Charlie is with the party having arrived at about the same time, give or take a few minutes.
The man pushes his cart back through the city and picks up another load of bodies from the alleyway. At this rate he might just be done by dark - if he skips supper.
Back at the alley no one else comes by to deposit or remove any bodies. The group is now together again as Mr. Gund starts piling up bodies on his cart once again.
As it becomes clear that Gund is returning to the alley, Fondo makes an effort to get in front of him, and signals to his companions to come out. As the carter approaches, he steps forward. "Greetings, sir. I want to thank you for your honest work to move these bodies. Important, hard, gruesome work. You're made of sterner stuff than many."
"Have you any idea how these bodies accumulated here?"
"The Guard sent us to look into bodies piling up around this alley. We're not doing this outta our own curiosity." Barael has subconsciously positioned himself on the other side of Gund on his descent from the rooftop.
Mr. Gund, surrounded by a previously unseen foe claiming to be peaceful, still seems relaxed.
"Strangest thing - I put them here. Dunno why, just seemed like the thing to do at the time. Foolish though 'cause now I've got to move them all again." He hoists up a body and puts it on the cart. "Hardly the Gray District is it?"
He goes on with his work as if that's enough information. "Excuse me." he says to Barael at one point as he's in the way.
"Yes, interesting." Fondo looks at Barael. "So, I hate to inform you sir, but I'm afraid you were bringing the bodies to a feast. Vampires, you see, were here supping on the dead. No doubt you were ensorcelled somehow. Mayhap you'd be willing to be a partner in clearing up this mystery? If you accompany us to the Field Marshall, I'm sure she'll be most grateful for your insights, in addition to your hard work tending to the dead.."
Barael steps lightly, seeing the man as a possible carrier for the Veil himself. "My apologies. Didn't mean to hinder." Barael looks askance at Fondo. Ensorcelled? Someone made him to do this thing?
Barael steps in with the rest of the party. "So, someone puppeted him? Invisible strings at play here?" Barael murmurs, then shudders. Wonder if I can blame the follies of my youth on some form of that there. May be that's what took Trinia to foul deeds.
Dandi joins the others, but at a distance. No reason to cluster and make him feel trapped, is there?
"Hrm. Vampires do you say? Nasty business that. Yeup don't like 'em much. I must have been dominated by them. You know they can do that... yeup, nasty business."
He loads another body onto the cart seemingly comforted that he wasn't loosing his mind and dumping them here for no reason.
"The Field Marshal do you say? Well," he gestures to the pile on his cart, "I should at least drop this lot off first. I can meet you there if you like. Most folks don't like being this close to the dead."
Fondo tries to get a read on the fellow's veracity.
He seems an honest fellow who believes what he's saying.
"Sounds right to me, sir. Perhaps we'll accompany you down that way? What say you, Barael? I'm Fondo, by the way. Well met!"
Briar looks down at the man and listens.
Sense Motive
When the conversation ends, Briar takes another gander around the city before making his way down the rope.
Majenko, be a dear and loosen this rope once we're down, won't you?
When Briar hits the ground, he adjusts his bow and looks ready to leave the gory alley of the dead.
"Are we going back now? I think we've solved this...to a point. Cressida may ask us to continue or have other plans for us."
"I'm ready to be done with this blood drench, aye." Barael claps Fondo on the back. "Gund, you are generous with your time, meeting with us at the Citadel. I'd go one further. As much as I want to avoid the landscape in the Grey District, I'd be interested to see the Blood Veil's consequences thus far. It'd steel my resolve." Barael offers to push the cart for a time, as long as the cart itself doesn't show signs of blood touch.
The cart is covered with gore and blood.
"No, I'll do the pushing. Wouldn't do to have you get the plague helping me out. Too many got it already."
He heaves the cart into the lane and starts the long walk south.
"Name's Walthier, but most folks just call me Wall."
Briar is also fairly sure the man is telling the truth and believes what he's saying.
Majenko takes a few moments to undo the knot made strong with the weight of the party, but he eventually breaks it free and drops the rope to the ground, floating down himself soon after on a slight updraft.
