Spending a little more time concentrating on her aim and less on how well her mistress looks when she's got a full 'monster of destruction' thing going on, Floare's magical fire finally connects.
Vordakai is unprepared by the sudden ferocity of your assault. Floare burns the lich with her flames while Tandri blasts his unholy form with healing magic. Both Tyr and Sariana score critical hits, and with an anguished wail, the ancient undead cylcops's body crumbles to dust! Left behind is the gleaming red gem that served as the lich's eye: an oculus of Abaddon.
Beyond the lich's spellbook and gear, Vordakai keeps his treasures in neatly organized mounds and piles behind his throne. The majority of this treasure consists of ancient coins (24 pp, 200 gp, and 1,300 sp) and various art objects altogether worth an additional 200 gp. In addition to the ancient treasures, several magic items Vordakai found on his victims can be found here. These include a pair of eyes of the eagle, a moderate sturdy shield, a greater hat of disguise, and a pouch holding three panaceas.
The walls of the room beyond Vordakai's lair are filled with stone niches, each bearing a number of strange glass jars. Each jar is about a foot tall, is stoppered with a clot of black wax, and contains a swirling plume of glowing white smoke. There are dozens of these jars on display, and the swirling light each emits gives this chamber an otherworldly feel.
Floare and Tandri recognize that each of these jar contains a trapped soul. Anybody who touches one of these jars can communicate telepathically with the soul trapped inside. Each of the 42 jars contains a citizen of Varnhold. By breaking, opening, or simply removing a jar from this room, the jar becomes nonmagical and disgorges its trapped soul in a plume of smoke, re-forming into the trapped victim’s physical body in the same condition they were in when they were captured.
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Sariana, interestingly, disregards the Oculus immediately and - having thoroughly scattered the dust of Vordakai's remains - she moves on quickly, trusting in Tyr's lingering draconic instincts to make sure that not a gold piece will be missed.
Once her girls have identified the purpose of the jars Sariana gives a soft grunt and looks around. "We make sure there is nothing else here first." She says firmly. "I don't want to shepherd a load of frightened villagers through battle."
Tandri watches the glowing white smoke behind the glass, her amber eyes practically glowing in response. Her demon blood is showing even more around them. When her mistress mentions villagers, she realizes she means to release them. A pout forms along with a curling tail around Sari. Tandri's tells for I want one please.
"Quite the collection of souls, but they seem useless for our kingdom," Deregar mentions. A curious tug inside him objects, but he continues: "We should free them so they can pledge their loyalty to Nightsong."
Flore nods in agreement with Deregar's suggestion. Slipping a comforting arm around Tandri's shoulders, she leans in closer.
"Souls in a village working to the benefit of our Mistress are much more valuable than souls sitting on a shelf, no matter how pretty or intriguing they are," she whispers.
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"You just told me that they can't leave this room Sweetling." Sariana says, running a hand down the nap of Tandri's neck. "You can keep them if you wish and have this place as your lair too. If you want."
Her grip tightens on the back of Tandri's neck - an unspoken reminder of the dynamic between them and a subtle sign of her displeasure at such an idea.
There is a combination of shiver and panic across Tandri's skin. "No!" she manages, finding the prospect of living away from her mistress and Floare to be utterly without contemplation, but finding the prospect of punishment for the miscommunication to be thrilling.
"I... well, I know we cannot find a way to take them out now, but we have time." so so so much time "so I thought we could study them, determine if we could, eventually." Tandri sways as she lays out an approaching for keeping them, looking here and there, to judge reactions with hints of hope and puppy dog entreatment.
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"And how will you make it up to me Sweetling?" Sariana asks, her voice still dark but (for those who know her well) carrying an undertone of teasing. "What will you do to make up for the work these souls and bodies might do for my kingdom?"
It seems the discussion has moved past the serious phase and into the flirting one - which given how high Sariana's emotions often run after combat is no surprise.
Once it is clear that the area is safe, you restore the citizens of Varnhold. They are extremely grateful and confused about how they got here. While mournful for those among their number who have already been slain (particularly their leader, Maegar Varn), they remain quite anxious to escape this prison and return to Varnhold.
You return to the centaur Xamanthe Silverfire, daughter of the chief of the Nomen centaurs, and use one of the panaceas to cure her paralysis. Once she’s rescued, Xamanthe describes how she broke her people’s taboos and disobeyed her mother’s commands to investigate the Valley of the Dead, running afoul of Vordakai. She ruefully admits her curiosity got the better of her, but she stubbornly says that she’d do the same if she had she chance again—though she’d be a bit more cautious!
