WotW: Call Forth Darkness IC

[Maugan Ra]

(This will happen regardless of the Harkon situation, once everyone is back at the Horn and thus all together to hear it.)

"So, my part of the deal..." Taskar says, clasping his hands and trying not to look especially nervous. "Well, it wasn't coincidence that we found that old frontier watchtower with it's own teleporter throne. Or that the Inquisitor knew that, uh, 'Halifax' was there. Basically, we were sent there."

He collects his thoughts for a moment. "You might have noticed that me and the other Raiders were mercenaries. Harkon hired us for the assault on this place, promised us any loot we might find. Since we were planning to attack anyway - nothing personal, but experience has shown there's usually some very valuable things in places like this - we agreed. And while we were at the planning table, this old white-haired priest comes over to speak to the Inquisitor. Claims to have had a vision, something Mitra showed him to assist his champion in righteous cause or something. Was very enthusiastic, anyway."

"He was the one that told us where to find the teleporter, and when we ought to attack. Gave us a full run down of everyone you had, where your defenses were strongest, the works - hence the clerical support kitted out to deal with undead. Even gave us some potions for keeping us together. Anyway, Harkon ate this all up, very big on the whole divine guidance thing, but me and the Raiders... we're a bit more cynical. So I slipped out after this priest, just in case he was a bit more than met the eye."

The half-Orc shrugs. "Turns out I was right. He was a shapeshifter - switched back to the form of this younger human, long black hair, and met with a woman about half an hour later. Tall lass, white hair, albino raven on her shoulder. Called her 'Z'. All he said was, ah, let me get this right... 'It is done. The Ninth is finished.'"

He blinks, then looks at you all curiously. "That, uh, that mean anything to you lot?"

[Thattaman]

"That bi*ch! Elise is her name and she's meant to be providing support for us. We need to wreak our revenge, but even I do not know the way we should cause her that much pain for the way she has gone against the will of Asmodeous. We need to call our master tell him what Taskar has told us and then see what his reaction against Elise, the traitor and heretic is. I hope he lets me have a go at torturing her though, I'd love to hear her scream."

"How, do we know Taskar is telling the truth? Harkon could know a lot more then he lets on, he could have made this whole thing up. I say we torture him until we can be sure."

"Brother, we cannot torture the man, but you make a point. We shall capture Elise and question her, of course we may have to get through her adventuring companions first. Does anyone know the spell, zone of truth?"

[Snowfire]

Ilvaria chuckles, then favours Kydark with a look full of withering scorn.

"You younglings," She shakes her head, "always so focused on the idea of immediate revenge. It's a wonder you've gotten this far. Hell rewards those who help themselves, that is true. But helping one's self is quite different from running crying to master when something goes against your precious plans.

"Yes, she betrayed us. Yes, we lost fellows and valuable resources to the attack. But," the stress on the word is undeniable in its focus, "we lived. For all her manipulation, she could not succeed." Ilvaria smirked. "Go ahead, tell our master. See what he says. If it is decreed that a blood price must be paid, then her Knot shall pay it." She nods to Hal. "She already owes us one, I think. But in the end?" The Drow chuckles again, violet eyes sparkling with dark amusement. "Death would likely be a release. And torture of the body is, whilst a fun past time, rarely as powerful as torture of the mind. So let her live." Ilvaria's voice turns icy cold, and terribly cruel.

"Let her know that she failed in her task. That for all her schemes, it was not enough. And, perhaps, modify our plans for the kidnapping." Her expression turns artfully pained. "Would it not be such a tragedy if their Baron was...incapacitated in the fighting? They took someone from us. It would only be fitting to take the same from them." She turns to Taskar, ignoring the rest of the group. "Now, if you don't need this one, I'd like to have some words with him myself.

"If you value life and coin, follow me." She murmurs to the half-orc as she passes him, Mira concealing the lean-in of her mistress with her interposed body.

[Comissar]

Quint listened in stony silence to the mercenaries revelation. He had not yet been able to find Il'Tara, hearing the return of his allies before he had gone very far.

"Thankyou for telling us, Taskar was it? If I could ask you to wait in the corridor while we discuss this."

He waits patiently until the hired sword does as he asked. Once the man had done so, he continued, "Kydrak, Caldrel, try not to be idiots. Elise does not know that we know she set Harkon on us. That is to our advantage. Leave this matter to me, I will resolve it in a tidy manner."