"Wall, you come down sick already, with the Veil?" Barael checks Wall's hands and neck for signs of redness other than sweat rolls.
"Or have ya been already, and been cured by those who employed you for the grim task at hand?" It's the least they could do ya for, eh? Barael tries to keep even with Wall on the long walk south, but doesn't hesitate to wander away then back to allow easier passage through the streets.
Barael tries to gauge Wall's talkativeness, then throws more questions. "What was your route? If a vampire marked you for easy redirect, where would you have passed normally? Might make it easier for us to identify neighborhoods that are better traveled in the daylight."
If Barael spots any food stands on their walk, he'll try and procure something to ease the pangs in his belly that echo from hunger and from nausea. Anything that helps, he'll offer to other members of the macabre circus parade.
He looks at Baraels constant stream of chatter with some distaste, but he does reply, "I'm immune. Long story." He doesn't go into it and doesn't seem interested in doing so. You will note that all the plague bearers wear masks or scarves over their mouths, as do some of the citizens these days. He does not.
No one gets in the way of a plague cart. Most folks don't want to be anywhere near such a heady odor, a disease carrying odor. You're able to keep as close as you like to Wall and his cart.
"I don't know why a vampire would pick on me, but it's just as well it did. No harm done - just a little extra work." He heaves the cart over a rock in the road and nearly loses a body. He grabs hold of it and hoists it back on the middle of the pile.
Wall disappears again in the Gray District and returns shortly with his cart and without his load. He stops at a public well and cleans himself up for his visit to the Citadel. He's careful not to contaminate the water you'll notice.
Cressida sees you quickly (it's late afternoon by this time) so you dont' have long to way. "Welcome! What have you found? Is this the culprit?"
Dandi muses the whole way, thinking of the people they've taken to Cressida, only to have them lead to the executioner's hand.
"It's more complicated than that, you'll see, Field Marshall." Barael sniffs himself, realizing he's spent quite a bit of time in proximity to blight corpses.
"This here's Wall, er, I mean, cartier Walthier Gund. He's just cleared out a majority of the corpses in an alley in Racker's, means to go back and finish the job, no doubt, and under no pressure from us to do so." Barael nods at Wall. "Our first pass by the toy shop, and we were greeted coldly by a dead shopkeeper and 4 vampire spawn, come outta their coffins secured in the crawl space. They were useless to tan, or something. Fondo has the better of that information." Barael looks at Fondo.
"Any how, we destroyed the spawn proper, then hung out to find out that Wall was influenced somehow to drop those corpses off at that location. Probably ensorcelled, is my bet. After the destruction of the spawn, the spell was likely broken, and he returned to his duties. We saw him return empty-carted, and our companion pseudodragon let us know that his cart was one of three made their deliveries to the Grey. He was kind enough to come here himself to tell you that, verify, and all."
Fondo rather noticeably inserts himself between drooling Barael and Cressida. He gives his jocular half-salute. "Wall's not, as't were, the culprit. The culprits were the vampire spawn. Nobles from Ustalav, walking around dead."
"We found no particular identifying marks on them, other than their moldy wastecoats and fang marks on corpses. As is the wont of such creatures, they seem to have ensorcelled this fine man, forcing him to bring the bodies of the freshly dead to the alley beside the toy shop. The shopkeep may've been in cahoots with the vampires, or not. Eventually, they seem to have taken a liking to his fresh, warm blood over cold veil blood."
Fondo claps Wall on the shoulder. "This one's a stalwart. He's done the city a service, he has. And he'd be happy to help by answering any questions."
"One question I have, though. The vampires' coffins have only been here weeks or maybe a couple of months. Any way of tracing recent arrivals from Ustalav, by sea or land?"
'Ensorcelled'? Is that the word of the day? Briar's eyes roll from both humans using the word.
I ensorcelled a mighty pudding into my chamber pot this morn.
Cressida's eyes seem to flicker a bit during the stories. Wal confirms it all with a short but respectful, "Yeup, that's what happened."
Cressida thanks him for his service and he departs to continue his work.
