Waiting just out of sight, Lord P drops the human boy glamer and as a fey sneaks after the Pope
Lord Perpireen follows, unheard and unseen by this false prophet...
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Ihrin remains out in the hall. She was not comfortable here. Something lately had brought back those memories suppressed long ago, but these weren't the pleasant ones of the beaches or enjoying the lavish style of long lost empires, no it was disturbing and visceral as if she had lived them. Noting Lady Ihrin's absence. Pope Eugene looks concerned. It seems something troubles our dear Lady D'Dracul... Perhaps she could use some fatherly guidance that I might provide in place of her faithful father, Count of Wallachia... I will go find her. Please, my loyal champions, be at ease... We shall return shortly... The Pope moves toward the archway by which Lady Ihrin exited a moment earlier...
Grinning at Johann, the holy father chuckles... Heh heh heh... Hidden away in a safe place, is it? Heh heh heh! Come, now, my dear, brave Johann... You have seen that your friend Sir Alphonse has proven me trustworthy with his divine prayer... You can show your good friend the holy father the diamond! You DO have it, DON'T you!? Hahahahahaaa!!
[dice=SR]1d20+9 The spell seems to have no effect whatsoever on the pope... He shrugs and shakes his head, smiling. You see? Nothing to fear about me, good Sir Alphonse...
"The greatest foe? Well, that must have been the malebranche! Wouldn't you say so, Johann?" says the Fox in answer to the pope's other question. Aha! So, the Wise King of Israel and Judea bound a cornugon to guard his greatest treasures, aye?
Oh? *sigh*... Well, I suppose I must understand your concerns, and your precautions... I have nothing to hide, I assure you... Do what you will, good Sir Alphonse du Veritas...
Pope Eugenius sighs and clasps his hands. Addressing all of the Mighty Ones, he inquires: What was the greatest foe you faced in King Solomon's Mines, my champions? And what was the most valuable treasure you found there? Legends tell of the fabled Heart of King Solomon Diamond, a jewel the size of a man's head! Are the tales true? Did you find it?
Alignment is magically hidden. Emotions: fear, excitement, lust for the boy. Health: oddly, has no health aura. Magical: strong necromancy and abjuration.
Lord Perpireen detects something very unholy about the "Holy Father"... There is a hint of lechery in his eyes... Also, he is hiding something significant... The Fey are well acquainted with the use of illusions and glammers to disguise themselves as something else, and Lord Perpireen suspects that this Pope is not what he appears to be... or who he appears to be, perhaps...
The holy father's face blushes momentarily, and he chuckles... Ah... Children say the most delightful things... You are an astute and well-versed boy, surprising for one so young... Hehehehe...
"Let the little children come unto me," said Our Lord Jesus Christ... grins Pope, extending his arms toward the youth...
"That is generous of you. Strange though allowing a pagan like me to look about your library" She says raising a brow but then again Christians were weird. Strange though it might seem, my lady, there are some things hidden in the Vatican vaults that are fit only for pagan eyes... responds the Pope, apparently unfazed by Mwikali's admission of paganism. She turns to look at the Disguise of Lord P and speaks."He can speak for himself. At least he usually does" She looks back to the pope and then the others. Pope Eugene gazes with a weird smile at the young boy... A smile that makes Mwikali and Lord Perpireen a little uncomfortable... "We should once we are done find some food and then prepare. I do not care to fight on an empty stomach or unprepared" My chefs are preparing a grand feast for you in my kitchens.
Turning to Lord Perpireen in his guise of young servant boy, Pope Eugene smiles a fatherly smile and says, Who is this handsome young lad with you?
Turning to Mwikali, the Pope replies: Yes, my dear Lady Mwikali, you shall have unrestricted access to the Vatican library... I'm certain you will find whatever you may need there...
The holy father pauses strangely as he regards Lady Ihrin, as though she reminds him of someone else.. Ah, yes... Of course, my dear Lady Dracul... I have sent many brave and reverent priests west to Spain and North to France... I have communed with Our Father in Heaven, in hope of divining where and when the dragon might strike next, and I fear that it will continue its rampage throughout Christendom. With the Emperor fallen ill with this evil sickness that resists magical cures, I fear the Holy Roman Empire will bear the brunt of the devastation... The German counties and baronies along the Rhine are in great peril!
