Episode 2

Devils and their Activity in Gelshemish,
a mix of known history and speculation

The devil Armaros victimized the great Sar Jehu, tempting him with the lure of knowledge and power, just over a century ago. Armaros had likely tempted Jehu's father as well, but it is known for sure now that Jehu was driven to depravity and madness by the devil known first as The Watcher, or Grigor. Later it was exposed that his true name was Armaros, and that he hailed from the darkest depths of Hel and wielded great power.

Jehu was deposed by the a revolt, led by the Dasnishi Priest Yonaton, and a new dynasty was installed in power through a distant royal relative Harmon of the Tzefana line. This is the lineage to which current Sar Yakud belongs.

The Devil Armaros was slain by the Holy Armsman Enmen Enmerkar.

Later though it is believed that another dark devil, one who was an infernal son of Armaros, laid legacy claim on the city and was able to return to the surface by ancient laws of Hel to attempt to claim his father's conquest. This was a treacherous villain known as Vine Incubus.

A devil who directs a mating of devil-kind with men through direction of a flock of succubi, and the birth of Helish half-devil spawns, Vine fathered a diabolical and accursed child with the harlot dancer named Ku-Aya. The half-devil child was called Iz Jeddriss, named after some infernal Helish rite that ushers the ruin of men by way of deceit and treachery.

Iz Jeddriss was first heard of 32 years ago. He spoke at a public meeting of the Dasnishiat, made great blasphemies, then pulled a snake out of the throat of the High Priest and used it to strike dead a Magistrate named Colazf.

After that, there were reports of him menacing the city in various ways. Eventually it was said that he had infiltrated the Red Bastion. Ever since there are stories of terrible creatures and corrupted animals lurking about the city. Reports of the half-devils utterances, based on the claims by eyewitnesses and people who are said to have heard the devil speak,seemed to suggests that his ultimate goal was to open the gate to the Underworld that sits deep inside of the Sealed Citadel.

For about a decade, the appearances of Iz Jeddriss seemed to die down. Now though, over the last five years, they have been on the rise. Now he is said to move around the city and the surrounding forest with ease, having gained the power to step through shadows. He is mostly known for stealing and killing slaves and mutilating livestock.

In truth though, Palla Ba says that the real danger, and it is covered up by the ruling class, is that Iz Jeddriss or his servants are infiltrating the Magistrates. Whether by magic or bribery, there is a cult following forming in the power structure of the Hidden City. These men of power are falling into line, covering for the devil, acting as his agents, doing his bidding or at least looking the other way when others do.

This devil spawn has played the long game. He does not want only the heart of the Sar, he will take the soul of the entire city and make it his own.

There is no way to counter his followers now. There are too many, and they hide themselves an one another. No one can be trusted. The only thing that can be done is to cut the head off of the dragon. Only the death of the Devil himself can thwart the advance of his elusive and double-crossing minions.

The Cursed Palace,
A haunted remnant of a condemned line of fallen kings

The Haunted Palace, the House of the Condemned, the House of the Damned, the Adriyelat Palace - all names of the massive abandoned structure that is positioned directly beside the Sealed Citadel in the off-limits section of the Old Temple District.

The Palace is a known icon of failure, curse, doom, and ruin. It is avoided by everyone in the city. The horrors of the deaths of its former residents are the thing of nightmares. Few in the city would deny that the place is literally haunted. Ghosts and captured spirits are said to dwell there, suffering in their agony and shame, and wishing for a chance to share it with any hapless living soul who makes the mistake of setting foot within the cursed halls.

No one is allowed in the palace, but it is rarely a problem enforcing the rule. No one wants to go.

It is said that the foolish few who have ventured in soon become trapped, lost, driven mad, and then either slain or turned into some profane mix of both the dead and the living, walking as dead slaves enthralled by tortured spirits.

Despite this, Palla Ba believes that the the palace must be invaded. The darkness that seeks to destroy the people of the city dwells in this dark house now. Though much of the stories about the curse of the palace are myths and superstition, there is likely danger dwelling within.

