Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master Something Wicked

We'll have some supplies sent to you and your people so that you can at least live a little better. alright?”

”What people?” Girrigz frowns. ”They’re all d-dead’n brok--”

A sharp slap to the head from Eries silences him at once. ”That’ll be f-fine, miss,” she says quietly, giving a sharp look to her son. ”Y-you’ve done us a k-k-kindness. Always welcome here, y’are.” She gives a little squeeze to Garvid’s arm, then sees everyone to the door. The numerous locks click back into place.

Talfryn’s hunched form shuffles into shadows, the tap-tap of his walking cane fading into the night.

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Back at House Fordyce, the house is dark and quiet. You work your way through the tiled mudroom. There’s no hot water now, as Pobie and the others are in bed, so you make do as best you can with the pails of cold water and soap. Finding the usual worn towels and robes in the cupboard, you enter the kitchen.

To your surprise, Calcedon is seated at the table, dressed in white linen sleeping gown and nightcap. ”I wasn’t able to sleep,” he explains, sipping a cup of tea. ”Goodness, you smell like a sewer! No, don’t tell me, I don’t think I want to know.” He stands and beckons you to the little table with its mismatched chairs. ” Well, even sewer rats need to eat. Come on, then.” He stands and busies himself gathering a loaf of bread, some hard cheese, and a mess of apples. Dropping it unceremoniously onto the table, he sits down with a heavy sigh. ”Toadie wasn’t feeling well today. He had a slight fever and fell asleep without any supper. Blister’s with him now, against our better judgment. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. Maybe you could have a look at the little man in the morning, doctor? I’m sure it’s nothing serious,” he adds hopefully. ”He’s just been so excited about joining in on the next play. He’s playing a corpse, and I’ve never seen an actor more dedicated to his work. A future bard on our hands, I’m sure.”

The virtuoso squints his eyes as he stares into the light from his lamp. ”We shan’t fear a cloudy day, shall we? The sun is always there, you know, even if she’s hiding behind the clouds. Even in the dead of night she’s up there, somewhere, shining on.” He smiles. ”There’s a song there, I’m sure. I’ll have to work on it tomorrow.” He stands and makes his way to bed, continuing to mutter and hum to himself. ”...Still there, she is.” Tag?

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The next morning (Day 5), Garvid and Li wake early with a wracking cough and a rash of blisters across their cheeks. Tag?

Pietro resisted the urge to go and check on child right this instant but decided to let him sleep and get some rest. Plenty enough time in the morning. "Sure, Cal. I'll of course take a look at him and treat him as needed. And you are right, you should limit contact until we know more about this."

Wicked, have we determined how this disease spreads? Airborne? Bodily fluids? Other?

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Pietro was up early and ready to look at the child as soon as he awoke. His plans were cut short by the wracking cough of Li and Garvid.

The doctor used his best practice to diagnose them...

"Maybe we should postpone our visit to Racker's Alley until you are both feeling better. You both should rest while we go see Cressida."

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heal: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Pietro can make lesser restoration infusions (2-3/day) and pass them out to heal any ability damage. Let me know if they incurred any ability damage so far.

Woken by the coughs, Yaziyah joins Pietro in caring for the sick. At his suggestion that they wait, she shakes her head however. "No. At this pace, we will get nothing done. We must find the source of this corruption and end it."

Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

She sees to the child first, beseeching the spirits to give him strength to beat the illness on his own. It is a cruel arithmetic that she must follow - her most powerful magics are reserved for her companions, those who can fight this evil. Every day they delay, dozens more die. She will do what she can for Toadie, perhaps buy more time for him until a true cure is found.

Yazi will cast delay disease (aka delay poison on her spell list) on Toadie.

This done, she sees to Garvid and Li. Purging the illness from their bodies is hard work, and she is not entirely sure that she succeeded, so she follows that up with an additional ritual meant to restore their strength. Remove disease on Garvid and Li, plus lesser restoration on both using the wand.

CLC Garvid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
CLC Li: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Pietro and Yazi, sleep deprived but driven by adrenaline, snatch up medical supplies and healing sticks and rush through the manor.

First they visit Toadie. Blessedly, the boy seems to have battled off whatever was affecting him the day previous and, aside from being a little cranky and wondering why he isn’t allowed to play outside, is doing well. ”I dun told ya!” Blister says seriously, her eyes growing wide and her voice dropping to a growl, ”Tha mad doctors’ll snatch ya up and take ya to their lab! Cut ya inta pieces, they will!” Toadie screams and throws a blanket over his head. (Yazi, keep your spell).

Garvid and Li are in worse shape. Both exhibit clear symptoms of blood veil: headache and fatigue, deep red rashes running along their necks and faces, and wet, congested coughs.

You can each make a heal check for each affected character. Let’s use Pietro’s first roll there for Garvid. Yazi gave me one already, and here is one from Pietro for Li.

