Iolana takes a defensive stance. "Who are you? she asks the archer then glances at Ayako and Lucien. "Can you make sure she's dead, dead? I don't want her coming back. Let Pharasma sort her out."
Ayako impales the priestess's head with her spear. That should do it.
Tyrandro smiles at Ayako. "I like your stance on being thorough." he comments on her stabbing the priestess. He walks closer to come out of the shadows. "I'm Tyrandro and I'm here in search of you. At least I'm pretty sure now it's you. But I don't think this is the place for a proper introduction. This Urgathoa gives me the chills. With all these undead and demons and slaughter on the way here I feel like every moment the next abomination will jump out of the darkness." He looks around and nocks another arrow.
MmmMm...We need to get this place secured and cleansed, it is a place of sickness and the misery infecting the city comes from here.
"I'm not in a hurry. I can follow you around until you're done here and then invite you to a drink in a tavern of your choice. How's that." Tyrandro suggests.
"I could use a drink. Let's get this place cleared. I still think we should burn it on the way out." she mutters. Iolana searches the priestess and looks around the room.
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Indeed, there is that creature in the tube outside, we should notify the churches about it.
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While you are talking, before you get a chance to search or leave the area, a soul-wrenching evil fills the room.
Lady Andaisin's body crackles with unholy power and is lifted into the air. Her sundered flesh explodes with boils and pustules, while torrents of Urgathoa's foul humors flood forth and congeal into a sickening new body for the unliving saint. Lady Andaisin is instantly reborn as an undead monstrousity bent on revenge.
What once might have been a woman now towers as a monstrosity of exposed muscle, twisting marrow, and hellish majesty. Flesh worn like a tattered gown and bone warped into gruesome weapons, her rent gut spills a wave of hardened fluids, dried bowels, and supremely powerful muscles into a single tentacle-tail, propelling the feminine horror forward.
"Mwuahahaha! What power! Urgathoa has chosen me as her vessel. You cannot deny her will. Death is only the beginning for the Pallid Princess! You will not escape and the plague will continue! You can now call me Andaisin the Reaper!"
Ayako is stunned and casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Lucian so the paladin is in perfect shape for fighting the creature
"I liked her much better dead." Tyrandro sighs as the imagined evil he feared would jump them from the shadows is outdone by this abomination. Despite his calm appearance he is unsettled by this turn of events. He takes a short look if the way to retreat is still free before he shoots a volley of arrows at The Reaper.
"Why won't you stay dead?" She fires two magic missiles at the creature.
Lucien has never come across this creature in his studies.
With the priestess dead, her magic loses its hold on Sebastian. He emerges from the fountain, dirty water streaming off him, reborn. Overhearing Iolana's suggestion, he wholeheartedly agrees. "Burn the whole place to the ground!" Climbing back out of the fountain, his soaked boots squish with every step he takes. He begins to shake off the water like a dog when, suddenly, Lady Andaisin, too, is reborn.
Something primal inside Sebastian revolts at Andaisin's new form. He howls with fury, drawing his rapier as he springs forward to exact retribution.
Sebastian stabs at Andaisin's new form and draws first blood, if you can call it that. Rancid green and black fluids ooze from the wound.
Tyrando fires three shots at her and two of them hit.
Andaisin the Reaper hovers in the air like some sort of ghost; none of her limbs touch the ground. Once hand is warped into long deadly claws. The other is a huge fist nearly four times as large. The large hand twists even further. Bones and muscle crack and extend until the fist now resembles a macabre scythe. She unleashes a full-attack on Sebastian and Lucien. The Reaper's claws tear into Sebastian rending his flesh to tatters and her tail slams into Lucien and pummels him away.
Ayako heals Lucien and steadies him from his wounds.
Iolana's magic missiles blast into the beast. She reels slightly but presses on.
Lucien calls upon his last remaining smite for the day and his holy sword carves into Lady Andaisin like butter. Her foul blood hisses as the holy energy destroys it.
