Khismia nods in approval at the mage's inclination to get the job done; she certainly doesn't want to spend another day standing around a library accomplishing nothing. "Do you go report to your commander, or do I?" she asks Awgin. "The other stays to continue protecting the wizard."
Heward walks down to the messenger service to get his letter sent to Percival. Returning he enters the cells to try to keep the prisoners calm and see if he can win anymore information from them, including personal information, while he waits for Laya's or Phillip's return.
Heward and Laya: 10h30 as Laya arrives back at MSI from the cathedral
Calatin, Awgin, and Khismia: 11h30 when Calatin finishes researching the vargouilles
Phillip: 13h00 when he finishes canvassing the area in Rag's End
Hearing Laya come in, Heward looks around from his conversation with Robal. "Laya! What have you got?"
Heward doesn't boss me around and I don't want her to think that he does, but Calatin might need me. If he becomes the next victim and the Captain learns that I left him... "I'll stay with my partner." Awgin eventually says.
Khismia nods and head back to MSI HQ to deliver Calatin's findings.
"We need to move those two somewhere brighter," Laya says to Heward. "Sunlight delays the infection's progress. Darkness speeds it up. Now, I'm informed that it's unlikely they are affected. Otherwise, they probably would have already changed by now. However, we can't take any chances. Do we have anywhere brightly lit that they can be kept securely?"
"Hey! You don't have to go. There's plenty of paperwork to shuffle through. We could do that while Caly boy does his thing. That way when we do get back there you can impress Law Boy with what you know."
"We need to move those two somewhere brighter," Laya says to Heward. "Sunlight delays the infection's progress. Darkness speeds it up. Now, I'm informed that it's unlikely they are affected. Otherwise, they probably would have already changed by now. However, we can't take any chances. Do we have anywhere brightly lit that they can be kept securely?"
"We need to move those two somewhere brighter," Laya says to Heward. "Sunlight delays the infection's progress. Darkness speeds it up. Now, I'm informed that it's unlikely they are affected. Otherwise, they probably would have already changed by now. However, we can't take any chances. Do we have anywhere brightly lit that they can be kept securely?"
"Chances are if you have to ask, they aren't infected."
They have tentacles growing out of their heads, so either they go to a really skanky barber, or...
The crypt mistress meant that if you have to ask (as in, they have no symptoms) then chances are they're clean.
"Hey! You don't have to go. There's plenty of paperwork to shuffle through. We could do that while Caly boy does his thing. That way when we do get back there you can impress Law Boy with what you know."
"From what the wizard says, the threat to Magnimar is severe, and the Bazaar of Sails itself is in danger," Khismia responds. "I am not interested in 'impressing' your commanding officer; his approbation or disappointment has no effect on my advancement. The Princess needs to be warned, to have her Court on guard against those showing signs of infection; then I will take word to your superior."
Vargouilles can spread their taint quite easily and as often as they wish, making an epidemic very likely, especially in a place such as Rag's End. Assuming a very modest infection rate of only 10 people in the first night, that would make for 22 vargouilles by tonight, 220 by the next night, 2,200 by the 17th...Calatin's idle figures quickly run cold as he realizes the entire population of Magnimar could be vargouilles in a little under a week.
Heward and Laya: 10h30 as Laya arrives back at MSI from the cathedral
Khismia: 12h15 when she arrives at MSI to report Calatin's findings
Calatin and Awgin: 14h30 when Calatin finishes researching the intoxicant
Phillip: 13h00 when he finishes canvassing the area in Rag's End
Knowledge: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24
Alchemy: 1d20 + 6 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 20 = 34
It takes Calatin several hours to find a single obscure reference to arcane inebriant, in an ancient tome on the war between Geb and Nex. Used by Geb to infect the non-undead magic users of Nex, it was quite devastating until a simple innoculant was discovered easily made from herbs - at least, herbs local to Geb. A great stealth raid was conducted whereby the wizards from Nex stole a stockpile of this herb and were able to cultivate it locally, neutralizing the threat of the inebriant poison. Alas, Calatin doesn't recognize the herb as anything to be found locally, though small quantities might be for sale in some of the more exotic shops in Magnimar.
Heward frowns at Laya's words. He doesn't want the men to die on his watch. Hopefully they'll die after a fair trial.
