Lemford slams his shoulder into the stuck door, and makes his way through.
Neal breaks through the door, catching up with Lemford for a moment.
Gresh fails to make it through the thorns.
The Midnight Mauler attempts to sneak his way past the guard station, and does.
Lemford also fails to make it through the thorns, though his voice does carry.
Grippli climbs over the wall.
Bel moves up to the greenbelt, but doesn't find the door.
Neal sneaks his way through the shrubbery!
Gresh is still stuck in the thorny thicket.
The Midnight Mauler moves to the gaping sinkhole, and holds his breath as he walks the plank. He easily makes it past the stench.
Lemford finally makes it through the thorny bush, moving up to the crumbling bridge.
Grippli finds the secret door, and moves through it.
Bel squeezes her way through the thorny bush, and moves up to the bridge.
Neal just barely fails not getting wet, and doesn't pass by the bridge.
Gresh finds himself still stuck in the thorny thicket.
The Mauler tries to pass unnoticed by the Lingering Mob, and does so.
Grippli leaps over the gap in the bridge.
Lemford swims under the crumbling bridge. His mustache looks a bit droopy, though the wax does a decent job of repelling the water. He gives Grippli a look that says 'do not say anything'.
Bel leaps over the bridge with ease, joining Lemford and Grippli.
Neal makes it past the bridge.
Gresh finally makes it past the shrubbery.
The Mauler runs along the top of the District Wall
Lemford talks his way past the guard station, as do GripplI and Bel.
[ooc]Round 6
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Gresh wades into the water and starts to swim across.
He struggles to keep from sinking and makes some progress across
Gresh continues to swim across.
He struggles even more...
Gresh continues to swim across.
Gresh continues to swim across.
Gresh continues to swim across.
Gresh drags himself to shore, stands up and looks around. All his comrades are nowhere to be seen...
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Bel is pretty sure there is a clear way here, she just can't see it.
Bel takes a wrong turn and ends up in a dead end.
Turns out that dead end, if you look exactly right, is the right way to go after all.
There is no fooling Bel
If she is the first person to make it Vilk, Bel will wait before catching up to Vilk, as she does not want to face him alone. Once at least one person who is willing to take on Vilk arrives, she will start Inspiring Courage.
Neal manages to confusing being stealthy with fast talking, and does neither well.
Gresh's luck holds true, and he gets mired down swimming.
However, the Midnight Mauler seems to be confused by the hedge maze, and he makes no progress.
Lemford holds his breath, and moves past the sinkhole
Grippli blames Pig for the stench, and in his arguments, fails to pay attention to it.
Bel manages to hold her breath and move past the stench as well.
Neal manages to get himself out of the pickle he talked himself into.
Gresh tries to drown himself in the shallow water.
The Midnight Mauler manages to find his way though the maze.
Lemford, though a combination of sweet words and stealth, catches up with the Mauler!!!
Grippli follows Lemford's example.
Bel manages to talk her eway past.
The old wolfman hunches down on the cobblestones, panting from the chase and glaring with fiery red eyes. “So, you’re the lap dogs the Decemvirate sent to cull me? Pathetic. All of your cut throats will barely slake my thirst from our little run.” Low, feral growling can be heard coming from the shadows of a nearby alley.
The Mauler grins, bearing ragged, yellow fangs. “How shall we do this, little ones?”
You notice that the chase has ended a block from Rutowski's home.
As Lemford starts talking, the rest of the team catches up.
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"Vonran, or Mr Vilk if you prefer, we're not here to unnecessarily harm you, in fact, we'd like to go with no violence if possible!" Neal says, approaching behind Lemford, his arms wide, in the most non-threatening stance he can muster, bowing low while keeping eye contact.
"We just want to know what happened, how you ended up like this and what we can do to help you!" Neal says, keeping eye contact.
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Gresh is out of breath by the time he reaches his comrades. He approaches to the sounds of a conversation.
Gresh pauses a moment to catch his breath before speaking. "Master Vilk, as my comrades must have told you already that we are here to save lives. We want to help you, help yourself." Gresh says, as he gestures to himself, his comrades and the old wolfman.
Gresh continues, "We have been told that a cure for your condition can be created. We have obtained the ingredients. You can become what you were meant to be, a man and face justice for your crimes."
Gresh pauses while studying the old wolfman's reactions. He is also waiting on his comrades before continuing...
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"Mr. Vilk, you may hold the Decemvirate in low esteem at this time, but once you believed in all it stood for. I don't know if your change of heart is because of your change of being, or if something happened to you, but we are not here to kill you. The Decemvirate wants you safe, but doesn't want these murders to continue.
"I, for one, would not take your death lightly. You are a Master of the Society and were a good man. Your loss would not just injure the Pathfinder Society, but society in general.
"Please come with us, allow us to bring you back to being the man you once were. Don't succumb to this disease which has caused you to turn your back on what you believed in."
I am going to use my reroll.
(one star GM).
Vilk seems to calm, some, and responds to some of your questions.
“The wolf is a cure! My decades of skill and untold experience rot in my withered husk. But now the moon brings me strength and vitality that I haven’t felt in thirty years! I’m strong enough now to do what I always should have done, rather than bowing my head to the Decemvirate. Now, I’m the alpha.”
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I feel what you're saying there. I've been there you know? But traveling with the society opened my eyes. If you're not carefull, you can easily loose yourself and become the monster you swore to fight."
Lemford gestures to Vilk's form. "Figuratively of course. I hadnt thought about it so literally yet."
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"So as the Alpha, you saw it fit that your first task would be to kill everyone who stood against you in your previous life? What makes you think that you suddenly are owed that right?" Neal says.
