Where We Dare Not Go
Log Info
- Title: Where We Dare Not Go
- Emitter: Aftershock
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Darius, Hun'rar, Kira, Lanier, Toha
- Place: A10: Temple District
- Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2020, 4:10 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia leads an expedition into the tunnels beneath Alexandria, to map the new ones and attempt to make sense of the summoning circle that exists beneath the city. They are equipped to fight oozes, and she warns of cultists, and they explore refreshing marks on the walls and updating the maps. The sewers are incredibly clean, devoid of even rats. Soon the group hears someone behind them. A man appears, the same man who was being involuntarily summoned to the Temple District Fountain. He introduces himself as the Eclavdran, Duke of the Hell. Darius and Hun'rar prepare for a fighting retreat, ordering the others to escape. Even that seems impossible as Eclvadran whips people off their feet. Kira, Lanier, Cryosanthia and Toha attempt diplomatic overtures, and while Kira is incredibly persuasive, the demon is not leaving without something. Cryo makes an off comment which gets the demon flirting with Hun'rar, and then Darius offers to owe him a favour. To everyone's horror, Eclavdran accepts and forces Darius to drink his blood to seal the deal. Cryo determines the group is standing on a summoning circle and yells for it to be broken up. Her claws are ineffective, but Toha's earthbraker and Lanier's mace finally disrupt it, too late to help Darius. Salina appears to be watching through Cryo, Eclavdran departs saying the map they have is a trap, and the group decides to abandon their mapping efforts.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Darius 6'4" 240 Lb Human Male A tall, stocky and muscular human warrior. Hun'rar 6'2" 198 Lb Human M Heavily armored knight with a dragon motif Kira 5'0" 120 Lb Human Female A young blonde woman wearing simple robes and an eye patch. Lanier 6'0" 245 Lb Human Male Young, lean and strong Acanian wearing hide clothing. Toha -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aftershock It's what comes after... -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Explorer's Guild had a notice calling for adventurers to meet outside the Soldier's Defense. The task will be mapping new tunnels in the underground, either assisting with cartography or protecting those undertaking it.
At the location is a sith-makar wearing layered wizard robes who might be familiar to some. Her scales and her clothes share the same colours, brilliant white and a pale glacial blue, with the secondary colour appearing as patterns and highlights. The air is cooler near her, and there's a small circle of rime frost where she stands. She's been standing there for a while. Beside her is someone wearing the uniform of a City Underground worker, and a fancy hard hat that suggests he has some sort of authority. The two haven't been talking, mostly waiting for others to assemble.
On previous occasions this sith has been worried, energetic and cold. This appearance she seems off, as if there's a piece missing inside her. However once everyone is assembled she seems to power up like a war-golem emerging from a sleep-state. Her posture improves, she's moving casually and speaking clearly, an expressionless gaze seeks out each pair of eyes, meets them briefly and moves on.
"Hi, I recognize some of you, thanks for coming out. So, this shouldn't be spread widely, but there's a summoning circle under Alexandria. When we were down to deal with the ooze, we saw a bunch of new tunnels. On the old maps, it wouldn't be possible, so we're going to try and update the maps to figure out where the focal points are and what we can do about them."
She exhales deeply. There's a small cloud of mist that fades after she breathes, "Oozes, Cultists, Demons, other misshapen things may be down there. With the oozes, no magic, no edged weapons. Take a club from a basket here if you don't have one. Take a bag of salt, 5lbs or 20lbs, use it if you fall in. Cultists and everything else, kill it however you like. I have some extra maps you can take if you want to assist with the mapping or are worried you'll get lost."
She looks around, "Oh, I'm Cryosanthia. Cryo while we're down there, it's likely faster. Any questions?"
Darius glances back at his sword and shrugs, it's obviously going to be useless then as he reaches into the basket to grab a club, swinging it and making a face as he does so, at least while they're walking he can use a knife to carve the club into a sword-like object with a blunt edge to it to better match his skills. He turns then and looks to see who's all here.
Hun'rar smiles and nods "Peace on your nest and the blessings of Gilead on everyone. Hun'rar and I am always glad to help." he says by way of introduction, standing in his full armor, quite the opposite of Cryosanthia he has flame patterns on his armor. He has shouldered his usual shield in favor of a large two handed flail. "Anything to clear out more of these oozes and burn them out of the sewers." the paladin says.