Pietro heal @ Li: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

These checks succeed, and both Garvid and Li will receive a +4 bonus on their next Fort save against blood veil. But, Garvid has taken 3 damage to both Con and Cha, and Li has taken 4 damage to Con and 3 to Cha. Note that if your Con reaches 0, you die :(. And remember, you have a wand of lesser restoration.

Yazi places the palm of her hand on the forehead of Li and Garvid, beseeching her spirits for aid. After a few minutes Garvid coughs deeply, clearing his throat. He's still sweating, the the redness of the rash is already visibly reduced. Li still shivers and sweats, clearly unwell despite the ritual. Even so, a few taps with one of her healing sticks and Yazi sets them right, at least for now.

Successful check for Garvid, who is cured. Li is still sick. I'll assume you want to use the wand until their ability damage is completely cured [7 charges], but let me know if you'd rather heal less.

wand LR@Garvid (con): 1d4 ⇒ 1
wand LR@Garvid (con): 1d4 ⇒ 3
wand LR@Garvid (cha): 1d4 ⇒ 1
wand LR@Garvid (cha): 1d4 ⇒ 4
wand LR@Li (con): 1d4 ⇒ 2
wand LR@Li (con): 1d4 ⇒ 4
wand LR@Li (cha): 1d4 ⇒ 4

Pietro and Yazi, applying their respective methods jointly, determine that the disease appears to spread through contact with physical media.

Shaking her head in regret, Yaziyah steps back after her ministrations. "I'm sorry, Li, this is a damn stubborn disease. I'll try to halt its progress for now, at least." Cast delay disease on Li. She looks at her patients searchingly. "Have either of you handled money... say, yesterday? Or day before yesterday?"

Yes, go ahead and use as many charges as you need to fully repair ability damage.

Reaching the manor, Garvid exhaustedly waves at Calcedon, crashing into a couch before even removing his armour. "Sure there is, Cal, sure there is. Just... sing it quietly in the morning. I feel like I'll need someone to cart me around for the next week.", he grunts, slowly removing his gauntlets, with a wincing face.
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Garvid wakes up in the morning, as every single fiber of his body aches. I'm getting f%#%ing old, aren't I..., he thinks, as he reaches to scratch his head. That's not just the fight, isn't it... I've got the plague..., he harumphs, standing up on his bed with a man three times his age. He considers walking downstairs, before he stares at the bell on the wall. No way I'm pulling this. I'm not a damn fop., he thinks. Just... gonna sit here for a second. Or a minute. As he remains on the chair for more than an hour, he's interrupted as Yazi walks in the room. "Yeah. Good morning, there. Think I might've gotten something.", he smiles tiredly.
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Sitting down in front of a hearty breakfast a mere hour later, Garvid grins, halfway through devouring a whole loaf of bread. "Well, I for one am ready to get those damn vampires.", he says, making a giant-sized sandwich, and biting into one end. "You thinking they might know something about the damn plague?", he grunts between bites. "Because that thing made it personal now."

Talfryn returns while everyone is at breakfast, his entrance to the kitchen accompanied by a score of young children who all pester him for chunks of honeyed almond loaf that he'd brought along with him. The paper wrapping is torn and clearly half the load has already fallen prey to the kids, who plead and laugh as Talfryn mock-scowls at them and gives them even more.

Setting what's left of the loaf between the dishes, he gives a curt nod to each member of the group, the levity of his interaction with the children evaporating at Garvid's mention of the vampires.

"Perhaps," he says, rubbing at his chin. "Though from the dank nature of their abode, and the way they seemed to be living much like animals, I would think these vampires are perhaps too bestial in nature to furnish us with much useful information."

It's clear that Yazi's wand and Pietro's ministrations have done enough to Li and Garvid so that Talfryn doesn't even notice they're ill. Instead, he stands at the ready, waiting for others to finish breaking their fast so that they may report to the marshall and then conduct their grisly work.

Li smiles at Cal. "Ya always be havin' such an interestin' way of talkin' 'bout things. Mebbe me be dreamin' tonight 'bout tha sun chasin' tha clouds away as she be dancin' in tha sky."
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Li wakes up and she feels like she's been burned by the sun. She feels hot and there's a blistering rash which is painful to the touch. A coughing fit seizes her and after what seems like an eternity, she falls back on to her pillow. She groans and just lays there, feeling weak. Another coughing fit and soon Pietro and then Yazi come to check on her. "I be feelin' like death warmed over," she croaks. "All me days on tha streets, beat'n ta an inch of me life, an' I never be feelin' this bad."

After the doctor and shaman attend to her ills, Li feels much better. She doesn't feel completely normal but at least she is able to keep her feet. She gives Yazi a weak smile, "Don't be apologizin' Yazi. Ya done make me feel almost normal. Mostly healthy be better than completely sick." The rogue contemplates the Shoanti's question. "I don't think I be handlin' any money or be touchin' anythin' but there be a lot of filth in tha sewer. Mebbe that be how Garvid an' me be gettin' sick."

