"Briefly", the towering tiefling smirks. "As a delinquent, I caused a lot of problems for the Good Sheriff and Longacre. So much so that it was on the Archbaron's order that I was shipped down of Egorian and made to learn respect under Asmodean tutelage."
"Excellent. A trouble child is our connection. I'm sure that'll be the lead we want to walk in on." Draco mutters, counting the gold but eyeing the mannequin with a distasteful look. G%*&#&n Asmodeans with all their trickery and strange ways. The nobility was always about the theatrics, it would seem. Pocketing it away, he would heft his sword up once more. "It would be best not to keep the good baron waiting, it would seem. Let me wash the grime and blood off and I'll be ready to go."
Gathering yourselves up you make your way up to the large estate located in the hills above town. Sharp gables and tall, narrow windows lend the archbaron’s manor an abbeylike quality, as though this were more a
place for study and solemnity than leisure and laughter. A motif of rampant stags with antlers bloody from battle repeats among iron rooftop finials and on a crest above the stone entrance. The plce is eerily quiet despite the flurry of activity. Numerous guards, easily outnumbering the meager police force you saw in the town below. Halfling slaves scurry about conducting the business of the day required for the upkeep of the mansion or to satisfy the needs of their masters. A particularly sharply dressed halfling stiff backed and every bit as clean as any courtier in Egorian meets you at the gate.
"Good after noon. Might I inquire to what business you have with the master? MY master is very busy if you require some official word from his lordship might I instead direct you to one of the offices in town that have the authority to act on his behalf in his stead?"
”Do not concern yourself about the urgency of our business, halfling. We bring word of direct agression against representatives of the Archbaron. I would think that any hinderance which would delay the delivery of our report would be severely punished.” Lucien says in a cold tone that does not invite objections. He makes sure his sash with the Archbaron’s seal is clearly visible and takes on an air of supiority befitting a cleric of Asmodeus adressing a mere halfling.
"We have an appointment with The Archbaron, set up by Mr. Razelago. His Lordship wanted to see us before midday", Jerax stated, back straight, looking down at the halfling.
The butler frowns and nods but responds crusply with the same tone, "most unfortunate, but I'm afraid my Lord does not concern himself with banal affairs of justice. Might I instead summon the captain of the guard or perhaps the sheriff?"
As Lucien begins to feel the boil over of every person ever on the phone with their cable company Jerax's interjection cuts the tension.
Bowing slightly the halfling acquiesces to Jerax's charm, Of course. Master Razelago has already informed me of your imminent arrival. I shall take you there immediately. Unless perhaps you would like me to take you to the captain of the guard?"
"Yes. Thank you. I doubt the Archbaron is a patient man." The towering tiefling nods in a courtly manner.
Without further delay the halfling escorts you through the manor. Everywhere are carvings of huntingimages, foxes harried by hounds, stags fleeing before stylized archers, cockatrice cornered and slain by hunters wielding ling spears. It could almost be mistaken for Erastil iconography if it wasnt for the brutalist style of egorian art and the emphasis of the conquest over nature as is common imagery in most rural asmodean temples.
Everything is perfectly orderly here and tastefully serves as reminders to the guest and servant the distinction of the masters status and wealth without stepping into the bounds of the tasteless and gaudy. Everything here seems to serve the maintenance of that order from the vigilant guards keeping careful eye on you to the cleaning slaves following not too close behind mopping up the mud and dirt from the ebony wood flooring in your wake.
Upon the second floor in an office facing out to the south and into the town is the office of the archbaron. Standing with his back turned to you the black and red clad figure of the archbaron is framed in the rainy window by thick velvet curtains. The office is appointed in midnight ebony and crimson satin. Towering bookshelves, glassy-eyed taxidermic creatures, and curtained alcoves line the walls. And the large darkwood desk sits beneath a coat of arms displaying battling, bloodyhorned stags.
The gaunt mans hands are clasped behind his back and without turning the archbaron makes a small gesture with his hand after the butler introduces you. Qith a low bow the halfling says nothing and slips quietly out of the room shutting rhe door behind him with barely an audible click.
