Aphonion Tales (New posts 6/13, 6/15, 6/19)

[Cerebral Paladin]

Actually, as a general rule, people in Canberry do not prostrate themselves. Kneeling is more than enough, and bowing is actually fine. That's why Alistair was annoyed at the overly obsequious attitude. But certain subsets of Canberran society have more extreme views....

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The page looked up at them but did not rise. “Begging your pardon, your grace, your ladyships, your lordship. Lady Constance Deepingwell requests that the Privy Council join her in the coven chamber.”

“Very well,” said Alistair, putting aside the bottle.

“Do you know why she wishes to see us?” asked Dame Brionna as the group headed for the staircase to the coven chambers.

“Yes, m’lady. Lady Brightspan’s pregnancy has progressed very rapidly since the enchantment was broken and may kill the victim. Lady Constance wishes to have the Crown’s instruction.”

Alistair swore under his breath as they hurried up to the coven chamber. They rushed into the room, where Lady Constance and several of her fellow diabolists stood before a pentacle containing Lady Zenia Brightspan.

“Ah, thank you for coming. Young Lady Brightspan’s pregnancy has grown enormously. I fear that I will not be able to save both mother and child; the strain is too great and the fetus is taking too much energy from her for me to restore. I need you to decide which to save.”

Alistair gestured at one of the junior coven members. “Summon Midwife Burleytoes. If anyone can save them both, she will be the one.” Alistair looked at Lady Constance. “Do you know what Lady Zenia would want?”

“No, your grace.”

Kit swallowed. “I’ll try to find out.”

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Be careful,” said Alistair.

“I will.” Kit reached out with her mind. <<Lady Zenia?>>

<<What’s happening? Something’s wrong, but I don’t understand…>>

<<There is a problem with your pregnancy. With the spell broken, it’s progressing too fast. They’re not sure that they can save both you and the child.>>

<<Oh, gods…>>

<<If there is a choice, which of you do you want us to save?>>

<<Is the baby clean?>>

“She wants to know whether the baby is clean.”

“It is not tainted or necessarily evil,” replied Lady Constance. “We got rid of the true demonic taint with the enchantment. There may be some effects of its parentage, but it will not be damned by its nature.”

<<Yes. They cleansed the demonic taint from it.>>

<<Then, if it can be only one, save the baby. It deserves its chance, and Lord Glor’diadel will smile on my sacrifice.>>

Kit closed her eyes and swallowed again. “She says to save the baby, then.” Alistair stepped in behind Kit to give her support.

<<Can you stay with me? I can’t hear the others, and it’s frightening.>>

<<Yes, I’ll be with you as long as I can.>> Kit looked at her friends. “I’m going to keep comforting Lady Zenia.”

“Would it be safe to be mindlinked with her if she dies?” asked Alistair. “I don’t want you taking any chances.”

“I don’t know, but I won’t. I’ll break the link before she starts to finally go.”

The coven continued casting.

“Shouldn’t you boil water or something?” Dame Brionna asked Alistair and Mahler.

Alistair just pointed at a devil carrying over a heavy metal cauldron. The water inside was boiling from the heat of the devil’s flaming hands.

“Oh.”

 

[Quartz]

“Shouldn’t you boil water or something?” Dame Brionna asked Alistair and Mahler.

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

After only a few minutes, Midwife Burleytoes rushed in. She sucked in her breath as she took in Lady Zenia’s state, and then quickly began giving instructions. “A quick birth is the only hope. I’ll need the following herbs to induce her labor.”

Less than a half-hour later, Lady Zenia was in active labor. “There are some benefits to the magically accelerated pregnancy,” murmured Lady Constance.

Midwife Burleytoes sat before Lady Zenia, feeling her abdomen. “It’s in the proper position, but this will be a very difficult process, and she’s losing life energy rapidly.” Still, the halfling midwife continued praying to Gunnora and working on delivering the baby.