Turning to Pietro she says, "I be right as rain thanks ta ya and Yazi." Li coughs again but continues as if nothing happened, "We shouldn't be delayin' Racker's Alley. I c'n go. I just be needin' some food. Isn't feedin' tha body tha cure fer most of what ails ya?"

Pietro put his chemical items away and stopped, "I was going to concoct something to make them feel better but the magic stick will do the trick as well."

He excused himself, "If we had more time, I could cook up something like I did last time but that will keep me from going with the rest of you. So... if you both are feeling Ok, let's head over to Cressida and then to deal with these vampire... whatever they are."

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Pietro will not expend his lesser restoration infusions at this time but he has then available. Wicked: do I have the elixir of dragon breath for 1,400 gp?

Mouse caan only watch concerned as Yazi and Pietro minister to the sick Garvid and Li. Wish I'd've had some kind o' learnin' in healin'...or, anythin', really. As the pair work diligently to tend to their charges, the half-elven woman watches intently, occasionally mouthing along to Yazi's lyrical chants. For a moment, she even joins audibly in the chant as she watches...but when it doesn't sèem to lend any extra power to the ritual, she lapses into embarrassed silence.

If you 'n Garvid is sure y' c'n swing it, an' 'f Miss Yazi an' Doc say 's ok, she replies later to Li's offer of aid. But I ain't want you t' get sicker cause've it... Truly, she knew how valuable Garvid and Li were in a scrap - but they were more than just allies now. They were friends.

Well-fed on a breakfast of blood sausages and shirred quail eggs, our enterprising adventurers delve into Her Majesty’s plague-ridden streets once more. But first, at Pietro’s request, a slight detour is in order....

Gold Market.
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Korvosa’s largest market serves as the main attraction in Midland. People from all over the city descend daily on the stands, stalls, and tents that form the backbone of the open-air market. Vendors hawk a variety of wares, mostly foodstuffs and minor crafts, in the wide semicircular plaza between Eodred’s Circle and Eodred’s Walk. All manner of foods and handicraft from Korvosa’s holdings and the rest of Varisia appear in the Gold Market. Several carts sell fresh-made meals and sugary snacks, from Varisian borscht to Oliphant Ears (fried on the backs of tower shields). The wide variety of foods available make this a popular market, and some city leaders speculate that at least half the city’s residents visit the market at least once a month.

This week, however, the market is relatively deserted, and you’d estimate that less than half of the tents and stalls are manned by vendors, with even fewer shoppers scattered among them. Even the colors seem muted, the vibrant indigos and coral fabrics reduced to somber shades of plum and flesh-pink

One small and irregularly appearing stall sells trinkets that the proprietor, Sagitar Tiguan, claims are minor magical items or elixirs and tonics created through alchemy. Although many locals wonder about the authenticity of his goods, whenever he appears in the market, the shining silk tent in which he holds forth is usually surrounded by adventurer types.

It is toward this stall that Pietro marches.

Today, Sagitar paces idly before his stall, no customers to speak of. ”Oi, doc!” he slurs, grinning to expose a row of gray and gap-ridden “teeth.” ”Wha’ kin I do ya fer?” Listening and nodding as Pietro explains, (”Mmmhmm...aye...ya don’t say?”), Sagitar dives into his tent of treasures, rustling through and banging around various rucksacks and chests. ”Got th’ perfect fing, Satigar does! Stol--recovered from an abandoned shrine to Zon-Kuthon in th’ Pantheon, it were.” He presents a beautifully crafted, blown-glass vial. Within, a steaming green concoction bubbles…

”Whaddya say?”

Citadel Volshyenek
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”There were...how many weapons?” Cressida’s writing quill drops to the pile of parchments before her, what appear to be a stack of bureaucratic, standardized forms and orders. ”And how many rats?” She rubs her temples. ”And you felt it safe to leave Girrigz on the street? Well, I haven’t questioned your judgment up until now, and gods know your methods have been effective. Still, let’s keep his whereabouts, um, indeterminate for the time being. What else is there to report? Any activity in Racker’s Alley?" she asks hopefully. "Any news to report on Zenobia Zenderholm?” Tag?

Today, Sagitar paces idly before his stall, no customers to speak of. ”Oi, doc!” he slurs, grinning to expose a row of gray and gap-ridden “teeth.” ”Wha’ kin I do ya fer?” Listening and nodding as Pietro explains, (”Mmmhmm...aye...ya don’t say?”), Sagitar dives into his tent of treasures, rustling through and banging around various rucksacks and chests. ”Got th’ perfect fing, Satigar does! Stol--recovered from an abandoned shrine to Zon-Kuthon in th’ Pantheon, it were.” He presents a beautifully crafted, blown-glass vial. Within, a steaming green concoction bubbles…

”Whaddya say?”

