Tyranny and Anarchy - Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master Corsario

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As I said, the cue is for the new players to give a description and introduction. Kroft has asked you to join with a few other "irregulars" in the Korvosan Guard that she can count on to do some sensitive missions when normal soldiers won't cut it. How you came to be there, and what you do next is up to you. Welcome, but let's get it going!

One of the new irregulars enters at Kroft's bidding and nods to the others. He is an unremarkable looking human, probably Taldan. He is dressed in a tidy military uniform, though any patches or pins that would indicate who he has served with are missing from it. It is not hard to tell a chainshirt is worn beneath. He is clean cut with one exception: his hair seems rather disheveled. He drops his pack by the door, the bedroll strapped to the bottom protecting its contents.

"Good day" he says to the gathered group. "My name is Rommin. Cressida - Marshall Kroft - tells me you could use some help. She hasn't told me a lot of what's going on, but since she assures me it is for the good of the city and because she is asking, I am at your disposal for as long as you need me, no questions asked."

I apologize for my delay; I hadn't dotted the game play thread so it wasn't showing up for me on my focused list. Shouldn't a problem anymore.

Cressida! Who does this bravo think he is, calling the Marshall by her name. Is he her lov- Naaaah! Look at him! Not a chance! Impossible! But then again... Did she just smile at him? Or was it at me that she smiled?

Corso seems lost in thought. finally, he emerges: "Corso, of the Gaczi!" and he shakes the man's hand with as hard a grip as he can muster, hoping to show him who's the first in line for her heart.

Opposed Str: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

As usual, Gyllan can't help but smile at Corso's antics, as much as the man might wish to come across as a smooth and debonair.

"Rommin, I'm Gyllan," he says, extending a hand less competitively than Corso, "good to meet you. Indeed, what we're about is for the good of Korvosa, and I'm glad you'll be joining us for that reason."

Rommin returns the handshakes, genuinely pleased to meet the others chosen by the marshall.

Opposed Strength 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Rommin's caught a little off guard by the one aggressive handshake, wincing at first and then returning the excessive grip.

Iozif arches an eyebrow as Corso makes an attempt to crush the man's hand. Snorting in amusement, he extends his own hand to shake (normally), "Iozif Vasile, doctor in training at the university here in Korvosa. Given the ghastly nature of the sickness gripping the city, we'll be glad to have your assistance."

Slightly wary, Rommin takes the gentleman's hand. He smiles warmly when it is a regular grasp. "A pleasure to meet you doctor. I'm no healer or anything, but if you need to move around the city, I can help get you through crowds. I grew up around here years and years ago. I've been away working as a mercenary for a while now and have only been back a couple of days, but I still know some how to get around."

"You have a good arm Rommin. A mercenary you say. Where did you work last?" asks Corso, chest puffed up in manly rivalry, though Rommin and he form a strange set of twins, with both of them of impressive size and bulk, but with Corso a flurry of lace and silk, while Rommin is wrapped safely in leather and chain.

Sauntering into the room behind the others a short sized woman dressed in the vibrant style of nomadic Varisians moves lightly to the side and crosses her arms with a wry smile as introductions are given. Her flashing green eyes and slightly pointed ears giving away her elven parentage but her tanned skin and voluminous black hair along wiht the tattoos running along her arms clearly marked her Varisian through and through.

Crossing her arms and leaning casually against the wall she let's the dandy and the armored man subtley compare each other's manhood.

Rommin opens his mouth to answer Corso, but his gaze shifts aside and he hesitates. Before he can say anything, he is saved with the Seila's arrival. Dodging Corso's question, he instead asks "Good day. I'm Rommin Hawkridge." He bows slightly to the lady, then takes a step back.

Corso loses all interest in the brawny barbarian as his peripheral vision of a flurry of dress and luscious hair. He loses a second to his rival as he pulls his jaw back up and stops gawkimg, but then rushes forward, grabbing the hand Rommin is not aiming for and drops to one knee with Seila's hand brushing his lip (in truth, the other way around): "Charmed. Utterly." he murmurs, as if caught in religious rapture.

"Well then this is new." The woman says laughing a little awkwardly at the sudden attention. "Seila. And you are?"

With a laugh and an extended hand, Gyllan says, "My charmed - utterly - friend is Corso. You'll get used to him, eventually, and he'll get off his knees at some point, I'm sure. I'm Gyllan. Pleased to meet you, Seila."

