The Moon's Eye
Log Info
- Title: The Moon Amulet
- Emitter: Faranmidahn
- Characters: Faranmidahn, Paenitia, Seyardu, Mikilos
- Place: A16: Nobility District: The Knightly Orders Chapterhouses
- Time: Sunday, August 22, 2021, 3:49 PM
- Summary: Faranmidahn and Paenitia have met up in the Purple Rose chapterhouse, to discuss recent events, when Seyardu arrives. She has even more details, and she and Paenitia catch Faranmidahn up. As this explanation is on-going, Mikilos wanders in, to an amused hail by Paenitia. Further discussion, including some revolutionary talk, surrounds the people who have been turned to stone and are in the process of being shipped out of Alexandria. Nobles and complicit guards have pushed to prevent this 'needless adventurer related delay'. Seyardu laments they won't be held to account, and Paenitia shares that the Mad Dogs of Isobar did so to their nobles, and implies it was fatal. Discussion turns to the amulet that they discovered in the tower, and it is turned over to Mikilos to examine. Faranmidahn alerts the order that trouble may be brewing, and several knights turn up to guard or get the civilians away. The mage does his spell, which takes forty minutes, finally revealing it's very complex, and intended for a Paladin of Eluna, or perhaps a Chosen. Paenitia laughs and says everyone is lucky Tarien doesn't leave such artifacts lying around, as there would be a banana of infinite grease spells - and she would use it. Ramirez runs off, and she follows, and the remaining make a copy of the scroll.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A16: Nobility District *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The splendor of the technology, bustle and eclectic energy of the city and nation of Alexandria all seem to point towards the towering structures and constant thrum of activity in the Castle District. The Castle District contains the vast majority of the government offices, guild headquartrs, noble quarters and political functions of the city. The very air seems energized with this level of importance. The architecture is pompous and enormous, consisting largely of multi-leveled edifices and great jutting towers and buildings that seem to grow out of the mountains with hanging gardens and brightly colored banners and mana lamps strewn about. Everything seems to be aiming upwards here and pointing towards the freedom of the skies beyond. The grand towers and structures reaching heavenwards and activity in the skies above a constant happening with ships of all sizes from air-cabs to great merchant vessels moving through the Skygates and Griffon Riders moving through their patrols as they pass through and above the many bridges and walkways that connect the towers, buildings and walls.
Ever-easterward stands the fortress-castle of Castellum Alexandrae and a large bulk of both ground and air traffic seems focused in that direction.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Faranmidahn 3'3" 35 Lb Halfling Female Albino Lucht woman. Knight of Spiders. So, SO Fluffy. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Mikilos 6'8" 180 Lb Dawn Elf Male Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The sun shines free and clear over the Chapterhouse of the Order of the Purple Rose; a smallish keeplike structure crafted with as much an eye for romanticized flair as militant integrity. Outside of it's walls, there are a collection of squires and pages in work smocks of a muted purplish grey tending the outer greenery, duly, duly penitent for whatever transgressions led them to this point, under the stern eye of an older human woman in purples and satin steels of armsmen's harness.
Within the yard, other squires, bright faced and bussy tailed, so o speak, are learning the finer points of the lance here, the proper way to swing into the saddle there, annnnnd... trying not to get caught glancing over to the somewhat unique spectacle over yonder:
A Knight of the Pillar and her mount within the courtyard, in apparently amicable conversation with their own somewhat eccentric Knight of Spiders, astride her own steed; the man sized black Huntsman, Torrent.
The albino, hair fluttering some in the breeze seems somewhat emburdened with something or other about the edge of her thoughts, though her eyes do not falter from the face of her fellow reasonably sized Knight, "... she also bore a scroll with an ominous poem scribed upon it. It may well be the key to thwarting the archfiend, but in any case, we must, all of us, be wary going forward. If the Winter herself is moving against him, here and now, we should expect smaller machinations to twine with greater calamities..."
The darker lucht, she of the mahogany skin and black curly tresses, listens intently. The seriousness of her posture is undermined by the stylized grinning mask she wears, perhaps complimented by her red and white regalia, which matches her mount. He is white and red, in greater and lesser parts, and warily watching Torrent.
Not a glance of hunger, aggression, or fear. There is something else in the peacock-andalusian hippogryph's eyes.
The other Lucht nods, "there seems to be much in motion. I told you of the gift for Sir Seldan, and the things I find out in the farms. We have bring back a devil on our last quest."
It was not often that the silver sith-makar found herself in the nobility district. Her business rarely brought her there, as almost all had no need for meals to be delivered. And recent interactions had made it relatively clear how little care the nobility seemed to have for her kin. She was not surprised, they were still not trusted completely, and nobles had a tendency to isolate themselves from interactions with any they did not wish, with the means to do so.
Still, there was reason to be there on occasion. Seyardu knew that many of the knightly orders had lodgings there, and while she could not find any for the Pillar at first glance, perhaps Faran could point her into the direction? Thankfully, the strange mounts kept most eyes off of her as she entered the grounds. And in a turn of good luck, she finds the reason, two luchts conversing that she had been looking for. There is a thump of her tail against the ground as she waves to the two, walking over to where they were situated.
"Peace on your nests, Dame Paenitia and Dame Faranidahn. This one was looking for Paenitia, but was lucky enough to find you both. Is this due to two Luchts being in the same place?"
