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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gideonpepys" data-source="post: 7336056" data-attributes="member: 79141">Session 40, Part Two - OdiemSoundtrack for the Vault of Heretics:[MEDIA=youtube]yqOmNn_WZnY[/MEDIA]   Vitus stood apart from the group as the memory event faded.  He listened while they discussed what they had just learned, and weighed up their new set of options.  Then he said, “Surely you do not intend to enter the Crypta Hereticarum?”  His ready stance and balled fists suggested he was prepared to fight if necessary.Uru began to talk to him, having developed some sympathy for the clergy’s cut-and-dried way of thinking, but Vitus could barely conceal his attempt for the ‘weasel words’ of this fey-shadow-thing.  Korrigan interceded and revealed the Humble Hook.  It didn’t have the same profound effect on Vitus as it had on Aulus Atticus, but eventually he was able to persuade Vitus to back down.  He agreed not to interfere with their mission, but would no longer help, and immediately stalked off.The unit toyed with the idea of risking the basilica, but decided against it for now.  While they discussed their options, Stover Delft called them with a message from Slate.  Livia Hatsfield, now a prisoner there, had asked to speak to them urgently.  Curious, Korrigan went to see her, while the others dealt with personal matters in Flint: Matunnaga prepared holy bullets for Odiem; Uru experimented with his newly strengthened bond to the ghosts of the city; Rumdoom orchestrated the search for Grandis Kamanov; Leon tried to bring Kasvarina out of herself by throwing himself back into training.In Slate, Livia Hatsfield told him of a visitation she had had in her dreams:  Amielle Latimer, the ghostly gunsmith, had come to her with a warning:  She said that Nicodemus was tracking ‘our mutual friends’ and was convinced that they would go to Methia.  This was a trap, Amielle said.  “Stay in Flint.  Protect your homeland.”  Of course, they immediately linked this to the colossus: a quick glance on the map confirmed that Borne would have to cross the Piscenes in order to reach the old clergy capital.  It wouldn’t be long before it arrived.  “The best way to avoid a trap is to spring it,” said Uriel, but Kasvarina was keen to go to Odiem first, and in the end the unit agreed.Just a day later, they teleported to the island, arriving in heavy rain. The chapel-come-lighthouse had been partially renovated since their last visit and protected by strong wards against the undead.  Coming down the slope to meet them, picking her way carefully and holding her robes above her ankles, was a female dwarf.  She introduced herself as Serafima Saveli, an inquisitor sent by the clergy to supervise their exploration of the Vault.  She would accompany them inside and ensure they did not hear any words spoken by the demoness within.  Uriel tried to read her mind but could not.  Korrigan sent to Vitus to ask if he had informed on them, and though he did not reply, they agreed to Serafima’s request and allowed her to tag along, for fear of drawing the clergy down upon them in full force.By now, Kasvarina had already become aware that this memory event was different, that it was taking place all around them, continually. Gradually, as they entered climbed the slope from the beach and entered the lighthouse, Korrigan took on the being of Nicodemus.  Serafima seemed to take all of this strangeness in her stride.  Her sole focus, she said, was to ensure they did not listen to the words of Ashima-Shimtu.Beneath the lighthouse, where they could now see signs of continuous habitation, they found the entrance to the vault.  There they witnessed a confusing palimpsest of memory events:…Of Kasvarina using eladrin magic to defeat the clergy’s wards, with her work lit by lantern held by Nicodemus.  …Of Cardinal Tadeo (embodied by Uriel) arriving to investigate the island, using a clergy key, and telling his subordinates to wait behind and leave in haste if he does not return before nightfall … Of the unit entering, pursued by zombies, holding the door for Rumdoom, who is fighting his way up from the beach … of Unit B coming here, in driving rain, in pursuit of the annis hag, Gorago who was sent by Jenny Greenteeth to track down another planar idol.To Serafima’s amazement, these memory events altered reality to such a profound extent that they were able to bypass the clergy’s newly enhanced wards and follow Kasvarina and Nicodemus inside.  