"Well done everyone! Let's see if we can keep this going!"
She heads for the steel door with the inverted ruby crown. "Daronlyr the Overthrower. What do you think is on his mind? I advise more caution, this one might be more stubborn."
If everyone agrees she shrugs, knocks three times, then touches the door to open it -- prepared to be teleported to the next soul palace.
"Well done everyone! Let's see if we can keep this going!"
Kort stiffly shakes his head and then nods at Elen, as she is very correct, almost the best kind of correct there is (right next to perfectly correct, or absolutely correct).
"Yes, that's the right door to try next," Kort readies for another mind illusion.
Kamari stows the goggles, renews the shield spell, and takes a moment to see how Carrius is faring.
Kamari eyes Carrius, and he definitely seems more insubstantial. Perhaps what is being lost is just this version of himself. Or perhaps all. You’re on strange ground here, so she can’t be sure.
This polished steel door is inset with an inverted golden crown. A single, teardrop-shaped ruby sits embedded in the crown, like a drop of blood.
No one responds to the brief knocks, so Elen opens the door.
A throne room appears beyond the door, identical to the throne room in the Imperial Palace which the PCs passed through not long ago, but much humbler in stature. The throne room is ornamented, but the mirrored walls are gone and the throne is a smaller, gold-plated chair rather than the magnificent piece it is today. Fur cloaks decorate the throne.
- - -
This mental recreation of the imperial throne room paints itself in longer shadows and deeper reds than the genuine article. Fur cloaks drape over a gilded throne in which a figure slumps, blood still pouring from a wound in his chest, forming a stream that flows through the rest of the room. A tall Taldan man stands beside him, turning to face the room as he places the crown atop his head. Bowing before him are more than a dozen strong Ulfen warriors (image).
Over a thousand years ago, Daronlyr became emperor when he slew his cousin, Parmain V, the reigning grand prince. Guided by equal parts national interest and vanity, Daronlyr had spent years steering the senate to circumvent or blunt his cousin’s inept rule before turning to conspiracy. Finally, Daronlyr visited the court and drew his blade.
The Ulfen Guard sprang to defend the emperor, but Daronlyr fought them off while reciting a litany of his cousin’s failings. When Daronlyr finally ran his blade through his cousin’s chest and took the Primogen Crown, the Ulfen Guard broke off their attack and bowed before him. Daronlyr claimed the crown, and the Ulfen Guard defended him loyally for decades until his eventual death of old age.
The Invincible Emperor, as he was called, smiles and wipes the blood from his blade. “To a learned man, blades are no more threatening than a poorly wielded hickory switch. I command a thousand men, ready to die at my whim. Can your would-be emperor command that devotion? Can you?”
He gestures to the Ulfen warriors arrayed in front of him, and they snap to attention. Though on the map, they wield a variety of weapons, in fact they all have greatswords.
We're not in initiative yet, but do keep it to one round worth of actions.
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Know (History)
"Not sure if this is important, but the style is reminiscent of the throne rooms roughly a thousand years ago. This is the realm of Emperor Daronlyr XII, called the Overthrower, I believe," Kort says stiffly to the party.
"Ah yes, the Ulfen warriors that love 'you' so much, is that correct? Not your coin? Have you no true Taldans who love you? Who guard you? Love bought with coin is not love at all. They love your treasury more than you," Kort retorts to the Invincible Emperor. "I would say that we have true Taldans who we call friends, based on our character and deed. Not what we pay them. In this regard, I'd say we have a lot more devotion than you."
"Up, Underfoot." The hound sprouts her Wings, and rises above the melee threat of greatswords.
Once in position, Muri speaks to the shadow soul. "We spoke to Cyricas and Taldaris, and both understood they needed to release their grip on Carrius. You and your Ulfens, do you only respect violence? Do we have to slay your ghost guards to prove you need to listen to us, and let go?"
Kamari ignores the warriors are stares directly at the shade of Daronlyr.
"You yourself tried to avoid bloodshed through the senate and only resorted to violence in the end. Help us end this without more harm to Taldans."