Fírinne tries casting the same cantrip again, but fumbles a gesture as she nearly trips over the prone zombie. Still, she's able to regain her footing just enough to jam her rapier's blade through the monster's diseased skull.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Emi and Firinne put down two more of the costumed zombies, leaving two remaining threats in the room.
The wolf continues its assault, turning to the next zombie.
Andrezi then descends the stairs to lash out with his blade.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Nebbin hacks down the last zombies, leaving the manor mostly quiet, save for some distant creaking and moaning.
"We are not alone," Andrezi says, dabbing at spot where the crossbow bolt grazed him. "Unless there are zombies adept at using crossbows who employ hit and run tactics."
Emi doesn't pause when the last zombie is dealt with. She hurries across the room in the direction the figure she glimpsed went.
"Still one more who might be trying to get away. Let's go!"
Andrezi hastens to keep up with Emi!
HP 78/81
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (-2 to all when raging), DR 3/-, 1 cold resistance
Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +3 (+2 Will when raging) [Defiant luck]
CMD 23 (25 vs. grapple)
Rage: 0/22; Harrow points: 2/3; Auspicious Mark (1d6+1) 0/1; Defiant Luck: 0/1
Effects:
Nebbin rushes to follow Emi, trying not to run past her, since she's leading the group. He pulls open the door as he arrives there first.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Nebbin pulls open the door to the southeast, revealing a kitchen. All the fixtures you'd expect to find are present: a great cooking hearth, barrels of water, crates and sacks containing flour, potatoes, and other vegetables, and preparation tables of various sizes. On the largest table a partygoer wearing a cartoonish pig costume is propped; it appears the body has been carved up a bit with a large knife.
Open doors can be seen to the northeast and southwest.
Where she might seem unfazed by the zombies, Fírinne turns away from the butchered corpse, muttering under her breath. She moves to investigate the door to the southwest, rapier held at the ready.
Since Firinne takes the door to the right, Emi goes to check the door on the left.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Emi's search reveals a small, well-stocked pantry; Firinne's brings the discovery of a small hallway with a closed door to the west and a staircase leading to a cellar to the southeast.
You get the uncomfortable feeling that someone or something nearby is watching you.
"I think someone's watching us again!" Nebbin says, looking around furiously as he tries to spot the source of his uncomfortable feeling.
"Looks clear," Fírinne whispers to the others, before creeping up to the next door and listening for movement.
Emi turns around, annoyed and disappointed by her door. Due to Nebbin's comment, she looks the space over carefully before joining Firinne.
Ears swiveling and eyes roving the room, Miakoda drops into a crouch and listens intently.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Firenne hears nothing at the grandly-carved wooden door leading west out of the back hallway. Emi, Andrezi, and Nebbin sense nothing as they slowly move through the kitchen toward the tiefling. Nebbin's previous feeling of being watched, however, passes on to Miakoda, who feels the hair on the scruff of her neck rise, but no threat presents itself.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
As the party follows Emi, Andrezi and his soon-to-vanish wolf enter the kitchen. The summoned beast immediately growls deeply, and its eyes and nose focus on the top of the nearby water barrels. Andrezi suddenly cries out in pain and surprise as a sharp object plunges into his back!
With her attack, the harlequin's invisibility is dispelled. The costumed woman--a blonde elf, unless those features are part of her disguise--is perched nimbly atop the water barrels. "Bad doggy!" she chides Andrezi's summoned wolf. Her feaures light up and she squeals, "PRETTY KITTY!" as she spots Miakoda.
for
Nebbin starts for a second as he wonders whether the blonde elf is Jolistina ... but quickly decides it can't be. Sure, she's a psychotic killer, but he's pretty sure she knows who they are, and this woman seems like a total lunatic.
Whirling as Andrezi cries out, Miakoda's eyes narrow and the elf and her tail lashes angrily. "Did you transform these poor humans?" she demands. Pointing at the elf, the Desnan priestess' voice is an outraged hiss.
"Companions, we are witness to an unspeakable crime, but the assassin before us will not escape a reckoning! Bring her down!"
The wolf lashes out with its sharp canines...
plus Trip
Andrezi takes a careful step away from the foe (5ft step), weaving a quick evocation spell that culminates in a pair of scorching rays erupting from his fingertip!
And then, of course, he bleeds out...
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
The murderous elf-harlequin grins and nods in response to Miakoda's question, but the manic smile vanishes when Andrezi's summoned wolf bites her calf and causes her to drop semi-prone* atop the barrels. Although the Varisian transmuter has to account for not hitting his wolf ally, the toppled elf is still pretty much at perfect blasting height sprawled atop the barrels. He's surprised (and perhaps secretly a bit impressed) that the lithe woman somehow manages to dodge his second scorching ray even in her compromised position. The mage's stab wound seems to be bleeding profusely .
