Something Wicked This Way Comes (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

While those with magical talents work on crafting magical items and fortifying the defenses, and Albrekt identifies the best talent from the orphanage, Rose works on persuading the Baron that the success of the Cardinal's Knots portend a new and glorious day in Talingarde, and that there would never be a better time to lend his support than right now.

Sarianna, suspicious by nature, stays away from much of the goings on, choosing instead to spend her time spying on the Seventh Knot.

All of that works. The blood descendant that the other knot tracked down is a sister of the Abbey of St. Cynthia-Celeste in Farholde. Nabbing her is not a problem, but her disappearance will not go unnoticed. Whenever you are ready, you may begin the the ritual. She must be sacrificed on the alter, but that is about it. If someone wants to RP it, jump in (assuming Xanos or Rose would be running the show), otherwise I will describe the sacrifice and its repercussions shortly.

There's still a bit left to do to prepare, so lets please wait just a bit longer. I'd like to establish the strength of our forces fully, and go over the layout changes that the Lyre and our workers have made.

Xanos was tireless. Frequently, he had both his hands off running other errands while he walked their new followers around the Horn giving them very carefully detailed instructions on their new duties.

He did did not actually know that a number of their new recruits were the latest in a cult that worshiped him as a sort of Adversary figure within the church of Mitra. They'd been looking for him, and followed the rumors. They still weren't convinced the tall guy with dark skin and no hands was their spiritual leader, but they were willing to stick around mostly because they had nowhere else to go.

These are Xanos' followers from Leadership. The best way to describe them is like modern-day LaVeyan Satanists who've adopted a bunch of Bhuddism and run it all through the filter of teenage rebellion and nihilism. They are losers.

It looks like I can use the lyre for an hour each week without making a skill check. I don't have perform, so it would be tough for me to hit the DC 18 check. And I don't see a way to use UMD to get around a skill check.

I'm very prepared for this. Righty has a +10 Perform Strings, and Perform is a skill that Take 10 works for. Because it doesn't have to stop for any reason, Righty can just keep playing indefinitely.

Until the work on the Horn is done, Righty is going to be playing.

Midway through his improvements on Albrekt's undead warhorse, Xanos stopped.

He'd been thinking about the Horn. Its design seemed complex at first glance, but it wasn't. It was essentially two separate structures. Once that truth was realized everything about it's design made perfect sense. He should know. It was his idea to use the first and second floors as a false front.

The caves, the third floor, and the upper sanctum, those were the true seat of power the Sons of the Pale Horsemen had built. The first and second floors were essentially decoys. A fake fortress full of expendable zelots who believed they were guarding their all-important temple. In truth, it was a double-bluff. The third floor was a false front also. It only existed to hide the landing Hexor and Vexor protected.

What Xanos had not helped plan were the thrones. They were the link between the two overlapping dungeons. He had to admit that it was clever. There was a serious flaw in the design though. No escape route.

That was what he'd been thinking about when rationality had struck him. What if it wasn't a design flaw? What if they had just missed it.

If he were designing a fortress like this, which already had a teleportation matrix, it would be utterly foolish not to use it as a means of escape.

The passwords were 'Yah,' 'Rah,' and "Nen." They seemed meaningless, but perhaps their meaning was not linguistic, so much as it was... a pattern?

Nen was the one that differed, which made sense. It was the hidden one, leading to a place that the people on the first and second levels likely would not have even known about. It could be disregarded. The two, well, it wasn't much to work from, but everything else in this place worked by a clever but profoundly simple logic. There was no reason this would be different.

Xanos left the half-disassembled skeletal horse in his workshop. His horde of hands continued working on it. He made his way to the first floor temple, ignoring the stares of the ridiculous cultists that had showed up with Albrekt and Sariana's last supply trip. He sat down on the throne like a weary king and began speaking.

"Aah."
"Bah."
"Cah."
"Dah."
"Eah."

Going through the whole alphabet, skipping Rah and Yah.

I'm just going to keep posting short scenes of the things Xanos has been working on. Feel free to do the same or respond. Fang can respond to them when he has time.

Golgotha wasn't really a horse anymore. At a distance the undead beast would pass, but up close it was very clear that it was something... different.

