Elanna, who usually cannot stand Triel's rubbish about her Harrow readings, is oddly reassured by the drow's reminder. Her sister will surely listen to that advice. She stays quiet and waits on tenterhooks for the reply not wanting to say anything so as not to incur any further frustrations.
"I think dinner will be ready in a minute or two, why don't we go to the dining room and get seated?" She rose and gave Hope a hand up before Samuel led them to the dining room. It was a good sized space, one that likely once had rugs on the floors, but now it was just bare wood, still well polished, and the reasoning was obvious. Despite the best efforts to keep the floor clean there were eight children there, most of them between the ages of two and ten, with a couple of teenagers. The mess of the younger ones would be more than enough to ruin any carpet in short order.
The children were not at the table yet but rather over in a nearby area of the room that was kept empty of furniture as a makeshift play area. The younger kids were entertaining themselves playing with little toy dragons and giants and their mock battle was coming to a seeming end as "dragons dueled in the air above" the giants and tiny people. Krysta shuddered ever so slightly at the sight as she remembered the fight they were playing out but she let it slide. One of the dragons was much larger than the other and crafted of what looked like a piece of red stone. The other was a much smaller dragon made of a piece of amethyst with a rider on its back. Krysta looked away and said to their guests, please, take a seat while we get the kids to the table."[/b]
Fioralba had intended to go with her, she felt absolutely terrible for causing the woman such embarrassment and the guilt inside of her was pulling her in a direction opposite of what logic suggested. Once Triel brings up the harrow reading, she nods silently to herself and considers it.
"Alright. I won't go, but we need a plan. Multiple individuals are affected and either the perpetrator is hidden among us here in plain sight or has been concealed from us. Does anyone have any idea what they are scheming towards? Do we assume it's the blade?"
From what Brainiac had posted before, I had assumed that dinner was taking place concurrently with our complete disaster of an evening with Viralane.
She looks towards both Moon and Hope. "...would it be safe to take my mask off here?" She tentatively asks.
"I can't imagine we have much else of value that someone would want." Triel replies.
"Perhaps the gauntlets?"
With shaking hands, she reaches up and pulls her hood down, revealing her shock of silvery-white hair. Then she, at last, takes her hawk mask off, revealing her nature in full. Her blazing red eyes dart about, taking in everyone's reactions, and her onyx-coloured skin turns just a bit lighter with anxiety.
When it becomes clear that Fioralba is not willing to go to Viralane, the actress's face takes on a look of aristocratic disdain. "I see how it is. Your so-called friends whisper in your ear, poisoning you against me! I am the one who has your best interests in mind, darling, not them! I am your true friend!"
She stares intently at Fioralba, and the magus feels her will crumbling.
Somehow, with a mighty effort, Fio resists Viralane's charm!
"Whatever this madness is, stop it now! I think you need to cool off." Speaking briefly to the waves, Screaming Moon gestures and a spout of water sprays up, dousing Viralene and pushing her toward the nearest railing.
Screaming Moon follows up the effort by moving up close to Viralene, opposite the railing (or moving to the railing if she was pushed overboard).
Elanna draws her rapier, but stays back, not wanting to make this a bigger deal that it currently seems to be. "So-called friends? Im her damned sister!" She blurts out before taking a few steadying breaths and adding, "Screaming Moon is right, we need to cool off. How about we all just talk about this?"
Viralane cries out as the blast of water shoves her up against the far gunwale of the ship. Screaming Moon moves up to follow her while Elanna tries the diplomatic approach. But the actress scowls angrily, shaking off the moisture dripping from her sodden clothes. "We are past the point of talk. I need to have my curse lifted, and to do that, I need that sword you carry!"
She turns her stare on Screaming Moon before concentrating on a psychic spell, attempting to paralyze him!
Having slipped quietly onto the deck of the ship, Corla suddenly draws a kukri and lunges at Fioralba. The magus narrowly dodges the blade, which glistens with poison. "Give up the sword!" she shouts brazenly.
Krysta watched with interest and her eyes narrowed slightly when she saw Triel's face. She recognized her as a drow but had no problem with her. She'd heard stories of them but she also knew that people were not all the same. "I agree with Hope, Triel, you are pretty."
