|
"Wonderful, I will head to the Market. Vetrivides should be expecting you. Contact me if you find something useful. We can discuss a meeting place then, if needed. Best of luck, my lovelies." Zarta slings her pack over her shoulder and stealthily disappears down the nearest alley.
------------------------------------
This mountainous stone structure known as the Fallen Fastness pierces the burning skies of Dis like a jagged thorn. A battalion of fiends monitors all visitors entering its hundred-foot-tall iron doors, while inside a legion of diabolic scholars moves through a maze of iron-chained shelves. Tomes silently beckon to prospective readers and promise infernal secrets, while bottled souls peer longingly or fearfully at passersby. Hundreds of floors stretch up from the atrium, and beneath the smoky obsidian floor, countless imps and other fiends toil over a scroll that spirals downward for miles.
Searching for Vetrivides, you find the bony devil on the 66th floor, moving in unsettling lurches as he paces outside a set of brass double-doors. He stares at you dubiously. “The servants of Draleen? Where is your mistress, mortals? I should kill you where you stand for this insult.”
Peering menacingly at you, you feel a deepening fear grasp at your resolve.
|
|
===================
Vina stares at the knowledge center of Hell in disbelief, awed by the sheer size and unimaginable number of devils involved in the operation. She suddenly understands that even the mightiest of devils are not omniscient, and that the true power behind Hell is its support structure. She is yanked out of her musings by the offending sight of Vetrivides, and feels the unnatural fear intrusion trying to unbalance her active consciousness.
|
|
With only the stalwart dwarf turning to flee, Vetrivides looks rather... disappointed.
“Ugh. You will suffice in this difficult moment. Rejoice in your adequacy.” The osyluth’s stinger settles and the devil rises to their full nine feet, claws clasped behind their back, echoing memories of a dozen venture-captain lectures.
“Phistophilus Leventi stands on the cusp of promotion, with only a final review remaining. My analysis into his work is part of that review, and I have found troubling indications of resources improperly allocated and also of clumsily executed language in his contracts. I am currently stationed here and unable to continue my work, however. You creatures will act as my agents in exchange for certain seized contraband, per my bargain with your mistress.”
The devil gestures toward an ironbound collection of parchment. “Here are my notes, including a list of Leventi’s suspect contracts that warrant further examination. Also, his agents have made several forays to the Ghetto of Outcasts. I have recorded their route as far as my agent followed. Pick up the trail from there to learn more. Also—” They flip musingly through a maze of text before settling a claw on a name. “Yes. Jarluxis. Seek out this other phistophilus here in the Fastness. She has lost several contracts to Leventi and has incentive to demonstrate her competence with a successful investigation of her coworker.”
Closing the book, they refocus their skeletal gaze. “Hasten in your work. When your writ expires, so does your usefulness.” They pause and glare. “Go. Now.”
Realizing that running wild-eyed down a corridor from a lone devil within a building containing literally thousands of them is a bit unwise, Gilgrim eventually returns.
|
|
Vina nods and climbs down Lakadee, heading for the iron chest full of notes. "Vetrivides. Are there private meeting rooms with tables and seats within the Fastness which we can use to peruse these documents? refreshments and food would be useful as well to us mortals, if possible. Can you also assign one of your servants to us to act as guide and messenger, or would that be beyond the parameters of your agreement with Draleen?"
Some of the Pathfinders notice that Vina does not stutter once this time...
|
|
The bone devil's eyes widen in horror at the vanaran, and their words drip with sarcasm. "Do we look like a butler? You have our notes to find Leventi's contracts in the Fastness that may be suspect and that you may look for downstairs. We're not here to make you anything near comfortable, or to get you.. to bring you food monkey-woman. And don't even think of bothering us unless you have something to report."
With that the devil disappears into thin air.
|
|
Vina made sure she got a good whiff of Vetrivides' scent, especially when he got angry. After the bone devil disappeared, Vina grabbed the notes and turned back to the others, asking "So? d-do you w-wish to involve a second devil in this search or l-look at these notes first?"
Vina begins to riffle through the notes, sniffing them occasionally to make sure they were really written by Vetrivides. She tries to find something useful in the notes while her Pathfinder colleagues decide the next move, paying attention to the bone devil's indexing system...
detect magic...
|
Also gain a +2 sacred bonus on initiative checks, Perception, Stealth, and Survival checks while in Hell].
Lastly, when tracking Devils in Hell, we can follow the tracks of such creatures untrained, even if the DC for the task is 11 or higher.
Stairs exhausted Morgoth and he arrived when negotiwations with Vetrivides already started and decided not to interfere.
