While many in the crowd jeer at the words of the paladin, exclaiming "Courage won't cure my son!" and "Faith? Seems the only ones being healed are the rich! Faith is meaningless!", the general mass of gathered citizens are awestuck by Staryth's words. As he moves forward the press of the crowd parts, many thanking him as he prays over them, happy for any signs of the involvement of the gods in their plight. As the rest of the group, following Krojun's lead, makes their way up the steps, the paladin somehow manages to keep pace and arrives behind them only minutes later. The crowd is much calmer in response to his words, and by all appearances, he may have very well avoided a riot.
As you reach the top of the steps, guards at the doors of the Grand Vault call for you to halt, and sternly ask your purpose. At the mention of Ishani's name the guards nod to you and allow you to pass through the massive doors to the interior of the cathedral. Within its airy hall, priests and patrons eye each other and every newcomer with suspicion, and every footfall upon the marble floor echoes through a frightened silence. Only moments later, you see Ishani approaching the entrance, a grave look on his face as he greets you.
“It it very good to see you friends, these are troubling times indeed. As you are well aware, having passed through the poor lot outside our doors, we have a serious problem in the city. You recognize 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 than I’d feared." He motions for you to follow him and he leads you down one of the halls of the Grand Vault, moving briskly and finally coming to an ornate wooden door. Opening it, he moves into a small room, likely used for meetings, with a rich oak table surrounded by expertly crafted chairs, all with comfortable padding. “I’m concerned for the city, but also for my brethren here." he says, taking a seat in one of the chairs and motioning for you to do the same. "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, 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, vault keepers, guards, and acolytes, developed symptoms, and folk from throughout the city began arriving in search of healing. It’s been more than a little bit frightening. They’re calling the sickness ‘blood veil.’ An apt enough name, I suppose."
He pauses for a moment, itching at his neck, before continuing, “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 disease 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 disease will soon outpace our resources. The only way to stem the growing infection is 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 where 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?”
While many in the crowd jeer at the words of the paladin, exclaiming "Courage won't cure my son!" and "Faith? Seems the only ones being healed are the rich! Faith is meaningless!", the general mass of gathered citizens are awestuck by Staryth's words. As he moves forward the press of the crowd parts, many thanking him as he prays over them, happy for any signs of the involvement of the gods in their plight. As the rest of the group, following Krojun's lead, makes their way up the steps, the paladin somehow manages to keep pace and arrives behind them only minutes later. The crowd is much calmer in response to his words, and by all appearances, he may have very well avoided a riot.
The paladin ignores the jeers, using holy ointments both in ceremony and to keep his hands from spreading the very illness he prays for them over. He knows that many will die, but his inner prayers are as much for their souls in the hereafter as their health now.
Still, it troubles him the injustice of it all, as it always does. He is a hospitalar, meant to help the sick and wounded, but this plague is far beyond his capabilities. Would that I could do more, but at least I should continue to comfort. Shelyn, help me find out the cause of this and learn how to stop it.
Use of the hero point noted, however you are awarded another for creative thinking and good roleplaying, so the net difference is a wash. :)
The crowd falling behind them, he nods to see Ishani and listens to him carefully.
I spoke to each, and aside from their usual duties in the temple, none have had any dealings with the sick.
"Forgive me, good Ishani, but if you can, find out who they did have dealings with. Everyone they can remember."
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 where you come in."
"I hope you spread my notes to your brethren as I asked?" the paladin was for coordination at the start, now he fears he did not push for it hard enough to do much more than stem the tide. "And Krojun speaks for me as well, we'd be happy to escort you, but a back door or even over a wall would be best."
"I agree it's suspicious how this sickness has spread so quickly, Ishani. I mean, your fellow priests fell ill with no contact with the sick! That's unnatural, perhaps some from evil force. How lethal is this disease? Has the girl you saw yesterday gotten better?"
As Ishani talks of going to the guard, Silvio concurs, but not without reservation. "I'm all for keeping the city orderly and having you meet the Guard, but at the end of the day we also need to shut down the source of this disease. You mentioned that most of the cases came from Old Korvosa and North Point. Do we have anyone in those neighborhoods with more information?"
"Yea what they said. We'll take you to her."
