Tiadora moves to sit in the proffered chair, but snears at Silarsha as she does. She then sets to eating, and despite what seem to be almost dainty movements, she devours the meal in front of her in quick bites.
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Silarsha and Co:
The next morning, after you have each had a chance to dress, Tiadora comes to your rooms. "You are being summoned to the master's study. Make sure you bring the pact with you." She then leaves, leaving you to find your own way.
To Silarsha she adds, "Your hounds must once again, stay."
Heverly, Charmaine, Talia, Silarsha and Wocket:
You are all lead back to your quarters to rest. You have worked hard and done well.
Brice and Florian: You've each arrived individually at the mansion sometime that day. Tiadora greets you at the doors. "I see you made it." She smiles a vicious smile as she looks you up and down, then beckons you to follow, "I trust it was not too much trouble to arrive." She says in a mock tone of civility. She leads you to a set of lavish rooms. "The Master will see you in the morning," Tiadora says with little preamble. "Until then, my slaves are here to see to your needs." She then turns and walks away, brushing away any questions, "Time enough for that tomorrow."
As the morning dawns, Tiadorra arrives and summons you to follow her. "Cardinal Thorn will see you now." Again she brushes aside any quetions given to her, "The master will tell you what he wishes." She then leads you through a maze of passages, to a beautifully appointed office, richly decorated with dark wood and sumptuous brocade tapestry.
Tiadora arrives right on cue. "This way," is all she says. Tiadora leads the group to a set of stairs. "Below you will find the Nine Lessons." She stands there for a moment longer, but gives no further explanation. A set of stone stairs leads down, through an archway. Inscribed upon the archway are these words: “Deception is a tool. Self-deception is death. Deceive always thy enemy but never thyself.”
Tiadora looks laughs as Charmaine leaves the room on her own. "Don't get lost little girl, the monster's come out at night." Charmaine:
Despite Tiadora's taunting, Charmaine makes her way back to the room unaided. Some small time later, as Charmaine and Grumblejack finish discussing the new arrangement, a slave enters and looks around, "I am told to tell you," she says with a quiet and tremulous voice, "that i-i-if you give a list to one of us, we will take care of buying what you need." Once it is clear the message is delivered, the slave goes to stand in the corner, seeming to almost shut off like an automaton as she waits for further orders. Tiadora leads the group back to their rooms. As she does, she turns back almost casually, "You may leave a list of equipment with any of the slaves and we will make sure that you get whatever you need. In addition, I can help take whatever you have collected and don't need, and fence it. Though I believe some of it has marks of the Talirean military and will not fetch much of a price." Once back to your rooms, a slave is left with each of you to take care of any needs at any time.
At last Tiadora comes to summon you. She snears at the ogre when he's brought out. "Sorry pet, they may choose to take you along when they are done here, but this meeting is only for them." Tiadora waits a moment, but finally sighs in exasperation, "The slaves will see you are taken care of while you wait." Though Grumblejack, seems sad that he will not get to come along to the meeting, he sighs in relief and backs away from Tiadora as soon as she nods for him to go. She then leads you through a maze of passages, to a beautifully appointed office, richly decorated with dark wood and sumptuous brocade tapestry.
Tiadora laughs, "A friend, hah, you're nothing but a little monster." Tiadora puts all the disdain she can into the last word. "Just don't get in my way, little ogre, or you'll get a chance to meet a true monster." After that, she turns back to the group. "The master commands all of you to appear before him," she pauses to give an exaggerated look at the dirt, mud and blood that clings to each of you, very obviously excluding Grumblejack from "all of you," "but before that you must be made presentable. Slaves" She claps her hands and a dozen young attractive men and women all wearing very traditional servant’s livery appear quickly, their heads bowed. “These people are our guests,” she commands imperiously. “See them to their rooms. I want them cleaned, dressed and refreshed. Quickly." There is something in that last word that makes it sound like a threat. Certainly the slaves take it that way, hustling to perform their duties, and lead you off to your rooms. "And maybe we’ll even find a place to cage up your pet ogre." Tiadora turns and walks off without giving any opportunity to speak or ask questions. She simply seems to assume compliance.
