Terex flits into the room a little after the others, taking his time to look around, like it's his first time here (which it is) and he's not so sure about being here (which he's not). Beneath the surface, he keeps in touch with the rest of the group telepathically, helping them silently coordinate their efforts without visibly or audibly communicating. He also keeps on overwatch, so to speak, avoiding getting too involved in anything so he can stay aware of the surroundings.
So Arlo wanders the lower layers of the Great Gambling Hall, going past the checkpoints of the underlayers just on attitude - clearly someone who belongs on these bottom levels.
He makes it to the smaller, danker, rooms of the sublevels. Here, some intuition attracts him to a strange wing of this area, a wing where ghosts gamble with the living for soul gems - these seem to be remnants of otherwise lost souls which can used to resurrect those people. Those lost to love, those intent on revenge, search for the proper gem among the many in play hoping to regain a lover, friend or enemy (the resurrection itself would have to be done). And many wind-up in the soul gems themselves.
It's here, in a medium sized room, surrounded by five masked body guards, that Arlo spies Boreneas, caught in play with an ancient spirit.
Approaching more close, Arlo is spied by the ex-Prime Minister, who turns unexpectedly, "By the Gods, how can it be ... Arlo Brighthammer ...you survived!?@#?" sensing his mood, he says "No, don't" (meaning don't start a fight) "Here, I have almost won Cindera.
As this happens, the rest of party filters in and Boreneas' body guards stand up tensely. The ghostly card dealer declares through bloodless lips, "All fighting will disqualify the hand, sirs" to all concerned.
Rollo waxes and wans from room to room in his search for Boreneas. The dhampir sits at random card tables, playing a hand, or three, before abruptly exiting for yet another.
Ordering delicious delicacies of cedar-smoked salmon, platters of pork tenderloin with Three-Berry Salsa, and ample supplies of Beef tenderloin with veal jus, pickled carrots, roasted carrots, potato puree, carrot puree, truffle oil powder, pea shoot tendrils and roasted bone marrow; the Gambler Gentleman distributes each at the table a portion.
These are the times that are to be frozen in Time; to then spend that Time contemplating their place in It.
The Sage does this performance; until he is standing in the lower layers of the Great Gambling Hall, grinning at his Mark.
Sir Arlo; this is your show.
Gift posts to be just behind the ex-Prime Minister. Her arms by her side but her fists and eyes blazing blue.
Terex practically radiates disgust and rage at this place--gambling pieces of souls? It's all he can do to keep from quivering in anger.
Arlo, what are you going to do if he's genuinely repentant? The paladin can sense Terex's anger is not directed at Boreneas. There's so much wrong here, not just him.
"Finish your hand, Boreneas." Arlo growled. "I waited this long for justice, I can wait a few more hands. In the meantime, I'd like to hear your reasoning for your actions, as I'm sure you had just as much time as I had to dwell on them."
Before they enter, Lucien casts Greater Magic Weapon on his pistol. Once Arlo has located his target, Lucien slips away, casts Invisibility, then floats up to a position near the ceiling, almost directly over Boreneas.
This was the 1st time she had seen her father be really scary, now she understood what her mother meant when she called her dad a force of nature. She was both impressed and scared at the same time. And made a mental vow never to leave her bedroom too untidy after this.
She turned and faced the largest bodyguard, walking over to him/her/it. as she did snuffing out the glowing hands and eyes to again look like nothing more than a small teenage girl. With blond hair [like her dads now] A jacket, boots, pants, and on her back a really large feck-off Blaster.
"How about we be professional about this, a few more hands of cards and a few more few words, and if needs be after that. We can ALL go outside and beat the crud out of each other in a professional and civilized manner."
She offers him/her/it her hand
"Deal?"
The body guards move with a focused, each focusing on one party while being aware of the whole and as the leader makes a soft chittering, you notice these are humanoid-shaped insects, their black armor actually being carapaces... in halting, inhuman common, the leader says, "we protect the little one with our lives, the pod has tasked me with this ..."
