Winter Klaczka's page

A little while later Winter appears looking tired, "Wow that was quite the fight, I was getting worried there. Anyway I had a look at all the rowers, most of whom had been treated abominably. They where regularly beaten, some-severely, all are malnourished and several had various waterborne diseases. Fortunately by the grace of Pharasma that's all dealt with. The psychological trauma will take some time however..."

She inquires if any of you need healing and does what she can for Momijii and Zarine. Once you where patched up she asked, "What will you do now? Can't exactly perform that ritual on the boat with this lot in it... Might be best to sneak off after dark if we find one of those lay-lines."

Winter nods to Heinrich before asking you all, "What Heinrich proposes makes sense, although something tells me this will be terribly dangerous... So which of the gifts will you try to retrieve first? A Captain’s Tricorne doesn't sound too bad, right?"

It takes quite some effort for first Zarine and then Filbert and Zandomir to wake up, clearly this isn't something that would be pleasant under duress. When Zarine does wake up she finds herself back on the boat. Clearly many hours have passed and she finds winter on the verge of passing out with exhaustion (winter had been keeping watch) with the first hint of dawn in the sky.

Each of you awakes up in turn with a gasp and a feeling that you've just done something very strange. Your bodies feel tight as if they don't quite fit and there aches you don't recognize, but this sensation fades over the day.

Suddenly wide awake, Winter gasps, "So what happened?! Did it work? There where strange noises like something tortured and then you all passed out and fell on the floor - THUD! I tried to wake you a few hours ago but nothing could rouse you..."

Winter nods and begins her meditation and prayers. Silently at first she produced a velvet bag which turned out to contain a variety of bones. Solemnly she laid them out in a spiral on the deck before laying down two scraps of parchment one at each ends.

She then started chanting hymns while trailing her black scarf on the ground behind her.

Later after breakfast, she attempts to break the curse which has afflicted Filbert. She directs you to lay him down on a rug in front of her, and she kneels down. Gently she holds his head in her hands while whispering something alien. Then she cried out, "Oh great and merciful Pharasma! Heed my call! Filbert was afflicted while doing as you taught us - he was fighting one of the accursed unliving! His fate should not be for the unclean to seal. Break this curse I beseech thee!"

Suddenly there was sound of tearing, like some great shroud had been ripped, and the crew who had clustered round agog murmured and where afraid!

Remove curse DC 19: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 <--- Success

OK Zan, over to you! It's another DC 19 check to cure the disease.

I forgot to apply the stat damage...
Con damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Cha damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Con damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Cha damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The next day filbert wakes up feeling awful. His skin looks positively ashen and covered with dark blotches and his eyes are jaundiced. The poor little gnome can barely get out of bed, and then only to vomit.

Before she prayed for her spells, Winter asked Zandomir, "How do you wish to proceed? We need to remove the curse first, should I request three remove curses just in case?"

Back at the boat you find winter pacing the rails and looking worried. Upon seeing you all she perks up, "Oh thank goodness you're alright! We all heard the most awful sounding fight..." When somebody tells her what happened to Filbert she gasps, hands going to her mouth, "Oh dear poor Filbert! Pharasma willing I think we can fix that but not until the morning."

With a bounty of fruit and vegetables loaded the Starling gets ready to set off once more down river.

Any actions tonight?

Heinrich's diplomacy
Winter looks concerned but not surprised when Heinrich explains what he needed. She replied, "I hope you know what you're doing Agrippa. I tracked down and interviewed a number of ex Iris Hill staff, toward the end Lowls was getting pretty unhinged. Essentially you're following in the footsteps of a madman who had no concern over the consequences, alas this is our best lead... May the blessing of Pharasma be with you, I'll keep watch while you sleep."

The crew make ready to depart and just as the gangplank is being pulled back, a heavily loaded Winter comes running along. To everyone's surprise she jumps aboard and grins, "A carrier pigeon came. I've been ordered to try and apprehend Lowls, hope you've got room for one more!"

