The price of freedom
Shortly after we break through the door the legionnaires kept shut, we understand why they'd done so as we're immediately being attacked by a pack of rabid hell hounds. We order Giovanni and the gang to stay in a safe distance. Then Auryn uses her Fey magic and her traditional dance to empower Carlyle, who then slays three of the dogs with a whirlwind of blades. The next dog then falls to a pistol shot of Margit and a precise jab with Auryn's rapier.
The air grows quiet for a moment, but the the blood of the hounds merges with the dust on the ground which causes the dust to form seven skeletons ready to attack any trespassers. Fortunately, we do remember Enis Adolini's spell which turns the skeletons into loyal followers in an instant.
We believe in the power of holy binding, so we let the group of skeletons follow us through the Crypta. This turns out to be quite the good decision as we come across a grotesque, inverted giant in the next vault. This one seems less friendly despite our attempt to greet him and turn him with the architect's spell, so we at first defend ourselves from the creature's attacks. Unfortunately, the unholy giant's wounds regenerate even faster than Andrei's do and it also doesn't react to fire, so it seems as if we're lacking options here.
Then Auryn remembers that certain kinds of undead can only be harmed by holy or life energy, so Margit takes control of the situation by channeling the life-giving power of the Old Faith to really hurt the giant. Auryn joins forces by using healing magic while the holy skeletons keep the giant occupied and join in the use of holy powers.
This way, we disintegrate the unholy giant until he's reduced to dust. Then, we're finally able to take a closer look into this room. To our surprise, we find a small, blood-encrusted ring on a pedestal in the middle of said room. We examine it carefully and understand that this simple ring must be one of Triegenes' rings that he wore during his time as a mortal. During our examination, we also learn that there is an elaborate spell woven around the ring which blocks any attempts to use divination spells and abilities from this place. So this must be the thing that's causing Ashima-Shimtu so much trouble. So we call out to the demoness and try to make a small bargain with her: We'll remove the ring and restore her sight to the outside world and she owes us a favor in return.
“Don't try to trick me!”, Ashima-Shimtu shouts to us with an unusually booming voice, “I know that this ring is why you came here. You don't do this to do me a favor at all. Trying to deceive me isn't the best of ideas. Just take it, I don't mind. A favor for you, a favor for me.”
But it seems like Carlyle isn't going to have it with the demoness' shenanigans this time.
“Well, if that is the case, then I'm sure that you won't mind if I put it back here after we used it for a little while, will you?”
“Just try it, cocky mortal”, she replies, hinting that the ring on itself wouldn't do much.
“Very well then. I'm not a man who's all talk and no action” says Carlyle, before using another vision to receive the information about what Testamenta did with the ring. He then recites her ritual step by step and Ashima-Shimtu cries out in protest.
“And this is what sets you apart from your dreaded Clergy?! I'd have expected more from you!”
“And I'd thought you were a little more cooperative. All we wish to know is what Miller and Kasvarina were doing in this Crypta 500 years ago.”
“No, no. It isn't supposed to go that way. This is a tale for another time”
“Alternatively, you can tell us about your vision of doom.”, Auryn adds.
“You're too clever for your own good. I promise that we'll talk about that the next time we meet. This and... the tale of your beloved Kasvarina.”
“So you're just being lonely and bored. You actually enjoy our company and want to make sure that we return to you”
The demoness returns this assumption of Auryn with a deep grumble, but we feel that we hit a certain nerve here. Ashima-Shimtu then confesses that she foresaw that we'll cross paths multiple times in the future and that we will definitely be the ones who are responsible for freeing her. Carlyle grins broadly at that confession as he claims that this must be either another lie or make her even more dependent on us, thus warranting an even bigger favor on our side. She seems rather piqued on this clever remark and falls all silent.
(Basically Tiz' way of telling us that we'll return eventually to get to know more about this whole story. Thus making Ashima-Shimtu the most meta creature we've ever encountered.)
So we decide that we'd not enter her vault this time as we just got what we came for. Even if she doesn't want to talk. A closer look at the Ring of Triegenes reveals that this object might just be sympatheticum enough to cancel out the magic holding Enis Adolini, so we head back to the architect's vault and free him. Then we collect the entourage of Giovanni and the painter himself, complete the ritual of the Pious Mount seven times and return to the surface.
As soon as Enis Adolini is able to see the light of the sun once again, the magic of the Crypt that's been keeping him alive over the centuries wears off and he, too, turns to fine dust. But at least he vanishes with a smile on his face.
