Something Wicked This Way Comes (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

Shall we have the knot return to their inn now? I think we are ready to move on to that, yes?

For sure. If we really need to go talk to the frogmen, we can either handwave it or go see them after we meet our other new players.

Works for me - think meeting the froggies could be fun - see our new dynamic in action :)

Molasbar sips at his own drink. "I know sunlight is anathema to their breed, but they seem clever. Especially that wizard with them. I wouldn't be surprised to find they have a way to cope with the sunlight dilemma." While his gaze scans over the room, his attention is never away from the door and the stairs. "It has been a while since I've had an assignment this invigorating. It will be nice to get out and take some meaningful action."

"I don't know if sitting in this inn is very exciting. What if these fools are off on some days-long trip?" Finishing the remainder of her ale, Rose waves over a barmaid. "I'll get the drinks this time," she says, ordering another set.

I'm fine with that. The back and forth between Xanos and Sariana is a lot of fun. I'm liking that Xanos still hasn't actually introduced himself, but it's time to move things forward. It will be more fun to do that scene with Molsabar and Rose present anyway. Then we won't need to do it more than once.

Having learned all they could in town, Xanos had stopped at the market for a few supplies and then headed back to the Inn. They had learned enough. It was time to start their mission.

Picking up a spiked gauntlet, a length of chain, some alchemical supplies and a few other pieces of wilderness gear.

The journey back to Farholde is uneventful, and as they enter the town Albrέkt once again assumes his "Opa" disguise.

The old sage enters the inn slowly, tall yet now stooped, his weary eyes flickering through the patrons, seeking any familiar faces...

Disguise: 1d20 + 6 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 10 = 31

For sure. If we really need to go talk to the frogmen, we can either handwave it or go see them after we meet our other new players.

The frogmen are boggards. They are going to eat you.

I will burn down their swamp

The frogmen are boggards. They are going to eat you.

Let them try...

Sariana stays quiet for the return home, if she is frustrated by the slow speed of her companions it doesn't show, although she keeps given Xanos appraising glances.

Upon nearing town (I assume when its dark...) she nods to the rest. "I shall see you at the Inn." and vanishes into the gloom.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 I assume this and my 50ft move makes getting there reasonably easy without being spotted.

Once she arrives and assumes position on a nearby roof she watches carefully - trying to pick out anyone in the tavern that looks unusual.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

When the group enters the inn, Molasbar stands, relief clearly visible on his face. Even if Molasbar hadn't seen them arriving to speak with the baron, he was sure he'd have sensed the confidence and power they exude. "I was concerned we may have missed you. May we speak?" he asks of the returning group. His right hand flicks toward the stairs, implying a private conversation upstairs would be preferred.

"Seems that a lot of people want to speak to us today. Who sent you?" the stern, one-handed man asked.

"We sent ourselves," says Rose simply. "We saw you when you paid your respects to Baron Vandemir." Rose tugs at her shirt and flashes the unholy symbol of Eiseth momentarily, before letting it slip back into hiding. Her eyes look toward the stairs, then back at the one-handed man, though upon returning her eyes involuntarily drift to the missing hand. Was this really the man who would bring down House Darius?

"Good for you. Now, why are you here, aside from wanting to talk to us?" The devilish looking man queries, readying a spell should their answer prove unsatisfactory.

The one handed man gave a small nod, apparently satisfied with the answer and the symbol. He gave the man next to him a small shake of his head. "I think we should continue this elsewhere."

He led the group down the hall to a small room that had recently been thoroughly tossed.

"Continue." he said once they were all inside with the door shut. "You clearly know more about us than we are comfortable with, so begin with who you are. Then, why you are here."

Rose follows along, feeling tense. If this went poorly, a fight could suddenly break out, and she certainly didn't want that. Fortunately the one-handed man seemed curious.

"I am Rose Silversting, and I and my companion are retainers to Baron Vandemir," explains the woman, careful not to use Molasbar's name if he preferred a pseudonym.

"As you know, the Baron is a man well known in the public, who owes many allegiances. It makes him fearful, unwilling to act when an opportunity presents itself. He would not approve if he knew we were here. But I've heard the stories of the bugbear army that is raiding the countryside, and I know that Balentyne would not fall so quickly from a frontal assault. We may be in the service of the Baron, but we also serve a greater lord, Asmodeus." Rose speaks Asmodeus's name with conviction, hoping these men would see that she was not afraid to speak his name. "We are here because we seek to bring down Talingarde, destroy House Darius, and make the goddess Mitra kneel before the Prince of Darkness." Rose can't help but grin wickedly ad the image.

"So now you have the advantage. You know who we are, and why we are here, but we only know you by rumors and tales of your deeds. Who are you, and why have you come to this far-flung outpost?"

For the sake of expedience, I'm going to assume that Sariana followed us into the room.