To be clear about Winter's role, she's fully NPC currently and won't be adventuring with you but she is friendly towards you and is willing to share clerical magic. Still if the boat is threatened she is a capable combatant.

Almost shyly Winter approaches and it looked like she was about to say something before noting Lizzie's condition. Looking quietly determined she whispers something to the gnome.

After speaking to Lizzie Winter asks you all, "What will you do now? Did you find out where Lowls went?"

"Well... " Winter thought for a moment, "The Royal Accusers back in Caliphas sometimes hire magisters from the Quarterfaux Archives. I'm sure in time one might be dispatched here, although that could take weeks."

Winter then drops the tiny gem into the tea pot and she murmured with surprise, "Oh look, it dissolved just like that and wow the liquid is glowing!" She pours some out into the bone china cup, and the amber liquid within bathes the room with a warm liquid light. She then offers cup to Momijii and withdraws a step.

Winter nodded at Winter and told her, "Trilliss's letter also contained this." she held up a small blueish gem which glowed with an inner light, "Apparently one dissolves it in hot water steeped with honey and jasmine and drink it like tea." She nods to Cesadia, "Would you?"

"Er ah yes!" replied Winter chagrined. She nods at Zandomir and unfolds the parchment that she was carrying, revealing a very complicated pictograph. It had been illuminated with fantastical geometric shapes and calligraphy all in metallic inks which shone iridescently in the sunlight filtering through the sash windows. You have encountered and used scrolls before but this was clearly something beyond your experience.

She whispers a single word and the parchment abruptly vanishes and an actinic glow surrounded her hands sending crazy shadows despite the sunlight. She walked towards Heinrich and gently touched his head. A peel of distant thunder sounded and Heinrich leapt backwards as if he'd been bitten.

"Er... Wow that was intense." said Winter, with smoke rising from her fingertips. "In case you where wondering, that was the last one. I found it in a letter addressed to me, hidden in the chapel. The letter was signed by Trilliss Mavaine the night before she died. There's nothing even remotely creepy about that right? Especially considering I never met her!"

"Oh you have a lead?" winter sounded impressed, "The crown is very keen to interview him. I have reason to believe he's been filing fraudulent his tax returns for years and directing others to do so too among other abuses of power. Then there's the matter of him arranging for the murder of Magistrate Padgett as well as my boss."

A little tentatively Winter spoke up, "Err if this is a bad time I can come back..." She glances once more to Agrippa before shifting her gaze to Filbert and Lizzie.

At that moment a tall raven haired woman enters the room from a side door. She is dressed in armor with a wicked looking mace at her side, and she is carrying a rather impressive looking parchment. She looks like she was about to say something before looking at Zarine and Zandomor. Glancing to Agrippa and Cesadia, she says, "Oh I didn't realize we had guests..."

Winter smiles enigmatically before replying to Filbert, "So tempting Filbert... However Cesadia asked first, she fears there will be reprisals from the cult. They already broke in once and killed several agents. I don't think she could bear for that to happen a second time."

OK any further business before I move us onto Iris Hill? In theory now is a good time to purchase wands etc...

Standing there in the huddle in the rain, Winter says, "I'm glad we destroyed that monster! It's been preying on the townsfolk for years it seems. What will you do next? You could tell Cesadia, she'll be glad to hear it's gone. We probably solved a few mysteries today."

Looking grave, she replies "Alright Heinrich, you mean Pier 19 don't you? That place has an evil reputation, supposedly some creature there melted some of the locals a few summers back."

Yeah Winter healed you Luxina, no need to spend resources.
Winter nods, "I found a cache Trillis left behind, containing several scrolls. I think they might prove useful."

She hands you a box from behind the altar.

Winter chews her lip and replies, "I'm reluctant to leave the shrine but I suppose you are right..." Looking you in the eyes she asks, [b]"What brought you over to this side of town anyway?"[/n]

Hearing combat, Winter rushes upstairs and is shocked by the scene crying, "What the..."

