Chapter 19: The Price of Power
"Well now what?" Uttu lets out in a whine. You are all crushed. Miosguinn is not here.
"The stone points right to this room," Gareth replies, "He has to be here."
"We should go back downstairs and secure the entrance," Serpent suggests, a little frustrated at the situation.
"No we should all head for the basement right now," Biliku demands and her sister nods in agreement.
"Maybe we should split up," Christine suggests.
"Not against a master illusionist. He could have us fighting each other in a heartbeat," Bari grumbles.
The room is richly furnished. Shelves filled with books line all four walls, interspersed with busts and tapestries probably plundered from nearby sites. Miosguinn lives in style.
Six of your companions argue amongst themselves in the center of the room but you pay them no mind. You are a treasure hunter, a dungeon runner and you know that not everything is as it appears. Brigit for her part is inclined to agree and the two of you are trying to figure out where Miosguinn could be.
"What do you think Derryth?" the two of you stare at the stone. It points at the far wall, "It has to be a fake wall right?"
You nod your head as she speaks, "Well it is also possible that he is simply below us but yes I think so. It would not surprise me if he had a secret room back there somewhere. The man is a mage after all. The question is, if there is a room is the door mechanical or magical in nature?"
She gives you a grin, "Only one way to find out."
The two of you set about testing every book, every statue, every drawer in his desk, eventually you find something. A fake compartment in the back of one of the bookshelves. Opening it you find a button which you naturally press. Part of the wall slides away to reveal a large room.
White walls, white floor, white ceiling, and a soft white light emanating from the center of the room. On the far wall are six glass tanks filled with a blue gray liquid. Bobbing in each tank is a body.
You wave over the rest of your group. If you know anything about secret doors it is that they can close as quickly as they open and you do not want to be cut off from them. You even go so far as to sit a chair in the doorway to ensure you are not all trapped in there.
Upon closer inspection each body bears a striking resemblance to Isolde. These six Isoldes, each identical to the last, float in silence, the runes inscribed on each tank give off a low hum.
The eight of you take in your surroundings, Gareth mutters, "What the hell is Miosguinn doing in here."
One of your companions hazards a guess but you are far more concerned with a small door leading out of the far side of the room. A door that is slowly opening. You ready an assault spell as a figure steps into the room.
A blue-grey staff, blue-grey robes and arms full of books and artefacts, Miosguinn enters the room. His eyes are bloodshot, his hair dishevelled, you doubt he has slept since the battle. When he sees you he stops dead in his tracks and drops most of what he is carrying. A glass sphere hits the ground and shatters igniting a small fire at his feet as his tomes go up in flames.
He manages to hold on to one object however. A small cube inscribed with runes that match those on the glass tanks.
"Derryth," he lets out a low hiss, "why... why are you doing this... why did you not listen to me... why did you not turn back?"
You can feel the hostility he radiates towards your group and you can also feel the hostility they radiate back. Bari, Christine, Biliku and Uttu are just waiting for the order to attack. You are fairly certain that if they do not receive it soon they will anyway.
"The Damned had Serpent, Miosguinn, we could not leave him," you answer cautiously.
He lets out a short laugh, there is only a little malice in it but enough bitterness to make up the difference, "Luck then? Everything I have been striving for, for decades undone by a little bad luck..." he stares at his feet, remarkably unconcerned at the variety and quantity of weapons levelled against him, "But you have your friend back now," he gestures at Serpent, "Why pursue me?"
"The stone Miosguinn, my stone, you have it yes?" you gesture at the man.
The mage nods, "I do. If you want it back simply ask..."
"Tyrvard died in the battle Miosguinn," Serpent interjects, "Can you give him back to us as well?"
Miosguinn scowls, annoyed, "Many people died in that battle. Three whole Orders were extinguished. Do not throw that in my face physician! I tried to spare lives! I offered a peaceful solution!"
Bari grits his teeth, "You offered slavery, mage!"
He shakes his head, his eyes filled with sorrow, "We are all slaves. From the moment we are born to the moment we die we are their slaves..."
You tilt your head, "Who's slaves?"
He gives you a sick smile, "The Gods..." he stops for a moment, unsure if he should continue.
"I... I once told you that I made a mistake in my youth Derryth. Several decades ago the creatures at the center of the city became more aggressive. We only learned the reason much later but the results were immediately apparent. They attacked us, and they butchered many of the Damned. We had been in decline for generations, but the creatures could very well have finished the job right then and there. We won in the end but the cost was high. Among the dead were my family..."
He sees the sympathy written on your face, "No... no pity Derryth... rage... hatred... anything but pity."