“I'm so sorry, I don't know what to say. I... just wish that he could have had a few more years in the sun.” Auryn says with heavy regret. Then she realizes that all of her pleas to free Adolini even at the risk of freeing a devil along with him had been for naught and she sinks down to one knee.
“Don't grieve, Auryn. His soul is free at last. That much we could give to him. And I'm glad that you argued for Signor Adolini's freedom.”
Carlyle touches Auryn's shoulder with one hand, turns to the sky and raises his hand as a last goodbye to the departing spirit of the vault's architect. Giovanni starts sketching at the scene he just witnessed, but Carlyle asks him to maybe allow for more piety. We then contact Flint and ask for a transfer via teleport as Carlyle's magic is still weakened.
(Again, the themes of Carlyle and Auryn are pretty clear: Where she does everything in her power to ensure that everyone has a chance to live, he focuses on souls, spirits and their affairs. And where death is a tragedy for Auryn, Carlyle regards it as the final form of freedom)
This way, we bring all of the Crypt's survivors to Flint where we educate them on the “new world” they are about to enter. Most of them appear to be in a happy mood and ask for a place to celebrate and have fun, which is why we believe that they'll have an easy time adapting to the Docker lifestyle. We also teach them about the registration process where they can apply for citizenship if they'd like to do so.
(A lillend and some crazy party people? Sounds like the ideal crowd for Rock Rackus if you'd ask me)
We take some time to talk to Giovanni who seems a bit annoyed that he'd have to continue working for a living again. For now, he explains, he'll resort to sleeping inside his painting which means that he'd just need one well-meaning individual or a forsaken building to hang said art object in. In response, Carlyle turns to him and offers him a sweet head start for his new career in Flint: He would love to commission a painting of Srasama for his home. Of course, he'll pay a decent sum for it and no, it doesn't have to be animated or visitable. Giovanni seems a bit surprised and hesitant at this very specific commission.
“So what scenery do you imagine? The goddess' flaming march into Alais Primos? Maybe with a twist to make her victorious instead?”
Carlyle shakes his head immediately.
“Nothing too martial or provocative. I wish for an image of the trinity. And I'd like to place it in the entrance of my home”
He then takes a quick look at Auryn and nods to Giovanni to signal him that he believes in the painter's craft. And it appears that Giovanni accepts the order before he leaves to find his new home.
Shortly after we break through the door the legionnaires kept shut, we understand why they'd done so as we're immediately being attacked by a pack of rabid hell hounds. We order Giovanni and the gang to stay in a safe distance. Then Auryn uses her Fey magic and her traditional dance to empower Carlyle, who then slays three of the dogs with a whirlwind of blades. The next dog then falls to a pistol shot of Margit and a precise jab with Auryn's rapier.
The air grows quiet for a moment, but the the blood of the hounds merges with the dust on the ground which causes the dust to form seven skeletons ready to attack any trespassers. Fortunately, we do remember Enis Adolini's spell which turns the skeletons into loyal followers in an instant.
We believe in the power of holy binding, so we let the group of skeletons follow us through the Crypta. This turns out to be quite the good decision as we come across a grotesque, inverted giant in the next vault. This one seems less friendly despite our attempt to greet him and turn him with the architect's spell, so we at first defend ourselves from the creature's attacks. Unfortunately, the unholy giant's wounds regenerate even faster than Andrei's do and it also doesn't react to fire, so it seems as if we're lacking options here.
Then Auryn remembers that certain kinds of undead can only be harmed by holy or life energy, so Margit takes control of the situation by channeling the life-giving power of the Old Faith to really hurt the giant. Auryn joins forces by using healing magic while the holy skeletons keep the giant occupied and join in the use of holy powers.
This way, we disintegrate the unholy giant until he's reduced to dust. Then, we're finally able to take a closer look into this room. To our surprise, we find a small, blood-encrusted ring on a pedestal in the middle of said room. We examine it carefully and understand that this simple ring must be one of Triegenes' rings that he wore during his time as a mortal. During our examination, we also learn that there is an elaborate spell woven around the ring which blocks any attempts to use divination spells and abilities from this place. So this must be the thing that's causing Ashima-Shimtu so much trouble. So we call out to the demoness and try to make a small bargain with her: We'll remove the ring and restore her sight to the outside world and she owes us a favor in return.
“Don't try to trick me!”, Ashima-Shimtu shouts to us with an unusually booming voice, “I know that this ring is why you came here. You don't do this to do me a favor at all. Trying to deceive me isn't the best of ideas. Just take it, I don't mind. A favor for you, a favor for me.”