Though his ears are not pointed, it's clear from his swarthy complexion and dark eyes that he shares some Varisian heritage with the half-elf. "Always nice to have another cousin to travel with," he says.

"Corso. Of the Gaczi!" he says with flair, giving Gyllan a knowing co-conspiratory look. "At your service..."

He turns to the Field Marshall, hesitating as he starts to blush violently. He gives her a broad smile and laughs nervously.

Awkwardness fills the room, alongside silence.

"Well, then. What's our next step? How can we help you?"

"I'm appreciative of the offer, but for now I think I am best served by remaining unobtrusive. Judging by the thronging hordes outside the Bank of Abadar, it may take one hundred men for me to move about unhindered. But given our luck in the past, another strong fighting arm will be most welcome." Iozif nods to the newcomer, failing to stifle a smile at Corso's theatrics. Extending a hand to shake, Iozif offers, "I would not be so sure of getting used to him, but that's a debate for another time. I am Iozif Vasile, unokatestvér. Mi az emberek csoportosul, úgy tűnik."

"If you are all of the 'irregulars' that are to join us, then I think we had best be on our way to this Racker's Alley. It would be best to deal with these fool porters before they stoke this pestilence into ever greater fury." Iozif's mouth twists sourly and he nearly spits as he names the porters.

Corso, with arms akimbo, reminds Iozif he does speak Varisian, but otherwise tags along without a word, though he slowly drifts towards Seila...

Just repeating a prior post to get the new player up to speed on the mission in general.

Smirking a bit at the antics of the overly amorous bard, The Marshal repeats herself about disturbing rumors that some of the lazier northern plague carters aren't delivering their bodies to the Gray District but instead are taking short cuts, disposing of bodies in secluded North Point alleys. Her report indicates one such place, Rackers Alley to be exact, is a likely dumping ground.

"Racker's Alley has been a thorn in our side for years." Cressida explains. "The looming buildings nearly completely block out the sunlight there and illicit activities have been ongoing for some time. Now with no one to watch, the lazy porters are just dumping corpses in this secluded side street. Go there and investigate and see if we can bring some of this porters to justice."

The notorious byway, a crooked little dead end street, is well known to those familiar with Korvosa as a gathering place for the narcotics trade, prostitution and other nefarious activities. A trip there would be a bit on the dangerous side in the best of times, and this is far from that.

"I can't spare any soldiers on this mission for now -- they are busy escorting Dr Davalus and the Queen's Physician's on their oh-so-important missions, so report back to me after you have straightened matters out." spits Kroft with a barely concealed bit of sarcasm.

Will be departing for Rackers Alley. Need to stop and get any supplies etc before heading over?

Iozif nods along with Kroft's explanation, though he frowns slightly as she finishes speaking. He asks, "Field Marshal, if we are to bring these porters in to face justice, then we will need to arrest them or at least have a legal path to detain them. Do you have a... bounty? or some other scrip to indicate that we are legally pursuing malfeasants?"

Don't need to do any shopping at this moment.

Saving my money for a nice feathery hat.

Rommin is as ready as can be.

As ready as ever

"Right, let's go, " Gyllan says, seeing his companions ready to set out.

"Just confirm the illegal dumping," says Croft with a heavy sigh. "If bodies are being left in the alleys of North Point, I will post soldiers there to dissuade the lazy carters."

She escorts you to the gate of Citadel Volshyenek when she sees another contingent of the Queen's Physicians with their strange beak-like masks entering. Mumbling something, she ducks back into the administration building before being seen.

Traveling the length of Korvosa, you end up in the dark corner of Racker's Alley. The high walls of the surrounding blocks throw this awkwardly bent alley into constant shadow. Although littered with garbage and filth, the refuse isn't the most stomach turning trait of this rundown sideway. Heaped against a bent wooden wall rises a pile of more than three dozen plague victims, their faces blistered and flushed, eyes open and staring. The scent of death is overpowered by the reek of rot, suggesting that some of the corpses have been here for days.

"Hold a moment," Gyllan says as he enters the alley, raising his hand and gesturing for the others not to go any further, "it's easy to see bodies have been dumped here. Let's see if we can figure out who's done it, and where they've gone."