Kira gives Cryosanthia and nod and smile, then one to Darius and Hun'rar, in turn. She doesn't have any sharp objects on hand, and doesn't move to pick up any blunt ones, either. "I hope there are no more oozes, or that they're the last... and if there are people down there, creating or maintaining this... we should bring them back with us. They could help us learn more, and they should face justice for their choices."
"Peace on your Nest, Hun'rar! Nice to meet you. Good to see you also Kira, Darius." Cryo nods to all three. She has a club on her belt, and a simple looking rapier, as well as two large bags of salt and the collection of maps. She blinks, looking at Kira, "Yes, capturing the cultists could be good. This one was lumping them in with the other things that might be down there."
She hands out some maps, "There are access holes, usually on every street or intersection, and the underground tunnels usually follow the streets, but not always. There's some paint and a brush to make marks in new tunnels. It should be relatively easy to find exits. Everyone be careful, we were ambushed the last time we were down there, and workers have been going missing for months. There are a couple lanters too, but light spells would help."
The sith gestures to the worker beside her, and he lifts up the access cover, leading down. She grins, "Everyone into the pool."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Hun'rar rolls perception: (12)+0: 12 GAME: Darius rolls perception: (4)+10: 14 GAME: Kira rolls perception: (9)+22: 31
Darius smiles brightly at Kira mouthing, "Thanks for dinner the other night" to her. He then smiles pleasantly at Cryo and says, "Greetings Cryo..." He then nods at Hun'rar, "Good to see you again Hun'rar..." He sighs at Cryo as she makes merry and says, "Oh yes... you call going into a cesspool full of Plague-giving ooze is a pool... sometimes I wonder about you."
He however drops down first and says, "Well... TALLY HO!"
Hun'rar dons his helmet and takes a deep breath. "Hopefully there will be no swimming." he says to himself as he follows. With all his heavy armor he is unlikely to float very well.
Kira nods to Darius, only to seem him then turn and jump into what is apparently being referred to as 'the pool.' Well, it certainly -sounds- more appealing than 'city sewage system maintained by otyughs and often filled with rats, demons, mutated otyughs, black oozes and so on..'
She takes some salt, map, and paint before heading with the others to and down the access. "Be careful!" she calls ahead of her. For everyone, of course... though especially for eager people in front.
Cryo follows last, bringing her salt and mapping kit, as well as a lantern. Just before she starts down, she concentrates and her clothes adjust to a single suit. It resembles the worker's uniform, seems to be a leather jumpsuit that is loose and covers even her tail. She's got thick boots and gloves, and rather unusually, toes and claws aren't exposed. She climbs down the ladder rungs once she's sure it's clear and she won't be kicking grime down on Kira.
On the contrary, Lanier is the last to go down into the sewers, bringing a compass of his own, an offered map, a 20 lb bag of salt, and an everburning torch and a ioun torch for good measure. He doesn't seem eager to go down into the sewers again, but he isn't shirking the job. When he looks at the map, he might even seem a little giddy about that.
As before, it is notable that the sewers are incredibly clean. Much more so than it seems they should have any right to be. None of the harsh smells and sights which you were expecting from such a place. There's darkness plenty however, pushed back by your lanterns, but still pressing about you. The worker to no ones surprise stays above. It's not /really/ in his job discription to risk his life. So you head into the sewers. Using the maps at your disposal to track your progress. It doesn't take long to figure out that there have indeed been... reconstruction going on down here. There are several tunnels that simply weren't here at all before. You mark them down, and move along.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls knowledge/engineering: (13)+2: 15 GAME: Lanier rolls Knowledge/engineering: (20)+4: 24
Kira probably should have grabbed a lantern, but she only has so many hands. Between a map to glance at and painting brush to mark their path, she's full up. Not to mention only having so many eye to focus between them, and that's not even many. Her ears, however, aren't occupied, and she's learning to rely upon them more, recently.
When they stop to look at and mark the next unexpected new tunnel, she remarks, quietly, "I think someone or something is following us... a someone, I think?"
