Idrian does a quick scan of the room. "Antidote for what, Doc? What's going on?"
"Take care of the Doc. I'll see what's up downstairs."
With that, Tania utters a verse from the Ballad of Three-Step-Tony, infusing her legs with arcane energy, then hustles towards the voice in despair.
Feldspar quickly pockets the padlock and key as he turns and makes his way toward where he'd heard the cry of alarm.
Jo'no will also make his way towards the commotion.
"What exactly is going on here Doctor?"
Durik will eye the doctor suspiciously.
Mikka dashes up the stairs at the cry of alarm, her mind dreading what other horrors there are to be found in this place.
The Docotor
The doctor looked terrified for moment before finally sagging in resignation. "That man had Ghoul Fever. I had seen it before, in my travels through Ustalav, but this time I thought I could find a common cure. I have studied him these last few days, taking samples and working on somehting not magical in nature to remove the disease. I had no idea he was so close to turning though! My only hope is none of you were bitten by the wretch. I have this potion prepared, but I have not had time to test it."
He sat heavily on the bench beside him and put his head into his hands, groaning in despair as he realised his folly.
Outside
The scene that greeted the group as they rushed outside was both sad and horrific at once. The guardsman that Belor Hemlock had left to guard the complex knelt over the body of the woman they had seen when first entering. His sword lay bloodied and disgarded beside him, and her white gown bloomed with red blood still oozing from the gash in her chest where once her life had beat.
His face was torn with grief and regret, yet her face seemed relaxed and smiling in death.
Lying on the ground, some few feet from the tableau was the doll the woman had been singing to when they had first seen her. The face of the doll was twisted in rage, looking like something had been taken from it and it was about to throw a childs tantrem.
Perception
Initiative
"What has happened here?" Feldspar exclaims as he kneels beside the woman to be sure she's dead. "Why did you kill her?"
Tania stares in shock, her brain trying to make sense of the chaos. Instinctively, she moves to the guard's side, drawing her sword.
"You knew he had ghoul fever and you didn't let us know? You're crazy! You belong in one of your rooms here. We're going to take you to answer for this absurdity."
"I have to agree with Idrian Doctor. You knew the man was going to turn into a ghoul and you let us into the room with him? That is irresponsible at the least."
The doctor
Both Idrian and Durik are resolute in their condemnation of the man. He looks at them imploringly for a moment, before his eyes flicker to the door behind them. A shadow falls across the room for a moment and a voice that Idrian recognises fills the sudden silence.
"I would recommend you both leave the doctor alone and step out of the room. His actions were for a greter good and the risk acceptable for what we have made here."
They both turn and find themselves facing a hulking man, his face covered by a silver mask and the remaining body hung with a heavy yet tattered shawl. Idrian sighed when he realised it was his old companion Algus. It seemed the alchemist had left them to find another companion with whom to study his strange concoctions. He seemed angry too.
The soldiers folly
initiative
Jo'no
Doll
Mikka
Tania
Feldspar cannot act this round.
Remember only half an action available.
Idrian hesitates for a moment, but relents. "Ok, Algus. We'll leave, but the sheriff will hear of this and I expect that he'll send us back. I hope that you will be willing to accept our authority at that time." Idrian motions for Durik to leave with him.
Unsure of what kind of construct it is, Jo'no draws his wand and prepares to give the doll a zap.
Go ahead and use it Jo'no , you're base attack is +1 now so let's just work a bit like quickdraw. I'm feeling magnanimous hehe.
"Algus? You know this man Idrian? What greater good have you accomplished here Algus?"
Tania does her best to try and pinpoint the location of the doll, ready to strike if it moves within her range.
Seeing the evil little creature fade from sight Mikka halts the spell at the tip of her tongue, one ineffective without a target. She draws her wand and waits for any indication of the construct's location.
The Doctor
Algus cast his eyes over Durik, noting the religious symbols and other regalia that marked him as a follower of Desna.
Both Idrian and Durik could hear the contempt in his voice, even though they couldn't see his face. "Surely one steeped in the doctrines of teh churches must understand the kind of benefits this cure will bring. Most people cannot afford the prices the churches charge to remove disease and illness. The doctor and I have been working on something that costs a fraction of that charged by the churches. Now the common man may be able to keep disease from his family, particularly the types of things that run rampant in Ustalav."