She looks around to see bits of glass everywhere, peppering furniture, the floor, the walls, and poor Luxina. Eyeing the arterial blood flowing from Luxina, she whispers, "Oh my, I'd better pray for you..."

OK you can assume your wounds are healed by Winter, what now?

Winter glances at Momijii and points to some stairs in the corner, "I hear something too. The attics's over there."

Map updated.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

"Quick! get in!" he cries and slams the heavy door shut behind you, "Help me with this bar." Together you manage to drag a heavy wooden beam into position. Winter signs with relief once that;s was done, "The town's gone crazy last few hours. First those poor sleepless agents and that fish man are delivered here for burial, then in the middle of the night there was an angry mob outside, chanting strange slogans. Some nonsense about 'Have you seen the yellow sign?' Then the birds where acting all weird this morning, something kind of disturbance. Anyway you look like you had an even worse night than me, what happened?"

Winter interjects, "But here's the thing. They don't remember any of that... They woke up in the asylum, with amnesia, the last ten to fifteen years simply gone. Look don't just take my word for it, I've got Dr Losandro's notes on them." She hands Cesadia a folder full of notes which she starts paging through.

Winter replies earnestly, "Look I can explain. You know I went to investigate the Asylum like you suggested. Anyway it was far worse than we feared. A book of forbidden lore, The Chain Of Nights was given to Administrator Losandro by Lowls. She used a ritual within to try and cure her star patient, the one you suspected Lowls of visiting. Lets juts say that ended badly, with her death and that of perhaps half of the population as the dreamlands invaded the area and cut us off. The initial earthquake killed scores, then those transformed into ghouls or doppelgangers did for scores more. To add insult to injury a cult of the yellow sign sprung up overnight, preying on the survivors. If it wasn't for these heroes starvation surely would have done the rest of us in, for there was no escaping those awful yellow mists!"

Winter replies, "No, but I believe Cesadia would like to see us. Tell her Winter Klaczka would like to speak to her." The woman replies, "I see, wait here."

I'll get another post up soon.

Winter smiles sweetly and replies, "Oh you misunderstand Filbert, I am a field agent, my employers are back in Caliphas. Omari is my boss although I doubt he'll still be here, it'll be for me to pick up the pieces of the investigation into the county's financial affairs. You see the Sleepless building is a detective agency, they have an agreement with the government and they'll honor promissory notes up to a certain limit. Anyway I think it would be useful for you to meet them."

Unless Filbert wishes to go on his own, I'm going to wait until somebody else chimes in before moving us forward.

A little later on once everyone has had a hearty breakfast, Winter told you, "I'm not sure what you're plans are for the day. I was intending to visit the Sleepless Detective Building and find out if Accuser Omari left word for me, hopefully enough to justify visiting magistrate Padgett. By the way if you wish to redeem that promissory note I wrote, the Sleepless Detectives are your best bet. Afterwards I need to run a few errands for the church, and find out why they've stopped answering letters. What do you plan to do today?"

"Miss Gallegos I believe, what they about the Asylum is true, I witnessed it with my own eyes. There are many would would surely have perished if they hadn't helped." added Winter earnestly.

Looks like I failed my Kn: Geography roll. Winter's superiors are in Caliphas the capital of Ustalav. Versex is the county where you are now. Also the lake is called Encarthan. Oops!

"Perhaps The Silver Wagon?" replied Winter, "Not that there is a whole lot of choice, Thrushmoor is pretty small. Still it was clean enough when I stayed there before all this started."

Winter shouts, "Take Care!" to York as he unties the boat and heads back across towards Briarstone isle. There were still a good number of survivors and York was keen to get them all across and away from that accursed isle.

