”Very well.” The cleric begins to prattle on about the sacrifice—right up until the point that you dominate him.
Once her newly charmed priest has dismissed his ice devil allies Imperia directs Sethic to lie down on the stone and go to sleep. Then the sacrifice is performed with a minimum of fuss.
That done, Imperia has only one thing on her mind - getting back to civilisation as fast as possible. All of her companions, allies and dominated minions are canvassed to see what they can offer to this noblest of causes.
You drive a dagger into Parsduke Sethic’s heart as he lies on the sacrificial altar at the heart of the grove. Once the deathblow is dealt to the sacrificial victim, the altar stone seems to greedily absorb the victim’s blood, and a pentagram burning with hellfire erupts from the ground, centered on the sacrificial slab. A rime of ice quickly encases the victim’s body as a gust of icy wind blasts outward with a howling shriek. Everybody in the grove hears a full, rich voice that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once: “It is done. The pact is renewed.”
The priest casts a word of recall to teleport you to the temple of Asmodeus in Egorian! Now you must decide what to do with your three thrills as you await the queen’s summons.
The decision is relatively straight forward for thrall one and two. The (soon to be former, no doubt) Duke and the priest are both instructed to stay quietly in a small room at the Lawgiver's rest and to cause no trouble. Imperia checks in on them occasionally just to be sure.
Her other minion causes some more trouble. Kaesal is absolutely pretty enough to attract Imperia's interest and the same part of her that despises anyone attempting to control her delights in the idea of sculpting the reclamation knight into her own personal toy. That project would require no small amount of time, and probably the permission of the Queen however - and having two imperial traitors under her mental control is a tricky situation at best so Imperia dispatches Zara with a formally worded missive at once and then spends some time dividing her thoughts between the Queen and the rather delectable half-elf who she retains by her side for the time being.
She commands Kaesal to speak truthfully and then questions her gently about her family, her past, beliefs and path to joining the Reclamation. The half-elf turns out, perhaps unsurprisingly, to be rather chatty and Imperia soon extracts the information she needs and lets the melodious voice wash over her as her mind wanders.
It doesn't wander far - to burgundy lips and alabastar skin upon a throne. Imperia is honest enough to herself to admit that she's fallen for Queen Abrogail. Her long-term fascination with the Queen had begun young when people often compared Imperia to the then Princess and, as Imperia grew and found her tastes trending more and more towards the sapphic so her fascination grew in turn. Meeting the queen however had matched everything she had ever imagined.
"Would you give me a massage dear?" She asks idly, "Start at the shoulders, nice and gentle." As Kaesal sets to work Imperia motions for her to keep talking and relaxes once more - her thoughts drawn back to the throne room and the power that radiated from the beautiful woman on the throne. That power was just as intoxicating as Abrogail herself and Imperia allows herself a few idle moments imagining what it would be like to sit on the throne - Empress of Cheliax. Then she shakes her head and dispels the thought, but something Lavisvia said lingers in her mind and makes her lips curve upwards into a smile. Perhaps those lessons on the language of flowers might be worthwhile after-all...
You learn that Lasida Kaesal is both honorable and idealistic. She grew up in Westcrown, where she lived under the dangers of the shadow curse that gripped that city up until a few years ago. Inspired by the adventurers that liberated her home, she vowed to do good in the world, and joined the Glorious Reclamation to do just that.
Zara returns with word from the palace regarding the traitors you have exposed. The queen will take the opportunity to confiscate the Melesiva lands and kill all members of the former’s duke’s traitorous house that she can apprehend. She also plans to execute the duke in a very public excruciation. As a reward for your part in uncovering the traitor, the queen will grant you a small castle formerly held by the Melesivas in the Halikarnassos Hills in the archduchy of Longmarch. Of course, before you can truly claim the castle, you’ll have to aid Thrune in finally defeating the Glorious Reclamation, as well as defeat the surviving members of House Melesiva who will have holed up in the keep.
As for the treacherous priest, Luthon Malix, there are few repercussions. Grand High Priestess Aspexia Rugatonn renews the church’s pledge of loyalty to Thrune, claiming that Malix was acting on behalf of a splinter faction within the church. Although Queen Abrogail rebukes the church for not uncovering the treachery earlier, she can ill afford to lose the church’s support during this time of chaos, and so lets the matter drop—for now, at least.