Palla Ba believes though that this danger is mortal in nature. Physical. Temporal. Not supernatural. Not formless ghosts from the realm of spirits. The palace is the dwelling place of Iz Jeddriss and likely his creations, deformed animals and corrupted men. The sorcerer is half-devil, but still yet half-man.

And like any man, Iz Jeddriss will bleed when cut with steel. His bones will crack when struck with stone and wood.

The Halonian Phoenix Box and the Small Irons Gate

Both are real.

The Halonian Box is still thought to be sealed in the grand hearth within the Palace. The artifact has been seen and described by at least two writers. Whether anyone can open it or not is unknown. It's contents are unknown.

The Small Irons Gate is a worn and partially broken rock formation outside of the Cursed Palace, on the side closest to and facing the nearby Sealed Citadel, the Red Bastion.

The origin of the Small Irons Gate is not understood exactly, but it is said to be in fact older than the palace and even older than the Red Bastion itself. Supposedly it is an altar of an ancient cult, a group whose exact religion is now lost. What is passed down though in obscure legend though is that the Devotion of Small Irons was a ritual mutilation and murder ceremony leveled on willing devotees of the cult.

The ceremony ended with the bleeding and suffering sacrifice chained with irons to large brackets in the stone. It is said that the leaders of the ancient cult would call in the gatekeepers of the Underworld, who would open up the ground and swallow the sacrifice into the belly of the earth for 9 years of supernatural torture before spiritual death and bodily burial in black oil, after which the sacrifice would rise again as a powerful spirit of vengeance that would strike out against the enemies of the religion back in the World.

Some say that the Small Irons Gate, if opened, would pull a victim directly inside of the Red Bastion of Midrad, where he would see the opening to the Underworld and face whatever emerged from it.

Palla Ba has no real knowledge of what is true and what is legend about these stories. All he does know is where the Small Irons rock formation ruin is and that something inside of the Halonian Box can supposedly be used as a key to unlock the strange passage.
Whether that is true or not: unknown
If the gate leads inside the Sealed Citadel: unknown

Infiltration of the Palace

The Adriyelat Palace is known to be shuttered, bolted, or locked at all known entrances. Also the area around it is off-limits and patrolled regularly by Gilded Armsmen on horseback, both day and night.

There are some work-arounds if not solutions to these problems though.

For one, during Ruet, some devout penitent pilgrims are known to walk through the deserted palace areas. They are adhering to old traditions of visiting sites once holy and sites condemned, to remind them of the woe and danger of transgressions and the doom that it brings. So if one is in observance (robe, mask), then it would be possible to at least approach close to the palace without drawing attention. This means could move to a stage-up area nearby, though making it directly up to the palace would still not be permitted. But...

Palla Ba has made arrangements, a deal with an inside supporter in the Holy Gilded Armsmen, that the guard patrol can be adjusted today and even tonight. This inside man can ensure that the guard patrol either stands down or rotates to another area at a given time. So, perhaps strangely, the patrol assigned to circle the palace can be bypassed. Requirement is that a time window must be set up at least two hours in advance. The opening will only be for about 20 minutes, plus or minus. It should allow enough time to approach the palace and enter one way or another. A similar exfil time could be established, up until sunrise tomorrow. After that, another guard unit will be on patrol, and bypassing them will have to be done on an ad-hoc basis directed by the team alone.

Palla Ba can confirm that the main entrance to the Palace is sealed, but in fact not locked. This has been recently verified. The main double door is more like a gate. The gate-doors are extremely heavy, but they can be opened. They open outward, so the way to get them in motion from the outside is with the use of crowbar like tools. You are given three of such tools as options.

Palla Ba also has a key that is supposed to unlock a side door, near the main front gate-doors, but to the right (east) on the south (front) facing side. The door is a smaller scale. It has not been verified whether or not the key will work. It is unknown whether or not the door is bolted from the inside.

There are few door entrances to the palace, and most of those are known to be locked and possibly bolted from the inside. All known windows are shuttered closed and likely bolted from the inside. There are a few balconies which do have doors leading inside, but they too should be assumed locked and possibly bolted.