As you stand there on the dock numb from the cold, Winter suggests, "We should get out of this rain. I'm half minded to see if Accuser Omari is at The Sleepless Detective building, I was supposed to meet him there oh about a week ago..." Suppressing a yawn she adds, "On the other hand an Inn would be welcome too."

It's nighttime, it's still raining and you're cold and hungry, standing on a time worn wooden dock, to the north across the water pinpricks of light pierce the gloom. To the south a small hill dotted with squat brick buildings, most of them dark. There are a few lanterns that show the way towards the bridge but these barely illuminate the way, you'll have to watch your step.

Actions?

Winter spends some time paging through the tome, apparently finding it fascinating. Her expression darkens as she reads the final third and when she comes to the description of the ritual to remove one's nightmares by sharing them with everyone else she looks furious. She hands the book back to Agrappa saying, "That is a most dangerous tome. What the devil possessed Lowls to give this to Administrator Losandro?! I'm going to have to have words with him. Unfortunately we'll have try and get the local magistrate on side first. He's a weasel of a man called Tillus Padgett, he's been avoiding me. Would you mind serving him with this?" She hands you a scroll sealed with the sigil of The Royal Accusers.

As an aide memoir she wrote you a promissory note redeemable in Thrushmoor at The Sleepless Detective Agency.

She answers your question by saying, "As for your memories I'm not really sure. I was hoping there might have been something in The Chain of Nights, but I have a feeling your affliction is no natural one."

Winter tries to comfort Momijii as best she can, and tells her quietly "He is with Phrasma now, his suffering is over. As for the ring leader, if you can give me a description I'll see if he can be tracked down... Anyway excuse me for a moment it seems Agrippa wants a word."

She follows Heinrich and confers in hushed tones, "I report to my superiors in Versex within the Royal Accusers and also to Mother Thestia - high priestess of Maiden's Choir Cathedral in Caliphas. I'm here on a matter that concerns both for the shrine of Phrasma in Thrushmoor has been... Well I'm not supposed to say exactly but lets just say there's been a lot of highly irregular activity. I suspect the local count Lowls is in the thick of it somehow. His obsession with occult lore has darn near bankrupted his family and risks putting the monarchy into disrepute. Speaking of the occult, I'm wondering if you recovered The Chain of Nights? If so would you mind if I take a look?"

Winter with half a dozen books on arm looks the corpse of The Tatterman and blanches, "The thing from the dreams, you killed it!" She glances at York and adds, "Well you did it! The mist is gone, and most of the survivors with it. They where running for the docks. Of course there's more than a few left behind who are too ill or mentally unsound to make it unaided..."

She chews on the story for a moment, before replying. "Hmm, The Apostles in Orpiment, that doesn't ring a bell but lets see. Orpiment that's a yellow pigment isn't it? Nobody uses it anymore, too toxic. The Apostles in Yellow, probably due to the color of the mist..."

You probably know the name of who the cultists worship, even if they don't. His name really is bad luck incidentally.

Hearing the commotion caused by your arrival, Winter comes to see what's happening. She calls out, "Did you find... Oh but you are hurt! Come let's pray for Phrarsma's aid!"

She pulls out a brooch with the stylized comet of Pharasma and whispers a strange chant. An eruption of warm light envelops you, wiping away wounds. She looks at you critically and whispers another word and an even stronger light bathes you.

Positive energy: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4
Positive energy: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Noting the two prisoners she gives you a shrewd looks before smiling as she says, "Well it seems you have a story to tell..."

Agrippa drops the Scroll of Cure Disease into Winter's hands.

You are now obligated to us. When this is over... Agrippa waves around him to indicate their current predicament. I'm certain that someone of your...stature will be able to repay us in full.

Winter gazes into Agrippa's eyes as if searching for something, with a small sigh she says, "Very well, you have a deal." She seems to deflate a little as she says that.

