[For better or for worse, Simon's best form of "diplomacy" is to try to intimidate everyone around him into submission. Even when it doesn't appear to have any effect whatsoever. He chews on the feather in his mouth, scowling.]

I slaughtered my own mentor in cold blood with a samurai sword. And I was barely a week away from my execution date when I found myself in this place.

Now, while I doubt your "portal" story is accurate, I will believe that these bands have something to do with this. I had never seen it before entering this place. How do I remove this accursed thing.