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The lid is open, there's no vampire in there. Morkeleb, you're confident that the books would fetch about 1,500 to the right buyer.
Morkeleb starts carefully packing away the books. These will pay for our bribe, and to spare. See if you can get Ruan on his feet while I'm taking care of these?
Maybe we can escort him to where the other Varisians(?) are?
Good idea. They can keep him calm, and we can finish our sweep.
Ruan goes with you. His communication isn't much more than grunts at this point, but he doesn't fight. The others are EXTREMELY relieved to see you, and they ask immediately if it's safe. When you tell them it's not their faces fall but they give you their hopes nonetheless and look forward to freedom.
That done, Gaius moves to examine the northernmost door on the upper catwalk. Standard checks for traps and alarms. First he'll listen at the door.
Perception (Listen):
Perception (Checking for Traps and Alarms, with Calistria's Guidance:
DM, what do the doors look like?
Grym and Bucho are on Gaius's south flank watching the other door.
You hear nothing, but it smells like..... burning wax.
Burning wax? In a place of this much stench, it would take a great many candles to generate enough odor for us to detect. Perhaps a religious ceremony?
Morkeleb casts Resistance on everyone (+1 Resistance bonus to all saves for 1 minute), self included. He then grips his staff, and takes out his wand of Magic Missiles.
Gaius can I get a quick channel? I have a potion if you are out.
Huddle up for Channel, now at 2d6!
Channel Positive Energy: points healed to all.
Gaius checks for a lock. If locked, he'll disable--quietly. (Disable Device is +12, Stealth is +11) Then he motions for either Sandor or Odric to take point, and moves to the rear of the group. Hand Crossbow loaded and at the ready.
Gaius nods.
Morkeleb nods thanks to Gaius, and takes place near him. We are clearly approaching the priestess. I will try to incapacitate her if I can, but her willpower is likely strong. If there are undead--which I'm sure there will be--I shall try to blast them to ashes if I cannot penetrate her defenses.
The wizard hesitates for a beat, then puts his wand into his belt, leaving one hand free.
I am ready.
Hey lads remember so far we haven't found anything tying the queen to this place. It might be in some of those books but more than likely it will be the Priestess so lets try to take her alive. Or the body for some questioning beyond the grave.
With that said Sandor takes his place ready to face what lies beyond
Thanks for the healing Gaius.
The ranger pulls a blade his other hand on Bucho's shoulder. Odric flexes his muscles as he hefts his falchion. He gives a nod to Sandor to open the door.
The door is neither locked nor trapped.
Odric thanks Gaius for his healing and quickly quaffs a light blue potion to supplement the magic. As the cinnamonny liquid disappears within his gullet, Odric feels much better. He cracks his neck, once to the left and once to the right.
He nods at Sandor and tightens his grip on the Kegerator.
Since Gaius already took a spot at the rear of the group Grym has no problem being door man. Holding his dagger in one hand the ranger opens the door and lets the dwarven tank, and Odric in first as walking war machines. Dog and handler are numbers 3 and 4 through the door.
The reek of burning wax wafts through this morbid chamber, with several tall, misshapen candles being the apparent source. Workspaces strewn with tall beakers of foul-colored liquids, parchments covered in insidious symbols, and cages of whimpering rodents fill large alcoves in both the northern and southern walls. A pair of huge stone doors hang ajar to the east, revealing a long hallway leading further into the dark. At the room’s center stand four large, cylindrical glass vats, each filled with a bubbling emerald fluid that tints the chamber’s light a noxious green. Within each suspension floats a malformed abomination— something part man, part angel, and part horse—things of half-formed muscle with dead, fleshless equine skulls. Three of the forms are motionless and still, but the fourth twitches now and then with life.
Map includes picture, but not an updated floor plan.
Morkeleb? What is this foul thing before us?
Ferox will hazard a guess.
Grym and Bucho (as long as they see no immediate threats in the room) move up to take position on the north side of the open stone door way. The ranger stealthily peeks in.
stealth
perception
Bucho's scent perception
It boggles the mind of all who gaze upon it....thus far. I need a Knowledge (The Planes) check.
Sandor moves into the room since he see's nobody except the demonic looking creature in the tube. When he moves, he is also looking for any kind of pressure plate or the such.
of course if it is stonework... add a few more lol
Morkeleb looks intently at the strange creatures in the vats.
Morkeleb exhales through his nose, mouth firmly pressed into a line. Leukodaemons. Deacons of Apollyon, "The Destroyer." Their purpose is to spread disease and plague. Typically they're summoned, and cooperate with the summoner...but I don't know why they're in these vats.
Does Morkeleb think that, if they were to break the vats enough that the liquid leaks out, these things would be killed? And/or, why would they be in the vats in the first place? Could the liquid they're in be infused with Blood Veil essence or something, so they "know" what it is they're going to spread? How can we deal with them quickly and safely?
and, Detect Magic into the room, scanning everywhere.
If the leukodaemons are meant to spread disease, could they be the original source of Blood Veil? The cultists extracted blood from the daemons and used that to manufacture the full disease, perhaps? Potentially, that would have been against their will, depending on how much blood was removed. Maybe the vats are meant to contain them?