"Vampire Spawn huh? Were they tough? I know little about Vampires and even less about their spawn. Vampires are extremely dangerous though. I'd hate to think we had one in Korvosa." she shudders a bit.
"There have been dozens of ships between Ustalav and here in that time, and who knows how many more overland caravans. It would be nearly impossible to track down four or five coffins in all that traffic."
"Well, the coffers are a bit thin, but some reward is in order." She slides a pouch of 300 sails across to the party. "Not much, but at least a token of my gratitude."
Fondo turns towards Briar, making room for him to take the pouch. "Sending the restless dead on to the Boneyard's thanks enough. But this'll help feed the body while our souls sup on deeds achieved."
After he finishes his thought, Briar nods along as Cressida explains things.
"...so, yeah...you might want to put out a general watch for a vampire or two. Them spawn didn't spawn themselves...unless they did."
Maybe they did. Magic is weird like that.
"Well, thanks for your time, Cressida. Let us know if you need us again." Briar has no further questions or comments at this time.
* * *
Tired from a long day of gore-viewing, spawn-killing, and cart-watching, Briar is anxious to return back to Doll and will head directly there to clean up, rest, and maybe do a few hours of work on the lair.
I wonder if Dandi will be firing up her lab on the morrow.
It's an hour or two before supper, so those crafting can get in a half day (4 hours) if they really focus.
Some headway was made on the Harrow House today. As the weather is decent, the Varisians have focused on the doors before the windows. The glaziers are producing and obtaining the glass, but it sits in piles inside for now as the workmen fit the interior and exterior doors.
If you want more than a bar on the front door with a simple lock, let me know and you'll have to pay extra for as complicated a lock as you desire. There is only the one door to enter the building. Interior doors will not have locks (short of deadbolts) unless you pay for them.
Fondo returns to the Harrow House and praises his kinsmen's work. "You've craft to make a dwarf murderous with envy." He will ask them to requisition a superior lock for the front .
Dandi heads down to the lab, ready to get to work on more anti-plague, unless anyone requests something else instead.
Barael looks up the walls of the Harrow House. "How do we access the roof? Isn't there another door to the stairwell up top? Do we need to consider a lock up there too?" Not that it'll keep those seeking to get in out. Barael looks at the work of the house, and walks around it, admiring the work. His walk begins to look a lot like someone admiring their own work, done well. "I say all bedrooms deserve the same quality of worksmanship, eh, Fondo? Superior Locks, all ways round. Well, maybe not you, Fondo." Chuckles seem to echo well off the outer stone walls, especially as Barael ascends them to gain perspective from the rooftop.
He tests how quickly he can descend to the tunnel entrance. Then he heads down to investigate the lab, and assist Dandi in the making of the antiplague.
Charlie will head to Saul's to get some supplies for distilling and brewing. He thinks he'll set up in DOLL if that's alright with everyone. Somewhere close to Dandi's operation. He imagines there might be opportunities for crossover. Dandi, would you be interested in going with Charlie to pick out some nice things? He sort of has no idea what he's doing and would be an easy mark if you want to get yourself something nice on your doting uncle's dime.
Charlie will also ask Saul for a Master Work Wine skin. One suitable to carve Holy symbols into for use against undead.
The stairs lead right onto the roof currently - no doors. Well, I presume your workers put doors in and simple locks (unless you want to upgrade). Superior locks on the bedroom doors? Paranoid anyone?
Charlie has some luck at Sauls, but a few things are on order. Unfortunately they are critical to the process. They should be in tomorrow though so no worries. You can purchase all you need for the brewery for 300gp (same as an alchemy lab which might not be quite fair, but it'll be a very nice setup).
Saul doesn't have a masterwork wine skin, and wouldn't really know where to get one, but he does have which is very fine and suitable for your task. You won't be carving so much as you'll be branding though as the waterskin is the skin of an animal and somewhat thin. Unless you had some other container in mind.
Oh, and Bareal, please make a save vs the Blood Veil. You may apply a +4 to your DC 14 Fortitude save as Charlie has been generally helping the party, and the party has been taking precautions - though not enough in your case.