Our dear Cardinal Lucius D'Borja has flown with all haste to Barcelona, to offer his assistance to His Majesty Alfonso V the Magnanimous in succoring his devastated kingdoms of Aragon, Valencia, and the County of Barcelona, which have all suffered the vile ruination of the dragon's breath... Pope Eugene crosses himself and shakes his gray head sadly.
"IS CARDINAL LUCIUS STILL ABOUT, YOUR HOLINESS? HE IS ALWAYS UP FOR QUIET AND UNOBTRUSIVE GUESTS LIKE US." Alas... says the holy father sadly, even I could not dissuade him from flying west on his magic carpet to aid the poor Spaniards...
God bless you, Ogon Fox! His Imperial Majesty Sigismund has fallen gravely ill, I am sorry to report... He wrote to me, and he said that your composition is the only music that gives him any comfort from his pains...*sigh*... It is a powerful malady that even my most fervent prayers of healing will not cure, I'm afraid...
Of course, you must be very weary of your travels. Rest and recuperate your strength as much as you need to before returning to the Catacombs. If you need my assistance with divine healing, removal of curses, or any other afflictions acquired in your travels, please do not hesitate to ask!
The pope is ecstatic to see the Mighty Crusaders, Jackals and Fools return to Rome, and doubly so because he knows that their quest in The Dark Continent was to find the fabled treasures of King Solomon's Mines. He seems relieved at the heroes' return, as if he doubted at times that they would ever be seen again, and throws a sumptuous feast at the Papal Castle, inviting the citizens of Rome, especially the poor and downtrodden, to attend and be fed. Thank God for your safe return, my brave and excellent children in Christ! I worried as if for my own sons and daughters while you were away, and I am heartily sorry that you return to such sad and terrible news of the accursed fire wyrm's rampaging and ransacking. The Enemy pushes us to desperate measures, it would seem. By the grace of God, we shall prevail!
Down in the catacombs, Pope Eugenius IV leads the other bishops present and the fearful people of Rome in a prayer for the heroes of Rome to prevail over the great fire dragon...
Take these items to use in the defense of Rome against the fire dragon, my friends... May they serve you well...
The Holy Father examines Ihrin's enigmatic tattoos at her private request on the evening of Saturday the 26th of January...
Very interesting, my dear Princess Ihrin... Although I cannot decipher them, some of these tattoos are the script of the tongue of angels, called Celestial, or Enochian... These others are pictoglyphs or stylized depictions of various monsters... See, the dragon is most prominent, over your heart... Perhaps this is a nod to your noble house? ... This appears to be a stylized bat, with fangs... Curious...
And with that, Vitelleschi's fears become Eugenius' fears. The pope's eyes widen in alarm as the implication sinks in... The dragon could strike at any moment now! Letting the city know of the plot so it could prepare might have done more harm than good, in hindsight... We must begin the evacuation of the city into the catacombs at once, Bishop Vitelleschi! He grasps Vitelleschi by his hands and begins a solemn prayer, eyes closed, in Italian: Almighty God, the Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth, have mercy upon your people of Rome! Let not the terrible hellfire of the dragon's breath bring death and ruin upon us! In the name of Saint Michael the Archangel, and in the name of Saint George the Dragonslayer, and in the name of Your Holy Son, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we pray! Amen!
Friday, 25th January, dawns cold and blustery over Rome, bringing light flurries of snow during the predawn hours that melt away as the Sun rises into the sky, leaving the ancient cobblestones and rooftops of Rome damp with melted frost. Around 10 o' clock in the morning, His Holiness Pope Eugenius IV sits in his office at his Papal Palazzo, penning a letter to Duke of Florence Cosimo De'Medici. My dear Duke of Florence, Cosimo De'Medici,
I am writing to assure you that every effort shall be made to repay you for your generosity. I am not blind to the fact that your banks and personal fortunes have been greatly depleted by the recent donations you have made to fund our war against the minions of Satan. There is hope that we might be able to restore a goodly portion of your fortune, for our heroic Knights Champions will soon embark on an expedition to find and plunder the Lost Mines of King Solomon, said to hold vast wealth in diamonds and other ore. May God bless their venture, and may it prove fruitful! With the blessing of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, and may peace be with you, His Holiness Pope Eugenius IV Having finished and signed the letter, Eugenius stamps it with the Papal Seal in red wax, and hands it to a page, who runs off to have it delivered at once to Duke of Florence.
