Morossa looks at the orb.
Hmmm, perhaps we must shatter the orb. I am not the most skilled, but lets see what happens if we shoot that thing.
She then takes out one of the guards longbows that she kept, carefully sights the arrow and releases.
Attack-longbow:
Attack-longbow: <-- if first shot misses
Attack-longbow:
Attack-longbow:
Attack-longbow:
Raymond summons the dog, and points at the orb in the center of the room. "Fetch."
The dog bounds off towards the podium, jaws open and tongue lolling around outside its mouth.
Morossa's arrows strike the obsidian orb, knocking it off its pedestal and cracking it. The magical effect of the darkness spell fades away, and light fills into the room from the hallway. A pained screech in a language you can't understand screams out from beneath the floor. A red, semisolid mist, the consistency of thick foam, screams and rushes out from the floor and dashing past you, fleeing the light of the room in search of a darker corner.
With the darkness quelled and the threat seemingly gone, you're left in a room with a chunk of obsidian potentially worth some coin, with a door to the north and one to the east (you came in from the west), both heavily barred. It's a tricky setup, one that couldn't be fumbled with in the darkness, but in the light it is merely tedious to undo.
Morossa shrugs as the orb falls off the pedestal and cracks.
Oops. Might be worth less now, but it is definitely worth more than if we did not survive whatever that thing was.
Shall we see what trickery the next room holds?
Ducking to the side as the mist darts past them, Lisbeth is surprised at everyone else's nonchalance at this wonder, "Can someone tell me what in the Nine Hells that was!?"
Watching down the way they came for the mist, she agrees with Amanda, "Very well. North door, then east door if need be. Just be quick about it."
A short passage leads you north into the next room. At the end of the passage is another wooden door, inscribed with yet another platitude. "Cruelty is a tool, not a pastime. Be ruthless to thy enemy but reward those who serve thee well." There is only one thing in the room, a torturer's rack. It is lit by an oil lantern hanging from the cieling. There seems to be nothing else here.
"Now we just need an enemy. I doubt the red mist will come along willingly, much less be shackled down, if that's even possible," Lisbeth says, as she begins searching the room around the rack.
Morossa looks at the rack:
The instructions say this is a tool. The question then is, who is to be tortured.
She turns her head toward Tatiana.
You are new. For your sake, I hope you are not the one we are to use this tool upon.
As she says this, there is no real emotion in Morossa's eyes. It is as though there is something dead, or dying lying beneath her darkened eyes.
After a moment, Morossa too begins to search the room.
<-- apparently she is too thrilled with the idea that she might be able to torture someone and is not really paying attention to the room.
Zinbah looks at the torture rack with a queasy look on his face. "I suspect one of us will have to be placed on it in order to proceed further." He does wait until the others report on their investigations of the room.
Lisbeth spots a hidden door on the western wall of the chamber. Inside this secret room is a terrified, dirty young manwith a terrified expression, wearing the clothes of a Mitran squire. He cowers in the corner, whimpering lowly and gibbering in absolute terror.
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Amanda looks to the young man and sees him wearing the clothing of a Mitran Squire. She hides her holy symbol under her shirt and then moves towards the young man. (Currently she is wearing non-discript travelers clothes over her armor.
"Hello there young man. There is no need to be afraid. We're here to help you. I am Nina Goode and it is good to see you are safe young squire. We like you are lost in this terrible dungeon. Perhaps we may help one another."
She gives the young man a friendly smile and offers a hand to him.
Morossa licks her lips when she sees the young meal, er, squire. She has an urge to hear him scream, but realizes that allowing Amanda to go about her business is likely the better option at this point.
"N-Nina Goode?" he asks, absolutely terrified, and not sure what to make of this. "I have not heard your name before, but if you are here to save me..."
"Are the Asmodeans slain?" he asks, taking the woman at her word and slowly emerging from the corner he's hidden in. "My name is Timeon, a lesser son of House Balentyne and squire to Sir Balin. H-have you found him yet? I've tried to search for him, but these rooms are so dangerous, and the things I've heard..." He walks up to Amanda, hugging her tightly. "Praise Mitra! I'm so glad that she has not deserted me in this dark time."
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Amanda responds with a false warmness to the young man and returns the hug and says, "Don't worry yourself Timeon. You're safe now."
