Age of Ashes (Team Alseta)

Game Master Delta Arena

Once they’re certain that the bear has left, Ellaeaanda goes to shut the door to the main hall (west door of B1), just in case—they don’t want the bear (or any other animal) accidentally wandering back down the secret tunnel and getting trapped down here again.

Rejoining her companions, she compliments Netkin. “Boon of the norns, invention’s gift you have. Alak’s ring we seek.” She follows the others to search the bear’s former room.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

The stately bedroom looks like a horrific crime scene. Sprawled haphazardly everywhere are half-mauled boggard and charau-ka remains lying in pools of blood, splintered furniture, bed curtains and rugs torn to shreds, and massive piles of dung.

Visible in the torn pouches held by one of the late boggards and one of the late charau-kas are a tanglefoot bag and a vial of alchemist’s fire.

In the debris, on the north side of the room, there is a collection of tattered books. The books are badly damaged, but still readable, and they contain some historical information about the Order of the Nail.

"Oh! Books! If you don't mind, I'd love to add them to my collection. When I have time, I can transcribe information about the Order of the Nail into my tome!"

Cerrus doesn't wait for confirmation from the group before very carefully arranging the books and starting to read from one of them.

Resa pokes around, looking for anything to help out the party. She would pass things to everyone else, given she was not the best at throwing items. If nothing else was to be found, she would quietly turn her attention to the next room/door to explore, and quietly try her best to scout the area.

As she calmly surveys the scene of death and destruction, Ellaeaanda casually remarks “Fighting the bear was unwise. A better path we chose.” She nods at Resa, acknowledging the wisdom of the tiefling’s idea.

She leaves the vial and tanglefoot bag for Netkin, and the damaged books for Cerrus. Instead she broaches the question of what to do next. “Another choice awaits. Dare we breach doors guarded by slime, or uncover the sounds of the southern wing?”

Netkin discovers the tanglefoot bag and the alchemist's fire with obvious delight. "Oh! Free bombs! Neat!"

"

"Oh! Books! If you don't mind, I'd love to add them to my collection. When I have time, I can transcribe information about the Order of the Nail into my tome!"

The halfling's beaming smile fades a bit when he realises he will have to share with the other geek of the group. "Oh... I guess so!... Can I borrow them too, later?"

"“Another choice awaits. Dare we breach doors guarded by slime, or uncover the sounds of the southern wing?”

"Both... Sound bad."

"Maybe the slime...?" he says, very hesitantly.

" Actually, why not find out what the sounds are from first? Slimes we know shall not be open to dialogue, but perhaps other sounds are?"

There is nothing else of value, and the northern right wing of the citadel is now quiet and safe.

Sounds are comming from B13, slime is in B4

Ellaeaanda nods in agreement with Resa. “Sounds fade, but slime remains. Let us hear what can be heard.” She heads towards where the kobolds had reported hearing noises and listens carefully at the door for herself.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Cerrus looks up from the new books and frowns for a moment, as if he heard the recent conversation but didn't really listen. Then he starts to piece it together. "Of course, Netkin. Happy to share the find! He hands Netkin a few of the books and puts the rest in his pack.

Then, he follows Ellaeaanda and Resa to the next door and helps them listen.

While his teammates are all investigating the noises, Netkin can't resist quickly flipping through the pages of one book as he waits.

Lore (Breachchill): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

The clanking of metal is clearly heard through the door. There is also the rickety sound of boney steps against the cold stone floor. Multiple figures occasionally moving inside.

Netkin

There is not much that you don’t already know about the order of the nail, how it settled near breachill and fought during the goblinblood wars. But the tomes also mention Alak’s forebearers, including his parents. His father was an important judge and historian, and he was the main scribe for the order in the later years of their stay at hellknight hill. His mother was a high ranking signifier in charge of conducting the hellknight test and summoning the devil to be slaughtered.

The books also mentions ceremonial burials that took place in the souther wing of the vaults. According to the book there is the Sepulcher of the Nail to the west, where high-ranking Hellknights were buried, and the Hall of Lictors to the south, where only the order’s Lictors are interred. As is tradition, high-ranking officers are buried with possessions that had personal significance to them, while Lictors where buried with magical weapons that they favoured in life.

