Interlude: The Interrogation of a Member of the Order of the Illuminated Eye
Sergio Canksore the Half-Elf, Betina the Veteran, Avreml Oofnik the Beet Thief, and the pair of Neophyte Magic-Users Journeyman Crannoc and Phasmo--this loose association of the adventurers have all gather, let us say, in the attic room of the Burning Witch that Phasmo rents as his "laboratory".
Seated before the group is their prisoner--a member of the Order of the Illuminated Eye. Upon exiting the underground structure, the Order initiate became immediately disoriented as her eyes meet the pale horizon under the light of that bloated, flickering sun. After a moment of disbelief, consciousness vacated her faculties and the party bore the fainted being to the Burnig Witch. It is only now that she stirs awake--propped up in a wooden chair. The drafty air causes her exposed skin to erupt in goose bumps, her strange armor rests on the other side of the room on Phasmo's workbench.
She--Illuminit Sooz'awn--demands to know where you have taken her! "Is this some lost corner of the Grand Cavity?" she asks. We gather not, though, to hear her questions. It is the interrogations of her captors that we want to know the answers to. Of these, it is Segio that speaks first: "Are the ranks of the Illuminated Eye comprised of clones?"
Sooz'awn's face becomes a washed with further befuddlement at the sound of this question. "I do not know what a 'clone' is. We are the children of the Immortal; birthed from them annually in the Magnificent Procreation."
This answer does not stop Betina from asking what most plagues her mind about these dungeon dwellers, "Who is the leader of the Illuminated Eye?"
At this, the adventurers can see something turn in Sooz-awn's mind. She laughs, "You truly are as befuddled about the nature of the Eye as I am about this segment of the Immortal. No one 'leads' the Illuminated Eye. Through it, the Immortal provides messages to us-- guiding us to fulfill their desires."
Avreml Oofnik curiosity is peaked. "What is their ultimate goal? Like, why are you down there?"
"Down where?", asks the captive. "In that dismal squat of those backwards dwarves? We desire not to upset the landlord by letting more than is allowed stay within our territory. For the Immortal would not like that--so shows the Eye. See, we only want to help the Immortal and change the world. Once we have found the Organs of the Immortal and integrated them, our true work can begin."
Journeyman Crannoc follows up. "How do we get to the stronghold of the Illuminated Eye?"
Sooz'awn, it seems, begins to feel as if maybe her words are the ones with power here. She is pleased that the Journeyman desires to know where the Eye is. "Ah, you desire a visitation with Illuminated Eye and receive the wisdom it has to offer? Well, it is not easy to join the ranks of the Order of the Illuminated Eye. It has been generations since one not born of the Magnificent Procreation has executed the proper rites and rituals to gain membership in our esteemed society. You must display your conversant you are with the philosophies of old and their ancient creations. You must abstain from temptations of the flesh while learning to live two-to-one. Only then might you possibly be proven worthy to enter what you call a "stronghold" for the Eye and gaze upon its illuminations."
Phasmo, unlike his fellow adventurers, is lost in his own set of nagging inquiries. He already is shaping profound theories about the secrets of this underworld place. He cannot help but ask, "What do you know about the rainbow-hued lights that heralded the opening of the Complex?"
"The 'Complex'?" , Sooz'awn spits on the ground. "I see those dwarfin handymen have indoctrinated you with their corrupted understanding of the Immortal." She surveys the party only to settle on Betina, staring with a look of true concern, "Escape while you still can sister! See how they have already made your gender dynamics 1-to-4! How soon does they turn that one into a zero like the ranks of those whose blasphemies your allies speak!"
Turning to Phasmo, she says, "Just like those foolish Brothers, you are concerned over these lights. If they were of importance, the Immortal would have communicated to us that it was so through the Eye. The only matters of consequence since their appearance has been the destruction of that picayne 'cap' that held back those toxic waters and the disruptions brought by gallimaufry bands such as yours. I will say that one of your ilk telling us about those degenerate dwarves was not worth the deaths of so many of my fellow initiates. I would rather suffer whatever punishments of the landlord to visit the Altar of Life or share in a smoke with my fellows again."
A quite falls over the attic, only far off noises from the common space below fill the room as the adventurers decide how to proceed.
**If any of the five of you want to proceed, throw 2d6 adding reaction roll bonus to the total. On a 7+, I will open up another round of questions and will respond to those asked tomorrow morning.**
She--Illuminit Sooz'awn--demands to know where you have taken her! "Is this some lost corner of the Grand Cavity?" she asks. We gather not, though, to hear her questions. It is the interrogations of her captors that we want to know the answers to. Of these, it is Segio that speaks first: "Are the ranks of the Illuminated Eye comprised of clones?"