The pope listens to Cardinal D'Borja's warning with concern and a troubled countenance... Had not Saint Michael the Archangel himself promised that these heroes would tip the balance in favor of Providence and against the Enemy? Or, perhaps, that visitation had actually been a trick of the Devil... Lucifer in the guise of his angelic foe? Italian, to Lucius: Let us pray for God's guidance on this dire matter, Lucius...
In the candlelit sanctuary of Saint Peter's Church, redolent with frankincense, and echoing with lovely cantatas sung by a choir of boys led by visiting English Maestro John Dunstable, Pope Eugenius IV kneels in fervant prayer... Oh, Lord God, creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen... I humbly pray that thy will be done, as always... But if it be thy will, grant the Crusaders of the Catacombs and the Desert Jackals victory over the Emir Al'Haaq of Marrakech, and a safe return to Rome, that they might continue to fight against the Evil One. This, your humble servant prays for, in the name of God the Father, of Jesus Christ the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I know it is only a few hours past our last conference, and you have not had much time to rest or attend to personal matters... (here he gives Zagathoth a high-browed glance, as if the Holy Father somehow knew that between the last few hours when he last saw the orc, Zagathoth had spent the entire time "making the sex", or imposing upon poor Boga to restore Molly's lost purity so he can despoil it again...) Pope Eugenius smirks at Zagathoth and reassures him, Continue as you have been doing, mighty Zagathoth! God has made you perfectly to wield your keen falchion without a shield, for He shall be your rock and your shield...er, nevermind about the rock part, my son, I can see by your puzzled expression that you may have questions about that...but it is merely what literate folk call a figure of speech. Not to be taken literally... He smiles kindly, not in condescension, but genuinely fond of the hulking orc, and not certain how much of his words the big, child-like warrior comprehended.
"I FEAR THEY WILL ATTACK US, NOT KNOWING WHO WE ARE. ESPECIALLY WITH THE FOX ACTING SO SUSPICIOUS ALL THE TIME." The Holy Father considers Johann's concerns a moment and replies: Fear not, my son... An angel of the Lord shall herald your imminent arrival, to allay your new allies' fears and ready them to welcome you as brothers in arms against the forces of the Evil One!
In the ancient city of Marrakech on the Dark Continent of Africa, an evil emir forces slave gladiators to fight to the death against horrible monsters gathered from the Four Corners of the World! A band of brave and stalwart heroes like yourselves are at this very moment, about to attack this wicked villain in his throne room and free the poor gladiator slaves... In the name of Our Lord, I bid you, the brave and valorous Crusaders of the Catacombs, to take up sword and shield to fight alongside these daring Desert Jackals! Send this vile enemy of God to Hell as you have so many deserving foes in the Catacombs! Free God's children, who might be retrained to fight for God and the Church instead of for the amusement of evil Mohammed worshippers!
Once the Crusaders have all arrived in the papal office, some time around 4:00 in the afternoon of Thursday, 18 January, just as the Desert Jackals are sending the ninja Achiko to dimension door into the harem room of the emir's palace, Pope Eugenius IV addresses the Crusaders in English: Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I know it is only a few hours past our last conference, and you have not had much time to rest or attend to personal matters... (here he gives Zagathoth a high-browed glance, as if the Holy Father somehow knew that between the last few hours when he last saw the orc, Zagathoth had spent the entire time "making the sex", or imposing upon poor Boga to restore Molly's lost purity so he can despoil it again...) Yet I fear that I must call upon you already to once more gird yourselves for battle against our Enemy!
