Episode 61: The Devil and the Details
General Summary
Walking in to their manor, the party was greeted by a seductive looking fiend. Though offering each of the leading members (Tetran, Reylan, Vasya, and Valentine) a deal, the two men were instantly tempted. Tetran tried to wheedle out a deal to avoid his soul being owned while Valentine requested a subordinate. Initially, the ranger was shut down when he required 50 years of the fiend's servitude and instead got two summonings of her to do whatever he wished (of what was within her abilities and reason). With this agreement and believing that he read the contract well enough, he signed the deal.
While the other three eventually turned down deals and propositions, they realized that in order to save Valentine, they had to find a vial of blood belonging to the manor's former master. Tetran and Valentine decided to take up the devil- Esmeralda- on her offer of traveling back through time not wanting to deal with a possible second fiend present on the grounds.
Once in the past and quick to come up with a lie, the trio (Tetran, Valentine, and Reylan) were met a mage by the name of Balthasar Kresh, his wife, Belen Kresh, and their servants-- a golem by the name of Mercury and a pale tiefling by the name of Ellie, who seems to strike Reylan as familiar. Using the lie and guise of expected guests arrived early, the party settled in.
After exploring the manor trying to learn what they could, they reunited with their hosts at dinner discussing details of Balthazar's research of which he is quite passionate about in regards to myrilleum. While Tetran and Valentine were trying to coax out information through masked words, Reylan observed reactions and kept an eye on all the humanoids. As the night wore on, Tetran reread the contract discovering that death does not stop the Valentine's obligations and that there were secret clauses hidden within the cross sections masked within the words. After previously eavesdropping on a conversation, it was believed that that the blood was hidden underground accessible via the study though they all knew full well that everything was warded and the only way to get in would be through invitation.
While Vasya's appearance was welcome aid, it showed how impatient the fiend was on the other end. As Reylan attempted to try and break the contract without having to hurt their hosts, Tetran realized that Lady Belen's illness was actually a result of poison and panicked, as he actually liked the two mages, he consulted Valentine on how best to move forward. Valentine, who had just confronted the maid Ellie (who in turn realized that she had made a deal with him in the future), was told that Balthazar would do anything for his wife and to use that to his advantage.
With this, both Tetran and Valentine plotted to extort Balthazar and get him to believe that they could help him by creating an antitoxin with his "untainted" blood (blood shed from before the contract, the exact blood needed for the fiend) as they believed the lady of the house sick due to the contract itself.
Elsewhere, Vasya and Terra discovered a mechanism in the main room with a painting of the coat of arms. Believing the moving chair to be some sort of puzzle, Vasya recruited Reylan who fiddled around with it, eventually opening it and allowing Vasya to peer inside what looked to be a formerly locked and secret compartment in the wall.
Both Tetran and Valentine were witness to an alarmed Balthazar rushing down to the main room, only to discover that Reylan and Vasya were hanging around the chair after Mercury had walked in cautioning them that the armor in the room was set to attack thieves-- even dropping the fact that Belen née Songspitter actually owned most of land on the island of Astraeus Falls.
Putting their plan into motion realizing that the mage was vulnerable, Tetran and Valentine rejoined the group unaware that Reylan had intended on healing the lady of the house through Nyx after hearing Balthazar tell them that his wife was unwell. As Tetran and Valentine explained the first steps of their plan while Reylan was in familiar mode, Balthazar wished to speak to Tetran about his grant as well as show Tetran around his private study.
While Nyx was brought up under the guise of being a wellness companion, he was unable to determine what her illness was leading Reylan to report that Belen looked recovered only to be informed that she was being poisoned. Resuming her vision through Nyx, she cast Lesser Restoration scaring the woman into arming herself and turning hostile against the pseudodragon who had to explain himself and his companion.
A bit anxious, Belen came down armed and armored while Valentine and Reylan were conversing about how his and Tetran's plan could no longer be carried out as the woman was now healed and could have reason to suspect and attack them. Though she had summoned the armor to go on defense, Reylan remained calm and explained the situation calming Belen before messaging Tetran the situation.
