Swearing the Hellfire Compact

Archbaron Fex stares at you through narrowly slitted eyes.

“There is one other matter to attend to. Queen Abrogail has decreed that in this time of national crisis, all agents of the crown must reaffirm their loyalty to their lord, House Thrune, and Cheliax by swearing the Hellfire Compact. If you’re to serve in the queen’s name, I must insist." Archbaron peers at you all lazily, as if not overly concerned whether or not you'll swear the oath.

One by one, you each agree to swear the oath, including Cimri Staelish.

"Very well. Priest Dalvera, they have all agreed. Would you step out and be our witness?" Archbaron Fex speaks out loud. From the thick curtain behind Archbaron Fex's desk, a man in half-plate armor and clerical garbs of Asmodeus forth.



Where Archbaron Fex has a look of constant boredom, this man seems to have an expression of disdain chiseled out of stone.
"This is Lazzero Dalvera, Cleric of Asmodeus. He is visiting Longacre from Egorian. I thought it would be a privilege if he were to preside over you swearing the Hellfire Compact, to add just a bit more legitimacy to it..." Archbaron Fex is suddenly interrupted by Dalvera.

"I was last visiting Egorian, but I am not from there. I travel throughout Cheliax, enforcing the will of God-Fiend Asmodeus. The Dark Prince guided my travels to this location in response to the citizenry's unrest and questionable loyalty to House Thrune. I am pleased to see that Archbaron Fex is taking steps to curb this dissent." speaks Lazzero Dalvera, his face looking anything except for 'pleased', "I am thus far content to bide my time and allow the Archbaron and your group to proceed as you wish."

Archbaron Fex allows a moment of uncomfortable silence as he glares angrily at Dalvera. Clearly, the Archbaron is not a man who is accustomed to being interrupted.

"Yes..as we were discussing, the Hellfire Compact is not a magically compelling oath, nor will it bind your souls to Hell or any Archfiend. All the same, you should take it seriously, as it will induct you into the bottom ranks of the Cheliax Government, that is, House Thrune. While it will not force you to behave loyally, it will grant any member of House Thrune or any legally recognized Inquisitor parties to hunt you down, torture you, and dispose of you as they see fit, should your actions be deemed treacherous. Should you be reconsidering, I swear on my title as Archbaron, that should you wish to leave my employ, I will grant you free and safe passage from Longacre, so long as our dealings remain clandestine."
Archbaron Fex allows a few moments to pass, and when no one speaks up, he continues.

"Very well. This...", he says, pulling a black velvet rope and pulling back the thick curtains behind his desk, revealing a golden stand gripping a chunk of black crystal that smolders like a gigantic, hellish ember, filling the room with a crimsonglow the color of blood. "is an ember drawn from the forges of Phlegethon, which burns with the power of Hellfire. There is a pain associated with swearing the compact, but it will not last, and it must be allowed to heal naturally. When you are ready, you will grasp the ember as a group using your left hand and repeat after me."

Each of you steps forward, and on a nod from Wyran, each reach out to place the palm of one hand on the ember, which burns intensely.

"I swear my absolute allegiance to Archbaron Darellus Fex, Her Infernal Majestrix Queen
Abrogail II of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, and the Empire of Cheliax."

(You each take 3 fire damage and 3 unholy damage. If you are evil, the unholy damage is negated. Any resistance to fire will also negate the fire damage. Even if damage is reduced to 0, there is a very tender, sore spot on the palm of your hand for the next 6 hours where the symbol of Thrune has been burned into your left palm.)


"It is done." says Archbaron Fex, a very, very slight smile on his face.

"“I told you they’d be up to the vow,” says a deep voice “And eager to get to work, I suspect. Which is good, considering what I’ve just uncovered.” says a nasally voice from somewhere in the room.

"Enough of your theatrics, Razelego, come out and tell us what you have learned of this 'Angel Knight'." Says Archbaron Fex, sitting back down in his chair.

Crawling from one of the high alcoves in the wall, a bizarre looking creatures reveals itself,  scuttling down from the walls, with parchment and pen in hand.