The door to the manor is just as large and imposing as the rest of the property. Despite this, you begin to approach. But before you can even reach the door, it swings open. Tiadora stands there to greet you, a beautiful, green-eyed woman in a diaphanous white gown that makes her look almost angelic. Despite her appearance, her mouth opens and her voice makes it clear she is no angel, "Dearest, you took long enough," she says, looking at Heverly without pity. "We were beginning to wonder if you'd ever make it. Oh, and you brought friends." Tiadora looks over each of you with a wry grin, until she finally looks at Grumblejack and glowers. "You seem to have gained a pet," she glances at the dog, "two of them in fact."
Heverly: Tiadora laughs, a dry bark, "Trust? Who is asking for trust? All our friend wants is a meeting. Do you want to escape or not?"
Shestands then, "One last thing, you must bring all your cell mates. I could not meet with all of you in this room, but this is an all or nothing deal, Heverly. Your fate is tied to theirs." At that moment the door opens again and Tiadora is a picture of grief. “No, I can’t bear to leave you!” She runs up and kisses Heverly on the cheek. The kiss is ice-cold and feels somehow alien and inhuman. Blackerly shakes his head, "I'm afraid it's time, miss." Tiadora looks deep in Blackerly's eyes and says, "Thank you for letting me say good-bye. There’s no need to search my dearest. You are such a good friend for letting me see my dearest one more time.” "Such a good friend," he repeats almost mechanically. He seems to snap out of it and bows. "A pleasure, madam." Tiadora leaves unveiled. Her eyes meet Heverly's one last time and she briefly smiles a wicked smile. Three days. The words echo in Heverly's mind as if she could hear again and someone were speaking in her ear, Don't disappoint me, dearest. With that Tiadora is gone.
Heverly: Tiadora shakes her head, "You will meet our mutual friend when you have freed yourself. Until then, the less you know the better. As for why, let's just say that you have potential."
As Heverly looks over the veil, she sees that it is a fine silk veil of gossamer cloth, with strange cloth patches on it. Tiadora looks over at you and gives a wicked smile, "If you cannot find out how it will help you, then you all may not have as much potential as we'd originally thought."
Heverly: You are led through the next room too fast to make out much more than the fact that there's a table and a fireplace, before they usher you through another door into a plain and featureless room, save for a single stout wooden table and four chairs. A hauntingly beautiful woman in an elegant black dress and soft silken veil sits here waiting. Her hair is so platinum as to almost be white and her eyes are a vibrant, almost unearthly green. Tears run down her face, and she has clearly been weeping. You have no idea who she is or why she would be visiting you. You are shoved into a chair across the table from her, and she cries out, "Oh, dearest! I'm so relieved you're alive." She quickly turns to Blackerly, "Could we please have a moment alone, good sir? For pity's sake?" The Sergeant goes blank for a moment, then quickly agrees. [b]"Of course, my lady. For you, 'tis no problem." Blackerly ushers the guards out and closes the door.
Something is strange about the interaction, but it is hard to say exactly what it was. The moment Blackerly is gone, the woman drops her pretense of grief and becomes stern and stony faced, riding over any attempt to speak first. "What's the matter dearest? Forgotten me already?" Her mouth twitches in a smirk, then goes back to business. "Call me Tiadora. We possess a mutual friend who would like to meet you and your fellow cell-mates. Unfortunately, our friend is unwilling to visit you in your present, rather shabby accomodations," she makes a point of eyeing your rags up and down, "so it seems you must escape." She speaks so matter of factly that it seems it's the only possibility she is willing to consider. "When you manage that, cross the moors on the outskirts of town. On the old Moor Road, you'll see a manor house with a single lantern burning in the second story. There our mutual friend waits. That is all I know." She reaches up to her head then, "Oh, he did wnat me to give you this though." Her fingers grasp the silken veil and it comes off easily. She wipes away a few fake tears and ands it over. "Something to remember me by, dearest." |