Megan's Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master Megan Robertson

"Sweet gods of good! A vampire must feed and by feeding he breeds more of his ilk. If let him live we condemn uncounted others to his fate. There's more at stake here than the plague."

"You are correct, Damoc. We must be exceedingly careful when dealing one such as Ramoska. The only reason I feel Ramoska may live up his bargain is that he neither displays the zeal associated with Urgathoan Cultists nor loyalty to the Red Mantis. I assume that he serves his master because the pay allows him to continue his personal research. As dangerous as it is to work with one such as Ramoska, an ancient alchemist might be of some assistance. 2,000 gold seems a small fee to pay if he can create an easily brewed cure for this sickness."

"Shall we pay this ancient alchemist for his services if he abides by our research requirements? What say you all?"

Ramoska listens impassively as you all speak.

Ashe comments, "If we 'pay' anything it will only be After he makes good on his assistance. And 'pay' is not what he is getting... merely passage back to Ustalav... something my family can provide as we own two sailing ships and Ustalav is one of our ports of trade. If necessary, a couple of these enchanted suits or armor taken from these vile cultists can be sold to fund this... but we need not worry over coin. I care not if this is acceptable or not to the Vampire it is what I'm willing to offer for his services in finding a cure to the plague in good faith."

"Also cousin Damoc, Vampires do not have to spread their sickness to others, they can merely feed on blood for sustenance... but it is the life energy they actually crave that sustains them and most mortals are not hardy enough to survive repeated feedings. Eventually, the victim may die if the vampire is careless or unconcerned. A vampire does not need to kill to sustain itself... but age often breeds apathy and sometimes the hunger is too great. Especially to the younger vampires or if they must exert their powers in battle. The older a vampire gets the less blood is important and more the life energy becomes more necessary. Common everyday folk hold little sustenance in just their blood... but experienced powerful adventurers with more life energy, like us, are much more filling. The result can be the same though as more... less fulfilling, victims become necessary. I've heard most vampire elders make vampire spawn not out of need but out of boredom and loneliness."

"Is that not so Arkminos? My lore on vampires is all hearsay and rumor... I have never had the opportunity to actually converse with a vampire to confirm the truths. Is any of that true?"

Graxer just keeps his guard up as they converse with the fiend..

Since the vampire was quite calmly awaiting a decision and apparently unconcerned they were debating whether or not to attempt to kill him, Varela reasoned he was either extremely confident of his ability to escape or defeat them despite their numerical advantage.

Or perhaps he was stalling?

We are reasoning, Damoc, whether or not the lives of Thousands of Varisians is worth sparing a creature who shows callous disregard for life. I know not whether this Vampire is truly evil or simply the sands of time have made him apathetic to the suffering of the man on the table and all those suffering in the city now. While he does not force a conflict he admits to his crimes upon this man and that his work here is simply an inconvenience to his own research and he has not offered to help. Merely leave and his existence will claim the lives of many others.

Deriven frowns, "I'm sure Damoc considers your lecture illuminating, Ashe. A scholar of the arcane arts and a man of his intelligence and education may not already possess such knowledge himself."

"I'm sure your aware that Ramoska stated his intent to afflict this man with vampirism." He points at the gentleman on the table."I would say Ramoska seems quite willing to afflict vampirism on others, if it suits his purposes. We must keep that in mind."

"You may pass unaccosted from this place. We will provide a means for you to return to your master. We will assist with curing your vampirism should we attain the means. In return you will provide us with your research and assist in a cure with voluntary patients. Do you accept our terms?"

"And he must not create any vampires in Korvosa. That must be a condition also."

Ashe shrugs not understanding Deriven's frown, "Matters dealing with undead are of a religious nature... not arcane. Just trying to be helpful.. not lecture anyone."

"Are you certain Damoc isn't already aware of the information you are dispensing? It is good to know when advising another whether you are telling them something they already know. Wastes less time speaking and doesn't insult a person who may have as much knowledge on a subject as yourself." Deriven moves towards the man on the table, while keeping a wary eye on the vampire. "You do not mind if we see to this man?

