Melianthe continues to prove herself as not a melee'er.
She gazes at the remaining vampire.
"Seren! stake it!
Cherias channels energy again to damage the undead.
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Seren grabs a stake and shoves it with all his might into the vampires chest.
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Segang and Absinthe use the fleeing vampire's exposed defenses to strike, damaging it even in its gaseous state. The vampire coalesces back into physical form, slumped on the ground. She is motionless, but you see her wounds steadily healing -- until Seren drives a stake into her chest!
The vampire seems to resist Melianthe's hex. Irregardless, Segang whirls from this foe and follows his earthbreaker's momentum, smashing it hard into the remaining vampire. It falls, immobilized for the moment, but giving you enough time to stake it into submission.
"Cut off the heads," Absinthe counsels, putting her own advice into practice as she lops off one of the downed vampires' heads at the neck. "No sense in being less than completely thorough, or they might rise to vex us again! We can search this place after the undead have been sent off for Pharasma's judgment."
Breathing hard the barbarian lets his rage fall from him. That went better than expected. Is anyone hurt? I have an idea. Lets drag them up into the light.
"They completely resisted me..." Melianthe does not look triumphant after that battle. "I need to learn some new spells."
"Into the light sounds good, Segang. Do they burst into flame? We should be careful when exposing them," says the dusk elf.
"Be of good cheer, sister Mel," Absinthe says. "At least none escaped to warn others and add to our troubles. As to the catching of fire: let us pitch one out the door and find out."
The tiefling promptly seizes one of the quiescent vampires by the ankles and drags it to the door, then boots it outside for its final sunbath.
Dragging the incapacitated bodies into the daylight, even through the rain clouds, has the desired effect. Like a spark to kindling, they quickly ignite. The flare passes quickly, consuming the bodies and leaving behind only ash. Out of the shadows, you note that all six of the vampires are Ustalavs.
You complete a thorough search of the crawlspace and shop. Amid the coffins, you gather five leather pouches holding a combined 450 gold coins and 25 platinum, all of Ustalavic minting, a ring sculpted to look like intertwined brass spider legs, a single leather glove etched with runes, and a set of bone pan pipes. The latter three items radiate magic.
In the front room of the shop, unbalanced 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 a table in the room’s center. Festooned with tiny bells, the shop’s entrance stands to the north, across from a counter cluttered with dusty candies.
Based on the dust and state of the owner, you guess the shop has been closed for business the better part of a week. Beneath the counter, you find a pathetically bare lockbox, easily opened using the key Absinthe found earlier, that holds 5 gold, 22 silver and 30 copper coins. There is also a brass key shaped like the symbol of Abadar and bearing the number "261".
Melianthe examines the magical items.
Seren will also examine the items
"Cherias, a quick divine guidance if you don't mind"
; +1 if guidance is available
; +1 if guidance is available
; +1 if guidance is available
"Cherias, Absinthe--does the temple of Abadar have lockboxes? I suppose we could go and ask--we assisted them before, with the initial round of plague," says the witch. "That key is quite intriguing. As they are lawful and orderly, I would expect them to have an exemplary numeric system for storing--whatever they store. Artifacts, I expect."
She looks at the items with a slightly jaundiced eye. "Nice work, Seren. I'm not sure any of these are useful to us. I'd like a good elixir to heal the townsfolk, and also a necklace of fireballs, myself."
She glances back at the drifting piles of ash. "I wonder if our Ustalavian friends had anything to do with the plague, or just came to town in search of easy prey. Not very discriminating, those jackals."
"Why, yes they do. They are a bank as well as a temple, I believe. Do you think this is from one of them?"
"Yes, Abadar's temple does have lock-boxes," Absinthe says. For a moment, she looks pensive. "Very well-guarded ones."
The (mostly) reformed thief shrugs. "Entering one with a key will be much simpler. As for that ring, sister Mel, one would not discount it too quickly. It could be very useful to one such as this one, who uses acrobatics in combat. One would actually recommend the use of these fine pan pipes for you, for the next time you find yourself surrounded by enemies. As for the glove... what is not to like? Friend Seren, is one amiss in surmising that you might have good use for it?"
"I can give the pipes a try," says Melianthe dubiously. "And Absinthe, I don't suggest sneaking in there. I think they will be willing to help us."
"Let us go to the bank of Abadar. These keys may belong to someone the vampires killed, and their families may be glad to recover them. Or, they may have belonged to the vampires themselves, and I think in that case they would be spoils of battle -- though we might want to check with the Marshall first."
