GM Silbeg 1-11 Flames of Rebellion [CLOSED] (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

Thecla stands. Dear gods, I hope not. ready!

"Let's go."

Nat follows Grams advice and puts on the goggles, then moves forward, trying to stay out of sight.

"Let's continue now that we've conquered this barricade."

Ready!

Upon reaching the final landing of Diggen’s Rest, a long hallway stretches up to a dusty stone throne on a raised onyx dais. Simmering patches of flame burn ceaselessly beneath three square grates on the floor, giving off shimmering waves of heat despite the surrounding stone remaining unmarred and cool to the touch.

"Welcome, friends, to my humble abode. I trust the attendants were hospitable?" says the being lounging on the throne.

slide 3 for his image, slide 4 for the map

The kobolds? No, they have left something to be desired. Who are you?

”I am Nashaxian, or at least that is what you can call me.” says the creature ”Please, come in. No need to shout.”

"You must be the devil who made a deal with Diggen Thrune then. I hate to bring bad news, but your free time is over. We've come to best you in combat and seal you back in the throne."

Grams nods, raising her shield defending exploration mode.

"You can head back to Hell on your own, if you want, but if not, we'll have to make you!"

Well… what would make you head back to Hell on your own? Thecla is hesitant to fight before at least learning what this devil's wants are.

“Is that old ghost still lingering in the lower halls? Hah! That’ll teach him. He thought he could ‘borrow’ some infernal muscle for a few months and slip away with possession of his soul. It’s good to know he’s as stuck here as I am. Until the empire of Cheliax reclaims possession of these lands and restores peace to the region, I’m stuck in this tower and bound to this throne. And as long as I’m stuck here, he can’t leave under his own power. Say... You wouldn’t happen to have him with you, would you? He’s certainly foolish enough to think he can get one over on me, even after all his prior failures.”

Grams hesitates. The ghost is with them in a manner of sorts, but probably not something the devil needs to know.

"I don't think you need to worry about him anymore," she curtly informs the devil. "If we have some way to send you back to Hell, would you take that? Surely that would be more interesting than lingering here."

"Nothing would please Pharasma more than to send you both to Hell, where you belong."

Helpful as always, Kralgang.

"No, this won't do." shouts Nashaxian. "Let us be civil, please do come in closer. I shan't be yelling across the room and into the hall. Just not civilized, you know."

Move your tokens in so that you are yelling across 50 feet, please!

Thecla moves in.

Farzin reluctantly moves closer as well.

Nat looks nervous, but moves up as well.

He waves in the others, saying, ”Well, isn’t that nicer? We can have a nice, friendly conversation this way.” says the devil. ”Yiu we’re saying something about sending me back to Hell? While that would be nice, you aren’t representatives of Thrune, and Cheliax hasn’t reclaimed this rebel state, so I doubt that there is anything within your power that will break the bindings holding me here.

“So, how is the old ghost doing?”

Grams also moves in, shield still raised. She's pretty sure a fiend is going to be treacherous.

"He seemed as unhappy to be here as you do," she tells him reluctantly. "Perhaps there's a way to get you both out without unleashing you on the world?"

I'm trying to Sense Motive as much as possible.

"That's cute." chuckles the fiend. "The magic he used to bind me was far stronger than he thought. I am here until the Empire of Cheliax reclaims this county."

Thecla signs. We have his soul in a wayfinder. But if you must insist on not willingly leaving…

Kralgang watches quietly, making the devil the subject of his investigation (provided we keep him busy long enough).

"Will or not, I cannot leave. Believe me, if I could, I would." he replies. "In fact, I’ve become quite bored gnawing on kobold souls. Since Diggen and I are bound together for the foreseeable future, it would be nice if we were up here with me so we can... chat."

"Tell us more about the ties that bind you here. I find the devil is in the details."

Kralgang gives no indication he is trying to be funny or ironic in any way.

Farzin nods in agreement.

"Perhaps there is some semantic argument that we can win. Isn't that how people usually trick devils, and vice versa?"