Sooz'awn's face becomes a washed with further befuddlement at the sound of this question. "I do not know what a 'clone' is. We are the children of the Immortal; birthed from them annually in the Magnificent Procreation."
This answer does not stop Betina from asking what most plagues her mind about these dungeon dwellers, "Who is the leader of the Illuminated Eye?"
At this, the adventurers can see something turn in Sooz-awn's mind. She laughs, "You truly are as befuddled about the nature of the Eye as I am about this segment of the Immortal. No one 'leads' the Illuminated Eye. Through it, the Immortal provides messages to us-- guiding us to fulfill their desires."
Avreml Oofnik curiosity is peaked. "What is their ultimate goal? Like, why are you down there?"
"Down where?", asks the captive. "In that dismal squat of those backwards dwarves? We desire not to upset the landlord by letting more than is allowed stay within our territory. For the Immortal would not like that--so shows the Eye. See, we only want to help the Immortal and change the world. Once we have found the Organs of the Immortal and integrated them, our true work can begin."
Journeyman Crannoc follows up. "How do we get to the stronghold of the Illuminated Eye?"
Sooz'awn, it seems, begins to feel as if maybe her words are the ones with power here. She is pleased that the Journeyman desires to know where the Eye is. "Ah, you desire a visitation with Illuminated Eye and receive the wisdom it has to offer? Well, it is not easy to join the ranks of the Order of the Illuminated Eye. It has been generations since one not born of the Magnificent Procreation has executed the proper rites and rituals to gain membership in our esteemed society. You must display your conversant you are with the philosophies of old and their ancient creations. You must abstain from temptations of the flesh while learning to live two-to-one. Only then might you possibly be proven worthy to enter what you call a "stronghold" for the Eye and gaze upon its illuminations."
Phasmo, unlike his fellow adventurers, is lost in his own set of nagging inquiries. He already is shaping profound theories about the secrets of this underworld place. He cannot help but ask, "What do you know about the rainbow-hued lights that heralded the opening of the Complex?"
"The 'Complex'?" , Sooz'awn spits on the ground. "I see those dwarfin handymen have indoctrinated you with their corrupted understanding of the Immortal." She surveys the party only to settle on Betina, staring with a look of true concern, "Escape while you still can sister! See how they have already made your gender dynamics 1-to-4! How soon does they turn that one into a zero like the ranks of those whose blasphemies your allies speak!"
Turning to Phasmo, she says, "Just like those foolish Brothers, you are concerned over these lights. If they were of importance, the Immortal would have communicated to us that it was so through the Eye. The only matters of consequence since their appearance has been the destruction of that picayne 'cap' that held back those toxic waters and the disruptions brought by gallimaufry bands such as yours. I will say that one of your ilk telling us about those degenerate dwarves was not worth the deaths of so many of my fellow initiates. I would rather suffer whatever punishments of the landlord to visit the Altar of Life or share in a smoke with my fellows again."
A quite falls over the attic, only far off noises from the common space below fill the room as the adventurers decide how to proceed.
**If any of the five of you want to proceed, throw 2d6 adding reaction roll bonus to the total. On a 7+, I will open up another round of questions and will respond to those asked tomorrow morning.**
I roll an 11+1 for Crannoc, so 12. Crannoc will position himself on a chair to the side of her with some parchment and chalk; a sketch of the dungeon environs he knows about already drawn on it. He'll point to it, "What parts of this map do you know of or have visited and what do they contain?"
ReplyDeleteIf others can ask questions as well, Phasmo will ask, pointing at the map, and speaking slowly, "Sooz'awn, I have a VERY important question for you. I want you to focus on what I'm about to ask you. What do you know about the being of shadow that manifests when one shines a light on this bone altar--it would seem to be guarded by those amoebas that ravaged your head. What is this strange shadowy power?"
ReplyDeleteBetina asks how the Order came to the Grand Cavity.
ReplyDeleteSooz'awn snorts in disappointment at the map in front of her, "I thought you might be a seeker interested in more than just simple geography. Your map is of the most known elements of the Immortal."