[Maugan Ra]

With an uneasy look at Caldrel, Taskar follows Ilvaria out of the room. The Drow notices that he keeps one hand on the hilt of his dagger at all times - likely a measure of self-reassurance.

[Snowfire]

Ilvaria grins, revealing very white teeth, and - ensuring that the door is closed - moves down the corridor so that their conversation will be somewhat more difficult to overhear, before turning to the half-orc.

"So. Just a merc, or in it for other reasons like Tomas was?" She asks. "Either-or, I think I can offer you something a bit more alluring than the prospect of working for little more than your life.

"Also would give you the chance of making back the money you lost out trying to take this place - albeit over time rather than all at once."

[Cloudsmeet]

Kin merely smirks at Kydrak and his show of rage, before turning and following Ilvaria and Taskar out.

[Maugan Ra]

"Just a mercenary." Taskar replies warily. "What are your terms?"

[Snowfire]

Mira, remaining close enough to her mistress to support her if necessary, but far enough back so as not to interrupt the conversation, holds up a slender hand if Kin heads down the corridor towards Ilvaria and Taskar.

"My mistress wishes her words to be in private, sir." She says - her voice surprisingly soft compared to her calls on the battlefield. "I do hope that that's reasonable."

Ilvaria nods in understanding, and shrugs.

"Well, if a comrade of yours had, hypothetically mind, come to an agreement with me for the purposes of mutual self-interest regarding...perhaps less than fully honest operations in the nearby settlement, would you be willing to add your talents to the mix? I have, you see, a particular operation in mind that could likely profit from your particular talents if you would wish only a single fee. But I can offer you a stable position with a good wage for little but...ensuring that certain things get where we would like them to go and such - if you get my meaning.

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Reading through the double-talk: One of your workmates is working for me, would you be interested in doing the same for a cut of any profits you make. And the possibility of more money for...special jobs.

I'm sure Taskar's good enough to work that out from the above.

[Maugan Ra]

"I'd prefer a single, specialist job, if it's an option, then I'd get out of town. Don't know much of the specifics of what you're planning here, don't much care to, but I get the impression I'd feel a lot safer a long way away." Taskar says after a few moment's consideration.

[Snowfire]

"Quite reasonable, I suppose." She nods, the mind behind her eyes already formulating possible ways and means of preventing the half-orc talking after his task is completed - although the task itself might do that if done right. "So where exactly do your specific talents lie?" She asks. She needed specifics here if things were going to work out properly.

[Maugan Ra]

"Breaking and entering, mostly. Particularly places where there might be guards of some description, or individuals that need to have unfortunate accidents." Taskar says, clearly trying to work out what you've got in mind.

[Snowfire]

"Oh, excellent." Ilvaria claps her hands together happily. "You see, there is a particular item that I would like retrieved from the local Abbey. A rather famous chain that they keep on display there, that I would see returned to its true home." She raises a questioning eyebrow. "Sound like something you could do? I can supply support of various natures if you would wish to call on it. The question, of course, would be your fee."

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Appraise: (1d20+7)[21]

To work out what sort of payment would be reasonable for a job like this, adding in the fact that we let him go afterwards.

[Maugan Ra]

Taskar mulls this over. "I'd need magical support of some kind. Even if it's just a scroll of Dispel Magic or something - I'll need a good way to suppress the alarm spells and whatever else they've almost certainly got in place." he says thoughtfully. "You get me that scroll or something equally viable, and five hundred gold would do it. It is, after all, an infernal relic in the middle of an Abbey full of militant fanatics."

[Angstrom]

Harkon doesn't even seem to resist, or make the slightest move towards a dodge. He simply smiles faintly as the sword bites into his neck, and he topples over, dead in an instant.

"You..."

Somehow calm through the entire exchange with Harkon, Hal nearly looses control when Caldrel decapitates Harkon. Fools, idiots, reckless, murderous, blind; words failed. Supposed to be the best. Thorn had said they'd be the best, but these, these children, were the worst he'd ever dealt with.

"You..."

As the rage starts to bubble up, a part of his mind fights the urge to break his contract. Stepping into the circle he speaks the command word and disappears into the Horn.

[Razorstorm]

Victor and Reyna ride through the portal just in time to see the sword bite into Harkon's neck.