Your idle daydreams buoy your spirit as you await the queen’s summons. You need not wait long, as the next morning, you are again summoned to the Imperial Palace for an audience with Queen Abrogail before the entire court in the queen’s throne room. You are hailed as a hero when you arrive, as Queen Abrogail has made sure to spread word of your success as propaganda that Hell favors Cheliax and that Asmodeus has agreed to aid in crushing the rebellion that has thrown the edges of the nation into chaos.
After the proper respects have been paid, the queen addresses the court.
“The priests of Asmodeus teach us that Hell is the eternal flame that truly guides all paths to power. Today, these devoted subjects have ensured that Hell’s fires still blaze in favor of Cheliax. Behold, one and all, what true dedication to queen and empire can accomplish.
“I, Abrogail the Second of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, by the Might of Asmodeus, Queen and Empress of Cheliax, hereby decree that these loyal and trusted agents be welcomed into the ranks of the Bound, to share in the glory of House Thrune and the empire of Cheliax. You have already sworn your bodies and minds to us; now your souls shall be promised to Asmodeus. In return, let the powers of the damned be opened to you, so that you can use such gifts to further our will!”
A contract devil emerges from the shadows behind the queen’s throne, holding a bundle of scrolls. “Now it is just a matter of the paperwork,” the devil states...
Darkness: The recipient gains the see in darkness universal monster ability and the ability to detach his shadow once per day and animate it as a greater shadow (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 245). The shadow’s alignment matches that of the recipient, and it follows the recipient’s orders and can communicate intelligibly with the recipient. The shadow cannot be turned or commanded, and it cannot create spawn. The shadow remains for up to 1 hour or until slain or dismissed by the recipient.
Devil Hide: The recipient’s skin grows tough and scaly, granting him a +4 natural armor bonus or increasing his existing natural armor bonus by 4.
Fiendish: The recipient is infused with hellish vigor, gaining darkvision 60 feet, cold resistance 15, fire resistance 15, and DR 10/good. In addition, once per day as a swift action the recipient can smite good, adding his Charisma bonus (if any) to attack rolls and adding his character level to all damage rolls against good foes.
The smite good effect remains until the target of the smite is dead or the recipient rests.
Fire: The recipient can cast the following spells as spell-like abilities (the caster level for this ability is equal to the recipient’s character level): at will—burning hands, 3/day—fireball, 1/day—flame strike.
Pride: The recipient gains a +2 inherent bonus to one ability score.
Slavery: The recipient can summon an enslaved fiend once per day as per the summon universal monster ability with a 100% chance of success (the caster level for this ability is equal to the recipient’s character level). The type of fiend summoned is determined by the recipient’s alignment: lawful evil—bone devil (Bestiary 74); neutral evil—leukodaemon (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 68), or chaotic evil—vrock (Bestiary 69). Summoned creatures automatically return whence they came after 1 hour. A nonevil character gains no benefit from this boon.
Trickery: The recipient can use the following spells as spell-like abilities (the caster level for this ability is equal to the recipient’s character level): at will— vanishAPG, 3/day—displacement, 1/day—mirage arcana.
Tyranny: The recipient can use the following spells as spell-like abilities (the caster level for this ability is equal to the recipient’s character level): at will— command, 3/day—suggestion, 1/day—hold monster.
Imperia goes before the court in full court dress this time - there is no need to present a face, by now hers is well known in Egorian, as is her efficiency and dedication to the queen. One this she does do, which is perhaps unusual is that she choose to decorate herself with flowers rather than jewels - presenting a remarkably spring-like figure at court, which causes quite some murmuring amongst the more conservative red and black dressed figures.
She kneels before the queen and speaks in a loud voice. "As my Queen wishes, so it shall be. My mind, body and soul are yours." Her declaration triggers a round of applause from the crowd which serves to mask the sniggers and sneers that are circulating.
"Provincial fool." One heavily rouged dowager whispers to another. "She needs to fire her florist - everyone wears the language of flowers when they're young but you have to get the messages right at least! Heliotropes? Ridiculous. Devotion is well enough, but Eternal Love, how silly! She needed violets, the fool!"
"Still, she's quite the effective agent or so I hear." Her conversation partner responds. "She's the one responsible for the end of House Melesiva, the Duke marched right up to the throne and confessed everything! Still, she doesn't understand true subtlety." She peers shortsighted through a pair of pince-nez. "I see... speedwell. Well I suppose feminine fidelity is an appropriate enough message to wear before your queen but... dear me! Red Tulips and Roses! Dear me! Watch who she goes to after the Queen - the girl's declaring love for someone! Passionate love at that!"