"All right, Laya, we'll take them up on the roof. Can the temple do any more for them?"
"Mrs. Brigglespan, send another message to Captain Percival. Express post. I need a full squad here. Someone's got to watch our prisoners while we check the graveyard. I've a feeling we're going to need more messengers too. See if we can hire three for the day."
Was I able to get the information on classmates and professors for Veers and Datedy.?
Was I able to get the information on classmates and professors for Veers and Datedy.?
Absolutely. Awgin gets dumped on about fifty sheets of parchment, with several lists with hundreds of names to go through.
Heward frowns at Laya's words. He doesn't want the men to die on his watch. Hopefully they'll die after a fair trial.
"All right, Laya, we'll take them up on the roof. Can the temple do any more for them?"
"Mrs. Brigglespan, send another message to Captain Percival. Express post. I need a full squad here. Someone's got to watch our prisoners while we check the graveyard. I've a feeling we're going to need more messengers too. See if we can hire three for the day."
The city-run medical services for prisoners basically amounts to providing bandages when the prisoners shiv each other. There's certainly no provision for casting third level spells on tomb robbers. As for restraints, you have whatever would be normal for a fantasy-era urban police station to have. Definitely manacles, probably a few iron masks if need be.
Mrs. Brigglespan nods, gathers her shawl, and dashes out the door.
At 11h15, a squad of Watchmen arrives, led by a familiar, angry, and probably unwelcome face.
"Lona! I hadn't realized they stuck you in with the freak show!"
"Oh, you know, Sgt. Wizzo. Birds of a feather..."
"No kidding," he replies. "Sgt. Wizzo, reporting for duty, sir," he adds to Heward with as much icy sarcasm as he can manage.
Well Awgin does not like this sort of stuff so as soon as Calatin is done with his research, Awgin will be ready to give the papers to him.
Heward frowns at Laya's words. He doesn't want the men to die on his watch. Hopefully they'll die after a fair trial.
"All right, Laya, we'll take them up on the roof. Can the temple do any more for them?"
"Well, they know of the situation," Laya replies. "Hopefully, somebody will be round soon to help as best they can."
When Sergeant Wizzo and his squad arrives, she plucks a feather from her hat. "Birds of a feather, exactly, see?" She hands the feather to Wizzo.
Having had his canvassing flustered by a lack of nibbles on the bait dangled, Phillip sighs and moves off to see if he can snag the attention of any of the local flatfeet on his way to the rendezvous.
Heward waits for Wizzo to respond to Laya before answering the sergeant. "Sergeant Wizzo. I didn't expect you. These two prisoners have a curse on them. They've been kissed by a vargouille. They need to be kept in strong sunlight as long as possible today. They also need to be locked up in the cells before sundown.
"The Pharasmin tell us that they'll change into vargouilles after being taken out of sunlight, but we don't know how long. It could be almost right away. It could be hours after dark. They might last the night to see another day. We just don't know.
"The vargouille is like a flying head and its scream can freeze your blood and steal your nerves so you can't move. When the change comes their bodies die and the head pops off and takes flight even before the body hits the ground. Keep your team safe. Be ready to put these two down. I advise fitting them into those masks while the sun is still up.
"The most important thing if they change is to keep the vargouille's away from the city. These two had a friend who died and changed right in front of us this morning.
"Laya and I are going to check out the spot where they ran into this vargouille. We should be back soon."
Wizzo's mocking features soften somewhat as Heward gives him the low down on the situation.
"Man! You folks really do deal with some freaked-out s%@$, don't you? We'll keep them safe until sundown, and then we'll keep the city safe from them. You go find the rest of them."
He snaps orders to some of his men and leads a group of ten down into the dungeon to fetch the prisoners.
Heward and Laya make their way to Magnimar Memorial Gardens in Vista. It's a small plot of land, dotted with artfully laid out flower beds, and square stone tombs. According to the directions given by Robal, the Cobbers tomb is near the far end of the Gardens.
As the tomb comes into view, you recognize the particular gargoyle as described by the tomb robbers. The door to the tomb stands open. As you watch, a grey-robed and hooded figure emerges from the tomb, turns, and shuts the door.