"Damnation. Our timing is terrible today!" he mutters.

His first priority is to check the golem and assess the damage

After hearing Taskar's story, back at the Horn. As Taskar walks away for a private discussion...

"I agree with her. That bitch stabbed us in the back, but now we know something that she doesn't. We should keep that in our pocket until the right moment. I quite the like the idea of nailing the Baron during our attack at the party, but now I'm rather worried that we'll be double-crossed again."

[Snowfire]

"I think we can accommodate that." She raises her voice. "You can let him past." Mira steps out of Kin's path with a nod of apology.

Ilvaria beckons to the tatooted wizard, and then - once he has approached - speaks. "You have the ability to craft a scroll of Dispel Magic, do you not, Kin?" She asks amiably. "Would you be willing to do that for me? In exchange for a future favour?"

[Angstrom]

The sky ripples as a shadow moves through the night. Moon's spiralling ascent was turning the green mountain into a ghostly dot in the jungle below as she climbed ever higher in the midnight air.

Despite the freezing cold temperature, Hal's mind was consumed with fire. Rage over the half-elf's idiotic act had exploded through him. He couldn't go to the Boneyard to try and undo the half-elf's mercy; that would be suicide. He couldn't prevent Harkon from reaching his heavenly reward and to make matters worse, he couldn't even retaliate against the Asmodeans. He couldn't ensure Harkon would stay dead either or prevent his knowledge from potentially reaching his allies. First the young one kills Van and now the bastard sons of some wretched elf king prevent the realization of the retribution Van had died believing in.

Weakness. Maybe Harkon was right after all. Had allying with these devil worshippers made him weak? Was he better off alone? Van would have been. She never signed any stupid piece of paper. He wasn't a part of this team, even after all he'd given them, after nearly dying for them. No. Not dying. That was the one line that could not be crossed. Even to bring back Van he wouldn't, couldn't go to that afterlife. These devils had his soul until this job was done.

You're never alone, mortal, and your work isn't over yet. Harkon's lackey talked. It was the witch and her bird. They sold us to Harkon for no reason other than to let us burn.

There's more. When I went after the sorceress, the drow came too. Harkon's lackey was allowed to flee.

[Comissar]

Quint left the war room, emerging into the night air. His mind was aflame with thoughts of how to carry out his revenge on Elise. It had been her fault that Il'Tara had fallen in the first place.

Il'Tara...

By now she could be anywhere in the Horn. It would be simpler to wait for her to come back from wherever she had gone now.

"Cuil."

Quint flew to the top of the Horn, wanting some solitude while he put together his plan. He already had an inkling of what he could do, but he wasn't sure he would be able to pull it off on his own.

"Soilse Rince."

Four multi-coloured lights sprang into existence around his hand. He sent them chasing each other around the peak of the Horn, faintly illuminating it in rainbow hues, while he thought.

[Maugan Ra]

High above the Horn

Moon suddenly draws into a hover, whinnying softly, and looking ahead Hal can see why. A trio of burning green orbs hangs in the night sky ahead of him, like malevolent eyes, and the cold night breeze is suddenly not as silent as it once was. The sound of buzzing flies can be heard, as though from very far away, and in between their endless racket the wizard thinks he can hear a voice.

"Halifax..."

[Angstrom]

"It is an honour sir."

[Maugan Ra]

The eyes don't so much as flicker, but the voice continues anyway.

"We have watched... have listened... have seen your loyalty. Ezra is gone. I require... a new High Priest..."

[Angstrom]

"Your will shall be done. What do you ask?"

[Comissar]

Quint noticed a faint green glow colouring his skin. He glanced around, a little confused, searching for the source of the light. After a few moments of fruitless searching, he finally looked straight up. A frown creased his forehead as he squinted up there. It looked like there was a figure up there. He focused his mind on the distant figure.

"éisteacht fad."

The wind in his ears was replaced by the sounds coming from the silhouetted figure and the unearthly lights.

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Well, Quint will be casting Clairaudience to listen in on what's going on

[Maugan Ra]

"Go to... the Sanctum. Speak my name, and declare your own. Receive... my boon, Halifax Eater."

The glowing orbs fade away, and the night is still and silent once more.

[Cloudsmeet]

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And now for something completely different!

