Just a moment... wait here.
Curnach addresses the sick man.
Excuse me sir- but if you have not already heard from Cressida, a deadly disease is spreading throughout the city and I just noticed your symptons. The disease is highly contagious and spread via contact so please quarantine yourself immediately- I can examine you now and possibly help you to shake the disease off, if you'll indulge me.
Heal check
Just a moment... wait here.
Curnach addresses the sick man.
Excuse me sir- but if you have not already heard from Cressida, a deadly disease is spreading throughout the city and I just noticed your symptons. The disease is highly contagious and spread via contact so please quarantine yourself immediately- I can examine you now and possibly help you to shake the disease off, if you'll indulge me.
1d20+12 Heal check
It seemed like the guard was going to ask about Trinia, but he remained silent as you tend to the guard he was on duty with. Curnach's knowledge manages to succeed and he stops caughing, though the rash will go down in time on it's own.
"Thank you we hadn't yet heard. His sister recently caught the illness too. His family can just about raise the money to cure her too if it's as bad as you say." he sighs and looking back at Trinia, shakes his head before returning to his post. "You better keep going. I hope this disease will die down."
As you all manage to move on Trinia remains on the horse and looks down at Curnach not sure what to say.
"I'll contact you, some how. Please, don't get harmed by this plague. I...wish to repay you someday, all of you." she seems quite sad and wants to stay here, but knows that it's for the better to leave the city rarther than remain hidden inside it. As long as she was here the queen would be searching for her. The gate is in the distance and the security here seems very light compared to the number of guards by the gate where the boat was sunk.
Trinia approches the gate she stops and gets off the horse, grabbing Curnach by surprise and giving him a quick kiss on the lips before hopping back onto the horse. With the gate opened, the guards not seeming to suspect a thing and as she leaves town she takes one last long look back at curnach, kissing her hand and blowing it in his direction with a tear in her eye before urging the horse on forward to the town Vencarlo mentioned, Harse.
You all notice that there are beggers who appear to be contracting the illness, though now many they are still there and dotted around the city. In old Korvosa you remember hearing a louder, more potent caughing of symptoms of this disease, but so far most people seem perfectly healthy.
With that the party leaves to head back to the three rings and spend the next night there.
5% infected with blood vail
Curnach
Ariana
Krenn
Jerin
Krenn:
You all feel fine in the morning and as you sit down and continue your daily lives and you hear more tales of this illness spreading through the city with possible infections. There are times you accidently nearly rub up against someone who might have the disease, but you all appear to be fine.
Soon a man enters dressed in white clerical robes with golden lining and wearing the same holy symbol that you recgonise Ishani Dhatri wearing around his neck. The man searches the area carefully taking in everyone before walking over to the group.
"You are the ones who Ishani met at the Soldado house, correct?" he asks looking nervous as he speaks to you all. "I am a acolyte from the Great Vault and I have been sent here by Vaultkeeper Dhatri to ask for a meeting with you. He cannot leave the vault as this recent plague has been lumping us with a extra workload." he seems very new to going outside as he continues to look around, afraid that someone about to jump him for some reason.
Zellara is speaking into your mind. This plague goes far deeper than you think. A powerful evil is behind this and all Zellara can see is the city being covered in this red rash and a large scythe hanging above the city, but she doesn't know what it means.
I suppose we can meet with him, lead the way.
Its likely plague related... Of course we'll go.
As the group moves deeper into the city you notice towering over the surrounding buildings, the Grand Vault of Abadar offers a vision of divine luxuriance amid a sea of mortal troubles. Radiant as it's grey-veined white marble reflects the midday sun there's little question that this place is the house of a god. Yet for a deity of law the steep stairs and ramps leading up to the temples great bronze doors offer a strangly discordant scene. Dozens of citizens, mostly of the working class although the silks of a few merchants show through the crowd surround the entry, scarcely being held back by a group of gold-armoured Abadarian clerics. All seems intent on gaining entry to the temple, but the clerics turn away nearly all comers. The clerics' reasoning becomes clear as one desperate beliver is turned away, his pitiful countenance mottled with violent red sores.
