Session 4.8: Family holds to family (Part 2)

The King appears.

Last installment, we flashed back to the past of Madame Dalmore, getting a glimpse into the recent history of the Cult of the Burnt King, and learned that the cult has a shadowy benefactor who has been using it for his own ends. How much Strangford guides the cult’s actions, and how comfortable Madame Dalmore is with this arrangement we don’t yet know.

Back in the present, Aldo and Emma were able to persuade Mikaela, another of the cult’s agents and a rival of Emma’s who intercepted them in Madame’s study, to go along with their plan. Unfortunately for them, the lady of the house has been forewarned by the return of Mr. Seek, and now the whole family is headed for a confrontation in the undercroft of Dalmore House.

Negotiating with Madame Dalmore

We’re arriving at the final obstacle in this score, the reward of which will be Emma’s ‘freedom,’ in whatever form it takes, and a new Patron upgrade for the crew, which will enable them to do all sorts of things in the next downtime.

And that final obstacle is Madame herself — the mistress of this cult. The Jesseks will have to negotiate some sort of accomodation with her, or else fight her and whatever forces she’s mustered, which will be a dicey proposition either way. Before we get into the last scene, I wanted to recap part of a past episode to set the stage for what’s to come. Way back in Session 4.3, published four months ago, old man Flint laid out what might happen if Emma successfully offers this sacrifice to the Burnt King:

“What happens if Emma gives him this sacrifice?”

“Truly, I do not know. We — the mistress of the house and myself — have not heard our god speak clearly for many years now. Only whispers and fragments. Of all those who serve Him, only Emma claims to hear his voice calling her to action. If she is telling the truth, and this is His will, he will reward her faith.”

“And what will the mistress of the house do then?” Rian presses.

“She will have to deal with Emma as… if not a peer, then a power to be reckoned with…”

This establishes what leverage the Jesseks might have to deal with Madame. She needs the Burnt King’s power and insight to pursue her aims, and if Emma secures some powerful blessing, Madame Dalmore won’t be able to simply dispose of her and her brothers. So, forearmed with that information, the party descends to the ritual chamber, with the lady of the house forewarned of their presence. We’ll rejoin the action there:

Scene 14: The Ritual Chamber

Carver leads the way down the stairs to the King’s throne room. Aldo is close behind him, then Emma, hand in hand with Mikaela. Flint brings up the rear, watching the way back up to the Undercroft, fearful of who might be following.

Aldo knows something is amiss when Carver stops short as the dark stairway opens into the rough-hewn stone ritual chamber. “Carv?” he whispers. “What is it?”

“We’re foundered, Aldo,” Carver whispers back. “I can keep busy ‘em whilst the rest of you scarper.” The big man shifts his weight and bites back a grimace. Aldo can see his bandages have torn, and he’s biting back the pain from his wound. He puts a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulder and steps past him down the stairs.

Madame Dalmore awaits their procession in the ritual chamber. She stands at the right hand of the ash-blackened basalt throne that serves as the King’s altar, surrounded by her loyal cult. By her side are a pair that sends a shiver down Aldo’s spine: Mr. Seek holds Rian in his iron grip, his arm wrapped around the young man’s throat, and the huntsman’s slender stiletto is positioned at Rian’s belly. The young Slide gives his brother an apologetic shrug, which is rewarded by a savage pull of his neck by his captor.

Emma joins them near the bottom of the stairs. Around Madame Dalmore, she sees four of her fellow ‘students,’ disheveled and haunted-looking, recently roused from their sleep. Riding herd on them is the Proctor who must’ve awakened them, Miss Lida, with her grey eyes and cruel, pinched face. Emma steps forward. “Madame…”

Dalmore holds her hand up with an imperious air, and Emma trails off to silence. “I will hear nothing from you, Emma. Nor you, Flint. Your treachery will be dealt with soon enough. And Mikaela, come now. Surely, you’ve not been taken in by this foolishness. Come join your sisters.” Mikaela shoots an angry, uncertain glare at Emma before pulling away and joining the other Dalmore girls.

She turns her attention to Aldo. “Master Ridley. You were very foolish to come here. Do you and your brother wish to leave here with your spirits still tethered to your flesh?”

She needs something from us; Aldo’s mind races with the possibilities. And that means there could be a path out. “You wouldn’t be asking if you didn’t want something from us. What is it?”

Madame’s eyes narrow as she assesses Aldo. She’s curious. Underestimated us. “I will bind you with magic to keep the secrets of Dalmore House and reveal nothing of what you have seen and heard today.” Her eyes flick to Rian, standing very still in Mr. Seek’s cold embrace. “If you or your brothers reveal our secrets, the agonies you will suffer before you die will be whispered of in the alleys of Crow’s Foot for years to come.”

“And what about my sister? What will you do with her?”

“She is not your sister any longer. She belongs to this house.”

Aldo’s gaze flashes with anger. “Then you might as well kill us. Let the bell toll for each of us. Let the Spirit Wardens knock on your door, looking for our ghosts.”