"Mmm," Netkin mutters to himself. "Interesting." He closes the book, and carefully tucks the whole pile in his backpack.

He looks back at his teammates, and at the hallway facing them. He thinks of the maps of the vaults he just saw, and realises where they are.

Something clicks, and he lets out a gasp - then mentally curses himself from making some noise.

He gestures at Cerrus and Ellaeaanda to move away from the door. "I think this might be the section of the vaults where former Hellknights were entombed," he quickly explains. "It's all in your book, Cerrus!"

"We have to be careful - some might have been buried with their magical weapons to go to the afterlife! And if something has picked them up..."

"Or if some of the entombed Hellknights broke out of their tombs," Arloric adds. "Ready your bone-breaking weapons."

“Skeletons, I fear,” Ellaeaanda whispers what she had heard through the door to Netkin and the others, “bearing arms or armor.” With a gentle nod she confirms Ardoinel’s worry. “The favored weapons of Ketephys and Calistria hold no sway here,” she adds, putting away her longbow, though she curiously draws her whip instead, despite what she just said. She ponders what awaits in the crypt--how were they raised and why?--while calmly waiting for someone else like Resa or Cerrus to open the door when everyone is ready.

Drop lead on slime. Pursue a Lead on the undead noises she heard

”The ward must have been triggered,” says Alak. ”The order has abandoned the practice, but we used to place necromantic wards that would animate guardians if someone tried using necromancy inside our sepulchers. There is no such ward in Varisia, but our history survives.”

"Skeletons?! Oh dear..." Netkin hurriedly reaches for one of his alchemist's fires.

"Do you think they would be able to tell the difference between a Hellknight and an intruder?" he asks Alak hopefully. "I don't suppose there's any way to, oh, I don't know, tell them everything is alright and they can go back to sleep?"

“What manner of guardians are these?” Ellaeaanda asks Alak. “Last they forever or a day?”

"They are set to protect the order, it is possible that they could distinguish between the two. But I'm not sure, I have never seen them in action."

"They last until the signifiers dismiss them. They can somehow control the state of the ward."

" I will open the door then, and if you wish, why not see if you can get them to calm? If so, we will proceed. If not, we can shut the door back and regroup. It is not a retreat, but a regrouping to figure out a better way in. That is something hellknights do right? Think things out?" Her tone tells her words are not meant to insult, more her trying to politely ask about how the order works.

Finding himself at the front of the line, Cerrus opens the door and peers in, hoping to see the source of the noise.

"It certainly would be easier if the sight of a Hellknight was enough to stop them!"

“A worthy idea,” Ellaeaanda says to Resa. “If guardians there be, perhaps Alak can convey our peace.”

Cerrus

You see six skeletons in the room, one of which is wearing a partial suit of hellknight plate armour.

Alak

Alak nods at your suggestions and goes into the room. As he enters, the skeleton in armour turns towards him. It stares at him for a few moments and goes back to shuffling around.

”Greetings, I am Alak Stagram. Would you let my companions through?”

فقط شبهای جهنمی مجاز به حضور در این تالارهای مقدس هستند

”The skeleton says that only hellknights are allowed,” he yells back so that you can hear him.

“Undead to protect against necromancy,” Ellaeaanda muses. “Know they what triggered the ward?” she calls back to Alak. “What tales have they seen?”

Netkin gives the situation some thought. "How can someone prove to them that they're Hellknights?" he asks.

"An elf came to ask questions of the dead. We drove her away."

Ellaeaanda

Do the dead have weaknesses? You don't know their weakest save.

Netkin

"I don't know," say Alak. "Maybe they recognize my armour, or the order's insignia."

Ardoinel nods as Alak communicates with the skeletons, but does not cross the threshold of the room.

"At the very least, they may have information to help you recover what you're looking for, Alak. Ask them if they have memories of the Stagrams."

He chuckles a bit.

"Who knows? Maybe among these guardians is one of your own kin, and you may show with pride that the Stagrams support the cause of order still."

