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Kjeta, chief among the prizes from the beast are the set of jet black antlers, 14 points in all. Under the sparse and torn velvet covering, the material seems more like steel than bone, and could possibly be worked as such.
The peryton's eyes are also strange, while alive they shone with an orange red hue but in death they seem to retain some glitter...perhaps magically preserved they could be of use.
The claws, while certainly sharp and nasty, appear to have also been used by the beast to walk about...and show various chips and wear that limits what might be possible with them.
Finally, when gutted you find a set of unfertilized eggs, shells hard as iron.
Once he had a moment, Hrungnir pulled Kjeta aside. ”When ye prepare the prayer to remove this curse from me, think it’d be wise to have one for Lexi too? She’s been acting right strange for some time now. Don’t know if it will do any good, but it can’t hurt.”
Kjeta nods. "That sounds wise. I wonder if Raseri would benefit from one as well, poor girl."
"Raseri, I found a nice spot for a drink and I was hoping we could catch up. Care to join me?"
"Raseri, I found a nice spot for a drink and I was hoping we could catch up. Care to join me?"
Raseri pauses for a moment, not sure if she really wants to, but she finds that she can't say no to Kjeta, especially when she's offering something to drink.
"I would," she answers quietly before following the Alemaiden to the spot she had picked out.
Without missing a beat, Lexi skips over to Yikrugrak and says "So, I hear that you're the champion of a Demon lord. That's neat. Would you like to have a match?"
The roachling clicks its mandibles confusedly "...aren't you supposed to tell me how I've disgraced your honor, or something?" Her voice was alien and distant, like someone talking into a long copper box. Under her simple studded leathers you could tell her body was swollen about the midsection, if you didn't know better you would say she was pregnant with a thousand slimey roach eggs inside there...
Carnadine introduces his new squire to his traveling companions. "I need a banner made of my arms for Scutarius to carry. He suggested that we go visit the Gray Ladies. While they also knit, they an older faction within the court and may have information. Does anyone want to come with us?"
Kjeta takes Raseri to a little bench under a tree, and pours her an Extra Special Bitter. She blesses their ale in the name of the Alemother, and then waits until they've each had a drink before saying anything.
"I know how hard this has been for you. And I know you've had more than your share of bad breaks. I'm still proud to know you, and to think that through all this madness I've made a new friend."
She pauses again, and takes another healthy drink of ale. "I knew the hunt wasn't the right time or place to press you, but I was hoping you'd trust me with the truth--as best you know it--of that double of yours we saw out there. I haven't spoken of it with others, but I saw it, and I know you did too.
"I hope you'll give me a chance to help."
Raseri shudders a bit as she tastes the bitter ale for the first time. It's not that she doesn't enjoy ale, but that she prefers mead. As she hears Kjeta out, she feels her stomach writhing in knots. She had been afraid someone would bring up the double.
"I do not know," Raseri says. "It could be a fey trick. It could be an echo of myself from times I cannot recall. It could be from times yet to come. For all I know, it could have been anything."
Raseri is not lying. She is speaking the truth as she knows it.
She paces about looking you up and down "I saw you, you know...sprung lightly in a climb over the palace walls the other day. The Moonlit King is a hermit who never leaves his tower...it is death to wander toward there without an invitation. A challenge, even when not alighted by lantern dragonettes. Why would you seek a match with me, among all the others? Do you think I am a similar reckless challenge?"
It doesn't take long for Scurtius to secure the proper documents to visit the old but supposedly powerful courtesans called 'Grey Ladies'. Late that night (the night before the scheduled duel) Scurtius leads you up the frosty steps to the Winter Palace. A majestic impassable door of shadow stands at the top, offering no hint of entry.
However, on Scurtius' suggestion, Deimus is asked to perform a certain gesture...and the arcane doors swing open. Apparently, only those of high status can open such doors.
You wish you hadn't.
Inside is another open air courtyard, but rather than humanoids at leisure, you see nothing but bizarre centrally one-eyed and winged dogs...walking upright like cycloptic monsters. Their steel jaws run continuous with rows of steel teeth...and they seem...at play?
The demons notice you quickly however, and run straight towards you.
"Er...easy now, its alright...we're just new...?" Scurtius offers.
Raseri, you fear you are about to be consumed, despite Scurtius' assurances.
Also, something tingles on the back of your neck. A brief glance around reveals a number of hanging prison cages off the palace walls containing corpses of varying decay...some likely 100s of years old. A battery of spears also sports a variety of shriveled severed heads for your viewing pleasure.
Raseri pales as she sees the macabre display. She takes a step back, her shield off of her shoulder and in her hands.
"Are you certain they are friendly," she asks the squire hoping she is not violating some strange rule the fey so love to have.
The Alemaiden smiles at Raseri. She looks so young right now. And yet.. Kjeta shudders. "Thank you for your honesty. I can't pretend to understand all that's happening around you, but I want you to know: sometimes it seems you believe you need to face it alone. You don't. Promise me that you'll let us face it beside you. OK?"