Faranmidahn nods, the sunlight winking from the decorative gems along her cheeks, "You have, thank you." Her lips purse some, a low sigh and a tiny shake of her head follows, "I expected something, I had hoped to have had more time to mend the rifts between the orders before things started anew, but... we aren't even as far along as I'd hoped, by now."
She'd been apologetic over the somewhat skeptical reception, earlier.
"Should the worst come to pass, Sister Paenitia, how do you expect the Pillar to respond? Will they ride with us, or perhaps apart to an aligned goal?"
Torrent, for his part, if he's concerned about the massive predator beside him, he's almost incapable of expressing it in any way that doesn't result in his Mistress tossing her morning's repast in the doing of it. The one she ate hours ago.
The Purple Rose does what it can, but is still not itself an Order with sweeping powers.
The hail from Seyardu seems to bring her upright, some, and the pale lucht twists to look back from the saddle before lifting a hand to wave, "Hello! How are you, this afternoon?" There's an arched eyebrow to Paenitia, then, with a slight tug on the reins, and some light kicking from one foot, she cues the spider to come about to face her more fully.
The Red Knight laughs, sitting back in her saddle, "Oh, they have no pull. Already I try to rouse the Orders to protect the statues in the warehouses. They say, this is not something they will do for me."
"The Knights of the Pillar, I think I am the only one in Alexandria today." She turns to the silverscale, "Hola, Friend Dragon. I do not understand the question. There are the other lucht knights, Lady Mirielda the Fair, she is of the Hymn. You are lucky to find us together today, but we are not always."
Noting the issue with Torrent, Paenitia says, "Ah, I did not tell you about the experience at the cabin. This perhaps, would be the upsetting news."
"It was not a question. I have heard, that Lucht Siul are considered to be lucky. So if that was the case, it would stand to reason that looking for you here by asking Faranmidahn, I would run into you both due to the luck of you both." She offers in explanation, but she just chuckles, and shakes her head. "Think nothing of it. But ah, yes, there is unfortunate news. But at least, this one has a plan for the warehouses, hopefully. So that helps, Faranmidahn. With good plans in motion, I am doing well enough today. It is something I wanted to advise Paenitia about, and it would not hurt for you to know, as well."
Faranmidahn shrugs a little and nods, "Oh, that makes sense." she replies in a pleasant tone, "Please, I'm..." She pauses, concern growing in her expression as Paenitia -and- Seyardu have more unfortunate news and she gives a little nod, "I'm listening...?"
"In the woods..." Paenitia starts off, although there is hesitation in her voice. Her expression remains obscured, "... no, these are not the things you need to know. I simplify it. There a spider that attack Ramirez and all of us, the cultists make her do so. It die unpleasantly."
She leans, patting her mount on his neck, "He remember the battle, it was not the pleasant one."
"The cultists take Aimarra. She was held by Eclavdran, she want nothing to do with the Demon, she have her own problems. She will help us route the cultists. She is at the Temple of Althea, and I hear her story. Most, was she trapped in the box with others, and they thrown through the portal when the explosion happen."
Seyardu would let Paenitia share what she wanted to share. She knew Faran better, almost definitely. She listens, and sighs.
"It is as Paenitia says. There are people working in and around Alexandria with foul goals, towards an equally dangerous master. And there are statues in the warehouses at the docks. No one seems capable of working to sort it, as there has been push back from nobles, the guards turning a blind eye or actively working with them."
But then, she smiles, looking between them. "This one has a plan, however. I have been successful in convincing the temple of Althea to take preliminary action. This one will accompany a senior cleric to the warehouses, alongside ones from the temples of Eluna and Daeus, to turn one of them back. Three temples baring witness should force acknowledgement, and once it is proven, they will not be able to send any more out."
Faranmidahn closes her eyes and sighs nodding after a few seconds as she gently strokes the chitin exposed by the barding, "I understand... I wish..." She gives a little shake of her head and a wan smile, "I'm sorry you were both put in that position, but I understand you did what you had to."
The news of Airmarra, being taken by Eclavdran yet, makes her pale a notable touch, and a more critical focus takes to her features as her color returns, even as she takes in Seyardu's take on the situation.
A hand rises, touching the crook of a knuckle to the seam of her lips, then, "That's a troubling account of things, but your reasoning is sound. My recommendation is to have their holy blades attend as well. Their word is held, even by the lay, as unimpeachable."
"Sir Seldan may accompany, he has been made aware." Paenitia says, after listening to Faranmidahn's counsel, "I tell him I will break the guards knees if they do not stop. They are tools of the oppressors, supporting the corrupt. They become the wall that must be broken down, brick by brick."
Now, now the insane grin matches her voice and tone. A touch of heatstroke, a touch of madness, her Isobarian heritage makes sense. She chuckles, "Oddly, he does not take it as bad as this one they call Merek."
She faces the albino knight, "He threaten to take me in. He have the magic mind control on him, to support this evil. This at the meeting after the tower of undead. There some there who want Seldan kill, hope this please the demon enough it go away. Ha! Fools, I know the type, to hope to concede they will curry favour. It never work out for them."
She faces the silverscale, "So, I glad you plan will work, that it will have force of law. I beginning to believe the Mad Dogs must come here to right the wrongs!"
Paenitia is sounding just a -tad- revolutionary.