After a brief discussion, Lady Constance reached to find a sharp knife and returned with a wickedly curved sacrificial blade. She ran it through a fire to sterilize it and then quickly made a large episiotomy to speed and simplify the delivery. A few seconds later, the baby was born.

Kit, wavering on her feet from the effort of reassuring Lady Zenia, sent, <<Your baby has been born!>>

<<Will it live?>>

<<Yes, it’s a healthy, normal baby.>>

<<Thank Glor’diadel…>> Lady Zenia’s thoughts became faded and jumbled.

Kit’s eyes widened. She broke the mindlink. “We’re losing her!”

Dame Brionna poured as much healing magic in as she could, and Midwife Burleytoes added her own powerful spells. Alistair shouted for a priest, and in a few moments a Glor’diadelian chaplain was also healing Lady Zenia.

Dame Agatha looked around. “She shouldn’t still be losing life energy…” After a moment, she thrust a complicated sigil, like a holy symbol but much more complicated at the south wall. “Lilith, Queen of Hell, seal this place!”

------

I feel the need to mention here that the DM demonstrated a poor sense of timing with this plotline. Out of the 4 players for this session, two of us were expecting our first child less than a month after this game, and a third had had his first child about 6 months earlier in a slightly more exciting than ideal pregnancy. So it was cool, and emotionally gripping... and not necessarily what we wanted right then.

Updates are unlikely until Monday, as I'll be on the road and probably without net.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

As she invoked the infernal power, a small black tendril leading through the wall became visible, and other coven members sprang into action. “Brita, Princess of the Nails, block this with your iron arms!” cried another diabolist, thrusting her own sigil at the tendril.

Dame Brionna began pushing Alistair out of the chamber. “Your grace, we need to leave. This is not safe for you.”

Alistair did not resist, but reached out and firmly grabbed Kit’s arm, dragging her with them. For her part, Kit was still largely in shock from the contact with Lady Zenia’s mind so close to death. Alone of the Council, Mahler remained, quietly edging his way away from the mystic struggle but keeping a close watch on it.

Several of the other senior coven members invoked various powerful devils, while Lady Constance continued pouring energy into the young mother.

Finally, Mahler saw the tendril reshape itself into a strange image with a double overlay. At its most basic, the image was of Alphonse Brightspan, but overlaid on his features were both a strange face, half cat and half man, and jutting archaeological features, towers, and buildings. The human features were completely neutral, but the cat figure’s lips formed words. “Traitorous b---h, you have failed. Even when you were taken by force you could not serve me.” It raised its hands, and a bolt of energy flew at Lady Zenia. Dame Agatha turned on her heal and dove in front of the bolt, trying to interpose her symbol but missing by inches. The bolt of energy struck her squarely in the chest, and she collapsed, dead. Mahler faded even further back into the room, quietly hiding behind laboratory equipment.

The cat outline hissed in anger. Before it could act again, another coven member advanced directly upon it, presenting the symbol of Brita. “In the name of the Princess of the Seventh Plane, I eject you!” With another hiss, the cat thing outline faded from the wall.

The coven gathered around Dame Agatha’s body and confirmed that she was dead. Lady Constance looked over at the page. “Tell the Archduke that Lady Zenia will live. And tell him that I wish to negotiate the right to offer the passing of our sister to our patrons in our own way.”

The page hurried out to where Alistair, Kit, and Dame Brionna were waiting for news. He prostrated himself. “Lady Constance wishes to inform you that Lady Zenia will live.” As everyone began to relax, the page continued, “In exchange for her life, Dame Agatha has perished.”

“Is her body intact? Can we raise her?” asked Alistair.

“No, your grace,” said the page. “Her body was not harmed, but she served Lilith, and her contract will not allow her to be raised.”

“And there’s nothing to be done about that?”

“Not without negotiating her soul back from Lilith. She will get another turn of the wheel after her time is done.”

“In 10,000 years,” said Dame Brionna flatly.

“Yes, m’lady,” said the page.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

“Dame Agatha was the diabolist who aided you before?” Alistair asked Dame Brionna.

