"That is a beautiful name. Let us hope it is prophetic as well", Corlith replies with an unusually tender tone.
The tenderness doesn't last long though. "This is why I needed your full name; Archaea Ardour, that is no way for a young lady to speak!", he admonishes in an obviously teasing, parental way, much like how Wilf might say it.
Archie bust's out laughing whilst trying to keep her voice down for the guards, she gives corlith a jesting shove and says "hey I'm turning 20 tomorrow, no longer a teenager! Full adult! No more young lady rules haha, but also don't tell Wilf I nearly said that"
"A full adult", Corlith repeats. "Would you like it if we all called you Miss Ardour from tomorrow in deference to your ascension to full adulthood", he teases.
"Do you think Master Thell might show up for your birthday? I confess to being worried about you. We need to get you out of that armour as soon as possible. We need an artificer to make that happen, and if not Master Thell, perhaps someone at Candlekeep", he says turning back to his usual more serious self.
But no, I doubt Master Thell will return tomorrow, if she was back already she would have surely visited the shop directly. But we can look around Candlekee, that's a good idea, thank you.
You don't need to worry about me, I'm sure once I'm out if this thing then the headaches and dizziness will stop. I just wonder what will happen to the other thing? The Ironmaiden. Will it die without me?"
Corlith considers the question, "I am not certain what will happen if we take you out. I don't know if the other intelligence is truly alive, and able to die. It appears to be able to hear what we are saying when you are in control though. It believes that you are currently unable to survive outside of it, which is why we need to be very careful. It may require both an artificer and a cleric at this point".
He looks to Archie, imagining all this coming as a great shock and that she is likely taken aback, but without seeing her face it is impossible to see.
"Do not worry though, we are going to find people who can help both you and Ironmaiden. Just focus on the fact that you are the Undying Flame".
Archie takes a beat and looks at the floor, "well that's to be expected I suppose... I've felt, like a pressure in my head for a while, so it makes sense that that thing is awake. The Ironmaiden, it having a name feels weird. A machine I doubt it sleeps... Is there anything else that I don't know? Things that it has said or done whilst I've been... Gone.?" She kicks a bit of stray straw and waits for an answer, looking a little to the others who are in the stable too.
"The Blushing Mermaid. Sounds nice. Yeah.. I've noticed the difference of opinions, does anyone actually know what happened to Wilfred's family? The snippets I'm hearing.. are any of them left?" Reya asks as she tries to find a comfortable spot in the stables.
"Sylvira Savikas? Ah yes, she is one of Candlekeep's foremost sages, and specializes in knowledge pertaining to the Outer Planes. As for puzzleboxes, she not only is good at solving them, she's made a couple and has sold some as well." At the mention of magic items, Fisk squirms a bit, "I mean, I think she would? I can't for sure say she would to be honest, I just figured as much?" he looks a little embarrassed at this realizing what he said in his desperation might not actually be true.
When Corlith says that the guards wouldn't survive if once the rest return, Reya's eyes get a bit big, "Arrested hired guards? You think Wil, Virro or Roo would just kill them for fun? That's a bit much, I mean I get Thavius.. F*cking traitor."
Fisk looks back and forth to Corlith and Archie, "There are several clerics at Candlekeep.. an artificer? Could be, I don't know everyone of course. And there are always visitors."
Archie gives a nod to Corlith and the others accepting their answer on her predicament for now.
And then the subject changes, "Oh yeah, what are we doing with the prisoner whilst we go back to the shop? Are we just letting him go?" Archie asks not hiding at all the fact that she is talking about Fisk and doesn't trust him one bit.
Corlith looks to Fisk with evident disappointment on his face as he backtracks on the magic items.
”I have no idea what would happen with the household guards. Would they even believe us regarding the Duke and surrender? And no, I don’t know what the others would do. They are too unpredictable for my tastes, but at the moment they have proved useful and worthy companions”, he replies to Reya.
In response to Archie about Fisk, he responds simply, “He goes where we go until we verify his story at Candlekeep. And he will tell his mistress what he offered us on her behalf”.
"right, sounds like a plan, well... There's no point sticking around here for too long..." Archie lightly touches the inside of the stable door and leaves a scrawled note magically upon the wood. 'Head to blushing mermaid, meet with Zodge' appears in bad handwriting in about a foot square and next to it she touches a nail which begins to shine dim light in a 5ft radius. "That should get their attention right??" And she peeks over the stable door to check if the guards have gone yet.
Corlith considers Archie's suggestion, and has to admit he would rather get out of here and get some of Zodge's fulltime Flaming Fists here to mop up as soon as possible.
"Good idea, the sooner we get to Zodge, the sooner he can get this place cordoned off and his full time Flaming Fists swarming the place", he replies.
He then places a hand on Archie's shoulder and helps her concentrate as she checks that the coast is clear.
While Archie and Corlith check for anyone watching, Reed sticks his head down the trapdoor and looks for their missing companions.
"You don't suppose we may have missed something down there and they're in trouble now do you?" Reed muses out loud. "Don't leave a friend behind, right mum?"
He looks over at the others.
"This won't take a moment."