"She seemed very friendly with Archcountess Vasarion." The first woman responds. "Perhaps she plans hopes to emulate her! Ensnare a husband and climb the ranks. The Archcountess probably has quite a few tricks to pass on!"
There is a considerable amount more ill-natured gossip throughout the throne room, but all held at little more than a whisper - it wouldn't do to express the wrong opinion and earn a permanent place in the throne room among the statues...
Imperia reads the Infernal Contract swiftly - the whole thing is couched in far too much legalese to be digested in less than months, but the substance can be picked out fairly quickly. Once she has done so she signs her name with a flourish, adding a neat sigil next to the listed boon she wishes to accept. That done, the devil vanishes in the obligatory puff of brimstone and Imperia kneels before her sovereign once more.
When Abrogail extends a hand to be kissed by the newest member of her Bound, Imperia presses her lips to the white skin gently and then nips, very lightly. Her lips leave behind an image briefly on the Queen's skin - a rose and a tulip, both red. Imperia waits a moment longer than necessary, catching Abrogail's eye just long enough to show her intent before curtsying and retreating as a good courtier should.
The message of your outfit is not lost on the queen, either. You catch her eyeing you up and down as you sign thr contract. Once the devil returns to Hell, Queen Abrogail rises from her throne. ”And now, a kiss to seal the compact.”
She brushes her lips over Jordanna’s in a chaste display, but she places her hands on your cheeks and pulls you toward her as she delivers a kiss full of passion and hunger. The crowd murmurs in surprise as her tongue brushes against yours, and when she pulls away, she smirks. ”You will return to the palace at midnight tonight for a private audience,” the queen whispers, soft enough that only you can hear it.
The ritual ends to the sounds of cheers and applause from the assembled court in honor of the newly minted Bound Agents. The queen snaps her fingers, and her guards bring forth a chest full of gold and platinum as a further reward.
Imperia reciprocates with pleasure and then sinks into a low curtsy, which just happens to give the queen a good view of the neckline of her dress, which is not improper, but is distinctly low. Once dismissed she leaves the throne room immediately, giving the dowagers something else to whisper about.
--------------------------------
That night she returns to the palace, dressed in a long dark cloak with a hood and a glamor, just in case prying eyes are watching or waiting...
An imp appears before you and puts a finger to its lips before gesturing for you to follow it. It leads you through various secret doors and passages until you find youself emerging into the queen's sumptuous bedchambers. The walls are decorated with Abrogail's personal favorite paintings--you spot the one that Demibaron Kavalderic gifted her among them. Silk curtains frame a ridiculously comfortable-looking four poster bed.
Abrogail reclines on a cushioned divan, clad in a lacy red negligee and little else aside from the Crown of Infernal Majesty. The legendary royal regalia of the Infernal Majestrix is an engraved and filigreed silver diadem fashioned with three tines rising from the front of the circlet, the central one of which bears the encircled cross emblem of Cheliax.
"I've been waiting for you," the queen purrs.
Imperia gives Abrogail a smile full of promise and desire and then teasingly removes her cloak, letting the garment pool around her feet and revealing her outfit for the night. It appears that her sense of humor is strong as she's come in a lace corset, tied at the front with white ribbons. It rises to a lace choker around her throat and flares out to a very short skirt. She twirls slowly for her appreciative audience and reveals tiny feathered wings attached to her back. White gloves, stockings and small heels complete the outfit.
With Abrogail's complete attention on her Imperia saunters forwards until she is in front of the queen and then reaches out with one gloves hand to tilt the queen's chin upwards.
"I've come to be corrupted." She whispers, inching closer to Abrogail's ruby lips until she presses against them in a fierce kiss.
Abrogail returns the kiss, her hands roaming over your body. With a sudden lunge, she pulls you down to the couch and rolls so that she is on top of you, pinning you down. "Naughty girl! Truly, your angelic visage hides a wicked heart. I am your queen. You belong to me, mind, body, and soul. You will do what I command. Do you understand?"
She leans forward, her hair tickling the tops of your breasts, as she teasingly licks at your neck. "I know you. You always like to be the one in control. How does it feel to know that you cannot control me?"
