The Silver Sphinx

 

“One dose of poison is worth twenty daggers.”

Red Shroud of Broken Reach

 

 

Third Market Day of Mortis, 126 HR

When the flash of light faded, Naghûl looked around watchfully. They were in another room ... an opulent but gloomy room that stood in stark contrast to the barren crypt. The walls were covered with red velvet wallpaper, on which golden patterns shimmered, and several paintings depicted erotic or gruesome scenes - often both at once. Against one wall stood an imposing dressing table made of dark wood, littered with flasks and jewelry. The frame of the large mirror above it was formed by writhing demon figures. Nearby were several upholstered armchairs and a low table with goblets and a carafe. But what caught Naghûl's eye most of all was the circular bed, covered with silken sheets in various shades of red and countless pillows. The bedstead was surrounded by a transparent black veil that seemed to float like smoke. The air was warm and heavy, filled with an almost tangible sensual tension.

Naghûl shook his head, as if to clear his mind of the exotic scents. Where were they? Why had the teleportation spell brought them to this room? He looked around, searching for the others to consult with them – and to his horror, he realized that three of them were missing: Lereia, Garush and Yelmalis were not there. Instead, he spotted several tanar'ri - a cambion, an alu and several kelvezu - grinning maliciously at them. Before Naghûl could recover from the shock or gather his thoughts, a circle of runes glowed in the middle of the room ... A blink of an eye later, a woman stood there, breathtakingly beautiful and – without any doubt - breathtakingly dangerous. She had reddish skin and curved horns protruding from her long, jet-black hair. Behind her back, two large, leathery wings spread out, and the deep red, gold-embroidered fabric of her dress shrouded enough to spark imagination, but also revealed enough to leave no doubt about the perfection of her body. Naghûl felt a wave of heat wash over him at the mere sight of her. A succubus, no question, but certainly not just any succubus. Her attraction was much stronger than that of the seductress they had encountered in the bar two days earlier. Could this be ...?

 

 

“Oh, how charming ...” The demoness looked at the group and then laughed. “It's been lying there for so many millennia, and now finally someone has come to get it.”

Naghûl wanted to reply, but uncharacteristically, his voice failed him. He couldn't even move, just stare at the beautiful woman who had appeared in the middle of the room. Was it a spell that had been cast on him? Or was it just her innate charms? The tiefling couldn't even look at the others to see if they felt the same way. He only noticed that Sgillin, standing opposite him, was apparently just as unable to take his eyes off the demoness.

“Welcome to Broken Reach,” said the succubus in a voice that seemed to flow like honey, smiling inscrutably. “I am Red Shroud, and I welcome you to my home.”

So it was her ... Red Shroud. The mistress of the Split Citadel herself. They were lost. They had nothing to counter the power of a daughter of two demon lords. But strangely, that didn't seem to matter right now. Looking at her was all Naghûl cared about at the moment. No, not just looking at her ... yearning for her ... The Sensate bit his tongue hard, hoping the pain would snap him out of her charm. In fact, for a moment at least, he was able to think clearly enough to remember that Lereia, Garush and Yelmalis were not there. To feel a rising panic.

Red Shroud slowly turned once to get a better look at everyone, then her gaze lingered on Kiyoshi. “So you're the chosen one? I don't know if I should congratulate you.” When the young man just stared at her with wide eyes, she smiled mockingly. “How cute. A brave, dutiful soldier.” Then she looked around again. “Now I wonder what I'm going to do with you. And I'm sure you're wondering the same thing. How about a little trade, hm?”

Naghûl stared at her, still unable to say anything. He wanted to ask about the three who had disappeared, but no words came out.

Red Shroud ran her fingers through her black hair. “I take that silence as a yes,” she said, clearly amused.

Naghûl could see Sgillin nodding weakly, and he himself was also unable to do something else.

“It's quite simple,” the succubus explained. “I have something you want: your three absent friends. And you may be able to get me something I want. Bring it to me, and you'll get your three lost sheep back. How does that sound?”

“Sheep?” Kiyoshi murmured dreamily.

Now, finally, for the first time since they had been teleported into the room, Naghûl was able to speak. He wanted to hurl back at her that she should go to an even deeper layer of the Abyss. But first she should hand over Lereia, Yelmalis and Garush. However, something completely different came out of his mouth: “Yes, mistress, we will bring you whatever you desire.”

“But mistress,” the cambion interjected hesitantly. “What about the sword?”

