Game: We're Still not Quite Dead Yet

What you have learned from the interrogation:

Overall, neither of the two archons had much useful information, though they do validate several things. Almost all of thier accounts agreed with the other's.

-The group was a part of a larger organization, though neither of the captives knew of any other members that you didn't kill

-The group did, in fact consist of seventeen people. Nobody except the archon who was disguised as Jowen had any extended contact with the ten mortal members of the group. Neither captive can account specifically for the twenty extra mortals, but they are convinced that they are the result of magic of some sort.

-Niether of the captives had seen the faces of any of the mortal members, and have no useful information to identify them

-Niether captive knew who the 'Dream' mentioned in many of the letters was, though they identified this figure as thier leader.

-The accounts of the attacks given by the archons is consistent with the orders you found earlier. They were apperently succesful in thier objectives most of the time (though most of the named primes are still under fiendish control despite this)

-The archons provided all the gear for the mortals. Niether captive was aware of the source of these funds.

OOC: I'll assume Drum will be disguised somehow in order to safely walk through the Lady's Ward.

All:
You find yourself in the underground taproom of The Twelve Factols. Being peak, it is not nearly full to it's capacity, most of the tables aren't set, and nany are being cleaned. Most of the patrons are eating thier lunches. The bar is mostly unucupied, though. Because it is not especially busy, no reservations are required.

You can see the tiefling that hired you sitting alone at a table on one wall with five seats pulled up to it. He is thoughtfully sipping his ale, but he has not ordered any lunch.

Bruce:

You get a sidelong look from the waiter standing at the door, probably in response to your clothes. The patrons who notice you seem to share his opinion. The tiefling who you met last night is sitting at a table. He gestures you over to his table. You don't see Min anywhere.

"Would you like anything to drink while we wait for everyone else. It's on my employer. He will be finished with his business shortly. Hopefully everyone will be here."

(OOC: Weapons aren't allowed to be carried openly in the Twelve Factols. Your gauntlet would qualify.)

Drum:

What response you get depends on your disguise.

Canzon: You will be late. I'll leave the excuse to you.

Siddharta Bodrisahr:

Yesterday, you were approached at your house by an old-looking and well dressed tiefling who called himself Marius Cail. He informed you that he had heard of your recent financial dificulties (You thought you were doing a good job hiding the fact. Evidently not.). He said that his employer might have an offer that would be of interest to you. He said that you could more than pay off your loans this way. Being suspicious and rational, you naturally told him to sod off, which he did. As he departed, he said that the offer still stood and if you were interested, to meet him at peak at the Twelve Factols. He did not give any more details.

You didn't think anything more of the offer, but the next day, you realized that those debts weren't going to pay themselves. The offer might even be legetimate.

When you enter the Twelve Factols, you look around for your employer. You see him sitting in corner with two other people. The first is a ragged looking human in a torn blue buccaneer's coat. His head is wrapped in bandages. If your employer is looking for debtors to do his dirty work, this berk's in a far larger hole than you by the looks of it. The other is a tan and white furred arcanaloth in a robe that has both the color and texture of bone. Both of these two are turned away from you, but Marius sees you and nods to acknowledge your prescence. All three people at the table quite literaly glow from all the magic on thier persons.

I am glad you have reconsidered. Do pull up a seat and introduce yourself.

OOC: Below the first row of dice entry box thingies, there is a box that says "roll this how many times? For the benifit of everyone else, you may consider adding a description of yourself to the above post too."

"I am called Yebena ap Ezeya," says the arcanaloth, turning to look down at you. She stands slightly less than a foot taller than you excluding her ears, which look like they are too long and thin to belong to any dog you've seen. Dispite this, she seems to be thinner and lighter than you.(OOC: sorry, 30 cm if you don't like Imperial I can post both if you want). You also see that she also has the glowing eyes of an ultraloth.

"You have not mised nothing worth noting. We have only just arrived ourselves."

(you do not get the impression anyone is hiding anything.)