"This one would appreciate the support, for certain. And yours, if you would offer it." She says to the two Luchts."
Seyardu turns to Faranmidahn, and shakes her head. "We did what was possible, this one is sorry."
The talk of the recent meeting makes the silver sith-makar sigh. "There were many poor thoughts there, without consideration, including my end. But, getting rid of Seldan would only succeed in making it easier for the devils to take hold."
"This one, is more frustrated with the nobles who are, 'lobbying', I believe is the word. Lobbying to have the Crates in the warehouses freed. One of the noble houses was controlled by Erinyes recently. Perhaps there is similar control within others."
Faranmidahn's expression dims a touch on mention of the paladin, but she nods, "He knows much about the Winter Queen and the archfiend." She glances curiously as the Seer is names as well, "Merek? Why would...?" she trails off, then is about mid headshake when word of the mind control magic is mentioned and she freezes.
"So, that's what they do...." she murmurs softly, a note of disgust in her tone, "There are always collaborators, somewhere. I will use what influence I have to assist."
She looks to Seyardu and reaches out to her, "No, you did, and I'm sorry you had to go through that." Her eyes close as further talk of Seldan saps some rigidity of her poise, "We were more tightly bound when we fought the Winter Queen. We fractured, and..." though her confession ends in a sigh before she looks to Seyardu, "It may be so, but proving it will be hard to do."
"Ha! Then you held together better than we. Our first meeting fall to fighting. A man challenge our Friend Dragon to a duel." The Dark Lucht laughs, "The dishonourable kind, in the back alley with the knives in the back."
She nods at the observation of collaborators, "there are always those that work to appease. I am much unhappy, that I was unable to rouse the Knights."
"People, made statues, and spirited away. This should make them the most innocent and helpless. A call for all to aid. A noble cause." She waves, "The proof alone should be what they find in the streets. The ones turned to corpses to attack us."
She turns her mask towards Seyardu, "I am commit to your plan. I have the wonder, what you do with the devil we bring back?"
"It is appreciated, Faranmidahn, though only do as much as you are comfortable with, as there is still know knowing what they plan. This one, has heard you have all been through much with the Winter Queen." Seyardu replies, and warns. "With Merek, yes, he mentioned it to me. Something called a geas, he was tying up his hands to prevent being forced to act on it at one point."
"The fighting, I am not fractured, at least I do not believe so. The man in question, Karasu, this one ran into them discussing slaves with someone, and when questioned, they would not elaborate further. And the way they suggested eliminating Seldan like that."
The silverscale sighs again. "If they are so content to act as such, combined with what I know, I hope you can understand if I did not wish to discuss plans with them around. There should have been many explanations. The cultists, the cockatrice body, the missing farmers and the wounds tended by the Althean Temple, the statue we found left at the farm. The only thing which makes sense, is some forcing these to be ignored. And if the nobles are knowingly dealing with this, trying to hide all this evidence, then perhaps they should be treated as slavers as well."
Faranmidahn shakes her head and brushes her hair out of her face, "That is the call... to protect the innocent and the helpless." a certain resolve congealing within her features.
She says, "I have. I've fared better than most, but worse than others." There is a shake to her head, but, "I don't know this Karasu, but they suggested killing Sir Seldan?"
She brings the knuckle to her lips again and sighs, "When my sister and I were... struggling with some of the Winter Queen's doings, there seemed a certain... air of dismissal, even absentmindedness followed about like shadows in torchlight."
The albino looks between the two and states, "I have no doubts that some in power may be acting freely to that end, there will be likely moreso acting out of ignorance, or coercion, be it it subtle or gross."
'Ruaaaah!' Ramirez agrees. Yes. Or he has seen something worthy of challenge. Or perhaps finally decided that Torrent will not explode unexpectedly.
Paenitia leans to pat her bird-horse, "The ones in power, the highest up, feel the fall the greatest. They always look for the way to climb higher, the more influence, the more grandeur."
Her grinning mask turns towards Seyardu, "You say you find the Noble family corrupt with fiendish blood? This the tale I want to hear. What happen?"
Torrent gives Ramirez a hug.
Ramirez stands still and accepts the hug like a manly man.
"It was a suggestion on how to get this, Eclair, from taking interest in Alexandria." She explains. "I understand, it is hard, when people do not pay attention. I ah-"
The silver sith-makar shakes her head. "I remember trying to get kin to help with matters before, but nothing was done. As for their involvement, it remains to be seen. But no noble should be able to look at the number of statues in those warehouses, the subjects, and convince themself they're mass produced by a talented sculptor."
"This is, it angers this one, to see this going on, ignoring those in need. And this one worries even if this is resolved, those overseeing this will find other things to do instead, later on. They should be held accountable in some form."
Faranmidahn folds her arms some and thinks about it some, "Not without magic in great quantity, anyway." she muses, oblivious to Ramirez's concerns as to how Torrent reacts under pressure.
She smiles to the hippogriff, then gently pats her arachnid before she goes on, "They should, indeed. But it will be a lengthy undertaking."
"The Mad Dogs had their ways," Paenitia says cheerfully, leaning back and patting the peacock tail of halberds attached to her saddle, "The Iron Baron and his ilk trouble none in Isobar now."
The Smiling Man mask faces Seyardu, "I know you do not like to hear, Friend Dragon, but if the mortal world do not have the even judges it becomes the must to send them on to the eternal ones."