Some of the older children looked a bit shocked and paled but the reaction of the two adults, and the fact the little children didn't seem to care, made them relax a little. "It doesn't matter what you are Triel, you have helped my Hope and so you will always be welcome here," Krysta said.
Sara came out them and said, "Kim, Jason, I need help bringing out the food." The two oldest kids went to the kitchen and helped Sara bring out platters of food. There was a large ham, a large bowl of salad, and baskets with rolls. Butter was then brought out and dressing for the salad. Sara took a seat next to the smallest children and said, "Time to pray."
Sara bowed her head and asked for Shelyn's blessing on the food they were about to eat and for the new friends that joined them at the table. She offered thanks for the return of Hope to her home and for protection for them all in whatever may come. The actual presence of divinity could be felt as she prayed showing her to be a priestess of the goddess, like her brother, and when she was done she smiled at everyone and said, "Dig in."
With the sudden onset of violence Hope was left trying to figure out what to do. She decided that the sneaky little thieving halfling needed to be dealt with first. Hope pulled in power and then let loose a devastating blast of gravity at the halfling.
Screaming Moon's fey nature surfaces and the magical enchantment slides off of his mind.
"Ask for help and you may receive it, but you will take nothing."
Harnessing his connection to the waves again, Screaming Moon forces his palm out toward the bard but his hand snags on an obstruction as another jet of water shoots harmlessly toward the deck.
Ruby Meadow, seeing that Screaming Moon's further attempt to deal with Viralene was unsuccessful moves in to help, wrapping the bard in her arms and squeezing.
Triel whirls on Corla. "Poor time to make your move. I knew you were both up to something the moment you came aboard."
Still, considering nobody has (yet) escalated things to physical harm (despite a good effort on Corla's part), she reluctantly opts to do the same. Her eyes flash an eerie blue and her hand becomes wreathed in blue ectoplasm as she lunges for the halfling's hand.
"...let's just say that if the wrong people--or my own family--learned who I am or where I am, my life would get much more complicated." She responds to Hope's question.
Still, being complimented on her appearance (by both Hope and her aunt, no less!) gives her a little boost to the ego. A bit of heat rises to her cheeks and and she makes a little, almost awkward smile.
She waits for everyone else to start eating before dining herself. Her manners are nothing short of impeccable--a blend of her own upbringing mixed with the desire to not offend someone whose true form was that of one of the most powerful and regal species on the surface.
Elanna gives up on her very short attempt at diplomacy, especially once Corla attacks her sister.
"You asked for this, b!$$!."
Corla proves to be quite the wily opponent, dodging all of your attacks against her! Ruby Meadow does manage to grapple Viralane, though, crushing the actress in a bear hug.
"Ugh! Unhand me, you brute!" Viralane protests. Fortunately, she is unable to concentrate enough to cast another spell.
Corla slices Fioralba with her poisoned blade, and the magus groans as she starts to weaken and feel woozy.
Triel grabs at the halfling again, her ghoul touch spell still active!
Squeezing tighter, Ruby Meadow simply grins at the bard before toppling over and pinning the woman underneath her.
Quickly grabbing the end of a line coiled on the deck, she prepares to put an end to this fight.
Seeing the bard in hand, Screaming Moon moved behind Fioralba and casts Delay Poison on her.
"Both of you stop this fighting, or we shall have to deal with you more harshly. I suspect one of you may be under the sway of an intelligent artifact. It has abandoned you. Point it out to us and I will attempt to free you from its sway."
Hope saw Viralene get pinned beneath Ruby meadow as the other went to tie the woman up and focused her next strike on Corla. She didn't particularly want to kill the servant but she wasn't going to pull any punches since she hadn't seemed to actually be hurt yet. She gathered in her power and let out a blast like her last one.
Only Krysta, Hope, and their guests were left by then and Krysta said, "You're going to leave us again, aren't you Hope?"
Hope swallowed slightly and nodded her head as she said, "Yes Antie Krysta, I have f..." she hesitated over the word she was trying to say and then managed to get it out, "friends and they need my help. I think Mama would understand." there were tears in her eyes as Hope thought of the few memories of her mother and she said, "She hasn't returned has she?"
Krysta sighed and said, "No Hope, she hasn't. No one has heard from her since she set out with the other Sihedron Heroes to face whatever the looming threat was." The half-elf seemed more than a little sad about it and she said with resignation, "Maybe you will come across something that will help find her in your travels. I hope so."