But it seems like Carlyle isn't going to have it with the demoness' shenanigans this time.
“Well, if that is the case, then I'm sure that you won't mind if I put it back here after we used it for a little while, will you?”
“Just try it, cocky mortal”, she replies, hinting that the ring on itself wouldn't do much.
“Very well then. I'm not a man who's all talk and no action” says Carlyle, before using another vision to receive the information about what Testamenta did with the ring. He then recites her ritual step by step and Ashima-Shimtu cries out in protest.
“And this is what sets you apart from your dreaded Clergy?! I'd have expected more from you!”
“And I'd thought you were a little more cooperative. All we wish to know is what Miller and Kasvarina were doing in this Crypta 500 years ago.”
“No, no. It isn't supposed to go that way. This is a tale for another time”
“Alternatively, you can tell us about your vision of doom.”, Auryn adds.
“You're too clever for your own good. I promise that we'll talk about that the next time we meet. This and... the tale of your beloved Kasvarina.”
“So you're just being lonely and bored. You actually enjoy our company and want to make sure that we return to you”
The demoness returns this assumption of Auryn with a deep grumble, but we feel that we hit a certain nerve here. Ashima-Shimtu then confesses that she foresaw that we'll cross paths multiple times in the future and that we will definitely be the ones who are responsible for freeing her. Carlyle grins broadly at that confession as he claims that this must be either another lie or make her even more dependent on us, thus warranting an even bigger favor on our side. She seems rather piqued on this clever remark and falls all silent.
(Basically Tiz' way of telling us that we'll return eventually to get to know more about this whole story. Thus making Ashima-Shimtu the most meta creature we've ever encountered.)
So we decide that we'd not enter her vault this time as we just got what we came for. Even if she doesn't want to talk. A closer look at the Ring of Triegenes reveals that this object might just be sympatheticum enough to cancel out the magic holding Enis Adolini, so we head back to the architect's vault and free him. Then we collect the entourage of Giovanni and the painter himself, complete the ritual of the Pious Mount seven times and return to the surface.
As soon as Enis Adolini is able to see the light of the sun once again, the magic of the Crypt that's been keeping him alive over the centuries wears off and he, too, turns to fine dust. But at least he vanishes with a smile on his face.
“I'm so sorry, I don't know what to say. I... just wish that he could have had a few more years in the sun.” Auryn says with heavy regret. Then she realizes that all of her pleas to free Adolini even at the risk of freeing a devil along with him had been for naught and she sinks down to one knee.
“Don't grieve, Auryn. His soul is free at last. That much we could give to him. And I'm glad that you argued for Signor Adolini's freedom.”
Carlyle touches Auryn's shoulder with one hand, turns to the sky and raises his hand as a last goodbye to the departing spirit of the vault's architect. Giovanni starts sketching at the scene he just witnessed, but Carlyle asks him to maybe allow for more piety. We then contact Flint and ask for a transfer via teleport as Carlyle's magic is still weakened.
(Again, the themes of Carlyle and Auryn are pretty clear: Where she does everything in her power to ensure that everyone has a chance to live, he focuses on souls, spirits and their affairs. And where death is a tragedy for Auryn, Carlyle regards it as the final form of freedom)
This way, we bring all of the Crypt's survivors to Flint where we educate them on the “new world” they are about to enter. Most of them appear to be in a happy mood and ask for a place to celebrate and have fun, which is why we believe that they'll have an easy time adapting to the Docker lifestyle. We also teach them about the registration process where they can apply for citizenship if they'd like to do so.
(A lillend and some crazy party people? Sounds like the ideal crowd for Rock Rackus if you'd ask me)
We take some time to talk to Giovanni who seems a bit annoyed that he'd have to continue working for a living again. For now, he explains, he'll resort to sleeping inside his painting which means that he'd just need one well-meaning individual or a forsaken building to hang said art object in. In response, Carlyle turns to him and offers him a sweet head start for his new career in Flint: He would love to commission a painting of Srasama for his home. Of course, he'll pay a decent sum for it and no, it doesn't have to be animated or visitable. Giovanni seems a bit surprised and hesitant at this very specific commission.
“So what scenery do you imagine? The goddess' flaming march into Alais Primos? Maybe with a twist to make her victorious instead?”
Carlyle shakes his head immediately.
“Nothing too martial or provocative. I wish for an image of the trinity. And I'd like to place it in the entrance of my home”
He then takes a quick look at Auryn and nods to Giovanni to signal him that he believes in the painter's craft. And it appears that Giovanni accepts the order before he leaves to find his new home.
(A damn good one I'd add!)