Soul Custody – 8.02.2022 – Delilah
Feb 10, 2022 15:17:26 GMT
Pieni, Jaezred Vandree, and 1 more like this
Post by Delilah Daybreaker on Feb 10, 2022 15:17:26 GMT
Rolled into a palm sized tube is a piece of nondescript parchment written in a mix of common, symbols, elvish, and draconic.
ASSIGNMENT REPORT #24
People/Organisations of Note:
Oziah Daybreaker – holy warrior, aasimar (fallen), female; mount: Deimos (skeletal, fiend)
Jaezred Vandree – mage (pact magic, patron: the Moonweaver), noble, drow, male
Sergeant Grimes – fighter/holy warrior (god unknown), Daring Heights City Watchman, human, male
Varga – fighter/barbarian, half-orc, female
Kurtz (a.k.a. ‘The Benefactor’) – mage, adult shadow dragon (was once green), male, father
Two Mariliths – fighters, demon; allies of the Archdevil Glasya, females
Location:
Fort Ettin – Adventurer's hub
Obsidian City – south of the Planes of Despair by 40 miles
Body:
The Queen will be pleased to hear that my concerns about my untimely demise, though not completely unfounded, did not come to fruition. (NB: At least, I hope she would be pleased to hear.)
The same people gathered to assist me, with the exception of Sargent Grimes, who replaced Velnnarul. The mission debrief was kept simple – information gathering, recovery of any soul coins containing unknown sibling souls, and finally, possibly, the elimination of the target calling himself ‘The Benefactor’. A plane shift from Jenna Archselon later and we were returned to the Obsidian City, all wearing magical disguises from Vandree to make us seem like we were native to the Shadowfell.
The place was not as we had left it. Destruction, ruin, and stillness was what we returned to. There were no whispers just beyond hearing, no movement in the corner of our eyes – except Daybreaker’s perhaps. It became apparent rather quickly there were deep gouges wrought on the obsidian blocks of a size that would match some great creature with massive claws. Thoughts instantly turned to shadow dragons since they were mentioned often in the books recovered and in the research that has been done. Of course it was confirmed but that is later in the sequence of events.
The plan at this point was to scry on the person we know at the time to be The Benefactor. Vandree performed the spell whilst the rest of the party waited to hear the results…
The sound of dripping water, the flickering of flame, the echoes of a vast room. These are the things Jaezred sees when the arcane eye of Scrying opens upon the Benefactor. He is without his hooded cloak. Instead, he wears plain black cotton trousers and a matching tunic with the sleeves rolled up. Without the hood it is revealed that the man is bald and has a thin, two inches long scar just below his left eye, possibly made by a blade, old and healed.
There is movement. A slithering sound and a serpentine tail. The Benefactor has the glisten of sweat upon his brow. The one- no, two creatures with him are olive skinned with jet black hair. Jaezred also sees the tips of swords but they are not held in a threatening way, yet.
“I don’t know why she keeps sending you,” the Benefactor says, his lips turned down.
A thin reedy voice, with power but also snake-like quality responds, “Her motivations are not for you to decide. Do you have our payment?”
He sighs, but pauses. A reluctance seemingly passes over the Benefactor as he reaches into a pouch and pulls forth 5 coins, each 1 inch in diameter, made of dark iron and glowing gently. He holds them in a stack and Jaezred sees a slight hesitation again. Possibly, maybe even regret. Then he holds out his hand, ready to let the coins pass from him to these creatures.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. As many hands as there are coins reach out to catch them. There’s a malicious chuckle as the creature’s fingers close over the last one.
“Thanks for your payment,” the thin reedy voice hisses. “She appreciates the completion of a bargain and that you have paid in full.”
With a sudden, vehement anger the Benefactor spits out, “Take it and go. You have them all. My debt is paid.”
Suddenly he is reaching for his head. He crumples to the floor, letting out a scream of pain.
“You know you cannot lie to us,” the snake-like creature says, slithering closer. “There are more?”
Before they can get any closer the Benefactor casts a spell. Ruby dust sprays out in an arch in front of him then a wall of impenetrable force encases him in a cage. There’s a very still moment where no one moves and then the Benefactor grins.