She then gently releases his grip to her and then says to Timeon, "So you're of House Balentyne young squire. Such a prestigious family indeed. Far to the north at the watch wall I believe. As for myself, you probably have not heard of me as I am but a low ranking templar in the service of Holy Mitra. After hearing about the escape of some foul prisoners from Branderscar I took initiative and hired a group of adventurers to aid in the search for these foul heretics. As we were searching the area for clues of where these bastards have gone there was a flash of light and then we all woke up cell in this unknown dungeon. Working together we broke out the cell we were put in. We now seek to escape and bring justice upon the dastards that put us here."
After telling this fabrication to Timeon she says to him, "Well then young man, perhaps you can you tell us some more information on this hellish place we find ourselves in. The more we know the better we can brave the dangers that are ahead of us."
Lisbeth stands behind the man, towering over him and placing a hand on his shoulder, "Perhaps we should let this brave young man rest a bit before he tells us of this place. It must have been a horrific experience he has been through. Surely we wouldn't want to put him through that sort of experience again so soon." She then makes a discrete nod towards the rack at Amanda.
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Amanda gets the gist of Lisbeth's message. Still she can't help but feel a bit of sympathy for the boy. She is pretty sure that on the rack he'd break down and tell them everything after the first pull of the chain. It would be a waste of her skills of torture to use the machine on this scared little boy. After all the message says Cruelty is a tool, not a pastime. If she could get the information through deception it would go much easier on him. If they can turn him from his righteous path he could be moulded into a worthy servant to their cause.
She looks to Lisbeth and says, "Linda, I trust that Timeon would want to help us willingly. He is a squire of a prominent knight as well as a nobleman after all. He seems like an impressionable youth for his age. I am sure we can mould him into someone to worthy to our cause. He merely needs something he can truly believe in."
Shrugging, Lisbeth replies with a small smile, "Very well, Nina. You would know better than I, I believe. I spent more time playing chess with the royal court than with Mitra's templars."
"Though I guess I am familiar with them in some ways, as well," she chuckles. She then moves over to the door to keep a watch for that red mist.
"The heretic came in here to look for me, but I was hiding. He mentioned a lot about some of the dangers that could have killed me. Metal cobras nearby, a shrieker that screams when there's light or movement nearby, four drowned men that rise when they hear it, and... Something about a hidden door hiding the way out. That's all I know, but... Sir Balin. Have you found him yet? I believe they wished to torture him. Please tell me that he is safe."
Raymond keeps quiet, letting those more familiar with the religious ways con the boy into leading them to their goal.
No point in messin' with their work when they've got the job handled.
Tatiana responds to Morossa: Why...It could be fun... She winks at her.
Tatiana then grins at the intellect and trickery that Amanda uses on the man, knowing that he will soon be tortured.
Zinbah follows Raymond's example and keeps his mouth shut, while hoping the disguises the Count provided are up to the task of fooling this simpleton.
While the ladies certainly have their aliases down pat, they never bothered to give us false names...better mention that to them once we have finished this exercise....Sir Balin? So there is someone else here as well? Good to know.
Morossa continues to watch the boy hoping that her companions will tire of their games and kill the boy. She is unsure why she is having these desires, but she almost wants to see if the young boy's blood might taste different than any other. She is unsure what she would compare it to, but the desire is there, like a subconscious thought just at the edge of her thoughts.
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Amanda says to Timeon, "I am afraid I have not seen Sir Balin yet in my search of this place but perhaps he lies imprisoned deeper in this dungeon. I do appreciate the information you have given me though young Timeon. It will aid in allowing us to face the dangers that are to come. Perhaps after all this you may tell me further of your homeland. I would be most interested to hear tales of such a grand place. For now though I think it is time for you to rest a bit and calm your nerves."
Amanda looks to Morossa, "Kindly give this young man a night cap my friend."
Amanda gives a hidden signal to Morossa hinting to knock him out.
Morossa raises an eyebrow at Amanda unsure if attacking the boy would help with converting him to Amanda's faith.
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Amanda seeing Morossa not following her instructions says to the others in the group, "I believe Timeon has told us all he knows regarding the Dungeon. As for other information he knows concerning his homeland of Balentyne it would best to question him on that some other time. For now we'll have to put Timeon somewhere for safekeeping."
Morossa looks over at the place where Timeon was hiding.
He could stay where he was hiding and we can get him when we return. I would hate for him to get injured and . . . bleed - she licks her lips nervously - while we are moving through the other rooms.