“Yes, your grace, but…”

Alistair spoke rapidly to the page. “Tell Lady Constance that we will be returning to the coven chamber and that I will need her to summon Lilith herself. I have an offer to make to her.”

“What?” cried Kit. “No!”

At almost the same time Dame Brionna said, “Your grace, you can’t…” and began moving to block his path back to the coven chamber.

“I am the Archduke, and I command you to step aside. I will return to that chamber to ransom Dame Agatha’s soul. I am tired of losing good people in our service. I am not going to negotiate, but I have an offer that I think she will take.”

Kit sent to Dame Brionna in panicked tones, <<We can’t let him do this!>>

<<I know, but there’s nothing I can do. I can’t disobey his command and stop him, and he would just go later without us.>>

<<But the worst of it is that it’s Lilith! You’ve heard stories about her-- what if she seduces him?>>

<<That’s what I’m afraid of.>>

Alistair walked purposefully into the coven chamber.

“I am ready to summon Lilith, the Queen of Hell, if that is your will.”

“It is,” replied Alistair steadily, resolutely ignoring the entreaties from Kit and Dame Brionna.

Lady Constance began an incantation. “Lilith, Queen of Hell, I entreat you and command you, appear before us. A petitioner comes to offer a deal, and by the terms of our deal, I command you to appear and listen.”

Smoke and fire rose from the stone floor of the coven chamber, and a tall, slender figure appeared in the smoke. Except for a long forked tail and tiny horns on her head, she appeared as a gorgeous woman, the smoke drifting tantalizingly around her body. She smiled at Alistair and opened her mouth to speak.

“Hold. I will not negotiate with you. I will make an offer that you will either accept or reject, with no modifications or conditions. I wish you to allow us to raise from the dead diabolists who die in the service of the Archduchy of Canberry, as judged in the sole and unquestioned judgment of the Archduke. If you refuse, I will banish all of the diabolists from Canberry, revoke all licenses for diabolism, and forbid any further place for those who deal with you in my realm. If you agree, I will continue to issue licenses and will permit the Archducal Coven to continue to operate. Furthermore, I will permit diabolism to be taught to students with licenses at the new school of magic I will found. That is my offer. Do you accept?”

Lilith smiled, and leaned forward a little. “I would have rather had a piece of your soul. But your terms are acceptable.”

“That is why I refused to listen to any counteroffer or negotiation. I will not deal with you for any part of my soul.”

“And I have accepted your offer.”

“Then know that Dame Agatha died in the service of the Archduchy, and we demand her soul be released.”

“As you wish. You will need to find your own priest to raise her-- that is not among the powers I grant my followers.” Lilith looked over at Lady Constance and smiled smugly. “And remember, you cannot raise those who die of old age. They will be mine soon enough, first Lady Constance, and later Dame Agatha and the rest.”

“Dismiss her.”

“Yes, your grace. Lilith, I command you to begone from this place!” As the devil vanished, she looked at Alistair. “I would not have expected you to come to Dame Agatha’s aid.”

“She died in my service, after having risked her life to aid us before. It is only right that I ensure that she get a long life and the full benefit of her bargain. And I suspect that she had not made preparations for her death, to make her place in Hell less oppressive, which can be the only reason to think that a deal such as hers is worth it.”

Lady Constance nodded, looking at Alistair with new respect. “You truly are Amelia’s grandson. We thank you, your grace.”

“Send a message to the Archbishop asking him in my name to have Dame Agatha raised.” With that, Alistair left to return to his chambers accompanied by his rather shocked and horrified council. As they returned to the sitting room, Alistair gave the drink he had poured and left behind to Kit. For his drink, Alistair just picked up the bottle.

End of session

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Session 12:

The following day had a busy schedule, with the formal cremation of the late Archduchess promising a day of sorrow and ceremony. But before the ceremonial duties began, Dame Brionna reviewed her military briefings and concluded that she needed more information on the Seachen Empire. And fortuitously, she knew someone who could tell her more from personal experience.