"Act with Honour, but do not stay your hand on those that do not offer surrender." The Red Knight advises. It's appropriate her armour is a crimson colour, even if that is lost on the silverscale.
"I meet the banditos of Celia the Snake, in the woods. There others with me, this is not the lone knight tale. I challenge and say to yield or die."
"None yield. Ramirez and I slay one. Three more, I battle with and they yield. I accept, even though they strike at dear Ramirez, and this angers me much."
"Of the three, one is unrepentant and spit in my face. She I turn to the Alexandrian guards. The other two, younger, have the tale of woe. It may be the lie, it may be the truth." The litle knight adjusts on her saddle, "I tell them to flee their banditos leader. I give them coin, to stay in the nearby town for a month, to think of the new life they might have."
"I tell them I find them slaying on the road again, there will be no mercy." Her eyes are dark, soft pools behind her grinning mask, "I am not without heart, but I am not the fool even if I play at it for laughs."
"Some, they cannot be save."
"This one, yes, is learning. Not all can be saved, and doing so puts others at risk." Seyardu sighs. "These bandits, some have no mercy, no remorse. Some will surrender, others not, and many will only do so if they feel no other option, while happily attempting to slay you. I remember well our first excursion, into a similar camp."
"This one was torn on the matter of the Erinyes. This one may have slain them there, but it felt best to learn what we could, if it was safe to do so. They are being kept in a place where magic can be used for now, and this one was planning on speaking with Mikilos about further options. It may lead to further closure for Mei as well, with what I can learn."
She shakes her head, and smiles to the small knight. "No, you are not, Dame Paenitia. You stand tall with honor and heart, like some of the greatest warriors of my kin. Though you cover yourself, it is spoken with every action and word."
Faran listens to the two converse, elaborating on matters of mercy and retribution bordering on revolution, but doesn't leap to judgement or hasty action just yet.
Talk is talk.
Talk is not bleed.
Still, "Best we not upend the whole of Alexandria if we can avoid it, especially with the main villain being indifferent to such setbacks as losing his minions. It is very easy to paint a just action as villainy with the wrong step, besides."
"Those are good words, Friend Dragon, i have great pride hearing them. Much thanks!" Paenitia says, sounding much more chipper and less dire. Briefly. As she speculates about the Erinyes her voice unfortunately fills with worried tones.
"They are not the pets, like sp..scorpions, the devils will bite, make the trap of contracts. I have little experience with them." She turns her mask towards the albino Knight, "Sir Faranmidahn, have you fight these foe? Know their tactics and strengths?"
"The fear is you were right Friend Dragon, that it give no mercy to many victims, and deserve none. I suspect it a trap." The Red Knight muses.
"This one want attack the problem, sometime the root go very deep."
"Yes, it is easy. Sometimes the best that can be done, is to have faith in yourself, but still, this one knows many do their jobs. And the peace is still best upheld." Seyardu notes. Then she turns to Paenitia, and smiles. "This one means every word, you are welcome, Paenitia."
"But yes, this one does not trust them once they are in any state to react to our presence. Mei still told us about what they did, but another group was present afterwards it seems. This is important, and it warrants investigation. If we send them back to the hells now, we will be left with little information on the second group. If they revile them, it is possible they will share some information with us."
Ramirez adjusts his stance, hoof, and other hoof shifting to turn him slightly. Paenitia pulls up her legs and sits cross legged on the saddle. Easy enough, as Ramirez is wide and she is a large as she needs to be.
"I would not trust the Ashwings, no. You are sure this is two group? Not one group punish their own as example?" She taps a the pencil beard of her mask, "you are right it unlikely there a lone devil at work, oppose by a group. It may know something."
"Finding out, she will not speak in gratitude, and if she does, it should not be trusted."
"There was three with wings, Mei said, but perhaps they did not remember correctly. But this one counted 3 in total still, the one we found outside, the one in communication, and the one communicated to. None had wings save for the one in the basement. This one, hmm. Perhaps the removal of the wings has some meaning? This one should look into that."
"This one will not trust what they say, but take what they say with care. Still, after what they have been through, this one wants to know why they asked for help. The reasoning. This one will not leave them here afterwards, but the question is if the return should be violent, or through some manner of banishment."
Seyardu sighs, looking around the grounds.
"Everything that has happened, it is exhausting. It is selfish, but if this is resolved, I would feel much better."
Mikilos strolls, getting some fresh air, excersize, and a bit of reading done, all at the same time. Multi-tasking. Glancing up from his text, the wizard peers about, finding where his feet have taken him while his mind was occupied.
"Hola Friend to Demons!" Paenitia calls out, spotting Mikilos and causing heads to turn. Many, may heads. She sits up in her seat, facing them all with her grinning mask, "You hear my words now but not when I speak of rights to wrong! Ha! Go back to the practice, it is a joke."
She's a little thing, but she can be loud when she wants to.
In a more reasonable tone, the Red Knight addresses Mikilos again, "you have wander far off the path with your nose in the book, to where the knights practice. Have you come to deliver dire warnings of a quest, for ring or stones? Perhaps a sword in stone? You have the likings for the big ones."
She laughs, "Good to see you. The Seer Merek is restrained? What is news?"
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20: (13): 13
Seyardu twists on the spot at the call out, her back to the entrance and not catching Mikilos. She is standing straight and on edge, but she sighs, collecting herself for a moment.
