Enemy Uncovered
(Emrys, Stryre, 26th September, 1601)
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In the comfortable surroundings of Xerxes' home, the Tellaran and the dwarf began to consider how to proceed from here. Xerxes knew little directly of Bramandin, although he was able to throw some light on the assassin's techniques; he tended to toy with his victims, sending waves of attackers into their laps through gates of some sort - Surya thought of the not-Trolls and nodded. He also said that one of the people he had known to be slain by Bramandin was killed by what he called Death Hounds; a fearsome creature he was reputed to have bred himself. "Are they tough, these Hounds?" asked Hildraft, "as tough as - say - Varkar Barduric?" "One? No," Xerxes replied. "Many?" pressed the dwarf. "Maybe," conceded the gatecrasher. The Wyrmslayers continued to debate, and Xerxes brewed up again. Finally they settled on calling on the magic of the Commune spell to try and gain some insight. Hildraft asked Xerxes if he minded; the gatecrasher enquired if there would be side-effects. Hildraft explained about the Kordasa, and Xerxes chuckled. "Can't see that happening here," he said, and indicated Hildraft should proceed. The priest took a deep breath and put his questions.
They looked at each other with sinking hearts. Tiamat! Hildraft's religious studies had included the diabolic, and both had read extensively on the subject of Avernus. Tiamat, the Many-Mawed, Queen of Many Colours and of None; Queen of the Dragons and Guardian of Avernus, was the mother of Varkar Barduric. Making her home on Hell's first layer, she was entrusted with guarding the gateway to Dis, the second layer. Her nature was draconic and her aliegance diabolic, and to all evil dragons she was Goddess and Ancestress. Clearly, they weren't going to be able to put any pressure on Bramandin's hirer; and increasingly were of the opinion that any approach to the assassin himself (short of confrontation) was going to be futile. Hildraft, once the shock had worn off, despatched a Message to Elverandil, warning him and through him, Doronond, Thraldor and Eladriel of the death mark they bore. They also thought of Kobort, and Hildraft attempted a Scrying to try and locate him. To their surprise, they discovered him languishing in a Fae Mhor dungeon, clearly captured while trying to retrieve Nose-Biter. Although sympathetic, they realized there was little they could do for him as things stood - and also that Bramandin would have difficulty reaching him there in any case. They asked Xerxes if he had access to any magic which would allow them to detect Bramandin's use of Gates to drop nasty surprises in; he said that other than his own inherent ability to detect the opening of a planar portal, he had nothing portable to hand - however, a running Detect Magic would give sufficient warning for their purposes. Talk turned to access to Sigil. At the whim of the Lady of Pain, the Cage was only reachable by portal, and to open portals required the proper key. Xerxes offered them one, trading it for a magical item as was his way. Hildraft chose very wisely in offering to barter his Pipes of the Sewers for it and the bargain was struck. The gatecrasher handed him a small carven wooden apple. "If you walk through any doorway - an arch, gate, entryway, window - with it uncovered - it will open a Portal to Sigil. It will always open to the same place in the Cage so mark that location well. On the return trip, merely approaching the portal with the key will open it if you arrived that way. If it is covered - pouched or pocketed - here when you pass doorways, it will remain dormant. Do not over-use it; it has five out-and-back charges." "Once there, find the tout [person selling guide services to Sigil] Nilton Hann, in the Lower Ward, and tell him I sent you. Pay him well and he'll find Jarvis in the Hive for you. He'll get you to the Dustmen's library." Surya frowned. "Dustmen?" he asked. "The disposers of the dead of Sigil. Their library is better than most realize. 'Course, they believe everyone's dead, so you need to watch your step." "Have you ever been there?" asked Hildraft. "Once or twice," the older dwarf answered. Surya changed the subject. "Why does Tiamat care?" he grumbled. "Other dragons have been slain; we've done it. Why Varkar?" Xerxes shrugged. "I don't know. She has no interest in diabolic politics, that I do know. Favourite son, perhaps?" They rose to leave, and Xerxes thanked them for the entertaining tale, and wished them luck; it was clear he didn't expect to see them again. Back at the Knife's Edge, they briefed Sack, who began grinning smugly and making up cards with "It was them!" written on. It struck them that one insight they could usefully gain was that of Skufruss, Lord of Dragons. Hildraft was skeptical at first; "what, ask for his help against his own granny?" he asked scornfully. Surya blinked - it was of course true - but he contended that the "family" of Skufruss didn't work that way. The Dragon had held his offsprings' loyalty through fear rather than affection; after Varkar's death, the structure he built had flown apart rapidly. So they piled into Sack's Bag of Holding and Teleported to Vorsand.
Vorsand, Tarlanor, 26th September 1601Arriving once more before the gates of the Dark Lord's Tower, the companions were struck once again with the scale of the military might being assembled there. 
At the great doors they were met again by Bruukr, Skufruss' tiefling castellan. Greeting them warmly, she led them inside and conducted them to Skufruss' audience hall. She flirted spiritedly with Skufruss as she did so, but the efficient way she dealt with the reports and questions brought her by soldiers as they walked showed her keen mind was mainly occupied by preparing her fortress for the coming war. Finally, they reached the audience chamber, and were welcomed by their mighty ally. Skufruss was keen to hear their news, and listened avidly to what they had to say. Surya opened by saying that he had four things to discuss. Skufruss raised an inquiring eyebrow. "One: Do you intend to walk across my kingdom on your way to war?" "Not if I can help it, but if I go around I may be taken in the flank. I would very much like to negotiate passage for my armies." Surya replied, "but that would leave me committed to your cause." Skufruss grinned. "Why not join the winning side?" he answered. "Two: Is she taken?" Surya continued, jerking a thumb at Bruukr. He'd spoken softly, but her hearing was obviously supernatural, because she grinned saucily at him and said, "ask me, later..." Surya coughed and moved on. "Three: How do we appease your grandmother?" Skufruss smiled ruefully. "You people do have a habit of making bad enemies," he said. "Do you speak with her?" asked Hildraft. "Our "family" doesn't exactly work like that," responded Skufruss. "It's possible I might be able to open channels, but she may not exactly approve of me, either." "Four:", said Surya and grinned. "Put the kettle on." Skufruss laughed and signalled for refreshments to be brought. The slight tension that had been present in the room while armies and war were discussed dissipated. Over warm drinks they discussed the problem of Bramandin. Skufruss knew of him, and sent his librarian scurrying for references. He established that the assassin was of Yugoloth stock - neither demon not devil - on his fiendish side, and had an established base in Sigil, though it was not as formal as a home. Apart from his documented Ta'nara powers, he was reputed to have other powers, different from the normal run of arcane abilities. The Death Hounds were his alone, his creation, never shared with anyone. And he had never failed to kill his target. Remembering what Xerxes had said, Hildraft asked Skufruss if he counld construct some sort of item to detect Gates by their magic surge; Skufruss said his apprentices could do that - three days should be enough. |