"Such confidence." Imperia replies with a cheeky grin. "I do like that in a woman!" She lets out a pleased sigh as Abrogail finds the sensitive spot on the side of her neck. "And power. I do like that... very much!"
She submits to the queens ministrations, making no effort to hide her enjoyment until Abrogail is hovering over her lips again. "I can't control you." Imperia whispers, looking at her queen through lidded eyes. "But one day your majesty, I promise to make you beg for me."
"Do not make a promise you cannot keep, Imperia Tanessen," the queen says. Her hand slips down between your thighs and her fingers begin to work a magic of their own. "Tonight, you beg for me."
And beg Imperia does.
It's remarkably refreshing to let her guard down and simply be, and although she does return the favor, with enthusiasm and skill there is no clash of wills tonight. Only pleasure.
After a lengthy exchange of mutual pleasures, you and the queen find yourselves snuggled up under the luxurious silk sheets of her bed. She idly traces a finger across your back.
"What is it you hope to gain from me, Imperia?" she asks. "Do you see me as a stepping stone for your ambitions? A gateway to greater power? Or do you seek something more...substantial?"
Imperia actually snuggles, which is not a pleasure she normally allows herself. "I want what my queen desires." She replies, pressing languid kisses into Abrogail's neck.
Then she levers herself up onto one elbow to look at Abrogail properly when the queen appears to want a serious conversation.
"You are beautiful Abrogail and you are powerful. What more could I look for in a woman?" She smiles slightly. "I am one of your Bound Agents - I have more power, more wealth and more influence than I have ever had before and more, likely, than I could ever have hoped for through marriage or the games of politics."
She traces one finger up and down the queen's chest, slow teasing circles. "For any true chelaxian you are the gateway to greater power - there is no power greater than yours and I have no desire to join the church. All those rules and regulations..." Her fingers home in on Abrogail's breast and play gently with the nipple on top. "If you were King Inferexus then I would give you what you wanted in exchange for your power but you are not."
She leans over to kiss the Empress of Cheliax but this is a gentle embrace. "I can think of no woman I would rather wear red tulips for than you Abrogail. If you want something... substantial then I will gladly be yours. If you will be mine."
There's a lot that she leaves unspoken - the dangers of being tied to someone as powerful as a Thrune, the fact that her birth - while noble - is obscure enough that the Queen would derive no value from an alliance. For now though that is not important - she is in bed with a beautiful woman. That can be enough.
"It is early days yet. Our relationship--both personal and professional--is just beginning. And there is much that demands my attention these days, with the Glorious Reclamation running rampant through my lands. But if you continue to prove your worth, I will entertain the notion. Truly, I have had no consorts with as much...potential as you, my dear," Abrogail replies, eyes half-closed as you kiss and caress her.
Taking the Queen's words as encouragement Imperia slides on top of Abrogail and then proceeds to work her way slowly down the queen's body, intent on demonstrating her 'potential' as clearly as possible.
The queen enjoys your ministrations for another hour or so, before summarily dismissing you from her chambers. "You will await my next summons," she insists, though the parting kiss she gives you makes it clear you likely won't be waiting long.
"As my queen commands." Imperia replies, blowing her lover a kiss as she retreats down the hall. "I'll have to find a new outfit for next time."
----------------------------------
Now in possession of a truly immense fortune Imperia invests most of it in a book, the famed "Il Principe" reknowned the world over as the greatest tome on leadership and deception ever penned by the hand of mortals. The reason it costs so much is that she finds a rare first edition, the magical nature of the authors work still intact within it.
She takes a long time over the book, drawing it out for a week - partly because the book itself is fascinating and to skim it would do Machiavelli a great disservice, partly because she knows the magic takes time to work, and partly because there are... other calls on her time.
Training Kaesal is a slow and careful process. Imperia takes the half-elf shopping, listens to her talk and even sits down to play music with her. Neither of them are particularly good but it all serves a vital part in shifting Kaesal's opinion of Imperia, even subconsciously. Instead of renewing the domination effect Imperia deliberately lets it lapse, although she replaces it with charm spells, cast every few hours, to ensure that her new pet doesn't suddenly regrow its old claws. It is slow work but the combination of magical compulsion and genuine kindness has a cascading effect that Imperia understands on an almost intuitive level, building on and reinforcing each other. Kaesal is not conquered yet but she is coming, more and more, to see Imperia as her true friend and protector - not Iomedae.
