While I watched for Dove, I noted the guards as they patrolled the grounds. They only moved from time to time, and could not possibly cover the entire perimeter, try as they might. As dusk gave way to night, a curious figure appeared among the guards; a Tiefling, here? His look was not dissimilar to Iados, though I could easily tell it was not any Teifling I have known. His nose was too large, and the horns were clearly sharper and more... used. Shortly after his arrival the gate was opened. Within minutes the first of what would be a series of carriages pulled through the gate. A figure got out, approached the Teifling, they nodded to one another, and the figure proceeded into the main entrance of the house. This repeated several times.
I would need to get a bit closer to find a proper way in, and would likely need a carriage. After a short while, the loop inside the gate was full, and carriages had to pull back out and park on the street side along one of the fences. This was my chance! I walked along the carriages, observing the staff as I walked. Several were chatting, playing dice, and the like. Two, with slightly less fancy carriages, were not joining in on the festivities. One looked obviously outcast, and by his garb appeared to likely have a lesser salary than the rest.
Summonsing all the charm I could, I approached the carriage driver, and spoke with him. Starting with simple small talk, I lead into questions about the event his master was attending. After smoothing the discussion with a few silver pieces, I learned that his master was one of the lesser nobles in the area, an "up and coming" who's up was not quite becoming. I also asked about any rumors he'd heard about the meeting. The only thing he knew was that the one other driver he got along with, that of Lord Wolack (the food hoarder), was not to be there tonight, as his Lordship having other important matters to attend to. I inquired about his friends carriage, asking if it was devoid of fancy symbols or embellishments, as his was. Of course, they were nearly identical in their appearance.
Still having no sign of Dove, I must assume she will find her own way in. A couple of gold was enough to convince the driver to pull around the block and drop me off as he had his master. I secured one of the cloaks in the carriage, and put it on. As we arrived, there was a carriage in front of us. I quickly listened to the exchange the noble and the Tiefling had. The noble started to speak in... was that Infernal? The Tiefling quickly spoke over her in common. "Not outside, Lady Brithstus. Please proceed, they may start any moment."
As I exited my carriage, I spotted Dove, coming from around the corner. I quickly walked toward the Tiefling, to obscure his view of the road gate, in hopes of distracting him. I approached, nodded, and began heading toward the house. My distraction worked, as he quickly called to me, turning away from the gate entrance. I claimed to be the representative for Lord Wolack, being here to handle the affairs for his house while he attends to other business. The Tiefling asked what business Wolack was attending to, to which I simply replied "I'm sure you're aware... The warehouse." This seemed to quell his concerns, at least for the moment. I heard Dove give her false title to a guard that had stopped her entering, she and the guard were approaching us now. As I turned toward the house, I looked at her, and paused. The guard said to the Tiefling, "This one was trying to enter the gate on foot. Says her name is " At which point I interrupted, greeting her with her false title, asking "Did your carriage throw it's wheel in the rut near Seaway Road? My driver barely avoided it. A shame the roads are still in such disrepair. It's been weeks since that storm." Dove made her own excuses, and with a little of her charm...
The Tiefling bought it... We walked quickly into the house, to find a large empty hall. We were stumped. No idea what to do. Dove noted Anu was entering on her own terms. I'm sure that will go well. We decided to stand off behind the door, in a small alcove, and examine the fine statues here while we waited for another arrival. These statues were... too realistic. fine details, yes, but in places one would not put them while sculpting. Something was off, these were almost, lifelike? A guest came in, and made a quick dash toward the back of the house. We followed quietly behind, observing several more of these statues in the rooms as we moved.
We stopped at a small spiral stairwell, where below we could hear a murmur of conversation, again all in Infernal. Dove cast a small spell so she could listen in. Then there was a voice... One of authority, who silenced all the rest. There was a discussion, of all things, about US! A list was being given out, friends of the Thunder Cranes. And instructions on who, how and when to kill each one of them, in vengeance for our killing of Feya and Corbinian. There was a discussion of several other things, how the market was going, how tasks and projects were going. When it was clear the meeting was wrapping up, we had to make a choice. Stand, and put a stop to this, or flee and take our information back to the rest. Of course, this was Dove and I, so we chose the path less wise. We would intimidate them.
After a grandiose entrance, some brief banter and verbal sparing, we made our attempt at striking a bargain. Leave us and our friends be, or pay the price, now. About half of the nobles were clearly ready to run, the others had their hands reaching for daggers. Lady Ezbet commanded her lackeys to attack. With a single set of blasts, we downed several of the armed nobles. Ezbet then reveled her true nature, something I had suspected for a time now, that of a garğ. I turned and called to Dove to look away, but I was too late. The hair and face of snake had entranced her, and her legs froze to the ground; she was slowly turning to stone.