Darius stops and grips his club tightly and calls back, "Kira... get into the middle of us! Group up so that whatever it is doesn't separate us!" He closes his eye and starts listening to the sounds, the vibrations underneath his feet, the smells even what he can taste in the air to try and sense where whatever it is is.
Hun'rar looks around "Where is it coming from?" he says turning to face whatever it is, in his hands he holds the large flail. "I have dealt with my share of these plague oozes and know what they are about." he says looking for troubl, trying to sort out whats going on.
The white-scale sith is refreshing some of the markings as the group moves along, as well as updating her map. She has a lot of stuff and doesn't have extra hands, so she's been setting things down when she needs to perform a task. She peers at the new tunnels, making a clicking noise with her mouth, "They look safe enough..."
"There is?" Cryo stares down their back trail, moving so she's closer to Kira, putting her stuff down so her hands are free and drawing her rapier. She listens carefully as well.
Lanier looks towards Kira for a moment, then to Darius. He nods his head quickly, removing the heavy mace from its hook on his belt. He lifts his high overhead, prepared to swing it light a club even as he's backing up to compress the group.
Suddenly, you don't feel... well. It's as if darkness is slowly easing over you. The lanterns flicker and dim. None of you - save Kira - hear anything before a man suddenly comes around the corner. He's a handsome man, in his middle years with black hair and dark eyes. He wears fine robes that don't really belong down here, and he smiles at the sight of you. "Well. How about that?" His voice is rich and deep, an athoritative voice. One used to giving commands and being listened to. "Would you say that we're /in/ Alexandria? Or beneath it? I say the later. Which is... so much more fun wouldn't you agree?"
Kira was already somewhat in the middle, but happily helps condense the group as she looks around. Now a lantern feels like it would've been the better choice... though the darkness proves that wrong. And then HE appears.
Kira blinks. Twice, peering between each blink. Then blinks again when she recognizes him. "... Why are you here? I thought that you only wanted to be left alone? We helped you to return!"
Darius swings around and raises the club, "Who are you..." He tries to manuever to be in between the man and Kira as he goes back to back with the others.
Hun'rar turns to address the new person who has arrived. Since its not an ooze he puts his flail away and starts to unsling his shield. "So whats this all about? I am guessing your not here for fun and the community good?" he says strapping his shield to his arm, moving up with Darius to form the front wall of combatants.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (18)+9: 27
"Oh..." Cryo goes still, staring, examining the man from top to bottom. She recognizes him, the voice. Sticking her rapier in her belt seems like the better move right now, so she does. She holds both hands up visibly, leans so she can peer around Darius and answers his question, "In Underground Alexandria. To be pedantic, a place in itself not beneath a place. This one has not had an enjoyable time here so far."
The sith keeps speaking carefully, "So... we were trying to work out the summoning circle that brought you here. Since we didn't want that to happen again. Except it has. Well... I've got some extra maps, paint, if you wanted to give it a go. Lots of ... other tunnels. Shockingly clean tunnels to go exploring."
Lanier glances towards Cryosanthia for a moment and then nods his head, looking back towards the robed man before he asks, "Were you summoned back, Demon, or did you return of your own accord?" He then turns his head slightly to the side, looking towards the others and shaking his head, "We won't be fighting him today." His eyes go back to the Infernal Duke, nodding his head as he asks, "Right?"
"I think I will leave you to wonder this time whether I was summoned or not. Wouldn't do for me to give the impression that my kind are into giving out free information would it?" He grins, flashing all his teeth as his dark eyes land on Darius. "I am Eclanvdran." He bows mockingly and with a flicker of his fingers a long flaming whip appears in his hands. "And quite to the contrary. I think that a fight would be absolutely /smashing/."
Darius narrows his eyes and hangs the club on his belt, reaching for his greatsword, it's probably useless at this point but if a fight DOES happen he'll be more comfortable with his blade than a club. He whispers back to Kira, "Kira... if this goes bad... retreat... Aika and Fluffy will need someone to raise them and help them through their grief." He takes a deep breath, hoping that this doesn't turn into a battle as a Demon is FAR out of his league. He inclines his head politely at the man and says, "Charmed I'm sure..."
