The Reconquista: Part I (Shadows over Istivin)
- Thread starter Branding Opportunity
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James Heard
Explorer
" Perhaps we should save the inquiries until after we're finished in here," says Mavic curtly, searching the room for other interesting finds.
" Besides, everything in here probably belongs to the crown anyways, given where we are."
" Besides, everything in here probably belongs to the crown anyways, given where we are."
Bloodweaver1
First Post
Anastasia Winterheart
"Agreed." Stats the Knight as she too looks around the room. "Besides, I do not about the rest of you but I have not had such an uncontrolable desire to take a hot bath in a long, long time."
James Heard said:
"Agreed." Stats the Knight as she too looks around the room. "Besides, I do not about the rest of you but I have not had such an uncontrolable desire to take a hot bath in a long, long time."
Branding Opportunity
Explorer
A thorough search of the torture room reveals nothing of value. The adjacent storage room contains destroyed storage containers and shelves. Remains of manacles, scourges, pokers, razor wire, iron bars of various widths and lengths, collars, bags of coal, jars of lye and assorted straps and chains lie strewn about in complete chaos. The demon obviously went looking for tools here and did not have a gentle touch.
A closer look at the bodies reveals that most have been dead for days. Judging by the advanced state of decay, others have been dead for at least a week or two. They look to have been a mix of prisoners of low and high birth in addition to a guard or two. All show signs of having been savagely treated both before and after their deaths. None went to their end willingly or easily.
A strong, red heat begins to radiate from the dead demon's body, accompanied by a sickeningly sweet smell as black ichor oozes from its numerous wounds. The ring and choker the creature is still wearing seem to move and writhe of their own accord.
(OOC: Those of you familiar with these creatures, know that the heat is nothing to be concerned about. It is merely the dissipation of the pure chaos and evil that is a demon)
A closer look at the bodies reveals that most have been dead for days. Judging by the advanced state of decay, others have been dead for at least a week or two. They look to have been a mix of prisoners of low and high birth in addition to a guard or two. All show signs of having been savagely treated both before and after their deaths. None went to their end willingly or easily.
A strong, red heat begins to radiate from the dead demon's body, accompanied by a sickeningly sweet smell as black ichor oozes from its numerous wounds. The ring and choker the creature is still wearing seem to move and writhe of their own accord.
(OOC: Those of you familiar with these creatures, know that the heat is nothing to be concerned about. It is merely the dissipation of the pure chaos and evil that is a demon)
James Heard
Explorer
"This thing...sickens me."
hafrogman
Adventurer
Gregor nods in agreement with the group.
"It is an unatural thing, best to leave it and it's toys to rot."
He shudders slightly in disgust and drops to all fours once more as he returns to his wolfen form. The wolf stretches slightly and shakes his whole body as he pads away from the demon, ready to move along with the others.
"It is an unatural thing, best to leave it and it's toys to rot."
He shudders slightly in disgust and drops to all fours once more as he returns to his wolfen form. The wolf stretches slightly and shakes his whole body as he pads away from the demon, ready to move along with the others.
Bloodweaver1
First Post
Anastasia Winterheart
It is often the small things that are the biggest of clues... With a small blade she moves over the felled demon and removes its unusual mystical items and carefully places them in small pouch tucked securely within her armor. Without offering an explaination for her actions, she moves towards the light hallway and waits for her friends to catch up.
It is often the small things that are the biggest of clues... With a small blade she moves over the felled demon and removes its unusual mystical items and carefully places them in small pouch tucked securely within her armor. Without offering an explaination for her actions, she moves towards the light hallway and waits for her friends to catch up.
Branding Opportunity
Explorer
Having seen all you can stomach in the torture chamber, you decide to head through the open cell block door to the east. It leads to a long hallway with cells on either side and connects to the other cell blocks on its eastern end, through which you have already traveled. Unlike the rest of the cell doors, the ones in this corridor seem to have been left untouched by the demon.
All of the cells are dark and seemingly empty, except for one in the middle of the corridor which looks to be lit by numerous lanterns. As you approach, you can see that it is also at least three times the size of all the other cells, with iron bars running the entire 30 feet of its length. Only the closed cell door, made of more closely grouped iron bars, interrupts the front of the cell.
