Storyteller Shadow |
Andrew the Hardy
You knock on the door but there is no answer. Donnach shakes his head in frustration and tries the door which swings open as it is not locked.
Do you enter?
Alessandro Khadaji
As you close in on the mist you can hear strange sounds issuing forth. Wails of human voices in pain and fear though they sound distant and come infrequently.
Storyteller Shadow |
Andrew the Hardy
As you step inside you see that there is no one present. The waiting room is quite dark with the torches on the wall sputtering almost comlpetely out. Within a few minutes this room will be pitch black. Do you want to move through to the double doors before the lights go out or head back outside?
Alessandro Khadaji
You head back to a building where a low hanging torch bracket is located. As the night sky is so bright the torch is not lit. Luckily you have brought with you flint and steel to strike the torch and it glares fiercly to life.
With the torch ahead of you, you head into teh fog.
Make a Perception + Alertness check difficulty 8 to navigate towards the sounds you hear. The fog is quite disorienting and there is real danger of falling into the canal or the lagoon.
When those who seem ready to object meet the eyes of the Captain though they simply cast their eyes downwards and say nothing. The man has an... unsettling glare when he wants to which is almost always.
Moreover, many of the people make noise as they are led off the ship and into the Gondola false bottoms. They are strangely muted but even their mewlings are echoing into the strange fog that has settled over the area.
What if anything do you do?
Storyteller Shadow |
Alessandro Khadaji
You move through the thick rolling fog attempting to use the sounds to guide you to them. The problem you discover is that the fog plays tricks on you. Initially the sound are in front of you. Then they die down, then the sounds are behind you. You are not sure ehwtehr you are simply being turned around or if the figures are moving around in the fog.
Finally you come to a full stop as you see that mere inches before you is the edge of one of the docks. Another step and you would have been in the drink. The voices seem to stop altogether. Make a Perception + Alertness check difficulty 7
Andrew the Hardy
Sending the others back out into the night you head to the double doors which lead to the inner chamber of the Giovanni mortuary.
On the floor is a plush carpet whose origin is unkonw to you. As you step on it you are amazed at the softness of the rug. On the walls are not sconces but candle holders in fact there is barely enough light to see in here at all.
At the edge of your vision as you continue down the hall you can see that there are several doors in this hall, some to your left and some to your right. The hall is roughly 30' long and ends in yet another double door. This one though has strange carvings upon it.
The scene, which is difficult to make out in the dimness of the hall, appears to have the heads of some sort of creatures carved into it. Quite eerie indeed but then mortiians are no doubt morbid people dealing with the dead for a living.
Having flly examined this hall you believe there are seven choicesyou can make, with four doors on the left, two on the right and the double doors which you are now standing in front of as a seventh choice. You slow down your breathing to strain to hear something, anything but alas this place is as quiet as a tomb.
What do you do?
Storyteller Shadow |
With that being said, Dr. Benne gets up and heads into the night.
Despite the agitation which is clear on the face of some if not most of his men, the first round of cargo is loaded and sealed within the false bottoms. Twenty-two people in all have been secured thus far. The Gondola's begin to paddle towards their next destination led by Santo's right hand man, whose name always seems to escape you.
Before the last one leaves the Captain tells the boatman to stop. Two of the crew and the mysterious crippled navigator disembark and the cripple is placed in the Gondola to the dismay of the boatman.
The Captain looks at the cripple, "You are sure you can keep us cloaked and these as well? I don't wish to be seen here Radek".
The cripple looks up and sneers at the Captain, "I know my limits Captain, I wish the same could be said for you".
The Captain glares at him and motions him forward. What do you do? If you wish to arrive at the Inn you had best jump on board teh last Gondola!
Thesing |
Michael brings the gondola to the dock
"is there something wrong?" michael seems puzzled
"the fleet is just setting out to pick up the cargo to bring to the inn is everything ok? You seem like you were pounding on that door rather hard."** spoiler omitted **
"What cargo? What are you having delivered to my inn?", Gunther asks sternly. "I do not recall you ever running anything by me about any such cargo."