After a pause, she adds, "I am going to pray to the Alemother tonight for the ability to lift curses. With her grace, I'll lift Hrungnir's dwelfish mein. Hrungnir suggested that the Alemaiden might be able to ease whatever has happened to Lexi as well.
"I don't know what manner of burden you bear, but I'm quite happy to pray to the Alemother for your release as well, if you'd like."
After Raseri's reply, Kjeta says, "Well, that's about the end of my ale. Shall we go to meet the Gray Ladies?"
Kjeta's eyes go wide at the sight of the monstrous hounds. Could these beasts possibly react like true hounds? Well...I suppose it can't hurt...
"Good doggie...goooood doggie..."
"Because I've never fought someone with so many arms before. I thought it would be an interesting fight."
"Unless you don't want to, that is."
"I cannot promise what you ask of me, Kjeta," Raseri says sadly. "I only know bits and pieces of myself. From my childhood in the Northlands to my waking near Zobeck seven years ago, I only recall fleeting glimpses. How can I ask others to face a danger I do not even know? How can I ask you to lift a curse, when perhaps it is the curse that keeps me from being a monster."
Tears well up in Raseri's eyes as she huddles over the mug in her hands. "I-I burned them, Kjeta. My parents, my siblings, everyone I knew, I burned them all to cinders. I killed them," she sobs, not able to keep from reliving the horrific memories.
"Scutarius, please lead the way. Introduce us if appropriate. It feels like we are intruding." Carnadine tightens his grip on his shield strap. He doesn't know which battlefield this will be: one of blood or words.
The oversized brownie watched the “dogs” warily. He didn’t have his weapon out, but he was more than prepared to use it.
He certainly did not want to be caught unaware in an environment such as this.
Deimus doesn't swallow hard, but only because his gearforged body can't. Otherwise, there's a high-pitched whistling sound coming from his breast plate.
"Tzk. I'm in no real shape for a fight. I thought we were meeting courtesans, not fighting... what would you call these?"
And he takes a step backward to remove himself from view behind the door frame he's just opened.
"Well unless they have orders to attack..." at the word 'attack' they seem to go crazy, tumbling over each other in groups and drooling a mysterious black substance, some with wings taking flight in playful loop-de-loops "...woah! woah! woah! Its fffine! Down! Heel!" Scurtius bends his waist back so one of the snuffling things misses slamming into his crotch "...Psoglavs, if I may address sir's companion...a step up from the Monoliths in the palace defenses..."
You manage to cross the yard in such fashion and finally get behind an ornate oaken gate reinforced with cold iron. The psoglavs yipper a bit more then finally lose interest.
Entering into the Winter Palace proper, you are struck by a timeless beauty of form and function. The walls, ceiling, and floor all seem carved of some transparent crystal that reflects colors you've never experienced before in nature. Various gold and mithral artistic accomplishments line the halls, and the sound of choir echoes through the air.
Almost immediately opposite the entrance is the Grey Ladies Parlor chamber (). Scurtius handles the formal introductions and verifications deftly as you look about. The room is well lit with gentle yellow light; two lantern dragonettes seem to watch the knitting of the elderly ladies of the court carefully. Two white-haired men work an enormous loom together, the shuttle flying so fast it cannot be seen. The threads of the tapestry they are creating seem to sing a song of power, strengthening the sense of potent magic in the air. Flakes of shadowstuff drip from the loom.
In addition to the men, ladies in dresses and shawls of soft gray mouse fur are sitting on tall chairs, knitting long, complicated...nets? Veils? It's difficult to tell.
She pauses for a few moments, trying to gauge your sincerity "I must say your lack of pomp is refreshing. Very well, to the Circle."
No initiative is rolled.
Attacks are made by both duelists simultaneously.
Normal attack bonuses are used, but only dex/nat armor/magic prot for armor. No shields or armor.
A roll of raw 1 or fail opponent AC by 5 or more allows a free attack from opponent.
Otherwise, a minimum of 3 attacks are made by both duelists.
Most successes wins, and ties are possible.
Damage/Healing/Resolution:
Damage inflicted is normal. During 'dueling season' hp lost in duels can only regenerate at 1+con mod hp per day. So a 16 con fighter for example would only recoup 4 hp per day.
Cheating:
You can try to cheat by taking 2 attacks instead of 1.
If both attacks miss, the cheat attempt is not detected.
If one or both hit, its a contest: the low roll of the two is the 'cheating roll'. If opponents pp+5 exceeds the cheating roll, its detected.
Cheater gets -1 status and duel ends.
Deimus stays very close to Hrungnir as they cross through the psoglavs. He is taken by the magnificent decorations and fails to notice anything but them and their canine demons.
Raseri looks around as she enters, unsure of what to make of this place. She notes the loom and sees the old ladies of the court knitting. She wants to ask about the tapestry, but this is Carnadine's show for the moment. She'll wait until his business is through.