"Ah. The Baron. I had hoped he would come to his senses." The one-handed man said with a hint of amusement. "So the two of you are his investment, then. I was expecting that once his ambition got the better of his fears he would provide information, supplies, less direct support. Sending retainers means he wishes to keep an eye on us. Very well."

He looked to the tall old man looming at the door. Whatever else Albrekt was, he was also a surprisingly keen judge of character.

How is it that Albrekt is the only one of the original trio with a decent Sense Motive score?

Bro, I'm a devil sorcerer, I lie, I don't care about being lied to.

Haruk eyed the young lady intently. "That seems rather convenient, that the baron would suddenly come to his senses. However, you openly praise the Dark Father, so that is in your favor."

Molasbar stays near the door, where he can listen for anyone approaching that may try to eavesdrop on them.

"Keep an eye on you? Yes and no. Rose and I are some of his more discreet retainers. Officially we aren't associated, so it gives the baron a measure of deniability." Molasbar's expression grows intense as he adds "Rose and I pushed for this assignment because our interest in the downfall of the Mitrans burns in us. Yes, we would be reporting back to the baron. But we would be selecting the tidbits that support action over complacency. My loyalty is to the Dark Prince, first and foremost. Rose has shown you her first loyalty," he said, gesturing to where her holy symbol was again concealed "and I am sure you understand the hierarchy there. Any plan that furthers the Dark Prince's agenda so boldly, well, we'd be honored to participate."

Sariana, watching from outside the window like a surprisingly stealthy, bloodsucking spider, inhales gently to get a sense of the newcomers. Their offer seems almost too good to be true - although the logical part of her accepts that her own arrival was just as unlikely.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

"Yes, suffice it to say, the Baron has certainly NOT come to his senses," says Rose with a sigh. She missed the days when she could make a request and someone would fulfill it. But she was no longer nobility. For now, anyway. "The Baron is not opposed to your mission, though. Which leaves us free to support it. The real question is, what are you up to? As my colleague says, we'd be honored to participate--IF it has a real chance of working and IF we play a genuine role in its execution." Rose wasn't about to sign up to be a mere pawn in some suicide mission.

"Whether or not your role is genuine is up to you. As to what we are "up to," it begins with finding and retaking the Horn of Abaddon. We leave in the morning." the one-handed man said as though it were of little consequence.

The old sage follows the group up the stairs, bent and slow in his gait.

He appears at the door, lanky and wearing a rictus smile as he listens to two group's interplay;

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"Zwei of Der Baron's prized juwels falling into our Schatztruhe... "treasury"... Most opportune."

The old man chuckles dryly as he eyes the newcomers...

Knowledge (religion), guidance re Horn of Abbadon: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 = 28

Horn of Abbadon, Knowledge (geography, history, planes or religion, whichever works) 1d20 + 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + (1) + 8 = 10

Ugh. That bodes poorly.

It would be a history or planes check. It's a stone spire somewhere in the forest to the south where the first Mitran king destroyed some cult or something. The original trio was given more info from the Cardinal.

"The Horn of what? Do you blow the horn and summon a devil?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

The corner of the one-handed man's mouth twitched. "Essentially, yes."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Catching the twitch, Rose is pretty sure she was being mocked, but lets it slide. "Fine, retake the Horn of Abbadon. I can take things, seems simple enough." She really hoped she wasn't wasting her time with their strange quest. And she certainly didn't realize that the Horn was a place, and not a thing.

"We really taking this old man with us, though?" Rose looks toward Albrecht. "Nothing personal, but you're just gonna slow us down and get yourself killed."

Sense motive result- Xanos was amused by the question, but does not seem to have ill will or mocking intent towards you personally. It is more likely that he is keeping information to himself for security purposes. Also, he is entertained by this whole exchange.

"I should hope not. He has been insufferably ecstatic since the last time he did that." the one-handed man said with a rueful glance at the old man.

"It is of no matter anyway. I would expect you, as a disciple of Asmodeus, to recognize that things are not always what they seem."

The old man chuckles at first Rose's disquiet over the potential burden he presents, then at Xanos' cryptic commendation.

Leaning on his staff he shuffles slowly forward and extends a hand to the young woman with a smile;

"Der Old Vun sagen visely. Do nicht vorry about me Fräulein..."

As he speaks, the form of the old man slips away revealing in his place a towering pale wretch incased in baroque plate armour. His "staff" now a great sword streaked with dried blood.

"I am Albrέkt. Unheiligen Krieger des Blassen Prinzessin..."

His rictus grin now more predatory than friendly...

"He has a flair for the dramatik." comes a dry voice from the window. Sariana crouches in the casement, the very image a predatory vampire. She seems completely unaware of the irony pervasive in her statement.