"One concurs," Absinthe says, nodding to Cherias. "Except... need we investigate this unpleasant area of town further? When vampires nest, they commonly breed, do they not? What if there are other nests? Or enthralled servitors?"
Melianthe shakes her head. "I don't know, but I have a feeling this was the only alley where they nested. Amazing that anyone would actually feed them. I assume the dying were brought here, and then preyed upon. However, Abby, if you like, we can look outside of Racker's Alley briefly before heading to receive Abadar's blessing."
"Any idea what happened to the toy maker of bad toys? Is it relevant to our investigation?"
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"He may have departed long ago," Asinthe says, shrugging. "Or else... he may have been the vampires' first meal upon taking possession of this establishment. Or he may have become their thrall."
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.
Thanks, missed that
A more thorough search of the toyshop and surrounding alley turns up little else of note. The surrounding streets are empty, even of skulkers, likely driven away by the awful stench of rotting corpses and the dreary rainfall.
Leaving Racker's Alley and Old Korvosa, you make your way to the Grand Vault of Abadar. It is late afternoon by the time you arrive. The scene at the front of the temple is much more orderly than the last time you were here. A number of hospital tents have been set up to aid the sick, while dividers segregate a queue of petitioners and customers trying to access the temple.
The wait takes some time, but eventually you are able to see a priest just before the close service for the day. The priest nods as he examines the key, and leaves you to retrieve the contents from the vault. When he returns a few minutes later, he carries a small backpack.
At first examination, the pack appears sadly empty, but a glance within reveals an extra-dimensional compartment inside! It holds a few coins, a pair of boots, a set of lock picks and fine tools, and a sheaf of notes detailing poor toy designs.
"the toymaker's things, but nothing more on the blood veil. A dead end...fitting for an alley. Well, back to the Marshall?"
"Well now!" Absinthe chuckles as she holds up the thief tools. "It would seem the toymaker had other means to supplement his income! Friend Seren, would you have need of these? One is already outfitted with such."
Absinthe fairly purrs at the sight of the boots -- but then sighs. "Excellent footwear, but one's latest bauble" - the tiefling briefly flashes her new ring - "makes them superfluous. Who would have them?"
"Hmm. The backpack would help me carry things without being weighted down, but the boots would help me move without my handicap slowing me down. I'm not entirely sure which would be the most help."
Absinthe shrugs. "Take both," she suggests. "Fickle fate and the triumph by arms have landed us a windfall that may help you, and refusing such gifts would be uncouth."
"I agree…and that makes me think of something I should buy for a wand," says Melianthe. "Unless you have other ideas, I am ready to report. At least the city hasn't collapsed into chaos yet. I wonder if any leads have been found from those coins."
I too could use the boots. Segang notes. Sometimes I cannot quite get to my enemies.
Seren will take the tools.
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"Taking both would be too much by far. Segang can have them as far as I am concerned."
Segang accepts the boots but adds If our plan ever calls for you to move faster they you shall use the boots.
By the time you return to Citadel Volshyenek, it is after sunset. When you reach Marshal Kroft's office, she is not there. Instead, you find Doctor Davaulus sitting behind her desk, sifting over reports and a sketch map of the city. He looks up over the rim of his glasses as you enter, flashing a weary smile. "Ah, good. Marshal Kroft said you might stop by. She is getting some much-needed rest at the moment... Doctor's orders!"
"What ails her, Doctor?" says Melianthe, trying not to appear too concerned. "And how may we serve?"
Segang's eyebrow arches as he regards the man. He tries to see what the doctor is reading and glances around to see if anything seems out of place.
"Exhaustion. I think she has barely slept in a month. The poor lady is working herself constantly and replacing sleep with restorative potions." The doctor shakes his head, frowning. "So, I ordered her to get some sleep, if but for a few hours."
He gestures to the papers on the desk. "I have been checking the reports in her absence. Grim, but I believe we are maintaining the balance for now. Still, I lost two doctors to a lynch mob this morning... several noble families have fled the city... a fire in the Heights..."
He looks up, "Was there something you wished to report? I know the Marshal had you running odd jobs. I have nothing specific for you at this time. She may, when she returns to duty in the morning."
"Nothing of great import," Absinthe says before the others can answer the doctor's question. "We satisfactorily investigated a huckster who was selling fraudulent 'cures'. We shall report to the Marshal in the morning."
"By your leave, Doctor," says Melianthe, bowing.
Segang, following the other's lead, strides out as well.
Doctor Davaulus nods and returns to studying the papers.
"Um, we have another lead then? Follow up on one of the other rumors?" Seren asks as he runs along to catch up.
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