Even more enjoyable than working with Kaesal however are the royal summons that Imperia receives. The Queen waits two days before summoning her, a rather obvious ploy to establish the dynamic of the relationship. This is rather spoilt however by the summons on three consecutive nights following and on the third night Imperia has to slip away of her own accord, with Abrogail asleep in her silken sheets with a contented smile on her face. There is something of a competition brewing between the lovers over their attire, with Abrogail flaunting her body in beautiful nightgowns and negligees of all kinds and Imperia attempting to match her with all the shopping resources of Egorian at her disposal. The unspoken contest merely adds spice however and Imperia spends a fair amount of time each day plotting what she might wear or commission the next time she receives a note sealed with the golden wax of Abrogail's personal seal.
All in all, a thoroughly pleasant week. Were it not for the constant propaganda informing the people of Cheliax's repeated victories against the insurgents of the Rebellion it would be easy, and pleasant, to forget that there is a war on.
25 Arodus, 4715 AR
By the week’s end, dire news has reached Egorian. While you have been caught up in your “contest” with Queen Abrogail, the Glorious Reclamation achieved its greatest victory yet in the struggle against House Thrune: the conquest of Cheliax’s former capital—Westcrown, the City of Twilight. In response to this bold strike, Cheliax is forced to reexamine its entire strategy. It has now become clear that the Glorious Reclamation is not confined to the Sirmium Plains and the east, but House Thrune is hesitant to maneuver its forces away from what has been the primary theater of the conflict, fearing another unexpected attack, this time from the direction of Isger and Citadel Dinyar. Likewise, Chelish naval strength remains concentrated in Corentyn and Ostenso, as House Thrune is unwilling to leave the country’s major ports undefended against Rahadoum or Andoran, who might seek to take advantage of the chaos in Cheliax to undermine Chelish naval superiority in the Inner Sea.
Abrogail takes you into her confidence. She points out that the time of underestimating the enemy’s power and drive is past. No longer is it wise to assume Cheliax will win the day simply out of divine right or tradition. Rather than risk a frontal assault on Westcrown, the queen wants to erode and remove any support the Glorious Reclamation has in terms of resources and encampments spread throughout Cheliax. The task she has in mind for the you is the most important of all of these—she wants you to strike at Citadel Dinyar in Isger, the onetime fortress of the Order of the Godclaw and now the Glorious Reclamation’s base of operations. Defeating the troops there and retaking the citadel will strike a significant blow to the pride and morale of the Iomedaeans, and prevent them from using the fortress as a rallying point once they’re defeated in Cheliax. More importantly, by taking out one of the Glorious Reclamation’s most powerful allies, the gold dragon Parnoneryx, you can ensure the assault to retake Westcrown will have an even greater chance of success.
Furthermore, Queen Abrogail reveals she has another plan for the dragon. Drawing upon the nation’s vast wealth of historical lore, much of it redacted and available only to royal eyes, Abrogail knows of a potent weapon you can create and use against the Glorious Reclamation when the time comes to strike against their forces in Westcrown. This weapon, she explains, is an ancient Kellid device known as a tathlum—a powerful
magical artifact crafted from a severed head that is then used against the allies and friends of the creature whose head was used in its creation. In this case, Queen Abrogail intends for the you to use Parnoneryx’s head as the core of the tathlum, and in so doing, create an extremely destructive device indeed.
To aid you in preparing for the daunting task of confronting the Glorious Reclamation in their own (stolen) headquarters, Queen Abrogail introduces you to a nervous-looking young man. This is a Hellknight armiger named Algren Fasth, who escaped Citadel Dinyar when it was first captured. According to Fasth, some of the Order of the Godclaw’s leaders, including its lictor, Resarc Ountor, may still be alive but imprisoned in their own dungeons; rescuing them will give you a significant advantage in the task of retaking the citadel. Armiger Fasth is convinced Lictor Resarc Ountor was captured alive, along with many more of his brothers and sisters. Fasth can confirm a secret entrance to the citadel’s dungeon exists, one you can use to infiltrate Citadel Dinyar from below.
Once you have taken Citadel Dinyar and have defeated the fortress’s most powerful inhabitant, the gold dragon Parnoneryx, Queen Abrogail commands you to immediately set about the creation of the tathlum. The head must be kept fresh for the duration of its creation, and since it may take several days or even weeks for you to complete the ritual steps, Queen Abrogail provides them with a vial of unguent of timelessnes.