When Agrippa comments about retrieving the wand, Winter points out, "Well Filbert did ask... Although it's true I would have suggested you look of it. As for finding a way out, well from what you've described of Dr Losandro's fate I no longer think it's as simple finding a way past the mist." She shudders suddenly struck by a horrible thought, "What if others share her fate? That would be awful, a mockery of life spewing out dreamstuff. There must be a tiny rift within, no doubt sustained by the victim's life energies. That's too horrible to imagine, I suggest you conduct a thorougher sweep and put any other victims out of their misery."

To Monijii and Luxina, she says, "You are most welcome. I expect the last scroll with be just as effective for poor Jenkins."

Since nobody has objected, I'll move us on.

Winter accepts two of the scrolls and takes ten minutes to study them. You notice her subvocaliseing the words as she traces the complex pattern engraved into the vellum. Eventually she announces she is ready. When she speaks, she is loud and confident in a language that sounds like utter gibberish. The only word you recognise is Momijii. With an abrupt flash, the scroll disintegrates and well nothing. At least at first, Momijii feels a heat building and is suddenly overcome with a hot flush and nausea. An oily layer of something awful seeps out of every orifice , and then miraculously Momijii feels a surge of energy and well being.

"That was, uh interesting" remarks Winter who was taken aback by the side effects, "Right then Luxina next. I guess we know what to expect this time."

Sure enough Luxina has the same experience. You are now both cured.

Looking drained, Winter suggests, "Let's go somewhere we can sit down, perhaps the Chaplin's Office."

You follow her in and she tells Filbert, "In answer to your earlier question, no we've not seen them before. What we have seen is a lot of former patients and staff turned into ghouls or replaced by doppelgangers. Maybe you should ask around, someone might have heard or seen something before we got cut off. Speaking of which that strange eye growth you removed, well I'm wondering if it was placed deliberately. It neatly cut us off from the zombies and the cultists you encountered. As for why, I couldn't begin to imagine. Anyway the fact we got attacked suggests there could be more zombies so while you were away I interviewed some of the former nurses. We think there's a wand in the admitting wards's nurse station. There should be a big desk with locked drawers by a window, it should be in the bottom one. The admitting ward is to the east."

A then tells Agrippa, "I'd like to buy that last scroll off you. I don't have much money here but I can write you a promissory note validated with the impression of my Signet Ring. You'll be able to redeem it in Thrushmoor at The Sleepless Detective Agency, and probably other places too. I'm only authorised for up to 185 gold, will that be enough?"

From behind Winter pushes through the throng of guards. Noting the tense atmosphere she whispers something to him.

York nods and beckons and all but two of the guards withdraw.

She looks you in the eyes and says, "I'm sorry about that, he means well but... His paranoia has all too often proved to be well founded, although my heart tells me he's wrong in this instance, I hear your search was successful."

Looking at Momijii and Luxina she frowns, "I suspect you can feel it by now, can't you. A certain hollowness, snuffy nose yes? Feeling sore all over like you're one big bruise? Bit of a fervor? An inexplicable hunger for something? Yeah lets get this fixed before it gets to the nose bleeds and weeping sores."

If you let her, she'll read the scrolls and and attempt to cure Momijii and Luxina.

The shaft used to lead somewhere but the earthquake caused that room to collapses and get swallowed up by the large cavern below.

You make your way back to see Winter and she starts to ask, "Have you made any progress? Oh! Heavens what happened to you to? Oh my that'll never do."

She turns to one of the survivors and instructs him to, "Find Nurse Walika and ask her to report here immediately."

The nurse arrives a few minutes later and she takes a look at Momijii and Luxina and makes a warding sign. Winter and Walika have a huddled conversation which gets a little heated before Winter finally sighs saying reluctantly "I suppose you're right. I don't like it." Looking like she had tasted something very sour Winter takes a deep breath, sighs and says "Well I guess you know that's Zombie feaver. It's infectious, sometime in the next few days it'll kill you and then you'll become a ravenous Zombie too. Hard to predict how long you have, sometimes its hours or perhaps half a week. You can't stay here, not with all the children. There is hope however, the central conference room in the administrative block was used for storage as much as staff meetings. Nurse Walika believes the locked metal cabinet in there contains a few scrolls that should help."