The summoned wolf is able to get in a second chomp as the elf tries to get her legs back underneath her, but it's unable to tug her off her feet again. The elf casts a quick spell before adding, "The blood veil spares neither rich nor poor! And an infected zombie can carry it elsewhere in the city even after death! Neat, huh?" The woman seems absurdly pleased with her mad scheme.
The elf woman cast a shield spell upon herself.
for
HP 78/81
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (-2 to all when raging), DR 3/-, 1 cold resistance
Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +3 (+2 Will when raging) [Defiant luck]
CMD 23 (25 vs. grapple)
Rage: 0/22; Harrow points: 2/3; Auspicious Mark (1d6+1) 0/1; Defiant Luck: 0/1
Effects:
"You're mad!" Nebbin yells, racing past Miakoda and Andrezi to bring his sword to bear. He swings with all his power, hoping to end this fight as quickly as possible. Who knows what else this woman could do?!
Fírinne, mindful of how effective that particular spell can be, resolves to end this fight quickly and efficiently. To that end, she quickly layers two sets of enchantments on her rapier and charges into the fray, pushing past Andrezi with a lunging strike.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Nebbin's angry hack is blocked by an invisible force (the shield spell the elf just cast) but the sheer impact seems to throw off the harlequin's ability to defend herself against Firinne's follow-up attack: her blade pierces the elf's dark heart and burns her with an electrical burst from within. The elf topples from the barrels, her corpse smoking, the maniacal grin still etched on her face.
In the cellar, still well-stocked with provisions for the masquerade-turned-massacre, the party finds a locked door. It takes Emi a couple of tries to pop the quality lock, but when the door's opened a studio is revealed. Among the painting supplies is a tawdry-looking divan, a small shrine to Shelyn, several scandalous portraits of a striking middle-aged noblewoman, and a disheveled man brandishing a dull paint knife. He seems to recognize that you're not zombies, yet there's a wild fearfulness in his eyes. After introducing himself as Ausio Carowyn, lord of the manor, the man unleashes a stream of words.
“I was greeting the Westerkiers when the elven acrobat we hired as an entertainer went crazy. I saw her open fire on one of my guests with her crossbow, laughing all the while in the most frightful, shrill way. I’ve been locked in here for days, and every time I got up the courage to sneak out, I heard that horrible laughter above. Is she dead? Is it safe?”
With a look that's both full of dread and shame, the nobleman adds, "Have you seen my wife? She was wearing a pearl-studded gown and powdered wig."
"She is dead, so it should be safe," Nebbin says, "except for the blood veil.
He pauses, looking around to see if someone else will speak first.
"We did see her ... sort of, but, um ... I'm sorry." He lays a hand on the man's shoulder in sympathy.
Emi's long exhale when the harlequin gets fried isn't relaxation but instead disappointment. Emi is almost certain the elf is Jolistina, her gut tells her so at least. This means one possible route to finding the serial killer they've been chasing around for so long is closed.
Emi searches the elf with intense thoroughness, scrutinizing everything twice to be sure she doesn't miss anything. It's the only chance they'll have to get any information from her.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Nebbin's well-meaning words strike Lord Carowyn like a ton of bricks. He stands stricken, shaking and seemingly unable to speak.
Meanwhile, Emi (with help from the others) catalogues everything the elf carried: her colorful bodysuit is actually +1 glamered studded leather; masterwork dagger; masterwork hand crossbow with 17 bolts and 3 screaming bolts; potion of invisibility; potion of remove disease; wand of animate dead (4 charges); wand of cat’s grace (11 charges); wand of sculpt corpse (5 charges); alchemist’s fire (4); smoke bombs (4); flint and steel; masterwork thieves’ tools; masterwork manacles; pesh (3 doses); sealing wax; 2 belt pouches containing assorted (stolen?) jewelry worth 8 pp, 150 gp, 54 sp; and a list of names.
A quick survey of the dead and zombified doesn't reveal anyone matching the description given to you of the missing musician, though the afflictions of the blood veil on so many of the victims make the task no sure thing.
You recognize some of the names to be local nobility. You're not sure if any of the names correspond to party guests, however.
"I recognize some of the names to be local nobility. That said, I am not sure if any of the names correspond to party guests."
Andrezi picks up an studies the wand of animate dead. "A dangerous bit of magic in this. It certainly explains the zombies we faced within the manor."