The city guard are nearby keeping a eye on the crowd and hoping for there to not be some kind of riot. Many start begging the priest who is ahead of you all, but he ignores them, head hung low as he marches forward.
The group don't try too hard as they notice you all near him, looking like a armed escort. The guards at the front of the grand vault halt you all, however the cleric speaks to one of the guards who then decide to let you all pass, however they all eye you suspeciously, keeping they're main focus on the crowd of infected people.
As you enter you notice inside this airy halls priests and patrons eye each other and all of you with suspecion and ever footfall upon the marble floor echoes through a frightened silence. It takes you not time at all to be lead to Ishani Dhatri in a reserved meeting room to the west of the temple. Since the Grand Vault doubles as a bank these meeting rooms are used both as private areas to discuss religious matters with the clergy or a place of business to discuss financial matters in private if you are one of the wealthy.
Ishani looks grave as he rises from his desk to greet you, nodding to the acolyte to leave the room for privicy.
"Thank you for coming. I assume you suspect my reasons for calling, having seen the crowd outside. Poor lot." he sits down, offering the seats in front of the desk for you all to sit at. "You recognise the symptoms too, I'm sure. I had hoped that the Soldado case was isolated, but apparently we have a bigger problem on our hands that I'd fears.
"I'm concerned for the city, but also for my brethren because after my visit to the Soldado home I came to the temple to hear that three of my brothers awoke with similar symptoms, although they had already been healed. I spoke to each of them and aside from their usual duties in the temple, none have had any dealings with the sick. Later in the day, more of my brothers, vaultkeepers, guards and acolytes developed symptoms and folk from throughout the city began arriving in search of healing. It's been more than a little frightening. They're calling the sickness 'blood vail'. An apt enough names, I suppose."
"This affliction has spread fast, yet I'm not yet sure how. Most of the patients we're treating have come from North Point and Old Korvosa. The diseas seems to spread fastest through the lower classes. Although we here at the temple can heal some of the ill, I fear that the spread of the diseas will soon outpace our resources. The only way to stem the growing infection to involve all the city's resources. We need to organize. We need to call upon the faiths of Sarenrae, Pharasma and even Asmodeus to face this attack. Archbanker Tuttle and several of his assistants are out pursuing alliances with these other faiths, but even that won't be enough.
We need to involve the Korvosan Guard, at the very least and that's when you come in. With the number of desperate souls growing, it's not particularly safe for a priest to walk the streets of Korvosa. I hear that you have a good relationship with Field Marshal Cressida Kroft, perhaps you would be willing to escort me to Citadel Volshyenek to introduce me to her? Don't get me wrong I don't expect this for free. I'm willing to pay each of you two-hundred gold coins. he rises from his seat expecting to get going "If there are any questions you want to ask I can answer them, but I hope to speak with the Field Marshal and set up this plan to take control of this disease."
We need to organize. We need to call upon the faiths of Sarenrae, Pharasma and even Asmodeus to face this attack. Archbanker Tuttle and several of his assistants are out pursuing alliances with these other faiths, but even that won't be enough.
I am glad you have finally listened to my warnings- I asked at the Soldado house for such organisation to take place, and I had already warned the guard they'd have an epidemic on their hands. Perhaps if you fools had heeded me sooner, hundreds of lives could have been saved. Curnach says, clearly seething in barely restrained fury, fires dancing in his eyes.
Lets be off quickly, before more lives are lost by the delay...
We need to organize. We need to call upon the faiths of Sarenrae, Pharasma and even Asmodeus to face this attack. Archbanker Tuttle and several of his assistants are out pursuing alliances with these other faiths, but even that won't be enough.
I am glad you have finally listened to my warnings- I asked at the Soldado house for such organisation to take place, and I had already warned the guard they'd have an epidemic on their hands. Perhaps if you fools had heeded me sooner, hundreds of lives could have been saved. Curnach says, clearly seething in barely restrained fury, fires dancing in his eyes.
