"That depends, Myriana, on what we need it for," Desseer responds thoughtfully. "It is not what I was envisioning when I heard 'townhouse' but it does appear to have a basement. They make for great laboratories. Many opportunities." Desseer opens the front door and looks inside.
A layer of dust blankets every surface of this abode. The hallway ends in two doors and a staircase up on the right. The hallway opens to what looks like a living room through a doorless doorway to left soon after entering. The doors at the end of the hallway lead in different directions, one continuing in the direction of the hallway and another on the left wall right before the hallway's end.
The floors creak beneath the crew's footsteps and the creaks add together as they roam to cause what seems like a cacophony in the silence.
The previous owners of this house were of middle income judging by the quality of the furnishings that remain. The door in the living room lead back into a kitchen and beyond that a pantry/storage room. The food has clearly spoiled and causes the room to be musty and acrid, though the smell isn't overwhelming. The kitchen and storage room also have doors that open into the hallway at the base of the stairs.
Walking up the stairs, unsurprisingly, leads to more cacophonous creaking that is clearly magnified by hollow spaces under the stairs. The stairs lead up to another hallway with only two doors, spread far apart. The two rooms were clearly bedrooms for parents and the the other, seemingly one child.
As they entered the dusty old place Myriana couldn't help but sneeze after inhaling a snoot full of dust that was disturbed by their tread. Glaring at the dust she spoke a few words of magic and gestured creating a tiny whirlwind that spun its way to lead them, and it began to suck in the dust from the path they were following. When they reached a place to stop and look the whirlwind started sucking up the dust in the room and dropping it in one corner, doing so to each room they entered.
Myriana's ears twitched every so often as she looked around the place and said, "It does not look like much nya, but it has space at least nya."
"Hmmm...Yes," Desseer agrees ponderously. "I can think of a few uses as backup plans or a safe house." He looks to Myriana, "We should definitely look into the paperwork and history of these places, but if want a space for just yourself and Iris, let me know." He gives her a warm smile, "I know I..well..yeah. I'm sure it sounds silly, but I feel a level of responsibility for you all. I always did back when this was just a game." He pauses for a few moments before continuing, "But now, this is serious. We are here. We are in the game. And, as the guild leader...whatever that means now...I just..I want to do right by you all." He lowers his head awkwardly, uncomfortable with his expressed vulnerability.
A little embarrassed, Desseer makes his way to the stairs down to the basement.
The basement, like the upper floors, was covered in dust. The previous owners seemed to use this large room for more storage as mostly empty shelves lined the walls.
She whispers to Myrianna, "I uh... you should go check on him!"
"Alright John, let's see that estate."
Myriana's ear twitched as Iris breathe passed over the fur with her whispered words and then nodded once as she followed Deseer downstairs. "It's not your fault Deseer-san nya, nothing you did brought us here right nya?"
The felinoid woman grabbed hold of Deseer's arm and sandwiched it between her bosom as she began to rub the side of her head against him purring, "You will do well nya Deseer-san"
After a bit more exploration it seemed it was time to go to their next destination.
Desseer is a bit taken aback by Myriana's physical affection and is left speechless for several moments.
He's been so focused on plans on plans in plans that he had spent very little time being reflective of what he was experiencing. Most of the time, there were subtle differences. He would certainly endeavor to take care of his friends and loved ones, but the difference was what he was willing to do. It didn't bother him that he might have to kill someone or, with his power, remove their agency. Hell, even considering that, he preferred to avoid it, but not due to some moral compulsion, instead because it might cause more issues long term. It seemed that his empathy was diminishing. He was beginning to look at other people as means to an end, objects in an obstacle course. His character build did require an evil alignment. Was that affecting him?
And then, there was Myriana's physical affection. Sanders was certainly not opposed to such things, but there was something else there. A hunger. A near on compulsion to ravish her. Yet again, his build used an incubus fiend template. Was that having an affect on his thoughts? Was Sanders becoming Desseer? Or was it something in the middle? The two were ingredients in a pot and just being melted together. The end result was some halfway point between the two?
Desseer closes his eyes and took a few breaths to collect himself. "Thanks Myriana," he says between measured breaths. He then opens his eyes and raises his head to look at Myriana with a smile. "Don't worry, ganbarimas!"
She hugs on them both. Her words come out quickly, "Many of the things you say doesn't make sense but thank you for accepting and loving me."
He whispers in Desseer's ear, "Can I break character with him?"
Desseer twitches slightly having forgotten the Sly's presence. "Oh, uhh..yes. He is a servant of mine."
He spreads his white wings and grabs ahold of John's shoulderpads and lifts off.