Caught up in her experimentation now that she's free from horking tar, Toha was south of punctual to the gathering, but, shortly after a recap from a helpful worker, the construct snagged a 20 lb bag of salt and a club. She'd prefer to use Priona, but the slime takes that option away. Instead, she finally catches up to the group and cants her head. Well dressed fellow and the gaggle of adventurers. Ahem, "Hello."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (6)+30: 36
Almost casually the whip lashes out, catching Darius around the ankle and yanking him off his feet deftly. The man lands on his belly and Eclavdran laughs low and evilly. "On you /knees/ mortal. Bow as you should before a Duke of Hell. Perhaps if you beg sweetly enough I will let you live." He laughs again and stalks half a step closer to the man he downed and the rest of you.
Darius grunts as he's dropped to his stomach, he slowly gets up to his knees and grits his teeth, "Well that wasn't very polite... DEMON! I don't bow for anyone... especially spawn of hell like you." He moves in front of the rest of the group while he mutters, "Hun'rar, we need to make a fighting retreat, he's too strong for us, just block him from attacking the rest of our group.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (9)+30: 39 GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon15+5: (4)+21+5: 30
Hun'rar narrows his eyes through his helmet "By the grace of Gilead, you are not welcome in this city, its sewers or anywhere for that matter." even as he draws his flaming sword though the whip finds his ankle and sends him tumbling in a clatter of armor.
GAME: Lanier rolls Diplomacy: (11)+4+4: 19
Lanier calls out, "Cut it out, this is not a fight we can win." He then looks back towards Eclavdran, "You've come here twice wanting a fight. If you want a fight, we'll be happy to put together a group to skewer your leather ass. It's not today though. We're here to do something else."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (3)+9: 12
"Maugrim Resurgent! Eclavdran? The Duke of Hell, Eclavdran?" Cryosanthia startles and steps back, away from the demon. She saw how fast Darius and Hun'rar dropped, she does not want to be hit by that whip. Her mind is exploding with questions, some of which it would be nice to know the answer to. Except Demons aren't nice, and Eclavdran has already said he isn't giving out any freebies. That's the first rule for negotiation too, after rule zero. Get them to the table to talk.
Except how?
Cryo fumbles to get her left glove off, holds her hand up, back facing the demon. He should be able to see her mark. It's bound to make things either much better or much worse. "I have so many questions! Info for info. This one is a Speaker. This one escaped the Mistress. Why do you oppose her? Why did Silvermoon Summon you?"
GAME: Kira rolls diplomacy: (11)+24: 35
"Please, stop!" Kira calls out as whips flail and people fall. "We aren't here to fight you, and what would you gain from it? We mortals surely aren't a challenge for you? And we have the same enemy!" Which isn't the same as friends, but is certainly closer to that than, say, demon fodder. "Why not help us to help you?"
Ecvlavaohshit. Toha, who's knowledge of Eclavadran is limited but poingant, straightens a bit and a hand snaps to her greatblade, snapping it free from the scabbard with a quick command of, "Pirona, Kalahmnet!" Words of two very different languages, and the greatsword twists, peels and folds into a bladed polearm in her hand that she brings into a warding posture, "Hello Llllord Eclavadran(?) How is Miss Cindri, I haven't seen her in a while?" When talking is gong on, keep the talking going until someone makes the call.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (6)+30: 36
Eclavdran growls at Darius, then laughs. "You seem to like it on your belly well enough /worm/. Stay down there, it suits you better." His mirth is cruel and so are his dark eyes as they land on Lanier. There's pure hate there for a second before he's laughing again. "So bold the adventurers these days. Asking for my help like children but offering nothing in return. Why should I help you? Why should I do anything for you? Why should I do anything but exactly what I please?" Reality seems to bend around him, as if his form doesn't properly fit where it is, but he remains for now in his human form.
He's dropped on his stomach again and grunts and glaring at the 'man' he slowly gets up and begins backing away and says, "Time to go people... Hun'rar... this isn't worth it... let's go!"
GAME: Hun'rar casts Displacement. Caster Level: 11 DC: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (13)+20: 33 GAME: Hun'rar rolls 1d20+5+11: (12)+5+11: 28
Hun'rar stands up again, shield between himself and the demon. Looking back at the others and then back at the demon. He tries to envoke a spell of protection on himself but finds the spell fizzle even has he casts it. "What is the point of this? Why are you here?" he asks of hthe demon shaking his head. "This is a creature of evil after all, how can there be any agreement?" he asks the others.
