Neva looked around, obviously still panic stricken. "What do we do?! What should we do?!"
Pravlox doesn't say much, he just looks upset, staring back at the building. He doesn't seem to be offering advice as much as flatly stating what he will be doing. "I'm gonna go find out more about how to kill these things." As he heads of towards the Citadel.
Rutter busies himself with trying to pull off a plank of wood at the opening. "So, scared of the sun, eh?
"Grrr"
Neva began clawing at the wood in an attempt to help Rutter.
In both anger and frustration, Rutter and Neva begin tugging at the boards covering the windows and door of the old storefront. They pull in futility, as a few passersby look on in confusion as to what's going on with the abandoned building.
Neva pulls Rutter away and gather's Copper. "Let's go find some town guard," she said, weary now that her panic was being replaced by dread. "Maybe they can help tear this down, or at least prevent anyone else going in."
"We leave, and Felgar's dead, if he's not already. Be ready to run, though, if he keeps coming after you or they send him up here to stop us." Rutter pulls again at a plank of the exterior wall, trying to expand the hole through which they had entered before.
Neva agrees with Rutter, and not yet willing to consign Felgar to death, she runs to the nearby larger street, and begins shouting in what she hopes is an official-sounding tone. "An axe! People of Korvosa, a servant of the Grey Lady requires an axe!"
"WATCH!! WATCH!! YOU ARE NEEDED HERE! NOW!", Copper calls out as loudly as possible to make sure he able to be heard over the ruckus of the crowd.
Standing near the end of the block, Jethro plays for a small gathering of people. His wide-brimmed hat lay upon the ground with a small amount of coin inside.
His appearance is well kempt but - to a careful observer - worn. As though he were the most fastidious homeless person imaginable. His beard a bit long, but well trimmed. His hair mostly hidden beneath a cloth wrapped about his brow.
Seemingly wrapped up in his own performance, Jethro does not immediately notice or respond to the cries for help from Copper.
Jethro plays an alluring tune, that has drawn a fair number of onlookers, but as he begins to conclude his performance there comes a yelling for aid coming from down the street. A few coins jingle in the container left out for tips, but many of the listeners turn down the street toward the commotion, their coins still in hand or purse. From his time playing that day, he managed to scrape together just a couple gold, but whatever event is happening seems to have more of the crowd's attention than he does any more.
To Rutter and Nev'as cries for aid, a few of the townsfolk gathered along the street come to see what is happening, none quite so eager to help as much as just being nosy. Most folks know better than to wander down into Racker's alley when there are cries for help, but given that it's the middle of the day, they feel that they can get a look from further off. None of them are either the guard, or bearing axes.
Neva clearly recognized the stance of the milling citizens. Korvosa (most big cities, in fact) quickly taught that it doesn't usually pay to step in to help someone. That's why it was usually better to yell "Fire" than "Help" if you needed assistance: anyone who heard you has a stake in a fire.
Dread settled on her like a weight. She needed someone who knew how to defeat these creatures. She needed an expert, a sage, something. Something closer than her coreligionists in the Gray.
She began running toward the performer. These performers, in her experience, walked most streets of the city looking for coin. Those travels meant they often knew where to find things.
"Singer! I am Neva, priestess of Pharasma. Please, can you help us find some information in this city?"
She swallowed hard, tasting the bitter tang of vomit as she fought back thoughts of Felgar.
Rutter approaches the crowd. The last thing they need is a bunch more victims even less qualified for this than they were.
"Folks, head on home. There's a bunch of plague-ridden bodies dumped down the alley. We were just looking for some guards to notify of the situation. We don't want anyone catching the plague from these improperly attended bodies. Stay clear of this area for the near future, for your own safety."
As he approaches the front street, he thinks about that unexplored door leading from the crafting room. He looks at the storefront, to see if there's a way in.
Jethro's gaze quickly found Neva as she called for him. Smiling, at first, as she quickly approached but recognizing the clear anguish and frustration in her hes expression became firm.
Stowing his flute then bending to pick up his collection hat, Jethro dumps what few coins he did earn into his bag, then placing it firmly upon his head. As Neva gets near he bows slightly to the lady and speaks.
"Greetings, Neva - Lady of Pharasma. If it is knowledge you seek, I may indeed be the best source accessible to you currently as most reliable sources of knowledge are many furlongs away. What sort of information were you looking for?"
Hearing Rutter talking amongst his crowd about plague-ridden bodies Jethro raises an eyebrow.
"Is this man your friend? If it is knowledge of the plague you seek I would think it would be your guidance I should be seeking, not the other way around. Still, I will help if I may"
Urgently, but quietly, so as not to panic the townspeople, Neva drew Jethro near.
"Undead creature are preying on the city from that alley. Our friend has been taken. We need the help of one who might know how to defeat such creatures. Please!"
A look of alarm quickly passed over Jethro's face at the news. It quickly faded as he, too, knew the delicacy of a crowds mood. If they panicked it would make things very difficult to deal with.