Pietro hated to deal with this guy. He always came out of the deal as if he had bought something illegal. But the man was well-stocked. The doctor swallowed his pride and nodded, "Yeah, I think that's what I am looking for. I don't want to know where you got it from."

He inspected the vial of green liquid, "As always I'll come get a refund if this doesn't do what it's supposed to do." As long as it doesn't kill me that is.

Cressida
Pietro did not know any Zenobia so he let the others respond.

He said, "We'l be investigating Racker's Alley this morning, ma'am. We'll provide a full debrief later today."

Pietro smiled. For a doctor, he was picking up this military talk rather quickly.

Handwaving the girls to the side, Garvid nods. "I'll be fine. We got the luxury of a couple of great healers, which the rest of the city doesn't. So as soon as we can go, we have to go." He grins darkly, patting his halberd. "Besides, even if I'm coughing my lungs out, I can still swing it better than most."
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Garvid sits on the chair in Cressida's office, watching the stack of papers, face filled with the delight of a person who no longer has to file reports. "Truth be told, I'm pretty sure that his ego would prefer if he killed him or threw him in the dungeons.", he chuckles. Being mom-handled is the best way to humble a criminal who isn't yet hardened enough not to care. Or worse...

"We're planning to move on the Alley right after. We found... well, we found traces of vampires. Sure could do with a Galtan chef escorting us now." He leans forward. "Any news on Zenderholm? I'm planning on making it our top priority right after we're done cleaning up the sucky situation in the Alley." He closes his fist. "You thinking someone might be going for Zenderholm on purpose? She's royally pissed off some people around the underworld.", he throws a glance at Cressida, hoping she doesn't miss the underlying question. "The ones with necks still tender might have an axe to grind with her. Removing her will destabilise Korvosa even more, regardless of what Zenderholm herself says."

"You thinking someone might be going for Zenderholm on purpose?”

Cressida nods tensely. ”Yes, of course. She is known as The Hanging Judge, after all. Her rise to power has resulted in as many enemies as allies. But I know you’ll find out. If anyone can, it’s you lot. And I shouldn’t expect that anything should have resolved so easily. What with that Dr. Davaulus requiring daily debriefings and endless reports for his physicians, Arbiter Zenderholm’s disappearance, phantom ships sinking in the harbor, nobles barricading themselves into their estates, the Gray Maidens breathing down my neck with their expanded recruiting efforts and jurisdiction, increased demand for security details, a shortage of my own soldiers, and of course blood veil itself! Well, some days I feel like I’m reaching my wits’ end.”

To refresh our memories, here is a link to the first post discussing Zenobia Zenderholm’s disappearance.

She drops her voice to a whisper. ”Not that I should complain, or even that I can. The guards mustn’t know that things are, well, spiraling out of control. It’s important their Field Marshal appear calm and collected at all times, of course. And so it’s just so good to be able to talk to you, people I can trust and confide in, it’s such a relief! It keeps me from drink.” She half-smiles, even her attempt at a joke failing.

Then her eyes light up. ”Maybe I could convince you to help with an additional matter, then! Nothing too dangerous, of course, you’ve quite enough on your own dinner plates, I know. But this…” She picks up the top parchment from her stack. ”...requires special attention.”

”I’ve received reports about a perfume shop allegedly offering some ‘miracle cure’ for blood veil. The store is called Lavender and it’s located in The Heights, just off Summoning Street. Now let’s see… Its proprietor is one Vendra Loaggri, and the shop has a reputation for avant-garde creations and brazen promotions. Do you remember the infamous ‘free imp with every purchase’ story from last year? It’s that very shop! Anyway, she’s now offering an alleged cure. Obviously, I need someone to determine the veracity of these claims. But it would be terrible publicity for the Guard to just waltz in and appear to bully a vulnerable sole proprietor, especially one so well known. If Ms. Loaggri has indeed found a cure, it should obviously be made freely available. And, if she’s peddling snake oil, the false security she’s fostering needs to be dispelled before more people put their confidence in trickery and unknowingly expose themselves and spread this malediction even faster. What do you say, for old times’ sake?” She gives you her winning, if tired, smile. Tag?

Lavender is S9 on the Korvosa Map on the campaign page.

Also, last call to tag gear from the loot list. Cressida is about to offer to purchase it all from you.

We should keep the CMW potions and the alchemist's fire. They could be spread around or else Li will take them.

Talfryn stands at the back of the group, both hands resting on the head of his walking cane, hunched over and absorbing each word that the marshal speaks with fierce focus.

"Any quackery at this time in regards to a cure for blood veil would be a most egregious breach of civic responsibility. Once we are done with the vampire's nest, I believe it would be a small matter to pass by Lavender and ascertain the veracity of Ms. Loaggri's claims. Who knows? Perchance she has discovered a cure, and this may prove a boon to the entire city?"

