She laughs silently at the Tiadora, Soon to be our master. Now that is a real joke. There is only one master, which is Tsazgatherax, ruler of the Valignatirnarod kobolds. And of course the nature too. The natural balance to be maintained, as she makes her way to the basement where the the bath is.
Ajikisshochraos gliding down from the ogre's shoulder to walk next to her charge.
She lowers her backpack as the side of the room, along with her weapons. She proceeds to removes her armour, strips down completely, then hops into the large bath tub. She relaxes enjoying the warm water. Ajikisshochraos, also hopping in to swim and play.
Vinnick sighs at the loss of Blackerly, making both a mental and physical note to return and acquire the body some day so as to put it to better use than its current one. Before leaving, Vinnick would shout for grumblejack to carry one of the guards corpses along with them as a favor.
--
A master hmm? Yes, perhaps that is doable. I've been a disciple before, its often quite educational. Ah, grumble could you please bring that body to my room? I would be most appreciative. It will serve our world once more, hopefully in a better way than it did in life. With that vinnick proceeds to his room and performs a long ritual involving purple candles, chanting, green light, and heavy metal undertones.
After 8 hours, He leaves his chambers, accompanied by a skeletal bodyguard to take a quick bath, using magic to heat the water if he must. Before falling asleep, leaving the skeleton on watch duty.
You get a day to rest and the next day Tiadora gathers you all in a large dining room were you get some breakfast and a man joins us. At first you nearly
don't recognizes him but when he speaks you recognize his voice. The dried up husk that you saw before has turned in a normal looking man.
He smiles as you enter.
"I believe you to be the first to ever escape from Branderscar Prison. Well done! Of course, you had a bit of help." he says with a wicked smile.
"But enough with the pleasantries. You must be curious why I’ve helped you. Rest assured this was no random act of altruism. I have brought you here for a reason. My name is...Call me Adrastus Thorn. I am one of the oldest and greatest servants of the one known as the whispering tyrant, Tar-Baphon. My master is currently a prisoner much like we were until recently and I am going to orchestrate his release and then we will burn this nation to the ground and build a new one on top of the ashes. A nation were the strong can rule over the weak. However I cannot do this alone I seek worthy servants that can act as my agents to carry out my plans."
He rises and his eyes flash with hellfire and purpose. "Join me! Serve me well in this great endeavour and I will raise you up in the eyes of gods and men. I will make you Kings and Queens of the new Ustalav that will once again spread across the entire continent. Today, swear fealty to me and to Tar-Baphon! Put aside forgiveness and I shall give you vengeance. Put aside mercy and be made powerful. Put aside peace and become my harbingers of war. What say you? Will you swear your allegiance or will you burn with the rest of the blind fools?”
Cori listens to Adrastus' passionate speech about vengeance, and cannot help but be caught up in the potential for violence and mayhem that could be unleashed against the hypocrites who imprisoned her.
She waits for her companions to speak, but she can barely contain her excitement at the prospect of joining this endeavor.
|
Slid is completely unsure how he feels about this having a master, but he pays close attention to the part where being made powerful and be granted kingdom. Deep down he knows that he will be forever a servant unless he betrays this new master some day, but as a king it will be easier than as the weakling he is now. Maybe he can get in a position where he has enough information about this Tar-Baphon, then switch sides. On the other hand, he is starting to grow fond of the people who helped him escape prison, and for once he doesn't feel completely alone. He would hate to double cross them.
He wants to transmit the idea that he is joining the effort, but "long live Tar-Baphon" may be inappropriate, given that he doesn't know if this entity is a living one. Instead he exclaims "Power to Adrastus Thorn! Power to Tar-Baphon!"
Vinnick stands at the fore front in his black and gold silk robes, beside him stands a fresh skeleton with purple flames in its eye sockets, its body covered in congealed, but not dried, blood. Its lifeless eyes stare straight ahead, its head swiveling only if something comes near Vinnick himself.
old tar baphon... not exactly what I had in mind... but... maybe... If I work for him for a time, eventually a chance will present itself. Besides, I'm sure I'll be allowed to govern my provenance as I see fit, so long as certian rules and proper devotions kept in place... Yes... and under Thorns tutelage, perhaps I could even re obtain that which they robbed of me. Immortality. Besides, they will come to thank me, eventually. They all will, once they understand. A nation, guarded by immortal heros. They will see.