These seem to be elite phraints.
Boreneas goes white and continues the game. The dealer who moves slowly very unveiling a card and then Boreneas puts down another... and between cards, Boreneas speaks... "I was fortunate to escape... I had to make some unfortunate deals with some dark force, of course. But I was lucky enough to be able to switch patrons and give my original rescuers the slip. My lord Joven Gondalfos is now financing my efforts to regain the souls of multiple heroes of Žemėia and resurrect them in the halls of the Gondalfos. The Gondalfos are great collectors, aficionados of such things after all. While the heroes remain somewhat captive there, they live again! Perhaps I didn't make the best choices earlier but will you hinder me now?" The game continues ... the result might not be decided for a minute or so. Boreneas has laid down maybe 75,000 gp in jewels and platinum for his bet...
Armaund leans against a pillar, also quite focused...
To the insectoid leader of the bodyguard.
"I fully understand, and I would expect no less. Let's wait and see what happens"
::"Well they seem to know there stuff"::
Rollo quietly leans against a far wall. The dhampir seems to be contemplating something....
Where they the Dark Traders? Perhaps, some information would be a greater boon? Talk, Mr. Boreneas. Everyone knows that dwarves are the epitome of patience.
While I'd rather tear down this whole soul-gambling business and burn the rubble, I have to admit that's not possible here. You don't think you've heard Terex telepathically roar something before. This also complicates things. If we go ahead and kill Boreneas, it would likely make our mission more complicated, since the Gandalfos would probably be angry at us for messing up their disgusting collection.
So... Arlo, if you'd be okay with it... maybe you should make helping us with our mission part of Boreneas's penance? Obviously we wouldn't want to trust him with any information at all about what we actually want, but if we could get information out of him at the very least then that would be something. Honestly, if they're looking for heroes of Žemėia... we might already have a way in.
So the hand gets dealt and Boreneas, first loses most of vast fortune he's staked and then at the last moment wins the soul gem he claims is that of Cindera. After that, he breaks down groveling, from both fear and guilt, promising to do anything to make amends for his past behavior, giving you detailed information on both the Dark Traders and the Gondalfos.
While Arlo deals with Boreneas, Terex takes a closer look at the area around him. <Shimmer>, do you sense any planar oddities here beyond the usual? This whole soul trade thing has to be extra-well hidden to avoid the attention of the gods...
Lucien waits quietly. Without Terex's telepathy, he can't talk to the others without giving away his location.
As the halfling breaks down Gift relaxes.
"It looks like el-cheatoo there just blow his fortune at cards. So if you guys expect payment. It may not coming."
She said to the boss Bodyguard as she walks over the have a closer look at the cards dealer. That hand was a little too specific in taking his cash but letting him win. It looked like a plan of payment with some color.
Rollo just stands there looking handsome. He does allow his eyes to roam about though.
Shimmer is quite fascinated by the planner connections of the underlayer. He had gone virtually to sleep in the normal parts of Syranix given how impermeable they are but here, things are more open, with the ghost-dealer seemingly moving from Limbo and other strange planes - if you'd like to take a trip there, Shimmer would be willing to take you there.. Rollo too can sense range of planner comings and goings...
The bodyguards do an insectoid shrug at Gift's words - "We are paid in advance, as always..."...
Now, looking at the abject figure of Boreneas, Armaund scratches his chin. "It would be best to send you back to the Gondalfos. The problem is how can we trust you. Perhaps we can make use of our friend here"Gestures at the ghost, "and borrow a piece of your soul and return it once your obligations are fulfilled. For someone who has played much with the souls of others, it might be fitting." He looks at the rest of the party. "What say you to the plan" and looks the ghost. "Is it possible?"
Arlo walks up to the cornered halfing, laying a heavy hand on his shoulder, looking at him hard.
"It's a good plan, Armaund." Looking up at the spectral dealer, the dwarf growls, "Do it."