At last he speaks in a vlean baritone, "“So you’re the agents Razelago has recommended? I can’t say you’re what I expected, but that might be a boon in the days to come. I am Darellus Fex, Archbaron of Longacre. Razelago tells me you’re the ones who reported our local priestess’s, je pauses and then chuckles mirthlessly as if sharing a private joke before continuing, lack of patriotism. As such, I thought you might be well suited putting an end to the threats to Longacre and the rule of law, my rule. If you’re amenable, of course."
The towering tiefling bows with courtesy toward the Archbaron. "Your Lordship, performing duties through your agent Razelago has been both personally and financially gratifying. So long as your edicts do not counteract my duties as a Knight of Asmodeus, I do not see a need to terminate such an arrangement."
Alessandra doesn't bow just yet, the man stands with his back towards them, after all. With Jerax playing the courtesy card, Alessandra inquires to the task at hand.
"Putting a stop to anarchy is my professional duty, Lord Archbaron. What task have you in mind, that will ensure future stability?"
The man turns rlshowing a gaunt gave framed by well trimmed salt and pepper hair. His perfectly waxed mustache is almost as uncanny as to seem unreal.
"Duty, yes, but I have found relying on the piety of the dark prince's followers alone to be a poor substitute to more substantive forms of incentive. I will offer you one hundred and fifty gold a week each. I am sure you are used to bleeding additional income from the necks of your foes and I will not discourage such habits so long as they are not disruptive to your job. This rate is not open to negotiation but I am willing to discuss details and answer any questions before we get into the meat of what will be required of you."
Draco quietly listens with Rufus at his side, taking in the wealth of their patron while making sure not to show that he was hooked, line and sinker. This was the kind of employer that could support him, his sister, and her kids for the rest of their lives. All it would take is some bloodshed and a bit of persuasion.
"A wise man." Draco says when the Baron gets to the point of offering them coin. A hundred and fifty gold pieces a week would work well to setting him up for quite some time. Longacre wasn't quite the s$~*hole that he was expecting it to be now. "Most of my questions will be when the assignment is detailed. As long as your gold is good, I'm yours."
”As has already been pointed out, obedience to you as our rightful liege and the rule of law is our duty. But payment for services rendered is an equally important part of dutiful service. I also find this arrangement agreeable, and look forward to stamping out the sparks of anarchy before they erupt into full flame.”
Pleased the asmodean cleric spoke up, Jerax follows as well. "I occur with Father Servinus."
"Good, you will have no formal title and you will be qorking directly unser me. Thay should give you the necessary flexibility to what will be expected of you." Fex turns to his desk and shifts some papers around. "This Angel Knight concerns me. The people of Longacre are not generally prone to disobedience and minor issues are usually smoothed over long before I need concern myself. However this incursion represents a diaruption to our good order." Fex looks up his gaze turning cold and hard.
"I would have them revealed and disposed of in the manner most appropriate. Any questions?
Alessandra's faintly biting her lip with one of her canines, in a faint smirk. Anticipation, perhaps?
"Your lordship, would you happen to have a dungeon equipped for, shall we say, 'prolonged interrogation methods'? In the event said Angel Knight could be captured, of course."
"That aside, what is known about this Angel Knight? Do they work alone in rousing the people, or does she have co-conspirators?"
Jerax gives Alessandra a clever wink.
The antipaladin remembers where he is and looks back at the Archbaron, awaiting his opinion.
"The jailhouse and sheriffs office can serve that purpose if you require it. It will be unoccupied for some time I'm afraid." The archbaron says.
"Or just drag the poor bastard to the Ash house. More out of sight that way." Cimri whispers.
The archbaron continues. "Those are the questions I hope you will answer soon enough. We can count the head priestess as an easy collaborator if nothing else. Frustration and resentment will boil out the rest soon enough."
" I suggest we begin by keeping close, cover surveillance on the head priestess and her associates. If they are working with this Angel knight, they are bound to contact them somehow." Lucien muses.
After a moment, he adds:
"Another option could be to provoke a response and flush the Angel Knight out in the open. In my experience, those who claim to fight for the so-called oppressed rarely have the discipline to sit idly by in the face of Asmodean justice. A few public displays of enforcing the new edicts should suffice."