When you are ready to depart, the queen will use greater teleport to send you directly to the secret postern gate. ”I trust nobody but you to perform this task for me, Imperia. I know you will not disappoint me. I will anxiously await news of your success.” The queen pulls you into a passionate embrace.
Imperia accepts her mission with all seriousness, well aware of just how perilous the situation is and how important her work is going to be. She interrogates the armiger thoroughly for the layout of the citadel and other useful information before rapidly making preparations - summoning Jordanna and Zara from their various works and ensuring Kaesal's continued good behaviour with another application of Dominate Person. She tells the magus to obey Lavasvia Vasarion as she would Imperia, and confirms with the Archcountess that she will watch over the magus until Imperia returns.
Returning to the palace and completing her preparations away from prying eyes Imperia returns the queens embrace with equal passion. "I will not fail you, your Highness." She says firmly, before leaning in to whisper in the Queen's ear. "I'll come back to you soon Abrogail"
Then the world blurs and refigures itself into a small postern gate and a towering keep. Imperia fixes Jordanna with a stare that would quell a dragon. "Not a word about it." She says firmly. "We have work to do."
Jordanna smirks. ”Whatever would I say?” she says smugly, rubbing her engorged belly.
Citadel Dinyar is a relatively new construction, built soon after the Order of the Godclaw abandoned its first stronghold, the Leaden Cathedral in Mendev, in 4665 AR. Following the recent defeat of the Hellknights, the Glorious Reclamation now rules the citadel, and its members are working to repurpose the fortress’s chambers to their own needs and ends.
Built of polished stone reinforced by bands of fire- blackened iron, Citadel Dinyar sprawls across a pair of plateaus that straddle a treacherous, rapid-filled tributary of the River Keld called the Akramis River, near a raging cascade known as Arremer Falls. Citadel Dinyar is both a monastery and a fortress—its five lofty steeples (each dedicated to one of the five deities that form the Godclaw) and expansive cloisters serve as a spiritual monument, while the bulk of the citadel is heavily fortified and few would mistake its function as a military stronghold. Citadel Dinyar is actually two separate keeps (Bastion Fanaticus to the south and Bastion Devotio to the north), with foot access between the two granted by a bridge that arches over the river between three of the castle’s towers.
The former Hellknight stronghold teems with activity. Recruits come and go, knights arrive before their final deployment into Cheliax, and powerful allies of the Glorious Reclamation meet to discuss the war effort against the Thrune government.
A pair of cunningly hidden 2-inch-thick iron doors, painted and sculpted to appear as part of the bottom of a cliff wall at the base of a ravine north of Citadel Dinyar, serves as the fortress’s exit for its escape tunnel.
The tunnel eventually leads into a musty room where a chained cerberi stands guard. It sniffs the air and growls as you pass, but your invisibility lets you slip past without harm. A secret door opens into a storeroom full of crates and barrels. From there, you enter an empty cistern and an unoccupied quartermasters office.
Two sturdy tables encircled by chairs adorn the next rectangular chamber. A set of double doors looms to the west, while to the south, a closed iron gate cordons off a third door.
An elven woman stands guard by the gate, along with three Glorious Reclamation knights.
Imperia dismisses her spell of invisibility and then checks her glamor - which is currently dressing her in an almost perfect copy of Kaesal's Glorious Reclamation armor.
"Stay here unless you hear a fight break out." She says quietly before looking around the corner and focusing on the leader.
A subtle shift in the elven woman’s bearing indicates she belongs to you now!
With everything going according to plan Imperia marches around the corner and walks straight up to the mage to whisper in her ear.
"New orders!" She snaps to the guards before leaning in to deliver them. "Send your men away on a job outside the citadel."
The mage turns stiffly towards her men. ”You’re needed on patrol outside the citadel. You are dismissed.”
The knights look at each other before narrowing their eyes at you. ”Identify yourself, Knight Banneret. Who is your commanding officer?”
"Knight Banneret Lasida Kaesal" Imperia replies firmly. "I've just been transferred here as aide-de-camp to Knight Commander Phand after service in the Barrow Wood. I'm here doing my job sirs, just like you."
”I see. Well, I hope you’re prepared to work. Commander Phand runs a tight operation here,” the knight says. He salutes before the three depart, leaving you alone with the elf.
Imperia returns the salute and waits for the knights to depart before turning to the elf.