His tone, however, indicates that he is quite skeptical on that front.

"Marshal, if I may be so bold: Zenobia Zenderholm disappeared almost immediately after ceding Longacre to the Gray Maidens, did she not? How are we to proceed if we discover that these new enforcers are behind her disappearance?"

Seconding the CMW and Alchemist Fire/

Pietro looks at the items about to be turned over the Cressida and lays claim to the bottle of air, "I think is very interesting and I would like to keep it if you all don't mind."

He exhales and then draws air from the bottle to try it out giving it the thumbs up.

I didn't even know we had that thing.

Yaziyah palms two vials and passes them out to the girls. "Here, some healing juice for when I can't reach you with the stick." She turns to Pietro. "Doctor, do you know anything about this woman? From my ignorant point of view, mixing perfumes and mixing... whatever it is you do look quite close together." She adds pensively. "And how in the nine hells would a perfumer stumble upon a cure for the blood veil...? No, indeed, I think it is unlikely that she has the real thing. We will look into it."

Knowledge local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

And the word of the day: quackery: ˈkwak(ə)rē/ | noun | dishonest practices and claims to have special knowledge and skill in some field, typically medicine. | "a website dedicated to exposing medical quackery"

”Vampires.”

Cressida pales, shifting to sit up straight in her chair. ”Vampirism! Well! The boys weren’t far off then, prattling on about ancient Varisian folklore. I figured these were just the rumors from some of the moths, trying to make a few shields selling garlic and Desnan holy symbols. Have any of you dealt with vampires before? Do you know what to expect, or have a plan? Perhaps we should contact Ishani at the Temple? Do you think he would be a valuable resource for you?” Tag?

"Marshal, if I may be so bold: Zenobia Zenderholm disappeared almost immediately after ceding Longacre to the Gray Maidens, did she not? How are we to proceed if we discover that these new enforcers are behind her disappearance?"

Cressida looks even more addled than before. ”Well, that would certainly complicate matters. A very nuanced approach would be best, I should think. Of course we have the greatest confidence in Her Majesty’s Maidens.” Her eye twitches ever so. ”Should the motives of any rogue Maiden come into question, simply report your findings to me. And only to me.”

”Now, the simple matter of what to do with the arsenal of weapons you’ve uncovered.” She smiles in a sly fashion. ”Had the guard recovered them, they’d automatically become property of the city, but considering that you’re free agents, I’m well within my rights to draw up a requisition order on behalf of the Citadel, purchasing these items from you.” From one of the numerous shelfs along the wall behind her she withdraws one of countless form parchments. Swiftly filling it out and signing her name with practiced and efficient speed, she hands the crisp parchment over to 1d6 ⇒ 3 Mouse. ”There, Ms. Redfist. Just present this order to the clerk on the first floor, Kennesy, and be ready to hand over whatever equipment you’ve found. He’ll make sure you’re compensated appropriately.”

Mouse takes the parchment from Cressida, examining it closely. The square, heavy handwriting makes the letters easy to make out...but with no experience in trade, the finer points of the ledger are lost to her. It'd take too much time to know if the number at the bottom was accurate, but Cressida hadn't shown any hints of a double-cross before. Kennessy, y' say? We'll bring everythin' to 'is desk right 'way, ma'am. As t' th' vampires, I think we done 'bout got what we need sorted, yeah? She punctuates the comment with a glance at the party's more learned members. [B]Lucky wood sticks ain't so hard t' come by, even wit' folks sick.[/]

knowledge local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Pietro frowned at the mention of Lavender. "I know of this place and woman who runs it. She sells perfumes and other items that caters to the desires of the rich to be young and beautiful forever."

The doctor blushed realizing that this was not much different than what he did with his rich clientele.

He cleared his throat, "Unfortunately, her products don't always work as desired and I've had to treat more than a few allergic reactions to her products from good-paying customers."

He concluded, "While it is possible to add fragrance to medicine, I do not think this woman has the skill to make medicine in the first place. We should pay her a visit."

knowledge,local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Li smiles nervously at Cressida's questions regarding the possibility of vampires. "We be havin' what we think we be needin'. We not bein' completely sure it be vampires. I be thinkin' Ishani be havin' enough ta deal with without bein' bother'd with tha possibility of vampires."

I guess holy water and some actual stakes would be good to have but I don't think Li would know that. She just has the silver bolts as per our previous discussion.

"Pietro be havin' tha right of it with regards ta Lavender. Tha owner, Vendra, be known ta be opportunistic. She be doin' anythin' ta make some coin. It be a good chance that she be takin' advantage of desperate people."

Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Garvid seems deep in thought for a second, before bursting in laughter. "The Imp lady?", he chuckles, shaking his head. "Think there's still a couple unaccounted for...", he grins. "Should there be a law against selling... snake oils?" He shrugs. "If not, then there should be."

