Back at Harrowheart, Sigourney gets to work making sure that she's stocked up on all her scrolls and that everyone's armor has been freshly runed to the gills.
When she consults with Billy, the harrow reading goes awry. Terrible portents of the future are predicted - it seems like she's fated to horribly fail on two occasions sometime in the future.
"Billy, what do you intend to do after this is all said and done?" Sigourney asks after gloomily choosing her destiny. "You cannot possibly intend to go back to the life of a musician, now that we have these cards to protect."
When Sigourney shows concern about her reading, Billy comforts her. "Don't be too alarmed. A couple of your cards were very favorable." He continues, "And even the couple that have you worried still offer you options in a time of need."
Regarding the future, Billy smiles and says, "Ahhh, just because I may be helping guard our special deck ..." He interrupts himself to clarify, "...if that is even our destiny..." He smiles and continues, "...there will always be time for dining and entertainment. Not to mention the occasional reading." He concludes, "Life must still be enjoyed even when tasked with great responsibility."
As a group you make your various preparations, buying or enchanting gear, casting rituals, gathering equipment. Once more, perhaps for the last time, you gather before the Arches in Harrowheart. The mist has cleared from them, and they now show a stretch of the Lurkwood in northern Varisia.
As you watch Baines quietly enters the Great Hall behind you. He hands Slick his blade, Here you go sir, its been freshly oiled for you.
To Pine he hands his fancy cloak, Laundered and ironed for you Sir, you must look your best.
To Billy he hands his favourite instrument, I had it retuned for you Sir, just to be sure it will serve you well.
Turning to Sigourney he hands her a rack of her prepared potions, Everything polished and properly labelled my Lady, just how you like. Looking a little sheepish he pulls out a tiny woollen hat from his pocket and proffers it to Reginald. From Mrs Baines, to keep you warm Sir.
As you turn back to the portals behind you the entire staff gather in the Hall to watch you leave. Some have tears in their eyes, others stand stoicly firm as they watch you step through the portal.
Suddenly you find yourselves standing at the edge of a large clearing in the forest. Ahead of you sits a large manor house. Vines wrap around the house, as if choking the building. The foliage partially obscures hundreds of strange, twisting runes carved into the structure’s facade. A single door is the only fully exposed entrance into the building. Even from here you can feel the gathered power emanating from the House. It is clearly a focus for powerful ley line energy.
Sigourney easily recognises that this power can enhance all forms of scrying and divination magic, although it is potentially dangerous to tap that power.
Scouting around you can see that the house does indeed only have a single entrance on the ground floor. There are windows but they are obscured by vines and shutters. The interior is clearly lit as you can see light spilling through some of them but what is inside remains a mystery.
As the morning sun starts to peek through the window of his bedroom, Slick gets up from his comfortable bed for what would likely be the last time. Though it may not be his last day on Golarion, it would probably be his last day enjoying the pleasures of Harrowheart.
He occasionally looks out at the resplendent views of the Harrow Court as he carries out his usual morning preparations. After wrapping his hands and donning his shinning plate mail, he pulls out some of his newly purchased scrolls and casts the spells found thereon.
Slick first casts Lucky Number on himself; he'd need every bit of luck possible when they faced Raven and her infernal minions in combat.
He follows this up with one of his Mind of Menace scrolls and feels his mind strengthen.
Finally, he casts a False Vitality on himself and feels his body strengthen further, if only temporarily.
When the group gathers at the portals showing glimpses of Lurkwood, Slick turns to Baines and retrieves his sword from the seneschal. "Excellent work, Baines. Your attention to detail is impressive as always."
He then turns to face the rest of the staff and chokes up a little. He knows them to be mere simulacra who will cease to exist with the Harrow Court, but even so, he finds himself at a loss for words to express the gratitude he feels for all they've done for the group since their arrival at Harrowheart these many months ago. He bows deeply to them and, sword in hands, turns to face the portals. "Ready or not, here we come."
When they arrive at the manor house, Slick says, "Presumably, this is Sonnorae's library that Zellara told us about. If she's right, Raven waits for us within."
After further scouting determines that the only viable way in is through the entrance on the ground floor, Slick beckons to Pine. "I guess you better check the door for traps and locks, or... I could just kick it down for maximal surprise."
Though the sky is clear, the atmosphere at Harrowheart is solemn. Sigourney had spent her previous day plotting, preparing and pulling strings to get everything perfect before this final excursion. Every choice of potion had been purposefully potted with Baines' help. She carried enough scrolls on her to outfit a small library. And most importantly, her Patron had deemed it fit to grant her two most powerful and rare spells. She prepared both today, not knowing what this magic would do but eager to test the result on Raven Nicoletta's smug face.