With the destruction of Vordakai and his monstrous minions, an ancient threat has finally been expunged from the Stolen Lands. This is far from a minor accomplishment—not only do the surviving villagers of Varnhold swiftly pledge their loyalty to you and your nation, but the Nomen centaurs are impressed as well and vow to live peacefully with the human settlers in deference to the great work you have accomplished. All the centaurs ask is that they be left the Nomen Heights as part of their own territory. Aecora Silverfire thanks you for rescuing her daughter by giving you four moderate healing potions and four scrolls of restoration. She also allows you to keep the sacred bow Skybolt.
You've earned some time to rest and tend to your kingdom!
"Ah, I was hoping that Maegar Varn would be among the survivors," Deregar notes, glumly. "Still, now these citizens will be protected members of our kingdom. Time to get back to the capital and check on how things have progressed in our absence."
"Did we not find him with his head opened up?" Tandri asked Deregar, distractedly. She has her accounts book opened up and her glasses perched on her nose, as she talks to a clerk recently freed from the jar she had very much wanted to keep. But doing so would have made cataloging all the assets from Varnhold are now providing to Nightsong so much more difficult.
Interlude: False Faces
One day during the quiet months of expansion, Valerie approaches you. A message arrived for her via raven, and she shares the unexpected letter with you:
***
Valerie,
I never expected to hear your name again, but against my better judgment I’ve kept an ear out for any tidings. After all, perhaps Shelyn still had some use for the girl who spurned her gifts? Imagine my surprise when I learned of your association with this new kingdom spreading through the Stolen Lands! Hardly the glorious destiny as one of Shelyn’s champions you spurned years ago, I must say.
But as chance would have it, I’ve found for you one final chance for redemption. My service to the Eternal Rose has brought me to the Stolen Lands as well, where I’ve been aiding other priests in the restoration of a lost shrine. I do not believe it is chance that brought me here, but a part of Shelyn’s ever-growing tapestry. She wants me to bring you back into the fold.
I know you will never come to discuss your blasphemy or possible repentance, so instead I propose a challenge. You may not have attained the sublime form that the Lady gifts her chosen champions with, but I admit you have a certain brute effectiveness that has served you against lesser challenges. Face me in a duel. Should I lose, I swear by Shelyn to never trouble you again, and to acknowledge your strength in arms, if not your conviction. But should victory fall yet again upon my shoulders, you will agree to hear me out and at least consider a path back into the Lady’s graces.
I await your response at the Shrine of the Golden Grove. If I do not hear from you within a few weeks’ time, I will be forced to conclude you are running yet again from your shame, and that you will never be free from the stain.
With Beauty’s regard,
Sir Fredero Sinnet
***
"Fredero was my teacher while I was training to be a champion in Brevoy," Valerie explains. "That is, until my frustration with their obsession with appearances led to my departure from the church. I thought I'd long put that past behind me, but it seems events have conspired to bring it to the surface once more. I've decided to answer Fredero's arrogant challenge, and I hope you'll accompany me to the shrine. Maybe after I hand him his ass, I can finally be rid of him for good."
"I would say to ignore this rude self-styled champion," Deregar suggests. "But, if you wish to face him, the might of Nightsong will back you up."
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Sariana nods in agreement. She's always been conflicted over the church of Shelyn as are all devoted Kuthonites but this particular knight seems to be plenty arrogant and watching Valerie smack him around seems like an amusing diversion at least.
"Of course. We'll travel at night. Should take . When do you want to leave?"
"Let us leave this very night," Valerie says.
***
The Golden Gold Shrine is located in the forest in the northwestern reaches of the Narlmarches. It takes about a week of travel to get there.
An octagonal shrine built of marble stands here, the forest encroaching its vine-shrouded walls. Colorful flowers bloom on these vines, enhancing the structure’s beauty. The central section of the shrine rises to a fifty-foot high dome, while a fifteen-foot-high section extends to the west. This extension is surrounded by a marble veranda supported by a colonnade of pillars, while three marble steps lead down to the overgrown ground below. A large carving of a songbird over the double door on the west face is the only part of the structure cleared of vine growth—it seems as if the vines curling around the carving form an intentional frame of flowers and foliage.
While Deregar would have once appreciated the fanciness of the shrine, it now strikes him as gaudy dross, soon to fall to the ravages of time.
As they draw near, he pulls a hood up over his skeletal visage and stands in the back of the retinue. He sends Tyr to dwell in the realms between life and death until he is called.
Floare hides a smile and waits as her mistress takes her place overseeing the encounter. Once the woman is in position, the witch steps forward with Dante at her hip.
"Presenting Nightsong's premier general and favored of its ruler Mistress Sariana Nightsong; Lady Valerie!" She makes a sweeping gesture towards the blonde woman, indicating that she should step forward.
Floare then steps back to stand with Tandri.
Valerie steps forward warily following Floare's announcement. A few moments later, a tall, handsome man with immaculately groomed silver hair and beard emerges. He is clad in plate mail and wields a sword and shield adorned with Shelyn's songbird. His eyes sweep over you before falling upon Valerie, whom he favors with a sardonic smirk.
