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The Cardinal nods, "You are welcome to seek another solution, but if an abandoned boat is found, suspicions will be raised and your job will be made harder. But I will not stifle your creativity as long as it does lead to success." He pauses and then adds, "If it makes a difference, I have a separate ship which will be made available once you've completed your mission."
Cardinal Thorn laughs, "Straight to business it seems. Well then," he wipes his mouth with a cloth and sets his silverware down. "Your mission is war, my children. You will bring war to Talingarde." "You have two objectives. First, you will see a shipment of munitions delivered to a bugbear chieftain named Sakkarot Fire-Axe." Thorn motions vaguely out the window where you can see a ship floating on the nearby dock. "He makes his camp on the northern coast of Lake Tarik beyond the Watch Wall. With this shipment, the Fire-Axe will have resources enough to unite the barbarous humanoid tribes of the north and light the fire of war." "Sitting on the dock as we speak is the longship Frosthamar captained by Kargeld Odenkirk. Tomorrow when the ship is resupplied it will be your transport. The captain is a ruthless mercenary and not to be trusted. He knows nothing of the specifics of our mission and you should keep it that way. He knows he is smuggling cargo to the north beyond the Watch Wall. That is all he need know." "Once the cargo is safely delivered, he will take you just south across the lake under cover of darkness and land you near the town of Aldencross. There our contract with Captain Odenkirk will be concluded." "It is a shame how greedy he has proven. I had hoped to let the captain serve me again but it seems he is too much of a liability. Kill him. Kill his crew. Burn his ship and leave no survivors. It is crucial that no one suspects our involvement and that loose ends are taken care of." He stops considering then nods, "Be sure to reclaim the coin I gave him. Best not to be wasteful." "That done, you will begin your second task. We will do more still to aid our ally the Fire-axe. The bugbears are mighty warriors but poor siege engineers. You will infiltrate the tower Balentyne, keystone of the Watch Wall, kill its commander and open the gate for Sakkarot’s horde." "Once the shaggy monstrosities pierce the Watch Wall, the bugbears will pillage and lay waste to the townships of the north and the local garrisons will have no choice but to meet the Fire-Axe in the open field. Sakkarot is the most brilliant, gifted and murderous bugbear of his generation. I expect these battles will go poorly for the knights and yeoman of fair Talingarde."
"Do all of this and then when your task is done, break this clay seal." He hands Silarsha a delicately carved clay seal adorned with a tangled knot of thorns surrounding the holy symbol of Asmodeus. "I will have more instructions then. Succeed and I will see you rewarded handsomely. I hope I do not have to detail what will happen if you fail or betray me." He looks questioningly around the table. "The mission you start upon today is a holy mission. The people of Talingarde think they safe in Mitra's hands. Soon enough we will remind them that there is no escaping the grasp of Hell. Let us toast our success." He pours one glass of deep red wine for himself. He raises the glass and offers a toast. "To war."
Tiadora and Thorn arrive as Brice and Florian are smashing their cups. Thorn smirks, but Tiadora snarls a bit and immediately catches some of the slaves to clean the mess up. "Welcome all, I am glad you have gotten started already. Before we go much further into the meal, I intend to make your new knot fully official. There is a small ritual, that will solidify your place." Thorn nods to Tiadora, who grabs one of the slaves, as Thorn begins to chant a complicated magic. It is not long before a strange creature appears, barbs covering its entire body. The creature stands nearly 7 feet tall, and fires glow from its eyes. The servant Tiadora brought over stands before the creature and Cardinal Thorn only nods. The sounds of breaking bones and tearing flesh fill the room for a long moment. When it is all over, there is little left of the slave. Knowledge (Planes) DC 21:
The creature is a barbed devil. A terrifying creature from hell, the jailers of the most horrible souls in hell. Cardinal Thorn smiles at the gleeful creature, before drawing a small silver dagger, and drawing a line down its arm. He collects a small amount of the mingled blood there, then dismisses the strange, terrifying creature. Cardinal Thorn then approaches each of you one by one, and draws Asmodeus symbol on your forehead. It seems to burn slightly as it touches you and you can feel a portion of Hell's strength coursing into you as he does so. Finally, Cardinal Thorn stands and pronounces, "The Nessian Knot is forged! You will make Talingarde tremble." The cardinal shakes himself, and wipes his hands on a towel brought to him, "Now let us feast." He sits down at the table and begins to dig into the food there.