Cerrus talks quietly to the group, hoping to avoid upsetting Alak. "I'm not a follower of Pharasma, but there's something about the undead that angers me. I'm in favor of sending them to the River of Souls." But, Cerrus doesn't draw his weapon, nor does he act aggressively.

“Strange indeed is undead against creating undead,” Ellaeaanda calmly agrees with Cerrus, though her demeanor also remains neutral. To Alak (or rather, to the guardians via Alak) she asks “When did this elf come? What questions would she ask? Can they describe her?” Boggards and charau-kas and goblins and kobolds she expects, but the presence of another elf is most unusual.

" Here, perhaps if we try this... take me as a prisoner maybe? I mean... it can't hurt to see if it would allow a hellknight and prisoner past? And I would be able to see the otherside, and perhaps be safe? We could cross that way?" Resa offers, unsure really how to proceed without a fight against what she sees as guardians, not evil. They did not seem to seek harm to anyone who should not approach.

"Resa, I'd strongly advise against that," Ardoinel says. "I doubt Hellknights would be escorting a prisoner into the tombs of their honored dead. Alak may not be able to protect you on his own should they object to your presence."

""I don't know. Maybe they recognize my armour, or the order's insignia."

"I was thinking that you could ask them, actually, since they can speak. Perhaps they could be convinced that we are Hellknights too and leave us alone!"

" "I'm not a follower of Pharasma, but there's something about the undead that angers me. I'm in favor of sending them to the River of Souls."

"Hm, I agree that it's definitely off-putting - but on the other hand, they seem in no immediate danger," Netkin says. "Besides, spells are not eternal, and surely a necromantic ward will eventually wear off?"

”I knew the painter, once. We went on a hunt for a grisantian lion. He was a formidable hunter. Pierced the side of the beast with one good throw of his spear.”

Alak, focused on the story about his ancestor, does not hear Cerrus’ words.

”She came in four nights ago, asking for Alseta’s ring, looking for a way in. She was tall and as pale as we ourselves are. With long blond hair and dark green robes.”

Resa and Cerrus, one of the two is right.

”Although not a full hellknight, your insignias mark you as one of our own. That is how we knew.”

"Oh, that must be Voz Lirayne!" Netkin exclaims. "She owns the Reliant Book Company back in Breachhill. Grandma loves it."

"What was she doing here? It doesn't make sense... Did she get the ring?"

"Well, unless we can find some insignias lying around... Oh wait! Cerrus, did you keep the ones you found?"

Cerrus mind wanders a bit during the back and forth about the skeletons, Alak, and the party, but he is jolted into awareness when Netkin mentions his name.

"What insignias? Oh, the ones we found in the citadel? I don't have any in my pack. And come to think of it, I'm pretty sure we just left all of them there." Cerrus starts to realize the implication and talks at a rapid pace. "We could quickly return to that room, grab enough for all of us, and get past these skeletons. Great memory, Netkin!

Cerrus starts to back out of the room. "Alak, can you stay here and keep the skeletons .. busy? I'll grab the insignias. Who wants to join me?"

Ardoinel side-eyes Cerrus and Netkin.

"Are you sure they can't hear you?" he says quietly.

”Please, forgive them. The measure and the chain has not yet been instilled in them,” says Alak ”Our order’s recruitment efforts have expanded since we moved to Varisia. Selection is less strict.”

"Are you not a recruit as well, Arminger?"

"Your gear holds up to scritiny, but do your actions measure to the chain? And will your companion's insignias hold up as well?"

The Skeletons attitude remains as Indifferent.

Ardoinel grimaces, though it's unclear whether it's at the deception in and of itself or merely Alak's bad attempt at it.

Ellaeaanda nods sagely when Netkin deduces that the elf must be Voz Lirayne. “What Calmont knows of aiudara was stolen from her notes, so she would know more than he. And all elves are drawn to aiudara.” she offers as an explanation for Lirayne’s presence.

