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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 2988270" data-attributes="member: 3448">Lady Constance stormed into the room, her face twisted in fury.  "Your grace, this fool had but a single duty, and he not only failed, he didn't even realize he had failed!" To emphasize her words, she twisted the ear of the knight she was escorting, producing a pained whince.Dame Brionna held up a hand.  "Lady Constance... could you start at the beginning?  I recognize the Knight Guardian of the Pillow, but I don't understand the rest of what you're saying."The aged diabolist released her grip on the Knight Guardian's ear.  "The Knight Guardian of the Pillow's duty was to protect a single pillow.  But really, his duty was to protect an Eldar medallion with tremendously powerful sustaining magic that was kept on the pillow.  The medallion was a gift from the Eldar of the Forest of Singing Leaves to your grandmother, your grace, and it sustained her life and kept her vigorous for years.  It was among the most powerful magic artifacts in the entire Archduchy.  And then this fool allowed someone to substitute a fake for the actual stone, and didn't even realize it was missing for months!"Lord Alistair closed his eyes momentarily.  "I take it this was responsible for my grandmother's sudden decline?""Indeed.  I think that Amelia even realized what was happening, but did not want to allow anyone else to know.  The Eldar did her a great honor with that coronation gift, and would be displeased if they discovered that we had misplaced it.  And, unless my estimate is mistaken, the theft took place during an embassy to Tarsh seven months ago.  It would create quite a strain if we revealed that Tarsh allowed a major theft from a visiting head of state."Dame Brionna glowered at the Knight Guardian, who looked absolutely miserable.  "The first thing we need to do, your grace, is make sure that the medallion isn't used in the coronation ceremony.  If Lord Silverleaves sees the replacement, he may recognize the switch.""And then we need to see if we can recover it.  It's too valuable a resource to give up lightly.  Kit, do you have any assets in Tarsh?""No, m'lord.  Tarsh is too far away-- all of our resources are concentrated on this continent." She thought for a moment.  "I think this may be another matter to send a group of adventurers to deal with.  I may be able to find people who can get the medallion back without any other powers knowing that it was ever gone.""Excellent.  Knight Guardian, you're dismissed.  For obvious reasons, speak of this to no one.  And now, Lady Constance, I was wondering if you could deal with a few matters for us.""Of course, your grace.""Quite some time ago, while we were fighting slavers in Enclaves, a hag carved a sigil into Stythus's head.  We believe that it has some mystical significance, but we were not sure what and hoped that you could tell us."Lady Constance examined it carefully.  "Yes... it is a scrying mark.  It allows the power that the night hag served to observe young Stythus and his surroundings.""Can you remove it?" asked Stythus."I should be able to, if you accompany me to my laboratory.  With your leave, your grace?""Certainly.  And if you can determine who she served, so much the better.  But please do return upon finishing.  There are some other matters we should discuss."Stythus and Lady Constance made their way up to her lab.  Stythus pleased the ancient archmaga tremendously by showing her a secret passageway that shortened the trip considerably; as she explained, her knees aren't what they used to be, and the long trips up and down stairs and across many halls to get from her tower to the Archduke's chambers can be a bit trying.Upon reaching her chambers, Lady Constance performed a complicated set of enchantments and then covered Stythus's head with a carefully prepared piece of parchment.  She rubbed the parchment against his head, while chanting words of power.  After a moment, she removed it and smiled.  "There.  The scrying power is now broken." She looked at the image left on the parchment, of a pale skinned elven woman.  "Give this to the Archduke.  The elf, or perhaps Noldar, whose image is on the parchment was the mistress of the night hag and the one who could scry through the mark." She paused.  "And now, I think, we'll summon the intermediary to us.  Do you think you could convince her to submit to your will?  Night hags are formidable foes, but they are used to deferring to more powerful figures in the demonic hierarchy.  If she believes you outmatch her, she will likely surrender easily."Stythus thought for a moment.  "I think I could." He began sucking in more air, puffing his size up as much as he could manage in an effort to be more imposing."Good.  Then stand in that pentagram, while I begin the summoning." Lady Constance carefully checked and augmented the arcane sigils surrounding the pentagram, lit the appropriate incense in the braziers around her lab, drew forth a perfect, unornamented silver ring from a small chest, and then held her hands aloft.  "Lilith, Queen of Hell, I beseech you!  Command the night hag who marked this young djinn to appear before us!"A moment later the night hag appeared in the pentagram with Stythus.  Before she had more than a moment to take in her surroundings, Stythus scowled and pointed at her, glowering fiercely.  "You!  You dared to mark me!  Now, the time of my revenge is at hand!"The night hag hesitated for only a moment.  Then, with the slightest shrug of her shoulders, she cowered and kneeled before him.  "Please, do not harm me.  I recognize your might and will serve you as I can."Lady Constance's lips drew back into a grim smile.  "As you swear to serve Stythus, I bind you to that promise." She held forth the silver ring.  "Enter, and come forth only when he calls you to serve." The hag bent her head in surrender, and then leapt towards the ring, fading away as she entered it.  Lady Constance carefully broke the pentagram.  "You may come out of the pentagram, now, Stythus.  I've been waiting so long for a good opportunity to use that ring.  Take it.  You will be able to summon the night hag three times per month, and she will serve you as best as she can.""How long will she remain?""Up to one day for each service.  But be careful... if she is destroyed, the ring will lose its magic, and you will not be able to call on her again."</blockquote>

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