Garvid will buy ANOTHER silver blanch for his weapon, it seems.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Talfryn's frown speaks volumes, even as he remains quiet.

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Citadel Volshyenek
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Cressida pats her hands on the desk. ”Right, of course, then I shan’t hold you longer. You’d best be off to neutralize this threat and investigate the perfumery. You have every ounce of faith I have, but still, be careful.” She stands and salutes.

Downstairs, off to the side, the group finds the clerk’s desk. A bored-looking man in the colors, but not the armor, of the Guard sits staring intently at a parchment. It takes a couple of tries to get his attention, and even then he blinks slowly. ”Right. Let’s see, whatcha got there? Mmhmm, mmhmm, requisition, then. Alright then,” he grabs a form document from his desk drawer. ”Let’s get it sorted.”

Once the studded leathers, crossbows, bolts, daggers, swords, and chain shirts are counted and inventoried, Kennesy disappears for a few moments, then returns with hefty canvas sack inked with the seal of the city of Korvosa. ”Right then, eighty-three crown, 7 sail. Pleasure doing business with ya.”

Each player should add 139 gp to their inventories. In addition, Li takes four alchemist’s fire, Yazi takes two potions of CMW, Mouse gets a potion of CMW, Li gets a potion of CMW, Pietro takes the bottle of air, and Talfryn the pearl of power. Garvid, assume you're able to purchase a silver blanche from the armory in Citadel Volshyenek. All, please keep track of these items on your end, because I won’t :). Anything else before we return to Racker's Alley?

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Racker’s Alley
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The late-morning light does little to dispel the sinister atmosphere of Racker’s Alley, which appears much the same as you left it the day before. Even the body removed from the others still lies in the street, the flesh beginning to turn a gruesome gray color.

The high walls of the surrounding buildings throw this awkwardly bent alley into constant shadow. Although littered with garbage and filth, the refuse isn’t the most stomach-turning trait of this rundown side way. Heaped against a bent wooden wall rises a pile of more than three dozen plague victims, their faces blistered and flushed, eyes open and staring. The scent of death is overpowered by the reek of rot, suggesting that some of these corpses have been here for days, but even a casual glance reveals that certain bodies seem strangely pale compared to most of the victims who succumb to the sickness.

The black hole in the wall remains, as dark and uninviting as before.

Roll20 updated. Actions?

"Right." Yaziyah stares at the hole in the wall as she pulls a couple of the useful sticks out of the sash tied around her waist. "First things first." She weaves a skein of blessings and protection around the group, then uses her own magics to imbue their weapons with extra potency. She then squares her shoulders, crouches in front of the dark hole with her palm open in front of her mouth, blowing once, short and sharp. Three little glowing lights take shape inside the opening, attempting to illuminate the entrance to whatever terrible lair lies beyond.

Bless on the entire group for 1 minute (1 charge), which Yazi will renew if it runs out before entering combat. Protection from evil on Mouse and Garvid (2 charges) for 1 minute, which Yazi will renew as well when it runs out. Magic weapon on her own crossbow - or a melee weapon of Garvid's, Li's or Mouse's if they don't have a magic or silver one!

"What do you mean, business, Eleanu?", asks Garvid with a smile, before his face turns staunch and unfeeling, the mask of a lawman. "It's called 'community service'. It's our pleasure to keep dangerous weapons off the streets, and the Guard outreaches and rewards such initiatives by monetary incentive." He grins again. "And really, you can't make that ten sails?"

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Walking in the front, Garvid's halberd thwacks on the filthy cobblestone. He looks at the hole in the wall, and shrugs. "Place could be a bit less inviting.", he jests, before bending the best he can in his heavy plate, and walks into the hole. "Li, can you come and let me know if I'm about to step in a bear trap or something."

Li is in the process of loading a silver bolt into her weapon when Garvid calls her over. "I c'n be leadin' tha way, lookin' fer hazards. I be offerin' ta scout ahead but I don't be wantin' ta be comin' across any vampires on me own. People I be knowin' but I don't be knowin' what ta be expectin' from vampires."

Li's crossbow is magical and her bolts are silver so Yazi doesn't need to cast on her weapon.

Muttering under his breath at the stench, Talfryn moves in behind the group, a scented handkerchief held to his mouth and nose, eyes slitted against the acrid sting of the stench.

He, too, begins to mutter and cast, and immediately -

Mirror Images: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

- five identical copies of him spring into being, forming a collective of Talfryn's that all scowl and hunch their shoulders together.

That done, he casts a second, final spell, and then nods to the others that he is prepared to enter. "If possible, wait a moment before we enter direct combat; there is a spell of short duration that I would like to cast onto the group."

Also cast Fox's Cunning.

Pietro looked at the flask in his hand, hesitated a second, but then gulped it down.