OOC: Yes in the future, but only if you can see both people who are comunicating clearly (or rather, the DC is obscenely high when you can't see the other person, which you can't at the moment). The DC is ranks in bluff +15+/- other modifiers. There are bonuse for knowing something has telepathy, being psionic, having telepathy, etc. (this what I've decided to use. Earlier on I wasn't sure about the numbers).

OOC: Or not...it lives! If anyone points out that my computer is inanimate I will be forced to use the angry smiley.

Marshall Nimikai Seviv (or Marius Cail to Sidartha) leads you to the private room that has been reserved for you. He knocks and then opens the door after a second, and then returns to his seat.

There are eight chairs in the room, arranged around a circular table. You see one person, who looks to be a half-fiend, evidently of pit fiend descent. He is richly dressed in gold and red robes. He is covered in jewlery. With one hand, he idly twists his beard. The other flips a pen from finger to finger.

Pacing near the back of the room you see annother figure, pacing angrily back and forth. The figure has sickly green skin and a flat slit nose and narrow eyes. He looks very similar to a sick gith in that regard. White and slightly wilted petals grow from his head in an elaborate pattern. He wears a loose and unadorned, but eleborately made grey robe with sleeves that stretch to his waist. You can only see his hands and head.

"Good day to you all and please sit down. My name is EphaezThe inevitable is not coming, he checked out of his inn yesterday and left in a hurry. I beleive we can begin without the last of our number. I would think it best to discuss our business over lunch. I will, of course pay."

Eru'maho: Any aditional description is all yours

Canzon:

You notice that the person who calls himself Ephaez wears the signet ring of the pit fiend who goes by same name (the ambasador to Dis). A half fiend is also one of Ephaez's favored alternate forms.

OOC: You'll find out his name, either by accident or intentionally since it's hard to hide when everyone else knows it. Ephaez is the guy sitting down. Penance is the one who has vanished, and he is the one being refferred to.

"That is correct, I am indeed your employer. Your group will consist of everyone present and seated here, as well as the Joker, who has not felt the need to join us in a timely maner. I will leave figuring out who does what up to you--it's what you're being paid to do, after all."

"Of course, an explaination is what you are here for. I ask only that you know this: if you wish to rattle your bone boxes about whatever is said here--whether you accept my offer or not--you will meet a very nasty end."

"Now," continues Ephaez, as though he had made no threat, "To explain. All of have been hired--not yert, technically, but I think my offers will be generous enough--to retreive a package and then return it to me undamaged and promptly. You are looking for a portal in the Seething Tangle (OOC: knowledge the planes for those interested). This will lead to a demiplane, where you will retreive my package. There is a one-way portal that leads to the Seething Tangle in the Hive. How you get out is your own problem, but you must return the package on time or you will not be paid. I will also deduct from all of your pay if not everyone returns. Know also that teleportation doesn't work in the very center of the tangle. You will need to walk at least some of the way. Eru'maho will be your guide, he is far more reliable than any other alternatives."

"Hmm," says Yebena, playing with her own beard in an imitation of Ephaez, "I am interested, but curious as to why you would choose to hire such an odd bunch to run your errands for you. There are many who are easier to manipulate than us. Who will we be collecting this package from? It would be be most unfortunate if we take a package from somone else than who you intend," she grins after this. It seems like a serious threat.

"You were chosen because you are competent, and have the skills and personal power required to do what I ask you. You will be retreiving the package from Fashaq ibn Qatia. You specifically..."

"Your explaination was satisfactory, I know who Fashaq is," interrupts Yebena. "The portal key to his demiplane is a living arcanaloth."

"I do not know what the package will look like. Take whatever you are given. Whatever it is, do not open it. It will be heavily magically warded, and you will suffer for your poor judgment. As for difficulties, the package may prove to be somewhat harmful--not fatally so--to everyone but Yebena and Canzonzabar. If it is at all possible, ensure that one of you two carries the box. If this is somehow impossible, give it to the Joker. It would serve him right. As far as payment goes, I would prefer to negotiate with each of you seperately, because of each of you probably prefer different payments. You will find that payment will be generous, and I swear that you will keep your souls. Fashaq is an arcanaloth, that is all you must know."

"If that is all, you are free to finish eating while we negotiate. I can easily reserve annother room."