Nestled inconspicuously among the elegant avenues of a wealthy district, the manor house sits behind a modest iron gate, its stone façade softened by ivy and time. Unlike the neighboring homes with their manicured gardens and ostentatious facades, this manor wears a subtle elegance—its gray slate roof slightly uneven, windows framed with weathered wood, and shutters half-drawn as if in a long, patient slumber.
Though the street whispers of wealth, the manor doesn’t flaunt it. Instead, it exudes an old, quiet confidence—tall and narrow, built from pale, lichen-dusted stone, with a small brass plaque bearing only a single letter, almost worn smooth. The hedges have grown wild but not unruly, curling protectively around the house as though preserving its secrets. A small fountain in the front courtyard lies dry, its basin filled with leaves and a scattering of feathers, untouched by footsteps for years.
At night, it’s easy to forget it’s there. The lanterns by the door no longer light, and the stained-glass window on the third floor—depicting some forgotten crest or sigil—glows faintly when the moon hits it just right, casting fractured color onto the stone path below. Those who pass by often speak of a sense of stillness around it—not eerie, but hushed, as if the manor is listening.
To the left, an arched doorway leads into a drawing room where heavy velvet drapes, drawn halfway open, spill golden afternoon light across covered furniture and a grand hearth of gray-veined marble. A single armchair by the cold fireplace has no sheet over it. On the mantel, a clock ticks quietly, still running, its chimes long since silenced.
The manor is tall rather than sprawling, each floor a quiet world of its own. The staircase curls upward in a graceful spiral, its balustrade wrought iron with faintly arcane patterns woven into the design—easy to miss unless you're looking for them. Portraits line the stairwell, their subjects faded but dignified, all seeming to share the same sharp, intelligent gaze.
Upstairs, the bedrooms are still made, pillows fluffed, wardrobes closed. One room—a study—has been left just as it was: books stacked on the desk, an open journal with a dry inkwell beside it. A globe stands in the corner, not of any recognizable world, its continents unlabeled and unfamiliar. The shelves groan under the weight of tomes, some written in known languages, others in looping, unknowable script.
On the top floor, there’s an observatory of sorts, the dome ceiling cracked open slightly to the sky. Dust motes drift through the beam of light that filters in. Strange instruments rest on stands—half-astrolabe, half-music box, all made of brass and crystal. None of them seem to work, but they hum softly when touched.
The manor is silent, but not empty. Every room feels paused, like a breath held. It doesn’t feel haunted, not exactly—but it does feel inhabited, in a way that suggests the house itself is alive, dreaming patiently, waiting for someone who understands its quiet language to wake it up.
When they reached their next destination Myriana looked at it in near awe. She had never been to a manor like this before and while yes they did have their guild base it wasn't the same as a manor like this! "Wow," she said as she began to look around, "this is incredible nya!"
The feline woman looked at Iris, "Can you feel that Iris-chan nya? It feels like something slumbers here!"
"Wow, indeed," Desseer whispers, echoing Myriana's sentiment.
"Why was this manor abandoned, I wonder?" he adds as they tour around the inside. "I could spend a month studying just a section."
As he tours around, he makes good use of Detect Magic.
"Yes and I don't like it!" She states and clings to Myrianna. "I have never lived in such a large place before."
Desseer finds a three magical auras.
1. The Witherdoor
Wondrous Item, requires attunement.
This intricately carved oaken door stands in the basement on the wall. Vines of ivy are etched into its surface, with tiny embedded sapphires that glint like morning dew. When attuned, the door can be set upright on any flat surface and opened as if leading into another room. Instead of what’s behind it, the door opens into Virelay’s Garden, a once-lush magical greenhouse that has long since fallen into ruin.
Inside, you find the skeletal remains of fantastical flora: glowing mushrooms now dimmed, creeping vines that pulse faintly with residual magic, and shattered glass panes above that let in a hazy twilight. While the garden is dead, those trained in herbalism or arcana can attempt to harvest remnants of powerful, extinct herbs, gaining 1d4 doses of rare materials. Once per night of sleep, a user may find a single “ghost herb”, an ethereal plant that can be used in place of a costly spell component up to 250 gp.
However, the garden is not unguarded. A spectral entity—perhaps the echo of the druid who once tended it—roams the paths, whispering forgotten names and defending the garden from desecration.
2. Tincture of Twofold Tongues
Potion, uncommon
This iridescent green potion swirls with streaks of gold and silver. When consumed, it grants the drinker the ability to speak and understand two additional languages, Draconic and Sylvan, for the next 24 hours.
Additionally, during this time, the user has advantage on Charisma (Diplomacy) and (Bluff) checks involving creatures that speak either of the gained languages. There is a 10% chance that, upon the potion’s expiry, the user experiences a lingering side effect—accidentally speaking in one of the learned languages at random moments for the next day.