Michael Santo |
Michael turns Ghostly White and ushers Gunther into the office and locks the doors for it may not be safe to discuss these matters in the open.
"Gunther, Last night I was propositioned with a task of shipping "cargo" to your Establishment by a client that I have been dealing with for a number of years. He has brought a great source of business. Our meetings have always been brief and in the same manner. "Michael paces about"Always contacts me by night, always hooded and always catches me when I am alone. I never questioned his reason or what his cargo is about but this time... for some reason he decided to share he needed me to transport a group of people to your in. I thought that you knew about it. I even sent a convoy to your inn earlier today to make sure that everything was good to go, but come to think of it I have not seen him return all day as I have been swamped with work."Michael thinks to himself .oO(My Goodness I hope nothing has happened to the dear boy) "I was about to go meet him would you like to tag along? We can rectify this meeting immediately. "
Micheal stops moving about"if this is not what you came for then what else brings you here this hour? "
Thesing |
"No, Michael, I did not know of any such shipment."
Gunther pauses a moment.
"Now wait a moment... you do not find any of this a bit suspicious? A man you have been doing business with for years... do you even know his name?... always hooded and only meets you at night and when you are alone?
The more Gunther ponders the whole situation, the more suspicious he becomes
And your "cargo" is people? Who are these people?.. and how many are you supposed to be "shipping"? And why my Inn, especially when..."
Gunther stops himself.
"I think I would like to tag along and meet this business associate of yours."
Storyteller Shadow |
Andrew the Hardy
The door opens with a slight push. This room is very similar to the one on the other side of the building but is decorated in a more sinister fashion. The chairs are a deep crimson red and have multiple smears upon the arms and seats the nature of the smears is not quite clear.
Instead of bright torches lighting the room black waxed low burning candles are in place. They burn with a strong intensity.
The oil paintings on the walls look muh like the ones in the front room only the men in them have strange visages. Their eyes glow a shade of dark red and their front teeth are quite pronounced like the teeth of an animal.
At the opposite end of the room is a door but not a door. It is a drawing on the wall with some sort of black ashlike substance. Thus, the faint outline of a door is there but it leads to nowhere.
These morticians certainly have a flair for the morbid! There seems to be no other way to go in this room and you turn to head back into the hall and you are startled by the presence of a faint outline of a man staring at you. His voice seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once as his lips do not move, "Who are you and why have you come here?"
Storyteller Shadow |
Alessandro Khadaji
You strain to hear something anything in this fog but you cannot quite catch any further sounds. You feel your back back through the fog attempting to reorient yourself.
The farther back you move though the depper the fog seems to be as if it is spreading further into the city.
Make a Perception + Awareness test to try to determine your current location in the fog.
Storyteller Shadow |
The other boatmen have already opened their secret compartments and begun to bring the people inside. The anxiety level of both the people and the boatmen is heightened by the odd fog. Though they have said nothing so far, Santo's men seem quite reluctant to lead the people into the building which you assume to be the Inn Greetings.
Radek simply sits in the Gondola and says nothing, he does not ask to be moved nor does he move. His face has changed on the short ride as if the motion has made him sick. His face is drawn and pale. You can see the muscles in his cheeks and neck bulging as if he is strongly resisting something within his own mind.
As the last of the people are being led to the inn by your boatman one of the slaves makes a break for it! He smacks one of the boatmen in the mouth and he and his female companion begin to rush off as quickly as they can in their manacles screaming in their foreign language.
What do you do?
Storyteller Shadow |
Andrew the Hardy
The figure closes its eyes and opens them again. Its glare nearly stops your heart. Make a Courage check.
"You are a trespasser in these unhallowed halls! Leave now lest you wish to be one of the dead! Be lucky that your kind is not what I am here to punish else I would have already torn your mind asunder!"
Storyteller Shadow |
Xing and Lorenzo, I will get back to you I need to let some of the development of the night play through first.