Meanwhile, Tetran was caught in his lie pretending to be that whose face we wore and told Balthazar the truth-- that they were from the future, one that was bleak for him and tragic for his wife-- a future where the party had made a deal in exchange for the blood he had hidden.
Though the truth was not enough and just as he was nearly disintegrated by the powerful mage, Tetran relayed Reylan's message that Belen had been healed. Once more thrown off guard, the mage dashed out, allowing for Tetran to try for the secret entrance to the underground.
Realizing the opportunity created, both Balthazar and Valentine rushed passed each other and into opposite rooms. Balthazar was surprised to see his wife still present as her being healed could have resulted in his loss of her again. Relieved, he confessed to everyone present (after Ellie's presence is banished from the house) that he had made multiple interwoven deals with a devil as he could not live with loss (both of his wife and children, the latter of which he confessed to sending away for their own safety) and had also wanted power.
Explaining their situation and earning some good graces, Reylan asked Balthazar to help them break Valentine's contract in a way that does not undo all the work that he had put into weaving his web of binding that held the devil who he had revealed was both dangerous to innocents as well as his family. He does try to help but when he realizes that he doesn't know at the moment and that there are many things left to do, he and Belen rushed out with him commanding Mercury to do exactly as destructed.
Whether or not they were shunted through time by the following explosion or pulled back at the last second to avoid death, the four Wayfinders woke back in the present realizing where they could find the missing blood. However, first, they rushed to the main room and the secret compartment finding specific instructions from Balthazar.
Able to access the underground maze as well as navigate it after nearly going down to a trap creature, the group eventually found the blood and returned it to the fiend as Reylan tried to summon Mercury as per instructed but to no effect.
While Esmeralda looked victorious, the party watched as a damaged Mercury dragging himself toward them repeating, "Help... Help... Help..." Reylan was able to rush over to him and cast Repair Metal as Valentine handed over the vial of blood, fulfilling his deal.
As they followed the devil who was finally free of her cage, she rushed into the main room only to trash it in frustration seemingly unable to find a contract. In a rage, she turned and attacked Mercury believing that he was the one that hid the contract-- assumingly the one that she needed in order to break all the others. However, Mercury utters one thing, "C-Clause 33."
With a scream, the devil vanished in a blink. With his last words of powered myrilleum, Mercury explained that "Should any harm come to those those of his household by her hand, then she shall be banished to the hells for 200 years."
With that, he faded away leaving nothing more than a near broken down golem leaking mercury which Reylan reverently cared for-- remembering one moment in their trip where she had taught him how to play a song on the piano and he in return taught her how to bake a dessert of her choice.
Left alone with a manor in their name, a maze with a treasure room beneath, and the revelation that they had travelled through time-- proven by a piece of paper that Tetran had stuck into the floorboards during their journey, the party decided to evaluate what they could for now after testing to see if the treasure was cursed (and killing its guardian).
While the other three eventually turned down deals and propositions, they realized that in order to save Valentine, they had to find a vial of blood belonging to the manor's former master. Tetran and Valentine decided to take up the devil- Esmeralda- on her offer of traveling back through time not wanting to deal with a possible second fiend present on the grounds.
Once in the past and quick to come up with a lie, the trio (Tetran, Valentine, and Reylan) were met a mage by the name of Balthasar Kresh, his wife, Belen Kresh, and their servants-- a golem by the name of Mercury and a pale tiefling by the name of Ellie, who seems to strike Reylan as familiar. Using the lie and guise of expected guests arrived early, the party settled in.
After exploring the manor trying to learn what they could, they reunited with their hosts at dinner discussing details of Balthazar's research of which he is quite passionate about in regards to myrilleum. While Tetran and Valentine were trying to coax out information through masked words, Reylan observed reactions and kept an eye on all the humanoids. As the night wore on, Tetran reread the contract discovering that death does not stop the Valentine's obligations and that there were secret clauses hidden within the cross sections masked within the words. After previously eavesdropping on a conversation, it was believed that that the blood was hidden underground accessible via the study though they all knew full well that everything was warded and the only way to get in would be through invitation.