The mutagen worked on his body toughening his skin and giving him more reflexes but he also knew that the concoction also made him more reckless. Given his recent bomb throwing accuracy, that was not something to take lightly.

He palmed one of the new bombs and prepared to follow the rest inside.

-------------
mutagen, 50 minutes, +2 natural armor bonus, +4 dex, -2 wis

Nervously, Mouse takes a place near the front of the group, staring into the hole ahead. Well...nothin' f'r it but t' go in, I s'pose... She nods gratefully at Yazi as she feels the medicine woman's magics take hold - she didn't understand spellcraft, but that didn't mean she wouldn't take whatever help she could get.

I shouldn't need magic weapon.

-----------------------------
Citadel Volshyenek
-----------------------------
Eleanu blushes when Garvid calls him out, grinning almost like a schoolboy. ”Well, ya know what tha Field Marshal says. Keep it ‘arms length’ while all these shenanigans is on-goin’. The walls have ears’n all.” He gives Garvid a pat on the shoulder. ”I’ll tell tha Misses you stopped by.”

-----------------------------
Racker’s Alley
-----------------------------

What lurks behind the dark hole is both better and worse than expected, for although the heroes are not confronted with an army of undead, they nonetheless stumble upon a different kind of hell.

Dozens of glass eyes—crooked and crazed—glare from the heads of malformed and half-carved dolls lining skewed workroom shelves. Rat-gnawed stuffed aurochs, disembodied doll limbs, miniature rolling elephants, unseaworthy miniature wooden ships, and blocks illustrated with deformed or poorly painted animals fill bins and racks about the room. A cracked wooden door leads to the north, while a rickety trap door breaks the sawdust-covered floor to the east. In one corner lies the drying corpse of an old bald man amid the wood chips, rusty tools, and oily rags of a scored workbench

From here, for more than twenty years, the artless ex-con Rodolfo Giotorri created his horrible toys. Now, he lies dead and desiccated under the uncaring eyes of his deformed creations.

Actions?

Racker’s Alley

-----------------------------
From here, for more than twenty years, the artless ex-con Rodolfo Giotorri created his horrible toys. Now, he lies dead and desiccated under the uncaring eyes of his deformed creations.

The toys were not really distasteful at all but they had turned out very creepy given the lack of skill of the toymaker. Or at least Pietro hoped so. He could not fathom the idea that this toymaker would make these toys on purpose to torment little kids with nightmares. He shuddered and looked away from a ventriloquist dummy that was staring right at him.

Once at the body, he stated the obvious, "This once more looks like the work of the vampire. Careful, I feel he's near."

Pietro continued to inspect the scene...

----------
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
love the creepy music BTW. :)

Li quietly moves around the room as those more experienced examined the bodies. She starts as she comes face to face with a horrible looking monkey holding a pair of cymbals sitting on one of the shelves. What kid be possibly be wantin' that fer a toy? They'd never be sleepin' fer fear tha monkey be killin' 'em in their bed.

She glances at the body as she walks the room. "Tha keys be probably helpin'. Better be takin' 'em."

stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Yaziyah almost chuckles at the discomfited looks of her companions; the toys seemed no worse to her than the playthings of her childhood, although notably lacking in skull motifs and actual bones. Besides, she knew several dozen children whose parents were too poor to afford even these - those kids would have been happy to have a misshapen toy than no toy at all.

She looks around the room, taking in the sad corpse and the shabby furnishings.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

As the tension mounts, she feels that additional precautions are called for. As she beseeches the spirits to assist her companions, Garvid can feel his mind become clearer, while Mouse feels renewed strength coursing through her limbs. That done, the Shoanti woman closes her eyes and sniffs the air.

Owl's Wisdom on Garvid, +4 to Wis for 6 minutes. Bull's Strength on Mouse, +4 to Str for 6 minutes. Detect evil for 3 rounds (if we don't get interrupted) in a 60 ft. cone aimed at the next room.

Talfryn gazes upon the horrific toys with obvious distaste, and raises an eyebrow at Yazi's amusement; not knowing her background, he can only assume she has a morbid bent that does not sit well with him.

Regardless.

He casts around, looking for clues, or any sight of evil, muttering a spell beneath his breath.

Casting Detect Magic.

Pietro put his bomb down for a second and drank or rather swished a milky liquid in his mouth from one of his flasks.

That done, he opened up the bubbling green liquid recently purchased, swallowed its content, but then spit it right back out into the flask.

Trying to keep down the slight heartburn feeling and acrid taste in his mouth, he nodded to the other to proceed.