“Well, this is interesting.”
There is the sound of swords being drawn and the rustle of bodies moving across the floor, before the arcane eye closes.
This was no longer a ‘raid, loot, and kill’ mission as Varga had put it. This was a rescue mission.
Descending into the city proper we quickly discovered the destruction on the surface carried down into the mine tunnels. Following the path it led, and knowing the details of the vision Vandree shared, we were able to deduce the path we needed to follow. Along the way there we saw many slain from various causes; purposefully collapsed tunnels, asphyxiation, bodies with deep, fatal gashes. Daybreaker assisted by locating the soul coin that contained Billy. Some time later – for the Obsidian City is expansive – we came to the place from Jaezred’s vision.
Despite the intention of sneaking in to get the drop on the Marilith’s – the creatures waiting for the force cage protecting ‘The Benefactor’ to drop – with the distraction of Daybreaker and Vandree drawing their attention, neither were keen on talking and instantly became hostile. Any caution in me, any original intent there was to stealth in and get the drop on them was gone. The only thing there was the desire to take these creatures down. (NB: It turns out an item I had picked up some moons ago was cursed, making me believe I was invincible and thus causing a recklessness to overcome me when in battle. Daybreaker removed the accursed object from me in the end.)
“Keep the rest busy. The sixth is here.”
The marilith that spoke closed the distance in an instant but the Pale Daughter was ready. Still, the Benefactor’s eyes widened in disbelief as if he too could see past the double illusioned disguise of Jaezred’s seeming and her Robes of Night.
Focusing on the enemy in front of her, sword and dagger out, Delilah dodged, parried, and partially shadow stepped out of the way of all seven attacks raining down on her by this demonic creature. Yet, despite her best efforts four biting sword cuts hacked away at her and she felt her arms already aching from trying to protect herself.
“Jaezred, keep her alive please!” Oziah shouts from Deimos’ back as she engages with the other marilith.
“Oh, I still can’t heal but I’ll try my best,” was the cool response. “I have to say, it is a rather scaly situation though.”
Laughter bursts forth from Delilah. “Ha! Good one Jaezred.”
Then she feigned left before dropping down, her dagger shooting out to stab, before the bow blade sang through the air, cutting across two of the marilith’s right arms. In a second blur of movement, she flips her dagger around into a reverse grip, tucks her elbows in and rains a flurry of blows into the creature’s abdomen. The precision of her second strike stuns the creature into stillness, all of its considerable muscle mass seizing up.
Without looking at him, all whilst she was dancing around the marilith and laying deadly blows upon them, knowing he was watching her, Delilah entreats the Benefactor, “You and I can work together. To defeat Her. We are powerful, together.”
Then she whips around, and in a rather dramatic fashion, pulls down the hood of her Robes of Night, revealing her masked face.
The fight rages on around them, but in that moment Delilah feels all the years of his absence from her life slip away. Perhaps it was the shadows that made it seem that time extended beyond the norm. Perhaps it was the darkness in her blood, her own likeness calling to him as he was able to recognise her. She couldn’t explain it, didn’t need it explained. She just knew she wanted to have him by her side to face the one woman in all the realms she still feared beyond all things in life, beyond death.
“What the fuck are you doin’ here, Kurtz?”
The voice of Sergeant Grimes breaks the spell. The Benefactor’s eyes flick over to the old City Watchman now helping Oziah before returning to Delilah. Her eyes narrow ever so slightly, making note of the name but not knowing the context from which the Sergeant spoke.
Standing up to his full height, the Benefactor/Kurtz drops the cage of force surrounding him, his expression grim.
“Daughter, you do not even know who She is. She is beyond you. She is beyond me.”
That gave her pause. If the person he was working with wasn’t her mother, then who the fuck was it?
Then his form grew, black and green scales covering his body to the size of a gargantuan shadow dragon with violet eyes, wisps of smoke and shadow curling off him. Delilah, exhilarated, stunned, confused and in awe, felt the last piece of one of the puzzles she carried, fall into place. She grins.