GAME: Kira rolls diplomacy: (20)+24: 44 GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+Diplomacy+FE4: aliased to 1d20+Diplomacy+4: (8)+4+4: 16 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (3)+9: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14 GAME: Toha rolls diplomacy: (19)+4: 23
Kira is pleased that Darius and others are able to stand and at least seem unharmed. She hopes that it can remain so. Looking to Eclavdran, she asks, hands up and empty... well, except for the paint brush? "What is it that -you- wish to do, then? Maybe we can help -you-? If you weren't summoned here against your will, are you looking for those who did so before? What do you gain from harming us? We didn't bring you here, nor wish to. We are here to stop the Endless Winter, and those summoning you. By attacking us, aren't you helping them?"
Lanier looks towards Hun'rar, shrugging his shoulders, "Most other days, I'm right there with you, but there are... actually... bigger problems than an Infernal duke running around the city." He looks back towards Eclavdran, the demon's hate for him met with his hate for demons, before he simply nods his head, "I offered you what I had to offer. A fight. Not today, and not with a group that are going to be simple victims for you. I know that this interests you on some level." He then tilts his head towards Kira, "She's right though. We have the Endless Winter to contend with."
Cryo tucks her glove away in a pocket, flicking her hand through a pattern as she does. Light swirls around her left arm, then the scales surrounding her eyes glow. She keeps her hands up, palms facing Eclavdran, and nods along with Kira's words. "There are free maps, too, if you don't want our help."
The sith keeps glancing downwards, most of her attention is there. She whispers so the ones around her can hear, "There's a fairly decently strong magical aura under our feet. The floor, everywhere, every direction. My snowflake is shining magically too. She is watching."
Toha's face doesn't turn, though her point of focus swivels to her one time partner, "He's playing with us, Hun. What good we gonna do Alexandria if we convince Eclavadran here t'kill us instead of lettin' us rain on his enemy's campfire?" She pivots her face slightly toward Cryosanthia at her words, "Guess she's getting ready t'move again." she murmurs, then faces the demon once more, "We might have company soon, wouldn't us doing you a favor give us a little bit of play?" To her credit, she doesn't sound scared, but she -is- trying to say 'nice doggie'. Unfortunately, she not convinced there's a big enough stick.
Eclavdran's whip coils around his feet, burning merrily. He snorts at you, a sharp noise in the quiet of the tunnels. "Your words show clearly that you know very little about the nature of demons. All of you. I help who it suits me to help when it suits me to do so. Really I would rather not be in your dull, ugly little cesspool, but now that I'm here..." He looks at Cryosanthia's snowflake and smiles a thin little smile. "Yes, hello to your mistress. I wouldn't want to forget /her/. She's so cold to her pets, I'd treat you much better than she if you'd come be /my/ pet."
He laughs low and wicked, eyeing Cryosanthia. He stalks a step forward, eyes roaming over all of you and finally landing on Kira. "Offer me something nice mortal, I'm feeling generous. Offer me a pretty bobble and I'll let your friends and you live for today. Maybe I'll even tell you something that the mistress of that sith-girl doesn't want you to know."
GAME: Darius rolls diplomacy: (11)+4: 15
He narrows his eyes when the Demon asks Kira to give something up and says, "What would interest you... 'Lord' Eclavdran?"
Hun'rar raises his shield and moves closer to the demon, stepping carefully to avoid giving him access to trip him again. "Just get out of here, how can we even trust his word or any deal he makes? There is no trusting evil."
Kira turns her head far enough to give Darius a concerned glance, but also share her smile. Yes, it's still there. She then returns her eye to Eclvadran. "I have only a few belongings of any power or worth. What would you consider worthy? A cloak or cloak to protect? Spells of healing? They are all worth less to me than the lives here and I would gladly trade. What has worth to you, Lord Eclavdran?"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (18)+9: 27
Cryo takes an involuntary step backwards as Eclavdran advances. She's watching him, of course, her hand, the floor. There's quite a lot of things to be keeping an eye on. Hun'rar and Darius are quite brave, but this is not the fight the group came prepared for. Oozes and soap golems, yes; Dukes of Hell, hell no. So, be diplomatic...