Instead of hooves, Albrekt's steed now had massive clawed paws that were reminiscent of a cat's feet mixed with monkey hands. It also had a rounded metal crate grafted behind it's exposed ribcage, taking the place of all it's internal organs and the meat of it's chest and stomach.

Once Xanos had sapled and bolted the beast's skirt and barding back on, the coffin was hidden from sight.

Golgotha's saddle now had a hole in it covered by a metal grating. For anyone but an armored vampire, meerly riding the beast woud be extremely uncomfortable now. The grating led into the hollowed out metal crate.

The horse was now an animated coffin.

Necrocrafting Golgotha. Albrekt's Horse receives the following changes:

Gain a Climb and Burrow speed equal to it's base speed
Gain the Trample special ability.
HD increases to 7d8
Internal coffin sized for a medium creature added.

Albrekt, you owe Xanos 600 GP for the components of the Animate Dead spells required to make the materials used in the construction.

Xanos left the half-disassembled skeletal horse in his workshop. His horde of hands continued working on it. He made his way to the first floor temple, ignoring the stares of the ridiculous cultists that had showed up with Albrekt and Sariana's last supply trip. He sat down on the throne like a weary king and began speaking.

"Aah."
"Bah."
"Cah."
"Dah."
"Eah."

Sarianna, pausing in her periodic sweeps of the horn, hears Xanos' experiment and quietly enters the throne room.

"Kongratulations Old One. You've thought of something I did months ago. Truly you are wise and powerful."

She gives a mocking bow and departs, fading into mist.

Damn! I totally forgot about that. Ignore my nonsense.

Every day, Molasbar makes the rounds of the Horn. He walks throughout, looking for anything out of place. After the vampire mocks Xanos for trying to password, he resolves to find a new one if one exists. Each morning, he stops at one of the thrones and examines it.

He sits on the throne and casts detect magic, concentrating on the magic woven into the arcane device. He teases at the threads of the magic, trying to pull forth into his awareness a full list of the command words.

The spells detect magic, identify, and analyze dweomer all reveal command words if the properties of the item are successfully identified.

He can only try once per day, so he cannot take 10 or 20. But he is nothing if not persistant.

On day 2, he gets a 34. On day 13, a 35. On day 15, a 37. His maximum possible would be a 40.

Awesome Xanos. Very cool indeed chief.

Drawn by the sound of Xanos' fell industry Albrέkt enters the necromancer's workshop and immediately flashes a jagged grin;

"Vunderbar Old Vun! Truly your hände kan vurk fell majicks..."

The armoured vampyr runs his hand across his steed's barding ending with an almost affectionate pat;

"Ach mein Gōlgōtha... you are wunderschönen..."

He nods approvingly, leaving a heavy pouch of coin (600GP duly paid) upon the nearby workbench for services rendered.

@Molasbar: No new command words discovered. You guys have them all.

"Our preparations are very nearly complete," Xanos said during one of their periodic progress meetings in Haruk's temple.

"There is one thing I have been considering. I am still in possession of the corpse of the Master of Acolytes, and I have restored it to a functionally intact state. Using Restore Corpse Rose, you could summon his spirit for questioning." By casting Speak With Dead.

"He is the highest ranking and likely the most knowledgeable member of the Sons of the Pale Horseman that we have access to. He is a potentially useful font of knowledge, assuming that we can choose the right questions to ask."

"I've never found that speaking with the dead has worked out . . . the bodies are always so resistant. But we can give it a try if you have ideas for questions."

Rose is happy to go along with this.

Albrέkt watches with interest, then offers a leering smile at Rose's words;

"Fraulin Silversting... Schud you vish to sprechen vith zher toten, you need only to converse vith me. I vill nicht resist you..."

Sariana delivers a slap to the back of Albrekt's head that sends a ringing noise around the chamber.

"Must you always be so krude, Bruder?"

Xanos looked physically pained by the banter of his allies.

"Someone wrote the book that details the ritual which will bring Vetra-Kali back from his banishment. Who that was is not informed in the text, but that does not mean the knowledge has been lost. If we can find out who wrote the book, we may be able to find out what we should expect when we perform the ritual."

"These sorts of things are not subtle. They tear down the walls between realities and offend all the powers that want to keep those walls in place. I feel that knowing the steps to perform the ritual is not enough. I wish to know what will happen when we do. The Master of Acolytes might not have those answers, but I feel it is worth checking."

