" I have done commissions on hunts for less, usually the payout is variable based on the hunt's wealth. Then I suppose we will try so in the morning, but be wary tonight, Agreed? "
Darius cracked a knuckle with his thumb.
You sleep, and peacefully awaken once again in your lush apartment.
Sledge will consider taking out a loan from a party member to buy a Clear Spindle Ioun Stone and a Wayfinder to use while they're dealing with the vampires, because it could be Very Very Bad if he were to be dominated into Pummeling Charging one of the squishier ones.
He will take his idea to Jones.
"What do you think? Should I do it?"
Jones nods. "A very wise idea, and well worth those funds."
Darius once again arises, awaking Zin to the morning sun. It was going to be a particularly interesting time and likely there was going to be trouble visiting the Vampire Lair. In one way or the other.
He mused upon his family experience with such creatures; recalling a select few fervently slayed the monsters. Once he had proper relieved himself, re-equipped and had breakfast, Darius would convene with Jones and Sledge.
" I hope you both came prepared for this? "
"Actually, there is one more precaution I've been meaning to take. While Sledge is buying his accoutrements, I will seek out a spellcaster from whom I can transcribe a Death Ward extract. I can only create two such extracts in one day, but it's better than having none at all."
"With that, I think we're as ready as we can be."
The park is fairly large, and surprisingly busy, Young couples stroll together, old men feed the squirrels and chipmunks, as well as a handful of ducks.
Young children flee in terror from the geese roaming the the areas around the fountains in gangs, stealing seed from the ducks.
All in all, everyone seems to be having a great time!
"We probably should look for the biggest statue we can find and poke around it. Vampires are an ostentatious sort, right? I doubt they could stomach placing their hideout somewhere innocuous."
-Posted with Wayfinder
" It wouldn't hurt to get a lay of the land first before we venture straight to the landmarks. It would also give our group a look a people meaning to be here rather than with expected purpose. You never know who is watching and with children around I rather there not be certain... accidents. Otherwise that is a fine idea. "
His eyes settle on the geese, " I've always hated that bird.. "
It also would give him a little time to relax, considering his current state with the stress of heavy information.
"Well it's not like the vampires are going to come rushing out at us right? Children or no, but I don't mind looking around first."
"What do you have against Geese anyways? They're pretty and aggressive, shouldn't you be used to that combination?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
" They won't but with the recent events we cannot be too sure. "
Darius grunted at her second statement.
" I'm not attracted to birds is the difference. And their attitude makes appearances not matter. More annoying than their presence warrants. They leave droppings everywhere besides. "
"So you're saying my looks make up for my personality, you're a charmer, Darius."
"So, if we're going to look around let's all do so before Darius manages to dig himself a deeper grave." Z says cheerfully to the group.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"The key difference being that your destructive tendencies are generally directed toward things that ought to be destroyed, whereas geese take out their rage on any passing innocent."
" Quite. Let's get a lay of the land before the investigation begins. And some geese end up missing. "
"... Yeah I actually really don't like Geese either. One bit me when I was younger, this was before I realized I could kill things at a whim, I remember being so upset. You know they have little teeth in their bills?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I'm sure that, some day, we'll find the time to eradicate the goose menace that plagues this community. In the meantime, let's focus on the more innocuous vampire problem."
Jones meanders about the park, doing his best to look inconspicuous and directionless, as he takes note of the park's general layout and most prominent features.
"I'm okay with geese. You just gotta show 'em who's boss."
Sledge has a look around and watches for shifty individuals.
You wander around. Everything looks surprisingly peaceful, and you don't spot any shady characters just walking around.
Taking the scenic route, it takes you about two hours to walk the park, and you get to see all its landmarks.
You start at the entrance, of course, and note that the hours of the park are from dawn to dusk. Though, in your wandering you hear that a lot of kids and daring couples sneak into the park at night, so it doesn't seem to be heavily guarded (if at all).
You take the path around, and the next marker on the trail is a statue, with a plaque that reads "Sesasgia Caliphvaso, Founder of our city". You also overhear that she had some role in putting away the Whispering Tyrant during the war, but her exact contributions are lost to history.
The first "shady" thing you notice is at the next landmark, a circle of Menhir (standing stones), erected by the Druid that founded the park. Your sharp eyes note what some others might miss: Small bloodstains mark the base of some of these. You almost begin to think something might be amiss, but from the chatter these bloodstains are relatively well known (and suspected to be the remnants of some dark Druidic ritual), so who knows?
You continue along the trail to a bridge, built over a reflecting pool. The pool itself is beautiful, but more eye-catching is the carvings on the pillars around it, depicting Ustalavic soldiers fighting off all manner of beasts, from werewolves, to Belkzen orcs, to hideous undead armies. They were all clearly carved by someone who had encountered these creatures firsthand, the Dullahan among the undead knights and orcs looking perfectly accurate to what you may have encountered, and werewolves clearly depicting all of the tribes' members as separate types (though it loses something without color.
Continuing onward, you reach a statue, nearly 40 feet tall, dominating a clearing in the trees of the park. It depicts a man, sword upraised and seated on a charger rearing up as if to strike a foe beneath its hooves. The inscription on the base simply reads "Soividia Ustav", which the historically knowledgable among you recognize as the name of the founder of the country.