Winter shivers as she relives the fateful night where it all began, "There were dozens and dozens of them, I have no idea how they got organized so quickly. All of them in yellow rags, and as the earthquake struck they overthrew the doctors and the orderlies. At firs, after retreating here they attacked us and the doppelgangers. Many were killed or eaten but there where so many it mattered not. About three days after the earthquake that thing appeared covering the door, blocking us off from them. Elsewhere in the complex there will be more I'm sure of it."

Winter looks like she's tasted something incredibly sour and whispers, "Dear gods that sounds awful! Spewing fourth evil mist you say? I suppose she's been doing that ever since the uprising, poor thing. Captain York noted a slight reduction in the mist a couple of hours ago, perhaps it's related?"

The party heads back to the chapel and inside you find Winter holding court. There has been another squabble among some of the frightened survivors which she had managed to mediate. Seeing the haggard look in your eyes and the files you are carrying she sighs, "I have a feeling you found something but it raised more questions than answers... I take it you found administration but what of Dr Losandro? Any luck finding a way out?"

Winter replies, "Good. Thank you. The earthquake isolated us from much of the asylum. There's only really one way out of here, but I don’t think you’ll like it. That thing growing at the end of the hall… Oh you haven't seen it. Well, there was a door there once. If you dispose of what’s there now, the asylum’s entry hall is just beyond. Lady be with you."

I'll update the map in a little bit.

Sensing the party is planning to depart, Winter makes a heartfelt plea, "I’m sorry I can’t tell you more about what’s going on, but I know we can’t stay here. We need a way out. All things considered, you seem able enough. If you can find some way for us to escape, some route that doesn’t lead straight into that terrible fog, I’ll see that the Royal Accusers reward you well. Please, you have to help us!"

I suppose we should assume the party has rested and it's now the next morning, since the heal actions required long term care. Mercifully you got a good night's sleep and recover HP, spells and sanity. Those with phobias from failed sanity checks feel much better, however if you want to keep this or any other phobia with no mechanical side effects for RP purposes - that's fine.

Winter sighs with exasperation, "Zandalus seems to be the name on everyone's lips. You wouldn't believe the trouble his name has caused. Anyway from what I've heard, he was the under the direct care of Briarstone's administrator Doctor Eliege Losandro. I met her only once and she seemed like a capable administrator… but then the revolt happened."

When Agrippa asks her where the administrative offices are she replies, "Doctor Losandro's office is towards the center of the asylum with a view out onto the northern quad. If you're hoping for records, I saw a room labelled archives across the hall from her office."

When Filbert mentions the nightmares, Winter shivers, "Starting just over a week ago, folks sleeping outside the chapel have been having all sorts of nightmares. From what I understand the riot was due to them, at least somewhat. You see it wasn’t like any riot I’ve ever heard of, it was more like a religious movement. Most of the northern halls are now held by robed patients who call themselves Apostles in Orpiment. Those we’ve encountered are fanatically devoted to a patient named Ulver Zandalus."

She replies to Heinrich, "That is most strange, I'm afraid I have no idea why you're here. You wouldn’t be the first ones to lose a piece of themselves here, or so I understand. If you were patients, there must be some record of why you were committed."

She turns to Lizzie, "You asked earlier if the fog outside is yellow. It is..."

A little bit later, Winter comes over to see how you've been getting on and she remarks, "My you've been busy! I'm grateful for what you did with the poultices and splints. And that stew was delicious! Now I suppose you have some questions..."

In between talking to Lizzie and Filbert, Winter had been dealing with various complaints from the survivors over this and that. You can't help but marvel at her patience, anyway she somewhat distractedly responds, "Interesting. Lets talk more once all the chores are done."