"They were doing experiements. Taking my blood and injecting me with some concoctions. Then they would throw holy water on me, see how it would affect me. Looks like they were trying to find an alchemy solution to the traditionnal vampires weakness. I wasn't the only one here, just the last one remaining. One by one, they brought my people here, did test on them." He waves towars the other column in the room. As for your other question, yes, I can control myself."
Anna folds her arms and scowls. "Did 'they' include a woman vampire?" She describes the vampire spellcaster from their vision.
Not inclined to believe even a chained-up vampire, she studies him for signs of falsehood and to see what he's thinking.
Your people? Explain who that is.
My gut says to kill'im, for good... mercifully end his suffering. Or he's going to weave a sad tale.
Danica will do her part. Casting her detection spells; evil, law, chaos.
She will also use her Discern Lies ability.
Danica pulls out her holy symbol and holds it for the vampire to see.
"Before we release you we just want you to know that Sonny and I are disciples of Sarenrae. If you betray us in any way we will unlease the full powers of the sun onto your body and soul. Are we clear."
The man speaking the truth, but you get a feeling that we could be very deceptive if his spirit wasn't broken.
"Oh what's the point anymore. My people were the thief guild of this town. Probably no one is left now anyway. They came after us since no one would mind if we go missing." He turns to Danica after her statement. "We are very clear. Beside, I have no intention of living this cursed unlife. I only wish to see the sunrise one last time on the city that was my home"
Anna's eyebrows go up. "They destroyed the thieves' guild? That's so sad."
She takes a side step away from her companions. "Say, uh, before you see that sunrise, you got any hideouts that aren't compromised? Or, you know, rainy day stashes?"
Tolvan raises an eyebrow at the man's bravery in the face of death. He nods saying I hope I will faces the end as bravely. then moves to release the man's bonds. Can you think of any way you might harm those responsible for your condition?
I'd have your name if you are willing to share it. I am the wizard Tovan.
"My name is Ramoska Arkminos. I wish we could have meet in better circumstance." The vampire stay still as Tolvan inspects the chains. Unless he can find the key, he will assistance to unlock them. "As for a safe house. I'm not sure if we have any left that they didn't raided." He pauses, thinking for a moment. "There might be a small hideout on the edge of the city. It is small and we rarely use it, so they might have missed it." He gives you the direction to the place.
How do we know he's not lying to save his own pale hide?
"Takes a liar to know a liar. And he is, just not right now," Anna observes.
She glances over at Andjela. "And besides, he's asking for death. The real one. Doesn't seem like a 'save your own hide' situation he's in."
We found no key on the bodies of your tormentors. Anna, a word? Using the message spell, Tolvan steps away and turns his back on the vampire to whisper to Anna. Anna, See if Ramoska can communicate in Thieves Cant. Myabe even lend him tools to see if he can pick his own locks? Something seems off. Why chain someone that can turn to mist?
Aa the undead work to free himself with the tool provided, Tolvan and Danica are able to better study the creature. It seems to be a sub branch of vampire, like a Nosferatu, but not quite. You remember that Nosferatu are cannot turn into cloud of gas, and with the chain you are pretty this one can't also.
Ramoska turns over the tools once freed and let you know that he is ready to go when you are. Still on your guard, since he is still a possible dangerous foe, you make sure to surround him as you make your way back to the surface. The entire time, your new companion make sure to keep his hand in view and makes no sudden or agressive move. Once back in the main building, you successfully sneaked out the same way you came. As he reach outside, Ramoska looks up at the sky. It is still night, so you can see the stars up above. A relaxed smile appears on his face. "Never though I would ever be able to see them again." He slowly points at the stars. "Now, if you allow me, I can guide you to a safe house just outside the city. Take or use whatever will be there, I just want to reach before the sunrise. The view is quite spectaculair on that roof."
You make your way out of the city, avoiding any guard patrols you spot. After some time, you reach an out of the way cottage. "The front door is trapped and fake, so no point of trying it. The real entrace is on the side. There is mechanism to activate that will open it. I can point it to you." With the trust building more between you, you let Ramoska show you the way.
Inside is a nice cozy place. Everything is neatly place, but sadly covered in dust. He traces a finger in the dust and sigh. "Just more evidence that what I built here is now gone." He straighten up and get a determine look on his face. "Sunrise should be in about a little more than one hour. I will go greet it while sitting on the roof." With that, he makes his way up the stairs.
While the vampire heads to the roof, you inspect the house freely. You find multiple medical supplies, magical and otherwise, and you are able to recover from this long day of fighting. Once done, you crash down and relax for the first time in a long while. Looking around, you notice that Anna is missing. It doesn't take you more than a few seconds that she is on the roof.
As you get there, you find Ramoska and Anna trading stories and laughing, which is a strange look for a nosferatu. Turning around, you can see what he meant about the view. You can actually see all of the city from here and the water beyond. Then something catches your eyes, just over the horizon, the sun is starting to peek. At the same time, the laughter dies and Ramoska stands up. "Ah yes, I guess it is about this time. Funny, felt alot braver while I was captive underground." He turns to Danica and Sonny. "Priests of Sarenrea, please stay ready. In case my courage falter."
Sonny nods to the man and says "We will be ready. Pray for courage and meet your end on your terms. Good luck."
I am proud to stand with you in this Ramoska. I think we could have been friends. Tolvan does not look away.
Anna takes her mind off the tragedy unfolding by talking the trade with Ramoska. There's obviously an instinct to remain cagey about Guild business, but this is different. Living underneath the law, there's always an undercurrent that it could all come crashing down in an instant. The forces of law, the rich and powerful, one wrongly-placed word and you could open yourself up to total destruction.
Ramoska had lived that unspoken fear. But then, so had Anna. She found camaraderie with him that she hadn't felt since her old crew had suffered a similar fate. Sole survivors -- except that Ramoska, too, was dead. He just needed to finish the job.
Anna steps back after exchanging her favorite stories, the ones she couldn't let a paladin's ears hear, and listening to his. When the rays of the sun crest the horizon, she looks away.
The sun slowly rise over the horizon, chasing the darkness away. Ramoska looks at it, but then after some minutes of waiting for the end to come, a confused look appear on his face. He turns to Sonny, as he didn't burst into flames yet. "I don't..." He barely has time to say those words when the undead finally get engulf in flames. It doesn't take long for the body to be turned to ashes. Once it is done, you are left with just a pile of dust where the man used to be.
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Sonny looks sadly at the pile and says "The Way has caused so much pain and suffering. May Romoska rest in peace. Wonder if he would like to come back for a second chance."
Sonny then sits and continues to watch the sunrise and prays and meditates.
Andjela watched from the shadows of a small structure on the roof. Admirable... in the End.
Tolvan looks thoughtful as he considers what to do next. Let us consider carefully what we know and all the clues we have. Out next move could be critical.
"Ramoska had a choice of continuing to be a slave as undead, where the night is his master, never to bathe in the light or to die in the arms of the Bright Lady. He will be remembered as a man who accepted the path given to him by the Bright Lady."
Danica approaches Sonny and says "Let us pray for Ramoska. May he bask in the light of the Dawnflower." Danica faces the rising sun and accepts the warming rays. She thinks of her friends and what they have been through together.