”Often, yes, but Digger was clever enough to prevent loopholes. Of course, at the time, he though the Empire would be back in months, so that the risk was low. It happens that was his folly. ”

The fiend adjusts himself on the throne, patting it with his hand as he does so.

"Perhaps it would be good if they had a little chat and got it all out," Farzin says somewhat reluctantly.

"Yes, maybe that would be best -- we should always try to resolve things with our words if we can," Grams agrees, though she's clearly troubled. "But I don't like just leaving a devil hanging around."

"Oh, sweetie," the fiend replies to Grams, even if she wasn't talking to him, "you aren't going to get rid of me that easily. But, I tell you what. You give me Diggen, and then I don't need to get up off my throne.

"I'll just sit here on my precious throne while you decide what to do!"

Thecla shrugs. I don't mind having a devil around so much. Nor do I like Diggen much either. But wouldn't killing you send you back to Hell anyway?

"He may be evil, but there's still a chance he could redeem himself," Grams says, voice hardening. They're caught between two awful things, and there doesn't really seem to be a right choice. But the devil can't be the right choice, so it seems like the lesser of two evils.

But she tries to hold herself back.

"Let's let the ghost and devil talk and see what they have to say to each other," she says.

"You'd think that, wouldn't you?" replies the devil. "Would you be surprised to find out I even tried that myself? But, no, the binding was absolute, and if you kill me, I will just reform again here. On [/i]my[/i] lovely throne."

Clearly you want me to ask you about your throne.

"Bring out Diggen already and let them hash it out. What's the obsession with this throne anyway?"

"You sit on a throne of lies. I know your kind."

“My prize and my prison! Whosoever sits upon this throne may use my power to protect this keep and the surrounding territory. Don’t get any ideas, though; the one who currently sits upon this throne is me.” With that, his eyes flare and the simmering flames in the hallway build! The temperature of the room increases, but does not cause any damage.

"So, do we have a deal? Hand Diggen over, and I shall grant you safe passage out of the castle!"

"We hardly need safe passage out of the castle," Grams retorts. "We made it in here with no problem after all, didn't we?"

So I'm looking back at our mission: If you discover that the lodge still stands or any of its contents have been preserved, please do your best to obtain any documents or possessions of the Society that remain. Once you have obtained whatever evidence there is to obtain, please report back to me hear in Almas. Did we get any indication that I'm missing/forgetting to clean it out, or should we perhaps just leave Diggen and the devil here to rot for now?

Thecla shrugs. I am always one for minimal bother.

"You mean we're just going to leave this devil here to cause trouble? Isn't that...kinda bad?"

Despite this, I'm fine going along with it if that's what the group wants to do.

As the team deliberates, the fiend sits on the throne, and is starting to look bit impatient.

"Little one, there is little trouble that I can cause when bound here."

Let's bring out Diggen and see what he has to say."

"Yes," Grams agrees.

Nat looks to Grams, then nervously says "Okay."

The team tries to 'bring Diggen out', but cannot see a way to do it.

Are you going to give the fiend the receptacle with Diggen?

Also, it is reasonable to think that he would say no!

From slack-chat

Farzin hands the wayfinder with Diggen over to Nashaxian. "Thank you, Pathfinders. I assume that you have the title that gives you access to this manor? If not, then the shyster held out on you. I am sure you can figure out where to find it if not."

He holds the wayfinder in his hand. "Oh, Diggen, we will have the more interesting conversations, won't we?"

A moment later, Nashaxian looks up. "What? You are still here. You have my leave to go. Now."

As an aside to Grams, "You got the title, didn't you?"

"I think Thecla got it, dear," Grams says distractedly as she continues to worry about whether they were doing the right thing by handing over the wayfinder and Diggen's ghost to a literal devil. She'd assumed they'd be able to hear the conversation and intercede if necessary.

But ... if someone made a deal with the devil, wasn't eternal torment sort of what they signed up for?

Thecla tosses the ring to the devil. I told him I am "happy to help assist you in eventually going to your ultimate reward."

"Oh, if that's the case, then everything will certainly work out."

Farzin is visibly relived, but Papayo does not look so sure.