Nodding to the paladin, Ishani says, "Indeed, and they have begun to gather notes on what we have seen as well. The sickness has spread so quickly, with so many having no contact with anyone else who has shown symptoms, we are truly perplexed by how this is happening. But it is aggressive to be sure, and no attempts to stop the spread have yet to succeed." Speaking to Silvo he adds, "Indeed, healthy men stricken down without so much as a single handshake with someone outside our walls. It makes little sense. Its a bit early to tell just how lethal the sickness is, but I fear we will know all too soon. The girl recovers, but I fear her trials have not yet passed.
Taking the group's suggestion, the priest escorts the party through the temple proper to a side exit of the building. Waving past the posted guards, Ishani leads the men down a side street before coming out onto the main avenue. A heavy cloak over his otherwise visible robes, he attempts to remain as nondescript as possible. Reaching Citadel Volshyenek poses little problem, despite Ishani’s fear to the contrary. Although many in the city attempt to conduct life as normal, stilted mumbling and quiet conversations replace the raucous chatter of any normal business day, as if noise might attract the plague’s lethal notice.
The guards at the gates gate greet you warmly, one of them saying "If you want to meet the Queen’s Physicians, you need to hurry to catch the doctors in the citadel’s courtyard." A frown crossing his face, Ishani hurries along, urging you to follow.
The echoes of forcefully spoken but still just-missed words resound off the imposing granite and iron walls of Citadel Volshyenek’s outer curtain. Dozens of red-and-silver-armored 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 middle-aged gentleman in a simple black overcoat with streaks of white gracing the sides of his short dark hair. He watches the gathered 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 armor, 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 in 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 these 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 while others loiter for a few moments to quietly gripe about their new orders. The armored woman quickly organizes the guards, silencing bickering words with harsh commands and assigning orders for the day. Kroft and her veteran attendants begin to head into the citadel with Dr. Davaulus and his Queen’s Physicians when the field marshal notices you before she enters the keep and sends one of her aides to fetch you. "Gentlemen, it is good to see you," she says. Noticing Lucius she adds, "And in such grand company as well.", a slight bit of sarcasm in her voice. "May I introduce you all to Doctor Davaulus, the Queen's Physician."
"I know right? Miss me much? I know how much your heart aches when I'm gone. Heh." Lucius replies before turning to Davaulus. "What's up doc?"
Nodding to the paladin, Ishani says, "Indeed, and they have begun to gather notes on what we have seen as well. The sickness has spread so quickly, with so many having no contact with anyone else who has shown symptoms, we are truly perplexed by how this is happening. But it is aggressive to be sure, and no attempts to stop the spread have yet to succeed." Speaking to Silvo he adds, "Indeed, healthy men stricken down without so much as a single handshake with someone outside our walls. It makes little sense. Its a bit early to tell just how lethal the sickness is, but I fear we will know all too soon. The girl recovers, but I fear her trials have not yet passed.
"I can't say how I know, madness maybe involved, whether as an additional torment the ill must face, or somehow a cause in the spreading of it, I'm not sure."
He follows Ishani out of the temple and past the gate guards.
The Field Marshal’s fierce tone cuts through the rumble of whispers. “You will escort Doctor Davaulus and his men in 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 these healers. Your city needs you. Your patrol leaders have your assignments. Dismissed!”
Staryth inclines his head, glad at least the queen seems to be putting forces to deal with this tragedy. And yet something continues to trouble him. How could this plague spread so as Ishani mentioned? Maybe other healers will know better than I. At least we're finally uniting.
As the assembly ends, the guardsmen gathered in the courtyard break up into groups, many reporting for various duties while others loiter for a few moments to quietly gripe about their new orders. The armored woman quickly organizes the guards, silencing bickering words with harsh commands and assigning orders for the day. Kroft and her veteran attendants begin to head into the citadel with Dr. Davaulus and his Queen’s Physicians when the field marshal notices you before she enters the keep and sends one of her aides to fetch you. "Gentlemen, it is good to see you," she says. Noticing Lucius she adds, "And in such grand company as well.", a slight bit of sarcasm in her voice. "May I introduce you all to Doctor Davaulus, the Queen's Physician."
"Doctor, an honor," Staryth says, "I am Staryth Valdian, of the hosptaliers of Shelyn. I hope you have some theories on the irregular pattern of these outbreaks? They're quite mystifying."
The doctor looks grim, shaking his head, "Nothing we have been able to determine yet, but the Queen has ordered every resource be made available to combat this outbreak. My attendants and I will work feverishly, no pun intended, to discover whatever we can to help resolve this crisis. In the meantime, I think your talents could be of use." With that he nods to Kroft, who turns to face the group, but is quickly interrupted by Ishani. "Sir, I come on behalf of the Grand Vault." the priest says, speaking to the doctor. "If I could, I'd like to offer my meager services, however insufficient they might be, in helping your cause."