But finally he steps on the scene and demands Bess to appear as soon as Vina asked for a guide. It was almost obvious how Vetrivides will answer.
Morgoth helmet has a sort of horn or a spike because it made of linnorm crag. Now a small imp finally appeares, sitting on the masters head and holding this spike by one hand, while a scroll - at another.
The imp(ess) wears a devilish belt and a bandolier with potions. She giggles as
finally dropps off Invisibiliy .
Bess, I want you to be our guide here. If you for some reasons not able to - I will find another servant. Try to remember where mortals can rest and eat normal food here around as Vina asked. Meanwhile...
- Morgoth turns his attantion to the party: You've made it well, but... when such devil says Go. Now. there is no more room for questions usually. As for our situation, I'd suggest we visit this Jarluxis, as we're already close to. And familirize with the papers meanwhile. And maybe after this - proceed to the Ghetto of Outcasts?!
(UPD)As the advocate see Vina is looking through papers - he'll take a look as well.
Maybe later, when condition will be more proper. We need bunch of time to read and understand these paers...
|
|
”It’s a real city. I honestly expected a wilderness filled with fire and spikes. But this is just a place where devils live. Why didn’t I know this was a thing? I’ve got an idea, c’mere Morgoth...
Anastasia digs out a scroll of comprehend languages and touches Morgoth. Now fortified with Infernal, she sets out to make a new friend, a true test of her friend-making abilities.
Diplomacy check (adjusted down for CG) to gather information
|
|
Scanning through Vetrivides' notes (which do reek of stale, wet calcium), they are mostly just a list of contracts by name that can be searched in the library vaults within the Fastness. It does indicate a notable "librarian" known as Phlagantres, who is responsible for public requests...
--------------------------
Asking around, you discover (through the aid of a friendly imp who takes far too much interest in Bess) that Jarluxis resides on the 50th floor of the Fastness.
Marching down the stairs to her office, you find the junior contract devil is carefully wording a prospective contract for a mortal, her leg shaking nervously as she searches for the perfect wording - as one does.
Now aware of your presence, Jarluxis speaks softly without looking up. "I am busy, but you can obviously see that. So tell me, who exactly are you and why do you insist on bothering me?"
|
|
"Apologies for bothering you. We are special investigators who have been brought in to look into the contracts and resource allocation practices of one Leventi. He is your co-worker yes? Would you have some time to spare to assist us in gathering information on this subject?"
Vina observe Jarluxis' response intently, gauging her interest.
|
|
As far as fellowfonders introduce themselves and Morgoth evaluates the situation, he says politely.
Greetings, Jarluxis. My colleagues pointed at a reasonable interest. If you are in concern related with mortals behavior, I would be glad to save our time and aid in proper words selection. You see, I am an advocate... Anyway we'd prefer to pay some attention to some Leventi's contracts. And later, of it won't bother you, I'd like to receive your comments about his professionals personality. So, do you have an obstacle here?
|
|
Seeing the group obviously being overtly diplomatic, Jarluxis intially sneers "My time is too important to waste on unpaid labor." But her faces changes noticeably when the group continues to mention Leventi, and begins to think how this investigation might inconvenience him.
"Well, I do know one interesting little tidbit. Leventi’s agents recently transported Gellius Thrune’s imp Tholvinis to Widow’s Cry. It was such a sloppy binding after that poor mortal's death. I mean -come on - anyone unable to control a stupid imp shouldn’t be trusted to command mortals." She snorts, fully expecting you to relate to such a diabolical situation.
Smiling, well... devilishly, she continues.
"Yes. Yes. Consider me all in on this caper. As you can see, I am quite busy. But anything I can do to help... I don't know, analyzing contracts you might find... I would be most willing to help."
She looks behind you at some passing devils in the hall and nods as if to suggest you should probably go.
|
|
Morgoth grins to a phrase about controlling imps and mortals.
It is a pleasure to business with such wise professional. We won't waste your time for now, but return as we find some relevant texture to analyze.
Saying this, Morgoth suggest to step back and discuss further moves with fellow-finders.
I suggested earlier to visit Ghetto of Outcasts, now is the time, agree? And later find this imp of Thrune. We'll definitely return here to Fallen Fasteness once more.
|
|
Reasonable. Gilgrim, Bess. Please, protect me and watch the perimetr without unapropriate moves as I prepare a Sending to Zarta.
Morgoth thinks a bit about the following message, take out a scroll and start's Sending, spending about 11 minutes to do so.