3. Ashenroot Bramble Ring
Ring, requires attunement by a druid or ranger
Forged from blackened silver and set with a single fossilized thorn, this ring pulses faintly with primal energy. While wearing the ring, you can cast the Entangle spell at will without expending a spell slot. Additionally, once after a night of rest, you can invoke the Ashenroot Curse:
All terrain within 20 feet becomes difficult terrain for 1 minute.
Creatures of your choice in the area must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC = your spell save DC) or become restrained by spectral, rootlike tendrils for 1 minute.
Any restrained creature takes 1d8 negative damage at the start of each of its turns.
While cursed, the terrain appears to blacken and smoke as if burnt from within—echoing the devastation of a forest fire. However, in areas of natural growth, the ring occasionally attracts strange wildlife or draws the attention of forest spirits, both benign and hostile.
Desseer approaches the door with a look of awe and eagerness. The aura's strength revealed the power that the door held and Desseer's mind was aflame. "Myriana, do you see that..?" he mumbled as a stepped closer and closer.
With a quick word and a hand swipe in between himself and the door, a faint glistening of magic showered the door. He then began looking over the door carefully, but thoroughly.
"Myriana, this door leads to another place. Maybe an extradimensional place." He runs a hand over the etchings, "If these etchings are anything to go by, somewhere..planty." He then looks at her with an eager smile, "Wanna go?"
Myriana did not pass up the chance to hold Iris when the witch clung to her and there may, or may not, have been a smug look on her face when Iris couldn't see. She put one arm around Iris and her hand stroked the witch's far hip gently, maybe getting a little close to certain regions best not touched in public, as her ears flicked.
"It's certainly fancy Iris-chan, or at least it would be if it was in good shape nya," Myriana said, "But where is it coming from nya? Is the place haunted nya?" Myriana rubbed her ears against Iris' side as she purred.
When they reached the strange door downstairs, and saw what was on the other side, Myriana blinked...slowly, as the fur on her ears started to stand up. "I we should be cautious about going in there just now nya, we need to be prepared to go up against a ghostly druid in its dying greenhouse nya."
Myriana looked the frame and the place on the other side as she considered the space. It was definitely someplace else but where was a good question. She tried to examine the magics in more detail to see if it was simply an extradimensional space, another plane, or a demi-plane.
Desseer puts on a pouty face, "But it could be so fun, Myriana. All this scheming and manipulating is interesting and all, but it doesn't replace the excitement of combat. I haven't done any since getting here. Can we try to find an adventurers guild or something? Maybe a mercenary company? I need a little more action to stay sane, and figure out how well this," he says while gesturing to himself, "works."
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He coughs and relays with enthusiasm, "There is an Adventuring Guild. Lots of bounties, though I fear most of them are far below your grand level. But it might be good for getting prepared for a tougher target. Also there is a ranking system. Most work bounties and get promoted, though there are tests you can take, which are pricey, to accelerate your rank. It would be a good place for Iris to start."
Desseer slumps in disappointment, "Let's go to the guild. It is the more cautioned approach. Plus, it will give us an opportunity to see how this all functions day-to-day." He then looks over to Myriana, Do you want to go as is, or in disguise?"
Desseer shrugs, "Either way John, lead the way."
With Deseer's willingness to back down from the druid, for now, Myriana nodded and said, "We can take it on another time nya, when we are prepared for it nya. We can try to prepare first nya."
As the discussion shifted to the adventurer's guild Myriana perked up at the idea. "That sounds good nya, we can work our way up the ranks nya and see just how different things are nyaow."
As they began to go towards the guild Myriana considered whether to go as herself or not and shrugged her shoulders, "Might as well be me nya, it might be good to build a reputation nya. It could be very helpful in the future if we are found out nya."
John leads the group back to town. Going straight to the adventuring guild. It is a classic guild with plenty of toughs around. You also notice a few newcomers with fresh clean and likely recently purchased. There is a priestess in such attire being cowed by three toughs.
The elven or half elven lass stays quiet and fliches from them. They scoff and continue to tell her lewd things and that she wants it. Looking around you have the newbies and the receptionists scared, then the toughs laughing at the scene.
Desseer raises an eyebrow curiously at the situation and then looks to John. "Not yet John. Myriana and Iris get first dibs. If they aren't inclined, it is all you." He then turns to Myriana and Iris, "I'll get your back."
She quietly responds to Desseer, "I am no fighter, I don't think any of my hexes or spells would be effective, I don't want to provoke them. I wish I could help her."
She does cast mage armor on herself.