He turns to face his companions.
"What do you all say? Which option is more to your liking?"
The jailhouse and sheriffs office can serve that purpose if you require it. It will be unoccupied for some time I'm afraid.
Alessandra nods. "Very well."
As Lucien poses two options, "Why not some of both. If the first yields no result we can go for the second option."
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"So we're working underneath you but with no actual title of power and enforcement to back it up? I understand our purpose seems to be to rise the hackles of the populace and stir these rebelling forces into more open action but having some level of authority will be good to keep the whole town from burning us down when we do what we must." Draco says, rubbing his chin lightly. Even one of them being found as sheriff and the rest as deputies would allow them some breathing room. One the other hand though.
"If not, are we free to do what must be done for Asmodeus's justice or whatever it is that you want? That'll open up our avenues of...enforcement...by quite a bit."
His eyebrow lifts slightly at the half-orc woman's chewing at her lip in what looked like a bit of excitement. He took the slightest step closer to Cimri, shaking his head lightly.
"I'm always stuck with these religious folk, ain't I?" He thinks. Better start reading the good book, last thing he needs is saying some sacrilegious and then the healing stops in a battle.
"Vagueness of authority puts people off guard. People felt comfortable around Staelish because they understood her limitations. What they do not understand, they cannot strategize against. Additionally I suspect you will require some flexibility in these matters. Should you feel the need to bring the full force of my word to bear you need only inform me and I will give it to you in writing. I only ask that you keep the town and it's people mostly intact. Most will fall back in line once they understand that good order will not be disrupted by foreign disruption."
The Archbaron steps away from his desk and puts his hand on a velvet rope to a curtain hiding one of the alcoves with a pull he reveals an eerie crimson glow that fills the room with the color of blood. Beyond the light a golden stand sits gripping a black crystal smoldering with power “There is one last matter to attend to. Queen Abrogail has decreed that in this time of national crisis, all agents of the crown must reaffirm their loyalty to their lord, House Thrune, and Cheliax by swearing the Hellfire Compact. If you’re to serve in the queen’s name, I must insist.”
The crystal was an unusual, if fascinating object, unlike anything she had seen. Though she vaguely recalls Lady Venici speaking of such a thing.
Their -lord-? Pheh, patron is a better term.
Stepping forward first, Alessandra gives a nod to the Archbaron, and approaches the stone.
"We are to touch it and swear, were we not? I have heard mention, long ago, but details are unclear."
If the above is the procedure, she touches the crystal, and speaks the oath in infernal.
"Hell's Valkyrie as my witness, i shall continue serving queen and country to the best of my abilities."
The blood glow coming from the black crystal entices Jerax. The antipaladin can feel the infernal power radiate from it. The towering tiefling stops. "This oath upon this mighty stone will not contradict the oath I have already made to Asmodeus?" Jerax questions, looking to Reverend Servinus.
"What in the Nine Hells does that crystal thing do?" Draco asks, his brow furrowing. Power exuded from the thing and even Rufus seemed somewhat taken aback. Draco had a thing about touching magical things and making oaths.
"It's legally binding. No devil or diety is involved as far as I'm aware. Their is no compelling geas behind it. I should know, I swore upon it myself on its arrival."
Before Allesandra can touch the stone the archbaron steps between her and the stone. "Not so eager. Her instructions are clear and it would be remiss of me to make you do it twice over some basic error."
With a gaunt hand he pulls out a folded letter from his jacket pocket the seal on it is already broken and porteays the seal of the royal house of Thrune. Clearing his throat he reads the oath goes as follows; “I swear my absolute allegiance to Archbaron Darellus Fex, Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, and the Empire of Cheliax.”"
"Swear that with your hand upon the stone and things should be in proper order." he steps aside
@Lucien, Alessandra.
The stone itself holds no religious signifigance and the compact itself sounds more of an invention of the government than any infernal bureaucracy. The stone itself is clearly of extraplanar origin, and it doesn't take a conjurer to guess which plane. As Allessandras hand hovers over the stone reciting the oath in her mind in preparation to speak it she feels the scorching heat emanating off it.