"Are you sure mi'lady? I've not heard such news around here. Though with the plague about there is no short supply of corpses for an evil priest to play with."
Jethro shuddered visibly at the thought. He had not had much dealings with the undead but had heard some things. Thinking it may be wise to bring in some of the town guard to help - after all is this not something that they ought to know about?- he cast his glance around looking for a member of the town Guard.
While he looks about Jethro asks:
"What can you tell me of these undead?"
Neva related that they were "vampires" but that was about all she knew, other than sunlight was a bane to them.
Jethro puts his chin in his hand as he thinks. "Vampires, you say? Hmm, let me think..."
A troubled look spreads across Jethro's face as he contemplates what he knows. Knowing that vampires are no laughing matter he speaks with a grave tone.
"My lady, if they truly are as you say, there may be little hope. I pray that it is not, but they are unique among their kind... Almost. Can you tell me any more of them? I hate to think that you would be willing to run back into their lair if you knew the peril."
He frowned at the thought. How could he let such a lady - even if she traveled with this rough looking halfling - go after such things alone. Something would be done, but what?
"There are a few things that may help, if you are to re enter their dwelling again there are a few things that may be able to help you. Some more simple than you may think. For example, a mirror or garlic can repel them for a short time. If you can get them into the sun they will be out of luck... Of course there is also staking them, but I would expect that to not be an option at this point as you've already awoken them. Even harder would be to get them into running water. Of course other actions that could be used against such things - such as a dousing holy water - would be fairly effective as well."
Jethro lowers his voice a bit and adds,
"As for your friend, if you do not destroy the creatures, he will be caught for many days... if he is lucky to live so long."
Rutter rubs the scruff on his chin, looking back and forth between the seemingly knowledgeable newcomer and the entrance to the vampires' lair. "Yeah, hopefully they'll keep him as a guard or something. Damn, we buggered this one..." He turns back to the newcomer. "I kinda feel like we went into this a little blind. You know about lots of stuff? We were lookin' at them bodies, and they had holes on the side o' their necks. Thas' how we knew they weren't plaguey. Would you have known by them holes what they were? We could use someone like that if Kroft sends us on more o' these crazy investigations."
Jethro has a look of surprise as Rutter speaks of the corpses and where the bite marks were on their necks.
"Indeed I would have. That is one of the most obvious tells of a vampire... Though it is concerning that they would just pile bodies like that. Mayhaps they are fledglings, or some lesser form. Still I would not be so keen to strike at them again, if it were not for your trapped friend."
He pauses for a moment contemplating the possible outcomes and the current state of the two new comers in front of him. Looking around for more people who might belong with these two - indeed they would be foolish to go after vampires with only the two of them, three including himself.
"If you could 'use someone like that' I may be willing to come along. Though for hunting the likes of vampires I would expect a fair share of what ever it is they offer you to run such errands. If its just the two of you and your friend trapped in there I would expect it would be better than what I can accomplish out here alone."
As he finishes the statement he gestures to his clothing, clean and crisp yet distinctly worn and slightly ragged as though they were well cared for but also well worn.
Rutter looks at Jethro's worn clothing, and perhaps misses his intention.
"Clearly you've done well busking for change, but yeah, I know what you mean. I'll tell you, I've made more gold in our current employ than I've made my whole life, and in quick time. Where's Copper? Ah, that young-looking one over there is with us, too, and another halfling was with us, but I don't know if he's coming back. He looked pretty shook up. He lost a... pet, or something in there. We'll talk more, but can you come with us to help us research these things and gear up?"
As the day unfolds, Rutter explains a little more: "We been working for the head of the city watch, Cressida Kroft. Yeah, I never thought I'd be working for the watch, either. But she got us doing, like, special missions, not walking a beat or anything. So really, we're more like mercenaries. And like I said, the money's good. She didn't know about the vampires, though. We should probably ask for extra pay for this. But really, we're going back for Felgar. I don't want to leave someone behind."
Rutter rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Ugh. So many different possibilities. I think I'm clear, though. Neva, if you wouldn't mind coming with me to find someone to cast that restoration spell you mentioned, and then I'll let you go. I need to get some of this gear we talked about, and we all meet up back here in the early evening? I think we should find another place to sleep tonight, in case they have Felgar tell 'em where we stay."
When he returns to the tavern in the evening, he wears a gleaming silver mace at his side, a shield on his back and a backpack on his shoulder. "Felgar's gonna owe me for this. Gold. Let's see if we can find a room, heal up if we have anything left, and split up our watch for the night."
Having ironed out all that they will need for the upcoming fight, the group splits and find all the ingredients and items they are looking for. They even manage to find new place to stay for the night.
"I'll take the first watch. I think I need a couple hours to settle down anyway. Then Jethro, Copper, Neva sound good? Let me sleep while y'all do your morning rituals."
Rutter does a lot of pacing during his watch. When he wakes Jethro, he tells him, "Hey, thanks for doing this." He then lies down, but stays awake for most of his shift. When he does doze, he does so very lightly.