Rollo seems absolutely overjoyed by the idea of making a Horcrux!
I have only read of such things. Bad reputation, Horcrux' do have. All because of some mad wizard, who had an unhealthy affinity for snakes.
Gift looks over at rollo,
::"Souls are odd things to understand, as a Mecha and not Orga. You would think I would not have one. But my mother said that I do. She said she crafted one from a little of Arlo's soul and her own souls. So would that make me a Horcrux?"::
Rollo looks at Gift.
Nope; you are considered a miracle, my dear.
Terex's shock comes across clearly. Wait, you're actually using this soul-chopping thing? I know he's a terrible person who's done terrible things, but surely that doesn't justify doing that to him? the little dragon 'says' to Arlo.
He asks <Shimmer> to wait for a bit, until this situation is resolved, but to watch the 'ghost' in particular if this deal goes through.
Lucien nods along with Terex. Then, realizing no one can see his head move, he sends a mental impression of a shudder to the pseudodragon.
"Thanks Me-lord"
Boreneas seems resigned to this plan when Armaund describes it... "I will do this if you require it, I understand there may be no other way you can trust me. I have become quite pitiful. I understand I do evil but cannot stop myself so you must do so.."
The ghostly dealer, a calm voice of the sepulcher, describes his process... "Our terms of trade are souls and gold. Normally, we purchase these pieces of a soul but we would be happy to divide a will soul for others as well, for the appropriate gold..."
The Sage nods his head in agreement to this plan. He holds no pity for the Dark Trader slave.
So, after some discussion in the party, the operation is carried out by the ghost croupier as the insect body guards look on impassively. So, for 20K gp, you have in your possession a piece of the soul of ex-prime minister Boreneas - like Boreneas, it is a bit slimy.
So, Boreneas will return to the Gondalfo Manor, acting as your willing or unwilling agent and in the meantime gives you a detailed report on the manor and the strange "inner level" of Syranix.
The party then returns to the surface and studies the maps and details. The next day, while this is happening, Rospail Gondalfo's servant Germond appears at the door and asks to enlist the party's help in a visit to the Eastern cliffs (he mentions that eventually Rospail will call for them but it may be a while since she unpredictable). This trip is more mundane. He seeks some sort of buried item.
A two hour walk leads to the deserted part of the cliffs Germond seeks.
The rest of the group can feel Terex's anger at participating in what he feels is an entirely immoral process. But he says nothing. When the group leaves, he says nothing but I'll catch up later to the others, while he finds another quiet corner in the Underhall.
He directs his thoughts to <Shimmer>. Did you 'see' anything when the dealer did that soul business? I'm ready to jump over and see what this looks like on other planes.
********
Terex is sulky and silent (to the rest of the party) the rest of that day and into tomorrow. He still comes with the group when they go with Germond.
Rollo leaves the details to Arlo, since this is his show.
The dhampir receives the courier from Rospail Gondalfo with a catered lunch before replying in the affirmative.
Once the cliff are in easy sight, the Sage will cast his usual Buffs, including Named Bullet for Gift.
Rollo notices nothing but sand, wind, and a sweet looking bird....
Arlo feels the resentment radiating off of Terex, as the dwarven hero pockets the piece of Boreneas's soul, but keeps that knowledge to himself. The dwarf also fails to meet GIFT's searching eyes deliberately.
=====
Arlo sends out his thoughts to the group thanks to the pseudodragon's telepathic link.
Carefully. Quietly. Look up at the cliff edge above. Looks like some type of gargoyles. I see 4. Not sure if they noticed our notice yet.
They walk through the city and Gift takes in the sights and sounds.
She was after all just a few weeks old. Her mother had given her knowledge too much she felt at times. Yes, she knew what, hotdog was, how it was made, what types the matter distribution even. But to test one, arrr the experience and joy of it. So she took in the sights and sounds off the city. She was riding Spider, which she did a lot now when out.