Reed quickly climbs back down to the dungeon below, makes his way quickly into one of the main hallways and yells loudly for the others.
"Everything all right down here?" he shouts. Then he looks at the air near his head and just sighs. "Not you lot. I know you're dead."
Fisk looks a little sheepish as Corlith corners him about the magic items. "Yes, yes I will." He regards Archie with a look of appreciation as she writes her message on the stable door though.
As Archie takes a look to see if the guards are still around, she sees that the ones patrolling the Vanthampur mansion have moved on towards the front of the manor, and the area of the back alley is completely clear.
Reed calls out and his voice echoes through the empty sewer tunnel, reverberating voice all the way down.
"Time is getting on, at this rate Zodge will be too far into his cups to do anything meaningful", Corlith complains as Reed disappears. "And the longer we wait, the more the thought of exactly what they are doing down there intrudes on my mind".
Virro, Wilfred and Roo'Stor run into Reed on their way out of the prison area and they all head back to the back way out of the dungeon. They head up the ladder and into the stable just in time to see Corlith, Archie, Fisk and Reya head out of the stables and into the back alley.
Joined up again, the group heads out through the night along the streets of the Upper City. Fisk doesn't seem to be too familiar with the area, and neither does Reya. So after a few wrong turns you all finally make it to one of the gates to the Lower City.
Unlike the way into the Upper City, you are not stopped and barely even noticed by the Watch posted at this gate as you return to the Lower City and head directly for the Blushing Mermaid. As you all continue your journey through the Lower City, you can't help but make notice of the differences of the two areas. And even though you have a feeling a victory from ridding the city of the Vanthampur's and their minions, it brings you down a level.
Entering the Blushing Mermaid, it feels exactly as it did the evening before. So much so, you take a moment realizing that yes, it was just last night that you were unloading the dragon cults riches here and you look around quickly to see if anyone seems to have noticed you. You look around and yes, there is the same woman at the reception desk, whittling away at some books, nose buried in them. It doesn't seem to be as busy as an evening as there are a few patrons at the bar, but... oh yes. Zodge and his crowd of Fists are all taking over one table on the opposite side of the fireplace and this time, he seems to be awake.
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"That is a beautiful name. Let us hope it is prophetic as well", Corlith replies with an unusually tender tone.
The tenderness doesn't last long though. "This is why I needed your full name; Archaea Ardour, that is no way for a young lady to speak!", he admonishes in an obviously teasing, parental way, much like how Wilf might say it.
Archie bust's out laughing whilst trying to keep her voice down for the guards, she gives corlith a jesting shove and says "hey I'm turning 20 tomorrow, no longer a teenager! Full adult! No more young lady rules haha, but also don't tell Wilf I nearly said that"
"A full adult", Corlith repeats. "Would you like it if we all called you Miss Ardour from tomorrow in deference to your ascension to full adulthood", he teases.
"Do you think Master Thell might show up for your birthday? I confess to being worried about you. We need to get you out of that armour as soon as possible. We need an artificer to make that happen, and if not Master Thell, perhaps someone at Candlekeep", he says turning back to his usual more serious self.
"I'm sure Archie is just fine 'Mister Corlith'.
But no, I doubt Master Thell will return tomorrow, if she was back already she would have surely visited the shop directly. But we can look around Candlekee, that's a good idea, thank you.
You don't need to worry about me, I'm sure once I'm out if this thing then the headaches and dizziness will stop. I just wonder what will happen to the other thing? The Ironmaiden. Will it die without me?"
Corlith considers the question, "I am not certain what will happen if we take you out. I don't know if the other intelligence is truly alive, and able to die. It appears to be able to hear what we are saying when you are in control though. It believes that you are currently unable to survive outside of it, which is why we need to be very careful. It may require both an artificer and a cleric at this point".
He looks to Archie, imagining all this coming as a great shock and that she is likely taken aback, but without seeing her face it is impossible to see.
"Do not worry though, we are going to find people who can help both you and Ironmaiden. Just focus on the fact that you are the Undying Flame".
Archie takes a beat and looks at the floor, "well that's to be expected I suppose... I've felt, like a pressure in my head for a while, so it makes sense that that thing is awake. The Ironmaiden, it having a name feels weird. A machine I doubt it sleeps... Is there anything else that I don't know? Things that it has said or done whilst I've been... Gone.?" She kicks a bit of stray straw and waits for an answer, looking a little to the others who are in the stable too.
“Nothing further comes immediately to mind”, Corlith replies to Archie.
He looks to Reed and Reya to see if they had more to add.
Reed just gives Corlith a thumbs up, and mouths 'You're doing great.'
He turns back to the trapdoor, wondering if they should be going back to check on the others.
"The Blushing Mermaid. Sounds nice. Yeah.. I've noticed the difference of opinions, does anyone actually know what happened to Wilfred's family? The snippets I'm hearing.. are any of them left?" Reya asks as she tries to find a comfortable spot in the stables.