As Dame Brionna had expected, Ilsbet sat in the Archducal library even early in the day, carefully reading the tomes of magic that she had received from the collection of the Mother Superior of the Order of the Silvery Veil. Ilsbet took no notes as she read but studied the books intently. Still, unlike most readers concentrating on difficult materials, Ilsbet rarely went for longer than a minute or two without looking around the library, just in case there was some threat. The girl looked up as Dame Brionna approached her table. Suspicion colored her voice. “Yes?”

“I hope that you are finding the library interesting and learning a great deal.”

“Yes. The collection is very impressive. But why did you wish to speak with me?”

Dame Brionna cleared her throat. “I would like to ask you a few questions about the Seachen.”

“The human Seachen?”

“Uh, yes. Wait… are there non-human Seachen?”

Ilsbet ignored the question. “What did you want to know?”

“What can you tell me about their religion? You said they worship dead gods?”

“Yes.”

“Do you?”

“Trying to bring back dead gods makes even less sense than worshiping living gods.”

Dame Brionna pursed her lips disapprovingly, but let the sacrilege slide. “What can you tell me about their priests? Are they powerful?”

“Yes. The priests control much of the government, and use many slaves on their great project.”

“Their great project?”

“I don’t know the details-- I never worked on it. But more religious mistresses would send their slaves to serve the priests, digging in the ancient city. I am not certain what they were doing, but it had something to do with their effort to bring back the dead gods.”

“When you describe their power, did the priests have powerful divine magic?”

“No. Some of the priests can cast minor spells, and some are mages.”

“None of the priests could cast the more powerful spells, like raising dead?”

“I don’t think so. I never heard of any great miracles. Their gods are dead, after all.”

“Do they have any means of healing, then?”

“Their priests can do minor healing. And they have some redactors-- psions who are skilled in healing. But from what I’ve seen, I would say that they have less healing capabilities than your land does.”

“What about their army? How powerful is its magical capabilities?”

“The Seachen have many mages, and some of their mages are very powerful.”

“So significant arcane support, some psionic support, but little to no divine magic?”

“That sounds accurate.”

 

[HalfOrc HalfBiscuit]

Thought it was time I dropped in again to reiterate how much I'm enjoying this story - and to say, Keep up the good work.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

Thanks! It's always really nice to hear that people are enjoying the storyhour.

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Dame Brionna nodded thoughtfully, as she considered the additional information about the strategic situation. “Do you know anything about the forest lords, the half-snake people from the woods near the Seachen lands?”

“The original Seachen? Why do you want to know about them?” Ilsbet’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“They are also called the Seachen? That’s what you meant by the non-human Seachen?”

“Yes. At least, I think they are more properly the Seachen than the matriarchy. One of them said something about the human Seachen having stolen their name.”

“You’ve met them?

Ilsbet ignored the question. “Tell me why you want to know about them.”

“There is an army marching south towards the Sunken Lands, under the control of a powerful demon. A group of these Seachen have joined some of our allies who are preparing to fight the army, and I’m trying to figure out how they affect our strategy. That’s also why I was asking about the Seachen Empire. They have moved a large army into position, apparently in case our ally’s army fails to stop the demon’s forces, but we need to confirm that they’re not working with the demon to pincer the defenders.”

“The true Seachen would not be fighting on the same side as the Seachen Empire. If they are reinforcing your allies, they expect the Empire to attack your allies. They hate the human Seachen passionately.”

“Are they good?”

Ilsbet thought for a moment. “They were kind to me, and they oppose the human Seachen, who are surely evil.”

“Do you know anything about their capabilities?”

“At least some of them are capable psions. And they are skilled hunters.”

“You said they were kind to you. Do you think they would be friendly to you if you met them again.”

Ilsbet nodded. “I think so.”

“Perhaps you could serve as an intermediary from the Archduke to them, then. We need to improve our communication with them.”

Ilsbet laughed. “That is a strange suggestion. You know that I will not swear any oaths to be loyal to your Archduke. I will not be a slave to anyone.”