Well whatever they are here for 3 out of the four are dead in the vat. So lets figure out what killed the first 3and do the same to the last. Cuz the last thing I want to do is wake a demon and have ya kill him while he fights back
[dice=Engineering "how do the vats work"]1d20+7[/dice]
Grym feels all this is very much above him. He likes a nice simple hunt. He concentrates on guarding this open stone doorway and leaves the things beyond his ken to the others.
He also monitors Bucho to see if senses anything approaching.
Tricky. Set it loose and it may infect us. Destroy it and it may infect us. I think we need more information before we do anything with it.
There's nothing magical in this room. The daemons that are dead look....drained, as if everything has been sucked out of them. The remaining one looks emaciated, but otherwise normal. The vats aren't overly complicated but figuring out how they work would require fiddling with controls and whatnot.
What more info do ya need Gaius? It's a Demon and we ca kill it without risking ourselves. So the controls are easy I'm gonna kill it unless someone objects. Now these vats look exquisite if we cleaned em up how much would they be worth?
Besides if they can mass produce the Veil in them we might be able to mass produce the cure. N if I was a greedy dwarf I'm sure we could get mighty rich off of it
My guess is, Ferox has the right of it: they've used the demon's blood to fuel their Blood Veil. Killing the last demon is probably the most prudent course of action, but I'm not certain of that...
Push the vat over and we all give it our best attacks as it spills out.
Or we just leave it and move on.
We know the head cleric of the Urgathoans is still unaccounted for. Rather than waste time on something that isn't an immediate threat, I say we move on. We'll deal with whoever is left here, then we can come back and worry about the demon.
We know the head cleric of the Urgathoans is still unaccounted for. Rather than waste time on something that isn't an immediate threat, I say we move on. We'll deal with whoever is left here, then we can come back and worry about the demon.
Grym would like to move on out of this strange room.
Agreed. Let's press on.
Corridor is all there is from here.
Sandor leads the way
The long hall opens into a circular chamber rising into a high dome. Seven basins jut from the walls, ensconced within evenly spaced alcoves that circle the room. Each is filled to the brim with a unique liquid corruption—blood, bile, milk, or other unidentifiable fluid. Each fills the air with its own distinct reek, creating a noxious, eyewatering bouquet. Upon the floor around each basin lie several small, empty metal boxes, each carved with images of skulls. At the room’s center, rising from a wide pool of crystalline water, rises a golden statue of a sight both erotic and horrifying. The statue is that of a beautiful nude woman, human above the waist, but below this the figure is nothing more than a skeleton. As you approach you feel yourselves pass through a magical threshold, there is some spell in effect in this room. As your gaze turns to the center of the room a gorgeous woman sits, still as a statue before you. It is only when she speaks that the illusion is shattered. "“And so you have found your way to me, hopeful heroes. Know that you stand before the architect of your city’s death. You call this sending blood veil, yet I know it as the gentle kiss of the Pallid Princess. Your reward shall be great—choose of the seven scourges to become one with the goddess. Those who drink, I shall only cripple, leaving you alive to enjoy her as she quickens inside your flesh. Those who abstain are fools, not fit to house the divine gift. You may prostrate yourselves at my feet and I shall make your end all the more swift for it. Swifter, in any event, than this delightful end your lovely queen has enjoined me to create!”
THIS is the foe before you.
She rises, grasping the handle of a vicious scythe. Adventurers. Would be heroes of Korvosa, what do you do???
Gaius makes a, "tsk, tsk", noise with his tongue. And steps forward, casually leaning against Sandor, appearing rakish and relaxed, even as he surveys the room, looking for the, "angles", as it were.
Perception:
Now that's sad. A beautiful creature such as yourself should be savoring the stings of life instead of gorging yourself for the horrors of undeath. And typical of The Pallid Princess to hog all the fine looking women for herself.
Gaius pauses for dramatic effect.
You would make an exquisite Courtesan, Lady. If you care to... Kneel... And convert, we can retire to the temples above and we can see to your... Training.
Gaius shows his teeth in a wolfish fashion. He mimes a bite and then drops the sexy, turning instead to cold resolution.
The Savored Sting is the only purveyor of Flesh and Pleasure in Korvosa, Urgathoan. This is My Lady's territory. Naughty Naughty trying to muscle in without offering tribute and to share.
Intimidate:
The room doesn't seem to have any hidden surprises from your angle. The priestess steps back at your Intimidation attempt, but in preparation not fear.
"Choose your next words carefully. The Goddess does not tolerate such speech. I will exact her punishment."
Yum. Tempting. But alas, I'm... Well, this is embarrassing, but I might be in a relationship right now. I'm not really sure. We're still in the hot and heavy phase and really haven't discussed boundaries or expectations. She's far too useful and... Talented... A doe to toss everything away without talking first.
Gaius stands and brings the whip.
The Lady In The Room is the only one who instructs me on how to use my tongue. I'm sure you're very scary back in the crypts, but this is our city. Damn your eyes for making me say it but... Repent! For Thy Judgement is At Hand!
Gaius drops the fire and brimstone and turns playful.
And Foot. And back, and thigh, and lips, and tongue and...
If I can get another check...
Intimidate:
....and initiative.
Morkeleb watches the exchange between the two priests with restrained, yet open, amusement. He takes that time to examine the dweomer in the room...
Once it's clear the two religious folks are at a philosophical impasse, he levels his staff at her, preparing to engage her in magic. He also addresses his companions. Spread out if you can. Watch for allies. Take her down quickly!