As a 5 foot nothing school girl, people tended not to respect her, not like they did her dad. He walked down the street, a Dwarven demi-god in golden armor, glowing with an aura of power and divinity. And wow did they get out the way, but for Gift, it was not until she had hit someone about the head a few times did they start to respect her. And by then it was a little too late. But when she was sat on top of 8 tones of mecha that also had razor-sharp teeth and claws. The path in front cleared real fast. As they walked she lost herself in thinking of what they had done to the halfling and how upset her dad had been. His new look and new.. resolve, that was it, dad seems more focused than before. It was cool and all he was a demi-god, but before he had always seemed a little sad. She kind of worried about what mother would think about his new look. But if anything mum was excepting. And bossy of may was she ever bossy... She lost her thoughts his how her mother would never let her do anything and how her mother would have a fit if she knew what she and dad had been up to. Then she spotted a clothing shop that had cool painted jackets and she off getting one.
As they got to the cliffs Spider seems to slow, then stop looking around with its scanners.
"Something amiss here Spider?"
Then as her father's message came she tapped spiders head and it pointed at the direction Arlo had indicated.
But it was having problems getting a lock.
Gift jumped off as Spider stopped moving, its paintwork shifting to match the ground.
Gift tapped the screen set into the saddle of Spiders back.
The thing was glitching.
::"I'm not getting a stable reading, Blue any chance you can do a fly-by unseen?"::
With Arlo's warning, Germond and the party are able to duck under a ledge and observe the creatures flying above without being observed themselves - (they appear to be larger and powerful than conventional gargoyles but perhaps otherwise ordinary). They seem to be guarding a steep stone staircase going up the cliffs. Quietly, Germond explaint that this is the staircase he seeks to take, leading to an item buried halfway up the cliff.
Gift joins the others,
::"Sorry Spider is having problems so put him in standby mode, What's the plan. We charge em head-on and beat the shenanigans out of them?"::
Rollo glances at Germond as he says "curse Rodermach, trying to thwart me again?".
And, who, pray tell is Rodermach, our good friend?
The Sage then looks up at their destination to calculate distance.
"Hmm, yes, I could do that. As long as they can't see invisible things, and don't have any other abilities to sense the invisible. Shall I?" He says, looking around the others.
Blue, we'll both go first. I'll draw their attention while you take them by surprise and the rest can flip or fly in. Arlo telepathically conferred with the slyph.
As Arlo reveals himself to taunt the Gargoyles and Blue flies invisibly up, two of the monstrosities fly down and attack Arlo while the two others fly in formation, apparently guarding the set of stairs leading up. One of the fliers attacking Arlo actually miscalculates its flight and lands flat on the ground while the other slashes at Arlo for 16 points of damage with a razor sharp claw.
Germond, the half-elf, looks sharply at Rollo - "Rodermach is a rival. Lady Rospail enjoys setting her servants against each other. I seek historical objects to satisfy the Lady's curiosity and others set obstacles in my way. Such is the way of things." Germond also points out his objective to Rollo, a level spot some 400 feet up, next to the stairs.
Arlo draws his holy longsword and attacks the one who flew into the ground.
Rollo decides that the two continuing guarding the stairs need something else to do.
Will Dc 22 Glitterdust, heightened
Gift ported over to Spider as a panel in its side opened up, a gun rack was revealed. She lifted off her Blaster and resting it on his leg, took aim at one in the air.
Terex vanishes from sight and flies slightly off to one side, preparing to get a sneak attack on the diving enemies.
The two monkey-gargoyles flying above blink off the blinding effect and glitter prettily.
Arlo slashes vicious at the creature that slashes him and wounds it severely. Challenged, the two that dived fly up to the others, where the other are already circling, a bit higher, near the near stone stair up (about a 150' up the 80-degree steep cliff). (Attack(s) of opportunity Arlo). Their aim to seems to be to wait for an opportunity to push people off the stairs.
Lucien opens fire on the creature Arlo is attacking, hoping to finish it quickly.