Krysta rose from her seat and said, "Let me see you out. I need to go check out the catacombs below us anyway to see if there is a sign of the damned thing going active again." Krysta gestured back towards the way they had all come in.
Corla manages to resist the ghoul touch, but Hope's blast knocks her across the ship, blasting her against the far gunwale. The halfling groans and falls to her knees, badly wounded.
As Ruby Meadow pins Viralane beneath her, the redhead grunts. "This is not the finale, but merely an act break! It's time for me to exit, stage left!" There's a puff of bright blue-green smoke, and then Viralane is gone.
Corla gasps in shock. "Viralane!" she cries. Her expression is one of hurt and betrayal. "You promised you would take me with you..."
Rushing over to the fallen halfling, Screaming Moon quickly pats her down for hidden weapons before binding her wounds.
"Start talking. Explain this madness or we will leave you on this island with nothing but a waterskin."
Corla wipes a few tears from her good eye. "I told Elanna and Fioralba about Viralane's curse at the bar in Sandpoint. What I didn't tell them waws that the last time we were in Magnimar, Viralane fell in with a group of cultists. They worship something called the Peacock Spirit. A half-elf woman runs the cult, and she promised to cure Viralane's curse. In exchange, she has to perform a favor for them: secure a magic sword that was recently found in Roderic's Cove. Viralane believed Fioralba has it, though I was never able to find it every time I looked. The woman gave Viralane the power to teleport back to the cult's headquarters through some sort of ritual--but after everything I did for her, how could she just leave me behind?" The halfling shakes her head sadly.
Triel sighs. Somehow, she's not convinced Corla's lying in this instance.
"...I've dealt with her ilk too many times before. To them, anyone considered 'the help' is expendable." She sits down next to Corla.
"How long ago did you meet these... peacock spirit cultists?"
"It was just a couple of weeks ago," Corla says. The timing seems to line up with about the time you first claimed Baraket from the Order of Resplendence.
"And this curse of hers... how long has she been suffering from it?"
"It has been months. Ever since she slept with the wrong person in Egorian, and his vengeful wife placed the curse upon her," Corla replies.
"Hmm..." Triel bows her head in thought.
"I assume that conventional means of curse-breaking have proven fruitless? This must be quite a potent curse indeed, if trained clergy or mages are incapable of removing it."
"Where were these cultists headquartered in Magnimar last time?"
"How typical that a Chelaxian would enter a pact with an evil power.
Why should we care about this curse? Viralene is one of the most despicable people I have met. If she isn't personally being controlled by the artifact of this Peacock Society then she has taken on these attacks of her free will.
She is no different than Mother Nightthrush. If she attacks us again, we should simply end the curse the easy way.
We now at least have information on the next group who may be under the sway of these artifacts. Let's bring this information to the Council and get their advice."
Elanna's face twists into a snarl as Corla reveals the information she left out earlier and goes to bite her head off for it, but Screaming Moon and Triel question the woman thoroughly instead. She supposes its the best thing in the long run, but why they're taking it so calmly, she doesn't know.
"And you....are you telling us you have no involvement whatsoever with her plans or this cult that seems to not care about the life of my sister just this bloody sword?"
"Viralane has attempted to lift the curse many times, and every time, her efforts failed," Corla says. "She spent all the wealth she had accumulated as an actress. She was only able to perform in taverns and street corners. If you let me stay with you instead of marooning me on this island, I can show you where she met with the cult leader in Magnimar."
The halfling winces when Elanna focuses her fury on her. "I have no loyalty to the cult. I only care about my mistress' well-being. I know she has done wrong by you, but I beg you to grant her mercy should you meet her again. Viralane isn't a bad person, she's just...self-absorbed."
As dinner came to an end, he thanked his host and left, still a bit uncomfortable around the apparent woman.
Screaming Moon shook his head at the halfling's folly. "You have your life handed to you, free from this woman's predations, and all you can think of is her well-being? After she abandoned you to suffer the gate she deserves? I wonder if you are under the effects of one of her enchantments. Well, a few days away from her will likely free you, if so."