Talked to Vetrivides and Jarluxis. Now going to Ghetto of Outcasts. Later visit Widow's Cry to find Gheliuses imp probably. Join us? Suggestions? News? Morgoth.
|
|
Stan considers for a moment. Before we leave here, I suggest we talk to Phlagantres about finding the contracts Vetrivides mentioned are here and see if we can examine them before we go. That way, if we need to leave them with Jarluxis for analysis, the examination can be done while we investigate elsewhere. Also, the contracts may give us more specifics about where within the Ghetto of Outcasts to look. Do we know if Widow's Cry is another neighborhood, or a location within the Ghetto of Outcasts perhaps? I suspect the more we travel between locations in this miserable place, the longer this will take.
|
|
Stan shrugs As you wish, but Vetrivides mentioned certain clumsily executed language and misallocated resources in Leventi's contracts. I suspect knowing more details about those may help us when we find the imp. Remember, this is a place of rules, and those contracts are the rules Leventi and their associates are bound by.
|
|
"I'm thinking w-we will probably uncover additional clues which may re-require us to visit Phlagantres again down the road... therefore, visiting other locations first and then doing one trip to Phlagantres at the end, right before we report to Vetrivides, m-may end up being the time saver here..."
Vina also guide Lakadee to help them get there sooner...
|
Reasonable. Gilgrim, Bess. Please, protect me and watch the perimetr without unapropriate moves as I prepare a Sending to Zarta.
Happy to be of some use to the group in amongst all the dealings with the devils (literally!), Gilgrim happily takes point and watches Morgoth's back (even if he is a Hellknight).
"Not suren I'm understandin' all that's goin' on. This place just makes my head hurt somethin' fierce. I'm ready and willin' to go where ya need me to."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Morgroth's sending goes off as expected. Within moments, he receives one back.
------------------------------------------
The broken wasteland outside Dis teems with the damned, who scratch out a squalid existence in the shadow of the city’s mountainous walls. Remnants of buildings sit half-broken beneath the glacial advance of the walls, and the agonized moans of the souls imprisoned within the wall harmonize with the more energetic screams of the partially trapped petitioners slowly joining them.
It is not readily evident where you must search here or how you can find those you seek. Morgroth and Vina both get the sense that the locals of this area might be hard to trust, given their innate sense of desperation.
|
|
Upon hearing Zarta's reply via Morgoth, Vina adds a few details to her notes, chuckling to herself somehow.
======================
Once outside the walls of Dis, she assists the group by asking directions to the hapless petitioners.
Soon it becomes hard for Vina's innate empathic senses to ignore the desperation, and after a few encounters, it is too much to bear for the vanara female, and after telling the sapling treant to follow Morgoth, she retreats to the top branches of Lakadee to curl up within her hanging tent, shutting herself to the world, closing her eyes and covering her ears with her hands.
|
|
Gain a +2 sacred bonus on Bluff, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks attempted against Devils, and a +2 sacred bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls made against them.
Also gain a +2 sacred bonus on initiative checks, Perception, Stealth, and Survival checks while in Hell].
Lastly, when tracking Devils in Hell, we can follow the tracks of such creatures untrained, even if the DC for the task is 11 or higher.
Morgoth shares incoming Zarta message with teammates as we move further. Vina has a point, and Morgoth is not the person to bother Zarta and doubt her.
He makes a couple of difficult hell-ish jokes to relax the atmosphere a bit.
Morgoth saying excuse to Stan, pointing that the paladin probably right about visiting another devil-librarian. But plan is the plan.
The advocate takes out one of Pathfinder Chronicles to make sure about right destination. And uses his Cheliax style Wayfinder to help Noke navigating.
|
|
The trail leads to the base of the city walls, just on the outside of Dis. Just a stone's throw ahead of you are three petitioners, their bodies half-crushed under the immense weight of the massive stone walls themselves. Two women (half-elf and tiefling) and a man (human). A broken clasp of Iomedae lays next to the man. They peer at you with forlorn eyes and gaunt faces as they struggle to slowly grasp at the wall that engulfs them.
|
|
Upon hearing Noke speak, Vina peeks out of her hanging tent, tears in her eyes. She climbs down her walking tree, grabbing a waterskin from Lakadee's backpack along the way. Offering some water to the poor souls in silence while Noke gently speaks to them, she hopes that somehow they will be relieved, be it for a few minutes. If they somehow appear relieved or are able to communicate, Vina asks, "Ladies... mister... we are looking for those working for Leventi... he's a Phistophilus from the city... their tracks led here... was there a building or door here before? why are you crushed beneath the walls? what happened?!"