"This one appreciates the offer, Lord Eclavdran, but this does not want to be property again. Thank you for letting me know your embrace is warmer and more comfortable than hers. It is not a comfort."
A sudden, horrible possibility strikes, "No Kira! Forget what I said, don't offer your affection and make them rivals. It will end badly! Eclavdran, I have an artifice timepiece. It tells you exactly the time and year, down to the second, in glowing red letters when you push a button. Useful for time travelling?"
GAME: Toha rolls diplomacy: (11)+4: 15
As Eclavadran elaborates on dealings with demons tend to be more, whatcha call 'guidelines' than actual rules, "Yer right, we don't know yer mind, Lord, Duke Eclavadran. An' maybe we can't trust evil..." Toha starts, edging between demon and sith and continues, her voice smooth, but she isn't sure how well she's managing to nudge his interest in Kira's words, "but we might trust self interest. C'mon... You can screw up the Ice Queen's plans an' all ya gotta do... is nothing. But... yer already getting something outta this, wouldn't makin' sure her work gets screwed up, especially when she's watching make it worth a little something to you?"
Eclavdran laughs and it's downright lecherous. "Much as I love a bit of warm flesh to soften my bed, I find that paladins rarely make adequate consorts." He looks at Hun'rar with a wicked grin and lowers his voice. "I perfer my partners with more... /experiance/."
The demon laughs and reality bends around him again as if it simply doesn't welcome his presence and a flicker of pain crosses his all-too human features. His eyes land on Kira once again. "You're not a terribly inventive lot are you? No. Since you can think of nothing /worthy/ I will take a favor. I'm a Lord of Hell and my word good once given." He dismissess Hun'rar's conern with a wave of his hand. He grins at Toha. "And trust me, messing up /your/ plans gives me as much pleasure as messing up hers."
GAME: Darius rolls diplomacy: (18)+4: 22
Darius, even though it pisses him off, to get his attention off of Kira, kneeels down on a knee and says, "Lord Eclavdran, I am willing to give you a favor, in exchange for information and our safe passage."
GAME: Hun'rar rolls diplomacy: (5)+10: 15
Hun'rar looks at the lord of Hell over the top of his shield, returning his gaze with a burning hatred. "There you go. Take your favor and leave, leave this city, leave this land and never return. Next time you won't be this lucky." the paladin growls, doing his best to stare the lord of hell down.
Kira was very literal-minded, and he did ask for a bauble. Alas, she is not wealthy nor extravagant in the slightest. She is, still, very good at blinking, especially for one with a non-functional left blinker. She hasn't even turned to Cryo in surprise when Eclavdran comments on ...
Well, she never thought she'd blush in front of a demon, much less a duke. At least its mostly to Cryosanthia? Her face rapidly goes pale as Darius speaks and is so before she's turned back around.
"Darius... be careful..." She can't exactly tell him to stop or not to, as he's already offered. It also may or may not be entirely hypocritical of her to do so, anyhow, considering what she may or may not have been prepared to do, herself. Allegedly.
Lanier looks towards Darius for a moment, his lips thinning for a moment before he looks towards Hun'rar. At the mention of the demon messing with their plans suiting him as much as messing with the Endless Winter's, Lanier's eyebrows rise, "Really. Good to know where we rate in the grand scheme of things." He looks towards Cryosanthia and says, "Wait until I tell Spud..."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (4)+9: 13 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls knowledge/arcana: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Lanier rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (16)+4: 20 GAME: Toha rolls knowledge/arcana: (19)+12: 31
Cryosanthia is taking mental notes for the Crimson Pen. It's certainly turned into a rather unexpected hellish meet-cute. Still, the sith is trying to figure it all out. The scales surrounding her eyes are still glowing. So is the floor. Everywhere. "We're in a summoning circle. It's here, it's the whole floor. Breaking it up worked the last time. Maybe the salt, maybe the paint, or smash it? Breaking the summoning circle is how it's done. A line across it?"
A few more contemplative seconds pass, Cryo says, "The only way to break this summoning circle will be to break the floor itself. Smash the floor, the bricks are magical somehow."