“O father, you don’t understand. I excel at killing things.”
Then, to give credence to her words, she spins around and unloads another barrage of targeted sword and fist attacks that stun the marilith again, allowing Varga to swoop in and kill it. As it falls, its form turns to ash and goo, melting away to already begin the process of reforming in the Abyss from whence it came. The only thing remaining is a small sack.
“Bitch. We will remember you.”
Delilah turns to see the other marilith strike at Oziah with all six of it’s blades. Her love’s eyes roll back as blood sprays, the telltale sign of someone succumbing to mortal wounds. But then white quartz crystals begin to grow out of her skin, forming from the beads of sweat on her brow and the blood on her body, Jaezred’s tome of shadows saving Oziah’s life.
But it is only a fleeting step back to life as the marilith’s tail whips out, wrapping around Oziah’s waist again and squeezing. There’s as sickening pop as something breaks and Delilah feels the shadows around her scream with her own anger and rage.
Grimes falls down to the ground raising his shield to cover Oziah’s now prone form, a glow in his hand. The moment he touches her that pale blue-white light covers her entire body and Delilah knows he has brought her back. She’s about to step forward to finish the job, when the shadow dragon’s head lashes out, a maw of jagged sharp teeth closing down over the marilith.
They scream bloody murder, snake tail thrashing about as they desperately try to break free. Kurtz chomps down harder and the two arms Delilah had cut at before are severed from the demon’s body. Spitting the creature out, the dragon retreats and one large violet eye looks at Delilah expectantly.
With a grace and power she has honed into steel, the girl of shadows steps behind the bleeding and broken marilith and whispers a phrase in elvish that sounds half prayer, half vow.
“When all is blood, blood is all.”
With the Mariliths slain a short conversation was had with Kurtz. He revealed that after his spellbook was stolen by a Dawnlands adventurer, the avenues available to him to achieve the power he wanted suddenly and drastically diminished. Left with few choices he turned to the fiends of the lower planes, specifically the Archdevil and lord of the Sixth, Glasya. The terms of his deal were to either offer up his own soul as payment or the souls of his children in order to be granted the power he wants. When asked what purpose or reason he sought this power the shadow dragon did not answer.
Kurtz knew he could no longer stay in the Obsidian City and despite our desire (NB: Mostly my desire) to speak more he left soon afterwards.
Further discussions with Vandree and possibly other involved parties will be had over the coming days, as well as the releasing of the souls of the children from the soul coins. Needless to say, this whole situation is complicated. There has been no word or sighting of Lady Neramorte since the 16 day of The Rotting, but her involvement in some way could be possible, though at this point and time I do not see how. Much is still unknown about Kurtz and his motivations or his goals, but the initial rapport with him seems promising. Perhaps it is a relationship that will prove useful.
Report passed on 8 day of the Claw of Winter.
Neh diis lus’a, lus diis’a.
The winter sun is already up as is the pale half-elf silently moving through the rooms she shares with another. Sleep still in her eyes, she gathers the wine glasses from the sitting area with the intent of calling for a big, hearty breakfast she can share in bed with her love. After last night’s discussions with Jaezred, the girl had a lot of work to do and she was not going to start her day on an empty stomach.
But then a voice in the familiar sense of the sending spell, causing her to halt mid stride as tendrils of shadow carry a voice directly to her mind.
“Once I have found a safe place and established some wards. I will speak to you again.”
Then another message rapidly follows on the heels of the first.
“If I’m going to renege on my deal with Glasya I guess I may as well go all in with you.”
It is a strange thing to find solace in a stranger’s voice, in the words he speaks. He could be lying. He could be trying to use her for his own ends. But then again, like calls to like, and although she would not admit it to herself, their similarities are beginning to stack up, one by one.
The girl picks up where she left off as a shadow forms a cat that looks up at her.
“...who is it?...”
“It’s my father.”
Her mouth quirks into a half smile as the Pale Daughter places the fine glasses on a counter.
“I knew you’d get there eventually,” she replies, her own chuckle following the magic back to wherever Kurtz is. “I would like that though. There’s… much I would speak to you about. You know where to find me when you’re ready. I’ve got my own work to do.”