Dismissing the thief, he turns back to the captain and peers at her. "I suppose you still have an urge to have us get water, yes? That, at least, should wear off after the water is procured. It needs to be done anyways."
He calls over the First Mate and gives some advice. "The bard, Viralene, cast an enchantment upon your captain. I would ignore her orders for now. This type of enchantment generally wears off after the specific conditions have been met, which in this case appear to revolve around getting water. We will accompany the captain and make sure she is safe and recovers properly. Do you have a cart we can use to transport the barrels?"
At the mention of enchantments, Triel looks at Corla to determine if she's under the effect of one.
Corla scowls at Screaming Moon but doesn't reply. Triel doesn't sense that the halfling is under the effects of any enchantments. It seems she is just misguided.
The sailors have been standing around gawking in the wake of Viralane's sudden but inevitable betrayal, but they spring to as "Elbows" Eddi orders them to assist you in gathering the water from the nearby island. Once you return, the lingering suggestion that had been affecting Captain Sursha fades, and she curses. "That no-good fink! If I ever see Viralan Barvasai again, I'll be sure to give her a piece of my mind for laying a whammy on me!"
Afternoon turns to night, and nothing else occurs to delay your travel. By morning, you'll have arrived in the City of Monuments. As you reflect on your recent experiences, you feel more confident and prepared to face the challenges to come.
Tyalee's Whim sails into Magnimar in the early morning, somewhat worse for wear following her scrape with the storm. Captain Sursha chooses the district of Ordellia at the westernmost edge of Magnimar to dock, since it's here her contacts have arranged for discounted docking fees.
The number of ships sailing into and out of the sprawling Varisian city of Magnimar is overwhelming. As Tyalee's Whim sails past the ancient pilings of the massive bridge known as the Irespan, the signs of rebuilding are everywhere. A few miles off the coast, the desolate island of Xin sticks out of the water like a sore thumb. It rose out of the ocean five years ago after the reunification of the artifact known as the Sihedron, and it took the combined efforts of all of the Sihedron Heroes to prevent the clockwork army contained within from marching forth to conquer Magnimar. Powerful undead and constructs still haunt the place, and most people give it a wide berth.
As soon as the ship ties up at an open dock and her industrious crew focuses on their tasks, Captain Sursha favors you all with a rueful smile. "Well now, that certainly was an... eventful voyage. I'd like to thank you once again for helping us make it here in one piece. You're all welcome to travel aboard Tyalee's Whim any time."
Audrahni stands at the top of the gangplank looking out at the city, but she turns as you approach. "We should head to the Sihedron Council straight away. They are based out of Heidmarch Manor in the Alabaster District on the far side of town. As for the statue of Saint Sazzleru... I don't know if I'm quite ready to visit there yet. Perhaps tomorrow night would be better."
Though the boat ride was pleasant (even if the company was not), Screaming Moon is happy to be back on solid ground. Tsu-la runs around happily, enjoying having room to move again, while Ruby Meadow feels a weight lift off of her shoulders at being more in her element again.
As they finish taking in the docks, they begin to look past them at the massive city laid out before them. None of them has ever been this far south, and the sight of a real city is unsettling.
Tearing his eyes away from the sight, Screaming Moon turns back to Audrahni. "Yes, I believe you are correct. Straight to the Council is best. We need to get the rest of the information out of Corla before moving on to anything else, and the Council house will likely have maps."
Turning to the halfling as she is lead forward, Screaming Moon asks. "So, will you come to testify before the Sihedron Council peacefully, or will we need to bind you?"
Despite her worldly and unimpressed facade, Elanna has to try quite hard to avoid gaping as Tyalee's Whim sails into Magnimar. The monuments, the noise, the people - there's just so much of it all and Elanna feels a maniacal giggle welling up inside her. She clutches Fi's hand tightly to stop herself actually letting the sound out and turns to whisper in her sister's ear.
"Can you believe it? We made it! Now we just have to kill that b!~%@ Viralane and I'll be happy!"
Triel stares at the approaching city with more than a hint of dread. It paled in comparison to Zirnakaynin, but it was still big enough to harbour more than its share of danger.
...it looks like a great place for someone to get lost, whether they mean to or not. It's also a great place for someone to lie in ambush.
You think they're waiting for us here?
Definitely. Assuming Qilué's learned to lie low and Talice can keep her mouth shut for longer than a minute...
