House Millithor in COSQ: part 4

[Seonaid]

Narcelia, eldest daughter, screwed cleric of Lolth

Narcelia enters the room, and the Matron walks down from the throne to meet her. In a gesture of apparent affection and trust she embraces the creature who appears to be her daughter. Her words, as she releases her hold, hold nothing but calm authority.

"I did not expect to see you alive, daughter. Tell me, how did you cheat death? What happened to you during your absence?"

[Sorry for the delay. I was unexpectedly without internet access for almost two days.]

When Narcelia enters, she performs a low obeisance, one normally reserved for relationships beneath that of Matron Mother and eldest daughter. She returns the embrace of the Matron stiffly, uncertainly.

"Mother." She appears to gather herself and after a moment resumes. "I did not expect to wake alive, much less practically in the arms of your servants. Cheating death was not in my plans, and"--she pauses, reluctant to reveal weakness but recognizing that she had no good explanation to cover herself--"I did not have any hand in it. I was unconscious after I was washed away and woke far from there, at the feet of Kilcif and Kripp." She stumbles over the names, uncertain as to their veracity. She continues in sign: I dreamt I was imprisoned by Illithids. It is possible you have a powerful enemy among them. She looks as though she might continue but stops. "That is all. Unfortunately, I do not remember much," she concludes, her voice and posture much more confident.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Kilcif: Bugbear/Male (Barbarian/Ranger/Rogue)

Kilcif notes the ring with interest and palms it in his hand as he looks at the arrow to check it for damage.

 

[Endur]

The arrow looks as good as new, but the head of the arrow is somewhat different from what Kilcif was expecting. The end is hard, but not sharp enough to cut. As if this arrow relies upon force to penetrate instead of sharpness.

 

[Serpenteye]

She continues in sign: I dreamt I was imprisoned by Illithids. It is possible you have a powerful enemy among them. She looks as though she might continue but stops. "That is all. Unfortunately, I do not remember much," she concludes, her voice and posture much more confident.

"You do not remember much, and yet I suspect that there is much to remember." The Matron reaches into a portable hole and picks up the Cephalometer. "This may help you unlock your forgotten memories, do not resist." She places it on Narcelia's head (unless Narcelia attempts to resist) and begins to probe her memories of the last week, she also tries to discern Narceila's loyalties to herself and the Goddess.

 

[Serpenteye]

The Devil responds,
"I was referring to the situation in Maerimydra. My contacts have led me to believe that it will be resolved one way or the other in a matter of days.

"If you have the price, all the legions of hell could be made available.

"A Diabolic legion consists of ten cohorts. Each cohort consists of over 200 devils.

"Standard diabolic terms: The summoner must set the date and time for the troops to arrive in advance and must pay for the troops in advance. At least a day's notice is required for a cohort. At least a week's notice is required for a legion.

"After negotiating with me, I will provide an introduction to the commander of the appropriate sized force and you will have to negotiate payment details with the commander. Pit Fiends command legions and other devils command cohorts."

"A large force of lesser devils would be far too unwieldy for my purposes. I need something more mobile with greater concentrated power. We may be fighting Balors, and lemures are sadly insufficient for such a task regardless of their numbers.
Approximately how many souls would it cost me to hire a force of one Cornugon and two Gelugons for a period of 72 standard torillian hours?"

 

[Seonaid]

She places it on Narcelia's head (unless Narcelia attempts to resist) and begins to probe her memories of the last week, she also tries to discern Narceila's loyalties to herself and the Goddess.

Narcelia murmurs a small protest, but submits to the Matron's desires.

 

[Serpenteye]

The Matron begins probe to find the answers to her questions.

1: Has Narcelia's mind been tampered with, prior to this intrusion?
2: Does Narceila recall (consciously or sub-consciously) how she survived after her fall into the river?
3: Does Narceila have any ambition to usurp the rule of the House?
4: Is Narceila conspiring with any individual or group, for any purpose?
4b: Specifics?
5: Is Narceila loyal to the Spider Queen?
6: Does Narceila love her mother, Ki'Willis Millithor?
7: Does she respect her mother?
8: What are her feelings about Illithids?
9: Has Narceila's body been tampered with?
10: Does she trust her mother?
11: Who does she hate, fear, loathe, admire?
12: Has she ever broken the law of the Spider Queen?
13: Has she ever been disloyal to the House?
14: What exactly has she been dreaming the last week?

 

[Endur]

ooc: Narcelia is compelled to provide a true, as far as she knows, answer to #1. The rest of the questions do not have a magical compulsion behind them.

The Matron begins probe to find the answers to her questions.

1: Has Narcelia's mind been tampered with, prior to this intrusion?

 

[Endur]

The devil responds,"The price would depend on who you are negotiating with. And, Location is as important as Duration. Where would these three Paragons of the Infernal Realm be expected to arrive?"

 

[Endur]

There is a fire in the Shrine of Lolth. There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth as all of the vampiric coffins, except Torellen's stone sarcophagi, are destroyed. The cause of the fire is almost certainly magical in nature.