"Valerie, you arrive at last! I worried that you lacked the conviction and bravery to answer my challenge, or that your new companions would prevent you from doing so. Good that you came, though, for is not this a place of beauty?
"I could understand if its sight alone could compel you to recant your ways and seek absolution, but if you remain obstinate... I am ready to make good on my challenge. Draw your steel to the test against me, and we can exchange pleasantries after your defeat and return to the fold. What say you, Valerie?"
Valerie hesitates and looks back at you. "I am ready to accept the duel. With your blessings, of course."
There's a low growl from Dante's chest which causes Floare to run a soothing hand across his shoulders.
"Remain calm, my good boy," she whispers. "As much as I would like to help, Lady Valerie must face this challenge with us only as observers."
That's stupid, Mom.
"I won't argue, but this is how such things are done."
If he cheats, I'll bite his face off.
Flore steps forward and lifting herself up on her tiptoes, places a chaste kiss on the woman's cheek. "You have the blessings of us all, My Lady," she says before stepping back to stand by her familiar.
~~~~~
As the desire for vengeance for one of their own grows hot inside her, Tandri's lavender skin mirrors the feeling, giving off a blaze of heat as her amber eyes rage.
Otherwise she is still next to her mistress, tail held neatly in her hand.
Fredero stares Valerie down, but she gets the upper hand!
Floare's grip tightens in Dante's fur as Valerie moves forward with purpose, raising her shield and slamming her sword into the smug paladin.
Fredero cries out in pain as Valerie opens the duel with a critical strike! He grits his teeth and raises his shield as he attempts to strike back. He lands a hit, his sword thundering with sonic energy.
Floare grimaces as both combatants strike telling blows. Matching energy with her familiar, her instinct is the engage the man with all the magic at her disposal, but she restrains herself.
Valerie shows no such restraint, hammering against her foe with a purpose.
Fredero blocks Valerie's first hit with his shield, blunting the damage, though his shield buckles a bit from the force of the strike. He parries her second thrust before retaliating. "Shelyn, guide my blade!" he calls as he keeps his shield up.
"The Rose has forsaken you," Valerie growls as she slams her sword against the man multiple times. "Your pride will be your downfall."
Fredero grunts in pain, his shield nearly sundered. He strikes back at Valerie, landing another hit past her defenses.
The woman wastes no more words as her relentless onslaught continues.
Valerie sunders Fredero's shield with her relentless assault. Blood pours from his numerous wounds, staining his rent armor. With a howl, he grips his sword in both hands and slashes again and again, but Valerie easily blocks his wild swings!
Floare raises her hand partially, considering suggesting that Valerie offer quarter, but then puts it back down when the woman's blade strikes out in finishing blows.
Valerie's blade slices into Fredero's side once again. Groaning with pain, he grimaces as he drops his own sword and falls to his knees. "Enough. You've proven your might. I yield to you. Congratulations on your victory," he says, frustration evident in his tone.
"It's clear that I was mistaken in my judgment of you. I would like to offer you my formal apologies, in private. Will you accompany me into the shrine?"
Floare steps forward, her hand on Dante's shoulder in an attempt to soothe his raised hackles. A low growl issues from his chest. The witch, on the other hand, seems entirely calm. Although, her smile seems to show more teeth than it normally does and her fangs are quite prominent.
"I would think," she declares without glancing at her mistress who still hovers over the archway into the shrine, "That since your accusation was quite public, your 'formal apology' should be so as well. Wouldn't that seem more appropriate?"
Fredero sighs. "Very well. You may all come." He gestures for you to follow him as he approaches the shrine.
A marble-tiled vestibule wraps around the western portion of the shrine. Several pillars carved to resemble Shelyn in various dancing poses help to support the roof above. Vines coil around the pillars and up the sides of the walls, but the marble tiles themselves seem to have been recently swept clean of leaves. A humble campsite consisting of a campfire and a bedroll sits on the southern section of the walkway, while a closed double door on the structure’s west face blocks entry inside.
Fredero pushes the doors open and steps inside the shrine's antechamber. The walls of this room feature beautiful carvings of landscapes, artists, and birds. At one point it seems the carvings were also painted, but the paint has mostly flaked off over the years, leaving dulled spots of color here and there. Four pillars carved with coiling rose vines support the ceiling fifteen feet above, while a pair of statues, each depicting a beautiful woman holding up a hand on which songbirds have perched, stand astride a large stone double door.
A kindly older woman stands before the doors, clad in colorful robes and holding a gleaming glaive. Her eyebrows raise slightly when she sees all of you trailing behind Fredero, but she spreads her arms in greeting. "Blessings of the Eternal Rose be upon you, children. I am Mother Tulvak. I have been working with Sir Fredero here to bring our little lost lamb Valerie back into the fold. She has been deemed worthy of redemption, and I am prepared to perform an atonement ritual so that Shelyn may smile upon her once again."