She nods to each and every one of the servants, thanking them for their service in a calm and collected tone. Even now, her icy demeanor held a strong grip over her.
With a polite bow to the butler, she exclaims:; "Baines, I am very grateful for all your help yesterday. Your service was exemplary. See that you continue to do good work until I return."
To the chef, she shakes his hand and smiles. "Your food was delicious. Prepare a feast like no other, we will have it when we get back."
To the long-suffering maid who despite fainting when tasked with Reginald's care, still continued to do her duty, Sigourney gives her a big hug. "I cannot thank you enough for taking care of my dear Reginald. When we get back, I think you deserve a holiday."
She then turns away from the staff and silently tears up as she steps through the portal. Despite her cold countenance, she cannot help but miss these people.
Once through the portal, Sigourney hears Slick spout the most obvious observation possible. Dabbing at her eyes with a slick handkerchief, she immediately rolls them.
"Well done, Slick. Such an astute observation. Please refrain from kicking down the door. We have Pine here for a reason, and that reason is to ensure we don't walk into a trap." Sigourney drily remarks.
While the rest of the party ponders the possibility of pushing the door down, Sigourney uses her Unified Knowledge of Arcana to Quickly Identify the effects of tapping into the ley line.
Pinebrush does a quick twirl in the air, letting his freshly laundered cloak flair dramatically to show off for Rufus and the other Harrowhearters.
And very little time later, he's looking at a door. "Why don't you let me check it first, and then you can kick it in?"
When Baines returns the newly-tuned lute to Billy, the bard strums a chord -- a pleasing note that lingers in the air. "You're outdone yourself, Baines. And that's saying something. Thank you." Turning to the staff, "Thanks to all of you."
Before stepping through the portal, Billy makes his usual daily preparations, including using one of his all-day Energy Aegis scrolls. He also shuffles his harrow deck and draws a Harrow Omen card.
He also reads one of his Heroism scrolls, and brings up some Musical Accompaniment to set the mood.
Once through the portal, Billy stands a healthy distance from the front door, while the group argues the merits of how to open it.
Seeing Billy start to read his stack of scrolls, Reginald speaks up.
"Sigourney, aren't you forgetting something?" He squeaks.
"Why yes, I had forgotten." Sigourney pulls out three rank 3 scrolls of Heroism and casts one on Slick, one on Pine and one on herself.
With your various preparations made you step through the portal. Behind you Baines, ramrod straight, salutes you. Behind him several of the staff members burst into tears. They may not be entirely real but you have clearly had an effect on them.
As the portal closes behind you the clearing is revealed. The house is clearly extremely old but somehow it has been preserved in perfect condition. It is also extremely powerfully warded against divinations, teleportation or attempt to force a way inside. Pine can see no traps on the door and Sigourney discerns that the powerful ley line magics here greatly boost the power of divination magic.
A low porch surrounds the main building and leads up to the front door. Stepping up to it and testing the handle Slick finds that it is unlocked. Pushing the door open reveals a large foyer dominated by an ornate staircase leading up to an encircling balcony. Doors lead off to the east and west. Either side of the staircase stands a massive daemon. Raven Nicoletta stands on the staircase as if waiting for you.
As you swing the door open both daemons take half a step forward but suddenly stop, as if restrained. Oh my dears, exclaims Nicoletta, I am so glad you have finally arrived. Our Master, she glares at the two daemons, will be so pleased you are here at last. We must talk. Wont you join me in the lounge?
Upon seeing the person who so callously took their cards suddenly act so demure and friendly instantly makes Sigourney suspicious. She takes a Deep Breath (the spell) to calm herself down. With her Third Eye, she tries to detect any magical auras that might be restraining the daemons or otherwise dominating them.
She spends an action each to Seek each of the Daemons just to perceive their auras.
"Your daemons seem magically bound. What is wrong with them?" In a testy tone, Sigourney poses a question to Nicoletta, trying to get a read on her motives.
No longer the scared rat he once was, Reginald steps up to face the doorway with Sigourney.
"Y-yeah! And we'll k-k-know if you're lying!" He squeaks from ground level, trying to sound brave.
As the door swings open at Slick's touch, his eyes immediately flick left then right to take in the obvious threat posed by the two daemons. "Great! More of those annoying purrodaemons with their sharp blades." He grips his sword a little tighter knowing that some of his own blood would soon be spilled during his efforts to send these two back to Abaddon.
His attention then shifts to the woman on the stairs as she speaks to them. Slick frowns. "Your Master? And here we thought you were the top dog in this fight. Who is this Master of which you speak?"