A fine suggestion, my dear son Nicolas! A more worthy and righteous request I cannot conceive... And so the Holy Father summons all of the Crusaders to his office at that very moment, to prepare them on very short notice for their impromptu quest abroad!
What better way to introduce and unite the two companies than to send the Crusaders in, at this crucial moment, to join the assault on the Emir in his court? Eugene asks Nicolas.
Watching the Desert Jackals through legendary alchemist Nicolas Flamel's crystal ball, Pope Eugenius IV observes them and tries to imagine their conversation as they prepare to raid the palace of the Emir of Marrakech... Who is that little sprite, there? Eugene asks Nicolas.
Thank you for responding to what can only be the call of Our Lord, Monsieur Flamel... replies Eugenius with some measure of suspicion and wonder at the famed Parisian magician's sudden appearance here in Rome...
To his scribe: Now transcribe this letter to Henry of Portugal: My dear Prince of Portugal Henry, May the Lord bless your adventurous exploits and spread the word of His mercy through the lips of your Christian explorers. I write to you because a great evil threatens all of Christendom, and the Church is in need of its most potent champions to fight against this grave peril. I know your Desert Jackals have been striking righteous blows against the Arab Slave Trade in Africa, and doing God's work on the Dark Continent, but we have dire need of their cunning and valor here in Europa. Please recall them from Morocco at once, and send them to succor Rome. Yours in Christ, Pope Eugenius. Send this out with the other, at once!
Dictating to his scribe in his office that day after speaking with the Crusaders of the Catacombs, in Spanish: In Spanish: To my brother in Christ, Archbishop of Seville Diego de Anaya Maldonado: May the peace of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, be upon you and all the faithful of Holy See of Seville. May the angels, archangels and saints preserve you and keep you in blessed light and glory of God. I write to you to request the aid of the good Don Rodrigo D'Borja, that chivalrous and devout servant of Our Lord. The good Cardinal Inquisitor Lucius D'Borja is his uncle, and is currently in need of his valor and bravery, which Don Rodrigo D'Borja displayed when he protected myself during the recent turmoils within Rome. Please send Don Rodrigo at once to Rome, where his courage and fortitude are needed by his Uncle Lucius. Yours in Christ, Pope Eugenius IV. Have a silver raven send it immediately.
"Holy Father, you honour us with your praise." Lucius bows in front of the Pope but his grim, strangely golden face does not show pleasure. "I fear the evil that can be found below Rome is far worse than we suspected. The Striga Lucrezia, a powerful acolyte of Hell, was imprisoned and apparently about to be executed. That can only have been at the command of one of Hell's great powers, maybe even the Anti-Christ himself. We slew a dragon, the two vampires who plagued our fair city seven years hence, and the Striga as well as two barbed devils, but if these are the guards then I fear greatly what we will face further on. We may need reinforcements to return to the underground." Yes, Lucius, it would seem that reinforcements are in order... I have been in communication with Henry, Prince of Portugal, a devout champion of the Church. He has in his service a band of formidable adventurers known as the Desert Jackals, which have been combating the forces of evil in far Africa of late, striking against the Arab Slave Trade... Though that is a noble cause, we have greater need of their might here, fighting against the Church of Lucifer... I shall do what I can to bolster your strength, as soon as possible, Cardinal Lucius.
The Holy Father replies to Quinlan's request for more scrolls of teleport: I will see that several such scrolls are secured for your use, Mister Ifrean, but it may take as long as a week to gather or scribe them.We shall need them to enter or exit the lower catacombs from now on, Your Holiness... The horned tiefling bows in a show of reverence... Then you shall have as many as can be possibly assembled, as soon as possible, my son!
The Holy Father replies to Quinlan's request for more scrolls of teleport: I will see that several such scrolls are secured for your use, Mister Ifrean, but it may take as long as a week to gather or scribe them.
The Holy Father gazes with obvious admiration at Cardinal Lucius as he describes his "exorcism" of the barbed devils Gristlechops and Barbagore, at the end of Dies Irae, and with the help of the other Crusaders. The Lord is truly working through you, Lucius... You, and the other Crusaders... He is using you as his mighty sword of vengeance! Great is our God, and great are his champions!