For some time now I've had the ability to cast Lesser Restoration, as most of my kind can. I knew it could not cure the curse of stone, but what else could I do? I called out to Pelor, and channeled the energy, opening my mainyuš beyond the extents I ever have, so much so my wings shifted slightly. I felt a pain I'd never felt before, and a flow of magic through me (which should not happen). As the two combined, the spell mutated, the pain nearly caused me to black out. It shifted, turned into something, just strong enough to reverse the flow of stone in Dove. The pain of that moment... I would not like to repeat it; but it worked. Dove, restored, froze a would be attacker. Ezbit cursed us, and attempted her glare at me, but I resisted her attempts. I quickly drew my twig, and a bolt of lightning shot into her ugly snake body. I was now free to look away again, and defend while maintaining my bolt. Ezbit made a path to me quickly, and in two strikes nearly killed me as I seared her. I called to Dove to hold her, or do something, anything, to allow me to escape before I died. She did, and as she held Ezbit, helpless, I finished her. Her coil, freed of the curse, turned to a fine power which I kicked about with my foot to scatter.
Anu then ran down the steps. She noted the Tiefling and a blade warrior were short behind her. I was spent, barely standing, and Dove had only a single spell left. Anu looked in moderate shape, but even the three of us against that Tiefling would be a hard match on a good day. Two of them, and us like this? Bluffing it was! As the approached down the steps, I wiped myself clean and stiffened up. I spoke with authority, and noted that we had dispatched their master, but held no ill will toward them. They were free to leave if they so desired, and we would not pursue them. They didn't go for it. Dove then nonchalantly said "I don't have time for this." and using her last spell, held both of them solid next to the stairs. As we walked past them to leave, I suggested they not attempt to follow us, least then end up like their mentor (in Infernal, of course, for effect). I could feel the hate emanating from him. Anu snatched his symbol (of Asmodius, of course) from around his neck as we left.
Once at the top of the stairs, we ran like wild cats. No way we could fight them now... We ran out to the yard, and Anu wanted to gather books she had thrown. Books! At this time?! Dove paid no head, and was headed to the carriages. I hastily agreed with Anu, but only if she started the house ablaze with her spells. I gathered the books as she set several fires in the house, blasting it through the door with her fire bolts. Dove then showed up with our trusty carriage man, and we sped off down the road. To the warehouse... Not that we would be of much use, but we should see how they're doing.
The warehouse was apparently a cake walk. Alaric and the Vikings were nearly done pillaging the place when we arrived, and not a soul was the wiser. The bar on the doc was still singing along. Lord Wolack was our prisoner, who we quickly moved to the carriage and escorted back to the S&G (after Alaric healed me a bit). They wrapped up the warehouse, and met up with us there about an hour later. I cast a healing spell, and brought us all back to full health, and we continued to question Lord Walack, and of course fill in the details of what we had learned. After Alaric took one of Wolack's eyes for being less than truthful with us, we noted we did not want our friends injured, as they were on a list and a few nobels (and of course the Tiefling) were still loose. It was then that Hedra cleared her throat behind us.
She had come down to give us some supper, and to deliver a message we had gotten while were were away. The discussion was short, but as I stood there I felt a small tug on my pant leg. Mrs. Fieldmouse was climbing up my leg, then my back, then was perched on my shoulder, gently squeaking. This would have to be very important news for her to be so exposed, especially with JubJub right there in the room... Wait. Big green rat. JubJub... She was telling me the impostor was here! I looked to Anu, and she at me. She sensed it too. She raised her hand, to ask for the signal we had agreed upon with Hedra as I drew my twig. Was it Hedra or JubJub? Hedra made no acknowledgement at first, but then laughed, and said, "You are a clever lot."
Hedra was not Hedra. While she did not revel her true form, staying in the guise of Hedra, she did acknowledge what we knew, and more. She claimed to be The Lady, of tails of old. A master assassin, unrivaled at disguise. She also claimed an alliance with Nyx, and gave us compelling information about several things, including a message from Nyx herself. I did not believe most of her words, but Dove and the others did. Outvoted, and trusting in the intuition of my friends, I lowered my twig. But I would not take her word until it was at least partially vindicated by Nyx herself. After a good deal of talking, the party let her go free. A mistake, I believe, but not the first we've made. Dove was prepared to set sail on our new adventure to the swamps the next day, with promises of our friends being looked over by an assassin and the hedge wizard Franz. I was not so inclined just yet.
Healed, and fully spelled, I went in the dead of night to the town market, and again used the stone to contact Nyx. I knew I would wake her, but this could not wait for the morning. She noted we should talk somewhere less open, so we walked through the woods as we talked. She confirmed most of what The Lady had said, though her term of alliance was not as strong. We discussed the trip ahead, and I was given some insight into the nature of the place we would find. An old and abandoned library, one sealed long ago as the great wars were just starting. What else was sealed there, I wondered. She noted she would send a gift, and a trinket to place at the tower for her to scry later, should she want to go there herself (a suggestion I made to her, and later offered to Franz). I returned to the S&G to sleep, still unsure of the path ahead. I spoke with Mrs. Fieldmouse on the trip home as well (she had stayed in my pocket through the earlier events). I thanked her with a bit of cheese from the kitchen, and told her to take special care, as I was leaving for a few days.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2017 08:38PM by woody.
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