Lisbeth tries to remember what she can about House Balentyne while watching for the red mist to return. When Amanda is finished, she again approaches the young man, "Tell me more about your House, young Timeon. Surely they would have sent someone to search for you? We should let them know that you are well before they worry themselves to death over your absence."
Lisbeth is able to recall a few minor details about House Balentyne. It's a fairly prominent noble family with estates near the Watch Wall.
"I thought you were the ones being sent to search for me. Did word not come that Sir Balin and I were taken captive? Who sent you, then?"
"We are searching for escaped prisoners from Branderscar, and Templar Goode here hired us to search for the heretics, of course. Though finding you here is just further proof of Mitra's benevolence," she reminds the boy of Amanda's cover story. "We have not been told anything about Sir Balin and yourself. At least, I haven't. What brought the two of you here, to this dismal place?"
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Amanda says to Timeon seeing some suspicion decides to reassure him, "I heard no word about Sir Balin or you Squire Timeon. My efforts were concentrated on searching for those dammed forsaken who escaped from Branderscar. I ascertain the same dastards that captured us are the same as those who have captured you and Sir Balin. We Timeon we don't want to put you into any undue risk so would you be all right to return to that hidden room while we search the rest of this dungeon for Sir Balin? Once he is found I will make sure you are reunited."
The Watch Wall is a mighty fortress erected to protect Talingarde from outside invaders. It exists on the borders of Talingarde, a measure meant to protect the land as they formed and conquered it to create the kingdom. Tower Balentyne is one of the key towers.
His face goes pale. "People have escaped Branderscar? I-I fear what madness you will tell me next. To be honest, this event has shaken my faith, left me questioning Mitra and her light if she would have left me to rot here, but if you... If you came here for me without word from Tower Balentyne, then surely it is a miracle!"
"Please, go, find Sir Balin, save him as well. I was spared the heretic's wrath but I fear he did not. But if--no, I must have faith--when you find him alive, please do not mention my moment of weakness. I wouldn't want to disappoint him by letting him know his squire doubted Mitra for even a moment."
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Amanda says, "Of course young Timeon, I shan't mention such a thing to Sir Balin once we find him. You just stay safe my young friend. We will return for you."
With that she leads him gently back into the room and shuts the secret door. "Stay strong young Timeon."
Once he's out of sight she signals the others to follow her out of the room to the south.
"House Balentyne! Oh, yes, I remember now! Of the Tower Balentyne. But I imagine a lesser son and a squire wouldn't have access to the Tower, but I am extremely interested in joining the defense of Talingarde, and knowing someone with ties to the Tower would help immensely!" Lisbeth bites her lower lip, and toes the dirt on the floor slowly, face lowered and looking up at Timeon, "Perhaps you could introduce me to someone in charge there, someday?" she asks in a husky voice.
"Of course I've been inside of Tower Balentyne! I may be a lesser son, but I am still a faithful and treasured member of the house." He blushes as Lisbeth lays her act on thick. "Why, I've even been inside the rookery, and know that it is the secret to the keep's defenses! There's no way I would have been in the most important room in the tower if I were not important." The idea that a rookery would be vital to the defense of the border is news to you.
Zinbah is content to keep his mouth shut while the ladies toy with the pitiful squire. The news of the Tower Balentyne defense being keyed to the rookery does catch his attention.
As the squire is locked for his 'safety' and the group walks away, his only comment is "Fascinating, that. I would be more than happy to help you learn more of this. There must be some blueprints we can get our hands on, Milady!" He adds to Lisbeth with a wink.
"A rookery as the secret to the keep's defenses!? Surely m'Lord jests at my expense!" she utters in a shocked voice, emphasizing the Lord bit.
Morossa looks over at Lisbeth, letting out a sigh as though she had been holding her breath for some reason.
Information is king. He who holds sway over the education and communication of the realm rules. A king without control of the schools and mail is nothing more than a puppet. Clearly this rookery is tied in as a means of communicating. With whom, I do not know. Other towers? Other Mitran forces near the tower? Other important persons such as the leaders of local militia? Who knows.
She pauses and once more looks at the door where the squire was locked while licking her lips.
However, if this tower considers its rookery so important, then perhaps the tower is understaffed and the rookery is a means to restaff it should something attack the tower.
She pauses again before nodding toward the next door.
Perhaps we should move on now and leave the squire in his hole.