With a gaunt hand Fex pulls out a folded letter from his jacket pocket the seal on it is already broken and portrays the seal of the royal house of Thrune. Clearing his throat he reads the oath goes as follows; “I swear my absolute allegiance to Archbaron Darellus Fex, Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, and the Empire of Cheliax.”"
"Swear that with your hand upon the stone and things should be in proper order." he steps aside
This caused Jerax some pause. "So. According to the degree, you, Archbaron Fex, would be my immediate master, second to The Queen, and The Empire."
Well, through his actions, I became a Knight of Asmodeus. My life became a shade better and worse because of it, Jerax thought to himself.
If this is what you want, Asmodeus, I shall do.
The towering tiefling steps up to the black crystal, sharing a look with Alessandra, before placing his right hand upon the infernal stone.
"“I swear my absolute allegiance to Archbaron Darellus Fex, Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, and the Empire of Cheliax.”
Alessandra, not quite intent on getting beat to the punchline, and getting a shared look from Jerax of this formality, places her own hand but a fraction earlier on the crystal than Jerax does.
The heat is intens, but she shows no signs of any discomfort it may cause her. Her repeating the words is still in infernal, almost in tandem with Jerax's own words.
Jerax takes 1 fire damage.
Jerax is surprised at the heat emanating from the stone. Fire was rarely able to do more than than mildly annoy him. But this was a truly rare fire on this plane. The feeling is painful but nostalgic.
Alessandra takes 4 fire damage.
Alessandra grits her teeth as she practically fries the palm of her hand. The pain is not unbearable and a simple spell would repair the damage later but for now agony is a reminder of whom she serves.
Jerax blinks at the rare pain of fire. The antipaladin look over to Alessandra rubbing her own hand in pain.
Looking at his current situation; the powerful object, both tiefling and half-orc making a oath on it at the same time.
Jerax thinks to himself. Asmodeus, I'm not now married to Alessandra. Am I? .
Jerax exchanges another awkward look with the inquisitor, the steps away from the black crystal and back in front of the Archbaron's desk.
Alessandra clenches her fist a few times, but otherwise refuses to show any hint of pain. After all, Eiseth requires from her followers stubbornness and determination.
She looked at Jerax,
"Did that actually sting you? You are resistant to fire, are you not?"
"And what is with that odd look on your face?", she raises her left brow.
When Jerax steps away, she shakes her heads faintly, then looks at the Archbaron, giving a nod, then falls back in line with the others.
Draco watches the two of them press their palm against the stone and there is mentioning of the stone stinging them. Of course it stings, these forsaken Asmodeans loved their painful contracts. Sighing, he would step forward now and crack his fingers before putting his hand against the stone.
“I swear my absolute allegiance to Archbaron Darellus Fex, Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, and the Empire of Cheliax." Draco recites word by word.
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She looked at Jerax,
"Did that actually sting you? You are resistant to fire, are you not?"
"Not 'The Fire That Burns All'. My namesake. Hellfire", Jerax stated simply.
"And what is with that odd look on your face?", she raises her left brow.
"Nothing..." Jerax tried to recover. "..Shut up!"
Draco takes 4 fire damage.
Draco reminds himself never to play poker with Alessandra and Jerax as he smells the familiar scent of cooking flesh. Unfortunately it's his own and he feels every second of it. It's easy to see the sort of people her majesty was needing if this was considered a mere formality.
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"By the f#%#ing Nine hells..." Draco hisses out, pulling back his hand and nursing it. He held a g!$%+%n greatsword, what were they thinking burning a soldier's hand? What if he got mugged? Rufus would kill them but they could hurt his dog?
"I really need to make a clause for extra costs for "stupid ritual s++$" in my contract, I swear..." Draco thought, giving the stinkeye to the Baron. Rufus whined softly, trying to lick at his master's burnt palm.
Nothing..." Jerax tried to recover. "..Shut up!
Jerax can see a slow grin of amusement creep upon her face.
"You sound like a boy whose pride has been hurt.....or one who is asked which girl in the orphanage he fancies."By the f~!+ing Nine hells..." Draco hisses out, pulling back his hand and nursing it
(Chuckles in her thoughts)
Fully aware that binding contracts and magically enforced oaths are an inescapable fact of life in Cheliax, Lucien steps up and repeats the process.
