The Mouth of the Silver Tongue

The chamber is heavy with the scent of burnt parchment and sulfur, illuminated by the flicker of braziers that burn with a low, violet flame. At the far end stands a massive bronze visage of a devil, its jaw unhinged to reveal a dark, slot-like gullet where a tongue should be. Below the carving, an iron lectern holds a single plate of hammered lead inscribed with sharp, jagged lettering. Four stone basins surround the center, each containing a single heavy copper coin embossed with a unique symbol representing various aspects of the infernal hierarchy. The air here feels thick, as if the room itself is waiting for a confession or a clever evasion.