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Amanda is fully aware that Timion has intelligence that is why she is trying to keep him alive. But at the same time such information is trivial now considering that they have a task to accomplish and such information could be gleamed out of him later so long as he is still alive.
"Now now, we'll have plenty of time to talk about Balentyne once we are out of this hell hole. We should not dally on things unrelated to our current task at hand. Certainly Timeon will be more than willing to tell us all about great Balentyne once our task is accomplished. So long as he is kept safe of course."
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Once the party moves to the next room and leaves Timeon to his cell and out of earshot range she says to the group quietly.
"I am fully aware the importance this Timeon has. He is a noble of Balentyne and knows some useful information that would be valuable to us and Cardinal Thorn. And certainly we will have all the time in the world to question him on that once our task is done here. As for why I did not torture him, I feel it would be such would be a waste of my skills on a boy such as Timeon. He would likely break at the first twist of the rack. I prefer to torture more resilient individuals. Besides you saw Timeon's faith wavering there. His faith in Mitra has been shaken and all we need is the right incentive to break him down and build him up anew to our set of ideals. I was thinking that would be finding the Sir Balin and capturing him alive. We would then restrain Timeon and have him watch as we break his master on the rack and show him the true weakness of the Sun God. This would be the first step in turning him to our way. I did hope to knock him out so he would not wander off on his own but I suppose he will be alright for now in his little hidie hole."
She smirks evilly and says, "As for Sir Balin, I am sure he will not be as gullible as young squire Timeon here. He may even know our identities. I therefore propose that we make use of our Iron Circlets and disguise ourselves as members of the Mitran Church. That way with guile we can lead him into a trap and take him unaware. I suggest you come up with some good cover appearances and names."
With that she taps her circlet and she changes shape, taking the form of a fellow Templar she knew with black hair blue eyes, Mitrian Templar robes and a beautiful holy symbol of Mitra. "Currently I have taken the form of Templar Lydia Krox a devoted Templar of Mitra I once knew back in my church days. This should be good enough to fool Sir Balin."
"Yes, yes, I will hide here. Thank you all for saving me; may Mitra bless all of you. I will certainly tell the lovely lady more of Tower Balentyne once we have been rid of this dark, awful place. I bid you luck." He recedes back into the secret compartment with renewed faith and a dash of courage and hope in his eyes.
Raymond remains quiet as the boy spills all he knows. When they lock him back in his small nook and leave the room, he congratulates the women for their good work.
"Impressive. You had that boy eatin' outta your hands. I don't know much about this Mitra or whatever, so I figured I'd do my best to just shut up while you two talked. But with this other guy, Balin or whatever, how well do you think we're gonna be able to trick him at first?"
"An' if we're changin' our looks, what's the normal look for just some low rank soldier? Someone who don't know much but would be likely to be sent as part of a search party? 'Cuz I figure I'll be just standin' back and bein' quiet again unless this guy decides to try an' fight."
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Amanda in her new disguise says to Raymond, "I am quite skilled in deception my friend. I hid quite well within the ranks of the Mitran church for some time before a betrayal revealed my identity. Indeed I was able to deceive Timeon and get him to speak freely his secrets. As for your solider uniform, that should work just fine. It is certainly plausible that Mitran soldiers would accompany a group of Mitran clergy."
Zinbah sighs inwardly as the necessity for disguises became apparent. He was rather vain of his looks and preferred to flaunt it. Still, he would do what must be done here for the success of their mission.
"While I am not keen on disguises, I know what must be done here. Mitrans employ many wizards in their ranks so I will merely disguise my...noticeable features here."
He decides to cloak himself with darker hair replacing the reddish blonde hair he currently sports, a long, black mustache and goatee, and removing his brand from sight.
"There, that should suffice. Should you need to address me, refer to me by my name...Izbahn."
Raymond uses his circlet to simply change the color of his skin and hair to more common fare, a dark tan and brown respectively, while donning an outfit similar to that of the guards at Brandescar.
"Alright, let's go find us a knight to torture."
"Yes, let us hurry so that I might play with my new toy for a while longer," Lisbeth purrs, as she changes her appearance into that of a slightly shorter, blonde Mitran paladin she knew growing up and going to seminary with. She grins with delight, as she curtsies "Linda de'Karne, at your service."
Growing more serious, though, she reminds them, "If this man is a holy warrior of Mitra, though, our disguises will be for naught. He will see some of use for what we truly are, faithful of our Lord Asmodeus. Pray that he is just a nobleman with a title to his name."