The Holy Father is greatly relieved to hear that Striga Lucrezia has been dealt with, and that the plot to resurrect the Hounds of Hell has been foiled by the Crusaders of the Catacombs... Praise be to God! Hallelujah! Hossanah in the highest! Well done, Crusaders! Very well done indeed! You have prevented a great evil from occurring, and have dealt a crippling blow to the Serpent of Evil that is the Church of Lucifer! May God Almighty bless you, and guard you from all harm! In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen! Bestowing upon each of the Crusaders the sign of the cross doused with holy water from a vial, followed by burning frankincense swung at them in a thurible, Pope Eugenius bestows upon the Crusaders a new blessing...
January 18th, 7:30 PM, in the Church of Saint Peter... Pope Eugenius paces up and down the central aisle of the nave, from sanctuary to narthex and back again, the wheels in his troubled mind turning... Will our preparations be enough? Should I evacuate the city entirely?... Did Duke of Florence know his architect is a servant of the Devil!?... Perhaps Cardinal Lucius’ skills as inquisitor are being wasted down in the Catacombs... Should I send him to investigate D’Medici instead?... But the work down below is so crucial...
With the newly uncovered plot of sabotage revealed by Johann, the Holy Father employs crews of laborers to search the recently restored aqueducts for deposits of flammable oil placed by the Luciferians, and reviews plans drawn up by Quinlan (when he isn’t busy crafting magic items for his mates) for flame shields that could be erected (perhaps with the magical aid of music from the organetto of building) around important or particularly vulnerable structures and areas around the city. The regions of the Catacombs that have been pacified by the Crusaders and garrisoned with the knights of St Michael are considered as a possible shelter for citizens to retreat to when the dreadful Saint Valentine’s Day Holocaust falls upon the Eternal City. Fire drills are practiced throughout the city, during which citizens practice rushing down into the Catacombs when the bells of Saint Peter’s are rung in a certain pattern.
The Holy Father heeds Cardinal Lucius’ warnings of sabotage in the aqueducts by the architect Brunelleschi, and has the paladins of Saint Michael investigate the aqueducts and arrest the villain for interrogation, but Brunelleschi must have somehow known his cover was blown, for he mysteriously disappeared, nowhere to be found... Damn that Brunelleschi! He has escaped justice. He must have fled Rome upon Johann’s discovery of his plot... Perhaps into the underground stronghold of the Enemy, or back to Florence... I must inform the Duke D’Medici that his architect he sent is a servant of the Devil!... Which begs a more disturbing question... What of D’Medici?... What if...??
Father Yahweh, I pray that you will guard and guide your humble servants, the Crusaders of the Catacombs, as they do your will in the dark and dangerous places of the Underworld. May Saint Michael the Archangel shield them with his outspread wings and ward away evil with his flaming sword, as they delve into those dreadful depths! In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I pray! Amen!
Pope Eugenius IV listens to Cardinal Lucius’ report and nods in agreement with his assessment of the grave danger leaving the teleport circle active could present. It shall be as you suggest, then... A scroll will be provided for your safe return, and we shall send brave and trustworthy servants to destroy the portal behind you... Let us pray, Cardinal Lucius... The Holy Father extends his hand to Lucius and prays fervently for the Crusaders’ success against the Enemy...
Oh my Lord! An assassin has tried to slay Maestro Okumura, who is also the vigilante known as the Ogon Fox! I must try to save him if it be God’s will! Pope Eugenius IV hurries to Okumura’s side, taking the Japanese organist’s right hand in his own, and helping him to sit back down on the organ bench. Be not afraid, my son! The Lord goes before you always!... And well it is that He does, for it seems you have enemies out for your life, Maestro! The pope closes his eyes and makes the sign of the cross over Toshio Okumura. In Latin, he chants: Lord, let your servant Toshio Okumura be healed of all afflictions, may every venom that assails his humors be neutralized, and may he be restored to full vigor! In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I pray! At once, Toshio is healed of wounds, poison neutralized, and Constitution restored in a wave of euphoria and golden radiance!
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