“I know. But you could carry messages to them-- representing the Archduke, even without serving him. They might even find that more trustworthy, as you would be speaking for yourself, but conveying messages from the Archduke.”

Ilsbet nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps. If you wish me to speak to them, I will, as long as you understand that I will remain my own person, and that I will not betray them.”

“We would not ask you to. I will leave you to your studies, and we may speak of this further. You should also speak to the Minister of Magic. He may be able to provide you access to more books on magic. And, soon, we will be establishing a new academy for the study of magic. I hope that you will study there.”

Ilsbet smiled avariciously at the thought of more opportunities to learn magic.

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

The funerary pyre burned, with the Archducal Council standing in a group, closest to the pyre. Select nobles and ambassadors also stood nearby in small clots. A ring of Archducal and palace guards blocked off the mass of mourners. Thousands of merchants, factors, nobles not favored with attendance with Lord Alastair and his friends, and other substantial citizens formed a massive crowd behind the ring of guards. Another ring of guards stood behind those citizens, and beyond them, as many of the common people as could find a way out of toil for a few hours clustered in a massive thong.

The Archbishop finished his invocation and sped the Lady Ashberry’s spirit on its way to the Lord of Light. Local tradition then took hold. Those who had worn the unrelieved black armbands advanced, one at a time, to the pyre to cast themselves within. One of the reasons for the guards was to prevent any mass show of sorrow on the part of the populace, who loved the Lady well. Solemnly, old men and women, whose lives had been given to the Throne, tottered forward and, mostly without a sound, joined the Lady in her final journey.

Out of the corners of their eyes, the Council saw a lithe middle aged woman, dressed in finest black silk with a shawl of woven spigga silk, advancing toward the fire. She was not a member of the royal party, nor known to any of the Council. A pair of guards rushed to intercept her. She sidestepped the lieutenant, somehow entwining him in her shawl as she passed, and simply touched him on the shoulder. He stumbled forward and fell, struggling with the silk, seemingly unable to free himself. The second guard she tapped with a closed fan -- a fan that seemed to be of ebony and ivory, with some glittery substance at the edges. She stepped aside again as he soundlessly toppled to the ground. She advanced toward the pyre, where clerical guards stood from the temple. As she did so, the Council saw the cruder black of the armlet of sacrifice against the black of the arm of her silk gown.

Her fingers flashed, rapidly, signing in what Alistair knew to be Thieves’ Cant and Kit could actually understand.

Two more palace guards rushed forward. She spun lightly, touched one on a shoulder, and somehow maneuvered them into a collision with each other, using her fan. All wit seemed to have fled them, for they seemed unable to untangle themselves from each other.

Her fingers flashed again, more urgently, as the priest who was in charge of the paladins guarding the pyre itself stepped forward, and handed the ceremonial crook of his office to a young page, thus freeing his hands. He shrugged his cloak back off his shoulders and begins to prepare a spell.

Kit’s fingers worked frantically as she signed back. “Wait! Who are you?”

The woman’s fingers continued in their motions. “I preceded you. It was from me that your messages came.”

“Please don’t do this. I need to know what you know. At least wait.” While Kit was earnestly trying to persuade the woman not to commit suicide, she knew that she was not doing a very effective job.

“I will carry out my last duty. You must continue the work from here.” The woman snapped her hand out and the odd fan she carried flew through the air towards Kit. As it reached her, it folded itself up and landed at her feet.

A man in the crowd behind the Archducal party cried out in despair as the woman turned away from the dais. The priest cast his spell to bind her motionless, but she simply shook her head at him with the smallest hint of a smile. With a graceful dive, she leapt high into the flames of the pyre. In seconds, she was just another part of the flaming memorial.

As Kit reached down to scoop up the fan, she said to Dame Brionna, “I need to speak with the man who cried out.”

Dame Brionna nodded and gave some quick orders to the guards that surrounded them. Several guards began making their way back through the crowd, towards where the man remained weeping.