Vinnick raises his chin, a smile on his face and a glint, a small, tiny, glint of pure madness, in his eye.
I accept, I ask only for further knowledge in my arts, and, that when we lord over my homeland, that it be given to me to oversee. So that the fools that feared me, that shunned me, may come to understand. May come to see, and so, come to thank me.
"Excellent, then let us make this official. Signing in blood is traditional. "
He takes out a quill, a dagger and a long roll of some unidentifiable leather and written in dark red ink.
The contract reads.
Behold on this day in the eighth age of this world a perpetual Compact is made between Adrastus Thorn (hereafter the Master) and those who would be bound to him as his servants (hereafter the Bound). Both the Master and the Bound shall hold fast and true to this Compact through all trial and tribulation. By blood and soul the Bound commit to the Compact and swear that it shall never be undone. The Bound shall know and understand the Four Loyalties.
The First Loyalty is to their patron the mighty Tar-Baphon ruler of all. They shall do all that can be done to further his worship and his glory.
The Second Loyalty is to their master – He who is called Adrastus Thorn.
They shall do the Master no harm and obey his every commandment as long as those commandments do not clash with their First Loyalty.
The Third Loyalty is to their companions – the other Bound who serve alongside them. The Bound shall deal with each other fairly and honourably as long as doing so does not clash with their first or second loyalties. All treasure, wealth and reward garnered in their exploits will be equally shared with all of the Bound who aided in its acquisition.
The Fourth Loyalty is to themselves – for Tar-Baphon is the Lord of Ambition and all who serve him should strive to become great and powerful in his service as long as doing so does not clash with their first, second or third loyalties. By their weakness, ye shall know the unworthy.
The Bound swear that they cleave to and uphold the Four Loyalties even in the face of death and damnation. The Master swears that as long as the Four Loyalties are upheld, he shall reward the Bound as they deserve for their deeds. Thus it is written, and thus it shall be. We being of sound mind and free will do so swear and let they who violates this Compact know all the wrath of death unending.
Signed
"You can all sign at the bottom." he says.
Cori cranes her neck to read the terms, but does not step forward to be the first to take the quill, preferring to allow one of the others that distinction.
She gives special consideration to the First Loyalty, as its wording implies worship of Tar-Barphon, which may endanger her ability to draw on the divine power of Calistria.
Stanislav listens to Thorn's words and then studies the contract. Very one sided, but I would expect nothing less. And we all must serve someone. He says as he first picks up the dagger and presses the point into his thumb. Is it a trick of the light or is his blood more black than red? Picking up the quill he signs his full name with a practiced flourish that no soldier should have. But I like the sound of King. I will do what is required to earn such at title. He sucks the wound on his thumb and passes both quill and dagger Cori.
Cori takes a long moment to stare at the parchment. Her expression changing to one of resolution, she pricks her left thumb with the dagger, dips the quill in the welling crimson, and while sucking her left thumb, signs her name to the contract with her right hand. She then licks the blood clean from the quill and the point of the dagger using a bit more tongue than strictly necessary, then hands them to Vinnick.
Vinnick steps up and signs the contract as well.
"Now then Your first command is to prepare yourselves. I will have a mission for you soon and I need you to be ready for it. I will be leaving for three days. Tiadora will lead you to the basement of this domicile. 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 give it to me when I return. You are still being hunted by the local guards so for now you are not to leave the manor. If you require anything from the town Tiadora can teleport to town and take care of it. I have also given her some gold (500 gp for each of you) to use to update your equipment and she can sell anything you recovered from the prison."
Seeing the skeleton suddenly near Vinnick, she draws her scimitar, fully aware that it do little effect against the bone, she shouts, Vinnick, watch out. There is a skeleton near you, as she moves to protect Vinnick.
To her surprise Vinnick steps in between her and the skeleton, as he tells her to calm down, and the skeleton is no threat. Her eyes goes wide at hearing the skeleton is his. She lowers her scimitar and shakes her head, I have really got myself into a fine mess with these prisoners, walking off to the barn think of her situation she finds herself in and possible mean of escaping still alive.
Later when they gather inside, being summoned, she holds Ajikisshochraos against her chest, as a means no keep calm as she watches the rest of her group listen to the undead speaks. As the others signing the contract, she whispers in draconic to Ajikisshochraos, Just keep quiet, and trust me on this. You want to live. Right.
