Sigil: City of Doors

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Story Epilogue:
A boy finds a tome of dark magic in his wealthy father's study. After asking about black magic time and time again, and being ignored the child begins studying the tome and summons a fiend. The fiend promises to teach him of such things and a deal is made, one that allows him to become possessed. He begins acting strangely and soon disappears without a trace.

The Basics of A Story So Far...
A noble gentleman dressed in finery, distraught, is looking for his missing son. He approaches the Great Bazaar, panting and out of breath as he begs for aid in locating the boy of around ten winters old. Gathering a group of adventurers, and answering any questions they might have the distraught man leads them to a portal in the Clerk's Ward - the last place his son was seen. At the portal is an out of breath maid out of breath, whom refers to the worried father as Lord Bonvalet before announcing that William had returned home. Not all was well, however, the maid informing the group that William was acting strangely and that hoardes of strange rotted figures roamed the streets. Lord Bonvalet wasted not a moment, running through the portal that yawned before the group.

The group of goodly adventurers make their way through the town, putting to rest any undead that cross their path on the way to the mansion, where they decide to enter through the unlocked front door. Upon entering, the group is greeted by the image of Lord Bonvalet clutching a lifeless woman in a fine gown to his chest, rocking with her blood covered body as he wept. The group promises to be able to help the man, the succubus Scarlet offering up a diamond and her diety's blessing to call back the woman's soul to her body. Lady Bonvalet's soul responds, choosing to return to a mortal life, and the group is overjoyed. Despite the couple's protests, however, the group ensures that the couple does not follow and convinces them to stay by the exit under the guard of a Stellar Deva. The group presses on to rescue a number of barricaded servants from the washroom.

Rounding a corner, the rag-tag bunch find themselves at the end of the corridor they had travelled upon, the room opening into a much larger and far more ornate throne room. Lining the carpet that rolls down the length of the interior, between a number of pillars, are undead; the figures unmoving save for their decaying sockets following those who walk past. At the walkway's end, stands a young boy flanked by two skeleton guards. The boy, easily surmised to be William, speaks with a voice that echoes a feminine one alongside his own childish one. Opening the lines of communication, he asks a short series of taunting questions that results in Trissa offering up her soul in exchange for that of the child's. The deal is never made, however, as the room bursts into conflict at Scarlet's sudden attempt to turn undead. In the chaos, William makes a run for it and darts into hallway, running it's length before taking a stand once more within.

Once the undead are dealt with, the group pursues the child. After a few further words, however, the group finds themselves privy to the presence of a dark-haired succubus whom explains to the rag-tag group that the boy had given his soul to her willingly. Despite the fact that both demon and child speak as one in an eerily haunted tone, they speak on the deal that was made and the tome that brought it to be so, answering questions posed unto them. The demon makes it clear that this child belongs to her, and any harm that they would pose upon her would harm the child as well. Locked in a battle of wits a number of suggestions are posed, some of which are made several times over whilst the child's parents are made to wait outside with the comforting Alizeah, and Notary I of the Harmonium, Taria. One of the group, an Ilmateri doctor, attempts to engage the Succubus one on one, his efforts seemingly drawing the interest of the demon.

It is in that moment, however, that Trissa is unable to unleash her words of faith, both of which stun the boy and fiend. Just when it seemed they had finally found a hook, it was then that Scarlet leapt forward and decapitated the Succubus; a fiend hardly meant for battle. Through the Sunite's actions, the demon's head toppled from her shoulders and both fiend and boy slumped to the ground: dead. Frantic and in shock, the group attempts to find the tome spoken of and tend to the boy. Alas, it is too late. The manor's interior which had seemed broken and battered by illusion was renewed once more, the fog that lay over the land retreated and the undead fell dead where they stood. Brindas is given the tome by Trissa, and the group leaves the boy's body in the arms of his distraught parents.

[align=center]"Go now and leave us to our grief. We have a town to rebuild... and a son to bury."[/align]

[align=center][ Prologue ][/align]
As dawn rises the following day, the citizens of Luizlurgh slowly begin to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Those mauled by undead tend to their wounds and the wounds of each other, resulting in a scarceness of medical supplies. Dead, both rotted and fresh, are pulled from within beaten down houses, the corpses consecrated and buried in a makeshift cemetery just outside the town's stone walls.