Layout and Location Targeting in the Palace

The map that is drawn details the ground level of the palace, and the first and second upper floors.

This rendering is more than a century old, so there should be some expectation that things could have changed. The status of the furnishings inside the palace are more or less unknown, although there is some writing that suggests that the palace is sparse on comforts after the abandonment. It was mostly emptied of valuables and the more useful items. What was left within would likely have aged and deteriorated considerably. On the other hand, if Iz Jeddriss and any of his foul residents have been living within the compound, it is completely unknown what sort of furnishings or interior changes have been made.

What the map does not show is the lower levels of the palace. It is known that there were some basement and underground chambers beneath the main structure, but little is known about them.

The low-chamber fire room, the supposed location of the Halonian Phoenix Strongbox, is said to be located somewhere beneath the palace in the lower levels.

Also, it is highly suspected that there are sealed or secret chambers underground where Sar Jehu once performed Helish rituals while delving into deviltry.

Whether or not the lower levels of the palace have underground access or passage to the corresponding underground chambers of the nearby Red Bastion of Madrid?
Unknown.
It would not be surprising, but it cannot be assumed.

Exfil Options,
A plan of some unknowns, but built to be flexible and with contingencies

As mentioned above, a best case scenario would have the party departing the palace with full success before sunrise tomorrow. This would allow for a management of the guard patrol, and the opening of a full route of travel to a nearby rendezvous point for at least a moderate time frame, enough to move people and loot.

After that, things will get more challenging and less clear. The rendezvous site will remain in action. Lok will be staged nearby at an abandoned stable house at the edge of the old palace district. Here there will be transportation and carry options which include pull-carts, tarps, garment changes for disguise, baggage, baskets, backpacks, crates, and other containers. There will also be supplies for treating the injured.

Once everyone is stabilized at the rally point. Lok will direct the very latest exfil plan for moving out of the city. The general plan is that the group will be disguised as merchants moving cargo. There are presently options for river exfil as preferred, approved donkey-carry departure caravan as secondary, and backpack walk-out as tertiary. The method used will depend on developments between now and then, as the circumstances and uncontrollable developments are sure to continue.

Real Danger and a Compressed Timeline

Palla Ba can confirm that Dominate Acastus, commanding officer of the Korvaran Iron Legions, has accused Kray Mercon and his men of the murder of palace workers at the gala last night. The Korvaran leader is definitely trying to get approval to send troops to detain Kray and his entire entourage. Whether and when this idea will be granted is not yet known, but it should be expected as a real possibility if not an imminent threat.

Palla Ba warns, and Kray agrees, that the bold and creative battle captain may already have his men or other informants staking out the city right now looking for Kray. It does not take long to speculate that the searchers may be moving around hidden under the disguises of Ruet observance robes and masks.

Suspicions should be at least moderate that Balanser's compound and the house of Imin Bash could be under surveillance, if not already then soon.

Acastus has more than a century of veteran Korvaran fighters here in the city. Estimate that it is 120 men. Plus he is integrated with the Holy Gilded Armsmen.

Kray also knows from talking to Acastus that he is expecting a half-Legion of Korvaran troops to be incoming to Gelshemish. If true that means about 2,500 troops! Acastus told Kray they would be here by the end of Shuvael. That would mean in five days or less.

To compound on that, these troops are said to be coming in from the north, from the Hodel River. If that is true, then it must be assumed that they will bring word of the capture of the Iron Eagle, the Korvaran battle ship. In all likelihood the death of Valates, Acastus' brother, will also be exposed at that point as well.

So it should be crystal clear, there is a high chance that the city and perhaps the surrounding area will soon be swarming with trained and capable mercenaries under command of a ruthless leader who will be on a mission of vengeance against Kray and anyone associated with him.

Timeline for action and escape has to be viewed as very short if there is to be hope for success.

And even now, caution must be taken and risks are likely rising.

Speculation of the Lost Treasure of the Adriyelat Kings

The Adriyelat Kings horded ancient wealth from a lost age, treasure from the old empire of Archalasia.