"Come with us, we can cure you, with all that experience and skill that you pointed out you had, and this is how you choose to use it? By killing people and becoming a Wolf? Think of the people who loved you..."
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"Master Vilk, this disease has clouded your mind. As my comrades have already stated, your life has been one of service to a greater good. There can be no higher calling for us mortals. Your lessons, as Swordmaster, have empowered generations of Pathfinders to save innumerable lives. Please do not force us into this confrontation, but your murder spree ends tonight. You will not take another life. You can accept our offer of help or not. If you do not, we will stop you." Gresh says with a steely voice.
“What gives me the right? Because I ’m stronger than they are! My blood is stronger than their blood! They banished me from my territory, I banish them in return. Their hot, red, sticky silence speaks volumes about who truly is master of Ardis.” shouts Vilk.
He then turns to Gresh. "You seek to threaten me, you little pup? You wish to challenge my authority? I say that they deserved their deaths, and that should be good enough for you."
"Is that all you have to say, cubs? Speak up now, or I go and finish what I planned!"
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"Master Vilk, calm yourself, please, think of Markov Rutowski and what he would think of you now, seeing you like this...seeing what you've become...how could his last memory of you be of a ravenous wolf tearing his throat out...when he loved you so much, when he adored you...he would do anything for you, and your only response is for his to die?" Neal looks into his eyes, sadness on his face.
“Why would I kill Markov? My one and only? My shining light, who pulled away in the darkest of days? The one shred of my old life I could have taken with me to Absalom, who denied me to keep dallying with the sons and daughters of my exilers? Markov dies because his every breath offends me!”
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"Master Vilk, clearly, it has hurt you these last years, no longer able to follow the road as the Pathfinder. And just as clearly, you are bitter at what you perceive to be a lack of respect and reverence from those by whose side you spent those years.
"However, as one who comes after you, I am saddened to see you succumb to the dark aspects of a disease which has inflicted you. While I don't pretend to know what caused you to have to leave your home here, I do know the thrill of the open road. I hope, when it is my time to leave it, I will show dignity and bring my knowledge and experience to the next generation of Pathfinders.
"As for your love, Markov, perhaps he didn't shrink from you as you thought. There very well could have been other reasons, reasons you did not think to ask him, before you judged him, much as you yourself were judged. He begged us, this very day, to bring you back to the light you had been before you allowed the wolf to do this to you.
"Master Vilk, please do not let this need for vengence sully your legacy."
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Lemford points to Bel. "Ladie is right you know. In your thirst for vengeance you're doing exaclty what was done to you. Judging them without knowing the whole story. You got to take a step back. See this whole picture. Before you end up doint things you'll regret when the bloodlust has left you. So please stand down. Let us cure you. Talk to Markov. And if you feel you still need revenge. Well, burn that bridge when we get there, right?"
"Bah! If Markov wanted to come, he would have. He made his choice." says Vilk, even though his tone actually seems to have tamed a tad. "And I told you that the Wolf IS the cure! Why would I give up my newfound vitality? How would you 'cure' me?"
He seems to wavering. Perhaps one more kindly word will push him over the edge, or more words on how hurt Markov has been.
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"Master Vilk, we talked to Master Markov, he misses you dearly and has missed you for so long!" Neal thinks he can break through Master Vilk's resistance.
"He was distraught when you got banished as he blames the Ardis' machinations and the fact that you clearly had enemies, hence the banishment."
"He had no choice but to stay, but he was also the ones who told us to get the Wolfsbane for you, he wants you to give up the wolf part of you so you can be the man he fell in love with again, as he wants to spend his life with you...the real you, not this wolf version of you.."
"Would you deny yourself and Markov the chance to spend the rest of your life together? Will you break his heart?" Neal says, pleading to the wolf to come with him and take the Wolfsbane.
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"Perhaps Markov was weak, but only because he was afraid to leave a life where he felt in control. But his love for you has never changed, and it was clear to us he regretted his choice. He fears for you, and fears the Wolf you have become. If you allow us to cure you, you could be together again. The Bards say love conquers all. Perhaps you can prove them right."
He breaks down, "I will try this. Not because you demand it, but for Marlov. I owe him at least the chance to explain himself."
He takes the first proffered dose of Wolfsbane. He screams in pain as his flesh roils between human and wolf. Finally, he gives a howl, and his muzzle turns back into a human face. He appears now as an ordinary elderly man, one wracked in some pain. He also fights off the effects of the poision.
He looks up at the Pathfinders, and says, "Thank you." and then collapses. He is not dead, but appears to have only lost consciousness.
The growling went away as soon as Vilk transformed back into himself, as if he didn't have control of the beast any more.
Gresh heals Vilk, but it doesn't seem to have any affect. He guesses that he is probably just exhausted.
Markov thanks you all profusely for saving Vilk, and offers you a place to stay for the night, and a good dinner.
Vilk does not wake up until morning, when he thanks you, but otherwise remains silent and withdrawn, ashamed of his actions. Within a week, he leaves Ustalav for Varisia, where he eventually settles into the hustle and bustle of Korvosa to live out his final years.
While saving Vilk and his victims from the Mauler's rampage is certainly important, the Pathfinder Society's primary mission is to prevent the former Master of Blades' identity from being discovered. Whether the PCs cure or kill Vonran Vilk, and regardless of whether they can save Rutowski, as long as the Pathfinders succeed in covering up the Pathfinder Society's unfortunate connection to the Midnight Mauler's serial killings, each PC earns 1 Prestige Point.