A funeral service is held at dusk, a heavy cloud of despair accompanied by the haunted weeping of families as they put their loved ones to rest. William's body is laid within a small crypt, erected briskly in stone and heavily reliant on the use of Bonvalet wealth to see it come to fruition so quickly. A boy, so well loved by the townspeople, is mourned heavily. Naturally, the Lord and Lady Bonvalet are distraught with the death of their only son and for a time, inconsolable.

As it currently stands the tome remains in the hands of Brindas Defeign, having been handed the ancient book by the nymph Trissa upon discovery by both she and Revie. The three civilians whom were escorted to Sigil's portal during the group's b-line for the manor are currently having their wounds treated at the House of Healing.

Despite the fact that all adventurers were ordered to return to the prime from whence they came, Scarlet has chosen to remain behind and uses her powers as a succubus to take on the guise of an elf for a time. Guilt-ridden, she attempts to aid the people of Luizlurgh as best she can over the following day, exhausting many of her magical items in the process despite the loss of her divine blessings.

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_{[[ EM Note: This event was originally intended to be a one-shot event, but given players wish to make further attempts and advance the plot-line I have decided to expand upon the original story. Please use this thread for IC roleplay for the plot, but keep in mind actions will always bare consequences for better or worse. This plotline may flag triggers for some; the battle for a child's soul. ]]}

Radiant rays shine down through drawn curtains upon dawns light. As if commanded by Amaunator himself, with a snort, Revie uprights and stiffens. Images from the evenings past blind her from the sun flooding her vision. "The boy; Scarlet", is whispered in a room by her lonesome. Thoughts flood through her aching head realizing with gravity as she fears what she may have become. 'Have I grown so cold over the years?', a rhetorical question asked of herself. Her shoulders sink and memories of countless souls lost to blade and darkness overcome her senses. 'No!', she yells inside her own head snapping her out of her morbid state and her eyes glean a steely resolve. The covers fly to the floor strewn about as Revie springs out of bed, yet she hesitates standing lifeless in a daze.

"What a bloody mess I got myself into. That bloody Khelbun!", she snorts in anger in frustration. Her hand slides up to her forehead as she faintly shakes her head in disbelief. Scarlet, the succubi had made her feelings known and meant it. A chill runs up and down her spine wishing this all to be over yet her mind will not let her forget she calls this demon friend. This isn't the first time she has dealt with Tanar'ri or Baatzu and allied with them. Blackstaff has many strange 'bedfellows' as she has had and her masters before her. 'The boy' , mouthed wordlessly as her vision clears focused upon her spellbook upon on the nightstand. Flipping through it's pages going about her daily routine.

As Revie finishes her task of memorizing arcane symbols and words, rules set forth by Mystra herself, the irony of the situation sets fully upon her. She laughs a cold dry laugh, for all the materials needed to be gathered have already been. The succubi who had taken such an uncomfortable interest so many tenday ago is the very one Revie is setting about to save from herself. Palming a soul gem, she takes out another book. Fingering through notes from Master Dahl to her own notes complied with her elven master along with an elderly acolyte of candlekeep she exhales raggedly closing her tome sharply. In an instant, it occurs to her. "Truenames", she smirks wrly packing up her belongings before casting dimension door to the clerks ward arcane eyes aided by truesight spell searching for magical remnants of the portal 'praying' she has the key and if not intended to wedge it open.

The doctor studiously reads line after line of the tome, his eyes glazing over several times. He pours over the text carefully, particularly those surrounding what was summoned. He had, like as not, no real recourse, and he knew such.

Frowning, he shuts the book, resigned that the only solution, if it can even be called that, would be an alternative payment. Nevertheless, a few minutes later, he finds himself opening the dark tome again, late into the night.

Meanwhile, he turns over in his mind the very concept of what to do about Scarlet. Other people had to know. Her and any supporters of her falsity absolutely had to be dealt with: the cost was too high, trusting one outsider only invites further evil. It was *his* fault the child was in the Abyss. He should have known. He should have killed Scarlet and her whore of an Erineyes friend so long ago... their masquerades have to be stopped before they claim more souls. Souls... it's all evil outsiders can do. Even if they think they're goodly.. they end up damning souls.

