Ghost Rage, Episode 19a- Vote Now!

“We need a more defensible location,” you tell Lucan, “now.”

“The solarium on the top floor,” says Lucan. “The stairs are exposed, and I have some crossbows hidden there. If necessary, I can shoot down anyone who tries to come up.”

“That’s my father,” says Amania, voice shaking as she looks out the window. “He’s come to take me back. How…how did he even find me?”

“He probably used a spell to find you,” says Lucan. “And since you’re of his blood, he can find you anywhere.”

“Discuss it later,” you say. “Move.”

You herd Amania and Chrysana across the room, Moresti and Lucan following. Lucan then leads you through the mansion’s corridors to the tower stairs. Amania sighs in relief as you leave, and rubs her head again.

You hear a crash as the Black Wolves break into Lucan’s rooms.

Fortunately, the solarium on the mansion’s highest floor is quite defensible. The stairwell is a massive square shaft, offering no cover to anyone attempting to ascend. The solarium has an excellent view of the stairwell, and the room on top has broad windows with an good  view of the mansion’s grounds and the surrounding city. Lucan produces a heavy crossbow (from inside a couch, of all things) and loads it, and you tell Amania and Chrysana to stay down and out of sight.

You hear the Black Wolves start up the stairs.

“Gentlemen!” Lucan shouts, pointing the bow at the stairwell, and the Black Wolves freeze. “You may notice that I have a rather expensive crossbow pointed at you. I strongly suggest that you stop at once. Otherwise the first man up the stairs is going to get a quarrel to the teeth.” He pauses. “I understand that isn’t at all pleasant.”

The Black Wolves freeze. They don’t look frightened, not precisely, but wary.

“Now,” says Lucan, “will someone explain why you see fit to invade the home of Lord Corbould Maraeus? I should point out that he’s not the forgiving sort.”

“Enough!” The man in the black magus robe steps into the bottom of the stairwell, staring up at you. He looks like an older, balder, and somewhat fatter version of Amania. This must be Septimus Rhazion, preceptor of the capital’s magi, and Amania’s father.

Amania shivers at the sound of his voice.

“And I should point out,” says Rhazion, “that Lord Corbould will not be at all pleased that his son allowed the Ghosts to kidnap my daughter and hide her in his mansion! I demand that you return Amania to me at once!”

His voice shakes. He looks…rather frightened. No. He seems downright terrified, like he’s on the verge of losing control entirely.

“So you can continue to hold her hostage in the cellar of a brothel?” you say, stepping to Lucan’s side. “I think not.”

Rhazion rakes a hand through his thinning hair. “You don’t…damn you, you don’t understand. I was trying to help her!”

“By killing Julian Trimogena?” you say.

“No!” says Rhazion. “No! I didn’t kill him! That was…that wasn’t supposed to happen. But what I did before that was necessary. She would have died otherwise. I didn’t know…I didn’t know things would get so out of hand.”

“So you summoned a mavrokh,” you say, “and loosed it on those who had wronged your daughter?”

“Is Amania asleep?” Rhazion says.

The question throws you. “No. She’s awake.”

“Good,” says Rhazion. “Good. Just…don’t let her fall asleep, whatever you do. There’s…a lot you don’t know. Come down, and we can talk. I give you my word as a master magus of the Magisterium that you will come to no harm.”
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.