While the thaumaturge retrieves the insignias, Ellaeaanda solemnly intones “Order. Discipline. Mercilessness.” in a faraway voice, reciting the notes Cerrus had inscribed in his tome. “The three virtues of hellknights. Savagery must be quelled in the land, home, and mind.” Perhaps her knowledge of the hellknight code would impress the skeletons.

Netkin sneaks away with Cerrus to go grab enough insignias for the group. Hopefully it will be enough to fool the undead.

On the way to and from, Cerrus asks Netkin, "Do you think the skeletons overheard our conversation? I think we were far enough away. Right?"

Cerrus keeps an eye on the various door and hallways, unsure if new creatures have taken residence.

Resa whispers to Ellaeaanda, " I do not think I will pass muster. Do hellknights often allow... not pure elves to join? Though I really do want to see this gate. Maybe it will tell me more of my own heritage. Or at least more information of kin. Surely my father had other family who may wish me."

From her words, it is clear that Resa has very little idea of what the gate means outside of what little they have uncovered. Resa was not exactly versed in the arcane arts like others here.

Ellaeaanda doesn’t lower her voice when she responds to Resa, but then again, her soft dreamy words aren’t really that loud. “No elf is Alak, yet hellknight he is,” she says, interpreting the tiefling’s words quite literally. “Strict order is the alpha and omega—adherence to the Order’s tenets is both air and water to its members. Little else matters.” Her wide eyes look directly through the rogue. “Aiudara are wonders for all, but every elf feels a special connection. You shall feel what Ardoinel feels.”

Cerrus and Netkin

No new monsters have taken residence in the wing, which the Bumblebrashers have temporarily claimed for themselves. There is less than half of the tribe present at the moment, as most of them are out hunting, but they great you as you pass through the training hall and the mess hall. You can see, by the state of the mess hall, that the goblins have been using it, as there are dirty wooden plates and tankards, and leftover food everywhere.

Once you reach the drill auditorium, you find what you were looking for right were it was. A dozen or so dusty insignias scattered on the ground, some slightly faded or torn by the passage of time, but enough of them are in good condition, if not for the thick layer of dust and dirt on them.

Skeleton[b]

[b]"Ah, perhaps there is at least one worthy Arminger among you," the skeleton says to Alak. "Why don't you approach, recruit? Join your fellow Arminger within these hallowed halls," he shouts at Ellaeaanda's voice in common. "Unless you have something to hide!"

Alak falls silence to the skeletons apparent signority.

Whispering to Ellaeaanda, Resa says " Look, maybe if I go forward, it'll be lessen, since I am not fully over my... corrupted influence. Maybe they will be more understanding in death? And that helps to prove that we are here to clear the area, that one such as myself knows to be respectful before senior members?"

Ellaeaanda silently shakes her head at Resa, then calls back to the skeleton. “Fate hides nothing to those who would see. Bound to my fellows am I, as oath binds you beyond death. Enter we all, or none at all. We await the return of two worthies—only then shall we enter, together.” And so she waits for Cerrus and Netkin to return and distribute the insignias—hopefully cleaned of the muck or dirt that may have accumulated on them.

"Together, you say. Yet here stands one of you, alone, in front of me."

"آنها خیلی به شما اهمیت نمی دهند، اما شما آنها را پوشش می دهید. چه چیزی تو را به آنها متصل می کند، آرمینگر؟"

Alak takes some time before replying.

"ارگ به دست رام نشده ها افتاده است. من هیچ شب جهنمی را نمی بینم که نظم ایجاد کند، اما اینجا آنها دقیقاً این کار را انجام می دهند."

Alak is Frightened 1

In spite of his shorter legs, Netkin does his best to keep up with Cerrus' pace, and he comes back to the party almost running. Wordlessly, he distributes the insignias. Fingers crossed it will suffice.

Cerrus signals for the group to move behind the corner, out of sigh of the skeletons. As Cerrus hands each insignia to the party, he brushes each off so that the cobwebs and dust are wiped away.

He quietly says to the group, "I hope this works, but be ready for a fight."

Cerrus leads the party back into the chamber and joins Alak. He addresses the skeletons. "I apologize for the group. We forgot to wear our insignias when we woke this morning. We are still new to the Order."