----------
might as well try it out then :)
used alchemical allocation and elixir of dragon breath

Clearly unnerved by the strange toys, Mouse moves across the room, stooping down to grab the ring of keys as she passes the body. As she stops, she can't help but notice the puncture wounds at the neck - all too similar to what they'd seen on the bodies above. Like Li said, these'll 'elp, she mutters half-heartedly. Ain't no sense in stan'in' roun' starin' at funny dolls. Le's try this'n, she finishes, gesturing toward the wooden door to the north and running a finger along one long crack.

Mouse will open the door when everyone's ready.

Li puts a hand on Mouse's arm. "Let me be havin' a look first ta make sure there ain't bein' any surprises."

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 Not like she'd know :)

Li carefully examines the door, determining it to be safe. Mouse tries the knob, finding that it opens inward to lead into the main toy "showroom."

Awkwardly stitched stuffed animals, poorly equipped toy soldiers, and dolls exhibiting myriad accidental deformities stare blankly out of the filth-smeared front window of this toy store showroom. Several heavy-looking kites dangle purple and crimson tails from the ceiling above, and a dollhouse recreating Castle Korvosa’s intimidating towers dominates one of the room’s side tables. Festooned with tiny bells, the shop’s entrance stands to the north, across from a doorway marked “Private” and a counter cluttered with dusty jars of candies.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

The tension is starting to get to the six Talfryn's. He draws a burgundy handkerchief from his pocket and mops at his brow, then shoves it down his coat pocket for quick access. Peering into the next room from behind the others, he gives a curt shake of his head.

"As loath as I am to say it, I believe we needs must go down to find our monster. It would eschew any room or location where an inadvertent ray of sunlight could find it."

Garvid stumbles through the narrow pathways, his armour brushing against the walls more than once or twice. Upon seeing the body, he frowns. "And they said, nobody would develop a taste for his arts.", he grins at Yazi as he sees the teethmarks. Tag Yazi.

Pocketing the keys off the body, he looks around the room, his face going across those of the disturbing toys. "Should've brought a Shelynite in this place... Close the doors and let them burn everything to the ground."

"So we're going downstairs, huh. And judging by those marks, Lordship, we're looking at a lot more than one monster.", he replies unhappily, feeling the edge of his halberd's blade. "Keep together... Any chance you've got a sunrod, Doc?", he asks, as he nods at Mouse, standing next to her side as she grabs the handle.

Ready to proceed!

"Ah. Wait a moment, please." Kneeling, Yaziyah places a hand on the trapdoor and closes her eyes again. Detect Undead for 3 rounds, aimed downwards.

At Garvid's question, she raises her head. "I can bring the light of Mother Sun in the darkest places, should we have a need of it. For now..." She circles a hand above her head, and the glowing lights swirl in its wake.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Pietro pointed to the lockbox and asked, "Do we open it now or later after we take care of the vermin problem?"

He looked at Li, "Maybe one of those keys you found work."

tag?

He then brought forth a sunrod and struck it ablaze, "Much better."

Pietro slipped the sunrod in a specially made pocket of his vest where it would illuminate from behind him leaving his hands free.

He muttered not too convincingly, "I guess we go down..."

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Haha! The rogue can't find the lockbox :)

If'n we be goin' down then we definitely be needin' light." Li shudders involuntarily as overblown thoughts of monsters dance through her mind.

Yaziyah sighs and climbs to her feet, staring at the trapdoor. "I sense four down there. There may be more, but these I can... feel. And they know we are here. They are waiting for us." She cocks her crossbow, aiming downwards. "Let's give them some indigestion, eh?" She speaks a few words and a faint shimmering plays over her, barely visible in the dim light.

Yazi casts stunning barrier, which gives her +1 to AC and saves for 6 rounds or until she is hit with a melee attack (at which point the attacker is stunned).

Satisfied, she motions the others to stand ready as they prepare to invade the vampires' lair. As a final thought, she pats the Harrow deck in one of her cloak pockets. "If you have anything useful for us, Madam Zellara, now would be the time."

Yazi uses 1 Harrow point for DR 3/-.

Talfryn gulps audibly as they square around the trapdoor, and then, mere moments before they fling it open to descend, he casts the spell he's been rehearsing over and over in his mind.

It's a new spell, one that he's been deliberating for some time, and which he's been unable to quite stir the confidence to attempt casting until now. However, with undead lurking literally beneath their feet, his desperation leads him to intone the arcane syllables and gesture at each of their party.

Casting Haste just before the trap door is opened. Lasts 5 rounds, and everyone gains +30 feet to movement, +1 to AC, +1 attack when full attacking, +1 to reflex saves, and +1 to attack rolls.

Li's stomach flutters as Yazi announces that not only are there four vampires but that they're also waiting for them to open the trapdoor. She quickly checks the door in the floor to make sure they haven't trapped it in some manner.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Once done, Li rechecks her loaded crossbow to make sure the silver bolt is loaded correctly. The last thing she wants is for it to misfire once the trapdoor is flung open. She stands at the ready, prepared to shoot a bolt at whatever moves when the trapdoor is open.