The penultimate stop on your walk is another pool of water, this one seemingly made naturally...though on closer inspection, is just a bit TOO convenient in its locale to not be placed here. Perhaps wrought by the druid's magic? As Sledge is looking around for "shady characters" (of which you have seen none, and the crowds have progressively thinned as you've gone deeper into the park, until there are only a few people here), he could swear he sees a face in one of the trees around the pool. But it's vague enough that maybe it's his imagination?
The trail finally ends at a greenhouse, and currently there is nobody around. It is open for business, until dusk, but it seems much of the park's visitors have little interest in herbalism.
"This whole place strikes me as a pretty clear example of how far this country has fallen in power and culture. Once possessing a great army, and prominent scholars and artists...and the average resident is a xenophobic hilbilly, just shy of evil (if not dipping into it) nowadays. Kinda sad, really."
Sledge will go right up to the face-tree knock on it lightly.
"This whole place strikes me as a pretty clear example of how far this country has fallen in power and culture. Once possessing a great army, and prominent scholars and artists...and the average resident is a xenophobic hilbilly, just shy of evil (if not dipping into it) nowadays. Kinda sad, really."
Sledge will go right up to the face-tree knock on it lightly.
Sledge gets the feelings that had he said something to tempt fate, this would have warded off misfortune.
Sledge will crush some garlic and rub it in his hair before entering the greenhouse.
"An astute observation, Sledge. Ustalav was utterly ruined by Tar-Baphon's tyrrany. The continued presence of the Way, and all manner of undead and other dangers, has instilled intense fear and paranoia in its people."
"Perhaps our efforts to end the Way's oppression will provide Ustalav the opportunity to rise to its former glory. In the decades and centuries to come, its citizens may gradually lessen their fear of the unfamiliar, which will give way to curiosity, open-mindedness, and a desire for growth. Only a theory, of course, but the potential for future enlightenment gives me comfort and resolve."
Jones follows Sledge into the greenhouse, staying nearby to take advantage of his garlic-y aura.
"I doubt it, to be quite honest."
"You've got to think, this whole ordeal we're trying to quash with the Way is what, their first power play in centuries?"
"Tar Baphon may have tore Ustalav to the ground but he hasn't been the one poisoning this country for the better part of the last millennia, at some point the onus of change falls to the people."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The doors open, and you head inside. Inside the Glass House, the heat and humidity are oppressive, but the results are something to be hold. A number of different plant varieties line the walls, 75 of them at your count as you walk through. You do notice something odd, however...there are thick black drapes bunched into the corner. What need does a Greenhouse have for protection from the sun?
The main hall leads to another door at the end.
" This land is besieged from every which side. It was not simply one force but multiple ones from every angle. There are few places in this land that can hold such immeasurable numbers for long periods of time. Eventual decline was inevitable but total fall is not likely. "
His eyes went to Sledge
" How long did it take to memorize that string of words? Eh regardless, what need for a greenhouse with drapes. Unless they want to grow nocturnal plants as well? "
Jones examines the plants on display to see if any of them are nocturnal.
There are quite a few plants, from the benign flowers like tulips and roses, to herbs like sage, healing plants like calendula, and even a few poisonous ones (belladonna in particular is in relatively high concentration).
Of particular note are Shrieker fungus planted throughout the area, which are active only at night, but emit ear piercing screeches if anyone approaches.
Darius strolls to the main door and inspects it.
The door is locked.
" Jones, could you handle this. " pointing to the lock.
"Of course."
Jones commit an act of breaking and entering, and reveals a pruning station inside the greenhouse.
"I know you all probably aren't going to go for this, but you know I can just burn this place down."
-Posted with Wayfinder
" Yes, rightly so. That would be much too extreme at this juncture. There doesnt seem to be much suspicious here save for the curtain. So unless we find some sort of hidden passage, I assume we move on. "
Just to be sure Darius casts Bloodhound to note if there were any particularly notable scents around.
"Patience, Zin. Until we know with certainty where the vampires are, we have no reason to start destroying public buildings. I'm sure you'll have your chance soon enough."
Jones Alchemically Allocates his vision elixir and looks for secret doors.
There is a not so secret door that says "DANGER! KEEP OUT!" on one end of the greenhouse, but of more note is the pair of sewer grates...hidden by illusory walls.
Smelling the presence of sewer, Darius comes to the conclusion with everyone else of its location.
" Well then, I found our entrance, unsettling as it is. "
He moved to pry the grate off and look down into the darkness with his newly gifted Orc eyes (TM).
The grate opens onto a relatively dry, 15 foot octagonal room. A small trickle of water heads through a great at one end.
" Leads further in, to another grate. How quaint. Relatively dry I find odd. "
Darius looked inside for anything that might be lurking before giving the all clear.
Afterwards he'd head in to examine the next grate.
Darius sees nothing.
On dropping down, he realizes that doesn't mean nothing is there. A blinding flash of light goes off, scrambling Darius' senses, and an almost ear piercing alarm goes off with it!
Darius quickly assumes his weapon unaware that such a trap existed, but expected something of this caliber.
"Well, so much for subtlety."
Jones drinks his Heroism extract, then draws his rapier as he drops down.
Sledge follows immediately after Jones.
Darius seemed relatively fine from what he could tell, though his pride was injured if only a little.
" Define OK. I think we roused anything that lives here for sure. "