At the time of Sar Jehu's fall from grace, plenty of wealth was seized and transferred, but many thought that there were still secret vaults that were never found. Old recordings show coin counts for the Gelshemish Rulers in the millions, with cut gems in the hundreds of thousands.

Finding that level of loot intact may be a dream, but one can only speculate that if Iz Jeddriss is handing out Archalasian olbols to his lackeys, he definitely has struck into a main vein of old horde money that must remain in large quantities if it has been found at all.

The Adriyelat Kings often made purchases with quantities of weighted rubies and emeralds, the preferred cut gems of the ancient prestige. There can also be expectations of gold and ivory cups, plates, and spoons which were always spoken of in legend. There are likely many fine art objects from the ancient world: statuettes, bejeweled eggs, precious metal neck collars, silver game boxes, and many other lost era artifacts.

Lastly, it is known that centuries ago, some of the last living Haldonian artisans lived in Gelshemish under the care of Sar Belzarbi the Gifted. It is said that the last carriers of ancient knowledge and technology made wonders for the Adriyelat Sars. Could any of such marvelous creations be found today?

To Kill a Devil (and its horrors)

Palla Ba clarifies that though Iz Jeddriss has a devilish lineage, he is also half-man. He can be slain as any other man, though he will likely bring to bear dark magics and hexes that protect him. His sorcery may make his opponents feel confused, sickened, weakened, or disoriented. He may also be able to fool them with false imagery and sound, calling on illusion and phantoms. Their minds must remain as steel traps. Beware!

For this, Palla Ba has asked Ra u nak to brew a drink that can make their minds and eyes as clear as a cloudless sky. The specialized tea is called Mantis of the Blue Vapor. All are invited to partake before departure now, and one skin each will be given in portable carry that will stay potent until well into the night.

Mechanics: All who drink the Mantis Tea now, have +1 to WIS/CHA/INT saves for 8 hours. If they drink the mobile batch during the eight hours, the duration continues for another 8 hours, and during the first of those hours, WIS/CHA/INT saves are made at Advantage.
Point of Reference: the meeting is taking place just after midday, so we will start the clock at "2 pm"
OOC: for all us digital watch wearers of the late Bronze Age

It seems that Iz Jeddriss's greatest power may be that he can walk through shadow. Time after time, eyewitness accounts say that the dark robed figure is at one position one moment and then on the next he is somewhere else far away. Palla Ba has no idea how to combat such a power, but he says that it should be expected. This would be powerful sorcery if it is true.

What must be another great concern is the threat of the servants and vile creations of deviltry. Iz Jeddriss seems to be able to corrupt animal and even men to serve him as deadly thralls. He has been known to empower birds, vermin, snakes, and dogs and bend them to his service. There is a great suspicion that he is doing horrible experiments of mutilation on men - slaves particularly. Slaves that have been reported stolen from markets and private stables. Some say that he even takes disguise and buys them from Bishtu desert slavers. Somehow he converts them to profane shells of animated death. Some say these creatures and husked men can breath fire and spit venom, and their claws and teeth can tear flesh and spill poison.

And some of the group have already seen the very real threat of the edimmu. These are perhaps the most fearsome of all. They are wrathful spirits that are either called up from the underworld or are captured from underground vapors and placed inside of the flesh of the living by way of dark ritual. They can be very dangerous.

It is sometimes said that some denizens of Hel and beasts from the Underworld are especially wounded by the cut of metal cast in a certain ancient method. Metal called White Cast Iron may deal extra pain and prove deadlier even than finer steel to some creatures. White Cast Iron weapons however are not crafted often these days though, because they are an inferior softer metal that does not hold an edge as well as more advanced metallurgy method casts.

Palla Ba says that it is worth a try however. He offers three White Cast Iron pike knives. They were wrought recently by a master smith. As weapons against normal men and beasts, they are not the best choice. Against the Devil and his most Helish servants, they may provide a much-needed additional edge.