Your attacks have clearly done substantial damage and she isn't in good shape after your initial assault but she isn't backing down.
Ayako hobbles over and heals Sebastion with her final greater healing spell
Sebastian recoils, howling in pain as Andaisin Scythehands rips into his torso. That dark part writhes inside him, almost enjoying the pain. He can feel the burn of contagion spreading in his wounds, but it suddenly cools and subsides. Some tiny, rational part of his brain tells Sebastian that a defensive stance might be more appropriate, if not outright retreat, but that part is no longer in control. Pressing the attack, he stabs at the floating nightmare, thrusting his rapier into her fleshy tail.
Iolana decides to take the chance that she isn't immune to cold and fires of her last second level spell of the day. Her Scorching Cold Ray flies from her hand. "Stay strong. We'll get her."
"I hope this is the last time she got up from the dead. Because if not we need a change of plans. Tyrandro replies as he fires more arrows. For he is fighting with finite resources here.
A note for the future, always carry alchemist's fire for instant corpse burning.
Sebastian and Tyrando continue to pummel the creature that is now Lady Andaisin but it survives for one last flourish.
Andaisin slashes her scythe down onto Lucien and claws in Sebastian with her other hand. Then her tail swings over both their heads to smack into Ayako behind then.
Finally, Iolana's cold ray finishes the job, freezing the undead monster, and dropping it dead for good.
Lady Andaisin had the following items on her:
potion of barkskin +4, +1 vicious scythe, +1 breastplate, cloak of resistance +2, periapt of Wisdom +2, onyx unholy symbol of Urgathoa worth 200 gp
Tyrandro approaches the Abomination and shoots a final arrow into it's head.
"Take it as a parting gift." Looking around if something else is moving or raising out of the different pools or if the statue starts moving next he notices something.
Addressing the others he tells "There is some kind of compartment at the base of this statue." But he is reluctant to stick his hand into this dark opening to find out what is within.
The priestess' tail slams into Ayako's face, sending teeth flying and cracking her jaw. HUrmppfff Ayako grunts before the undead falls for good.
Ayako hobbles about and begins healing people
Ayako
Lucian
Sebastion
Ayako
Lucian
Sebastion
After she is done tending to people, she looks at the hole and waves a stick inside before bringing out the items. Some interesting valuables. She looks at Tyrando. Much thanks for your assistance, just who might you be?
"You're welcome. No one likes Urgathoa. At least no one who is in his right senses." Tyrandro replies. "I'm Tyrandro Pompio. Usually I work in our families import/export business. But since the Queen took over the throne and all these harrowing events have befallen Korvosa business has come to a halt."
"And rumour has it that there is a group around fighting these events. Not that little help between neighbours or a church helping the poor. But big time influence at the key points of events. I guess that's you. And as business is dead anyway I thought I could help change the game to get the city back to normal." Tyrandro explains. "I'd also like to know who you are in return. But I'd still prefer to have that talk over a drink and not in that hole."
My name is Ayako, I met Sebastion here. She gestures. Due to being brought together over a mutual concern. We seem to have encountered one complication after another that has led to this. Ayako waves around the room. While I would enjoy a drink, this place is a festering hole of disease that needs to be cleansed. There is that monster in a tube outside the room and gods know what are in those vats.
"Finish your business here first. I'm not in a hurry. The offer for the drink stands." Tyrandro replies. He still looks cautiously on the remains of the former cleric if she stays dead.
Foregoing the drink for now, you return to Citadel Volshyenek. It is late in the evening when you return and the already skeleton crew has diminished further as most of the remaining guards rest. The Varisians you saved mill about in the main hall and the Guard tries to figure out the best way to handle them. It's not long before the haggard Cressida Croft gets word that you are here and finds you.
"I hope you have some good news for me."