Barael's jest regarding superior locks poorly masks his desire to outfit his bedroom door specifically. The paranoia is real. He intends on showing his apartment off to mum sooner or later, but he's been burned in the past with doors without locks. He intends on keeping most of his poisons down below, of course.
"Ahh Kako, I'd be happy to go with you." She says, patting Charlie's shoulder. "And the lab space is for everyone that would like to use it. Though if it's food stuff you're thinking, I've been working on a nice little area off the kitchen. I don't know much about brewing, of course, but thought it might work, if you've the time and inclination.
"Well, what do you think?"
She then leads him out of the DOLL warrens and up to the light continuing, "But I'm not in need of nice things. If you wanted, though, we could probably use more medicinals and scrolls to help us along the way. I have Wraith," she adds, "She's all the nice things I need right now."
On the roof with Barael:
"Give me some time, Barael. I'll see if I can't study up some magical means of protecting our roof access. I was thinking about generating some runes that go boom! if you don't say the right password. Would that work for you?"
Briar examines the area, looking for a good place to eventually place a nice explosive trap.
* * *
Briar returns to DOLL to do some work on things.
Someday this place will be ready...someday it will be home. A magical home.
Then sleep. Tomorrow is another day.
Barael surveys the rooftop, and nods. He's thinking well on warding off flies. Like a spider, laying traps. "Runes, eh? That is what I'm talking about. Doesn't take more than a couple of foolish roof thieves losing a limb, for the house's reputation to go up." That's it, ain't it? Let a reputation do some of the heavy lifting. When it's earned, sure. When it's earned.
Nikolay heads to Saul's to look for a scabbard his sword will accept.
Nikolay holds up the scabbard of stanching. "Something like this or even more extravagant."
--but tasteful.
"But tasteful."
--worthy of a noble
"Worthy of a noble"
--but not an undead one.
"But no an... nevermind. I'll just look around."
"Runes, eh? Clever magic, puro kak Briar. Howe'er, my chambers lie in the south tower. No explosions for me, please. A simple alarm or long lasting curse'll do nicely."
"Dandi, do you think I should find a housekeep for us? My gruel's like mortar; Barael's's like plaster."
Barael whisks his oatmeal, and frowns at Fondo's description. Until he stops whisking, and the fork stands straight up after he takes his hand away. He then shrugs consent grudgingly. Too many people, coming and going. Joy.
"Dandi, thank you very much. This looks great. Tell you the truth I don't really know exactly how this is going to work either. But I'm sure this is the perfect space for it."
"As far as something nice, I was thinking something lab related. Do you need a graduated cylinder or a beaker or something? If not, medicinals and scrolls it is."
Nikoly chats with Saul about a variety of options, but one keeps coming back to the fore. For a mere 550gp, you can get a beautiful black leather scabbard with Silver inlays and edgings. The real kicker though is that when drawn, any blade is enhanced as if it had been sharpened with a whetstone (+1 damage on your next hit (circumstance bonus)).
"So, what do you say? It's a very fine sheath, and the lightly magical qualities make it even more desirable!"
Saul suggests a most excellent silversmith for Charlie. "A blacksmith could do the work, but it would likely be rough work. You need someone more accustomed to finer designs. A silversmith doesn't just work in silver you know."
You will have been able to to visit him that afternoon with a few initial design plans.
The following morning rises bright and early. A warm breeze comes in from the sea and over the Heights down into the Midlands.
The group gathers at the Harrow House in any event to discuss the plans for the day. You still have a key to a lock-box which was, I think, in the plans for the morning.
"So, what do you say? It's a very fine sheath, and the lightly magical qualities make it even more desirable!"
--Buy it. Buy it, now!
Okay. Okay."It is indeed a fine scabbard. Thank you for showing it to me."
Nikolay pulls out the golden sails he brought for the purchase and then digs into his pouch for the rest. It's much more than he intended to spend, but he figures his 'friend' is worth it.
Nikolay slides the sword into it's new scabbard.