As everyone settled in, Neva took a few moments to call upon Pharasma to succor their wounds.
As Neva returned from the Citadel with Vyshael and Jethro, her hands were shaking slightly. She struggled to moisten her dry mouth before whispering.
"Rutter, we've brought some more help....Vyshael."
She moved her hand back and forth between them in quick mockery of a formal introduction.
"Well, let's get this done. If we hope to save Felgar, we've got to go now."
She looked the others over. "Those of you who have magic to hide yourselves from undead, please do so. I shall lay my protections over that."
Buff order:
1. Hide from Undead from scroll on Neva, Rutter, Jethro, Vyshael (40 minues)
2. Magic weapon on [call if you need this, I don't] (4 minutes)
3. Protection from Evil on Rutter (4 minutes)
4. Protection from Evil on Jethro (4 minutes)
5. Protection from Evil on Vyshael (4 minutes)
6. Shield of Faith on Rutter (4 minutes)
Then Silence when we're ready to move. Feel free to claim those spells as you post and move Neva forward, wand of Cure Moderate wounds in hand.
Vyshael nods by way of introduction with a smile at the hand-waving. "No problem. We can make nice later. I'm told we're on a time constraint."
He steps forward to accept the magical protection from the undead, but shakes his head at the magic weapon spell... "No need, my blade is magical while in my hands."
As the other spells are being cast, he asks, "How high are the ceilings in there? I could enlarge myself." He takes the moment to cast some spells to ready himself.
1. Hide from Undead (from Neva)
2. Don't need Magic Weapon (thanks to arcane strike)
3. False Life () [4 hours]
4. Protection from Evil (from Neva) [4 minutes]
5. Bull's Strength (self-cast) [4 minutes]
6. Shield (self-cast) [4 minutes]
Jethro stays silent for the introductions. The obvious worry of what is to come playing across his face. He has never been much of a fighter. Still he would do what he could on this day. 'Perhaps I still have things to learn after all the time I've spent on the street.'
He bow's slightly to Neva as she does her magic. "Thank you, M'lady." Is all he says, with a forced smile.
Not for the first time he ponders, 'why am I helping these folk?' He knew their need was dire, but he knows he owes them nothing. Still, they are seemingly good folk.
'Perhaps I still have much to learn of myself... if I survives the vampires.' Jethro shudders a bit as he steels himself to continue.
"We need all the help we can get, I guess. Or Felgar does."
"Save the enlargement. It may be cramped, and we may need to retreat to the sunlight quickly."
Here's the beginning of the general outline of the plan, as much as we could make.
After the brief discussion, Rutter sneaks up to the front of the store and scouts the front room. If clear, he motions back to the others to join him and then sneaks in alone to crack open the door to check the back room.
;
After the initial preparations are made, Rutter moves up to the front of the building, and opens the door with the keys he found on the exsanguinated body on their first visit. 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 and a doorway marked “Private.”
Approaching the door, Rutter very quietly tries to turn the knob, but it refuses to turn. The door is locked. He never opened it before they left the first time.
Rutter checks the door for traps and then tries to silently pick the lock.
Vyshael asks, "Should we oil the locks?"
Rutter manages to unlock the door fairly quietly, and cracks it open to peek inside. The room is much like you all left it, except for two things. The trapdoor is once again closed, and dutifully standing atop it, with weapon in hand, is Felgar.
Rutter closes the door quietly, and slinks back to the others and tells them about Felgar. "Neva, you want to cast silence on a rock, and we rush up to the door and toss it in? Then we subdue him."
Neva complies, casting the spell on a small bit of broken cobblestone.
Handing the enchanted rock to Rutter, she wishes the halfling a bit of good luck. When she realizes she can't be heard, she blushes slightly and rolls her eyes at her own stupidity.
She nods to show she's ready for the next stage of the plan.
As Neva starts casting, Vyshael casts Touch of Gracelessness, and holds the charge.
Felgar just hears the subtle sound of muffled chanting coming from somewhere, but before he has a chance to investigate it, everything goes silent.
Jethro
Neva
Rutter
Vyshael
Round 1:
Neva -
Rutter -
Jethro -
Felgar -
Vyshael -
Within the veil of silence, Rutter points at Jethro and then at the door. When Jethro opens it, Rutter rushes straight for Felgar, the silent cobblestone in his hand, bringing forward his new quickdraw shield, and watching for Felgar's attack.
Neva counts softly as Rutter moves in through the door. As soon as she can hear her own voice, she reads her readied scroll, sending a magical compulsion towards her poor friend, Felgar.
The whole affair happens all in a flurry of activity. Each person waits for another to act before a rush of pre-planned steps are taken. After Neva and Vyshael cast their respective spells, Rutter waits for Jethro to open the door so he can rush in. As soon as the halfling is in place, Neva hits Felgar with a spell that locks him solid.
Round 1:
Vyshael -
Jethro - Opened door
Rutter - Moved beside Felgar, drew shield
Neva - Cast Hold Person
Felgar - Held, and in silence