"Peace on your nest, Mikilos." She finally greets. This one was planning on looking for you at the shop later, what brings you out this way? Everything is alright, I hope?"
Mikilos blinks, peering a moment before locating Paenitia, raising a hand in greeting with a grin. "To the best of my knowledge Merek is fine. I bring no dire news you're unlikely to have already heard, are enough dire tidings to go around already. What's this of rings and swords and stones?"
"Whom did you think I mean? The dark one that's friend to slavers?" Paenitia asks curiously, looking at Seyardu. She's on top of Ramirez, on top of the world, so she's easy to spot. The giant white peacock-hippogryph is looking around, apparently happy to be standing.
"Oh, the stories when I was small, the wizards oft arrive with news of magic things, quests that must be resolve. Seyardu has the plan, to take priests of three temples to undo the stone enchantments."
"You are wise not to ask Tariens, they would add stone mustaches to the women before turn back."
Paenitia looks at Mikilos again, "She also need the shackles, for holding a devil."
"There are too many here that would work with them. Not all good." Seyardu sighs to Paenitia. "Apologies, this one is on edge."
"If possible, Mikilos. This one has news of our recent excursion. There were fiends, but they were in possession of a prisoner, an erinyes who was stripped of their wings and skinned alive. They are in this state, but I would take no chances keeping them here, and ask your counsel." She replies to the wizard.
Mikilos blinks and frowns. "Not confidant I follow. For those turned to stone, fairly confidant I can restore them safely, some two to three hundred a day, if fully prepared, but not positive the power of the enchantments, and was impression the statues had been moved." Turning to the silverscale, he nods. "Devils are creatures of order and law. Twisted malicious law, but law none the less. Possible this one broke some law and is punished. Magic can bind well, but shackles of silver should well work for a devil. You have this one bound somewhere?"
"I've heard of demons asking for help, before, and abiding, with some level of nuisance, to the agreement. The circumstance was resolved and spoken in confidence." Faran remarks, returning from her thoughts at last it seems. A sigh and she looks to her fellow knights as it seems Paenitia is working on Order relations as they speak and manages to check the urge to cover her face with her palms.
"It is a temporary matter, but they are being held by the arcanist's dungeon for the moment. But it is a temporary thing. This one is worried when they have their strength, that they will attempt to escape." Seyardu explains, and sighs. "This one was hoping you may have a pair of such shackles already, or know someone who does. This one does not have enough gold to fund a pair being made. But some way to keep them safely is necessary, at least until they can recover enough to speak with us. Also, there was another object I would ask you to look at, Mikilos. The fiends in the tower spoke of this object killing the demons in the hands of one devoted to Eluna, but, this one would not trust what we overheard readily."
"We explore this tower on a farmer's land. It have devils and imps in it, we kill two and rescue the third." Paenitia says decisively, "the third is much mangled by torture instruments, so much that to tell the devil was female was the challenge. She ask for help."
The Red Knight sighs, "So she is brought back. The Temple of Daeus refuse her, the Arcanist Dungeon is where she now. This one did not know they abide by bargains, Sir Faranmidahn, only that, as Mikilos say, the bargains they offer is the sort stick."
She nods, "the timing of what we here suspicious, we were warned by Mei, that it be a trap."
The Smiling Man masks turns towards Mikilos, "The statues are the greater concern. The nobles insist they are property, the corrupt guards with brains in their buttocks agree, and allow the statues be ship out of port. They all complicit in the slavery with a few more steps. They want the proof, that the statues that are real people."
"I think like the dogs, they will whine in bewilderment if their face pushed in the proof, and still not understand."
Mikilos nods to Faran. "Demons are more creatures of chaos, less likely to feel bound by promises, but it does happen. For all their trends and natures, they are still living individuals with wills of their own." To Seyardu he shakes his head. "Nothing crafted already. I've done circles of bindings for conjured beings, would have to check to adapt for something already present. And not sure would be any better than the arcanists cells."
He perks slightly. "In the hands of the properly trained, most weapons could kill a demon, but some are distinctly better suited. I'd be more than happy to take a look. Cautiously, of course."
He frowns mildly, nodding to the Red Knight. "Proof wouldn't be over hard, but would need the 'statues' present." Faranmidahn frowns and shakes her head. What in six Hells goes on around here while she's Errant?
She looks first to Paenitia, explaining, "I don't know the particulars, alas, and couldn't speak to them."
She considers Seyardu's imput and explains, "I've been in the Arcanists dungeons, no magic will function in their depths. It alleviates the threat of charm, or teleport, but if the matter becomes one of whatever physical might the creature has at their disposal, it would be prudent to have the most capable hands you can muster, backed by those who can prevent or dispel an enchantment, should they get far enough."
"This is the concern, yes. That if their wounds are mended, we are left with a Erinyes and their considerable strength." Seyardu nods. "The statues are the concern yes. Aryia has been keeping an eye on them leaving, and yes, they are leaving. This one almost has a mind to stop them being removed, but it would only cause problem with the guard. I am worried why they are allowed to do business, who it is doing business. But if it is backed by this Duke, perhaps it is concern with their control."
Seyardu reaches into her bag, opening one of the outer pockets to take out a polished stone crescent moon, with some manner of crystal set into it. "It does not hurt to hold, but this one worries it may react to some outside event, especially if someone of Eluna holds it. This one has seen one of the gifts offered by Eclair already for Seldan, but there is still one unaccounted for it."