"Do you require sleep or shall we set out at once? There is night time which we could use well. And yes Miss Silversting, it seems simple. It will not prove to be that way."

Another one... Molasbar thinks when Sariana joins through the window. "We can leave within the hour, as far as I am concerned.
" he replies to her.

To Xanos he adds "I do have some minor knowledge of the area and some modest experience in the wild. But I understand if you feel the need to keep the location of the Horn to yourself for now."

"Finding the Horn's location is our first goal," he said. "I require some time to prepare, but it should not be long. We must also plan for the sleeping arrangements of Albrekt and Sariana. I would prefer not to tote around a pair of coffins."

What time is it right now?

Rose is taken aback by the sudden appearance of not one but two vampires, and almost reaches for her bow, before stopping. The Cardinal has a formidable force searching for this horn.

"Vampires? Two of you? It's good you revealed yourselves. Eiseth's dark energies can both harm the living and energize the undead. So, unless we're waiting on any more dramatic entrances, I'm ready to go when you are."

ooc]What time is it right now?[/ooc]

Late afternoon/early evening.

"Finding the Horn's location is our first goal," he said. "I require some time to prepare, but it should not be long. We must also plan for the sleeping arrangements of Albrekt and Sariana. I would prefer not to tote around a pair of coffins."

"We can sleep underground if need be. It is simply a matter of ensuring sufficient darkness."

I subscribe to the Anne Rice school of vampires where stuff like this works just fine. If we're absolutely limited to coffins then so be it...

From the Vampire rules: "If reduced to 0 hit points in combat, a vampire assumes gaseous form (see below) and attempts to escape. It must reach its coffin home within 2 hours or be utterly destroyed."

"It is my understanding that should you fall in combat, and do not have the dirt of your own grave near enough, you will be destroyed. Have you managed to surpass that limitation?" the one-handed man asked, seeming intrigued.

"I never actually died." Sariana responds. "Therefore I have no grave of my own. All I have had to fear so far is the light of the sun, the way those akkursed Mitrans were going to kill me."

She shrugs, her shoulders moving far further and more easily than any humans could. "How it will work, I do not know."

Also worth remembering Albrekt and I aren't full vampires yet, there's still 2 feats to go! So far we have the weaknesses to sunlight and running water and "must sleep in a coffin every night". We can't do gaseous form or fast heal yet so there's GM leeway at the moment...

Yeah we are but neophyte vamps. Albrέkt kept a large sack of the ashen earth from Talingarde where he made the transition from mundane meat to dead special. Guess this is GM-F's call on how strict we play the coffin/home card?

Albrέkt continues to hold out his hand in greeting to Rose as he counters with his own origin;

"Urgathoa: Der Blassen Prinzessin herself chose mich for Das Deathless!"

The towering vampyr tilts his head in pride as he recounts his resurrection, before mulling the sleeping arrangements:

"I can nest in korpses... like I did in der red tunnels of Talingarde..."

He then smiles showing a uneven line of jagged teeth.

"...I prefer kompany Fräulein..."

When Albrekt began speaking of being personally chosen by Urgathoa, the one handed man subtly rolled his eyes.

I'm not going to be super strict, but there needs to be some space that can be the vampire's 'home'. It doesn't need to be a coffin per say, but something along those lines and it needs to be specific for the vampire. A prepared receptacle of some sort.. (Also Anne Rice vampires are useless from sunup to sundown, while D&D vampires never actually need to sleep, so there are pros and cons to both.)

When Albrekt began speaking of being personally chosen by Urgathoa, the one handed man subtly rolled his eyes.

Sariana catches the old man's unusually unsubtle show of derision and smiles...

Rose is a bit turned off by the attempt at vampire romance. She tries to move on. "Grab your coffins, corpses, or whatever. Sundown is coming, good time to travel."

"It sounds like we are in agreement, then."

Before leaving, Molasbar will make sure we work out a rendez-vous location in or near town, and a time.

If Xanos offers more details about their destination or path of travel, Molasbar will opening share what he knows. Otherwise, the half-orc doesn't press for more information now.

After buying some more supplies for travel (mainly rations), he'll go to the meet up early to make sure it is secure.

"Sundown then." the one-handed man said with a small nod. Then he left the room.

Headed to my own room to do some prep work.

The towering vampyr eyes the others, then nods.

He addresses Rose, noting her sudden coldness at his comment;

"Fräulein. I did not mean you as kompany. I meant as Ein Priester of Eiseth you vil spill blut und provide me vith nährwert... "zustenance" und ein nest... Provide me vith kompany Ja?

The brute flashes his jagged smile, then dips his head reverently as Xanos exits;

"As you vish Old Vun."

Sariana, having nothing to collect, leaves into the darkness and feeds carefully before arriving early at the rendezvous point and taking cover to observe - in case of treachery.

Back in his room, Xanos got to work. He had a lot to do.