While Vasya's appearance was welcome aid, it showed how impatient the fiend was on the other end. As Reylan attempted to try and break the contract without having to hurt their hosts, Tetran realized that Lady Belen's illness was actually a result of poison and panicked, as he actually liked the two mages, he consulted Valentine on how best to move forward. Valentine, who had just confronted the maid Ellie (who in turn realized that she had made a deal with him in the future), was told that Balthazar would do anything for his wife and to use that to his advantage.
With this, both Tetran and Valentine plotted to extort Balthazar and get him to believe that they could help him by creating an antitoxin with his "untainted" blood (blood shed from before the contract, the exact blood needed for the fiend) as they believed the lady of the house sick due to the contract itself.
Elsewhere, Vasya and Terra discovered a mechanism in the main room with a painting of the coat of arms. Believing the moving chair to be some sort of puzzle, Vasya recruited Reylan who fiddled around with it, eventually opening it and allowing Vasya to peer inside what looked to be a formerly locked and secret compartment in the wall.
Both Tetran and Valentine were witness to an alarmed Balthazar rushing down to the main room, only to discover that Reylan and Vasya were hanging around the chair after Mercury had walked in cautioning them that the armor in the room was set to attack thieves-- even dropping the fact that Belen née Songspitter actually owned most of land on the island of Astraeus Falls.
Putting their plan into motion realizing that the mage was vulnerable, Tetran and Valentine rejoined the group unaware that Reylan had intended on healing the lady of the house through Nyx after hearing Balthazar tell them that his wife was unwell. As Tetran and Valentine explained the first steps of their plan while Reylan was in familiar mode, Balthazar wished to speak to Tetran about his grant as well as show Tetran around his private study.
While Nyx was brought up under the guise of being a wellness companion, he was unable to determine what her illness was leading Reylan to report that Belen looked recovered only to be informed that she was being poisoned. Resuming her vision through Nyx, she cast Lesser Restoration scaring the woman into arming herself and turning hostile against the pseudodragon who had to explain himself and his companion.
A bit anxious, Belen came down armed and armored while Valentine and Reylan were conversing about how his and Tetran's plan could no longer be carried out as the woman was now healed and could have reason to suspect and attack them. Though she had summoned the armor to go on defense, Reylan remained calm and explained the situation calming Belen before messaging Tetran the situation.
Meanwhile, Tetran was caught in his lie pretending to be that whose face we wore and told Balthazar the truth-- that they were from the future, one that was bleak for him and tragic for his wife-- a future where the party had made a deal in exchange for the blood he had hidden.
Though the truth was not enough and just as he was nearly disintegrated by the powerful mage, Tetran relayed Reylan's message that Belen had been healed. Once more thrown off guard, the mage dashed out, allowing for Tetran to try for the secret entrance to the underground.
Realizing the opportunity created, both Balthazar and Valentine rushed passed each other and into opposite rooms. Balthazar was surprised to see his wife still present as her being healed could have resulted in his loss of her again. Relieved, he confessed to everyone present (after Ellie's presence is banished from the house) that he had made multiple interwoven deals with a devil as he could not live with loss (both of his wife and children, the latter of which he confessed to sending away for their own safety) and had also wanted power.
Explaining their situation and earning some good graces, Reylan asked Balthazar to help them break Valentine's contract in a way that does not undo all the work that he had put into weaving his web of binding that held the devil who he had revealed was both dangerous to innocents as well as his family. He does try to help but when he realizes that he doesn't know at the moment and that there are many things left to do, he and Belen rushed out with him commanding Mercury to do exactly as destructed.
Whether or not they were shunted through time by the following explosion or pulled back at the last second to avoid death, the four Wayfinders woke back in the present realizing where they could find the missing blood. However, first, they rushed to the main room and the secret compartment finding specific instructions from Balthazar.