Lets be off quickly, before more lives are lost by the delay...
"I told the Archbanker, but he did not want to do anything, even when things got worse." he says sternly to Curnach. "This plan is my devising and I am paying you all out of my own pocket. I won't get any of this money paid back by the Grand Vault. I don't want another violent epidemic like back in Vudra.
He looks to the dwarf and nods.
"I hope my deity will understand as I do not wish to be mobed by the many blood veil infected out there." he nods as he picks up a spare robe, hoping to change his appearence and hiding his holy symbol "Right, let's get going."
As you all make your way you hear whispers involving the blood veil and there are more people with these horrible rashs and caughing hard. The streets are still filled with talk as many people appear to still be up and moving, trying to get they're daily business done and looking over you all.
As you arrive at Citadel Volshyenek you hear echoes of forcefully spoken, but still just missed words resound off the imposing granite and iron walls of Citadel Volshyenek's outer curstain. Dozens of red-and-silver-armoured guards stand in assembly upon the pitted stone mustering ground here, mumbling in hushed, somber tones. Before them, atop a weathered wooden platform paces Field Marshal Kroft, her eyebrows arched sternly as she momentarily tolerates the crowd's murmurs. Behind her upon the scaffold stand three grizzled veteran guardsmen at attention, as well as an ominous-looking group.
These men wear cowled robes of oily-looking leather, supple gloves and wide black hats. Some grip heavy canes, others dark satchels. Each of them, though, wears a dark-goggled mask tapering to a pointed beak. Among them stand two others. The first is a middleaged gentleman in a simple black overcoat with streaks of white gracing the sides of his short dark hair. He watches the gathering guards with a soft, concerned expression, his hands tightly clasping a heavy-looking doctor's case.
The second figure is an imposing one indeed. A woman dressed in full-plate armour, a longsword and shield at her side and her blank-faced full helm sporting a bright red plume.
The Field Marshal's fierce tone cuts through the rumble of whispers.
"You will escort Doctor Davaulus and his men to their royal duties wherever those might take them. Furthermore, you are to consider orders from any of the queen's new order of Gray Maidens to be as binding as any superior officer in the Korvosan Guard or Sable Company. You are guardsmen of Korvosa. You will not balk. These are dire times and your city needs healers. Your city needs you. Your patrol leaders have your assignments. Dismissed!"
As the assembly ends, the guardsmen gathered in the courtyard break up into groups, many reporting for various duties to they're supiriors whilst others loiter for a few moments to quietly gripe about their new orders. The armoured woman quickly organizes guards, silencing bickering words with harsh commands and assigning orders for the day. All that's missing from that scene is for her to be holding a leather whip with the way she goes on at them.
Kroft begins to head into the citadel with the men all dressed in they're masks and oily-leather overcoats.
Jerin whispers something in Draconic to Majenko, whose head suddenly appears out of the pack. Majenko then sends the following message to Kroft telepathically, Field Marshal Kroft, your Korvosan employees need to speak with you as soon as you have a moment. We are escorting a representative from Abadar and will wait word from you to meet you in your office.
He informs the rest of the group what message he just sent.
Kroft turns around hearing this message and then talks to one of her aids who then decide to run towards the group.
"Greetings, I work for the Field Marshall. Please, follow me." he leads the group into the citadel, the other guards are all pleased to see the group and smile in your direction, however the woman in fullplate appears to leer in your direction and barks at the guards she's commanding for not remaining in disciplined position.
As you meet up with Cressida Kroft she forces a smile and seems guarded in her current, unfavourable company, Davaulus's doctors appear to unnerve her just as much as they do the other men of the guards.
"Dr. Davaulus, these are a few assistants have helped me with keeping the chaos to a minimum last month." she says to Dr. Davaulus who smiles conently.
"I have heard some great things about you four. Managing to solve so many problems without spilling blood, very surprising." he does seem genuinly interested and impressed by the group."Since I assume you will be involved with helping this city again I'll give you this new public announcement." as he says this he reaches into his bag and pulls out the public announcement on paper, one of many paper announcements that will be soon spread throughout the city.