Mechanics: 3 White Cast Iron Pike Knives.
1d4 Piercing damage. Light. Range 10/15. Special: Breaks on natural roll of 1.
-1 to hit and damage against normal targets.
Versus Devils, Edimmu, and other Helish (DM will identify): 1d6 damage. +1 to hit and damage. Natural 19 is Critical. Natural 20 is Triple Damage.

Palla Ba talks privately to Trece before the meeting. Note DMJ to HypCo REVEALED...
Palla Ba meets with Thirteen to see if his is doing well enough in recovery after the dangerous battle against The Golem.
Palla Ba says that Thirteen did very well. He showed courage, tenacity, sincerity, and ingenuity even in the stress and confusion of a fight to the death.
Palla Ba does hope that Thirteen learned something though. He should have learned that people care about him. Palla Ba and Lok feared for Thirteen's life during the battle. They stood their ground in hopes of saving him. They think of Thirteen as a friend, a comrade, someone extremely valuable. Someone worth risking their own lives for. It is because as they have known him, they have made a bond with him and freely give trust to him, even as he does so in return. There is no master of limitless power. There is no servant who is bound to obey at all costs. Their may be leadership, and the following of wisdom among them, but there is no slavery.
Thirteen must begin to understand that his own worth is different now. He is a slave to no man. He must begin in this new time of life to make his own agreements and relationships with others in terms based on good judgment about trust and open exchange on equal ground. Thirteen must stop now trying to find a new master to obey. Thirteen is a free man, and an incredibly formidable one at that. He wears no chains. He is his own master. No one else can claim his obedience, but he can give his word to anyone as he wishes.
Palla Ba has heard Thirteen speak a few times about Two, his former mentor and friend. Palla Ba believes that Two was incredibly wise, a true giant among men in terms of insight and good character. Palla Ba is sure now also that Two was indeed an incredibly disciplined and well-trained man. After seeing Thirteen in battle, Palla Ba is certain now of something he had highly suspected before. Thirteen has been trained as a Monk of an Ancient Otessite Order that is centuries old . That means that Two was a master of an ancient form of martial arts and mysticism that most would have thought had been lost to time long past. But instead it endures in hidden tradition, passed down in mysterious ways. It is a not only a fighting style but also a way of life, established by wise monastics who sought the perfection of the body and soul for the purpose of standing against the mightiest of opponents and the worst of dangers. They were a group who devoted themselves to fight against the great menaces of their day, the Red Djinn, the Wind Devils of W'Deszcz, and all of the mad Wizard-Kings who commanded them.
This order was called Zir Kharum, the House of Strength. It taught a inner power of mind, body, and soul. Thirteen has already become an acolyte of this ancient Monastic Tradition. Palla Ba believes that it is likely Thirteen's destiny to unlock even greater mysteries from this heritage that is now his.
Thirteen is a Seetan, born of the oldest race in the World. He is also a Zir Kharum Monk, a trustee of one of the most ancient disciplines of wisdom and strength among any people.
Palla Ba has heard Thirteen say, in an echo of Two's great wisdom, "Now is not your time." A great declaration indeed. So far it has not been a time for Thirteen's demise. He has escaped death and even helped others do the same.
And now Palla Ba wishes Thirteen to hear him say, "Now is your time to live, to live a true life that is your own."

"I am honored to know you, Thirteen. I hope that we have more time together in this life, but if we do not then I will take great happiness knowing that I could give you this gift in this time."

The Old Seetan hands Trece a small leather bound book. It is thick with old uneven pages. A leather clasp holds the book shut.

"It is a manual. A book of secret techniques of the Zir Kharum, written by a High Master at the Tou T'raam Monastery. I took it from an ancient ruin in Otessa long ago. I knew I could never understand it, but I could not bear it to be lost. Now I know that it must have been for this day that I was compelled to carry it."

Palla Ba smiles, and then hands Trece one more thing, a small leather sheath, wrapped for presentation in a fine thick silk cloth.

Unfolding the cloth, then opening the sheath, Trece finds that it is a small specialized carrier. There are two spoons inside, immaculate in their design. One is gleaming steel, with small decorative etchings drawn upon it to perfection. The other pale and chalky, White Cast Iron.

In the sheath, there is space for one more spoon.