Thorn smiles down at Charmaine, "Of course you may bring the ogre. Though he is not part of the knot, I can see he will be with you." He stops Florian on his way out, seeing the man disappointed, "While you may not see your own growth, trust me, it is there. You have done great, and will begin to do great things as you now move forward to enact my plans."
Finally, the team, much improved, gathers together for the final training session, a test of skill and teamwork. A small group of shadowy minions are brought into the courtyard and surround the Knot of Thorns, Brice quickly sees the weak point in the enemy formation, and points Charmaine towards it, while Silarsha keeps the main group occupied, cutting down creature after creature. Heverly manages to get in close and burn them away with fire, while Brice and Florian take out the wings with their own magic. The group is quick and efficient as they work, and it is not long, with very little hurt, before they stand in front of Adrastus, having utterly destroyed their enemy. "Ah, you are ready. Tonight, we will feast. Tomorrow you will receive your first mission. Go prepare yourselves for the celebration tonight. "
The next morning Florian and Brice find one of the slaves have brought in an iron circlet, matching the others' and a small bag of gold with a small note pinned to it. A small signing bonus. The circlet will aid you in hiding among our enemies, and the gold will aid you in your journey. There are 400 gp inside. Eventually you are all called to the courtyard, where Cardinal Thorn begins to train you. You find it is a long greuling process. He often uses treining dummies, or slaves for sparring, but occasionally, a captured enemy or summoned creature is there and set free to help hone and test your improving skills. Tiadora is around, though she attempts to avoid most of you. When she does help with the training, she is cruel and pleasures in causing pain and failure. Cardinal Thorn shows himself as an excellent teacher and master of many subjects. There is seldom a wasted moment in his lessons, and his drills are constantly pushing you to rely on one another. In addition to the team trainings, he frequently pulls one or two of the Knot to the side, instructing them personally in their own power. Brice:
he cardinal spends long hours teaching you how to best use your weapon to enhance the effectivness of your magic. Your sword thrums with power as you move in time, striking and casting.
"Keep your opponent off balance to destroy them." Whenever you strike a foe with a weapon, the DC of the next spell you cast against that person increases by 1 and you gain a +1 trait bonus to overcome their spell resistance. This spell must be cast before the end of your next turn. Charmaine:
The Cardinal trained you in the arts of being silent and stealthy. It seems surprising how quietly the man is able to move.
“Be quiet as death, and rule all.” You gain a +2 trait bonus to Stealth checks. Florian:
Cardinal Thorn teaches you never to shirk or hesitate in a combat. He hones your reactions till you can almost feel yourself preparing for a fight before you know it's coming.
“Strike first, strike ruthlessly and thus be victorious.” You gain a +2 trait bonus on Initiative checks. Heverly:
Adrastus trained you in the art of convincing others to do what you need done. Your arguments are filed smooth and you begin to understand how to truly motivate someone.
"With the silver tongue of devils, you can do anything." You gain a +2 trait bonus to Diplomacy checks. Silarsha:
Adrastus Thorn teaches you the subtle arts of deception and how to sense when they are being used against you.
“Deception is a tool. Master it.” You gain a +1 trait bonus to Bluff checks to lie and Sense Motive checks to tell when someone is lying to you. One of these (your choice) is a class skill for you. Things are not all training though. The Cardinal seems to disappear occasionally, with free time given with instructions to improve and prepare yourselves. There are also some days given to be totally free, to rest up and absorb what has been taught. Before long, it seems three months have passed.
The cardinal smiles, "I am pleased you are already beginning to get along. Tomorrow we begin training. Today, rest from your travels and your ordeals." The cardinal rolls up the Pact of Thorns and hands it to Florian. He then motions to the door dismissing you now and turns back to his work.