"Tarry too long we will show up to the empty warehouse and the guards saying 'oops you are too late', with the stupid shrugs." Paenitia says, sounding like she's working up to waking up a few of them."
"You sound most wise in these affairs, Sir Faranmidah. I would count you ally and wish you ride with us. I have speak with Sir Seldan. He warn the difficulty of the road. He does not have bad words to say about you."
"Though he does not say much."
She looks between the three, nodding to Mikilos, "Hit them hard, has been what I try so far. It work. You will have me there, Friend Dragon, when the strength return. I offer her the swift death, if she deal false, that is still on the table."
Mikilos considers. "I'm not over familiar with Erinyes. But without magic, a few guards with silvered weapons should be enough." He frowns thoughtfully. "The ship is still in Alexandros? ...if the hild were to suddenly come alive, with no official explanation given... but I'm not as stealthy as I might be. Anyway..." He eyes the stone, and murmurs a short spell to see the magics upon it. <Detect Magic>
GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d20+15+9: (10)+15+9: 34 (Concentration Check) GAME: Mikilos rolls knowledge/arcana: (10)+29: 39
Mikilos winces slightly, and blinks hard. "Powerful magics. VERY powerful. Layers of them. Divination and enchantments. I'd need more study to figure out what exactly it does. But I've never seen something quite like this."
Paenitia watches with some concern as Mikilos performs the spell. Her hand strays to her warhammer. Ramirez, catches his mistress' change in attitude and his head is high, alert. He's watching also.
"Is there the domination magics? Divination does what? The enchantments too?" The Red Knight glances at the silverscale then back at the mage, "You are safe to study this alone? You need the guard?"
"We... have stood apart for some time, Sister." Faran replies softly, "I'd had hopes for the Meet in the feasthall, but..." But that's already been lamented upon. She shakes her head, "I don't know much about Erinyes I'm afraid, it's a peculiar word. Though these statues... those definitely should be dealt with swiftly."
"Cold iron did not work, and I think that silver would not. It was suggested alignment of the weapon is necessary to hurt the, which would line up with what we saw at the tower, when the only one capable of hitting it properly was the paladin, who smote one." Seyardu offers. "Which is to say, guards would need to be incredibly well prepared to keep a recovered one any amount of time."
"This one knows not where the statues are bound, but the majority are in the warehouses. This is what I would deal with, as quickly as possible."
She stands a bit awkwardly as the object is investigated, and she raises a brow. "That sounds dangerous. I agree, is it safe to learn more? I would not wish to have you do this with Cryosanthia staying nearby. The worry is still that this may be a trap designed for this to be given to notable figures, such as Seldan, or yourself."
Mikilos smiles, and waves vaguely. "Safe enough. And shouldn't take over long to get a few clues, half-hour or so. We can do the ritual right here. Though likely best to grab a seat as a cafe or some such, most of my focus will be upon the magics. Anyway, Divination, finding out information, Enchantment, changing perception. Charms and suggestions. -IF- the stone is honest in appearance, would GUESS it to detect nearby demons and sway them to favorably view the holder of the stone, maybe even force them to obey. But, that's just a guess. My ritual shouldn't trigger the stone, but depends on what, if any, sort of wards it has installed."
"There is a table in the gazebo that we can sit undisturbed. The chairs are right sized too." Paenitia suggests, taking her hand from her weapon, "It sound a useful thing then, if it what it appear to be."
"Ramirez!" She orders, and he walks towards the gazebo, slowly. Arriving there she dismounts, and then mounts the stairs.
"That is not, entirely reassuring, but this one hopes it will be alright. It would be incredibly useful indeed, if the fiends were speaking poorly." Seyardu offerrs with a nod, glancing to the Gazebo, and walking over. Strange to have an open air building, just to sit underneath. Certainly not for Makari, due to the abundance of awkward seating. "If that is the case, it is good for myself to be near just in case. If it tries to activate, I will be there to help dispel anything hopefully, or clear minds. The quicker this is resolved, the better, for certain."
Faranmidahn frowns as things get to more involved avenues and points toward the indicated structure. There is some worry touching her eyes as it seems everyone decided to crack open the heavens in their backyard, "Give me a few minutes to alert the order than there may be some trouble."
Mikilos nods to the SilverScale. "Agreed. Testing is a risk, but waiting is the greater risk." He nods to Faranmidahn. "Will take a bit to get the materials set up, I'll await you return before casting."
"Ah, yes, Faranmidahn. This one would not put them at risk, for certain. Please take your time and alert all necessary." Seyardu speaks quickly. "It should be alright by the sounds of it, but if it is powerful, there is no harm in being as safe as can be."
"See if Sir Tenzacatetl or Dame Yowyss be about," Paenitia calls to the other Lucht, "They are stalwart and might stand to. The alerting is the good idea."
One that clearly did not occur to the Knight of the Pillar.
Ramirez takes up a position outside the gazebo, watching, while Paenitia sets her shield. She adjusts sword and warhammer to be close, and occupies her time patrolling. "Perhaps you stand together soon with him, Sir Faranmidahn, he ask for the allies and you are known to him."