Now close enough so that all of you can actually look inside, you see that this is no ordinary cell. Its interior decor is shocking: plush carpets, fine wall hangings and portraits, and furnishings of the finest teaks and mahogany give the place the feel of a private room in a high-class inn. A large throne of painstakingly crafted bronzewood rests in the center of the cell on a low dais facing the corridor, and a portrait hanging on the back wall depicts a regal-looking man wearing royal robes. Even the air smells clean and fresh. Two large magical lanterns provide bright illumination.
At first you think that the room is empty, merely set up in preparation for someone's arrival. You discard this assumption when you hear a low chuckling or giggling coming from behind the throne. A gaunt, ragged figure steps out from behind it, dressed in once magnificent dark-red robes edged in ermine and sable, now stained and torn in many places. His hair has obviously not been tended to in many months and hangs limp past his shoulders. His eyes are open wide, crazed and blood-shot and gaze at each of you in turn, accompanied by a quiet mumble. He holds a piece of charcoal with which he has been writing on the back wall.
"Welcome," the man giggles, seemingly quite out of his wits. "Welcome to my home away from home, so to say. The Dark Master has been telling me that you would arrive soon." He pulls his robes around him more tightly as he ascends the dais and sits on the thrown. Flashing another madman's grin he continues, "I'm sorry I could not prepare myself for you, but my guards seem to have all gone ... missing lately." At this he guffaws loudly to himself, head thrown back in laughter.
Anastasia, Mavic:
[sblock]Both of you make successful Knowledge (nobility & royalty) checks and realize that this has to be the Marquis of Sterich, or someone who is magically trying to look exactly like him. The portrait of the Marquis which hangs on the wall probably dates to just after the retaking of Istivin, showing him in better days, only confirms the identity. Sadly, he is a gaunt shadow of his former self. He has certainly lost much weight, but more importantly, seems to have lost his mind.
The Marquis was officially declared missing over two years ago, said to have disappeared on a hunting trip in the nearby Bova estate. No one quite ever believed this story, however.[/sblock]
All of the cells are dark and seemingly empty, except for one in the middle of the corridor which looks to be lit by numerous lanterns. As you approach, you can see that it is also at least three times the size of all the other cells, with iron bars running the entire 30 feet of its length. Only the closed cell door, made of more closely grouped iron bars, interrupts the front of the cell.
Now close enough so that all of you can actually look inside, you see that this is no ordinary cell. Its interior decor is shocking: plush carpets, fine wall hangings and portraits, and furnishings of the finest teaks and mahogany give the place the feel of a private room in a high-class inn. A large throne of painstakingly crafted bronzewood rests in the center of the cell on a low dais facing the corridor, and a portrait hanging on the back wall depicts a regal-looking man wearing royal robes. Even the air smells clean and fresh. Two large magical lanterns provide bright illumination.
At first you think that the room is empty, merely set up in preparation for someone's arrival. You discard this assumption when you hear a low chuckling or giggling coming from behind the throne. A gaunt, ragged figure steps out from behind it, dressed in once magnificent dark-red robes edged in ermine and sable, now stained and torn in many places. His hair has obviously not been tended to in many months and hangs limp past his shoulders. His eyes are open wide, crazed and blood-shot and gaze at each of you in turn, accompanied by a quiet mumble. He holds a piece of charcoal with which he has been writing on the back wall.
"Welcome," the man giggles, seemingly quite out of his wits. "Welcome to my home away from home, so to say. The Dark Master has been telling me that you would arrive soon." He pulls his robes around him more tightly as he ascends the dais and sits on the thrown. Flashing another madman's grin he continues, "I'm sorry I could not prepare myself for you, but my guards seem to have all gone ... missing lately." At this he guffaws loudly to himself, head thrown back in laughter.
Anastasia, Mavic:
[sblock]Both of you make successful Knowledge (nobility & royalty) checks and realize that this has to be the Marquis of Sterich, or someone who is magically trying to look exactly like him. The portrait of the Marquis which hangs on the wall probably dates to just after the retaking of Istivin, showing him in better days, only confirms the identity. Sadly, he is a gaunt shadow of his former self. He has certainly lost much weight, but more importantly, seems to have lost his mind.
The Marquis was officially declared missing over two years ago, said to have disappeared on a hunting trip in the nearby Bova estate. No one quite ever believed this story, however.[/sblock]
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