Ayako sighs and looks grim. We found something very bad and incriminating. Ayako waves them to the side out of earshot We went to the Hospice where the Queen's Physicians were working out of and found that it housed not healers, but agents of the disease goddess Urgathoa. The head physician Davaulus was working with the full support of the queen. Underneath was an area devoted to Urgathoa where they were conducting experiments on native Varasians as well. We found a large amount of tools that were no doubt used to spread the disease as well as some monster that was being used to cause it as well. The Varisians who are here can confirm what has happened. We fought and slew a high priestess of Urgathoa as well. It is very important to rescue the sick there and cleanse it since who knows what could be unleashed.
'That was quick.' Tyrandro thinks as he finds himself in the same room as Field Marshal Croft.
"I was afraid there was something wrong with the Hospice and the Physicians. I can't believe they were agents of Urgathoa right under our noses and we didn't know it. Do you have proof that the Queen was supporting them? That is a big accusation and something you must be very careful with. The Queen has become very dangerous. You should rest for the night. You've done more than your share for this city. I'll send soldiers clear out the temple and send runners to fetch real clerics to tend to the sick. There is nothing more for you to do right now. Let's reconvene in the morning. I want you to tell me everything."
There are the people that were escorted here by Majenko who might be able to testify? Davaulus is still alive but unconscious so he can be brought in and questioned. Ayako turns to Tyrando. [b]I guess we can have that drink rather soon.[/n]
"That place should be burned. It's evil, and horrible. The Grey Maidens tried to kill us. Even when we told them we had proof that the plague started here. That people were being experimented on, they wouldn't listen." Iolana leans against a wall looking exhausted.
She looks at Tyrando, "Let's go get that drink. I'm sure there will be repercussions from this night soon."
Not to be impolite Tyrandro introduces himself to Mrs. Croft. "Good evening Field Marshal. My name is Tyrandro Pompio and I happened to stumble into this issue with the hospice. It a pleasure to meet you."
Answering Ayako and Iolana he says "About the drink. How about Aram's Crown at Edored's Walk?"
That will be satisfactory. Ayako brings along Majenko, as a reward for his work she plans on buying him tasty snacks.
"What a pretty pseudodragon you are." Imperia coos as they head to the pub.
As they arrive at Aram's Crown Tyrandro asks for a table. To the waiter he says "Tonights drinks for the Ladies and Gentlemen here are on me. I'll take a bottle of good dry white wine." And to the others he adds [b]"Choose what you like or join me with the wine."
As everyone has ordered he asks "Please tell me. What are your names and how comes you ended up as the new heroes in town."
Wine, thank you. Ayako will sip at the wine. My name is Ayako and originally it seems we were brought together by fate and through a string of events found ourselves in the depths of that temple. We originally returned some stolen property to the queen and were employed to deal with the unrest caused by the death of the king. We became more concerned with the outbreak of the sickness and after exploring a wreck in the river and some other sources uncovered the truth where you found us. As per Croft's suggestion, we should keep names unsaid in order to stop any panic. Ayako gets Majenko some stew and eats soem bread.
"So it was mostly by chance and good intentions that you ended up there. Impressive." Tyrandro comments and waits for the others to introduce themselves.
Iolana orders a cider. "My name is Iolana Altumas. I'm sort of a freelancer for Ms. Croft. I do odd jobs that the regular guard can't get to these days. There were some issues with wererats that I came across and she suggested I work with Sebastian, Ayako, and Lucien to take care of it. I stuck around to help with the investigation into the plague. Too many people dying from that, and the city is going downhill fast." She holds the glass in her and it seems to frost over slightly. Then she takes a swig of the cider, and smiles at the crisp taste.
Taking a sip on his wine Tyrandro listens to Iolana. "I hope coming to this point by chance is no admission criteria for your group." he jokes. "What about you, how did you come to be here?" he asks Sebastian.
Sebastian goes along with the others, though he isn't fully present in the moment. Ayako and Iolana do a good enough job of relaying the information to Croft, and he can't bring himself to add anything. Imprisoned in his own thoughts, scenes from an evening in hell play over in his mind.