“I swear my absolute allegiance to Archbaron Darellus Fex, Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, and the Empire of Cheliax." he swears, doing his best to keep his voice and expression unaffected by the burning.
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Lucien takes 5 fire damage.
Most contracts in Cheliax are far less painful to make than to break. Which leaves Lucien questioning the consequences as the flesh of his palm is burnt away leaving him to swear through gritted teeth.
Cimri is the laat to take the oath with a similar reaction to Draco even hesistating at first as her hand nears it noting the intense heat. It's only after turning to the rest of your impatient gazes that she commits with a good deal of cursing and impolite language.
When she at last finishes the oath the archbaron nods.
"Her majesty does appreciate her symbolic gestures. Hopefully you have the means to recover quickly from this one, there's much to be done over the next few weeks."
A familiar voice cuts in from one of the covered alcoves causing the archbaron to frown ever so slightly.
"I told you they’d be up to the vow,” Razelago says the rasp and grit of the old mans voice replaced with an otherworldly buzzing, “And eager to get to work, I suspect. Which is good, considering what I’ve just uncovered.”
Archbaron Fex impatiently crosses to the alcove, pulling back the curtain. "There’s no need for your dramatics any longer, Razelago,” he says.
Behind the curtain is a small writing desk heaped with papers and a stool. Perched atop the stool on four long segmented legs isthe bulbous sickly looking abdomen of a particularly large and grotesque fly topped by the upper body of a fat and disgusting infant holdng a steaming white mug with the words "FIEND OF THE MONTH" painted on the side. Turning its many faceted compound eyes towards you the now revealed Razelago lifts his mug at you in greeting. Insectile mouth parts slip through the infants mouth and flex with his words. A movement that causes Cimri to turn green.
"As you say my lord."
The towering tiefling bowed before the devil.
Alessandra gives a polite nod towards Razelago.
"A well played ruse, Lord Razelago."
That one certainly got the shortest end of the stick for handsome devils.
"F!#!, you're-" Draco mutters, still peeved that his hand hurts before he catches himself. Clenching his fist, he sat up a little straighter and nodded. "A pleasure, Razelago. What news do you have?"
"Yes, yes, a devil and servant of the dark prince etc." Razelago says waving a cherubic hand dismissively.
"This Angel Knight doesn’t appear to be just some fiction concocted by an overzealous priestess. A talentless local minstrel named Riley Kels claims to have met her, and has even composed a series of ballads in her honor. While the amateur’s singing is crime enough, he performed these songs at The Last Stand Tavern last night after the sermon." “
He rubs one of his man chins thoughtfully begore continuing, "If it pleases Your Lordship, our friends here should arrest The Last Stand’s owner, Bolgart Caggan, for defying the new law when he inevitably breaks it tonight. I suggest pillorying him in front of the jail as an example to others. Additionally, see what you can find out about the Angel Knight from Kels.”
"Very well" The archbaron replies, "please keep in mind we specified arrest Bolgart is a petty, stubborn drunkard but not a fool. He requires a reminder not an execution. Report to Razelago back at your ash house if you require anything else from myself or him and do not concern yourself with petty day to day crimes. We have guards for that."
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"As so say, My Lords", Jerax bowed to both human and devil.
The towering tiefling waited on cues to leave the stately room with his fellow..
..servants? The Knight of Asmodeus to himself. Certainly not as bad as slaves. I guess there will be other nights to ask Alessandra for a Midnight Stroll around Longacre.
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Lucien is caught off guard by the sight of the devil, but not terribly surprised. It is well known that nobles of Cheliax often have infernal advisors.
While Razelago speaks, he recalls his planar studies to determine exactly what kind of infernal creature they are dealing with
"Indeed, we will make sure that Bolgart is apprehended and punished for his transgressions in accordance with the law, neither more nor less. We have already practiced showing restraint in the various encounters we had while distributing the edict notices, so I am certain we will be able to apply just the right amount of force to convey a clear message to other would-be dissidents."