She pauses for half a second then adds, “Be safe.”
The shadows retreat, all save for one that tilts its head as it looks at her with it’s not-eyes.
ASSIGNMENT REPORT #24
People/Organisations of Note:
Oziah Daybreaker – holy warrior, aasimar (fallen), female; mount: Deimos (skeletal, fiend)
Jaezred Vandree – mage (pact magic, patron: the Moonweaver), noble, drow, male
Sergeant Grimes – fighter/holy warrior (god unknown), Daring Heights City Watchman, human, male
Varga – fighter/barbarian, half-orc, female
Kurtz (a.k.a. ‘The Benefactor’) – mage, adult shadow dragon (was once green), male, father
Two Mariliths – fighters, demon; allies of the Archdevil Glasya, females
Location:
Fort Ettin – Adventurer's hub
Obsidian City – south of the Planes of Despair by 40 miles
Body:
The Queen will be pleased to hear that my concerns about my untimely demise, though not completely unfounded, did not come to fruition. (NB: At least, I hope she would be pleased to hear.)
The same people gathered to assist me, with the exception of Sargent Grimes, who replaced Velnnarul. The mission debrief was kept simple – information gathering, recovery of any soul coins containing unknown sibling souls, and finally, possibly, the elimination of the target calling himself ‘The Benefactor’. A plane shift from Jenna Archselon later and we were returned to the Obsidian City, all wearing magical disguises from Vandree to make us seem like we were native to the Shadowfell.
The place was not as we had left it. Destruction, ruin, and stillness was what we returned to. There were no whispers just beyond hearing, no movement in the corner of our eyes – except Daybreaker’s perhaps. It became apparent rather quickly there were deep gouges wrought on the obsidian blocks of a size that would match some great creature with massive claws. Thoughts instantly turned to shadow dragons since they were mentioned often in the books recovered and in the research that has been done. Of course it was confirmed but that is later in the sequence of events.
The plan at this point was to scry on the person we know at the time to be The Benefactor. Vandree performed the spell whilst the rest of the party waited to hear the results…
The sound of dripping water, the flickering of flame, the echoes of a vast room. These are the things Jaezred sees when the arcane eye of Scrying opens upon the Benefactor. He is without his hooded cloak. Instead, he wears plain black cotton trousers and a matching tunic with the sleeves rolled up. Without the hood it is revealed that the man is bald and has a thin, two inches long scar just below his left eye, possibly made by a blade, old and healed.
There is movement. A slithering sound and a serpentine tail. The Benefactor has the glisten of sweat upon his brow. The one- no, two creatures with him are olive skinned with jet black hair. Jaezred also sees the tips of swords but they are not held in a threatening way, yet.
“I don’t know why she keeps sending you,” the Benefactor says, his lips turned down.
A thin reedy voice, with power but also snake-like quality responds, “Her motivations are not for you to decide. Do you have our payment?”
He sighs, but pauses. A reluctance seemingly passes over the Benefactor as he reaches into a pouch and pulls forth 5 coins, each 1 inch in diameter, made of dark iron and glowing gently. He holds them in a stack and Jaezred sees a slight hesitation again. Possibly, maybe even regret. Then he holds out his hand, ready to let the coins pass from him to these creatures.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. As many hands as there are coins reach out to catch them. There’s a malicious chuckle as the creature’s fingers close over the last one.
“Thanks for your payment,” the thin reedy voice hisses. “She appreciates the completion of a bargain and that you have paid in full.”
With a sudden, vehement anger the Benefactor spits out, “Take it and go. You have them all. My debt is paid.”
Suddenly he is reaching for his head. He crumples to the floor, letting out a scream of pain.
“You know you cannot lie to us,” the snake-like creature says, slithering closer. “There are more?”
Before they can get any closer the Benefactor casts a spell. Ruby dust sprays out in an arch in front of him then a wall of impenetrable force encases him in a cage. There’s a very still moment where no one moves and then the Benefactor grins.
“Well, this is interesting.”
There is the sound of swords being drawn and the rustle of bodies moving across the floor, before the arcane eye closes.