"...let's hear what this Sihedron Council has to say and get moving. I don't want to stay out here any longer than we need to."
Hope watched the city of Magnimar come into view and found herself astounded. The city was huge, and she moved to stand next to Elanna and look at the city as they came closer. In that moment Hope forgot about her hesitancy around the other woman who had hurt her so and reached out to try and place one hand over Elanna's as they looked out at the bustling city. She was too distracted to hear any of what Elanna said to Fio.
Krysta seemed concerned about Hope leaving but she was also a big enough person to know she couldn't keep the people that were her horde locked away or they would lose that which made them precious. The only thing worse than losing them was destroying them herself.
Shaking her head and making her long fall of amethyst hair shiver down her back Krysta said, "I need to go below and check on the Ruins of Wrath, if they are active the council needs to know about it." She looked at hope and then back to Screaming Moon and said, "I will send the reports with Hope in the morning."
Krysta stepped away then and twisted her ring. Once more she went through he dramatic transformation from a seemingly exotic looking half-elf into her much larger draconic form. Her voice was a deep chiming sound as the amethyst dragoness said, "Until next we meet." With that she struck the ground with her claws and began to dig. In a matter of moments she had completely disappeared into the ground, the hole sealed up behind her.
Corla agrees to go with you willingly.
The city's sprawling slate rooftops and marble avenues stretch from the foundations of the Irespan to beyond the western banks of the Yondabakari River. A sheer cliff, the Seacleft, cuts through the city's heart, dividing Magnimar into its two major sections: the Summit, upon the cliff's top, and the Shore, below. A third area, the Shadow, lies beneath the Irespan, a place where the sun rarely reaches and the city's failures and corruption hold blatant reign. Hundreds of monuments and statues stand throughout the city, honoring the gods and local heroes, both ancient and current.
Atop the Summit is the Alabaster District, home to Magnimar's richest and most affluent citizens. Aristocrats, guild masters, and anyone rich enough to afford such a lifestyle dwell in the grandiose villas and mansions that line this district's streets, which also house the small armies of support staff each villa requires to maintain its decadence and splendor.
Heidmarch Manor itself, which doubles as Magnimar's Pathfinder Lodge, is bustling with activity. Inside, clerks flurry to and fro, arms full of documents, looks of distracted urgency on their faces. At the back of the entrance room, sitting at a makeshift desk, is a pinch-faced little man with thinning blond hair and a wisp of a mustache. He seems engaged in cross-checking lists, making marks in the margins with a ragged-feathered quill, but immediately looks up as you enter. With a heavy sigh, he sets aside his notes and approaches you.
"Yes, yes, it's obvious you're here for something very important and expect us all to drop everything to attend you. What is it? I don't have time for long stories, so out with it!"
Screaming Moon smiles at the man, understanding the pressure of dealing with the public in such a large city, but can't resist the urge to be cheeky. "No, our information is not that important. We simply are in possession of an artifact of the Runelord of Wrath, Baraket by name. It had taken possession of a scholar up north and we want to deliver this information to the Sihedron Council.
Oh, our research leads us to believe that the Runelords are stirring as well. If the council is interested in that information, we'd like to talk to them. If not, we'll be on our way. We have other things to deal with in Magnimar."
The man seems unimpressed. "Oh, the runelords are rising again, are they? Must be a Toilday. And you've found one of the Alara'hai? I've heard that one before. You wouldn't actually happen to have it with you, would you?"
Shrugging, Screaming Moon pulls out the bag of holding and holds it out to Fioralba.
"Fioralba, please put the gauntlets on and show this functionary Baraket. It seems the only way we will get on with this."
The clerks eyes widen at the sight of the sword, but then they narrow. "Hmph. That could just be a clever replica made of paste and glass... Wait here. I'll inform the mistress of the manor."
He disappears into an adjoining room, and after several minutes he returns with a sour expression on his face. "Lady Heidmarch will see you now. Come along, then, we haven't got all day."
The man escorts you to the manor's reception room: a chamber with a long cherrywood table, several high-backed chairs, and walls decorated with paintings of famous heroes. You recognize portraits of the Sihedron Heroes among these decorations.
