravity and an exaggerated curtsy. Her emerald colored eyes soften for the young Lord Kastner, He’s different than the others, first he gives me a sword and now he jumps to my defense.
Her gaze lingering in his direction, he also was the only one of this rabble to offer condolences for my fathers death. I shall give his words more weight than the others. That thought provokes a memory and a brief smile passes across her face, Father always said ‘Well done is better than well said.’
Pavo sighs.
Once the other nobbles have been gathered into the museum, he addresses them. "Stay here for now," he says, "Once we know it's safe, we'll come back for you. Unless you want to lend a blade, then the more the safer as we search for a way out."
He moves between the glass cases to the door and then summons his floating lanterns closer.
Tiber chuckles. "Fair enough, but waving the thing around in our direction sends one message and one message only," he says over his shoulder as he tries the Northwestern door, his tone clear that he doesn't have more to say on the matter beyond this final point. She's just some rich brat, bet she doesn't even know to use it in a real fight. Ha, daddy's fencing tutor probably makes her feel like a big, strong warrior though! Safe from all the dishonorable poor people that would surely accost her in the streets.
Malphene watched as the party left the room, I will not be lied to. In frustration she kicked one of the lifeless suits of armor on the floor and mutters, ”Hell’s” She turns toward the halfling and warned, ”Stop looking at me!”
Her anger spent she leaned against the wall thinking, I feel so tired and wiped out though I have barely done anything. Malphene sighed while sinking to the floor and ran her fingers though her auburn hair, Father’s death was so senseless, so unnecessary. Could Lord Kastner and his companions be right, she wonders more confused then before.
Delena fulfills Imistos's wish and gives him the nod used for servants. "Even a lesser servant can help by doing the menial tasks, to give a master the chance to concentrate on more important matters", Delena explains, mostly to Thalasou. "But there are many stories of servants that are greater than the masters. A wizard advising a warrior, a senator under the prince, or a wife behind the husband. Still the advised one is considered the hero."
The halfling flinches, then bows his head to Malphene. "I believe the Lady has need of me." Imistos moves to the far side of Delena, several feet back and to her side.
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Tiber opens the door into a rectangular room that appears to host a celebration frozen in time. Gaudy nobles crowd the corners of this room, all of which are dressed in ostentatious and pretentious fashions. Tremendous wigs soar toward the ceiling, each covered in thick layers of dust. A larger gaggle fills the center of the chamber, each aristocrat presenting a jovial or mocking leer as it stares out blankly. One of the figures is sprawled on the floor; overlapping circles cut into its waxen chest and face.
"Well, that is macabre," he comments as he moves the lanterns into the revealed room. "Delena, what magics do you sense?"
"Are they real people, frozen? If so, how don't we know about them? A roomful of nobles disappearing would certainly be in the history books", Delena wonders as she gets closer to examine the magic.
"Now, let me see..." she says followed with the familiar words of magic detection.
Move.
Cast detect magic.
"Funny thing about books, people choose what goes in them. When was the last time you read a book published in Taldor that really described something horrid about it?" Tiber asks as he steps aside to allow Delena to do her work.
"Looks like some sort of ritual," he speculates. "Or we've found ourselves in some psychopaths playground."
”Those are not necessarily mutually exclusive,” Pavo quips.
Something about Malphene's demeanor when she slides to the floor catches Thalasou's attention. She seems more than just angry. There is something else going on. Steeling himself against any anticipated reaction, he moves towards her and speaks quietly, compassion filling his words. "It seems that we've gotten off on the wrong foot here. I mean the whole group. Honestly, this is just a lot. This is just a horrible situation. But together we can make it through." He looks at the others gathering near the northwestern door. "They're ready to move on." He offers a hand to help her stand back up.
Thalasou pales as he sees the bizarre scene in the room. "If this is a ritual, it is quite disturbing." He opens himself up to any magical auras that may be coming from the room.
Cast Detect Magic
Numb, that’s all Malphene felt as she sat, a numbness that permeated through her entire body. At least the pain is gone, the young noble depassionately observed.
She lethargically looked up when she heard the voice, a voice that sounded as if it came from a well. Unable to make out the oracle’s words Malphene stared back blankly in reply until Thalasou put forth his hand.
Reflexively she reached out for the offered hand and let Thalasou help her to her feet. Weakly she mutters, ”Thank you .... sir.”
Wait a minute... Tiber plucks a dagger out of it's sheath and sinks it into the nearest figure. Confirmed. "These figures are made of wax!" he says with immense relief.
"Unless there is something magical in here, anyone want to choose the next door?" he asks, turning in a slow circle to gaze at each one.
________
Ayalina catches up with the others as Thalasou and Malphene join them. We probably should be nicer to her, her father did just die. It's probably harder on her than the rest of us.
She does her best to catch Malphene's eye and offer a warm smile. I'll try to set the tone for the better soon, I bet that'll help her feel more comfortable!
Thalasou flinches when Tiber stabs one of the people. "What are you doing?" he asks urgently but then sees that nothing happens. "Oh. Just wax?" He continues to feel the magical energy in the room until he pinpoints that it is coming from a wig.
"Well, that wig there seems to be magical. I don't know how or what though. Maybe Lady Delena can figure it out."