Ishani steps forward.
"Can I be of service in coordinating the efforts of the Grand Vault of Abadar with you and the rest of the city." he says hopefully and his participation is welcomes and he heads inside with the group. "Before I go, thank you. I'm surprised, but hope the queen's new plans work." he smiles over to the group and hands a bag of coins.
Kroft looks to the group almost not wanting to have this meeting with the doctors, but knowing she must for the good of all of Korvosa.
"I will tell you if I need anything. For now you can rest or help with the plague and save people's lives." after she says that the Doctor appears to wrinkle his nose, but doesn't say anything and follows her into the citadel.
As you return to the tavern you find that most of the day hasn't gone yet so there is still something to do and luckily you find a woman dressed in rags as been expecting you, looking around suspeciously and eyeing you, twitching and unable to keep focus.
Just as the group approches to smiles to you all.
"So, this is where you went, Curnach. My friends have worried about you." she says with a honest and welcoming smile, but then continues to look around nervously. "I have heard of you being heroes of Korvosa and there is a private matter I wish to discuss. Can we talk somewhere in private?" the woman stands and appears to be human, though her cloths appear to be unkept as is her hair, looking somewhat like a female Curnach and wearing masterworked studded leather armour with her rags. Her eyes have the echos of kindness behind them.
You don't know or have any idea who this woman is, but she does give off a distinct smell that you recognise, but can't place it and her eyes seem somewhat familiar to you too. So much is familiar about her but you can't quite put your finger on it. Like seeing a friend after many years but bearly being able to recall where you met them.
As you return to the tavern you find that most of the day hasn't gone yet so there is still something to do and luckily you find a woman dressed in rags as been expecting you, looking around suspeciously and eyeing you, twitching and unable to keep focus.
Just as the group approches to smiles to you all.
"So, this is where you went, Curnach. My friends have worried about you." she says with a honest and welcoming smile, but then continues to look around nervously. "I have heard of you being heroes of Korvosa and there is a private matter I wish to discuss. Can we talk somewhere in private?" the woman stands and appears to be human, though her cloths appear to be unkept as is her hair, looking somewhat like a female Curnach and wearing masterworked studded leather armour with her rags. Her eyes have the echos of kindness behind them.** spoiler omitted **
Jerin looks around suspiciously... but is okay with following the women where they can speak privately.
Lead on. Curnach says.
An echo of my life as a street urchin... It feels so long ago now, yet it was only a few months... Curnach explains to the others.
She nods and heads into the private room. Smiling to Curnach she shakes her head.
"Actually I lied. I don't know you so much as my children know you. Here's one of them" she opens up her sleeve and a rat appears, scurrying across the table towards Curnach and stopping, sitting up on it's hind legs and sniffing into the air. "He told me all about the card he gave you that fateful day and his bretherin watched as Gaedren Lamm was torn to shreds in the foul waters where he belongers. My children have also watched the rest of you, the dwarf searching for his nephew with such great strength and iron determination, the wizard who decided to help the acadamy and uses powerful enchantments and the newest member of the group, Arianna. I have heard of your past and how you were at the Golden Goblin's tournament."
She steps back, checking around the room to make sure the curtains are closed, making the room dark, but lighting a lantern for everyone and then before your eyes you see her groan and hunch over, hissing and then on her knees as she groans and you notice her body changing shape, the sound of bone and cartilage bending and reshaping, skin turning to fur and before your eyes she has turned into a humanoid rat-like creature.
"This is my hybrid form. I was born with this condition known as lycanthropy. My name is Eries Yelloweyes, I am a fishmonger who has lived with this secret for 50 years. I come to you because I am afraid that my kind are going to be blamed for the spread of the plague. I try to keep my children hidden, but one was seen by a few dock workers who wanted revenge and they executed him with a silver axe. After this the fools went into the sewer to kill more of us, however a few drunk dock workers went into the tunnels to kill more of us, yet my kind are known to run from danger and abandon our dens. But there is one who decided to push back." she pauses and sits down, seemingly dissappointed in herself
"He is quick to temper and now wants to cause a war with the people on the surface. I fear this will lead to the death of many innocents on both sides. I don't want my children or the innocents on the surface to suffer. I have tried to speak to Girrigz, but he won't listen to reason and it pains me to say this, but he must be delt with somehow. I wish you to either speak with him or convince him by showing him some force from the surface." she gets up and then groans, changing back to her human form.
