------------- Tales of the Raptors – Lady Ghedryn

The secret doors all led to the same place, a series of converging hallways that ran into a large room, some twenty feet wide, maybe thirty feet tall, and around sixty feet north to south. In the southeastern corner, a tall archway was hung with layers of silk drapes, separating off what appeared to be an opulent bedchamber. The outer room seemed to be a combination dining area, library, office and sitting room. The light was sparse at best, a few candles here and there, barely glowing coals in the fireplaces, and oil lamps far up the walls dark and clouded over with soot. What area of the wall wasn’t covered in bookshelves was covered in ornate tapestries, weapons displays, and paintings. The theme of the room was eclectic, mostly dragons, but also wizards, undead, panoramas of a place of darkness and death that reminded them of the stories of Damia, with a plethora of pentagrams and diabolic symbols worked in all around.

As they moved in to investigate, a movement in the bed chamber caught their attention and a woman stepped out and sighed. She wore a long red and black dress with a low neckline, a charcoal gray robe, and shiny black boots, and leaned lightly on a staff topped with a horned skull. Her hair was long, done in spiraling curls and flaming red, her large round eyes piercing green, and her face thin and sculpted, with sunken cheeks, and pouting lips.

She thunked her staff once on the floor and her open right hand erupted with otherworldy magic. Hawke could feel a sudden, gut wrenching closeness to Hell. Her speech was odd, an accent none of them knew. Only much later would they learn that Lady Ghedryn Delephore was born and raised in Damia, a devout follower and personal friend of Princess Aura, and a ranking Witch of the Coven of the Beast.

“If you’re not aware, you’re trespassing on private property. Now give me one good reason why I shouldn’t incinerate you all where you stand.”

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