"Well, let me see what else might be in the room," Pavo says, moving cautiously into the room.
He looks over his shoulder and glances at the halfling butler, "Tiber, watch my back?"
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"Yes, I see it. Just a moment", Delena says and concentrates on the wig.
She starts grinning mischievously. "Oh, this is a fun one," she says and walks over to take the wig. She places it on her head, and suddenly changes to resemble the grand prince, with exaggerated features. "I am so scared of women, I will kill them all and everyone who interacts with them. Then Taldor will be finally pure!" she snarls in a mocking imitation.
She changes to a blonde woman in a pink dress, looking very much like a typical family-respecting noble teenager. "Not that powerful magic, and it cannot by itself replicate accurately a specific person. Useful nevertheless especially for unsuspecting people, or for hiding", she explains. She whirls around, admiring her blonde hair and pink dress. "I could have so much fun with this! Anyone else want to try?"
Thalasou chuckles nervously. It doesn't seem right to make fun of the prince but it is kind of funny. When Lady Delena's image changes to the blonde woman his demeanor brightens. "I've heard of things like that. It could be fun for a party." At Delena's offer to try the wig, he waves it away -- mostly because he can't think of how he would want the image to appear. "No. I'll save it for a later time."
Tiber gives Pavo a nod and keeps a tactical amount of space between them, his weapons at the ready. With nothing leaping out to murder them, he relaxes. "Alright, I'll choose."
"Let's form up on that door," he says, pointing to the Western door. "I'll open her up and then cover you again while we search together, yeah?" he offers to Pavo. Once everyone is sorted, he pushes the next door open.
Pavo moves the glowing lanterns so that they hover over Tiber's head.
"Sure," he says, following the lights. "But if the path leads further away, I would recommend clearing the rooms behind us. Just in case something dark starts trailing after us."
He glances at Imistos.
"Go on. With this pace, we don't need many more doors to have all of Taldor's nobility here with us", Delena comments dryly.
She pats her viper, that seems now inappropriate for her look. "Maybe we'll find a snake wig, and you could change to something pink, too?" she says to it.
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Intricate banners hang motionless against a wooden pillar in the center of this room. Wooden racks line the south and west walls, each bearing up a unique banner of its own. Two additional banner racks lie on the floor in the northeastern corner of the room, their flags pulled away and inked with dozens of circles. Two doors exit this room, one to the east and the other to the north.
Tiber stands in the doorway and looks about the room. Not seeing any immediate threats, he cautiously steps in and gives way to Pavo's lead. Part way through their patrol, something clicks in his head. "Those circles. The ones carved into the wax guy on the floor? There was a pattern to it, nothing I'd seen before in any sort of schooled artist's work, but intentionally placed regardless," he shares loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Once the pair reaches the western side of the room, out of sight of the eastern door, he puts a hand on Pavo's shoulder.
"You notice something about Imistos or something? You've been awfully untrusting of him. Can't blame you, but figured it was worth asking about," he whispers.
________
Pavo follows Tiber into the room, bringing the lights with them. He arches his eyebrow as he looks at the strange configuration of the banners racks and ink marks on the banners on the floor.
"Delena? Did you ever figure out what the purpose of all these circles is?" he asks through the doorway.
He jumps when Tiber touches his shoulder, his blade reflexively moving toward a defensive position before he relaxes. "Hmm? He is obviously hiding something. I'm just not sure what. What butler walks around with a dueling blade? In the Senate Building? I am reasonably certain he's feigning his fear," the bard answers quietly, looking over his shoulder to see if the halfling might have snuck up behind him.
Move: Move dancing lights
Move: Move 25 ft
Full Round (next round): Search
Thalasou follows Tiber and Pavo into the room. He looks around carefully and reaches out with his senses to detect any magic but doesn't feel anything out of the ordinary.
The ink circles mean nothing to him but he looks at the bizarre situation with a little trepidation. "This all just seems very strange," he says to no one in particular. He is surprised by Delena's cavalier attitude at finding more nobles. How can she not be worried?
"The reason behind them? No. But there is clearly a lot of thought behind them. Maybe it would be easier to follow if they followed conventional rules, these markings are not standard. Seem to be invented at the spot. It is sort of impressive to develop the method and calculation at the same time", Delena answers to Pavo.
She casts again her detection spell. "No magic on them, nor anywhere else in the room."
Cast Detect Magic
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After a couple minutes, Pavo and Tiber return to the eastern door and give the okay for everyone to enter safely.
"You think there is some sort of meaning to these?" Thalasou asks Delena in reference to the ink markings. "I would guess so too but I have no recollection of what it is."
Thalasou steps cautiously around the central pillar and circles towards the north door. He keeps a sharp lookout for anything more unusual. "I guess we should keep going."
"Agreed. Second verse, same as the first!" Tiber says, easing the northern door open with his shield raised and ready. If nothing concerning occurs, he steps in and waits for Pavo's entry.
Pavo moves the lanterns to the huntsman's shoulder.
"This would be so much more fun if it was a living nobleman's manner and we were not worried about ghosts leaping out of the walls to tear out our throats," he comments. "And, of course, we would know how to get back to the street if we had to flee."