"Here are my proposed questions-

"Who wrote this book?" he said tapping the tomb that details the ritual.

"Where would any survivors of the Sons of the Pale Horseman cult have gone after the attack on the Horn?"

"If you could be reanimated, would you wish to rejoin the mission to see Vetra-Kali released?"

Haruk nods in agreement with Xanos' questions "Perhaps we could also ask about what sort of forces we can expect to attack the Horn, once the ritual begins?"

"I considered that, but I do not believe the Master of Acolytes would know. To my knowledge they never began this ritual. They were attacked by Markadian the Victor, not because of the ritual, but because they were his enemies. "

"I may be mistaken though. Asking what they did to provoke Markadian's wrath may be a more valuable third question."

Albrέkt affixes his fellow vampyr with a baleful stare, before slowly turning his attention to the questioning and its discussion.

"Höllenbrut (Hellspawn) it doez nicht matter vhat visits upon Das Horn. All vil vereden (perish/die). All vil rise erneut!" (anew)

The towering undead stoops to where the Master of Acolytes corpse lies, caressing its face and neck with an ironclad hand;

"Vunce he has beantworten (answered/replied) let him join der ranks of the unvergänglich. (deathless/everlasting) "Ja?"

"Xanos, your last question is nice, but as my . . . cooperative . . . undead friend Albrekt says, are we really going to not re-animate him if he refuses? I think Haruk has the right idea. We can ask how Markadian overcame the Horn's defenses. It might give us insight into shoring up our own. And then we can ensure that any attack will only feed our strength further! Come, let us go to this body."

Rose casts Speak with Dead on the Master of Acolytes.

"Who wrote the book with the ritual to resummon Vetra Kali?"

"Where would any survivors of the Sons of the Pale Horseman cult have gone after the attack on the Horn?"

"What weakness did Markadian exploit to pierce the Horn's defenses?"

If someone doesn't like that last question, you can stop me and I'll ask a different one.

"I agree that it would be good to know what to expect."

Molasbar has seen Rose cast this before, and he knows that it takes considerable time and focus. He stands watch over her during the ritual to keep any distractions at bay.

Sorry for the delay. I see no reason for this not to work. I will point out that Ezra the dread wraith is the former leader of the this cult. Also, you found that book in the arms of a skeleton.

To answer the questions: 1. He doesn't know. 2. All should have died for the glory of Ventra-Kali (there was no escape plan). 3. Nothing in particular. He showed up with his army. They were overwhelmed.

Xanos doesn't trust Ezra at all.

"His answer will determine if I raise him with his mind intact or not. Intelligent undead are often difficult to manage. It is much easier for everyone involved when their agenda is shared from the beginning rather than forced."

Xanos doesn't actually look in either vampire's direction, but it's clear his words are purposefully chosen.

The master of acolytes probably has class levels. If I save his corpse for a few levels I can raise us another strong ally, but if I can avoid dealing with daily saves against control and opposed charisma checks, that would be preferable.

When Xanos speaks, the vampyr pauses from his corpse caress to briefly smile at the necromancer's veiled comment.

"Do you vish me to sprechen (speak) to Ezra Der Dreimal-Sakrisch (Thrice-Damned) ? Der Über-Geist (High-Wraith) vill konverse vith me... He vill reveal more zhan to you lesser Leben (Living)."

"I'm sure the Uber-Geist will talk with you, but he's probably also an Uber-liar." Rose shrugs and will ask Xanos's preferred last question instead of her own.

Assuming GM Fanguar allows it. . . I know we already learned the answer to Rose's failed question.

Xanos gave Rose a nod of agreement. "Albrekt if you wish to speak with Ezra, do so. Your instincts regarding people's intent have proven quite sound in the past. Perhaps you will be able to tell if he lies."

"Aside from that, I believe we are ready."

Sariana nods and will accompany her brother to speak with the Dread Wraith. Reading people to see if they lie is more her skill-set than having to actually talk to them!

Sari is fairly good at SM :)

Sari is fairly good at SM :)

Darn I thought I was decent @ +12... +19 is impressive :)

Albrέkt flashes a jagged grin at Rose's comment, then retorts with one of his own as he moves to exit the chamber;

"Fraulein Silverschting. Are ve nicht all liars und Schwarze Herzen (Black Hearts)? Ezra Der Dreimal-Sakrisch iz amongscht kindred spiritz Ja?"