The duel was quick, and the supposed champion of the demon lord was clean and efficient. Lexi deftly swapped her dagger hand to hand building up to the first strike, but Yikrugrak kept one of her short swords tracking each hand until the final strike. With a backhanded slash, a line of red searing with acid was opened on the Shadow's tricep.
Lexi came on again with a gamble of a move, going for the inside of her thigh with an upward thrust. The roachling was aware of that opening however, and had trained an effective counterattack against that exact maneuver here on these very grounds. A pair of perpendicular slashes struck Lexi across the stomach, a burning red cross.
But while the roachling was quick, Lexi was already beginning to understand the algorithm behind the strange creature's movements...it wasn't wholly different from other combat routines she had encountered, just sequenced in a different order. So it was with her own out of normal sequence footwork that Lexi won a final blow despite losing the match.
The crowd ate it up. Yikrugrak inspected her wounds briefly "You fight well. Under a different Moon you may have bested me." she bows.
Scurtius finishes off his introductions of the party, this time not making any mistakes. One of the women, who are still quite beautiful despite their age returns "So, what is it you have walked into our parlor seeking, young knight? You seek to further your prestige?"
Lexi bows as well.
The knight captain incorporeal approaches the Grey Ladies with polite confidence. "Good evening, ladies. I humbly apologize for disturbing you. Please allow me to introduce myself and my companions and then explain our interruption of your evening. I am Knight Captain Incorporeal, Carnadine of Bruvik. This is Hrungnir, Master of Runes. Raseri, a Thorsdottir. Kjeta, an Alemaiden. Lexi, a Shadow. And Deimus, a brave Master of Crafts"
"Along the way from Zobeck in Midgard, we were accosted several times by the Master-of- Roads, Haylcaster Montylgrue of House Roren. At the last time, surrender was neither asked nor offered, and he perished. When we arrived at the Shadow Court, we unveiled a piece of art to commemorate Failycaster of House Ruin. Zaeri Montylgrue, 3rd retainer of House Roren, took offense and challenged my honor to meet on the tournament grounds tomorrow."
"Needing a squire of the court, I was introduced to Scutarius Thornwalker of House Rivenwood by Master Eracen, the Court Musician. See his banner staff only has his family arms. So, we need a banner of my arms for the challenge tomorrow. I was told you may know a way to produce a banner in time."
When his name is mentioned, Deimus gives the Ladies a polite bow.
Taken aback by the knight’s eloquence, Hrungnir stood mutely, barely registering his name being mentioned.
She gives a brief look that appears humble but at the same time is a bit predatory "We are pleased you have come to us. Give us a portion of your courage and your strength, thirteen threads from one of your heads. We shall weave it into the loom, and your prestige among the court will rise like fire in the night -- for you will be numbered with us, the ladies whose weaving gathers shadow and light and makes them into the turning wheel of Fate."
Lexi looks to see what the others think.
Kjeta bows as she's introduced.
If I understand the deal being offered...it's much too generous for any fey I've encountered...
"You make an interesting offer, but pray, tell us more: What does it mean to join hands with the weavers?"
Given Raseri's background, would she know that fey bargains are rarely what they seem on the surface?
Speaking of Ras's background, do any of them have silver eyes?
Kjeta displays the prizes she harvested from the Peyton to her compatriots. ”I’ll be the first to say, I’ve never studied what you can do with this stuff...none of it goes in ale, that’s for sure. Something tells me it could be useful though. Any ideas?
“I wonder if I could actually hatch one of these eggs?”
Kjeta wraps her arms around Raseri when she starts to sob. ”It’s OK. You’re OK. Who knows what fey trick planted memories like that in you...certainly, that’s not the Raseri we know.
“Do you really think that Thor would invest his power in you, if that was who you were?”
Carnadine awaits the answer to the Alemaiden's question.
Her knitting clatters annoyed somewhat, she unravels a knot and reworks it saying "I meant it when I said your status will significantly raise once known to be one among us...yes, it will. We may not look it now, but we have entertained the most prestigious of nobles in our time...and remember a great deal of pillow talk. Believe me, those that have known the Grey Ladies in the past will very much wish to keep you on their good side."
"We ask of only a few minor procurements, certain exotic strands for our weavings. In addition to your banner, those who join us will be well adorned with our crafts...capes, cloaks, slippers, bags...we work true magic."
Is there a roll folks should make to know of uses? Otherwise, this may be something to try to look up in the library. Or maybe Kolya knows…
"I could make something out of all of this. I would need other materials though," Raseri observes when she inspects everything. "We should find someone who can halt the decay of the eyes, though. A wizard should know how."
"Then why take them," she snaps, raw emotion making it impossible to moderate her words. "Why not let me remember them and let me sow chaos and discord wherever I go? Why make me remember now? Why make me remember the Northlands? Why make me forget at all? Why didn't they replace all of my memories instead of making me forget?"