He then examines the wand of sculpt corpse. "And this wand would be an excellent tool to change the appearance of a body. Particularly if you needed said body to no longer a particular noble."
He takes a long moment to study the Lord Carowyn, weighing the words and demeanor of the man.
And because he's no real judge of anyone, he shrugs. But he keeps both of the wands.
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Miakoda's satisfied expression turns to curious puzzlement when she notices Emileva's disappointed slump.
"You are unhappy. Did you know her?"
Nebbin scratches his head, trying to think what he can say or do. After trying to comfort Lord Carowyn for a bit, he hesitatingly asks, "How did you find the entertainer? Did someone recommend her, or did she come to you?"
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Lord Carowyn finds his voice again--barely--long enough to answer Nebbin's questions.
"Come to think of it, she came to me around the time I was hiring other entertainers--I guess I just assumed she was part of that circle and had been told of the planned masquerade. She seemed rather touched in the head even then, but I assumed it was part of her act." The surviving nobleman can confirm that the names on the list were among the nobles invited to the soiree.
Emi glances up at Maikoda for a second, then goes back to her search of the body.
"I probably knew her, but hardly a friend. I'm almost positive she was the sidekick of a serial murderer we've been chasing off and and on for a long time. She's a blonde elf who has to be crazy, a prankster type. Only seen her from a distance before now, but how many of the type can there be in Korvosa?"
"It's hard to say if she would have told us anything useful, but she would have been the best chance to get the killer in a long time now. The trail's gone cold otherwise."
After her search of the elf's body, she looks around for some large swath of cloth she can use to wrap and bundle up the body for transport.
"If we can still question her with magic we should do it. Maybe dying is the kind of slap by reality the b+##$ needs to talk some sense to us. I'm tired of Rolf being a loose end."
"Rolf is this killer?" Miakoda kneels down next to the charred body of the elf, contemplative. "I will ask her spirit tonight--and other entities, about this Rolf." She shrugs. "No promises, but I will ask."
Emi grunts approvingly as she readies the body to transport. "If that name doesn't work, try 'Keylock Killer', very well known all over the city."
Nebbin nods, offering to take the body from Emi. He knows she could carry it, but she should have her hands free to use her weapons if she needs.
CAROWYN MANOR (10 Desnus)
Emi has no trouble pulling down a curtain to wrap the elf's body in. Nebbin kindly offers to carry the gruesome package when you depart.
The Keylock Killer is the name given by the Korvosan Guard and the city's frightened citizens to a serial killer who first plagued the city about 12 years ago. Originally, the killer struck victims in their own homes, carving them up with sharpened keys (though he eventually graduated to using special key-shaped daggers); the dead were found in their homes, the doors and windows inexplicably locked. The murders ceased until recently when more citizens were found carved up with a similar blade, though not always in their own homes.
The earliest PCs (Emi and Nebbin) can add their own experiences: That the brother of a former party member (Tassira, an arcanist) was slain on the grounds of the University of Korvosa; and that Rolth (not Rolf) killed another former party member (the tiefling rogue, Neziana) along with other folks they'd known or met to build a frightful carrion golem the party defeated in one of the mad necromancer's previous hideouts/laboratories.
Citadel Volshyenek (10 Desnus)
It seems that Cressida has left word with the rank-and-file to expect your party's return: There's very little waiting before you're led to the field marshal's office. She listens intently to your report, interrupting only occasionally for a bit of clarification. When you've finished, the overworked woman lets out a deep sigh.
"So there's been an outbreak of the blood veil in South Shore now. The Queen thought it'd been contained mainly to Endrin Isle by the barricade. Not a good development. I'll send a contingent of the Guard and maybe a couple of the Queen's Doctors out to secure the scene and make sure no one else gets infected."
Upon consulting the list found on the elf, Cressida confirms the names all belong to members of Korvosa's nobility. She's flummoxed by the significance of those on the list; as far as she's concerned, none of them is particularly powerful or influential. She's unsure what would be gained by targeting such folk.
In regards to the body of the elf murderer, the field marshal agrees to your plan, offering to find your group lodgings nearby if you plan on using a speak with dead spell after Miakoda has rested; she can also offer the use of a wagon if you'd rather do it back in Old Korvosa...though she expects a report on anything you uncover from the magical interview.
Lastly, Cressida informs you all that the young woman who tipped her off about the potential problem at Carowyn Manor, Deyanira Mirukova, has visited again and, hopeful for news of her missing brother, is lingering in a waiting room near the main lobby.
Andrezi raises an eyebrow at the talk of the long ago serial killer. "Do we have some sort of copycat killer roaming about? That would be troubling news."
He looks to see what the group plans to do with respect to Deyanira Mirukova.
