The grand fireplace dominates the room with its massive size, surrounded by intricately carved stonework and flickering with an orange glow. You can sense an almost palpable heat emanating from the flames, making the air shimmer and dance in the surrounding area. Above the mantle, a mounted peryton head stares down at you with a sinister presence, the intricate details of the feathers and antlers illuminated by the dancing light of the fire, making it seem almost alive. The fire swirls excitedly within, casting a warm yet foreboding glow over the room and illuminating the horned figure of the Infernal standing next to it.
The mounted peryton head is massive, with antlers that seem to stretch almost as wide as the fireplace itself. The creature’s eyes have been hollowed out, yet they somehow seem to follow you around, as if you can feel the presence of *something* unseen watching you from their shadows.
Only marginally less intimidating than the leering peryton head above you, the Infernal glances dismissively at you before turning her eyes back to the flames. They’re the same color as the fire, you notice, though nowhere near as warm. She’s wearing the luxurious robes of a lauded sorcerer and every piece of jewelry glows with its own aura of enchantment. You can’t help but balk at the thought of the passive power she’s wearing as if they were all just simple baubles. Who needs that sort of fire power at a friend’s birthday party?
“Well, well. Finally, someone who can appreciate whom it is they are speaking to without needing it explained. Do not worry, I will not hold it against you that you must study what I know innately.”
You have to repress a shiver as she looks you over. Whether it’s caused by her eyes like living embers, the intimidating arcing horns, or the thought that you might be approaching a murderer with an innate mastery of the arcane, you aren’t quite sure.
“My name? I am ‘Master Evoker and High Sorcerer Fervent-Charity-Shall-Cover-A-Multitude-of-Sins’. That does not exactly roll off the tongue though, does it? Please, just call me Charity. I take it you are not here for pleasantries, and certainly not at a time like this.
Oh Auberon, the old fool. You would think a man who had seen and done the things he had would be smarter than to have so many enemies as friends – or friends as enemies, as the case may be. Yes, everyone in this room has held a grudge against the man at some point or another, including myself.
I am sure any of the old guard of ours would be willing to gossip about it, so you may as well hear it from me. Back when Auberon was half as canny but just as dashing, he had the gall to break off a… shall we say dalliance, that the two of us had, without warning. However, that was decades ago, and I have never lacked for company since. If I had felt so bereft as to want revenge, I would have dropped a storm of hellfire on him the day it happened. Poison, or a quiet curse, or whatever it was that took Auberon? Something underhanded like that would take an effusion of guile, cowardice, or both.
Who here might possess such a distasteful combination? The boy magician, surely. I’m sure you’ve seen what happens to folks in our field when they realize that they will never be ‘accomplished’. Poor kid never could quite wrangle the magical arts under his mastery, and because of it, Auberon refused to write him a recommendation to some ‘adventurer’s guild’ the boy idolized. Auberon knew some of the members, and could have helped, but opted not to. Auberon is gone now, and if I were you, I’d be looking closely at the wizard.
Do I not seem sad enough? How dare you?! How I mourn the loss of someone I… I cared for is none of your business. Auberon would know how I feel and how I grieve, and that is all that matters. Now, if you will excuse me.”
