I purposefully kept myself from looking back when I heard those words. Nothing good would come from us starting an interaction with the leader of the Inquisition in this area. It was, perhaps, a mistake to come here, but we would have drawn more attention heading into the worse parts of town, and perhaps been stopped and questioned more thoroughly. This had looked like the best of the bad options, at the time, but now I was having second thoughts.

No, I just kept my head down, and tried my best to look inconspicuous. Unfortunately, we were too busy trying to just mind our own business and not draw attention to ourselves that we didn’t notice that the other people were all turning to bow to the Inquisitor. Even the bard had stopped singing.

One of the Inquisitor’s guards, though, noticed us, and he wasn’t having it. “Oy! You four, in the corner! Don’t you know you should bow when the Lord High Inquisitor enters the room?”

Well, shit. Now eyes were firmly on us. I sighed softly, and stood, turning to face the guard, and the rest of the tavern’s population. As I did so, I saw the Inquisitor’s eyes lock on me, and got the distinct feeling that he could see straight through me.

“Pardon, sir. But my companions and I are not from these parts, and have not encountered an Inquisitor before. We meant no offense.”

As I bowed, I took quick stock of the tavern, and its patrons. Two doors, one to the outside, and another leading to the kitchen and staff areas. Stairs going up and a comfortable couch next to the stage, stairs going down into a basement nearby. Bard on the stage, unarmed, probably not a threat. Hugline was behind the bar, and the patrons were scattered at all the tables and chairs around the room. All of them looked harmless enough.

At the main door stood the High Inquisitor, an ordinal human man, dressed in plate armor, shield in hand, though he was not holding a weapon. In front of him were two knights, with plate armor and close-faced helms, armed with greatswords, though I could also see bows hung on their back. Behind the Inquisitor was an ordinal human woman, dressed in a mage’s robes.

All of their gear looked to be of the highest quality. Even though I wanted to believe that our gear was better, there was no way to be sure. And starting a fight here would not be ideal, in any case. There would be no way that we could shut up everyone.

If word got back to the capitol, then our disguises would be worthless. Even presenting the werewolf archon’s head would raise suspicions, making our only plan for breaking into the area with the portal without taking on the entire army worthless, as well. That wasn’t acceptable. We needed to solve this diplomatically. Somehow. Or at least get it someplace without as many witnesses.

The High Inquisitor motioned to the knights, and they spread to the side, allowing him to step forward. His eyes locked upon me, and he said, “And whence do you come, then, that you have not seen the Inquisition before? Especially when you come in false guises?”

The Inquisitor’s words caused a stir through the room, and I knew he had, somehow, seen through our magical disguise. That was… not good. But it wasn’t hopeless! I could work with this. I just needed to strike the right chord.

Melinda’s Bluff Check: 1d20+94 = 107

High Inquisitor’s Sense Motive Check: 1d20+43 = 49 (Fail)

“We are adventurers, from beyond the plane. When first we arrived, we found that, looking different as we did, it would cause undue commotion for us to walk about in our normal guises. In a realm already troubled by the opening of a portal unexpectedly, with the drums of war already beating, we thought that blending in was the wiser course of action.”

The High Inquisitor’s eyes narrowed slightly, like he didn’t quite believe me, but he didn’t call for the guards to try and arrest us, at least. “Hmph. Adventurers? And what would bring a bunch of adventurers out here? I know it cannot be the scenery, and you don’t look like miners. And no bandit would be stupid enough to try and come to this inn.”

“Ah, we were passing through, and the guards at the bridge who inspected our carriage told us this was the best inn in town. We are actually heading west, to the Timeless Woods. We’ve heard tales of uncommonly strong wolves in the woods, and figured that their pelts would make a tidy bit of coin, when we eventually return to our home plane.”

The Inquisitor looked me over again, and, this time, there was more than just suspicion in his eyes. “Indeed? There is truth to your words, but not, perhaps, the whole truth. I must interview you further so that I know everything.”