“The sword was never meant for this place!” the ruler of Broken Reach replied sharply. “At best, it was a source of unrest here. And it has a purpose - one that I may even want to see fulfilled. For the sword cannot bring me what I want. But these poor, lost souls ... perhaps.“ She turned back to Kiyoshi. ”The sword ... keep it. It will set things in motion that are meant to happen. I want something else.” She took a few steps towards the young soldier, her hips swaying sinfully.

“What do you desire, oh beautiful mistress?” Kiyoshi asked, apparently unable to break free from her charm, just as everyone else.

Red Shroud smiled. “A kiss.” She immediately raised her hand. “But not from you. What I want is a kiss from your factol.”

Her words reached Naghûl's ears, but it took a few seconds for his mind to comprehend the outrageous demand she had just made. Next to him, he heard Dilae groan in disbelief. A kiss from Sarin ... had she really said that?

“I'm afraid that's beyond my power, mistress,” replied Kiyoshi, still noticeably woozy. “As much as I would like to fulfill your wish ...”

Red Shroud laughed. “I know you would like to. But I also know you cannot make this decision. Tell him what I demand.”

“As you wish, beautiful mistress,” the young soldier replied as if in a trance.

“And if he asks you why ... an attractive man, a noble paladin, a loving husband and the factol of the Harmonium, all in one ...” She laughed again. “No, I can't resist.” Then she returned to the center of the room and spread her wings as she turned back to the entire group. “Tell him: one kiss from him and your friends will be free. If not ... Well, we don't want that, do we? You have my word, I won't hurt them until I have an answer.” She looked at the kelvezu. “Take them out unharmed so they can deliver my demand.”

A flash of red light and she was gone ... The charm of her ruinous arts of seduction disappeared with her, but it still took a while before Naghûl could think clearly again. He felt an overwhelming urge to attack the kelvezu, to send a hail of magic missiles at them. But he knew that would only have endangered the three prisoners. So he contained himself and, fists clenched, followed the guards who were now leading them out of the room. The others also broke free from their stupor and stumbled after him.

“Lereia ...”, Sgillin murmured, barely audible, as he took one last look back into the room.

Dilae pressed both hands against her mouth, trembling in every limb. “That ... that's madness,” she whispered. “He ... he'll never do that.”

“No,” Jana said bitterly. “Of course not.”

Tarik wordlessly reached for Dilae's hand, while Sekhemkare let out a frustrated hiss. “Their lives now depend on a kiss between a paladin and a succubus ...” the yuan-ti observed.

“And not just any paladin,” Sgillin replied grimly.

One of the kelvezu laughed maliciously. “This is going to be so much fun.”

Naghûl shot him a withering look but said nothing, knowing full well that he might not be able to contain himself if he engaged in a verbal exchange with a tanar'ri in this situation. So he followed the guards in silence, his expression almost as stony as Kiyoshi's. Thoughts buzzed around in his head like flies, thoughts of liberation, thoughts of revenge, anger, fear, dismay ... everything rained down on him at once. He struggled to keep his emotions under control so that he could follow the guards outside without incident. He was barely aware of which corridors and staircases they passed before they stood once again at the great gate of Broken Reach.

“Off with you!” one of the kelvezu barked at them. “Get lost! Deliver the message!”

Then the guards went back inside without paying any further attention to them, presumably assuming that the group knew what was best for their captured friends. Naghûl, dejected and worried, glanced at his companions. Sgillin looked grim, Tarik looked exhausted and helpless and Dilae was obviously quite shaken. While Kiyoshi's expression seemed even more stony than usual, Sekhemkare's tongue kept darting nervously between his lips. Jana hadn't spoken a word since they had left Red Shroud's chambers and had stayed close to Naghûl, looking pale and haggard.

“Let's go,” Sgillin said quietly.

Dilae nodded weakly, but Jana stood rooted to the spot. “We can't just leave. The others will probably be dead before we reach Sigil.”

“Yes,” the half-elf replied grimly. “If we wait here any longer, they will be for sure.”

Dilae agreed with him. “I don't think we're helping the others by staying here.”

“Well, we certainly won't help them in Sigil,” Jana said, undeterred. “And besides, do you have any idea what they're going to do to them?”

Naghûl shook his head. “I don't know if Red Shroud will keep her word not to hurt them until she gets an answer. But she could have killed us all with a snap of her fingers. I think she really wants that kiss. That's our only chance – and our friends' only chance.”

“That's right,” Kiyoshi explained. “I have to deliver a message and get new orders. I will set off.”