Doctor Davaulus, blithely confessing his crimes. Perhaps I should have killed him when I had the chance. The Gray Maiden, scarred and broken. Does Sabina know? How couldn't she? The bodies strewn throughout in brown coats and steel armor. His sword, dripping with blood. Felled by my own hand. Kneeling, prone before Urgathoa's priestess. How could I have ever wanted such a thing as that?
At Aram's Crown, he stares sullenly into a glass of wine that he doesn't remember accepting, spooning stew he doesn't taste into his mouth. He's thrust back to the present by a jab in the side from Ayako. "Hmm? Oh, yes. I am Sebastian Merrin," he says lamely. "How did we get here? There was... there was a gypsy woman, wasn't there? But she was a ghost, I suppose. I avenged my friend's death and - Ayako probably told you all about that." Absently, he swirls his wine.
Sebastian's dazed recounting of events is so scattered and muddled that it borders on the incomprehensible. "We hunted down Trinia Sabor, didn't we? But she was innocent, and we had to help her escape the city- it's what Blackjack would have done. And then there was the plague, and... and here we are."
Regaining enough of his composure to realize he probably sounds like a loon, he takes another sip of wine. "What about you? You said you were a... a soldier?"
Indeed, we had a rather odd encounter with a ghost and eliminated a petty crime lord along with a necromancer in the graveyard.
As it is obvious Sebastian is somewhere else with his thoughts Tyrandro simply repeats his introduction from earlier. "I'm Tyrandro Pompio. Usually I work in our families import/export business. But since the Queen took over the throne and all these harrowing events have befallen Korvosa business has come to a halt."
"I'm for sure no soldier but being able to protect our wares when driving them through Varisia is a valuable asset. I ended up here because I searched for you. I wanted to do something about the situation in town but as I have no connections to either the Queen nor the Field Marshal I thought the new group of heroes in town to be a good start to look where to put my skills to good use."
"Didn't even take me half a day to find you." he adds as he couldn't resist to boast a little. "So what do you say. May I join your cause?"
The city can always use the help of another citizen, I have no objections.
Cause? We have a cause? I just needed the money. I guess we are taking care of the city
"I have no objections either. You were helpful in that last fight."
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After your drinks and introductions, you return to the Three Rings Tavern for the night. (Whether Tyrando stays or goes to his own home is up to him).
The next day you return to Cressida Croft and explain everything you found at the Hospice.
"You've taken the first and most important step to ending this plague. You've discovered the source and stopped its spread. However, the disease still remains at large. The Korvosan Guard and city priests will work to get matters under control. But a cure would be instrumental to ending this as quickly as possible. Have you found anything within the Hospice or Temple that could aid in research? If so, my next task for you is to present your finding to the Church of Abadar and aid their research for however long it takes. It may sound tedious for adventurers but you probably have more insight on this disease than anyone else right now."
There are notes we found on the Blood Veil in the temple that can help. Ayako pats her haversack. We will go right away to present them.
"Not tedious. Just not very active. I'll be happy to help the priests with research." She finishes her tea, and makes ready to head out.
Regular meetings with the Field Marshal - very nice. Tyrandro thinks. He stays in the background and looks around from where he stands - without attracting attention - if there are any hints where important papers are stored.
At Citadel Volshyenek, Tyrando glances around Cressida's office. She has a desk and a locked cabinet, but what's inside, you can't tell.
You make your way across town to the Bank of Abadar. Archbanker Darb Tuttle and the cleric Ishani Dhatri greet you. "I hear you discovered some insidious news at the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden. Cressida Croft contacted us last night and we've been busy ever since caring for those we can. Other patients have been redistributed throughout the other temples in the city. Are you here to help us out? We could certain use as many extra hands as we can get."
Ayako reaches into her satchel and brings out several bound bundles of paper. We found these notes under the hospice that detailed work on the Blood Veil and experiments they were doing on native Varisians. I haven't read them completely but they may very well be the key to curing this plague. I urge you to secure these as soon as possible and even make copies so the knowledge isn't lost.