-- Revie --
The Clerk's Ward, Sigil.

The dusty cobblestones of the Clerk's Ward streets stretch out before Revie, her footfalls falling lightly as she begins her search. Passing alleyways and arches with keen elven vision, none of them seem quite like the image in her mind's eye. Up and down she wanders, snaking through numerous streets in the direction that feels most familiar. An hour passes in her search, until finally a particular arch catches her eye; sandy brick with a chip taken out of the nearest right edge.

A match, with one small difference - the archway remains lifeless at her approach. In their haste a few cycles previous, none had inquired as to the open portal's requirement and whatever the key was... sadly, the elf did not carry it on her.

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-- Brindas --
The House of Healing, Sigil.

A mere brush of his fingers against the ancient pages of the tomes causes a stifling weight on the ilmateri's chest. He expected it by now of course, yet it did not make for a pleasant experience all the same. As Brindas pours through the contents of the book, translating it's abyssal text page after page, he begins to piece together interesting results.

Though the tome teaches much about channelling the dark arts of necromancy, and the rituals involved in magical body inking, it's main focus seems to be on summoning succubus. One particular succubus sketched with an uncanny resemblance to the one seen and, based on the accompanying note scribbled by hand in the page's corner, possibly bound to the book itself. Just when he believes he's almost reached a breakthrough, however, he comes across a few tattered shreds in the books spine. Pages that had once existed, now removed.

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-- Scarlet --
Luizlurgh, Preularith.

Scarlet spends the following day aiding the town Luizlurgh in it's repairs, shifted into the form of an elf so as not to draw attention to herself. Despite the fact that her guilt eats away at her and there is far more work than can be completed in a single day, she finds some small measure of reprieve in being able to aid in the treatment of those harmed in the township.

Though her blessings seem to waver in her ability to aid in the possibility of removing disease, the healing kits and enchanted trinkets she has with her provide relief to the infection and festering wounds. The townspeople do not pick up on the fact that an elf worshipping Sune is odd, most of them too focused on their grief and the loss of loved ones to pay any attention to factoids. Scarlet exhausts any and all healing items of their charges/spells per day in her attempt but succeeds in aiding the wounded. None are left injured, or diseased.

Things take an interesting turn however, when this elven maiden begins offering to raise the fallen of those in mourning. Such a claim is met with mixed reactions, some family members throw themselves at the woman's feet and beg for such blessings where as others shrink back, reviled, and speak of her like a witch as they mutter amongst themselves. Using the power of life bestowed upon Banranos the Bold's Reinforced Heavy Shield combined with three diamonds ground into dust, Scarlet attempts to raise the three departed of the families whom come to her. Of the three who learn of the disguised succubus' true race and alignment, one soul answers the call and returns in a weakened state to his body.

As night falls and the dusk ceremony is held, the succubus retreats to a local inn and there she locks herself away in a room to take up her true form once again. Exhausted, distraught and alone, Scarlet cries out to her goddess, the Lady Firehair, begging for strength and aid. Silence. In her despair, a thought flairs in the mind of the succubus and she is quick to make a deep gash in her palm. Driven by the assumption that one can feed items, including infernal blood, to what is known as the Magical Electrifier and have such converted into the raw energy needed to recharge items. Drawing the stone-like electrifier from her belongings, she thrusts it into the wound on her hand and forces it to drink in her blood.

As the life slowly drains from her, so too does the palor of her skin and the lustrous tint to her hair. Scarlet's limbs become weak and she fights to keep herself upright as her life slowly flashes before her eyes in memoriam. Her breathing becomes ragged and strained, each breath a struggle to take in. Slowly everything around her begins to blur, reddish spots appearing in her eyes as the world fades to black. The shapely form of the succubus slumps to the ground of the inn, unmoving and unconscious; the room now silent save for the dull thud and roll of the electrifier falling from her hand.