Deregar's body oddly tingles as they enter the shrine, though he comforts himself by thinking that all of the vain fripperies of this place will pass away in time, and Nightsong will remain.
"Valerie, is that what you wish? To return to Shelyn's service?"
"And before she even decides that," Floare adds, "There is the matter of the 'formal apology'." She eyes Fredero accusingly. "One could very easily get the impression that there was never any intent for such and this was simply all a ruse."
She holds out a hand and in her revealed palm a curl of flames appears.
"That would not work out well for you."
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Sariana has been lurking at the back of the group rather than leading it. Her Little One is doing an excellent job of leading and her lingering confusion over how to deal with Shelynites has made her grateful for the extra moments to think.
That being said a sanctimonious older woman gets her hackles up, and the casual condemnation of a faithful servant... doesn't sound much like the Eternal Rose. Her blood thrums, quickening her movements. A finely honed sense for violence tells her that someone isn't going to leave this temple alive. She's fine with that.
Tandri stays by her mistress's side. Her pink horns, amber eyes, and curling tail are enough to be unwelcome in a house of this goddess. The three daggers of her holy symbol are just the icing on the cake of that disdain. Tandri doesn't shrink though, she swells almost regally as she waits.
Her eyes do shift to her mistress as her mood shifts toward preparedness. Unfortunately most of her magic, both from her goddess and her demonic blood, require prayers or arcane chat, so she cannot help in that regard. But her dark little heart smiles at what might soon become.
Valerie remains stoic as she shakes her head. "I have forged a new path for myself as the general of Nightsong. I serve Queen Sariana and her companions. I will not debase myself by suborning my will to a goddess who already spurned me once before."
Fredero glances nervously between Valerie, Floare, and Mother Tulvak. Tulvak lets out a sigh. "I was afraid you might say that, Valerie. I suppose there's only one recourse now..."
Even with you wary for deception, the speed at which Tulvak moves catches you off-guard. She dashes forward and reaches out for Valerie.
Valerie sags as Tulvak saps some of her strength. The old woman then cackles as her flesh melts and her bones crack and realign themselves. She changes shape to reveal her true nature as a hideous hag with sickly green skin and cold, hate-filled black eyes. The "holy glaive" she wields flickers as the illusion cloaking it fades to show the wicked scythe's real form.
Sir Fredero gapes in horror. "By Shelyn's grace!" he stammers.
Tulvak laughs. "Your so-called goddess cannot save you now! When I slay you all and feast on your flesh, the taste of betrayal will be sweet, indeed!"
"You dare challenge us, hag?!" Deregar is sickened by the betrayal, but he gestures in the creatures direction and the ground next to him bubbles with rank void energy. Tyr erupts from the portal and strikes out at the hag.
for
Tandri doesn't flinch at the change, the inside now matches the out, which is right "She is a fool if she believes it is Shelyn she needs to worry about when she has an immediate threat in Nightsong." her own goddess's magic moves through her tail, wrapped in her lady's hand.
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Sariana remains unmoved by the hag's transformation - she's done much worse, much more slowly. With Tandri's magic rolling through her and her own innate power bolstering her speed the Lady of Nightsong blurs into action.
She fakes at the hag first and then slams a suddenly much larger hand into the monster's face with a sound much like an axe hitting into a rotten tree stump.
Flore's blood goes colder than her new normal at the appearance of a hidden hag. Suppressing the fear and horrid memories that are bubbling to the surface, she calms herself and gestures with a twisting clawed hand. At her gesture twisting vines spring from the ground attempting to ensnare the vile woman.
Even with all her conflicting feelings, the witch doesn't assume for a single moment that Fredero won't try to take advantage of the situation, and so a small portion of her attention remains on the prideful paladin.
Sariana lands a hit on Tulvak. Her unarmed strike hits with the resonance of cold iron, exploiting the hag's weakness! Tulvak avoids becoming ensnared by Floare's vine, but Tyr manages to bite her.
Valerie moves to fend of Fredero, who half-heartedly swings at her and keeps his shield raised, still rattled by Tulvak's revelation of her true form. Tulvak slashes at Sari with her scythe.
Deregar takes the opportunity to mount Tyr, while the dragon attempts to grab the hag in his jaws.
The dragon bites down on the hag twice.
Floare is reasonably sure that Valerie can handle the mislead Fredero, but just to be sure that her mistresses general survives the encounter, Floare reaches out with a tendril of magical energy to sheath the warrior with a magical layer of protection.
The hag attempted to harm his mistress, which demanded retribution. Lady Nightsong was perfectly capable of doing that task herself, Tandri knew, but felt a familiar thrill as her goddess's searing magic torn through the area, ripping apart the hag's flesh.