“I'm coming with you,” said Sgillin. “We can't help anyone here.”

Jana looked desperate but determined. “I don't know what we can do either ... not yet. But I'm not just going to leave them here, not without at least trying.“

”Your intentions are noble,“ Tarik conceded. ”But you don't even have a plan. Broken Reach is an incredibly well-guarded fortress. How are we supposed to get to the prison cells?“

”Right, that's madness,” Kiyoshi agreed. “Unprepared, without a plan, and alone. I will not support you. I have my orders, and I intend to obey them.” With that, he turned around and walked towards the lava dragons that were carrying down the visitors of Broken Reach.

Sekhemkare nodded. “It’s up to his factol now.” The yuan-ti followed Kiyoshi, and Sgillin joined them.

“But we can work out a plan,” Jana made one last attempt.

Dilae sighed. “I'd rather not work it out here, where all the walls have Red Shroud’s ears.” She gently placed a hand on the sorceress' arm. “Let's go to Plague-Mort first.”

Naghûl nodded at her words. He understood Jana's feelings – he himself would have liked nothing better than to storm the hellish fortress and free Lereia, Yelmalis and Garush. But he knew they would stand no chance and would only endanger the well-being or even the lives of their friends. When he joined Kiyoshi, Sgillin and Sekhemkare together with Tarik, Jana gave in. Alongside Dilae, she followed the others to the lava dragons. They were carried down and then walked the short distance to the portal to Plague-Mort in silence. When they returned to the gate town, they were scrutinized attentively and vigilantly, but allowed to pass.

A short distance from the Archlector's palace, Naghûl stopped at a street corner. “This is where we part company for now,” he said to Sekhemkare. “We will take our portal back, you will have your own way.”

The yuan-ti nodded. “So be it. We will inform our factols - and Mallin and Hashkar, of course.”

“Good,” said Naghûl. “I think we'll meet again soon. Lady's Grace.”

Tarik raised his hand in farewell. “Thanks for everything down there. We'll see each other and find a solution.”

“May Eilistraee always protect you,” Dilae added.

“May the kami keep you safe,” Kiyoshi replied.

Sgillin, exhausted and dejected, nodded to the dark elf. “Take care, Dilae.”

She smiled warmly. “You too.”

Jana, on the other hand, crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I find it despicable and cowardly to just leave the others to their fate.”

“Then tell us your plan,” Sgillin replied irritably, while Sekhemkare hissed in annoyance.

“Exactly.” Dilae eyed Jana seriously. “Tell us, in concrete terms, what you want to do.”

Kiyoshi also looked at the sorceress, clearly annoyed. “Give us a viable plan and we'll follow it. But those who rush forward blindly rush to their doom.”

Naghûl nodded gently. The young soldier seemed to have learned from his experiences in the Hive. And his basic training with the Harmonium, which he had now completed, had certainly done the rest.

“I don't have a plan,” the sorceress declared vehemently. “But if we find somewhere to stay for the night and make an effort, we'll come up with something!”

Tarik sighed. “What difference does it make whether we spend the night here or in Sigil? Except that we can ask our factols for advice there and will certainly get more help.”

“Exactly,” said Sgillin. “The plan is: we talk to those who are most likely able to solve this. We can't do anything here, unfortunately. No one just walks into Broken Reach if Red Shroud doesn't want them to, I'm sure of it.”

Jana looked completely distraught. “But my goodness, what do you think the demons will do to them?!”

Dilae's voice sounded hoarse as she replied. “They'll do that to them whether we're here in Plague-Mort or in Sigil.”

“I've said all there is to say.” Kiyoshi slung his naginata over his shoulder. “I'm returning to Sigil.”

Sekhemkare cursed in Yuan-Ti under his breath, then turned to Tarik and Dilae. “Come on, we don't owe the Lost any explanation.”

The dark elf nodded with a sigh, waved goodbye once more, then joined Tarik and Sekhemkare. When the three had turned the next street corner, Kiyoshi also set off towards the city gate.

“I still think it's cowardly,” Jana muttered.

Sgillin snorted in annoyance and followed the young Harmonium soldier, while Naghûl stopped once more and looked at the sorceress.

“Come on,” he said wearily. “We'll sort this out in Sigil.”

She didn’t reply and followed him, but they walked to the portal in icy silence.

 

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played March 26, 2013

Naghûl's player rolled a 1 on the will save for Red Shroud, just as previously with the night hag.