switzerland ♔ the words tightening around my throat

[silverguardian]

WHO || Nyna, Cara, Felicity, Stiles
WHAT || The Knights are sent to hear about a prospective job from an art collector
WHERE || Bern, Switzerland
WHEN || April 13th, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

The streets of Bern swell with the myriad sights and scents of its industry: the wood and polish of carpenters' shops, tantalizing aromas wafting from dozens of bakeries, and the heavy oil scent of artists.  Meanwhile, hundreds of rich colors give the district an appearance of a holiday festival.  The townhouse of Asheron Coyl comes into view, perched on a small rise that overlooks the street.  A low fence covered in vines abuts the street.  A gate opens onto a flagstone path that wends past frozen flower beds, fountains, and sculpted shrubs to the front doors.  A bell hangs next to the gate, reading "Please ring bell" in several languages.  With an 11 disguise check, Nyna didn't really bother to dress all fancy, opting instead for her paladin armor, sorry guys.   She can be the sexy bodyguard.  

Comments

[silverguardian]

[ felicity can see servants moving through the windows within, scurrying to and fro. ]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity keeps her eyes on the windows, but she starts to move forward to knock on the door.]

I see a lot of people moving in there, but no sign of any paint monsters.

[She will just continue to keep her fingers crossed that the recipient hasn't opened it yet.]

[silverguardian]

[ a well dressed servant answers the door, his expression somewhat fretful. he addresses them in french, and nyna responds in english. ]

We're looking for the man who lives here. Mr. Archerus? We believe he might be in some danger.

[ one of his eyebrows shoots up, but more in surprise that they might know something than at the implication.

"He... he should be up in his tower room. Why do you think something has happened to him? I admit, we have feared as much, but the room, it is locked." ]

[mordsith]

[Cara is still here, yo. She's been watching everything and now she's here to contribute.]

I take it you do not have the key? [She glances beyond the woman (spot 17).] Which direction is this tower?

[silverguardian]

[ within, a couple other servants are visible, including a female halfling. they all look incredibly worried, glancing up towards the steps.

"No, we do not. If you think you can find a way in... perhaps we won't have to call the police. We've been debating whether to involve them." ]

Lead the way. [ the servant nods, and then takes them up the steps towards the studio. he nods at the locked door. "This is it." ]

[allmydreams]

Not a problem.

[And with that she will step forward and pull her lock picks out of her purse, using them to try and get in the door (disable device 26).]

[silverguardian]

[ the door swings open, as her pick clicks into place. the studio within is a cluttered mess of easels, boxes of paints, stools, workbenches, brushes, rags, unfinished paintings, and stretched canvasses waiting for brush and paint.

a three-foot-by-six-foot oil on wood painting appears to be a recent addition. thick brown paper lies wadded on the floor around it, all too familiar. the painting, full of grays, depicts a horrible crone with dark skin and bright glowing eyes sitting astride a black warhorse. the hag waves a long pole ending in an iron spike at a pair of ugly humanoids with glowing emerald eyes and covered in chains. they struggle to pull a two-wheeled handcart filled with a writhing mass of large fat worms with humanoid heads. more of the vile creatures crawl in the dust around them, their humanoid faces twisted with hate and self-loathing. in the background loom piles of rubble and a massive stone wall that seems to rise into infinity.

nyna steps inside carefully, drawing her large sword and looking around, but the room seems empty of occupants. the painting draws her attention, and she can barely hide her disgust at what it depicts. ] Now why would someone want such a thing hanging anywhere? I thought the point of art was to elevate the soul.

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles screws up his face in disgust.]

I vote we burn first, ask questions later.

[allmydreams]

Art can take people to dark places.

[It's said absently though, and her attention isn't on the painting, not yet. It's in the rest of the room, that while not empty is missing some crucial things (spot 26, listen 23).]

Isn't the target supposed to be in here?

[silverguardian]

[ felicity notices something as stiles is rooting to set the painting on fire.

there's a sheet of paper on the floor in front of the painting with some writing on it. ] Maybe he's invisible.

[allmydreams]

[Felicity eyes it, then the painting for a moment before inching her way closer, not really taking her gaze off of it as she crouches down to pick the piece of paper up. After she has it, she takes two big steps back and glances down to read it, provided that the painting doesn't come to life and try to swallow her soul.

Or something.]

[silverguardian]

[ it's when she stares at the painting for a second that notices something else disturbing. the surface appears slick and wet, and what's more, the disturbing figures within it appear to be moving, very slowly, but unmistakably.

the letter reads:

"It is said that the souls of thieves and liars are damned to an eternity of torment in Hell.

So then, Mr. Archerus, gaze upon this portrait, a gift to you, and ponder whose damned soul you see. Look close enough, and you may find yourself among these twisted countenances.

Ah! And lest I forget: your compatriot, you should know, will join you soon. The sting of his duplicity gnaws at him, you can be sure." ]

[allmydreams]

[Yeah, that's not creepy at all. She read the letter over once, before glancing back to the painting again, and holding out the letter for the rest of them to read.]

Looks like they definitely pissed someone off.

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles takes the letter and reads it out loud for the others.]

I'm still thinking we need to torch the thing. I mean, it worked with the other ones, right? Weird squealy noises and everything.

[allmydreams]

[Felicity is still mulling it over, staring at the painting as though she's trying to take apart a puzzle.]

"Look close enough and you may find yourself among these twisted countenances."

[And then, it's like a light bulb going off (wisdom 18).]

Shit, what if the target is inside the painting?

[silverguardian]

[ her eyes trace back to the worm creatures lolling about at the bottom ] You think he's been... imprisoned there?

[allmydreams]

There's only one way to find out.

[She glances back over her shoulder to see if one of the servants were still around (spot 27).]

Let's see if they can pick out their boss's face.

[silverguardian]

[ they're all sort of milling around nervously at the bottom of the steps, but as evidenced in the picture, none of the worm creatures have really discernible... facial features. they're all sort of hideously stretched and monstrous looking. ] If we burn it, we could kill him.

[killingtodeath]

I'm getting really concerned that someone is about to suggest we go in there and get him out or something...

[silverguardian]

We can't just leave him in there. Perhaps there are healing potions in this home for those of us still injured, [ a glance at stiles ] And some more appropriate weapon for you.

[killingtodeath]

[He looks a little sheepish.]

If there's any chance this guy was a baseball fan, we may be in business.

[silverguardian]

Don't you know how to wield something more lethal?

[killingtodeath]

[Wow way to call him out. Stiles glances away, mumbling about how different skill sets are just as valuable...]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity holds up her hands before they start wandering into wounded pride territory (diplomacy 20 total).]

I'd rather he have something he knows how to use, rather than wing it with something more dangerous where he can hurt someone that's not the bad guy. Besides, it's not about the weapon you use, it's how you use it.

[To Stiles:]

It's worth a shot. Go see if they have something you can use while we figure out how to get in - or get them out.

[killingtodeath]

[Nodding, Stiles heads back towards the people who work here to go find out if any of them know of any baseball bats on the property lmfao. This is what he gets for putting weapon finesse on that specific thing sigh. (Gather info 21)]