Carver’s shoulders tense in eager readiness. Rian’s eyes widen in a mixture of fear and fraternal exasperation. “Our sister, your daughter — whatever she is, you brought her here to serve your god, didn’t you?” Rian says, his speech growing faster as he feels Mr. Seek’s blade press into his belly. “And serve him she did! Tell her, Emma!”

Emma steps forward and holds the dagger aloft. As she does, a rush of wind whistles through the cavernous hall, guttering the flickering candles. The assembled cultists murmur uncertainly to one another, and Emma, for a moment, thinks she sees doubt flash across Madame’s face. “I brought this gift at the King’s behest, my lady. I swear it. Please, let me make the offering, and you will see!”

“Fool girl. The King speaks only to me.” Madame Dalmore hisses back. “Do you not think there have been others like you? Others who claimed to hear His voice, either through pride or madness? When they offered up their false sacrifices, He consumed them down to blackened bones¹.”

“Can that not be my danger to brave?”

“No. Despite your insolence, you are still valuable to this house and our great mission.”

“But what if you are wrong, Madame? What if He has other secrets to reveal to us? Other blessings to bestow?” Emma pleads. “What if I cannot complete my part of our great mission without the power he might grant me?”

This seems an opportune time to make a roll. Mechanically, it is ideal for Rian to lead the Sway roll — he has the highest action ranking here. At the table, I’d allow him to make the roll, based on the above fiction, and the specifics of the situation — it’s the high-stakes denoumount, and at this point, the GM should be pulling for the PCs. Three characters — Aldo, Emma and Rian — all said their piece, trying to pressure Madame to let Emma offer the sacrifice, so it’s fair for any of them to make the roll. But this is still a tough sell — Madame’s being persuaded to loosen her grip on the cult she has ruled with an iron fist for the last two decades² — so I’m setting the position at Desparate.

Rian rolls Sway: Desparate Position, Standard Effect
Dice Pool: 4d = 2d (Action Rating) + 1d (Emma Aids) +1d (Push Yourself)
Result: 2,6,6,3; Critial Success
Stress: Emma +1 (6 Total); Rian +2 (6 Total)

Success. This roll clinches the score. We’ll envision that this involves not just convincing Madame Dalmore, but also some of the other cultists. Back to the action:

“That is my fear, Madame,” Flint says softly, finally breaking his silence. “What if she is telling the truth, and we are defying His will even now?” Behind Madame, another murmur runs through her assembled followers. Her eyes dart to her side with irritation before turning back on Flint.

Madame’s eyes shoot venom at the old man. “Unthinkable that you would defy me in this way. After all that I — and my mother — have done for you.”

“I love you both, Alexandra. But I serve Him.” Flint nods towards the throne-altar.

Madame Dalmore’s straight posture slumps almost imperceptibly, but Aldo catches it. We’ve hooked her.

“Very well, my child. For your sake, I hope you speak true. Come to the altar.”

All eyes on her, Emma approaches the basalt throne. As she steps closer, the air grows warmer on her face, and as the heat embraces her, she feels a growing sense of certainty in her heart. As though His hand guided hers, she kneels and places the dagger upon the seat of the throne.

Chael’s gossamer spirit rises from the blade, and with her sight beyond sight, Emma can see his twisted, rage-filled face forming and dissolving in the ectoplasmic mist. His shimmering form twists in agony as it catches fire, burning at the edges like paper, and, in response, the candles that ring the ritual chamber roar to life, burning higher and brighter and filling the room with an unearthly red glow. The cultists cry out, some in fear, others in rapture.

The fire seems to rise higher and higher. Black smoke stings her eyes, and she shuts them tightly, opening herself to the world beyond the veil, reaching out to feel the presence of her dead god.

Scene 15: The King’s Dream

Then, as quickly as it rose, the heat dies down, replaced by a soft, cool breeze. Emma opens her eyes and finds herself in a shifting and unfamiliar dream: A regal banquet hall with the sounds of a feast all around her. The grand vault of the hall, the table, the victuals, and even the feasters all seem made of swirling grey smoke, as though they were ghosts nearly faded from the world.

All the feasters, save one. Across from her sits the King — not the twisted, ashen corpse, but a smiling and warm monarch clad in flowing white linen, whose golden crown sits easily on his head. “Long have I waited for you to feast at my table, Emma Ridley. You have served me well and brought me a worthy gift.” He holds the blackened dagger in his hands, turning it over lovingly.

Emma tries to speak, but in this place, her tongue is cast from lead. The King continues. “Lo, my child, look there at your right hand. One of my subjects is come.”

Emma turns and sees the face of one of the feasting specters. Emma can’t make out his face through the dream-haze, but she can see that his throat has been cut, and his tunic is soaked with his red. He bows low to the King, and His Highness accepts his obeisance.

“Look how he shakes his gory locks at me! He was my man once, honest and true. He did me leal service — hid a treasure most dear from my enemies. And as his reward, I sent rough men to spill his life’s blood on the earth so that my secret would be safe.”