"My bretherin are always in the sewers spying on the surface, that's how I learnt where to find you and of the deeds you have done. From what I've heard, Rolth was quite angry when he returned to his lab." she appears to smirk at this and laugh "As a reward you are allowed to have all of Girrigz's supplies from his would-be army camp and I may have some more answers for the plague." as she says this she looks back to the rat who appears to still want to be near Curnach.
Lycanthropy is a disease that comes in many forms. Rat, tiger, wolf, bear and others have been heard of though rarely seen. You can contract the curse by being harmed by a carrier of it or born from one.
Lycanthrobes can change form into the creature they're curse origonated from. Wererats live beneith Korvosa, but in most cases the reports are disguarded as either lies or falehoods. They also have the scent ability.
Ih hybrid form they gain a bite ability and damange resistance, however silver bypasses it just as the myths say. They are known to turn into a hybrid form which is deadly and if bitten either in this form or animal form you can catch lycanthropy.
Many wererats work for thieves guilds due to being as skilled as they are. Wererats often love human cities so that they can blend in perfectly and feel at home.
Curnach listens intently, and waits for the others to speak first, absent mindedly feeding one of the rats a goodberry and putting it up on his shoulder.
Knowledge (nature):
"I can understand and sympathise with your caution Madame Eries, but what else can you tell us about this Girrigz? How many follower's does he have? Where in the sewers can he be found? Anything else that would help us end this before it begins?"
Knowledge (nature): 1d20+7
"I can understand and sympathise with your caution Madame Eries, but what else can you tell us about this Girrigz? How many follower's does he have? Where in the sewers can he be found? Anything else that would help us end this before it begins?"
"I know where he is and can show you, but I don't know about the numbers. I know he will have swarms of rats and dire rats along with various other creatures that roam the sewers like a otyugh and others. If you can calm him without killing him that will help change his mind of the people on the surface, however if he dies then you would have saved many lives of my children and the cities people." she smiles softly towards Ariana and the group. "I suggest getting weapons made from alchemical silver, that is the weakness of my kind when we transform into our hybrid form. It cuts through our flesh with ease..." she looks scared at the window as it is laced with silver iodide to keep away the imps.
"Hip waders"
No. I am ready.
Eries Yelloweyes leads the group up to north point to a accessable area into the sewers.
"Be careful. There are many things moving in the dark down there." she warns the group before letting you ahead and into the sewers. The stench is mostly of dampness as most organic waste that goes through this sewer is devoured by the cities Otyugh.
derro
As you make your way down the sewer you notice two figures moving around in the darkness, strange language vibrating off the wall.
Before you are two derro creatures, armed with they're repeater crossbows and now aiming them at the group.
Group Initiative:
Curnach Daveck:
Jerinthian Kos:
Arianna Rothschild:
Krenn Whetstone:
Derro:
Order:
Jerinthian Kos
Krenn Whetstone
Arianna Rothschild
Derro
Curnach Daveck
Jerin starts delaying since he only sees two of them, he does have his wand out and handy though.
Round #1
Arianna rushes the derro on the left (square O-5) pulling unravelling her scarf as she goes. When she is close enough (square N-6) she lashes out wrapping her scarf around the derro's legs.
CMB (trip):
Cursing as the wrap fails to bring the derro down.
Krenn's charge has clearly caught the Derro by surprise as his axe smashes hard into the creature's chest, cutting deep, though he appears to still be standing and remaining pale.
The second one is unphased by Arianna's trip attack and remains standing.