He shakes his head as if trying to forcibly clear his mind, quietly he continues, "At any rate I must admit I cared little for them. It was almost a relief when I found them dead... but there was someone I could have saved... should have saved... a girl," he lets out a peculiar laugh as he gestures to the tanks, "I suppose there always is a girl..."
You have a sick feeling in your stomach, "This girl you lost... she was Isolde?"
He nods, "I searched for a way to bring her back for decades. Every night I lay awake in fear, worrying that I might fail. What should have terrified me was the prospect of success. Five years ago I found a being I believed to be our Goddess... at least she claimed to be... maybe she even is but I can tell you that she is nothing like what they worship," he gestures to your Damned allies, "she is so... inhuman... she promised me everything I wanted and she delivered Derryth. She gave me everything I ever asked for."
"Power," he gestures at the objects at his feet, raising his chin defiantly.
"Wealth," he gestures back into his office, his eyes full of wonder.
"Love," he gestures at the tanks along the wall, a look of triumph passes over his face.
But just as quickly as it comes it is gone again. It dissipates and you picture his triumphs as they turn to ash, he continues, "But she took as well. For every gift she gave me she took so much more. Now I am her creature, her slave and I doubt even death will free me..."
This whole situation bothers you on a fundamental level, it feels so wrong, so unnatural and you feel the need to bring this to a close, "As interesting as this all is why bother to tell me?"
"You were decent to me Derryth..." he squints and takes a sharp breathe, "That means more than you could ever know down here. Before I continue I need to know that you understand the cost of power. That I paid for what I know but that I would also always make the choices I have. For me there is no other path."
You nod, "I think I understand but why is it so important that I do?"
He gestures to the door behind him, "It is important because she wants to meet you Derryth. She respects power, she respects success and she has an offer for you. She can give you anything Derryth, anything you could ever want but as I have said there is a cost. I will not lie to you there is a great cost..."
You look back at your companions, "What about them?"
He gives you a predatory smile, "I am sure you can work something out with my Mistress. She is not unreasonable, she has time and patience and understanding."
You ask the obvious question, "If I refuse?"
With one finger he carefully reaches into his shirt and pulls out his pendant, "Well then we find out how good you really are..." he grins at you and raises his cube, "And I get to test my new family..."
You frown, considering your options, "May I have a moment to confer with my colleagues?"
He lets out a sharp bark of a laugh, "No. That did neither of us any good last time. I am afraid I will require an immediate answer."
With that he quickly pops his Heaven Stone into his mouth. His hand moves faster than your eye as he assumes a defensive stance and awaits your response.
1. Your plan:
A) You decide to negotiate with his Mistress. You enter the room he came from, hopefully a fight does not break out while you are gone.
B) You have no interest in this Goddess of his. You try to negotiate with Miosguinn. Maybe you can still get your stone and escape before the fighting starts.
C) You attack immediately, if you are quick enough you may be able to catch Miosguinn off guard. Your companions should be ready to help as well. (Choices three and four are dependent on choosing a C option)
i. The Mentalist - You will attack with Assault in an attempt to drop him quickly before he can release his experiments. You will use both Energon Cubes to maximize your spell, it may just get past the Heaven Stone though you can not be sure. Once incapacitated you can do with him as you wish.
ii. The Firestarter - The small fire at his feet still smoulders. You use both of your Energon cubes and Create Fire to create a localized fireball. His Heaven Stone will not protect him from such an attack. With any luck the mage will be consumed within the flames.
iii. The Traditionalist -No, he will expect magic from you. You pretend to accept his offer but as you pass him you strike out with your knife. Some things just have to be done the old fashioned way.
iv. The Trickster - That cube is awfully distinctive. You think you can probably use Retrieve Item to steal it from him just like the belt buckle back when you met Thaïs. He will immediately retaliate with everything he has but at least he should be without allies.
D) Throw the Dwarf? ("Throw the dwarf at him with the magic grenade in his mouth, he will spit it at Miosguinn at close range and then unleash the other damage dealers, physical works best here.")
E)freeform
2. The grenade. Do you use it if necessary?
A) No - It is eight on one, the grenade would be overkill.
B) Yes - You will take no chances with Miosguinn now.
3. Miosguinn: If he survives your attack what will you do with him?
A) You let him go, you will not murder a defeated opponent. (You will have to convince your group to do this)
B) Take him as a prisoner, there are things he could teach you. (You will have to convince your group to let you do this)
C) Kill him quickly, no one deserves to be tortured. (You will have to calm down Bari if you do this)
D) Give him to Bari. The dwarf will make it slow...
4. The Mistress: Do you meet with her even if you attack/defeat Miosguinn?
A) Yes
B) No