With Xanos' blessing and Sariana's support he'll head out of Haruk's temple (where I believe above is taking place?) to the upper level of the Horn, seeking Ezra...

The former master of acolytes has no desire to return as an undead.

It does not take long to track down the dread wraith. It almost feels like its been expecting you.

"Ah the little vampirelings, so nice of you to visit. You've been so busy lately, not working to summon Vetra-Kali. It's almost as if you Amododeans have no intention of returning my lord to this plane, which, of course, would make you interlopers and not allies. This temple will not suffer interlopers"

The other wraiths billow out like smoke of the stonework and flit around Ezra.

"So my supposed allies, to what do I owe the pleasure."

Albrέkt bows his head reverently as the dread wraith materialises;

"Greetings Ezra Der Dreimal-Sakrisch. Rest assured ve vil befreien (liberate) your fell lord. It ist a schleppend (slow/methodical) procesz, und must be undertaken vith attenzion to all detail... but you know zhis Über-Geist do you nicht?"

The unholy vampyr flashes a feral smile at the larger undead before answering Ezra's question directly;

"Ve have questions, to which ve (require/demand) answers. Zhey pertain to vhen you and your kult were mere fleisch und knochen (flesh and bone) - eminently geringer (lesser/inferior) in form und power."

He pauses, letting the last statement settle before continuing;

Spezifically ve wish to know more on vhen you lost Der Horn and found yourzelves angewiesen (repaint) on supposed allies to restore your früherer glanz (former glory.) .."

Albrέkt's jagged rictus grin widens - verging on a sneer...

Sariana just stands, arms crossed, watching the exchange. Wraiths lack a physical body and therefore a number of the tells she can read are much diminished. It isn't impossible though.

(repaint above should be reliant - accursed spell check...)

Sorry for the delay. Busy time of year for me.

If a shade can shrug, it does so. "It is a matter for the history books. Markadian showed up at the gates of our temple with his mighty knights. Our order, though ancient, was never large and survived through guile. We were slaughter to a man. Ventra-Kali himself fought the Markadian, but fell to the might of the Mitran King and was banished from this plane. If you are seeking some weakness that was exploited, then you will be disappointed. The paladins of Mitra use no subterfuge. That day the gaze of Mitra fell on the temple and we were purged."

"What advise I have is this: Do not draw attention to yourselves. You are few and would fare no better than I were the eye of Mitra to fall on this place once more."

Albrekt is on vacation, but if any other players wants to 'ask' a question via him, that's fine with me.

Quick posting opportunity has popped up :)

Albrέkt nods and flashes a tooth'ed smile at the taller wraith;

"Danke Ezra Der Dreimal-Sakrisch. De Knotten vil endevoor to remain versteckt (hidden/concealed) until der tyme ist richtig (correct/proper). Rest assured ve wil nicht make der zame mistakes zhat blighted your kult."

The ironclad vampyr eyes the fell-spirit closely;

"As for Der Heiliger Ritter (Holy Knights) of Mitra... vhile ze schow little guile I respekt zhier might und zeal. However Der Knot izt un different proposition... Had your kult verbündet (allied) vith Der Blassen Princessen as zhese Asmodean's haf, zhen perhaps you, und nicht zhem, vould still rule..."

He looks to Sariana;

"Kleine Schwester. Do you haf qvestions for Der Über-Geist?"

"Why are you still here?" Sariana asks, bluntly.

Being alive, Rose does not officially join this undead pow-wow. But since she thoroughly does not trust the vampires, she tries to follow along and spy on their conversation.

Sorry for the delay, the holidays kind of ate my free time and energy.

The wraith seems of coalesce, becoming somehow more solid, and glows briefly with an inner light. "Hate...Hate and rage. My soul would not rest and so here I remained in my temple. The Mitran seal defies my power to destroy it, but nothing endures eternal. When it is broken, my lord will return and I will aid in his great works once again."

"Besides, this form is not unpleasant. There are worse fates than this."

Albrέkt nods sagely at the wraith's words;

"Der form of Der Über-Geist izt most schicklich (becoming), und more powerful zhan mortal fleisch und Knochen(flesh und bone)."