You recognize the name of Deyanira's brother, Ruan Mirukova, as a Varisian prodigy and a youthful master of a most unconventional instrument, the ocarina.
"Wait, is that the sister of Ruan Mirukova? I admit I'm fascinated by the ocarina. Such a strange instrument."
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Nebbin gives Andrezi an odd look. He's also heard of Ruan, but ... who gets fascinated by a musical instrument? Still, he's not going to judge the wizard, for he's heard they are subtle and quick to anger.
"I guess someone should let her know what happened," he says unhappily. "Then, we can go back home, and make sure Kayleigh's OK."
Citadel Volshyenek (10 Desnus)
Deyanira proves to be a pretty Varisian girl in her early-to-mid twenties. She's looking a bit on the haggard side; it's likely she hasn't gotten much sleep in the last few days. She breathlessly asks if there's any word of her missing brother, becoming dour and confused when told there isn't. She's unaware of any enemies Ruan might've had; in fact, she doubts he's made any, as he's both shy around and kind to all he meets. The distraught Deyanira asks if she can hire your group to search for her brother, though she has next to nothing (100 gp total) to offer as a reward. Nor does she have a very hot lead as to Ruan's whereabouts: "I guess he could be anywhere a musician might be welcomed...if he somehow got out of that horrible mansion in the first place!"
Emi reassures Deyanira as best she can without committing to anything.
"We're as sure as we can be that Ruan wasn't at the house when we got there. We'll keep our eyes and ears open, and pass the word around. He may yet turn up or be found."
Fírinne spends much of the evening following the excitement at the manor immersed in her spellbook, flipping back and forth between its pages and writing furiously in the margins. Clearly, her thoughts are turned more toward the stunning effectiveness of minor adjustments to a basic spell than to the grinding wheels of Korvosa's bureaucracy.
KORVOSA (10 Desnus)
Taking your leave of both Deyanira and Citadel Volshyenek, your group heads for the Narrow of St. Alika, the waterway separating Endrin Isle (and the district of Old Korvosa) from the mainland parts of the city. With Andrezi's dimension door spell, you now have a more reliable and quicker way to re-enter the quarantined island, but the problem there is the wizard can only take two people with him per casting. As a result, Emi makes contact with one of Londra's underlings. You have to wait until nightfall to be smuggled back into Old Korvosa on Londra's ship, but that same darkness cloaks your movements as you penetrate the quarantine's new perimeter and visit the makeshift clinic.
A knock at the door brings Kayleigh, bearing only a candle to light her way. The young Milanite looks frazzled, tired, and shows signs of a recent infection of the blood veil. She assures everyone that she's (probably) not infectious, as she removed a recurrence of the persistent disease from herself earlier that morning; some of the rash and other outward signs simply haven't fully faded away yet. She looks at Miakoda with sincere interest before inviting everyone inside to a small foyer with a few old chairs.
After asking how the trip north went, she explains that things went well at the clinic as well. "We were able to stash some patients nearby and bring them back inside that night, after the quarantine had extended further west. A few visual and worded misdirections and our little clinic went undetected by the plague doctors and their Gray Maiden enforcers. It seemed like both have lost a lot of interest in trying to collect and heal victims of the plague--they seem to just be going through the motions now."
Looking a bit uncomfortable, the cleric adds another piece of news. "Regeris's old friend, Inspector Wyndham, stopped by briefly. I think he mostly wanted to pick at scars from their past, because he seemed disappointed when I told him Regeris had left the city to handle a personal emergency. Anyhow, he mentioned that the Church of Abadar had hired able-bodied folk to gather the bodies who'd succumbed to the blood veil and cart them to the river to be turned over to the Pharasmins for final rites and disposal. Apparently, some aren't doing the job correctly and are instead just dumping the corpses in isolated corners of the island. He wanted to know if our party would be interested in investigating a place called Racker's Alley to see if this problem's as bad as been reported and to make sure there's no resultant infestation of vermin...or the undead."
Ishan, the ex-cleric of Abadar and co-operator of the clinic, emerges from a back room and nods a greeting to his friends, new and old alike. "I managed to convince her that we two alone--a merciful cleric whose positive energy cannot be used against undead, and an ex-cleric who's lost all his powers--were not equipped for such a venture should the undead indeed be involved."
[b]There's a potential hook for yas! Or perhaps you'd rather try hunting down your long-term nemesis, Rolth Lamm. Or maybe...something else altogether?[/ooc]
"If we can do some good dealing with the dead, I think we should," Andrezi says from his seat in the crowded foyer. "But I am one voice, and if there are more pressing matters to address I am with you all."