The doctor looks over the priest for a moment, obviously unsure if he wants to involve yet another outside party, before nodding, "Indeed, someone from the church might just be the asset we have been missing. Your input would be most welcome." Ishani turns to the group, bowing to you as he says, "Thank you all for the safe delivery, it appears we arrived just in time." Speaking to Staryth he adds, "If I learn anything, I will send word." The doctor waits as Ishani joins his group of followers before adding, "Kroft will see to your assignments. If you discover anything of note be sure to report in immediately. We will keep the Field Marshal apprised of the situation as we make progress." With that the doctor and his troop head to the inner courtyard, Kroft promising to join them shortly.
Once they are gone, she speaks to the group, "I can't say that I like this. But orders are orders." Out of the corner of her eye she watches the armored woman, obvious dislike in her eyes. "We've been getting disturbing reports that some of the lazier northern plague carters aren’t delivering their bodies to the Gray District as ordered, but are instead disposing of them in one of several secluded alleys in the area. We've contracted them to dispose of the dead quickly and efficiently, but this doesn't appear to be the case. I need you to set out for Racker’s Alley, see if these rumors are true, and report back."
"Yea, what do you want us to do with these slackers? "
Kroft thinks for a moment, "Proof or confirmation of their misdeeds will suffice. The guard will handle it from their, and if confirmed, their employ will end most efficiently. Do take care while you are out, you appear to still have your health, and we don't want that to change."
Silvio stays silent through the lengthy conversation, looking queerly at the armored woman escorting the doctors. He sees if he might recognize the person behind the mask.
It's only when they leave that he speaks. "What I want to know is who these 'Gray Maidens' are. Who are they? Where did they come from? I don't like the look of them one bit."
When the Doctor admits he doesn't know how this might be spreading so erratically, the paladin gives cannot hide his disappointment "Thank you, Doctor."
As Ishani starts to go, he whispers to the cleric, "Be careful. Not all is as appears, or so I was warned. Hold to your faith , of course, but be careful not to trust too easily in people."
........
When they are alone with Kroft and their own assignment comes up, Staryth frowns a bit, "I think my time might be better served tending to the sick than this, to be honest, Field Marshall, but we'll look into this."
It's only when they leave that he speaks. "What I want to know is who these 'Gray Maidens' are. Who are they? Where did they come from? I don't like the look of them one bit."
"I don't think I've ever heard of them. One would at least think they'd have heard of a recruiting drive for a force sizable enough to be of aid," Thinking about it, then Staryth mutters "Perhaps I should have looked at them for ...darker impulse. I missed my chance there."
Racker’s Alley, with its strange shape and shadowy corners, has long been a site of illicit exchanges, quiet murders, and criminal business near the eastern edge of North Point. The area is shunned by the locals because of the towering buildings and the shadow they provide, blocking out all natural light, which led to its less than savory use.
It takes a little less than an hour to make the trek from the citadel to the north end of town, especially with the normal bustle and traffic within the city now at a minimum. Passing through the city, you notice a handbill posted to the wall of a building that has an official look to it. Examining closer, you see this.
As you arrive in the area, its a simple enough process to sniff out Racker's Alley. The high walls of the surrounding buildings throw this awkwardly bent alley into constant shadow. Although littered with garbage and filth, the refuse isn’t the most stomach-turning trait of this rundown sideway. Heaped against a bent wooden wall rises a pile of more than three dozen plague victims, their faces blistered and flushed, eyes open and staring. The scent of death is overpowered by the reek of rot, suggesting that some of these corpses have lain here for days, which doesn't seem right.
"Ugh, this is terrible. I think I've seen more than enough," says Silvio, not wanting to get any closer.
"Racker's alley. Might as well call it crime alley. Yea, this is not right. Can't Queenie at least burn the bodies?"
"Agreed. This is not right," Staryth frowns, "The rest of you stay back. I don't want you catching this." Staryth gets a bit closer and looks over the bodies to see how they've been treated, and if they show any signs of getting real medical attention before they passed
Staryth slowly moves forward, unafraid of the possible plagues and diseases that the others would likely be exposed to with the corpses. Searching through the bodies and examining them he does confirm that the bodies all appear to have been plague victims, until one specific body catches his eye. Although bloated and beginning to decompose, the paladin notices the body has no signs of the blood veil that has been seen with other victims. Looking closer, he notices twin puncture marks on the neck of the deceased, the area around the wound reddened and angry.
