>>6046727Yatagarasu leads onwards to a humble-looking derelict stone gazebo thing. For something called 'the Perilous Gate', it is surprisingly benign-looking. There are plenty more impressive-looking Gates scattered about the Garden. You imagined that it would be more dramatic, like those bronze Italian doors depicting Hell or something. You weren't expecting a humble-looking roof covering a shallow pit.
A small group of priestly-looking Baphomets step forward. You say priestly because they wear strange-looking scarves draped over their shoulders and arms. They're similar to the Buddhist kesa with rich brocade and color, but the designs are very odd indeed. The lines and swirls are similar to Runes. In their hands are salt and oat cakes; they say some sort of strange prayer and cast the offerings in the pit.
You watch as these offerings fall downward, but they never hit the bottom of the pit. In a flash of light, they disappear! Devoured by the Perilous Gate and sent elsewhere.
"Meep. Is <span class="mu-g">The Black Prince</span> working well, Your Majesty?" Yatagarasu asks as he shoulders his pack. It interrupts your rapt attention on the praying goats making strange gestures over the Perilous Gates.
"The what?"
"Why the cloak. I've not seen it in a long while; Rodomonte often complained about 'cooldown being far too long' or some such thing."
You remember Gareth's last words to you. 'Minion of Rodomonte' she called you. Did she assume that because of the cloak?!
"Just what does the <span class="mu-g">"The Black Prince"</span> do exactly?"
"Meep! It has a power called <span class="mu-r">Chevauchée</span>. The hateful World's backlash is devoured by the cloak, up to a certain limit. Of course, what that limit is is hard to determine. Once you reach it, you'll know right away as Backlash will affect you once more. Meep. It takes about a week or so for it to recharge its powers. It's perfect for Quests into the World to harvest Mana."
<span class="mu-g">You possess a Relic: 'The Black Prince' - A cloak of the finest blackness, formerly owned by Rodomonte. Possesses the power to neutralize Backlash called Chevauchée. There's a limit to how much Backlash it can neutralize. Once the limit is reached, it needs time to reset.</span>
It is indeed a very useful Relic. It is also something that clearly convinced Gareth that you are aligned with Rodomonte! To be charitable (and you fucking hate the idea of being charitable to that girl), from her point of view, the blackguard would never willingly give up such a treasure unless you swore Fealty to the evil bastard and borrowed it.
Hanbei had taken pains over the last week to explain that you can accept the Fealty of other Knights, Kings, Wizards, Witches, Damsels and Ladies and whatever else to bind them to Camelot. They aren't going to be almost completely loyal nor completely compelled to obey like Baphomets but those who swear Fealty are heavily penalized if they betray their word.