ReplyDeleteShe draws here finger north form the circular pit room. "This area is used by many for here, the Immortal provides. But if one drifts further into these cavities, one quickly falls into petty domains of squabbling beings that dwell under the shadow of life unenlightened. Degenerates that expose themselves to false idles in exchange for power, perverse ogres, and racketeering kobolds. There is little of value outside of squandered waters and yeast fields. They hoard petty treasures and do not possess the wills of the Immortal in their hearts."
Pointing to the area East of the Pit, she says, "Hear lies the Burrough of Brothers. The lack all back bone, seeking utter neutrality in order to "maintain" the Immortal. They are fools. They think they aid the Immortal and keep them healthy but they do not realize that they are just maintaining an ill status quo. The organs of the Immortal must be integrated so the great change may come!"
"Further to the south of the Brothers are just ghost-haunted halls and the lair of the Slivering Devil. We in the Order reclaimed anything of consequence here along ago." She drags her finger west, across the hall, to the area maybe most explored by expeditions to date. "And here you find the domain of the Order of the Illuminated Eye."
"From the auditorium," she points to the area where you captured her, "it seems you have dabbled in exploring deeper levels of truth of the Immortal. You would be fools to move east, for you will find the Order with our light throwers waiting to bring you the final illumination--death!"
As Phasmo brings her attention back to the first level of the map, to the room with the bone shrine, Sooz'awn rolls her eyes. "Your mind is moving the wrong way. If you were to journey for deeper discovery of the Immortal, maybe our peoples could find mutual cause. Instead, you stay fixed on the details of our domain and on one as unseemly as that. We of the Order do not interact with that fowl alter dedicated to false powers. It is made of death itself! Why would you want to defile yourself? See--it is already makes you filled delusion-- attributing some sublime power to a common morrona! Those crude creatures long to feast on the fluids of life itself. It is not pleasant to have ones head squuezed like a fruit being juiced. What could be gained by possessing deeper understanding of such base creatures? If you see one, kill it and be done with it. You are not as virile as I. I do not think you could survive a morrona drawing even one sip."
Sooz'awn seems relieved when Betina turns her attention to the Grand Cavity. "I couldn't save who in the Order first achieved gnosis of the Grand Cavity. It seems as if we have always been aware of the path to achieving experience of it. In the Order, there are steps to be take if one seeks to follow the path and unlock the knowledge of the Grand Cavity. Better to petition for such right from En'Wni than throw yourself at the false blasphemer who styles herself as the "Imperial Mother". It is said that she knows several methods of attaining descending into knowledge of the Grand Cavity but all are steps removing one from an enlightened understanding of the Immortal. But---wait---is that where we are now? The Grand Cavity---I seem to recall a tunnel--a strange light---"
If you wish to proceed with more questioning, roll 2d6+any reaction bonus. The interrogation will continue on a 9 or greater (bringing up the Grand Cavity seems to draw her mind towards concepts she cannot reconcile. As a result, she sits on the verge of losing all coherence from the thoughts racing in her mind).
I rolled a 5+4=9 with no reaction bonus!
ReplyDeleteQuestion: How does one petition En'Wni to proceed along the path of unlocking the Grand Cavity's knowledge?
Crannoc says to support that, "Quite right, calm yourself by focusing on your truth and set our feet toward a understanding of the Grand Cavity." He'll make ready to take notes and after he writes down all she says of petitioning En'Wni he'll ask her to then proceed in explaining what she knows of the organs of the Immortal? "If we know something of them, perhaps we can aid in your goal of union?"
ReplyDelete"Petition En'Wni?" Sooz'awn facilities creep back from the edge of contemplation too big as her attention is redirected to a more material subject. "I have only seen proven members of the Order of the Illuminated Eye be granted such knowledge. Only then, after they have aided in the integration of an Organ and recounted an experience with the Illuminated Eye to the liking of En'Wni. To even have audience with En'Wni, you most travel through my Order's territory to the the point at where one's knowledge of it ends but another is about to begin."
ReplyDelete"You want to aid in the union of the Organs of the Immortal?" Sooz'awn turns to Crannoc. "Maybe if you did help enough, En'Wni would grant you the other steps necessary to walk deeper on the path of knowledge of the Immortal. The Organs are works of beauty and wonder. Each as different as the ones in our own bodies. But when one is found, it will possess a sublime quality that is undeniable. There are lesser members of the Immortal: winding metallic arteries, sanctified joiners, or globes of the first Illumination. As essential as they are, none of these would impress En'Wni enough to share enlightenments with outsiders with lopsided genderic energies. One would have to uncover something of the essential nature of the Xenoscript Transvisualizer or the Edge of Light in the Darkness."