"Ah, perhaps the Pharasmins beat us here," Laya says. She holds her hand up, waves, and calls out,
The grey-robed figure freezes at Laya's call, then bolts forward deeper into the cemetary and around behind a tomb.
Stealth:
Laya lowers her hand sheepishly. "Not a Pharasmin apparently," she says. She adds quietly, "He's hiding just over there. I can make out the edges of his robe. If we run after him, he'll likely bolt."
That's suspicious. Why would he run?
Heward whispers back, "Have you any magic to stop him?"
Whatever the answer, Heward draws a javelin from the long quiver on his back and starts toward the tomb.
Yeah, it's enough. Laya and Heward swing wide, and slowly approach the grey-robed person's hiding spot. Does Laya want use a spell at this point?
Laya shakes her head. "No magic that will do any good," she says.
Laya shakes her head. "No magic that will do any good," she says.
Heward grimaces. "I'll do this the hard way then."
Laya and Heward approach the tomb behind which the grey-robed person is hiding, Heward readying a javelin. As Heward makes a dash forwards to challenge the grey-robe, a large cloud of mist suddenly erupts from behind the tomb. As Heward gets his bearings in the mist, he sees a robed shape coming at him, trying to run past him.
Heward can take any action normally allowed with an attack of opportunity.
Seeing the shape running nearby, Heward yells, "Stop by Magnimar's law!" and reverses the javelin. He lunges toward the figure and tries to thrust the javelin between greyrobe's legs.
CMB trip attempt --
Heward lunges at the figure, missing wildly, and tripping over his own javelin, ending up on the ground.
Laya sees none of this from outside the mist, but she does see the grey-robed figure come running out of the cloud. This close, Laya's pretty sure it's a woman, though the hood is up and obscuring the face.
Laya can have an action for this "round". The figure passes with fifteen feet of her during her "move".
Heward pushes himself to his feet and dashes after greyrobes. He reaches for a second javelin as he runs.
Realizing she might have something of use after all, Laya moves straight towards the hooded figure and holds out her hand.
Laya dashes forward and touches grey-robes. His/her run drops to a staggered walk. Heward is able to scramble to his feet and out of the fog before grey-robes gets too far ahead. He can try another grapple/trip.
Clearing the fog and seeing greyrobes nearby, Heward lowers his head and charges to tackle the fugitive.
Grapple
His shoulder drives into the fugitive's lower back and he wraps both arms around his waist.
Heward connects solidly with the grey-robe, sending both of you to the ground, eliciting a pained, female, grunt as you both land. "Okay, I yield!" she calls out.
When Heward rips the hood from her head, exposing her features, Laya comes face to face with the familiar sight of the cryptmistress, much more disheveled and red-faced than when she left her study less than an hour ago. She looks up at Laya, recognition dawning, followed by resignation and defeat.
"Cryptmistress!" Laya exclaims in surprise. "Why didn't you just identify yourself when I called out? We were expecting you or one of your priests here."
Heward looks from his victim to Laya. "You know her?" he says as the full import of her words starts to sink in.
"Cryptmistress!" Laya exclaims in surprise. "Why didn't you just identify yourself when I called out? We were expecting you or one of your priests here."
"You were? I mean, of course you were. You startled me is all. Can't be too careful with vargouilles about. Young man, if you wouldn't mind getting off of me, I would most appreciate it."
"Yes. Yes, of course. I hope you're all right." Heward rolls away from her before pushing to his feet and offering a hand to pull her upright.
Nazard:
"Quite," she replies sternly, though her flushed expression ruins the effect somewhat. She brushes bits of grass and dirt from her robes. "Well, everything seems in order here. I'll see to it that a locksmith is hired to repair the lock on the tomb." She nods farewell to you, and heads for the exit to the cemetery.
Nazard:
"Hold a moment, ma'am. We're going to look around and there's safety in numbers, especially someone like yourself trained to deal with undead. Laya says you're an expert on these vargills and anything you could tell us about them would be helpful."
All graveyards are tended to by the Pharasmin, but this particular cemetery is owned by the City, specifically the office of the Lord Mayor. It's in Vista, and there aren't any slummy areas of Vista. It's all upper middle class.
Laya eyes the Cryptmistress warily. "Yes," she says slowly in response to Heward's comment. "If there are vargouilles flying about in the broad daylight that they hate so much, we could use an expert like yourself."