He studies the alley, examining the ground, any doors off the alley, entrances to the city's sewers - anything that might tell how the bodies came into the alley, and where the bearers might have gone.

Survival (+2 more vs humans): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
Perception (+2 more vs humans): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

"Oh! The smell!!! After that wonderful perfume shop, why do we have to end up in such a dump... But, Gyllan, wait a moment. There." and Corso conjures dancing balls of light from his palms, which move quick and directly around Gyllan, helping to cast away the alley's shadows.

He let's Gyllan go first, but follows closely, drawing his sword: "What a nasty place..."

At Gyllan's instruction, Rommin turns and keeps a watch, ready to dissuade anyone approaching the alley who is not part of their group. He doesn't draw a weapon, but he stands tall and official looking, at the same time bored and daring anyone to challenge their authority to be there.

Iozif's nose wrinkles at the scent, but he doesn't bother to cover his mouth. It's clear that he's familiar with the smell of decay. To Gyllan, he replies, "That would be for the best. I'll see if I can learn anything from the state of the bodies. I'm not one to do any tracking in any case." Iozif carefully picks his way through the midden heaps until he is standing near the bloated corpses of the plague victims. He covers his mouth with the back of his hand as he studies the bodies, looking for identifying marks.

Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

While Rommin stand guard at the mouth of the alley, Gyllan and Iozif examine the piles of corpses. It doesn't take long for Gyllan to see a hole in the eastern wall of the allye, that leads into the building beyond.

Iozif sees something a bit more concerning. Several of the corpses have twin puncture wounds on their necks and wrists. Not all, but a some. Enough to be worrisome, certainly.

Iozif grows sober as he finds the repeated wounds between many of the corpses. Double checking, he stands from his grim work and says, "I've little luck identifying these poor souls, but there is some contributing factor to their deaths, or at least their present state, that warrants mention. Multiple bodies have these unusual puncture wounds. I can't say with certainty what caused them, however." He gestures to a few of the corpses with the unusual wounds.

Do I have a knowledge would give additional insight into the wounds? I'd ideally be looking for a possible cause. (arcana +6, local +3, nature +9, religion +6)

Knowledge(?): 1d20 ⇒ 20

"Ugh, who or whatever it is they don't seem to care about leaving bodies lying everywhere."

"The bodies are dumped, then someone does something to them, is that it Iozif?" asks Corso, peeking above the alchemist's shoulder, controlling the light to help.

"Or whatever killed them wasn't the disease," Gyllan suggests. "In any case, we should see what's through this hole in the wall. Everyone ready?"

He draws his blade and waits a moment for any preparations the other have to make, then leads the way to the opening in the wall.

Sensing Gyllan's role amongst the group, Rommin asks "Do you want me to lead the way? Or serve as a rear guard?" Rommin will fall in where ever Gyllan thinks best, sword at the ready.

"Huh?" Gyllan asks Rommin, following up with a slightly more articulate answer, "Oh, right. I'm not used to having you guys with us, it'll be nice to have another sword arm around. Why don't you come up front with me? I'll take the lead, in case we need to follow any trails, you next, and we can both fight whatever jumps out at us."

Iozif has heard of such needle-like marks on the necks and wrists of victims. While there are many possibilities, the evidence seems to lead him to think the wounds might be related to vampirism, the drinking of blood by inhuman creatures.

After messing with the bodies, Iozif and Gyllan need a Fort save.

As the group starts to move toward the opening in the wall, clouds of flies and groups of rats scattering before them, a high-pitched wail arises from the rooftops above the piles of bodies. A swift moving humanoid form skitters down the side of the building.

Racker's Alley - Round 1

22 Seila
22 Corso
14 Spawn
11 Rommin
10 Gyllan
6 Iozif

Seila and Corso are up first against the skittering humanoid

Rommin and Gyllan seemed in a perfect position to deal with the strange creature climbing down the wall. Now was not the time to run to the front, but to guard the back! Still, a little help perhaps?

Deciding quickly, Corso stands his ground, sword drawn, but reaches with his free hand for a small vial of oil in his pocket, concentrating on the wall where the creature stood.

Cast Grease on the wall where the creature is climbing down, hoping to make it fall. Reflex DC 14.

Hmmm can't move my token first time running into that with this type of map.

"Aren't you going to do anything about that vampire spawn?" Seila quizzes as Rommin feels a sudden surge of battlefury flow into his veins making the sheer act of holding his blade rather pleasurable.