Able to access the underground maze as well as navigate it after nearly going down to a trap creature, the group eventually found the blood and returned it to the fiend as Reylan tried to summon Mercury as per instructed but to no effect.
"You're not trying to call that bucket of bolts, are you? I had him thrown aside hours ago."
While Esmeralda looked victorious, the party watched as a damaged Mercury dragging himself toward them repeating, "Help... Help... Help..." Reylan was able to rush over to him and cast Repair Metal as Valentine handed over the vial of blood, fulfilling his deal.
As they followed the devil who was finally free of her cage, she rushed into the main room only to trash it in frustration seemingly unable to find a contract. In a rage, she turned and attacked Mercury believing that he was the one that hid the contract-- assumingly the one that she needed in order to break all the others. However, Mercury utters one thing, "C-Clause 33."
With a scream, the devil vanished in a blink. With his last words of powered myrilleum, Mercury explained that "Should any harm come to those those of his household by her hand, then she shall be banished to the hells for 200 years."
With that, he faded away leaving nothing more than a near broken down golem leaking mercury which Reylan reverently cared for-- remembering one moment in their trip where she had taught him how to play a song on the piano and he in return taught her how to bake a dessert of her choice.
Left alone with a manor in their name, a maze with a treasure room beneath, and the revelation that they had travelled through time-- proven by a piece of paper that Tetran had stuck into the floorboards during their journey, the party decided to evaluate what they could for now after testing to see if the treasure was cursed (and killing its guardian).
Report Date
20 Feb 2021
Feats and Featured
Tetran |
Healing Light |
Valentine |
Primeval Awareness |
Signature Spells
Reylan |
Lesser Restoration |
Tetran |
Fly
Banishment |
Items Recovered Kresh Manor
|
Moonsteel Rapier |
|
Party |
Goggles of Night
Bag of Holding Periapt of Health Horseshoes of Speed Oil of Sharpness Sword of Vengeance Ever-Smoking Bottle |
Notes
⦿ Jollibri was absent from the first couple hours of the game as she was studying for a licensing exam. ⦿ It is noted that there are technically Kresh family heirs as Balthazar had made a deal to save his family, sending away his children and wiping away the memories had by his wife. ⦿ Clause 32 banished Ellie though the reason was not explicitly stated and was tied to Belen being healed, something that Balthazar had feared to do as he did not want to lose her. Clause 33 banished Esmeralda to the hells as she had harmed someone of Kresh's household- Marquis. ⦿ Tetran was charmed by Esmeralda into persuading Valentine to hand over the vial of blood. This charm remained on him even after she was banished to the point where he even asked Valentine to summon her so that he could spend more time with her. ⦿ As Valentine's contract was fulfilled, he now has the ability (and instructions) to summon Esmeralda to his aid. Whether or not this will work as she was banished because of Balthazar is yet to be seen, and if it does, the extent of her stay, power, and all is unknown. ⦿ The house is now left up to the group to decide how to split it including the coin that was found in the treasure room. ⦿ A week of downtime was granted to the group in order to decide and discuss what is to happen with the house and to allow for anything to be done with NPCs and within the town.Trivia
⦿ It is confirmed by the page that Tetran found that they had indeed traveled through time and had affected the timeline in a slight manner in regard to the manor. ⦿ Widow's Rest is where the party guesses Belen's soul wanders and is being seen as a ghost, revealed to be a result of the contract that Balthazar had made, binding his wife to this plane. ⦿ The code for the mechanism was up, left, right, up and sit (or place a weight on the chair to depress and unlock the side compartment). ⦿ Reylan scribes the first page of each of Balthazar's contracts, to understand the deals that he had made. All contracts that they were aware of were present except for the second, the one that Esmeralda was looking for. It is unknown what he had made a deal for. ⦿ This marks the third time Reylan is felled, this time by a construct.Visuals
Balthazar's Instructions
by Mara Jaena
Kresh Manor
50 years ago...
First Floor/Main Floor
Second Floor
Second Floor
Session Stats
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