Toha cants her head a little as the demon eyes her and once again sets her straight on things, "Alright. I'm not that old, so maybe I'm too optimistic." she grants. With Cryo's musings, she shrugs, "Interupting the flows is usually the way to go..." and glances at her glaive, then, "Smashing works, what about corrosives?"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+30: (19)+30: 49
"Move aside." Eclavdran says coldly to Hun'rar, moving past him to where Darius is kneeling. He leers down at the smaller man. There's raw power in his movements, a confidance that one could only glean from years of being worshiped as a near-god. There is no place of fear in him. Not from you. Not from anything. His hand lashes out and he grabs Darius by the jaw, a bruising, crushing touch that promises to break bones if Darius resists the touch. "There you are, I /knew/ you could kneel like a good little dog. My, you /are/ a handsome one aren't you? Even missing an eye. Pity that."
The demon leans into Darius's space, the scent of sulfer strong around him. He licks his lips and looks at Darius like the other man might be something tasty to eat. "Innocence is a flavor I haven't had in a while, and you smell of the promise of it. Very well. I will take your favor. I will place a demon mark on your soul and come to collect it when it pleases me. Open your mouth."
Well... THAT happened... it's not like he can really resist and so... even though he trembles in rage and fear he opens his mouth as requested. Hopefully this will be over soon.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls intimidate: (20)+31: 51
Hun'rar turns to walk up behind Eclavdran as he makes the deal. "The eyes of the Gilead are on you, devil. There is no place his hunters cannot find you." he says in a low voice, "His hunts never fail and if you abuse this... there will be no place you can hide."
Lanier takes a few steps to the side, watching critically as Eclavdran exacts payment for the information he is giving. As the matter proceeds, Lanier's face darkens and his jaw sets. At one point, he looks towards Hun'rar and then looks away, his eyes cast down towards the ground.
Kira may not fear Eclavdran anymore than he fears them, technically... but that doesn't mean there isn't a sense of dread as he steps to Darius. Nor a wince as he's snatched up. She is quite speechless as she tries to keep down the gorge rising in her throat. And that's -before- he asks him to open his mouth. Oh, Althea's Healing Hands, it gets worse... ... and the waiting doesn't help at all... so she looks away to the floor.
Wait! What was that about interrupting the flow?
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4+3: (1)+3: 4 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4+3: (1)+3: 4
"Break up the floor! We have to break up the floor!" Her rapier won't do it. The club won't do it. Her icicle dagger, it won't, just won't. Cryo litterally has nothing except her claws. They grow and the sith drops to the floor, swiping and clawing at it like a dog. Digging. Uncaring of injury. It's not going to work, it's not going to work but she has to try and cut a channel across it. Her efforts are futile. "Use anything! Corrosives, hammers, try!"
GAME: Toha activates her Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Str GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+7+9: (6)+7+9: 22 GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+7+9: (9)+7+9: 25
Toha watches this for a moment, a knuckle coming up to her lips as she makes a drawn, quizzical note. The scratching of stone sound behind her draws the golem's attention from the displays and she again gives a command to the weapon, "Priona, Shemzu!" and the weapon again transfigures itself, this time into an angular, almost industrial earthbreaker as something inside her rachets into place. With a vengeance, the construct slams the large hammer resoundingly into the floor.... and again!
Eclavdran doesn't release Darius, he holds him steady and smiles that evil smile of his as the man obediantly opens his mouth. There's a dark knowledgeable promise in those black eyes of his and with his releases his whip in order to bring his nail in a line across his own wrist. "Oh don't worry yourself. It'll be my /pleasure/ to keep this promise." He shoves his wrist into Darius' open mouth, forcing his blood into the other man's body. Feeding it to him. He gives no opprotunity for Darius to do anything but drink it down. "Swallow. There's a good boy."
Darius's face is a study in horror and disgust as he's forced to drink down demon blood, it's enough to make him want to puke but he's forced to swallow it down.
Hun'rar watches the pact being made and shakes his head "I shouldn't have ever let this happen." he says to himself. "Though if the sewer is binding... who would do this." he asks of Cryo and the others as he steps away from the demon.
Cryosanthia jumps when Toha's earthbreaker cracks the floor, producing better results than she's been able to. The sith stands, "Keep going! It'll free him to..."