This was no longer a ‘raid, loot, and kill’ mission as Varga had put it. This was a rescue mission.
Descending into the city proper we quickly discovered the destruction on the surface carried down into the mine tunnels. Following the path it led, and knowing the details of the vision Vandree shared, we were able to deduce the path we needed to follow. Along the way there we saw many slain from various causes; purposefully collapsed tunnels, asphyxiation, bodies with deep, fatal gashes. Daybreaker assisted by locating the soul coin that contained Billy. Some time later – for the Obsidian City is expansive – we came to the place from Jaezred’s vision.
Despite the intention of sneaking in to get the drop on the Marilith’s – the creatures waiting for the force cage protecting ‘The Benefactor’ to drop – with the distraction of Daybreaker and Vandree drawing their attention, neither were keen on talking and instantly became hostile. Any caution in me, any original intent there was to stealth in and get the drop on them was gone. The only thing there was the desire to take these creatures down. (NB: It turns out an item I had picked up some moons ago was cursed, making me believe I was invincible and thus causing a recklessness to overcome me when in battle. Daybreaker removed the accursed object from me in the end.)
“Keep the rest busy. The sixth is here.”
The marilith that spoke closed the distance in an instant but the Pale Daughter was ready. Still, the Benefactor’s eyes widened in disbelief as if he too could see past the double illusioned disguise of Jaezred’s seeming and her Robes of Night.
Focusing on the enemy in front of her, sword and dagger out, Delilah dodged, parried, and partially shadow stepped out of the way of all seven attacks raining down on her by this demonic creature. Yet, despite her best efforts four biting sword cuts hacked away at her and she felt her arms already aching from trying to protect herself.
“Jaezred, keep her alive please!” Oziah shouts from Deimos’ back as she engages with the other marilith.
“Oh, I still can’t heal but I’ll try my best,” was the cool response. “I have to say, it is a rather scaly situation though.”
Laughter bursts forth from Delilah. “Ha! Good one Jaezred.”
Then she feigned left before dropping down, her dagger shooting out to stab, before the bow blade sang through the air, cutting across two of the marilith’s right arms. In a second blur of movement, she flips her dagger around into a reverse grip, tucks her elbows in and rains a flurry of blows into the creature’s abdomen. The precision of her second strike stuns the creature into stillness, all of its considerable muscle mass seizing up.
Without looking at him, all whilst she was dancing around the marilith and laying deadly blows upon them, knowing he was watching her, Delilah entreats the Benefactor, “You and I can work together. To defeat Her. We are powerful, together.”
Then she whips around, and in a rather dramatic fashion, pulls down the hood of her Robes of Night, revealing her masked face.
The fight rages on around them, but in that moment Delilah feels all the years of his absence from her life slip away. Perhaps it was the shadows that made it seem that time extended beyond the norm. Perhaps it was the darkness in her blood, her own likeness calling to him as he was able to recognise her. She couldn’t explain it, didn’t need it explained. She just knew she wanted to have him by her side to face the one woman in all the realms she still feared beyond all things in life, beyond death.
“What the fuck are you doin’ here, Kurtz?”
The voice of Sergeant Grimes breaks the spell. The Benefactor’s eyes flick over to the old City Watchman now helping Oziah before returning to Delilah. Her eyes narrow ever so slightly, making note of the name but not knowing the context from which the Sergeant spoke.
Standing up to his full height, the Benefactor/Kurtz drops the cage of force surrounding him, his expression grim.
“Daughter, you do not even know who She is. She is beyond you. She is beyond me.”
That gave her pause. If the person he was working with wasn’t her mother, then who the fuck was it?
Then his form grew, black and green scales covering his body to the size of a gargantuan shadow dragon with violet eyes, wisps of smoke and shadow curling off him. Delilah, exhilarated, stunned, confused and in awe, felt the last piece of one of the puzzles she carried, fall into place. She grins.
“O father, you don’t understand. I excel at killing things.”
Then, to give credence to her words, she spins around and unloads another barrage of targeted sword and fist attacks that stun the marilith again, allowing Varga to swoop in and kill it. As it falls, its form turns to ash and goo, melting away to already begin the process of reforming in the Abyss from whence it came. The only thing remaining is a small sack.