I did not like the sound of that. Not at all. But strangely enough, I wasn’t the only one. I could see a look of distaste cross the mage’s face. That told me everything I needed to know about this ‘interview’ the Inquisitor was planning.

“Does it have to be now? We just got in from a long day’s ride, and were looking forward to a hot meal, instead of rations along the trail. Perhaps I could come to your office tomorrow morning, and we’d be able to chat there?”

The High Inquisitor simply smirked. “Oh, I don’t think so. You’ll come now, willingly, or I will have my guards make you come. Then, they’ll bring you to my interview chambers. There will be plenty of time for you to rest and relax, once we are through.” And then his smile got truly wicked. “Unless you have something to hide, that is?”

I sighed, but couldn’t see an easy way out of this. I looked back over my shoulder, and saw Siora nod slowly. She had a plan, then. Not in the open like this, at least. “Very well. We will go to your offices, then.”

“I knew you’d see things my way. And, thankfully, you won’t have to go far. I have a… private chamber here in the Inn, just for such investigations.”

The people in the tavern looked away, uncomfortably, as the Inquisitor sent us ahead of him, down the stairs to the basement. They knew what the Inquisitor had planned, it seemed. But they were not about to go against him. Not in public, that much was for certain.

What greeted my eyes was, as expected, a dungeon, with a stone ceiling and walls to dampen the sound, to say nothing of the solid iron door. Even if that wasn’t in place, I felt a ward snap into place as we entered. No one would hear anything that happened down here. Just like no one had heard anything that happened, all the times this Inquisitor had used it before, when looking for ‘heretics’.

There were a variety of cages, shackles, and torture implements in place, and they all looked ominously well-used in the light of the four everburning braziers set in each of the four corners. I stopped, with my back against a wooden stockade, while the others moved past me, further in. And then the Inquisitor and his retinue entered. The mage moved off to the side, clearly not wanting to be here, but the Inquisitor and his two knights moved forward, surrounding me. I could not see the knight’s expressions with their helmets on, but the Inquisitor’s face needed no great skill to read.

“Put the others in one of the big cages. We’ll get to their ‘confession’ in time. First, I want to hear this pretty birdy sing, and tell me of all the sins she’s ever committed, so that I can properly help her repent.”

I couldn’t help but gulp as I looked into the Inquisitor’s eye. Old memories started resurfacing. Bad memories. Memories that I thought I had buried, and put away forever. A younger me. A different me. A powerless me. My old life’s captor had a ‘play room’ that wasn’t far from this.

It was all I could do to keep from shaking as I heard the cage door close, locking my friends in. All I could do not to scream and flinch away as the Inquisitor set aside his shield, so that he could properly ‘evaluate’ me. I saw the guards smile as they began to take off their armor, and my mind froze.

If they put me in chains, if they locked me up, would I ever get free again? I had sworn that I would never get chained down again! But, now, I didn’t see any way out of it. There was no escape. No escape. Everything was over.

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+26 = 39 (Success)

High Inquisitor’s Will Save (Hold Person): (Immune)

Inquisitorial Knight 1’s Will Save (Hold Person): 1d20-3 = 3 (Fail)

Inquisitorial Knight 1’s Will Save (Hold Person): 1d20-3 = 4 (Fail)

Inquisitorial Mage’s Will Save (Hold Person): 1d20+13 = 25 (Fail)

I didn’t even notice when the Inquisitor’s guards froze. All I could see and feel was the man’s hand upon my chest, groping me through my dress, while his other hand made its way under my skirt. The first sign I had that anything was different was when the Inquisitor looked up to say something to one of the guards, and noticed the state they were in.

Initiatives

Melinda

Siora

Fartooth

High Inquisitor

Vestele

Inquisitorial Knights

Inquisitorial Mage

My breath caught as I tried to escape, but the stockade was behind me, and the Inquisitor was in front of me. I was surrounded. There was no escape. “N-no! D-don’t touch me!”

Siora’s Open Lock check: 1d20+35 = 53 (Success)

“Shit. She’s frozen up. Fartooth, keep the bastard busy, even if it is just a moment. Vestele, can you take him?” I heard the sound of a lock clicking open, but it didn’t register. Not really.