"I accept your terms: to aid you in finding a cure for blood veil as best I can and then to leave, without cursing any citizen of Korvosa with vampirism," said Ramoska calmly.

"As for my diet, it is correct that I need blood to survive. However I brought my own supplies and have not been hunting here. I seek to minimise the impact of my curse upon the living. Shall I fetch my notes? They are in my chamber." He gestures vaguely, although no door is visible in the direction indicated.

Ashe nods. "That is acceptable Remoska."

Ashe moves the the opperating table and releases the young man... helping him stand he walks him out of the room.

Ashe will check over the young man's state of health...

[ooc]Healing:[/b] 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Deriven attends the man on the table, "I hope you live up to your word, Ramoska. It would be most helpful."

Check the man on the table. Stabilize him. Let Ramoska get his notes. Move on.

Ashe, for the sake of curiosity, how you getting +15 on healing with 1 rank? I'm counting +2 circumstance healer's kit (Not sure where MW healing kit's come from...that a different book?), +5 alchemical, 1 skill, +3 class, +1 wisdom for a total of +12. What other bonuses you have?

Varrel seemingly ignore's the man on the table, knowing full well that Ashe was seeing to him. He watches as the Vampire moves about, ready to act.

The youth on the table is unconscious (0 hp), and he is held fast by the table's three heavy iron crossbeams. Three identical levers on the side of the table cause the restraints to loosen or constrict an inch at a time. The levers can be moved to any of 20 slots, each denoting an inch of space between the restraints and the table's surface.

The nosferatu smiles thinly.

"I have stated a thing. I shall abide by what I have said. Will you?"

He watches as you attend to the youth, but does not move.

"I will abide by my word. I am a follower of the Inheritor. It is a sin to break my word unless it is a greater sin to keep it. You have agreed to work with voluntary subjects. I consider myself bound."

Damoc frowns, but nods his head curtly. Then he steps outside.

They say you never win bargains with devils. I hope we prove that wrong.

I agree that a fight with Ramoska could damage the party badly and now is not the time. Damoc doesn't really like it, but he can see the sense in this.

Ashe will feed the young man one of his potions of cure light wounds that he has carried and never used... specifically this is the instance for which he has saved them... to use when his divine healing must be saved and marshaled for a coming fight.

Potion - Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Ashe uses the levers to unloosen the young man and help him from the table.

When he wakes, he addresses him in Varisian, "Fear not, you are safe. I am Ashe... what is your name? I'll lead you from this place to the surface and the waiting Korvosan guard who will see to your safety."

"I am Ruan Mirukova," says the young man, weakly. "Where am I? Have I been ill?" He looks around, bewildered.

Ashe leads the young man from the hall back the circuitous way they came to the lift...

"You are not ill... Ruan Mirukova, just the unfortunate victim of mad cultists and their - if unwilling but less that honest servants. Go up this lift there will be Grey Maidens of the Queen and eventually if not already Korvosan Guardsmen to see to your needs and safety."

Out in the brewing hall, Damoc listens to ther conversation. How easily he straddles the divide between Cheliaxians and the lower classes. Ashe could certainly be a force to be reckoned with if he ever turned his hand to politics.

After shaking his head to clear it, Damoc considers his options for keeping tabs on Ramoska while they explore the remainder of the temple.

Someone should quiz Ramoska about the rest of the temple.

Graxer pulls out his wand and touches the boy a few times with it..

Cure Light: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 2 = 11

"A wise decision you've made vamper.. Now what can you tell us about the remaining denizens of this foul place? Where is this 'Lady' Andasian located? What can you tell us of her powers?"

Sense Motive on his answers: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37

"Let me see," says Arkminos. "The living down here are either the rogues masquerading as physicians or priests of the Pallid Princess. Lady Andasian spends most of her time meditating in the inner sanctum or performing whatever dire rites her deity demands of her. That's through to the east. Watch out for the leukodaemons - they are outsiders summoned and trapped in glass tubes, their emanations apparently improve the potency of blood veil."