Sheila Heidmarch sits at the head of the table and rises as you enter. She lets out a shocked cry when she sees Baraket. "Gods above! That can only be the real Sword of Pride! Welben, you may go." The little man bows and takes his leave.
"Have a seat. I must hear the tale of how you have come into possession of one of the Alara'hai. Please, spare no detail!"
The portrait of Flynras Sweetwater, though placed in the middle of a well lit wall seems to somehow be draped in shadow, obscuring the features of the male halfling somewhat.
The portrait was done in profile and from a slight distance, showing the halfling's full body instead of the typical head and shoulders of a personal portrait. Lace cuffs partially conceal his hand resting on the jeweled ommel of a rapier. He stands with one leg forward, showing off his high boots and tight breeches which are the darkest black you've ever seen. Along with the black, velvet cape draped on his shoulders, they provide contrast to the stark white of his ruffled shirt. The cape itself has a high collar and is held together by a clasp that appears to be of a grinning skull.
His face is powdered, with dark shadow around his eyes and cheekbones giving him a gaunt expression and his hair is pulled over to the side, hanging long at the top and in front of one of his eyes.
After a moment of study, you notice an oddity. Flynras' shadow appears to be waving toward the audience, while the halfling clearly has his hands at his side.
Screaming Moon smiles and bows his head toward Lady Heidmarch, acknowledging her offer of a seat, but remaining standing. After quickly introducing everyone, he enters into the trained cadence of a story-teller.
"Alara'hai. That is not a word we have heard before, but then none of us is a scholar. The story begins like many other stories, with an accident of fate and an angry spirit. Roderic's Cove is the setting, a small, unimpressive fishing community far to the north..."
Screaming Moon begins moving about, punctuating the tale with gestures and pantomime. He describes the agony of the spirit of Sir Roderic, and his despair at leaving such a powerful artifact out where anyone could stumble upon it.
He tells the story of following Roderic's trail to the vault, taking special care to bring attention to the heroic accomplishments of each of the party members and casting himself aptly as a simple observer of history. He describes the vault, and the traps surrounding it. He mentions the broken gateway, and then their quest to track down the missing sword.
He relates the conversations with Corstela and the devil who served her, then the quest to remove the sinspawn who had infected the town.
He calls for the research Mozamer had written to be produced as he continues the tale and describes in vicious detail the evil bard who had attempted to steal the sword on the trip down, painting a picture of the woman that makes her seem more like Mozamer than a beloved performer.
"... as Hope finally subdued the despondent halfling, we learned that Viralene was put up to the act by a group here in Magnimar known as the Peacock Society. How they knew so quickly that we were in posession of the sword is frightening, and adds weight to the notion that the runelords are, in fact, aware of the artifact being used."
heila listens to the tale attentively, refraining from comment at the odd manner in which it is told. "Thank you for bringing this matter to the Sihedron Council. You were right to come to us. I have much more to discuss with you, but I want the other three members of the council to be present for that discussion. I invite you to return to Heidmarch Manor tomorrow morning for this meeting. If you do not have lodgings yet, I'm happy to pay for your accommodations overnight at the Gryphine. It's a comfortable inn, but no ostentatious.
"In the meantime, I believe it would be best to turn over Baraket to the council for safekeeping, and the gauntlets as well. We already have Chellan, the Sword of Greed, under lock and key. We will ensure that both items will not fall into the wrong hands again. You will be well-rewarded for your service, of course."
Triel doesn't listen to the debriefing for the most part--her eyes are focused mainly on the portrait of a long-haired, redheaded young woman with pale viridian scales and deep, serpent-slitted golden eyes. The portrait's subject is dressed in flowing, dark purple robes, with a disk bearing an image of a violet, open palm hanging around her neck. An ugly, jagged scar runs from one side of her neck to the other. The expression on her face looks neutral enough, but the masked drow recognizes it for what it is immediately--the portrait's subject is staring off into a particularly painful memory... perhaps the same one responsible for her throat-scar.
Viridi Sorn, is it? Never seen her like before...
Once the conversation turns towards the containment of Baraket, she shoots a glance over at Fi. To have wielded an artifact that seemed to have been tailored to her fighting style and magic, only to be forced to relinquish it... there was no way in all the Hells she'd allow that.
"...what guarantee do you have that the sword won't be stolen from under your watch?"