"Ahhh."
That was out loud.
--Couldn't help myself.
"Um. Ahhh. It fits perfectly. Thanks. I'll be going now."
Nikolay walks quickly out of Saul's shop and back meet the group and deal with the key.
"Nikolay, is that your sword pommel, or are you happ—" Fondo turns away fromt he door and back to his discussion. "As I was saying, friends: the Lady of Graves must have smiled 'pon our work to free the vampires' souls. Would you look kindly 'pon asking her priests to consecrate the warrens and the house?"
"I have no particular fondness for any of the gods, but I don't discount their power either. If a priest you trust wants to bless our new home, then it surely couldn't hurt."
"What does consecrating get us? The Warrens, sure, but the house? We're a ways from the graveyards. Well, enough to assure that the priests will put down what needs putting down." Barael struggles to remove the fork from the bowl.
"We've got the morning at least to venture over to the Vault. What say you?" Barael gives up on the fork, and prepares to head out, to check on the lockbox of a retired thief. Wonder how much a lockbox costs to use. Might be a place to squirrel away things that need stronger protections than our house.
Briar gives Fondo a strained look.
"You have your priests bless the house, but mind out of my room, if you don't mind. As far as DOLL is concerned, I'll handle that on my own. I'll not have the sacred house of Magic dedicated to other than Nethys."
Briar thinks more about what he said and adds, "Excepting of course, the Shrine to Aroden and the Spiders. I'll see what I can do there."
* * *
On the morning, Briar will scribe a scroll of Remove Sickness (already paid for by Dandi).
The Waif had better have my second antiplague...we had a deal.
Then Briar will be ready to go to the Vault.
The group makes its way to the church of Abadar without trouble. The church is, as before, swarmed with the sick and needy. However they have organized the mob a little and are using Korvosan Guard along with church troops to organize those coming and going so as not to disrupt commerce. The writs you carry from Cressida get you past the throng and into the church without trouble - and without exposure.
A young priest examines your key and asks you to wait in one of the many waiting rooms in the west wing. After a short time, he brings a golden rectangular lock box nearly a foot high and wide, and three feet deep. He leaves you and tells you to let him or another know when you are done so they may return the box to the Vault.
The bulky key fits smoothly and the lid slides off completely. Inside are 690 gp in assorted coins, a very fine set of masterwork thieves tools, a pair of boots, a set of leather bracers, and a sheaf of papers detailing the creation of dozens of poorly designed toys.
When the box comes, Briar is equally excited with the box itself as he is the contents. If given the chance, Briar will put the contents in line outside the box itself.
Casting Detect Magic, he will scan the box itself for dweomers, seeking a pattern to the magics that might be used to protect the box (if any).
Spellcraft
Know (Arcana)
Regardless of that outcome, Briar will greedily cast identify to unlock the secrets of the items stowed therein, not to possess the items themselves.
Boots: Spellcraft
Bracers: Spellcraft
Box (if failed above): Spellcraft
"Fair enough, friend Briar. Though I cannot swear that their frankincense'll evade your daylight chambers." Fondo smiles evenly at the elf. The lack of sunlight strains him so...
. . . . .
. . . . .
Fondo also examines the items for magic auras. He dutifully waits for signs that Briar might not know of an item's properties before taking out the harrow deck.
The box itself seems to be made, or at least lined with, lead. Just enough to block detection of the contents within from the outside. It is not otherwise magical, though it is masterwork quality as is the key.
The boots are elvish in manufacture, and enable the wearer to move more acrobatically. The bracers are a boon for archers though the wearer also becomes much more perceptive.
One of the coins also radiates magic-a locally minted gold sail. It detects as a light spell, though it does not function as though it had any ability at all.
Briar, please make a will save, DC 12 and a perception check to examine the coin, if you want to take the time (2 minutes) you can take 20. If you give the coin to Fondo to detect, Fondo too needs to make the will save.
Briar examines the coin.
Will Save
Perception
* * *
Briar explains what the items mean and what they do, still unconcerned with the stupid, useless paperwork (there is magic here!).