It is then, that the shadows in the nearby building suddenly burst to life...
A pale, ghoulish looking man with wild black hair bursts from a jagged opening in a wall in the adjacent building, grabbing at the paladin and snarling, a wild look in his eyes.
The lanky creature lashes out at a surprised Staryth, its clawed hands raking against the paladin's armor. It tries to find a hold, but even surprised the paladin is no match for the creature, and he quickly fights off the attempt.
Lucius moves forward. He snaps his fingers as the creature ignites in a burst of flame.
"I can already tell I'm going to regret this," says the rogue as he moves into position adjacent to the creature, and near all the diseased corpses.
Staryth thanks his goddess was missed, steps back and attempts to retaliate with his glaive
This is a vampire-spawn, the result of a vampire feeding on a being but choosing to not fully convert the victim to a true vampire. They are undead, resistant to all but silver weapons, and have a fairly strong resistance to cold and electricity. They have an aversion to garlic, and can drain the lifeforce from their victims.
Gesturing at the creature, Lucius calls forth a burning arc of fire which quickly snakes out towards his target. The spell hits the thing center mass, charring it badly and eliciting a shriek of pain and rage. Silvio quickly moves into position as Staryth brings his polearm to an attack position, slicing downward into the attacker, connecting solidly but not dealing the wound he would have expected with such a strike. Krojun lashes out with his whip, but the agile creature, even wounded, is quicker than his attempt, and jumps to avoid the attempt at its ankles.
The wounded thing steps into melee with the paladin, getting inside of the man's weapon range and clawing at him viciously. The claws rake across the man's face as Staryth feels his life force seeping out of his body. Suddenly, from the opening, several more of the creatures erupt into the alley, a dire hunger in their eyes. Silvo manages a swipe at one of them as it charges towards the Shoanti man, but the attack goes wide, glancing off of the wooden wall instead. As the thing heads towards Krojun, Staryth manages a chop at the creature's back as it engages with the barbarian, the attack dealing slight damage to the creature as it passes. Following the lead of the other, two more of the creatures erupt from the opening, focusing their attacks on the agile fencer. Both of the foul things rake at the more agile man, but he manages to keep out of their reach, dodging side to side. The creature heading towards Krojun leaps forward, dragging its claws down the man's face and sapping the strength from his bones.
"Uh, vampire spawn. I would get away from them. If any of you have any silver or garlic, now's the time. Where's a slayer when you need one...."
Lucius will light up the same one again, this time the flame arcing off to the one right next to it.
"Vampire spawn? Her?" ; ;
Staryth gasps as he feels his life force drained, but when he sees what Krojun is trying, attempts to withdraw leading it towards the light
-Posted with Wayfinder
Lucius calls up another arc of burning fire, searing two of the creatures and reducing one to ash with the arcane torrent of flame. Krojun and Silvio quickly fall back to the entrance of the alley, and the warm embrace of the sun. Staryth moves to retreat, stopping short to protect the mage from an onslaught of undead attacks.
The remaining scorched creature, burned badly by the flames, falls back through the hole he exited, having had enough of the fight. The two remaining vampire spawn approach, one taking a cleaving blow from Staryth's glaive as it approaches. The two vile things rake long claws at the paladin and mage, parting flesh with their attacks and continuing to draw out the lifeforce of the heroes.
Lucius starts feeling a little dizzy as his life force is taken from him and he withdraws to the sunlight.
Staryth groans and pulls into the sunlight
The pallid looking undead sneer and growl as the group makes for the opening of the alleyway. They do not, however, pursue them, knowing that would mean their demise. Casting a final look of contempt and hate at the group, the vampire spawn vanish back into the hole in the wall where they emerged from, leaving the party looking down into the empty alley once more.
Silvio retreats with the rest of the party. "Were those vampires? What is going on here? How many bad things can happen at once in this city?"
"You'd be surprised. Those were only spawn. Which means we haven't met the vampire who wired them."
The paladin looks very pale, "We have a problem. When it gets dark, they'll be free to hunt again. "
"Let's head back and report what we've found. Maybe we should buy ourselves a lot of garlic while we're at it."
"You guys need some wooden stakes or something. That was unpleasant." Lucius says still feeling weak after the encounter.