"Please discharge each of your prepared spells as quietly as you possible can and without targeting anyone, starting with the most powerful." She commands. Once the mage has done so Imperia has her hand over her spellbook, although she is allowed to keep her wands and the other obvious accouterments of her profession.
"Now, take me to the hellknight commander." Imperia orders. "And tell me your name and rank."
”I am Caraniel Greenleaf. I am a mercenary with no official rank. I signed on to help the Glorious Reclamation after my adventuring party was captured and slaughtered by Thrune inquisitors,” the elf says flatly.
She unlocks the gate and leads you past the stockades where no less than 24 Hellknights of the Godclaw languish. The lictor is being held in a torture chamber. Lictor Resarc Ountor wears manacles on his wrists and ankles to restrict his movement in the room, with a stout chain between his wrist manacles attaching to the center of the northern wall. This keeps him from reaching any of the torture equipment or other tools pushed to the far walls that he could use to either escape or commit suicide.
Resarc looks up listlessly as you enter.
"Wait by the door and do not let anyone enter." Imperia commands Greenleaf, and by extension Jordanna and Imperia. She meanwhile snaps her fingers to get Resarc's attention and shows him her mark of Thrune.
"Listen to me Commander, I have been sent by her Infernal Majestrix to ride this citadel of the reclamation. Tell me swiftly, how do I achieve this? What do your men need to fight?"
The lictor’s eyes widen, but before he can warn you, an elegantly armored azata appears, his eyes radiating divine light and his noble blade crackling with power. ”Treachery!” he shouts, attempting to paralyze you.
Imperia feels her limbs freeze up, but that doesn't prevent her from casting in turn.
A purely mental tug sends Greenleaf outside calling "She needs help! Inside! Quickly!"
The azata is overcome by grief for only twelve seconds, but that is enough time for you to break out of your paralysis and for your companions to rush to your rescue. After a brief skirmish the azata lies dead on the floor, before he could teleport away to warn the commander!
”Thank you. Now get me out of here!” Lictor Ountor pleads, rattling his chains.
Imperia gestures to Jordanna to get the lictor out - breaking things being more her purview.
"Now, what can you tell me?" She asks sharply. "The disguise will hold as long as I can move without the alarm being raised. I need information Lictor, now!"
Lictor Ountor nods as Jordanna dismantles his bindings. "I'll tell you what I know. Most of my more powerful subordinates perished during the assault on Citadel Dinyar; of the order’s higher ranks, only myself and Paravicar Dominita Clara survived the final disastrous defense of the citadel. She intended to use the citadel’s hidden summoning chambers to conjure infernal allies to bolster the fortress, but I heard no word from her after she entered those chambers alone. Her conjuration may have gone wrong—if you can find out what happened, her plan may be salvageable." He tells you where to find the hidden chambers she went into.
"One of the Glorious Reclamation’s knights banneret, a paladin named Jelena Asteren, has very nearly succumbed to my own silver tongue. She was once in charge of scheduling the stockade guards and the feeding of the prisoners, but when Knight Commander Phand grew suspicious of her wavering faith, he had her removed from this duty. If you can find her and convince her to abandon the Glorious Reclamation as a route to free her son’s soul from Hell, she may be able to provide valuable aid in undermining the entire crusade, not just the agents found here in Citadel Dinyar. I'm convinced that Jelena is close, and that she may already have fallen far enough from grace to have lost her paladinhood—but until you can convince her to make the final decision to pledge her soul to Hell in return for the release of her son from damnation, she’ll be of no use to us." He tells you where to find her as well.
The Lictor also tells you where the keep's armory is, as well as his office, which contains a hidden cache the Glorious Reclamation may not have found yet.
"I am eager to reclaim Citadel Dinyar, but not if doing so means losing many more of my Hellknights. But if you can arm and armor us, defeat some of the enemy's champions, and investigate Dominita's summoning, then we will rise up by your side and fight."
Imperia nods in acknowledgement of both the man's scruples and his worries. "Good. The Shield Maralictor will stay here with you in case someone comes to check on you - we will return when we can."
She glances at Zara to make sure the Hellknight understands her role, waits for Jordanna to disappear from sight once more and then departs, heading for the summoning chambers with Greenleaf in tow. Whenever they pass other knights she puts her head near Greenleafs so that they appear to be in deep conversation.
A magnificent clockwork pattern is inlays the floor of this round chamber. Several grooves once allowed the clockwork’s many pieces to shift within a circle, creating stars, moons, braziers, and other arcane symbols and patterns, but the device seems to have been tinkered with in several places, its pieces pried up or missing.