When all have signed, all eyes in the room turns to her, she puts Ajikisshochraos on the chair, before walking up to the table to stand on the chair to have better view of the contract. She pushes the dagger aside, and takes out her trusty sickle, and pricks her thumb. She simply presses her bloody thumb onto the contract. She steps back to return to Ajikisshochraos, to rub her little head with a smile.
"Well then, now that the formalities are out of the way, shall we see what lurks below this old homestead?" Cori asks the rest of the group.
|
|
Slid says "I assume the basement will be filled with terrors and traps... Although direct fighting is not my favorite pass time, I am glad our first ''assignment'' doesn't involve me staying in the sun. I don't think I'll need anything from town for this particular work, but I'll think of something to spend that generous gold."
Stanislav shares his thought on the mission. I expect traps and some hard fights. Maybe some riddles. Expect deception and trickery. Slid, we can help but it will be up to you to handle traps. Glad we found those better tools for you. I bet R'yzzntyg has good perception and my eyes are pretty sharp too, especially in the dark. So we all need to search each door and any boxes and chests, etc. We need to work as a team and play to our strengths. I bet we have no trouble with this. And speaking of working as a team, what do you think about pooling the gold to get a few more useful items for the group?
"My eyes can handle dim light, but not complete darkness," Cori says. "Some sort of light source might be in order, preferably something that won't give out in a bad spot. How much would a magical light source cost?"
"Yeah, loosing an arrow or swinging a sword in pitch black doesn't bode well for anyone I can't see standing nearby. I'm as likely to hit one of you as anything attacking us. I can hold the light and stand near the back, if needs be, and the rest of you can be ahead of me. As long as we can communicate about where we're headed, that shouldn't be a problem."
Don't worry Cori, between Vinnick and I, we can produce light at will, if there is a real need, speaking while standing on the nearby chair to the group.
Think a healing wand is a good idea, for when I can't cast healing any more for the day. Though for now I save for spell and protection enhancing magical items.
Slid's mentioning that healing magic harms him, yet harming damage heals him instead, she ponders on the thought then speaks softly, Oki. I won't heal you then. You... Hmmmm... Not human then?
She turns from Slid to face more of the group, Guess we start once Tiadora is back.
She waves at Tiadora to come closer, I need to replenish my spell components. Which I need to go to the swamp to do some harvesting of ingredients.
Vinnick looks to slid, a glint in his eye. interesting... so are you undead then? No... you seem to... lively for that... you wouldn't happen to be one of... oh, what was the name... Dhamphirs! Yes, one of those would you? If so, I'd love to have your participation in some... experiments. None of them dangerous of course. Though, I suppose that would have to wait... hm. he seems to deflate a bit before moving on to another topic. hmm... Traps, those are accounted for, with Slid. And Reginald here. he taps the skeleton next to him.
combat is more or less covered by sir Stanis and lady Cori, with support by... ryzzi. Which means, I'll fill in the holes. I have a day to prepare huh? Well... some detection spells would likely do wonders in a dungeon, a couple of combat focused maybe? Hm... yes.. my good associates, I will be retiring for the evening to compose my list of required regents. AH!. Tiadora, darling. Could you help me in unlocking this book? It is my belief there are some spells contained within that would aid us in our endeavors.
Tiadora takes a look at the book "A simple ward, I'll remove it." she does a quick motion with her hand "There it's gone."
Vinnick finds he can now open the tome.
The books contains basic lessons on magic and the following spells.
2nd – bull’s strength, flaming sphere, hideous laughter, invisibility, Web
1st – alarm, charm person, expeditious retreat, feather fall, mage
armour, magic missile, mount, shield, sleep, colour spray
0th – all cantrips
How many scrolls were left in the cloak? You pulled out four I think?
When Tiadora returns with her requested purchases, Cori takes a few moments to stow them for ready-use, mainly in her bandolier.
"Never know when one of these little concoctions will get you out of a tight spot," she says to no one in particular. Once everything is stowed, she looks to the others. "I am ready whenever the rest of you are. If it's going to be a while, do you think I could get in another hot bath? It will probably be a long time before I can enjoy one again."
When R'yzztyg approaches Tiadora about going to look for ingredients she gives you a curious look and replies "The master has commanded you not leave the manor as such you cannot go. The contract you signed was a magical blood oath contract from the pits of hell and disobeying a command while under such and oath would... have dire consequences. Tell me what you need and I will get it."