He appears to be speaking the truth.

Ashe returns catching only the tail end of Remoska's report.

"...whats a Leukodaemon? 'Daemon' seems to sound like some kind of
fiend... my studies of the planes is sketchy at best."

Looking around the current room Ashe directly, "What's behind the two doors to the south? I don't want to leave unknowns behind us if our quarry is through the obvious double doors to the east."

Know Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

"Hmm.. Im familiar with Daemons but not with this sort.. I have no clue.. And i agree that if we know where the Andasian is located we should clear the rest of the this place before confronting her..."

Ashe shrugs in agreement, "Yeah, my knowledge of evil outsiders is limited to only the things a warrior would need most to know against 'common' evil outsiders like imps. Devils can sometimes be hurt with silver and Demons can sometimes be hurt with cold iron. I don't know much more than that... and I have only personally ever killed a devil - and not a powerful one at that! I don't know anything about daemons... if that is a different type of fiend other than a demon."

Knowledge (Planes)1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Deriven ponders, "Damoc, have you studied the planes much? I'm not recalling much about Daemons. What of you Varrel? At that very least these we will kill without hesitation."

Ashe grimaces muttering mostly to himself, "..I don't like not being well informed on such matters. I guess I'll have to ask master Flibidnick Grindlebling to expand on planar knowledge in his continued tutoring."

Ashe ponders his bardic studies and the curriculum the gnome meister had assigned him when his thoughts turn unbidden to another bard... and a haunting pair of lovely green eyes.

'Trinia...'

Despite himself, a slight smile graces his lips...

Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
I too, confess to ignorance on the subject of a Daemon. My masters have been diabolists and required services of the minions of Asmodeus, I had never encountered a 'Daemon' among them.

"I do not know much of them myself," said the nosferatu, "Just that leukodaemons are vile outsiders that hail from the outer plane of Abaddon. They are harbingers of plagues and daemons of disease, which spread sickness among all who fall beneath the shadow of their black wings. Servants of Apollyon, the Horseman of Pestilence — one of the foul masters of Abaddon and among the most powerful of archdaemons - leukodaemons scour the planes at the behest of their dark master, claiming souls in his dreaded name. Among the greatest bowmen of the Lower Planes, these skull-headed fiends strike like the plagues they spread: silent, sudden, and deadly. Most leukodaemons stand 14 feet tall, yet being composed mostly of dust, withered flesh, dried bones, and the buzzing of flies, weigh little more than 200 pounds. They are more tough than intelligent, but do not underestimate them. I think they originally summoned four of the things, but there is only one left - the others got sacrificed."

Ashe listens closely to the freely offered information of the Elder Vampire...

"Evil outsider... servitor fo the Horsemen... spreader of plague. I know how to deal with that fiend."

Turning toward the party, "It might be best to let me lead the attack on that foul outsider... considering my goddess' granted immunities."

"Thank you for the information Arkminos, it is appreciated."

"Let us clear the last of these rooms and deal with this foe..."

Ashe strides from the room and heads for the two rooms to the south of the vat room he moves to the far west door and opens it ...sword in hand and shield held high.

Graxer nods and follpws Ashe..

"There are some advantages to living for several centuries," mused the nosferatu.

Whats behind the door?

Deriven moves with the group to the next door.

Reluctant to turn his back on the vampire, Varrel finally leaves with his allies, concerned that they had just made a deal with a living embodiment of evil.

The nostaferu MAY be beyond him yet. But elves were long lived.
He would have to get to him.

Ashe flings open the door. Little more than barrels of water, kindling, and long stirring poles are contained in this room... and four zombies, just standing there as if they are waiting for orders!

Graxer charges in and starts to work..

Attack+Charge-PA+DF: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 - 2 + 3 = 20
Damage+PA+DF: 2d6 + 16 ⇒ (4, 6) + 16 = 26

Ashe moves into the room... shield held high for maximum defense as he moves past the zombies to provide a flank for Graxer... heedless of the threatened closeness to the zombies as he moves.