He stood to one side as he spoke, clearly indicating that both men were free to leave and that this was his preference.
At Idrian's words, a groan escaped from the doctor, but a hollow laugh came from Algus. "Come if you must Idrian, but know that we seek the betterment of those low in the hrierarchy of life. Whether we are here when you return or not is yet to be decided, but I warn you, tread carefully if you truly come to stop my work."
Both men caught the use of the singular noun in that last statement.
The Fighter's Folly
Feldspar caught sight of his companions reacting to something just outside his periferal vision. The Paladin's sight had flared into a holy spectrum, scanning the aura of the living man and the dead woman before him, but neither of them registered with his sight. As he turned in response to the movement bahind him though, he caught the briefest flicker of evil, even as it was snuffed out by some strange magic.
To the rest of the party, the doll seemed to flicker momentarily, fading to some twisted parody of a small human child dressed in tattered rags and staring with the dead eyes of a weathered skull. The image seemed to confuse their minds and as each of them blinked and shook their heads, the thing disapeared from sight.
A strange sound emitted from the area, the whispered voices of five or six children, all of them calling for their mothers and everyone of them sounding scared and alone.
Feldspar frowns, confused. "I ask again, soldier, what has happened here?"
"Of course. Just as long as we understand each other... friend." Idrian walks out of the room with his head low and his fists clenched. He hates the thought of having to fight Algus.
Seeing Idrian leave and not liking his chances alone, Durik follows behind. While leaving, if possible, Durik will use his supernatural senses on Algus.
"Idrian, that man is known to you? I'm not sure turning people into ghouls is a cure they want."
Tania, upon hearing the voices in her mind, and feeling the fear gripping her once more, this time decides to stand fast. She shouts loudly to her comrades: "Stand fast friends, for we are strong and united!"
Despite her best effort, fear still finds a hold and squeezes her heart. Oh dear...
Surprise Round:
Jo'no releases two missiles of force at the doll:
Round 1:
Surmising what the magical doll has done, Jo'no taps his staff on the ground and calls forth a divination.
Feldspar provides a bonus to fear checks (+4). That should be enough to push the rallying cry over the save DC.
In response to Feldspars repeated question, the guardsman looked up with tear streaked eyes. "She kept coming, she wouldn't stop coming at me, and the children kept crying. Oh gods of mercy, she thrust her doll at me and I ....I panicked. I only meant to knock the damned thing out of her hand, but she threw herself onto the sword..
Idrian takes a moment to decide how to answer. "We've shared an adventure or two just before you came to town, along with Jo'no, Tania, and a few others. I don't think he would have given the man ghoul fever. That's why I decided to leave. Obviously, though, he is willing to use the situation to his advantage. When we come back, he will fight. And he does it well." Idrian goes to find the others.
Will save
Feeling the stalwart power radiating from Feldspar coupled with her own burning hatred for what must be some form of undead, Mikka simply glares at the flickering creature, ignoring the fear that failed to find purchase on her heart.
As the freakish thing vanished she sought to take away its advantage, a rhythmic chant echoing through the ear, becoming muted as the region within 20 feet of the young druidess filled with a heavy clinging mist, practically obscuring all vision.
Hi Wrath, I'm sorry to hear that our adventures have come to an end, but I certainly understand the need to put real life matters ahead of everything else. I have really enjoyed this adventure and this group. I also enjoyed your narrative accounts of events and appreciate the time you put in creating the combat maps. Thank you for running this adventure this long. And thank you to all my fellow party members for the fun experience.
It breaks my heart, but I can truly understand and respect your point of view. Things can get rough, and its best to refocus sometimes.
the game ran with good pace for a year and a half almost. I really enjoyed it, and in particular the care you showed for a great storyline. I learned a lot at your table.
I only wish I could offer to take over the game, but I'm running three and play in too many... At least three more would need to die before I could seriously consider it.
Anyhow, best of luck to you Wrath and thanks again for a wonderful game. I'll keep an eye in case something stirs.