The cardinal stands and smiles, "I am glad you have accommodated to each other so well. I believe this will be good. Now, let's make it official. Where is your copy of the pact? Ah perfect." He adds it to the tray and brings it to Brice and Florian, "Now if you will sign. Blood is traditional," he says. There is a small silver ritual knife on the tray, and a quill ready and waiting.
The knot arrives to Cardinal Thorn's study, finding two men there already. The cardinal stops and looks around at them. "Welcome again, I am sure you have some questions. Come in, all will be explained." Once the group is all settled in he motions, "First, Talia, Wocket, I have considered our discussion and have decided to grant you leave to join the Coycitian Knot, the White Ravens, in their journey and task. You leave today, you are dismissed to prepare for your journey. I will bring by an amended contract for you to sign later." Talia nods, face severe, as she eyes the others, before turning and leaving. Wocket prostrates herself again, "You won't regret this." she says, groveling before she gets up to leave at a wave from the Cardinal. Once the two are gone, Cardinal Thorn turns back, "Now, I had been in process of recruiting these two to help the White Ravens, but circumstances have changed, and I believe this will work better. Allow me to introduce Brice LeVaughn and Florian Paran. Brice and Florian, this is the Nessian Knot, your new companions. Silarsha Torvsdottir, Charmaine Trill and Heverly Otenscar. I would have you be a team, work together to bring about the downfall of Talingarde and Mitra. I would forge you into my Nessian Knot."
Florian and Brice: <You're right. You've already gotten us through so much. But now we really can get our revenge, and father can get what he deserves.>
Cardinal Thorn claps his hands, "Excellent. As I said before, you will be held to this with exactitude, and--other than me--it does not mention anything about other Asmodean servants. Of course it is always wise to cede to those who have power over you, but only until you can gain your own advantage. Wouldn't you agree?" Thorn comes back over and takes the parchment. "Indeed you will meet the others, and they will meet you," he motions and Tiadora leaves. "Presently in fact. There are two copies to be signed. One that I hold, and one that they, or soon to be you, together, hold." The cardinal places the document on a tray with a small ceremonial knife and a dipping pen, then turns back. "They will be here shortly."
Florian and Brice: The blade does not reply, except for a sense of tension, as if preparing for a fight.
Cardinal Thorn nods and smiles at Florian, then turns back to Brice and grimaces. "We will seal your agreement in a moment Florian. Brice, I understand you are not wanting to subject yourself to a new god. But at least think for a moment. While you are not marked as I am, you still have nowhere to go. Your rescources are depleted and you are a wanted man. Who else would take you in and protect you?" He purses his lips and looks at Brice seriously. "I am not an unreasonable man however." Thorn walks back to his desk and pulls out a sheet of paper, "I will allow you to look over the terms you will be asked to agree to. If you agree and sign, you will be held to this with exactitude. No more, no less. If you can find these terms agreeable, then I can help you find your revenge against Talingarde. Otherwise, I will take a vial of your blood, solely to ensure that you will not betray what I have let you know thus far, and you will be free to go find your own means of vengeance. With what little you have left." He hands the sheet of velum to you. It is made out of a strange pale leather, with writing on it. At the bottom, are a few names, signed in some sort of red ink. Finally as the cardinal returns to his table, you feel the blade's tension change somehow, <How would we destroy the Mitrans if not with him? Do you have a plan I don't know about?> The cardinal sits and waits as you look over the contract.
Brice and Florian: Cardinal Thorn smirks at mention of his brand. "It was neither of those, but yes. I did manage to escape the fires of Mitran justice." He gives a knowing look at Brice. He then listens carefully as Brice rattles off his demands. Finally he laughs, "You have some amount of ambition in you. That is good. Our lord values that. I will not lie to you and promise you those things now, but I can promise that you will be given everything you earn, and rewarded above and beyond that if your service is deemed good. However if you prove to be weak . . ." he shakes his head, "Asmodeus never rewards weakness, and neither will I. Prove yourself and that which you desire will come to you. If you can prove your worth, you may find yourself lord over much more than your family land."