Michael Santo |
Michael Begins rowing the gondola and his tale of the stranger
"This is where it all began. One night man a few years back approached my Gondola and stated that he needed a ride. Before I could tell him I was closed for the evening he handed me a bag of ducats. More than a weeks intake of coins. So I did what any man waiting for a big payday would do. I SHUT MY MOUTH, and I transported him and a few bagged items across this vast city. I didn't ask him his name nor his business I just took him across town. I figured the less I knew about the content and the man the better. Upon reaching our destination he grab his belongings and exited the Gondola and stated "I'm glad you didnt ask my name and even more impressed you didn't ask the content which is in my possession for that I greatly appreciate your services and will make use of your Gondola services by day and more importantly by night""Michael continues to row explaining his story of the stranger"over the years its been the same, give or take the items shipped the amounts of money given, the destination, but always the same hooded, at night last one out. Referrals for services come one. I knew it was someone that was sent by the stranger they come knock on the door 3 times in 3 quick sessions and when answered they would hand me a candle and a coin. That's how I know it was from him. Then 3 days later payment is received by incoming mail."
"but something is odd about this request and I wanted to ask him but I never broke the code. yet he informed me. Never has he done that and something doesn't sit right. I could have sworn you knew about the pending night venture like a party or some big event at your inn just like how it was closed down the other evening when it was booked solid, but we can get to the bottom of this. There are just so many things that don't add up."Michael goes silent
Storyteller Shadow |
Andrew the Hardy
You stand firm in the face of this horrible creature! Grasping your holy symbol you feel the strength of the Lord almighty flow through you.
Make a Faith roll.
Storyteller Shadow |
Alessandro Khadaji
You manage to reorient yourself at last. You are standing right next to the building where you wrenched the torch from its sconce. You hear voices behind you coming from the city.
"What a strange fog this is! Should we investigate Captain?" Likely it is the Doge's men on patrol.
What do you do? Interact with them? Attempt to enter the mist again?
Storyteller Shadow |
Michael Santo & Gunther Thesing
Gunther considers Michael's tale but does not respond sitting quietly instead to make his own judgment once he meets this mystery figure.
Michael guides the Gondola to a part of Venice where Gunther has never been to, the neighborhood is seedy and run down. Gunther is surprised at the state of this portion of the city which he always assumed was well maintained all over.
Michael brings the Gondola to a stop and they disembark heading with purpose towards a dilapidated building...
Storyteller Shadow |
Despite that veiled threat he turns towards the fleeing pair and they are suddenly lifted into the air. Their screams become more panicked but as they float towards him their mouths close involuntarily as they struggle to cry out.
Hovering over him he states in an even more menacing tone, "Quiet yourselves or I will quiet you permanently".
They then float towards the front door as into it as Santo's man gets up from the hit he took. Somehow he missed that amazing feat that only you saw.
Make a Courage check despite the fright you received the night before that display would ave unnerved you.
Alessandro Khadaji |
Il Corvo emerges from the mists, as if materializing... and is unarmed.
"Captain! I have tried to get to the source of this mist... it seems unnatural. Disorienting enough that I almost fell into the canal. I would not risk revealing myself to you, save to warn you and save lives.
I am Il Corvo... and like you, I am for Venice. Keep your men at a distance, keep them alive."
Bowing respectfully, Alessandro tries to slip away, using the edge of the mist for cover.
Thesing |
Michael notices Gunther's shock at how these people live "you look suprised have you ever been around these parts before?"
"No, never. I always thought this area was... better maintained... shall we say."
Gunther looks around, surveying the area, in as much disappointment as disgust. He wonders to himself how it ever got to be in such a state... and how could anyone bear to live here?
"Is that where we are headed?", gesturing towards the dilapidated building.
"This just keeps on getting better and better.", he comments to himself under his breath.
Storyteller Shadow |
Andrew the Hardy
The apparition pauses as you present your holy symbol.
"A child of the Lord! How did you come to be in sucha place!" Flee quickly mortal. For the love of all that is holy I will not report you to those that claim dominion over me!".