A nod, then, and the fluffy Knight says, "Very well." then, with a snap of the reins and a kick with both little feet, she gets Torrent... really hauling ass.... back over to one of the gaggles of knights. Activity starts, voices raise and blur together, and the Spider Rider is off to spice up another class until she's gone 'round the yard and into the Chapterhouse itself.
She's in there for some time...
Numbers of others emerge from the structure, some in full armour, standing guard. Others in chain and mail are escorting a number of souls from the edifice.
Amongst the throw emerges Faranmidahn with extra armament, leading Torrent by the reins. At her side is a somewhat older Lucht woman of earthy hues and significant resemblance, though devoid of fluffery, save the little white spider on her shoulder. The two embrace for some moments, and the elder leaves with the others as Sir Waywalker slips back into the saddle and begins to ride back, expression grave.
Seyardu watches the preparations carried about both in the area and out of the keep. It was busy work, but not much for herself at the moment. So in a chair turned around, the silver Makari watches, chews on some Jerky, and fumbles with something underneath the breastplate she was wearing absentmindedly. "This one expects this to be unnecessary, but just in case, it is certainly prudent. You do not need to stand with me here if you do not wish however, Paenitia."
GAME: Mikilos casts Legend Lore. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d4: (4): 4
Mikilos set the Moon Stone on the tabletop, and places four pieces of white ivory around it. Each piece of a different size and shape, but all covered with squiggles and smudges of black ink that might have been words. Last is a simple stone bowl, the size of a fist, carefully filled with a mix of incense. Preparations ready, the elf turns his attention back to his book 'Herbal Remedies Of The Vast', glancing up often to double check all is well. He frowns mildly at all the fuss... but, if something goes very wrong... better safe than sorry.
When all is ready, the wizard intones a short incantation, and the incense alights, a thick purple smoke coiling upon the tabletop, it's scent strong, but difficult to identify, seeming to shift from moment to moment. The smoke swirls and ebbs, forming half-seen images, as the ink upon the ivory starts to crawl, not quite forming words in an almost grasped language.
Mikilos peers intently at it all, attention shifting from one item to another and back again.
Seyardu chews the jerky noisily. It's very distracting.
It's going to take almost an hour.
Paenitia looks abruptly at Seyardu. Her mask remains as it always is, a man's face a wide grin. Her voice is incredulous and confused, "Why you ask if I wish to flee like a coward? I have fight these devils, I have fight the large nobles, I tell Seldan I will stand by his side. I face the fey and undead."
"The arguing with fool guards I have small patience for, the creeping obey of laws that protect the strong, that I would skip." She's sounding angry, "a fight that happen while the mage does the magic, that I would see."
She laughs, "We are even outside! Ramirez and Torrent can join the fun!"
Faranmidahn is never going to hear the end of this one...
Sigh.
There's a quick inventory of her weaponry and she idly readies her lance.... just in case.
Great Hunter guide us, now. Sister Moon, pierce the shadows that veil our enemies....
Paenitia has no spells to prepare or use, no jerky to munch on, only her readiness and willingness to wait.
And wait.
And wait...
This may take a while...
"It is an offer to stand back if you wish." Seyardu offers to the knight. "I am saying to stand back in case, but if you will be right here, then to presence is appreciated, Paenitia."
The sith-makar sighs. "Nevermind, it was an unnecessary thought of concern. But this business leaves so many questions that I cannot help but worry."
Mikilos frowns to himself, muttering. Trade. Elven. Celestial. Fragments of poems, bits of stories, a few notes of a song. Pieces, half remembered, brought to the tip of the tongue. Stitched together to larger memories, a tale read in passing long ago, an overheard conversation, a glimpsed picture, all brought back to recent memory... or inserted there by raw magics, tales never heard by those living today, memories thought lost to time. It's muddy and difficult to make out, but in time a few tales come clear.
Mikilos sits back with a sigh, rubbing his eyes, as the insence burns itself out, the smoke blows away, and the ink falls still again.
Faranmidahn hrm's, "If you have a protection circle it would be best cast first, should something happen." she says softly while Mikilos makes the magic happen. She swings the visor down and glances to Paenitia, "These villains like turning allies against each other, be wary."
"I know. I have tried to kill brave Ramirez once already." Paenitia admits sadly, "The warning, much thanks."
The long procedure is observed, with the Dark Lucht keeping a close eye on Mikilos, when he sits back she asks, "Do you have the story of it?"
The time passed slowly, Seyardu on edge the whole while. Only when the smoke cleared did she relax, and settle her hands. She watches Mikilos intently, only speaking once he did. "The ritual is over? Is there anything to share upon the nature of it, then?" She asks. "And you are still well, yes?"
Mikilos stretches, and shrugs. "Not a great deal gained. Are several legends, all relatively recent. Though when it comes to legends, 'recent' is very subjective. They all agree it's some sort of holy relic, forged by unknown hands for the Chosen of Eluna, to be a Bane of All Evil. But no specifics as to what that actually means." The wizard considers. "If it's a trap, it's a subtle one. I think the relic is safe in and of itself. Used, it makes evil have a bad day. I'm... call it ninety percent certain. If there's a trap to it, and I'm not sure there is, it something like false confidence. Forget how to fight without the relic, then have it stolen or find something immune to it's power. In short, I'd say go ahead and use it, but have a backup plan in place."