Shrugs her shoulders, and holds out her sickle to Tiadora, Here you go miss, you will need this. So this is what I need you to harvest for me, should find all in the swamp. She runs down her list of items to be collected and ending off with, Now don't loose my sickle while drudging around the swamp.
As she turns to rejoin the group, Can you also buy four alchemist's fire. Here the gold for them., quickly giving Tiadora the sack of coins.
She heads to the group, Think Tiadora will be out for most of the day getting our needed items. I will be in the barn if you looking for me.
In the barn, she sits on some hay, near Grumblejack, reading her book, and translating to draconic for Ajikisshochraos, especially when it came to the illustrations.
Slid explores seeing that the mansion was quite large likely housing as much as a hundred people at one point. The place seems ancient and looks like it was the site of a major battle at some point long ago.
If your all ready we can begin with the first chamber in the basement trials
Cori straps on her armor and weapons, and looks to the others. ”Shall we see what’s lurking below? Anyone have a preference of where to be in the marching order? I’m guessing there will be some narrow spots down there.”
She packs away the book into her backpack when she is requested to join the group. She says to Grumblejack, Guess the time has come to start our training, ending off with a chuckle as she heads out of the barn.
Once inside, she sees Vinnick with his strange looking skeleton. She walks up to the skeleton, speaking, Thought by now the skeleton would be already dry. Not still covered in gooey mess.
She answers Coriandrinne, Middle to back will be fine for me.
Once you are ready tiadora leads you down to a large door in the basement you see an inscription in common above the doorway "The nine lessons"
"This used to be the base of a religious sect of assassins that worshipped Asmodeus, they would use this facility to train their agents. However Adrastus feels like the lessons here are worth learning and that this would be a good test of your skills. Once you enter you are free to leave and come back later, remember your goal is to find the silver amulet the master hid in one of the chambers before the 3 day time limit."
With that said she leaves.
You continue forward and see a door written above the doorway is "Lesson one, “Deception is a tool. Self-deception is death. Deceive always thy enemy but never thyself.”
|
|
Slid looks at the door smirking and says "I might like this after all." He follows it up saying "Careful here. We might encounter many illusion spells." He first examines the door carefully. First poking it from afar with a stick, then getting closer, looking for traps and interacting with it in many ways. Only after checking it thoroughly, does he attempt to open it.
Cori scans the area Slid is examining, looking for any indication of something out of order.
The door itself shows no sign of being trapped. You open it and see a plain empty room. 40 feet by 40 feet with a normal wooden door directly opposite to you.
"Hmmm. So, is the deception that there isn't a trap, but that we're made to think there is one? Or that there is a trap, but it is placed with the thought that we are expecting a trap? Or is right in front of us, waiting for us to blunder right into it? It reminds me of an old story about a Battle of Wits involving two men, two goblets of wine and a dose of deadly poison," Cori mutters.
|
|
Slid tells Cori "The fun thing about deception is that you never know when you're being deceived." Slid takes a step into the room looking at all sides, including up. He throws a coin on the ground and spends some time listening, both to the coin and to the room.
After the coast seems clear, if nothing happens he steps into the room and says "Seems clear, at first glance..."
I suspect the deception is the obvious, which is that door. Look for tracks in the dust on the floor. Lets also look for secret doors. Stanislav says as he enters the room. He stays away from the wall with the door but checks each other wall. You all notice there is a small gem orbiting his head.
Stanislav hands Vinnick a small bundle of scrolls. These are for when we fail to find what we are looking for.
Vinnick glances to the scrolls with a smile. great minds think alike, I made some myself, more so to comb back through this place after we "cleared" it, but have extra incase we need it to progress is s good idea.
Vinnick takes out two of his scrolls as he stows the other four. He mutters an arcane word for each, and each slowly shrivel black before fading away to dust as green and purple energy flow out and around him. The purple energy forms a transparent plate armor etched with numerous symbols and a spike on its shoulder before slowly fading from sight, the green enters his head, causing his eyes to glow with a fiery neon green light.
do remember, if you are unsure of traps, allow Reginald here to go first. He is found of putting himself back together after being destroyed. It takes an hour, but, we have time.
He then sends the skeleton walking around the room while he looks around it.
Assuming you toss the coin at the floor right at the entrance it's hits the ground normally.
The skeleton walks forward about ten feet and the falls trough an Illusionary floor tile (square c4) into a pit.