Fury hex on Rommin: +2 Morale bonus to saving throws and attack rolls for 4 rounds.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Know Religion

I reloaded the map, with "can edit" checked. NOt sure why you couldn't move token after that. See if it helped. If not, just describe where you want to move, and I'll make it happen.

Racker's Alley - Round 1 - continued

Seeing the scrambling form, Seila is able to recognize it as a minor vampire spawn. Knowing the fight will be tough, she casts her Fury hex on Rommin, sharpening his already keen battle skills.

Thinking of how he can lend a hand from the rear, Corso settles on making the climb down from the rooftop hard for the spawn. His spell casts a coating of slippery goo on the wall just as the vampire arrives there.

Slipping on the greasy goo, the creature starts to fall from the top of the neighboring building, but as it does, the form becomes nearly intangible, turning into a gaseous form and staying aloft rather than falling hard to the ground like a solid object would.

Spawn DC 14 Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The rest of the party, Rommin, Gyllan, and Iozif may act. The one bad guy is in gaseous form and hovering about 15' from the ground.

"Aren't you going to do anything about that vampire spawn?" Seila quizzes as Rommin feels a sudden surge of battlefury flow into his veins making the sheer act of holding his blade rather pleasurable.

Rommins chokes up on the hilt of his greatsword, but seeing the foe above and gaseous, he replies "I'd like to do something, but what?"

Rommin will delay.

Gyllan wasn't messing with the bodies, he was looking for tracks. But if that's enough to require a Fort save, here it is:

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Greatsword in hand, Gyllan stands shoulder to shoulder with Rommin and says, "Same here, how do we attack a cloud of monster that's floating up in the air? And you say it's a vampire spawn, Seila? So did it kill all these people and leave them here? Or is someone bringing it bodies and it's drinking their blood? I don't know which is worse..."

Delay also.

Iozif, sadly, was messing with them a bit when looking.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Iozif scowls up at the now gaseous vampire spawn. "I'm at a loss as well. Perhaps if it comes nearer I can burn it, but I would rather not throw a flask of burning oil up above us, for obvious reasons."

Iozif readies an attack with his longspear against the creature if it becomes corporeal and walks in range.

Gyllan, fair enough, I thought you were looking at the bodies as well. Disregard the Fort save. Iozif, you are not so lucky...

Racker's Alley - Round 1- concluded

Rommin is frustrated by the spawn turning gaseous and floating in air. He can't hurt what he can't hit, so he pauses, waiting for something to break.

Gyllan also holds, asking questions of Seila who seems to know something about the foe.

Iozif is itching to stab the creature, readying his spear in case it regains solid form and comes near.

End of Round 1

If you are delayed, feel free to jump back in whenever you feel the need. A bit harder to manage in PbP, but we'll survive.

Racker's Alley - Round 2

22 Seila
22 Corso
14 Spawn
11 Rommin (delayed)
10 Gyllan (delayed)
6 Iozif (readied)

For game purposes, Seila and Corso are up next. Sounds like Corso may be out of town, so I will run him once Seila posts an action.

Seila continues to incite battle lust in the men. "Throw garlic or holy water at it or something."

Fury hex on Iozif.

Racker's Alley - Round 2 - continued

Using her primeval magic to continue to stoke the fires of the others, Seila uses her fury hex on Iozif, who is still waiting for the gaseous vampire spawn to alight on solid ground.

Corso, undecided about what to do next, dithers and delays, until the others move into combat with the blood-sucker.

Using his gaseous form to prevent a nasty fall, the vampire spawn floats gently to the ground, taking solid form again on the ground at the end of the alley. It motions the heroes forward in a challenging manor, a wide rictus of grin revealing the major incisors used to make puncture wounds.

The boys are up now that the spawn is solid again. It is a good distance away at present.

Seeing the vampire spawn become solid, Gyllan calls out, "Let's get it, before it hurts someone else!" He darts after the thing, blade in hand, skirting the pile of bodies. He circles wide as the creature challenges the party, ending up behind it.

Double move along alley, avoiding icky stuff. I've got enough room and move speed to circle behind it without provoking an AoO.

Iozif hurries after Gyllan, moving out of the way of those behind him so he can best use his polearm. "Right behind you!"

Double move after Gyllan and avoiding the corpse pile.