Standard Action: Total Defense - AC32
Move Action: Move 20'ft to provide flank to Graxer - provoking as many attacks of opportunity as possible in movement.

Only four?..

Varrel nearly charges- but resolves to let Graxer have his fun. Four zombies would not give him pause.

Deriven lets the dwarf and paladin dispatch the zombies.

Without anyone giving them orders, the zombies are little challenge, barely reacting before Graxer and Ashe chop them apart.

Marvellous, not a spell used. Byou the way you two, your contrasting styles would make for a fascinating match. Though I give Graxer advantage for tall Ash is surely unused to blocking cleaving strokes from such low angles. Still, a match worth betting on another time.

Varrel wears a melancholy look typical of the flighty elves perhaps, but not usual for the normally serious elf.
Or perhaps his just hid an alterior motive?
The magus leans in to Damoc, You wish to learn to fight. Watch fighters.

"Whats next.. Something fighting back would be nice.." He says with a gruff tone, almost like he's annoyed with the challenge so far..

Ashe just smiles, "I'm sure it would be interesting. My current tactics are to provide a target for foes... so they waste attention upon me and have to decide which to strike at. 'The moving wall of steel that tactically they cannot ignore for the threat I posse' OR 'The charging wall of blades that will cut them down should they not engage', in Graxer."

"I can heal myself with but a act of will... so should the foes strike at... and actually hit me.. they have mostly wasted their efforts. Plus, should they take a swing at me while I move through areas they threaten... it opens their guard for my allies to move in and take advantage of their splitting their attention."

"But enough chat... lets move on to the next room then the Temple's inner sanctum... and the Fiends therein."

Ashe leaves the room and head for the door to the room right next to it. Without preamble he opens the door and moves in to secure for Graxer's entry should foes be waiting...

Deriven follows the others.

Know(planes) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 Swinging for the fences, hitting a single.

Back in time a bit

Listening from outside,
Damoc is impressed by Arkminos' knowledge. Some advantages to centuries of life indeed. He scours his own memory, but has little to add to the nosferatu's discourse.

Megan if he can add anything let me know.

More recently

The magus leans in to Damoc, You wish to learn to fight. Watch fighters.

As Damoc's eyes lock on the pair as they dissect the zombies, he agrees. "You are right, of course. And these two are outstanding examples. The gladiators of Westcrown couldn't match them."

For raw skill, yes the Champions could. But without the divine gifts to carry them through that is their greatest advantage. Study them and learn that neither method is the way a Magus or Eldritch Knight fights. We cheat. The basics- how to swing a blade, footwork, and later specific weapon styles: Einhander and swashbuckling like me, sword and shield like Ashe or powerful overwhelming offensive like Graxer. These are the mundane, but vital skills. One who would cast and fight such as us seeks greater advantage. I would never 'fight fair' against either of those two. To do so would be to lose. I fight using magic to make foes fatigued, intimidated, sickened and blinded. Take away their strengths. Then strike. Watch and find your method.

The lesson ended, Varrel follows Ashe.

Graxer laughs.. "He tells the truth about a few things.. Find what you're good at and use that to an advantage.. Pay attention and find out what different creatures are bad at and use it to your advantage.. Id still kick your ass in a fight though Varrel.. No matter whatcha hit me with.. Buts perhaps another day.. Lets get on with the swine slaying.. Ashe! To the next door!"

Ashe chuckles softly, "...I'd be the first to admit that I'm no Great fighter and slayer of martial might! Thus far my basic training with regular practice has been sufficient to further my goddess' causes, protect the innocent and defend the downtrodden... so I am content with that and hope it is enough to win the Inheritor's favor."

He muses, "...I'd much rather be a great tactical and strategic-minded warrior anyways. So I could win a fight before fighting... and thus not have to fight at all. Hence my unquenchable thirst for knowledge... and understanding."

"If you understand a foe... know him better than he does himself... you will have already won."