"That still leaves the question of how it came into the hands of the fiends, though. If it acts as such, it's possible the fiends were genuinely concerned about holding it." She suggest, smiling just a touch. "That is good, to know if it is most likely safe. Though, we still do not know how they got ahold of it, and what it does. But this one should feel comfortable showing it to others, perhaps? Those who may make use of it."
"If it is such a holy relic, it somehow fell into the possession of those fiends, so it is not infallible."
Faranmidahn relaxes some at the lack of cataclysmic results and nods, "Well... at least that went more pleasantly than some of our past auguries..." she says, trying to lighten the mood. She flips up her visor again and reaches down to gently stroke torrent's shell, "That sounds particularly devious. Still... if it's all it's claimed to be... it could be a key." A key! "Oh! Has there been any more thoughts on that scroll?"
"Hm." The Red Knight says, bopping the knuckle of a gauntlet against the brim of her hat, "There is more than one Paladin of Eluna. The more experienced have the strongest willed, but if it weaken them somehow.."
Tap, tap, tap.
"Maybe it should not go to the strongest."
A forceful laugh, "We are lucky this Demon does not concern himself with Tarien, we would find the banana of infinite grease."
"Or perhaps it would be a rock that only explodes when a fiend picked it up. Except perhaps it sometimes does when a non fiend does." Seyardu suggests, smiling just a bit. "The scroll? I have not thought too much more for the time, this one is sorry. It was, pushed from my mind, in an attempt to distance from it for a time." They continue with a puff of air. "This one is sorry there is not more to share. As for who would get the object, this one is unsure. If it weakens the strongest, it is even more of a risk to give to the weaker. There are still unknowns, but how to practically test are also unknown to me."
Mikilos rolls his shoulders and packs up the ivory and bowl. "The Chosen might not be Paladins. Eluna can choose whoever she wants. I imagine it does mean paladins, but is a chance means... avatars? Angels? Wouldn't strictly even have to be a follower to be chosen... So if it doesn't do anything in the hands of a paladin, well, might be why."
"There is a scroll too? When you find this, where you find this?" Paenitia asks. She wasn't even errant and missed things. "So, we can expect an avatar of Eluna now?"
Faranmidahn nods, "Sometimes we all ned to regroup." she says softly, "Don't be sorry." She sets her lance back into the loops on her saddle and folds her arms in thought as the nature of the Chosen is discussed. She has no special insights into that, instead, her thoughts turn to Gilead's Horn, trying to make herself feel it's warmth, even just as memory.
"It is possible, but Elunans are the best place to start, even if just to find visions of what to actually do with the thing." Seyardu suggests. "Perhaps they have some records which could help. The only one who has carried the orb, is myself, and you, Mikilos." They continue to explain. But they look to Paenitia, and nod. "It is a long story."
One she would not recount in Faranmidahn's presence unless necessary. "Mikilos read the scroll, could you recount it from memory, or do you need to read it again to do so?"
Mikilos frowns, and shakes his head. "I might be able to piece the poem together given enough time, but I can't just recite it. Really should have made myself a copy."
'Ruaawwk!' Ramirez squawks, suddenly bolting off across the training fields.
"I will return." Paenitia says hurriedly, clanking down the steps and charging after her mount. "No! Ramirez! He is not going to explode! Do not jump! No."
"Not in the streets!" He moves quickly, she does not. She may be gone longer than planned.
The discussion brings the albino back to the present in time for her to hear Seyardu's musings, "I agree, it seems right that they should know of it, regardless." she says.
She arches an eyebrow on mention of an orb, but as the story is 'long' and unspoken, she is left in the dark on the matter at hand.
The Sorceress looks to Mikiloss as he describes his recall of the poem and nods with a little sigh, but the sudden flight of Ramirez makes her wagon slip a wheel.
Their hostess Knight sputters a moment in surprise and she twists in the saddle to frantically wave the 'all clear' to the other knights.
Seyardu was caught off guard by the lucht-knight tearing off into the streets after Brave Ramirez. She looks confused, but she just sighs, leaving her to it. "She will be back when she is back, Ramirez will realize how uncouth his actions are eventually."
Seyardu chuckles. She reaches into her bag, and pulls out the scroll from the other day, and she unfurls it on the table. "Now would be a good time to make a copy, for certain. Though I worry about making too many, in case it would be bad for others to get a hold of."
Mikilos nods in agreement. "Many copies would be unwise, but two or three should be safe. Moreso if the original were somehow destroyed." Hunting in his pack a moment, the wizard takes out a small book and inkwell. Because wizards never know when they might need to take notes.
Faranmidahn's reputation in the order burns by the moment, and she can no longer resist a good facepalm. She straightens in the saddle, "I... am glad we avered a new crisis, but... I have some explaining to do with our Grandmaster." A lot, probably. She gives a wan smile, "I bid you good evening, and the others will see you safe. Walk in the Hunter's favored winds, friends."
With that, the little knight makes her way back toward the chapterhouse... she's probably going to be working the green for a decade, after this...
"I do not know if the original should be destroyed, in case something key is lost in translation." Seyardu suggests, keeping the scroll from blowing in the air. She turns to Faranmidahn however, and frowns. "Apologies, Faran, if you need me to speak as well, I can do so after this. It is not your fault for these occurrences, after all."
There had been a lot discussed and going on, but it was necessary work. Still, it was just as important to deal with the repercussions of actions before moving too far forward.