He holds out his hand to her across the table, and Emma takes it, her body moving as though pulled by marionette strings. “So it was, with your father. And your mother, too.”

Before her eyes, the spirit’s face changes, first to her stern father with his thin, groomed mustache and then her soft, kind-faced mother, their expressions slack and dead-eyed, their throats cut. Emma’s heart races, and she feels like she must scream, but still, she has no voice. She feels heat on her face, and when she turns to look back at the King, his skin begins to crack and blacken. The smell of smoke and burning flesh pricks at her nose.

“Chael DuWitte held the blade, but another gave the order.” Now, Emma has visions in bright flashes. She sees Chael’s face, snarling and cruel, like on the night she ended his life. She sees a man and a woman hurrying down a dark, rain-slick cobblestone street, come upon by the murderous bravo. She sees them fall together in the gutter and hears the sound of a rolling bell toll once, twice, as the Deathseeker Crows take flight.

The sound of the bells seems to bring her back to her senses. She looks up from her hand, still cradled in the King’s, and looks into his eyes. Now, he is burning — the whole dream-hall is burning, and she can feel heat crawling up her body. “Who gave the order?” she asks, barely whispering.

“You already know his face. You have already seen my mark.” Another flash, another vision. Emma finds herself at the edge of a rooftop, looking down on a pair of men: Her brother, Aldo, and a tall, dark, bear of a man in a claret-colored greatcoat. Above the man’s head hangs a fiery crown — marked for death by the King.

From her far vantage, she hears the man speak to her brother.

“Tonight, you showed you’ve got some iron. Chael had his boot on your neck for years, now the boot is gone. What are you going to do?”

Her brother replies. “I’m your man, Roric. Carver and Rian, too. If you tell us to take Chael’s patch, we’ll do it, simple as.”

The vision fades. The King takes up Emma’s dagger. “Roric Shaw. A petty king but still worthy of the pyre. He gave the order. Bring him to me, my child.”

“I will, Your Grace.”

“Now, take my blessing and my mark. This is the Emberdeath³ — with your ashen right hand, I give you the power to burn the souls of the unrighteous as an offering to me. Let all the faithful know: You have served me well.”

He presses the tip of the dark blade into the palm of Emma’s hand, and a searing pain blooms from the wound. The ash seems to bleed from the blade, seeping into Emma’s very flesh, blackening the skin of her right hand until it is dark as pitch. The flames around them roar, and all around her burns to ash. Emma sinks to her knees as the dream-world falls away. Beneath her is once again cold stone, and all eyes — brothers, sisters, and Madame herself — are fixed on her. Flint comes to her side and kneels, taking her blackened hand in his.

“What did He say, Emma?”

The Emberdeath. // Source: Midjourney

She holds up her hand with the King’s mark and replies breathlessly. “He said I have served him well with this sacrifice, and he has bid me bring him another.”

Madame Dalmore’s eyes narrow. “Aldo. Emma. It seems we have much to discuss,” she says slowly. “Come.”

And we’ll close the episode, the session, and this arc of Proper Villains there! Emma’s revealed to be a true prophet of the Burnt King, whom Madame Dalmore must now reckon with. Aldo has successfully reunited his family, and acquired a powerful but dangerous Patron — who will likely now try to drag him into her ‘great mission,’ whatever that is.

I hope you all have enjoyed the adventures of the family Jessek and their travails in finding their wayward sister. Whether you just got started reading or you’ve been with us since the days of Stonetop, I’d love your feedback and critiques on the last four sessions! Good, bad, or ugly, share it in the comments!

As you might glean from late hour of publication, this episode is coming in very hot indeed — in just a few more minutes, I’m going to click publish and hit the hay. Next installment will drop on 11/25 — we’ll have a light, no-fiction episode, where I’ll do a bit of an arc retrospective on Proper Villains and Blades in the Dark, and then we’ll talk about what comes next on PTFO!

As always, thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in your inbox next week!

1. This is a bit of a retcon — last installment, the younger Lord Strangford implied that the King would have to accept any sacrifice, not just people he marked for death. I went back and tweaked that statement to imply that Strangford was aware of arcane ways in which dead gods can be persuaded to accept other sacrifices. Presumably, he and Madame Dalmore have used this method to add a few of Strangford’s vendettas to the King’s list.

2. Of course, a little self-reflection on her part might make her realize that ruling a regicidal death cult with an iron fist might be a bad idea!

3. Emberdeath is a Special Ability from the Assassins crew sheet. Since the Cult of the Burnt King is an Assassin’s cult, it made sense as a blessing the dead god might offer. Sadly, since Emberdeath is a Duskwall-specific move, it doesn’t appear in the Blades SRD. You can, however, see it in this Reddit thread! In addition to the mechanics described in the moI imagine that it allows Emma to sacrifice spirits to the Burnt King on the go. I thought that would set us up for some more well-paced scene-setting if they don’t always have to come to Dalmore House to interact with the Burnt King. Mechanically, this Crew Upgrade is an additional reward for the Score — only Emma currently has access to it, but she could find a way to convey the blessing to others in time.