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Outside the Vatican, a crowd is growing. News travels quickly in Rome, and the townsfolk fear for their Pope. Papal paladin guards do their best to keep the throng at bay and maintain order, but the wild rumors are making things difficult. Stay back! As soon as we have word from the holy father, we will let you all know! Back!
The paladins make way and uniformly cheer in chorus as Johann morphs into dire bear shape! In Italian: Long live the Bear! Long live Cardinal Lucius! Long live the Fox! Long live Quinlan the Mage! Long live Boga the Hand of Jan Hus! And long live Zagathoth the Destroyer! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
Saluting grimly as the Crusaders come down the stairs into the chamber with the teleportation circle and the vile shrine and idol of Asmodeus, nine steadfast Knights of Saint Michael greet them in Italian: Hail, Crusaders! Welcome back to your holy task! May God and Saint Michael guide your weapons against our wicked foes! Another paladin: We have kept the way clear of dangerous monsters and vermin... And have met with no unknown trespassers since we arrived... A third paladin: Yet, we have at times felt as though we were being watched...perhaps from afar, via magical means... to which the others agree...
When the adventurers are ready to return to their quest in the Catacombs, they find that a platoon of pious Roman knights has garrisoned in the upper levels of the subterranean complex to keep it secured against further use by the Church of Lucifer. These steadfast paladins are prepared to destroy the teleport circle after the Crusaders have used it to venture on to the deeper environs below the levels thus far explored.
In Italian: Fear not, Master Brunelleschi! We will cut and burn them out by flaming sword! The devout soldier hacks down a flying stirge intent on sucking his blood, then clips off the wings of a second such pest with the backswing of his flaming greatsword...
Only an assassin with a clean conscience could escape our scrutiny... This would-be killer is not evil... Or at least, he is not a powerful enough source of evil to give off that unmistakable stench of wickedness... Four paladin guards with flaming greatswords fix their discerning eyes on the ninja...
The knights flanking the pope raise their flaming blades in anticipation of having to defend the Holy Father against a berserk bear-man... When Johann regains his composure and apologizes for his outburst, they lower their swords and grin at each other. Those flanking the door also assume battle stances briefly, relaxing when the burly bear-man calms down...
Flanking the main portal is a pair of tall, well-built knights, clad in shining full plate armor, and bearing shields with a red cross device, and longswords with yellow flames dancing along the blades. They seem to scrutinize each of the approaching adventurers carefully...
A band of armed men approach! ... But they do not stink of evil, and they are led by a cardinal. Is that Cardinal D'Borja? Yes, I believe it is he... The knight on the left side of the portal calls out to the travelers in Italian: Benvenuti nella Basilica di San Pietro, santo padre! The knight on the right throws the great portal wide, granting access to the interior of the mighty basilica... Italian: Welcome to St Peter's Basilica, holy father! |