"Sylvira Savikas? Ah yes, she is one of Candlekeep's foremost sages, and specializes in knowledge pertaining to the Outer Planes. As for puzzleboxes, she not only is good at solving them, she's made a couple and has sold some as well." At the mention of magic items, Fisk squirms a bit, "I mean, I think she would? I can't for sure say she would to be honest, I just figured as much?" he looks a little embarrassed at this realizing what he said in his desperation might not actually be true.
When Corlith says that the guards wouldn't survive if once the rest return, Reya's eyes get a bit big, "Arrested hired guards? You think Wil, Virro or Roo would just kill them for fun? That's a bit much, I mean I get Thavius.. F*cking traitor."
Fisk looks back and forth to Corlith and Archie, "There are several clerics at Candlekeep.. an artificer? Could be, I don't know everyone of course. And there are always visitors."
Archie gives a nod to Corlith and the others accepting their answer on her predicament for now.
And then the subject changes, "Oh yeah, what are we doing with the prisoner whilst we go back to the shop? Are we just letting him go?" Archie asks not hiding at all the fact that she is talking about Fisk and doesn't trust him one bit.
Corlith looks to Fisk with evident disappointment on his face as he backtracks on the magic items.
”I have no idea what would happen with the household guards. Would they even believe us regarding the Duke and surrender? And no, I don’t know what the others would do. They are too unpredictable for my tastes, but at the moment they have proved useful and worthy companions”, he replies to Reya.
In response to Archie about Fisk, he responds simply, “He goes where we go until we verify his story at Candlekeep. And he will tell his mistress what he offered us on her behalf”.
"right, sounds like a plan, well... There's no point sticking around here for too long..." Archie lightly touches the inside of the stable door and leaves a scrawled note magically upon the wood. 'Head to blushing mermaid, meet with Zodge' appears in bad handwriting in about a foot square and next to it she touches a nail which begins to shine dim light in a 5ft radius. "That should get their attention right??" And she peeks over the stable door to check if the guards have gone yet.
Corlith considers Archie's suggestion, and has to admit he would rather get out of here and get some of Zodge's fulltime Flaming Fists here to mop up as soon as possible.
"Good idea, the sooner we get to Zodge, the sooner he can get this place cordoned off and his full time Flaming Fists swarming the place", he replies.
He then places a hand on Archie's shoulder and helps her concentrate as she checks that the coast is clear.
While Archie and Corlith check for anyone watching, Reed sticks his head down the trapdoor and looks for their missing companions.
"You don't suppose we may have missed something down there and they're in trouble now do you?" Reed muses out loud. "Don't leave a friend behind, right mum?"
He looks over at the others.
"This won't take a moment."
Reed quickly climbs back down to the dungeon below, makes his way quickly into one of the main hallways and yells loudly for the others.
"Everything all right down here?" he shouts. Then he looks at the air near his head and just sighs. "Not you lot. I know you're dead."
Fisk looks a little sheepish as Corlith corners him about the magic items. "Yes, yes I will." He regards Archie with a look of appreciation as she writes her message on the stable door though.
As Archie takes a look to see if the guards are still around, she sees that the ones patrolling the Vanthampur mansion have moved on towards the front of the manor, and the area of the back alley is completely clear.
Reed calls out and his voice echoes through the empty sewer tunnel, reverberating voice all the way down.
Virro calls back up, “Yeah, everything is fine. Almost. We are tying up loose ends…be up there in a jiffy.” You hear him say “Right?” soon afterward.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
"Time is getting on, at this rate Zodge will be too far into his cups to do anything meaningful", Corlith complains as Reed disappears. "And the longer we wait, the more the thought of exactly what they are doing down there intrudes on my mind".
"Does the coast look clear Archie?".
"as clear as it's gonna get, c'mon we'll head out the back gate" Archie answers and begins moving toward their best means of escape.
“We are on the move”, Corlith whispers to Reed as he points towards the trap door.
”Ok, let’s go, quietly and quickly”, he then says to Fisk, and motions for him and Reya to follow Archie with him.
Virro, Wilfred and Roo'Stor run into Reed on their way out of the prison area and they all head back to the back way out of the dungeon. They head up the ladder and into the stable just in time to see Corlith, Archie, Fisk and Reya head out of the stables and into the back alley.
Joined up again, the group heads out through the night along the streets of the Upper City. Fisk doesn't seem to be too familiar with the area, and neither does Reya. So after a few wrong turns you all finally make it to one of the gates to the Lower City.
Unlike the way into the Upper City, you are not stopped and barely even noticed by the Watch posted at this gate as you return to the Lower City and head directly for the Blushing Mermaid. As you all continue your journey through the Lower City, you can't help but make notice of the differences of the two areas. And even though you have a feeling a victory from ridding the city of the Vanthampur's and their minions, it brings you down a level.
Entering the Blushing Mermaid, it feels exactly as it did the evening before. So much so, you take a moment realizing that yes, it was just last night that you were unloading the dragon cults riches here and you look around quickly to see if anyone seems to have noticed you. You look around and yes, there is the same woman at the reception desk, whittling away at some books, nose buried in them. It doesn't seem to be as busy as an evening as there are a few patrons at the bar, but... oh yes. Zodge and his crowd of Fists are all taking over one table on the opposite side of the fireplace and this time, he seems to be awake.