Kin approaches Ilvaria, glancing at Taskar with mild curiosity, although the frustration of the past few minutes and Harkon's untimely death is still evident in his expression.

After hearing her request, he thinks for a scant moment, and then replies; "I am sure that I could find time to create something like that, but I suspect that I would like to call in my favor sooner than you would think. If you would find me after you have dealt with your business here," - here he glances at Taskar once again - "If you might find me in my rooms so that you could hear me out. Of course, I promise you safe passage if you would require it, although I would hope you trust me better than that. I leave it up to your discretion should you wish to bring Mira along."

He stands there, awaiting Ilvaria's response.

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Basically I'm asking you if you want to plot in a pm between me, you and presumably Maugan a little bit later on That isn't his favor, by the way, the favor will be what he asks you when you two meet.

[Angstrom]

"I will."

As the stars resume their twinkling, Hal turns his gaze to the Horn below. The cold night air filled his lungs as he takes several deep breaths. The daemon would have seen Dessiter, seen Hal refuse the deal. Had his self-preservation been taken as a sign of true faith. No; daemons do not demand faith from their instruments. The prince knows Hal's mission and will grant him a tool to complete that mission, though thoughts of what this boon may entail makes his stomach turn.


Moon clatters to a stop in the hall, and Hal dismounts and proceeds up the stairs to the Sanctum. Buddy, however, tracks down Hexor and the Nessian Knot. A title is only good if it means something, and this one would serve as a reminder. This was the Horn of Abaddon, it seemed to the little daemon that these Asmodeans were too quick to forget that fact.

Arriving in the Sanctum, Hal doesn't wait for Buddy to assemble the Knot but moves to stand before the statue of Vetra-Kali. Gripping his scythe firmly, he speaks both names in a steady tone.

[Snowfire]

"I will be along shortly then." She replies to Kin. "I'm sure we can come to some form of mutual satisfaction." After the evoker leaves, she turns her attention back to Taskar.

"Will that be sufficient then?" Presuming an affirmative, she continues. "On the matter of payment, half with the Scroll of Dispel Magic when you leave. The other half on delivery of the glaive to a contact of mine which Mira will tell you about. If you can somehow bring the chain with you, there will be something extra in it for you. Silence and darkness would undoubtedly be useful things for you after this job's completion."

Assuming no further questions, she directs Mira to ensure Taskar's safety in a section of the barracks and ducks into the same room as Caldrel and Kydrak for just long enough to whisper a name.

"Dessiter."

She then makes her way to Kin's chosen place of lodging. "Kin?" She calls on entering. "How might a humble priestess of Asmodeus aid you today?"

Later

Ilvaria watches curiously as Halifax moves towards the statue of Vetra-Kali, Mira watching with her as the two maintain their regular vigil of the Sanctum.

"And what might you be doing, Halifax?" She asks delicately as the hafling clenches his scythe tight.

[Maugan Ra]

The three brilliant green gemstone eyes of the statue flash once, and a bolt of energy flies out of them and strikes Hal in the chest, knocking him back a step. For a brief moment, the halfling's veins are illuminated from beneath his skin, thick and black, and Abyssal runes flare to life all over his body.

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For those of you who speak Abyssal, the runes read numerous different things, but the general tone of them is 'Anointed sage of the Horsemen'. Angstrom can expect an incoming PM.

A moment later, and the physical signs all fade away once more, leaving Hal looking completely normal, if a bit unsteady on his feet.

[Thattaman]

Caldrel rests in the torture chamber while Kydrak leaves him to sleep. He has things to do. He hears Ilvaria mutter a name but she is gone when he turns around. "Time to make some friends. Come on, Kydrak. I've been taught everything about being a gentleman and being honourable. It's time to put things right again." Kydrak goes in search of Hal wanting to apologise for what he and his brother had done. When he finds him in the chamber of Vetra-Kali, he approaches him. (This is after you've done your flashy thing.) Kydrak speaks slowly and calmly. "Greetings, Halifax. I would like to apologise on behalf of my idiot brother. He does no think like us. He just wanted to kill him, yet you wanted more and I respect that of you. I hope this does not damage our friendship, or future alliance. And I want you to know that although I greatly disagree with your religion, I respect your views." Kydrak then manages a smile, trying to hide his pointed teeth so as not to appear scary. "Once again, I'm truly sorry."