The Cardinal then turns to Florian, a pleased smile on his face, "As for you, no, there is no problem. Your pursuits may bring you great glory one day, I am sure. There is nothing in that which goes against Asmodeus or our mission. In fact, as I've told our other friend, it is encouraged."
Brice and Florian: Sitting in a leather high-backed chair is a bald, yet handsome man draped in fine robes and wearing a gold symbol of Asmodeus. He smiles as you enter, a genuine smile. "I am pleased you have been able to escape those horrid witch hunters. Of course you had help," he says with a wicked smile, "but still it is a feat worth much."
He waves his hands as if waving the matter away, "But enough with the pleasantries. You must be curious why I've helped you. Rest assured this is no random act of altruism. I have brought you here for a reason." The man stands at this point and motions to himself, "My name is Cardinal Adrastus Thorn. I am the last high priest of Asmodeus left on the island of Talingarde. Once the Prince of Nessus was rightly revered alongside the other great powers. Now the king of Talingarde has become a puppet to Mitran fanatics who wish to destroy any religion or person that does not bow to their insipid sun god." "They trample on those who are not like them, and you are both an example of that. You were both condemned for your search of magic. And others around you as well," he raises his eyebrow as he looks at Brice. "You may not have been able to help them before, but now I offer a chance of revenge. For their blasphemy and intollerance, I would see the same people who persecuted and condemned you suffer. I understand what you went through, for I have faced it myself." With that, he pulls up the sleeve of his robe and reveals a runic ‘F’ brand, marking him as forsaken. “I am going to burn Talingarde to the ground and from the ashes I will build a new nation. Built for those of us who have been pushed to the side for too long. I cannot do this alone. I seek servants worthy of our Infernal Father’s majesty. Have I found them in you?” His eyes flash with hellfire and divine purpose. “Join me! Serve me well in this holy endeavor and I will raise you up in the eyes of gods and men. I will make you rulers of the new Talingarde. Today, swear fealty to me and to Asmodeus. Tomorrow, those who trod on you will be burnt and those in their place will swear fealty to you." "Put aside forgiveness and I shall give you vengeance. Put aside mercy and be made powerful. Put aside peace and become my harbingers of war. What say you? Will you swear your allegiance or will you burn with the rest of the blind fools?”
The high priest holds the trinket and pauses as if in deep contemplation. He watches the holy symbol glitter in the light. "A pretty enough thing, eh?" he muses. "This is a holy symbol of Mitra in particular the sort favored by the Knights of the Alerion. Perhaps you already knew that." "Remember this symbol. This is the mark of those who destroyed our faith and sought to banish all trace of the worship of our Father from these shores. These, my friends, are your enemies." He tosses the holy symbol back to Wocket. "Keep it. It may aid you in disguising yourself." He smiles. "You have done well. Escaping from Branderscar, running through the nine lessons, slaughtering Sir Balin . . . yes," he says, turning to Talia, "you are worthy. Now, let us complete your training."
You all make your way back out of the terrible pit, carrying a large amount of earned equipment with you. It is rather easy after this point, as all obstacles have been dealt with. Returning to the top of the stairs, and then to Thorn's office. Adrastus sits in his study seeming almost as he has moved not an inch from where he gave you your orders at dusk yesterday. “You’ve returned,” he says looking you all over with an appraising eye.
The days come and go, with perhaps far too much sluggishness, but eventually they do pass. On the evning of the third day, you are summoned again as a group to Cardinal Thorn's office. When you arive, Cardinal Thorn sits in his chair, looking thoughtfully out a window. He turns as you enter, "Have you enjoyed your gifts? The iron circlets allow you to move amongst your enemies as one of them. The silver amulets will remind you of your true loyalties. And the other items – well, you need them now." "You have done well to escape from Branderscar and to accept my offer. However, you are still not ready for my service. Tiadora will lead you to the basement of this domicile. There you will find nine chambers each more dangerous than the last. Somewhere hidden within these chambers is a pendant of silver and sapphire. Recover the pendant and bring it to me. Let nothing and no one stand in your way." He stands up and turns back to the manor house window, looking out across the grey moor. "It’s almost dusk. You have until dusk tomorrow to bring me my prize. Do not fail me." Cardinal Thorn takes a seat at his desk.