What do you do?
Storyteller Shadow |
Alessandro Khadaji
"Stop there. Show yourself!" the guardsmen shout but it is too late for Il Corvo has already melded into the fog.
You do hear them runing into the fog but one cries out and the sound of his body splashing into the water can be heard echoing from the strange fog.
You shake your head at the stubbornness of man and head away from the noise these guardsmen ar making.
Do you want to attempt to navigat the fog again or take a vantage point on a nearby roof to reassess the situation?
Storyteller Shadow |
As you ascend the stairs a group of young mean come down towards you with a dark look in their eyes. The menacing stare of Gunther gives them pause and they allow you to move by.
Michael continues to lead Guntehr to the top floor of the building the stairs groaning in protest with every step. Finally you reach the landing and see a door slightly ajar. Sitting in the room are a handful of men watching a woman with another man. He is thrusting vociferously between her spread legs. The sight sickens Gunther but Michael gives a small chuckle. Gunther turns to protest but Michael shrugs, "The oldest profession, a girl has to make a living right?"
Gunther does not respond to the comment but thinks that Michael will not think so similarly when his daughter is of age.
Finally after walking to the end of the hall Michael knocks on a door. It opens rather quickly and standing in teh doorway is a beautiful young girl that Gunther has never laid eyes on before. She is of eastern descent with exotic eyes though her clothes are more than adequate to cover her body her alluring figure is plain to see.
"Signore Santo! How good of you to come. It is a miracle, my brother is quite well. He was out of the city for a few days, it seems the poor man I identified simply looked like him, is that not wonderful!” Anya embraces Michael and gives him a warm peck on the cheek.
At that moment a man, who Gunther assumes to be Hans, steps out from another room and into the small front area of the apartment. Doubtless this place has few other rooms to hide in.
“Signore Santo what a pleasant surprise to see you. Who is your friend?”
Storyteller Shadow |
Alessandro Khadaji
Make aPerception + Alerness check difficulty of 6.
Andrew the Hardy
The apparition waves its handas if to reject your offer, "Your prayers will not save me".
As you head down the hall furiously the thing seems to vanish before your very eyes. Your rush brings you to the double doors which thankfully are quite easy to pull open. The main room is devoid of any life and you hustle through that as well until you are back outside with Donnach and Federico.
Before you can tell them your fantastic tale the sound of a Gondola paddle strikes the water and Donnach calls out and waves to the boatman.
Andrew the Hardy, Lord of Moray |
"I near lost my self in tha place, seems it is full o tha dead."
Takes the stairs down to the waters edge not wanting to make the boatman wait....
The dark night and boatman reminds him of the tales he heard of the river styx....
Looks at the candle he is still holding and nods to Federico...
..."No worries."
Andrew falls silent to consider all he had seen and heard from within.
Storyteller Shadow |
Alessandro Khadaji
Your first foray into the fog may have left you disoriented but it seems to have paid some divideneds for when you re-enter the mist you are able to navigate the canals and the piers much more effectively.
A single noise drives you forward a creak of wood. Focusing on this sound and no other you soon find yourself standing in a clearing in the fog. Looming before you is a large ship though one which clearly is not native to the city. It flies no flag and has no identifying markers at all.
No crew mills about the ship on the docks nor do you see any crew members on the deck though you do hear voices coming from the ship.
This is one of the few spots in the entire city where goods can be easily unloaded from a ship and quickly taken into the canals as the grand canal sits right next to this ships dock.
The gangplank is not down and unles you want to risk jumping for ropes which hang from the ship there is no obvious way to board.
What do you do?
Storyteller Shadow |
Andrew the Hardy
Donnach chuckls at your statement, "O' course it is a place of the dead M'lord tis where they are prepared for burial".
Federico grins as well at your statement.
They both get to chatting about the new possibilities for their venture not realizing that you are well and truly spooked by your experience in those haunted halls.
Let's have you sit tight on that Gondola ride for a bit Andrew.