“Bitch. We will remember you.”
Delilah turns to see the other marilith strike at Oziah with all six of it’s blades. Her love’s eyes roll back as blood sprays, the telltale sign of someone succumbing to mortal wounds. But then white quartz crystals begin to grow out of her skin, forming from the beads of sweat on her brow and the blood on her body, Jaezred’s tome of shadows saving Oziah’s life.
But it is only a fleeting step back to life as the marilith’s tail whips out, wrapping around Oziah’s waist again and squeezing. There’s as sickening pop as something breaks and Delilah feels the shadows around her scream with her own anger and rage.
Grimes falls down to the ground raising his shield to cover Oziah’s now prone form, a glow in his hand. The moment he touches her that pale blue-white light covers her entire body and Delilah knows he has brought her back. She’s about to step forward to finish the job, when the shadow dragon’s head lashes out, a maw of jagged sharp teeth closing down over the marilith.
They scream bloody murder, snake tail thrashing about as they desperately try to break free. Kurtz chomps down harder and the two arms Delilah had cut at before are severed from the demon’s body. Spitting the creature out, the dragon retreats and one large violet eye looks at Delilah expectantly.
With a grace and power she has honed into steel, the girl of shadows steps behind the bleeding and broken marilith and whispers a phrase in elvish that sounds half prayer, half vow.
“When all is blood, blood is all.”
With the Mariliths slain a short conversation was had with Kurtz. He revealed that after his spellbook was stolen by a Dawnlands adventurer, the avenues available to him to achieve the power he wanted suddenly and drastically diminished. Left with few choices he turned to the fiends of the lower planes, specifically the Archdevil and lord of the Sixth, Glasya. The terms of his deal were to either offer up his own soul as payment or the souls of his children in order to be granted the power he wants. When asked what purpose or reason he sought this power the shadow dragon did not answer.
Kurtz knew he could no longer stay in the Obsidian City and despite our desire (NB: Mostly my desire) to speak more he left soon afterwards.
Further discussions with Vandree and possibly other involved parties will be had over the coming days, as well as the releasing of the souls of the children from the soul coins. Needless to say, this whole situation is complicated. There has been no word or sighting of Lady Neramorte since the 16 day of The Rotting, but her involvement in some way could be possible, though at this point and time I do not see how. Much is still unknown about Kurtz and his motivations or his goals, but the initial rapport with him seems promising. Perhaps it is a relationship that will prove useful.
Report passed on 8 day of the Claw of Winter.
Neh diis lus’a, lus diis’a.
The winter sun is already up as is the pale half-elf silently moving through the rooms she shares with another. Sleep still in her eyes, she gathers the wine glasses from the sitting area with the intent of calling for a big, hearty breakfast she can share in bed with her love. After last night’s discussions with Jaezred, the girl had a lot of work to do and she was not going to start her day on an empty stomach.
But then a voice in the familiar sense of the sending spell, causing her to halt mid stride as tendrils of shadow carry a voice directly to her mind.
“Once I have found a safe place and established some wards. I will speak to you again.”
Then another message rapidly follows on the heels of the first.
“If I’m going to renege on my deal with Glasya I guess I may as well go all in with you.”
It is a strange thing to find solace in a stranger’s voice, in the words he speaks. He could be lying. He could be trying to use her for his own ends. But then again, like calls to like, and although she would not admit it to herself, their similarities are beginning to stack up, one by one.
The girl picks up where she left off as a shadow forms a cat that looks up at her.
“...who is it?...”
“It’s my father.”
Her mouth quirks into a half smile as the Pale Daughter places the fine glasses on a counter.
“I knew you’d get there eventually,” she replies, her own chuckle following the magic back to wherever Kurtz is. “I would like that though. There’s… much I would speak to you about. You know where to find me when you’re ready. I’ve got my own work to do.”
She pauses for half a second then adds, “Be safe.”
The shadows retreat, all save for one that tilts its head as it looks at her with it’s not-eyes.