The armoured vampyr's lip curls in a sneering smile as he continues;

"Just remember Ezra Der Dreimal-Sakrisch, your hate vas mere rohstoff (raw material) for meine Blassen Princessen's to transition you, to grant you zhat boon of untergehen (undeath). You may scherve your fallen lord, but you only do so at der behest of meine herrin (mistress). Do nicht forget."

"Your mistress holds no sway here vampire, but I have no quarrel with her or her servants. She above all should revel in the return of Vetra-Kali and the unleashing of the Tears of Achlys."

"I'm more surprised to see a servant of Urgathoa in league with the pawns of Asmodeus. The living can't be trusted and Asmodeans even less so."

Any more questions? Like I said, ball's in your court until you start the ritual.

Albrέkt nods appreciatively at the Dread Wraith's retort;

"Ve all zerve our purpose Ezra Der Dreimal-Sakrisch. Der Asmodeans are nicht different..."

The vampyr flashes a cruel smile and slowly withdraws from the vignette.

Let the ritual begin?

Sariana leaves with her vampiric brother, never taking her eyes from the Dread Wraith.

"He is not someone to admire, Mein Bruder." She says, "We kannot trust him. Anymore than we can trust the Kardinal."

Xanos had a strong suspicion that the vampires would not have a productive conversation with the Wraith. There was little left to do now. They were as ready as they were liable to be.

He busied himself directing his minions to carry the necessary ritual supplies, including their gagged and bound prisoner, up to the Daemon-Prince's inner sanctum.

It was time.

I'm ready if everyone else is.

Haruk and his followers assist Xanos however the necromancer directs them.

Also ready

Sariana chooses to avoid the ritual, staying in the viewing chamber with the two bound devils instead.

She's really not happy about all this Ventra-Kali stuff. Better to steer clear!

Molasbar stays close at hand during the ritual, but pays almost no attention to it. Instead, he keeps a close eye out for threats to her while she is absorbed in the process. When the blade plunges into the sister, he thinks There is no turning back now.

And he smiles.

Ready!

"Bring her."

At her command, the boggards brought forth the sacrifice, a sister of the Abbey of St. Cynthia-Celeste in Farholde, her form casting long shadows in the midnight-dark sanctum lit only by candles. The wretched woman wearing only rags had her eyes closed and was clearly mumbling prayers. The boggards drag her to the altar where she is bound.

"Oh sister, do you still insist on praying to Mitra? Do you refuse my please for you to give yourself to the Whore Queen? Haven't you learned by now that Mitra does not care about you? Your shining light cares only to have little bobbing worshippers with no ambition, no desires, only guilt, shame, and obedience. Your pleas for help fall on deaf ears. I would know--I once prayed the same pitiful little prayers you still utter."

Rose sharpened the long smooth dagger in her hand one last time. "Well, if you won't give your life to Eiseth, then it'll have to be Vetra Kali." Rose sprinkled unholy water as she walked in a circle around the altar, and began to recite the words of the Supplication to Darkness. She enters the final strains as the hour of midnight approaches.

. . . the Sons of the Pale Horsemen failed you in their darkest hour. Now, in the darkest hour of night, let their blood begin the path to restoration. Vetra-Kali, Vetra-Kali, Vetra-Kali!" Rose plunges the dagger into the heart of her victim. A chill gust blows through the room and the candles are extinguished, leaving the sanctum in total darkness.

There, the die is cast. I figure I'd take the liberty of writing out the whole ritual, so obviously if some other plot events are supposed to happen, please go ahead and add them!

Unlike his fellow bloodsucker, Albrέkt stands observing the ritual with a cold indifference.

The boggards that bring forth the sacrifice give the iron-clad vampyr a wide berth, knowing their kind are merely viewed a chattel and prey by the monstrous undead.

At Rose's chiding of the nun he smiles, enjoying the torment and humiliation the priestess of The Whore Queen inflicts upon the broken nun.

When the dagger plunges and all goes dark, Albrέkt's dead eyes glitter as he allows the unseen rhythm of ebbing life to soak his senses... His smile shifts involuntarily to a jagged grin as the scent of blood and death invoke a gnawing hunger that causes him to drool...