The Derro in front of Krenn moves back 5ft and then fires his weapon which completely misses as he somehow aimed too high up and the bolt flies harmlessly into the dark tunnel somewhere behind the group.
Derro 1 attack
The second Derro does the same action, taking a 5ft step back but firing his at Arianna, however yet again this Derro aims too far up and the bolt whistles by harmlessly down the tunnel.
Derro 2 attack
Round One Action-
Curnach fires off a fire bolt at the wounded Derro.
VS Touch AC, includes firing into melee penalty
Fire Damage
CL check.
Jerin will delay until further notice, we can retcon if really necessary, but he figures the rest of the group can handle 2 derro.
Round #2
Arianna lashes out again with the scarf in another attempt to neutralize the derro in front of her.
CMB (trip):
Curnach's firebolt unfortuantly misses the Derro, lighting up the passage where rats can be seen clearly scurrying about.
Round 2
Order:
Jerinthian Kos (or whenever he wants to jump in as he is on perminant delay unless he wishes to act)
Krenn Whetstone
Arianna Rothschild
Derro
Curnach Daveck
Arianna trips the Derro, the small and strange creature falling to the floor and into the muck.
The other derro takes another hard hit from Krenn in the centre mass, caughing blood but remains standing only just.
Derro Round 2
The Derro Krenn hit smirks as it takes another 5ft step back and does a familiar movement with his hands, muttering something under it's breath.
The spell is sound burst. It has the chance to stun.
both Arianna and Krenn take damage and neither of you are stunned from the spell and then the Derro falls down bleeding out.
Arianna
Krenn
The second Derro tried to stand back up, provoking an attack of oppitunity for Arianna which she takes, however misses and the Derro moved 5ft away.
Arianna's AoO
Round 2 Action
Jerin will cast mage armor, 4 hour duration.
Round 2 Action-
Curnach flings another firebolt at the remaining Derro.
To Hit
Fire Damage
CL
The Derro takes the fire full on in the face from Curnach's blast.
Round 3
Order:
Jerinthian Kos (or whenever he wants to jump in as he is on perminant delay unless he wishes to act)
Krenn Whetstone
Arianna Rothschild
Derro
Curnach Daveck
Arianna will take a 5' step to square O-5 and lash out with her scarf again.
CMB (trip):
Krenn marches over to the prone Derro who fell from Arianna's bladed scarf and then brings the axe down on him with a powerful attack which slices into the creature, but he remains still alive
Derro gets up provoking an AoO from Krenn and Arianna
Krenn:
Arianna :
Krenn's heavy attack smashes into the Derro as he attempts to get up, but Arianna's bladed scarf finishes him off, throwing out the bladed end which wraps around the neck of the derro expertly before pulling hard and cutting deep into the creature's neck with the blade, it falling on the floor and bleeing out.
Sorry, my wife is in the hospital with pnuemonia. I'm hoping that she will be well enough to be discharged tomorrow. I should be back to regular posting tomorrow or Monday.
No problem. Take care of her first, we'll still be here when you're ready. Family is the most important thing.
Looting the bodies, continuing down the tunnel?
Yes and yes.
On the derro you again find 2 sets of leather armour, 2 Aklys, 2 repeating crossbows (all small sized) with 9 bolts covered in a sticky material, a potion and a set of masterwork thieves tools.
Will experiment. Think 2 minor item rolls.
item one:
potion
1st level
item two:
As you all move on you find you a gap in the sewer wall. Throughthe disgustingly visable haze of noxious sewer reek the flow of unmentionable slop through the sewer tunnel's filth-slick channel unexpectedly forks. Most continues on its expected path, but a small stream of ooze diverts off through the wide cleft in the moldy masonry wall. The man-sized crack cuts deep into the rock behind the wall and wisps of thin white smoke issue forth. The tunnel continues on and turns left. There appears to be some water spreading down through the hole in the wall.
You notice movement in the water. Possibly something big but the water appears to have ripples from other creature or creatures moving about in the water further down.
Perception (Fail)
Perception check:
Perception 1d20+7
Argh.
So.
Close!