Then she remembers, "I do have a way to charm them... should we? If so I will charm the bald one."
she moves forward and says to the bald human, "Hey big fella what are you up to? You don't need to give her all the attention..." She implies trying to change his attitude.
bald guy
tattoo on face guy
hat dude.
He stays on Desseer's shoulder watching with interest.
The three guys quickly forget about the priestess and come to the beautiful Iris. Who is trying to make friends with them.
She does warn them, "I am just looking for friends. I swing a different way my catfolk partner over there would likely have something to say if you want more than being my friend. Now why don't the three of you go and get me something cold to drink, maybe something to snack on?"
The guys do look at the Catfolk, head out and go look to get refreshments for Iris. The other one walks up to Myriana, "So, I have to speak with you about being more than a friend with your partner?"
Aasimar-Desseer approaches the priestess carefully. With a caring smile he asks, "Are you alright? Such boorish behavior is completely unacceptable. Do those social brigands need more firm instruction? Do they do this often?"
Hesitantly she states relaxing a bit, "Yeah... I just didn't like what they were saying. I dont know... his is my first day as an adventurer. Are you looking for a healer?"
"You know, I'm not sure. I'm not even an adventurer yet. How would I go about becoming one?"
She is obviously impressed by your attire and behavior. She smiles and offers, "I sure hope you need a healer. I am Bridgette and you are? Come with me you just speak to the receptionist."
At the reception she states, "I believe Desseer would like to join our guild."
The receptionist is a Gnome female with pink and blue colored hair. She states in a curious manner, "If you would like to join our guild. There is a bit of paperwork and if you want to accelerate your progress you can test yourself with our guild master."
"I am grateful to have met you Bridgette, I am Mendas. I come from...another place. I can not seem to be able to return to my home. So, as I figure it out, I endeavor to make this new place better."
"Greetings, yes, I am Mendas, as she says. I am willing to fill out the paperwork, and am also willing to speak to the guild master. These allies that I have gathered in my travels would also like to join. Should we speak with the guild master one at a time, or all at once?"
Sitting at a table a man in clerical robes with pamplets sits. he watches the newcomers as he interests one of the adventurers.
"Bratva, Blessed be his name, tells of a glorious deeds and power through self-sacrifice, and growth. he will keep you and guide you through life and its challenges. Please take a phamplet learn more, for knowledge is power" The man said as he observed.
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Myriana saw the bustle in the guild, and the altercation as the half-elf was accosted. She was about to go over there after she and Iris were given the first crack at the a~#@%&%s but decided to cede the initiative to Iris for the moment.
Myriana watched as Iris skillfully manipulated the men with her charm magic and got redirected them to get some food, all except the one who came up to Myriana after Iris said he had to talk with her first if he wanted something more from her. The man approached and Myriana, short as she was, was not going to let him look down at her as he asked for permission to be something more with Iris.
Myriana lifted a chair up to set it on the table and then, when the guy was approaching her, took a step through a crack in space and ended up on top of the chair on the table. She looked at the man, now able to look down at him rather than up and waited to see if he still had the courage to approach her after that display of magical ability.
Myriana's ears twitched, her tail stilled behind her, and she remained cool and aloof until the man reached her. She knew what Iris had said, and she was not going to make letting the man into their bed easy. She considered what he had asked of her and Myriana finally asked archly, "And what makes you think you are worthy of Iris-chan and my affections nya? Especially after that display with the priestess there nya?" Myriana was surprised that Iris even suggested such a thing at all rather than deny him outright but maybe it had to do with the charm she had used so she wanted to be sure that this was what Iris wanted before she would even consider it, and she certainly wouldn't let Iris have fun without her so this man had to mee her standards too. his earlier behavior was not in his favor.
Desseer winces at Myriana's theatrics momentarily, but recovers quickly and continues with what he's doing.
'Hello boss, pleasure to see you arrived' Ink telepathically says still holding his guise of a simple human monk in robes.
'Should I aid our Catfolk and her pet or just continue on my quest' Ink said again just being nonchalant.
"I am grateful to have met you Bridgette, I am Mendas. I come from...another place. I can not seem to be able to return to my home. So, as I figure it out, I endeavor to make this new place better."
A bit concerned she replies, "I am sorry to hear that you are unable to return home. I appreciate that, Desna bless you."
"Greetings, yes, I am Mendas, as she says. I am willing to fill out the paperwork, and am also willing to speak to the guild master. These allies that I have gathered in my travels would also like to join. Should we speak with the guild master one at a time, or all at once?"
The Gnome has a welcoming smile as she states, "Mendas we are happy to have you and your allies." She pulls out multiple copies of the forms to be filled out by everyone. "Would you like to register as a team as well? Now the test for advancement is a way to measure your power, so you must do it alone. Once we have this paperwork done I will take one of you back."