Below, they found the entrance chamber where Leon fell through and broke his back last time they were here.  (And where Ottavia had taught Korrigan to remove affliction using his hurtloam hands in order to restore the tiefling.)Next came the Hall of Maur Granatha, restored to former glory by the memory event.  (When they last visited, the floor had collapsed, and the place was infested with wights.) Maur Granatha was a heavily armoured earth titan who had guarded the vault until his death at the hands of Gene Javerto.  Once again they witnessed a layered plethora of memories:Maur kneels and ‘detects evil’ on Nicodemus & Kasvarina, then gives them permission enter.  Centuries later, Cardinal Tadeo speaks to Maur Granatha, and learns of  a healer and an elf who came here and went on to speak with ‘The Silent Lady’.  Tadeo admonishes the titan and tells him his actions have caused untold suffering.  Maur bows his head and Tadeo leaves. Compelled by the Humble Hook, Korrigan reached out and touched his gigantic sword, planted point-first into the ground as he knelt.  It seemed as if Korrigan’s hand reached ‘through’ the event into the reality behind it, and when he withdrew it, he held the sword in his hand, rapidly shrinking to human size.  Though it was a holy blade – one of a handful forged in the war against the demonocracy – and even though Korrigan was not a follower of Triegenes, he found himself able to wield it (though he would not learn the true extent of its powers until later).Then, although none of them had been there at the time, they witnessed a confrontation between Maur Granatha and Gene Javerto, the deranged godhand:Granatha passes a huge hand over Javerto. “You may not pass,” he says.“By what right do you deny me?” demands Javerto, angrily. “I am a godhand of the clergy!”“Leave and seek counsel.  Your heart grows corrupt.  It will fail you in the halls beyond.”“We’ll see whose heart fails them!” cries Javerto, and at once strikes the kneeling titan such a mighty blow that it rends a hole in his armoured stone chest, killing him instantly.When they had absorbed all of these events, and Korrigan had stowed his astonishing new sword, they explored the entrance hall as Nicodemus and Kasvarina had done before them.Nicodemus takes a book on Giovanni the Painter.  “Fascinating,” he mutters.  As he pockets it, a page slips, unnoticed to the floor (where Uru found it 500 years later (and four years ago)).  The book details the creation of extra-dimensional spaces. (The page contained the rope trick ritual.)They headed into the schematics room, with a map of the vault embossed into its marble floor, and a detailed history and catalogue on a pedestal at its centre. Again, a palimpsest of memories:Malthusius bypasses a trap here, but Nicodemus proves insufficiently devout and raises a host of warding spirits to drive away intruders.  Kasvarina is forced to deal with them, and is drained by the encounter. Here also, Unit B fights a terrible battle with Gorago the annis hag and her band. Ffenwig the bugbear is slain by a lamia just as Leon arrives to rescue them.  Ludo Marcione is protected behind a force-field, but doesn’t otherwise seem to be helping, so focused is he on defending himself. Brajham is blazing with radiance and actually harming his allies as well as his foes.  When Leon arrives, the hag and her allies fall back into the Vault, and Leon tells unit B not to pursue her, despite Orum Dwist’s protests. “Don’t worry,” says Leon, “I’ll get the bloodstone ape later.”  Dwist is dumbfounded that Leon knows which idol can be found in the Vault. (So was Leon, for that matter).  Before they teleport away, Throgmorton tries to attack Ludo and is pulled off him by Doctor Stanhope and Orum.  He feigns calming himself, then suddenly attacks again, shouting “Coward! Coward!”  They are separated for the second time, and Ludo brushes himself down, indignantly denying the charge. Then they leave with Leon, and five-hundred years earlier, Nicodemus takes Kasvarina by the hand, reminds her of the dangers they will face, and says that they will not be able to return this way once they pass through.  She affirms that she is ready and they enter.</blockquote>

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