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_{[[ EM Note: Scarlet receives an XP loss for the life drained from her being. She gains the ability to recharge a single item with 30 charges, but is at this point rendered unconscious on the verge of death - this being based on demon blood offering 0.85 charges per vial. Additionally, she loses the following items at this time: Diamond x 3, Healing Kits x 24 and all items used are reduced to one charge each, save the shield which loses 3 charges only.]]}

Upon glimpsing the archway, the quirky elf's anxiety subsides. Her finger tips lightly glide over the impression in the rough sandstone as a mild self-satisfied smile overcomes her guise. 'This will do nicely, the connection will be much stronger' Hands held high on either side of the archway, she slides through it and tugs off the prepared pouch of materials on her belt. 'Best I do this on the other side of the portal, lest some curious sort may test his luck and follow' ; a precaution, lest thought, that would have never occurred to her so many years ago. She begins her recitation, surprisingly short for such a powerful spell of the ninth circle and a gate shimmers before her. Deep blue sapphire eyes study the gate conjured by spell, once satisfied, without further thought she steps through the gate expecting to appear at the called forth destination. The exact spot this entire mess of an adventure began.

Brindas sighs heavily and begins searching for a portal to lead him back to the manor. Missing pages? Nothing a little spywork couldn't solve, and he could practically live in the shadows if need be, after all...

In the meantime, he elects to do a rather mundane scry on the book, searching for missing pieces via divination before beginning his search on foot.

Laying out his components alongside the ancient tome, Brindas places both hands on the large mirror set on the table before him. His brow furrows with concentration, using the tome as an anchor and the mirror as his focus, the doctor's lips form the divining incantation that causes the reflective surface to shimmer and ripple.

The first thing he feels is the repulsive, straining weight of evil on his chest. Pushing through the sensation, despite his lack of protection, the ripples on the mirror's glass slowly forms the image of the portal archway, followed by a familiar manor. Peering into the silvery depths, the manor fades into the image of a room with a library that lines the walls. The deeper Brindas probes, the heavier the crushing sensation on his chest becomes, along with the prickling feeling of being watched. Zeroing in on a particular padlocked chest, a chilled shiver runs up the man's spine to a distinct, velvety laugh. A barbed tail flicks across the his field of vision, and the divination draws to an abrupt close.

With the portal's location fresh in his mind, Brindas makes haste in his jaunt from the House of Healing to the nearby portal.

Meanwhile, Scarlet spends the eve unconscious, bleeding and fighting for her life. The effects of feeding her own blood to the electrifier had taken a heavy toll on the succubus, leaving her on the verge of death. Indeed, it was only by pure luck that she remained alive enough to make it through the night. It's not until the following morning, some twelve hours later, that she finally stirs with a splitting headache.

Her body is unbelievably weak, limbs feeling as heavy as lead. Each movement she makes is a struggle, and results in needing numerous breaks to catch her breath. The effort to pull herself to her feet alone take three times longer than it normally would, with the same multiplier for effort. Despite the strain, Scarlet weakly scrambles for the electrifier she had dropped and smiles once she realises her near-death sacrifice had been successful. She attempts to go about feeding a number of items to her electrifier to further bolster the charges it already has. It takes much longer than expected, and she is left feeling exhausted by the time she is through.

Scarlet's following attempt at taking on the guise of an elven maiden once more is met with far less success, she is simply too weak to conjure and maintain the illusion of being anything other than what she is. Her form flickers, warps and shifts for a few moments before defaulting to it's demonic shape.


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_{[[ EM Note: Brindas discards 500gp for the following components, presumably purchased originally through Layla: the eye of a hawk, copper ingot and a pebble of zinc. Scarlet is fatigued for one RL week and will suffer the mentioned effects for this time period. Electrified and charged items will be overseen in-game.]]}

*bump*

Revie's attempt to open a portal is successful, the portal yawning to life before her in a shimmering display of orange and blue. Her concentration wavers, however, just as she is stepping through the magical opening.

A pulling sensation tugs at her, a feeling of discomfort and it's in that split moment the elf realizes the spell has malfunctioned. Luckily, she did not end up on some unknown prime but is merely thrown off course to the other side of the Cage instead of the destination she had hoped for. Tumbling through a portal in the Lady's Ward, Revie finds herself mostly unharmed save for a few scuffs on impact with the ground a few feet below.

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_{[[ EM Note: Revie has been written out of the plot as requested by the player.
Past posts edited to reflect this. Any issues can be taken up with the DM team privately. ]]}[/align]