To open the secret door, the clockwork circle must be manipulated through a complex sequence that mimics the drawing of a magic summoning circle to conjure a devil. Unfortunately, several key pieces of the clockwork circle are missing. The device is beyond Jordanna's ability to repair. You'll have to either find the missing parts or use magic to try to access the hidden chambers by another means.
Imperia says something impolite and then makes tracks for the armory instead. If the Hellknights can be armed then they should at least be able to help.
"We need to keep an eye out for pieces of the circle as well!" She says to empty air where she thinks Jordanna is.
You head upstairs and into a watchpost in Bastion Fanaticus. Numerous shuttered arrow slits line the walls of this circular chamber. A single chain hangs from the center of the ceiling, affixed to a large pulley attached to a lever on the floor. To the south looms a mass of machinery: the chains and gears of an immense winch and pulley system that controls the keep's drawbridge.
You head up further, to the top of the Spire of Asmodeus. You then cross the bridge over the Akramis River to the Spire of Abadar, then descend to another guard post. Scorch marks on the walls and gouges in the floor testify to a tremendous battle having taken place here in the recent past.
A stone golem in the shape of a gold dragon stand guard here, but since you are disguised as a Glorious Reclamation soldier, it ignores you.
The stairs here lead down to the armory. Jordanna picks the lock and you look inside. Dozens of swords and suits of armor are on display here. However, a powerful archon stands guard. This massive humanoid figure has no mouth, and carries a burning sword that matches its flaming wings. You'll have to deal with it if you want to claim the items here!
The archon spots Jordanna despite her invisibility, readying its blade to attack!
It calls down a column of holy fire on her!
Imperia gapes quite convincingly and hurries behind the archon. "Trickery!" She cries. "Destroy it in Iomedae's name!"
Then once she's behind it she casts Hideous Laughter.
The archon finds your words incredibly amusing, and though it has no mouth, it falls to the floor, rolling about with silent laughter! It does this until Jordanna slaughters it with her spear. "In the Mother's name," she growls, spitting on the corpse.
There is more than enough gear her to outfit all of the Hellknights. In addition, the armory contains something else of note—the one Hellknight treasure the Glorious Reclamation was not able to destroy. These are the Godclaw gauntlets, a minor artifact created during the early days of the Order of the Godclaw’s involvement in the crusade against the Worldwound. The gauntlets sit on a stand at the northern end of the room, and the once-potent magical traps that protected them have long since been disarmed or dispelled. No doubt the lictor will want these back as well!
The process of transporting the armor is arduous and slow, leaving Imperia chafing at the delay but it is, finally, accomplished and she leaves the Hellknights arming themselves and heads for Ountor's office.
Fortunately, getting to the lictor's office is relatively easy. From the first guardpost above the dungeons, you head through a secret passage that leads to the room. This large, ornate room looks to serve several purposes— office, personal lounge, and bedroom, with freestanding screens capable of separating portions of the room. The furniture within is exotic and of exceptional quality, and includes two beds, three footlockers, a large armoire, a basin for washing, a chamber pot, and a bookcase.
A cleverly hidden cache beneath the floorboards near one of the beds conceals a stash of emergency supplies consisting of four potions of cure serious wounds, four potions of lesser restoration, and a jar of restorative ointment.
The castellan's quarters where Jelena Asteren is staying is just next door, if you want to pay her a visit.
Since she is nearby Imperia collects the cache and goes next door to visit the, hopefully, fallen Paladin.
A large, four-poster bed draped in thick blankets rests against the chamber’s western wall. A cozy rug and velvet chair make this otherwise barren chamber seem warm.
A sullen middle-aged woman sits on the bed--Jelena Asteren. She bristles when you enter. "What do you want?" she demands irritably.
"I wanted to commiserate you about your son." Imperia says, approaching the whole issue differently. "It's terrible what happened to him. I can't imagine losing one of my brothers like that. I think I'd do almost anything to get them back!"
Jelena scowls and looks away. "It isn't right. Jesper was brave and kind. Those Hellknights sacrificed his soul to Hell in a ritual that ultimately amounted to nothing! His soul was damned for nothing! And Commander Phand says Iomedae doesn't have the power to bring him back? If a goddess doesn't have the power, then who does?" Her tone is bitter to the extreme.