The Cardinal laughs, "Yes, I can see how . . ." He touches the spot on his arm where his mark had shown earlier, "No. Though I was burnt and marked, it was not at Branderscar. You truly were the first to escape that foul place. I am sure that was quite the ordeal, in itself." He drops the subject there. It seems he does not wish to say where he received his own marking.
Cardinal Thorn smiles, “Well done. Your first command: prepare yourselves. Stay within the manor. You are still hunted by the Talirean soldiery. In three days we begin your training.” He motions to the servants, "Tiadora and her servants will see to your well-being. I must see to some things in the mean time." The servants come, and grab the tray, taking it away. They roll up one copy of the contract and hand it over to Heverly, where the other one goes to Cardinal Thorn. Tiadora appears, ready to lead you back to your chambers.
Talia:
You truly cannot identify the leather, as it seems like nothing you've seen before.
As for the contract itself, it seems fairly straightforward. Cardinal Thorn nods to Silarsha, "Yes, that can be provided for you, I will have a copy of the Asmodean Monograph placed in your rooms. Though, I should warn you, it is a hefty volume. Our master enjoys the small details. Until you have had some time to look it over, it should be enough for you to know he values strength, ambition and order. The strong have a right to rule the weak. Make yourself one of the strong, rise high in ranks and power. Hold to every letter and detail of the contracts that bond you, and create a higher order, making sure others hold to their bargains and deals as well. And finally, and most pertinent to us, punish without mercy those who have failed in their duties."
"I'll take that as a, 'yes,'" Thorn says with an almost paternal smile at Wocket. He claps his hands and runs them together, “Excellent. Let us make it official. Signing in blood is traditional.” He motions and some servants come forward bearing a tray with a quill, a silver ritual knife, and two copies of a contract, written on a strange, pale leather, in red ink. "One copy is for you to keep, one for me. Feel free to read it over and if you have questions, ask them now. Our master does not suffer fools, and will not relieved you of your duties because of ignorance."
Sitting in a leather high-backed chair is a bald, yet handsome man draped in fine robes and wearing a gold symbol of Asmodeus. He smiles as you enter. "I believe you to be the first to ever escape from Branderscar Prison. Well done! Of course you had help from the outside," he says with a wicked smile, "but still a feat nonetheless." He waves his hands as if waving the matter away, "But enough with the pleasantries. You must be curious why I've helped you. Rest assured this is no random act of altruism. I have brought you here for a reason." The man stands at this point and motions to himself, "My name is Cardinal Adrastus Thorn. I am the last high priest of Asmodeus left on the island of Talingarde. Once the Prince of Nessus was rightly revered alongside the other great powers. Now the king of Talingarde has become a puppet to Mitran fanatics who wish to destroy any religion or person that does not bow to their insipid sun god." "They trample on those who are not like them, and each of you are an example of that. Whether that be for your parantage," he motions to Wocket and Talia, "your ways of life," he looks at Silarsha, "your faith," he looks to Heverly, "Or your status," he ends off looking at Charmaine. "For their blasphemy and intollerance, I would see the same people who imprisoned and condemned you suffer. I understand what you went through, for I have faced it myself." With that, he pulls up the sleeve of his robe and reveals his own runic ‘F’ brand. “I am going to burn Talingarde to the ground and from the ashes I will build a new nation. Built for those of us who have been pushed to the side for too long. I cannot do this alone. I seek servants worthy of our Infernal Father’s majesty. Have I found them in you?” His eyes flash with hellfire and divine purpose. “Join me! Serve me well in this holy endeavor and I will raise you up in the eyes of gods and men. I will make you rulers of the new Talingarde. Today, swear fealty to me and to Asmodeus. Tomorrow, those who trod on you will be burnt and those in their place will swear fealty to you." “Put aside forgiveness and I shall give you vengeance. Put aside mercy and be made powerful. Put aside peace and become my harbingers of war. What say you? Will you swear your allegiance or will you burn with the rest of the blind fools?” For the first time, you are really given the opportunity to speak for yourselves as he looks you over and awaits your answer. |