Wander all over the place. That will be an improvement, for sure.
The sith stares in shock, at Darius, Eclavdran, and answers Hun'rar, "I don't know. That's why we were looking for cultists, to ask them. I can't even imagine how this was built. The oozes, they might have enchanted it but someone had to punch the new tunnels and know what they were doing. It would have taken time. There's been problem with the sewers for years."
Darius is dropped to the floor and coughs, holding his abused throat as blood drips from his mouth. The taste is beyond disgusting and he feels very unclean, like he's rolled himself in the excrement of pigs or some other animal of that nature. He almost considers gargling sewer water... it's THAT bad!
Kira gasps as Darius is dropped and runs to kneel at his side. She can't really break up the floor, anyhow. Not unless her dropping the paintbrush on the way happens to aid the efforts, somehow. "Darius!" She checks to see if he's injured, at least. Asking if he's alright seems a poor question at the moment.
Toha's focus swivels to Cryosanthia as she tells her to keep going, and so she does, beating along the floor to get through the line. WHAM! WHAM!
Lanier takes a few steps forward, reaching into a sidepouch on his pack and offering a flask to Kira, "Here. Have him drink this slowly. It'll help with the taste." It's straight whiskey. He then turns, looking towards the duke, "Make good on your word, Demon." He then takes a few steps away, picking up his mace from his belt. He offers up a prayer to Gilead, raises the mace above his head, and then slams it down with all his might ina crack that reverberates throughout the sewers.
Eclavdran laughs down at Darius, toeing the man with his boot and shaking his head. "All that over a little blood my sweet?" He turns and starts to walk away. "Very well, you've earned yourselves a tempoary repireve from my wrath. Consider your lives spared." He waves a negligent hand back at you as he stalks out into the tunnel. "Though I warn you that I'm not alone down here, and there are things that will not be barted with."
The demon in a person suit stops and looks back. "Oh, I did promise you something that that cold woman doesn't want you to know didn't I? Very well." He smiles a thin smile. "If you go seeking her in that tower I gave you a map to you wont find her. You'll only find what she wants you to." He blows a kiss to Darius. "Until next time my sweet. Maybe I'll go shopping." He turns around and starts to walk away.
"Does someone have a Planeshift to send him back? I'm not sure he can go back on his own." Cryosanthia is looking around, and at the floor. Her eye-scales are still glowing. She listens very intently to that piece of information. She clenches her left hand up tightly. "Oh... he's going. Gone."
"The summoning circle is still active. They're both still active." The palescale watches. "I guess, keep going Toha... I'll tell you if the magic breaks."
"Thank you," Kira is grateful to Lanier for the offering. She, in turn, offers it to Darius, while helping him to at least partially sit up. Can't have him choking!
Over him, her eye follows Eclavdran as he turns away the second time. And glares at his back. Scowls? Her face isn't so familiar with the various levels of unhappy and/or impolite expressions.
Maybe there was something to Cryosanthia's theory of competition, afterall...
Hun'rar glares at the demon as he leaves. "We should get out of here, I think this is enough excitement for one day." he says returning his sword to its sheath and shield to his back.
Lanier raises the mace again, striking down again with a loud crack of the macehead against the ground, the mace accelerating at the last second to impact. He lifts the mace again, slamming it down yet again as a roar builds deep within the Green Warden of Gilead.
Toha continues to pummel the stone, considering tapping into her Whitefire, but it's one of the few things she hasn't tested since she was cured, and she doesn't want to risk these people if something's.... not right.
"Yes... this was more than I was ready for. This one is not the master haggler that Mikilos is." Cryo says, sounding shaken and worried. She picks up her things, tucking the maps away, still keeping an eye on her hand and the floor. "The ones who know things tell us very little for great cost."
The sith examines her map, seeking the closest exit, looking at the understreet names painted on the wall. "That did it, the floor is broken enough, the magic went out. There should be an exit this way. We should go before something appears or collapses."
Darius gratefully accepts the flash and downs a mouthful of the alcohol. It's not enough to clear the taste out of his mouth, but at least it helps. He coughs and looks at Kira and says, "Remind me never to do that again... and next time don't try and attract a demon's attention, please? For me?"