There was the sound of scampering feet. Metal brushing against stone. And then a clatter, as the metal was thrown to the side. “Hey, tall and stupid! Over here!”

High Inquisitor’s Attack roll (Fartooth): 1d20+31 = 48 (Miss)

High Inquisitor’s Attack roll (Fartooth): 1d20+26 = 43 (Miss)

High Inquisitor’s Attack roll (Fartooth): 1d20+21 = 31 (Miss)

The Inquisitor snarled as he turned away from me, his hand reaching for the morningstar at his hip. Three times he swung, but he didn’t hit anything. Anyone. He didn’t hit me. Didn’t touch me.

Vestele’s CL Check: 1d20+27 = 45 (Success)

High Inquisitor’s Fort Save (Slay Living): 1d20+18 = 25 (Fail, Dead)

“Got him!” A spell was uttered, and the priest just… dropped, dead. Like a puppet with its strings cut. Eyes looking at me, lifeless.

Inquisitorial Knight 1’s Will Save (Hold Person): 1d20-3 = 15 (Fail)

Inquisitorial Knight 1’s Will Save (Hold Person): 1d20-3 = 7 (Fail)

Inquisitorial Mage’s Will Save (Hold Person): 1d20+13 = 19 (Fail)

“Right. Sister, see if you can’t get through to Mel. Fartooth, guard the door. I’ll convince these guards to believe our story, and spread the word.”

“What story?”

“That the Inquisitor tried to force himself upon our friend, but as he touched her, golden ice assaulted him, and revealed him to be a demon in disguise. The guards drew steel against him, and the demon teleported away before he could be captured.”

“That sounds great. But what about the body, and his gear?”

“That’s why we’ve held on to that Bag of Devouring for so long, isn’t it?”

“Ooh, clever! I like it!”

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+26 = 29 (Success)

Inquisitorial Knight 1’s Will Save (Mindrape): 1d20-3 = 6 (Fail)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+26 = 38 (Success)

Inquisitorial Knight 2’s Will Save (Mindrape): 1d20-3 = 5 (Fail)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+26 = 38 (Success)

Inquisitorial Mage’s Will Save (Mindrape): 1d20+13 = 18 (Fail)

You have defeated High Inquisitor Deryk and his retinue!

Melinda gains 8641 XP.

Siora gains 8641 XP.

Vestele gains 8641 XP.

Fartooth gains 8641 XP.

You have Leveled Up!

You are now Level 28.

386461 / 406000 XP to level 29.

+1 Epic Save Bonus

HD: 1d8+10 = 17

+1 Bluff, +1 Diplomacy, +1 Intimidate, +1 Perform (Dance), +1 Sense Motive, +1 Spellcraft, +1 Use Magic Device

Warlock Abilities:

Eldritch Blast damage increases to 15d6.

Marshal Abilities:

Grant Move Action 2/day

“Mel! Mel! Snap out of it!”

The next thing I knew, water splashed across my face. Blinking, I looked up, and saw my friends. Or, rather, their disguises. And the bartender from before. That’s right. We were in the dungeon under the inn.

“W-where?”

“Shh.” Siora shushed me, as she brought me into a hug. “Once the demon teleported away, the guards quickly ran out to warn the rest of the guards, so that he couldn’t do any mischief. What about you? Are you ok? Can you stand?”

“S-sorry.” I slowly pulled myself to my feet. “Wasn’t much help.”

“Don’t worry about it! We already told the guards how you escaped a demon’s clutches as a child. They were very understanding.” Siora helped steady me, and looked to the bartender. “We’ll take our wine and meals in our rooms, if you please.”

“Of course! Whatever you say, miss. Simply dreadful to have something like this happen in my inn. I knew that Deryk was driving the search for heretics hard, but this? Never in all my days would I have believed it! And I don’t know what will happen, now! I was the master here, but the inn was owned by the High Inquisitor.” The master shook his head as he headed back up the stairs. “Bad days. Bad days are coming, you mark my word!”