Kendren's armor, magically polished by the enchantment on it, reflected the sun's light quite well. He knew he looked relatively presentable, if not so fantastic as Feena with her wings.
He didn't feel the need to say anything as Isabet introduced herself and requested an audience with the Marshal. He simply offered a presence with the others, there to speak if he was needed.
After a brief exchange with the attendant, the guard leaves Isabet to speak with Ceto. He returns a moment later and gestures them forward. "The Marshal will see you now." he says, stepping aside to allow you passage.
The party moved up onto the platform, and there she was, Ceto Malderra, standing tall in her gleaming armor. She looked every inch the hero of Lastwall, her presence commanding respect and admiration. Her eyes, however, held the sharpness of someone who had seen far too much in her time.
As you approach, Ceto’s gaze shifts from her conversation with the knights beside her and locks onto you. Her expression was serious, but not unkind. She offers a brief nod of acknowledgment.
In a direct tone she states "I’ve heard you’ve been searching for me. What urgent matter brings you to interrupt the festival today?"
Sister Isabet grasped her habit, performing a proper bow, then rose and placed her hand on her heart, performing a more practiced salute to the wall. "I served against the orcs in the medical corps, Marshal, though I only saw you briefly when you came to check on the wounded." Isabet might be a bit of a fan, given the solid rock Malderra presented in those times of blood and screams.
Sweeping the aside, she smiled warmly "But today I am acting as an aide to these heroics investigators, at the bequest of Second Sword Knight Aylunna Varvatos, who believes and supports them. Please listen to their findings."
Coral looks around.
Lola isn't there.
Isabet is now deferring to the others who experienced the events.
Kendren missed much of that.
Coral wonders if Feena or Damian will explain the situation. Both are more eloquent than she is, at any rate.
Coral will fill in with details here and there, offering connections to the lore of the Knights of Ozem and their mission to make the story resonate better with Ceto.
"Here we had to battle incorporeal undead, as did the knights led by Iomedae in the Second Battle of Encarthan...
when facing the wights I drew upon the lessons of the Fifth Act, the battle with Erum-Hel...
And while the situation is now dire, Iomedae teaches that that we can achieve victory if we act with faith, valor, and strategy."
Isabet's idea with the wax is a good one, but instead of doing that Damian buys a large handkerchief and a tiny vial of lavender oil. If his nostrils were blocked, that would make breathing and praying for divine intervention at the same time a little tricky.
Sensing that Ceto was not one to have patience for unnecessary niceties, Damian gets straight to the point. "Good day, Marshal, my name is Damian Catus. Myself and a few of my friends come from Roslar's Coffer, who was recently obliterated by a powerful magic ritual by the Whispering Way. We came to Vigil to warn you and the rest of the city's leaders, as well as pursue one of their leaders. We went to the Waystation north of the city, where the cult had already attacked and we were only able to save a few of the knights stationed there." As a leader of the Knights of Ozem, she probably already knows about that, so Damian skips the details unless Ceto has questions. "Our investigation lead us back to Vigil, where we determined that a group called The Six Wise Crows is involved, and very likely the perpetrators of an arson attack on Brunna's Shields. They were also at The Erstwhile Dyeworks, where they clashed with the Sealbreakers."
He pauses to catch his breath, and to check that the Marshal is still following this deluge of information. "We found a note there detailing a plan to steal the Shattered Shield of Arnisant and replace all but one of the fragments with magical replicas. The plans include dates that are almost 2 years old and reference Count Jomah Gildais and Six Wise Crows. We intend to return to the dyeworks as soon as we can, for we found an entrance into the sewers which we believe is connected with the Sealbreakers." He squares his shoulders, looking Ceto in the eye. "If there is any information, advice, or support you could give us, that would be most helpful."
As Sister Isabet speaks, Ceto Malderra stands at her post, arms crossed and eyes narrowed with impatience. The festival may be buzzing around you, but the Marshal's expression quickly sours.
I served against the orcs in the medical corps, Marshal, though I-"
Ceto raises a hand sharply, cutting Isabet off. "Spare me the formalities, Sister. I’ve little patience for nostalgia. What is it you think is so urgent?"
Isabet continues, finishing her statement. Ceto waves a hand as though to brush aside the entire matter, her tone dripping with condescension. "I’ve heard enough of these outlandish claims from every adventurer with a sword and a grudge. Why should I waste my time on more fabrications?"
Damian and Coral pick up the story, presenting the evidence they’ve gathered. The more details they give, the more her brow furrows. Her cold demeanor softens ever so slightly.
"Gildais, you say? I know the name. That’s not a name you toss around lightly."
She pauses, scanning your faces. "Two years ago, there were rumors about something like this... thefts, strange movements. I dismissed it at the time. But if Gildais is involved..." Her voice trails off as her mind works through the implications.
After a moment she finally looks back at you, her expression less dismissive "I’ll have some of my knights review the records. I don’t have time to personally dig into every wild story brought before me, but if there’s truth to what you say, I’ll find it."
At this, she turns away from you and engages a nearby squire, barking orders.
Afterwards, she addresses the group again "Don’t expect me to drop everything for this. I’ve more pressing matters to deal with. You’ve got my attention for now, but if this turns out to be a waste of time, you’ll wish you hadn’t brought it to me."
With that, Ceto gives a sharp nod and dismisses them with a wave. "Go. See if you can find something more substantial to use. I’ll see what comes of it. But don’t hold your breath."
Moving up the ramp to the millhouse, the sliding door is partially closed and unlocked. Inside, you find several bolts of fabric, folded sheets of linen, and barrels of concentrated dye. It also includes a covered sewer grate leading to Vigil’s sewers.
As the party studies the area, they notice subtle signs of recent activity: faint mud patches, disrupted dust, scuff marks, and slight dye smears leading to the sewer grate. The strong sewer odor, fresh scratches on the grate, and faint echoes from below suggest this route was likely used for the recent attack and retreat.
Coral leads the way back to the Dyeworks, keeping a close eye for anyone tailing the party.
At the site, she looks around at the carnage of the ooze's rampage, then heads back to the millhouse. Does everything still look as it did before? Are there even more recent tracks?
She examines the sewer grate closely for traps.
A whisper is in Coral’s ear as they leave Ceto, ”she was not what I was expecting.”
Before they descend, Lola gives herself some encouragement, away from everyone else,
Once they’re at the dyeworks, she appears again, with her bone mask on her face ”now that you are all used to la mascara, let us decide how we should use the gifts of the psychopomps. I can keep it on - and perhaps it will give us an edge over the enemies. It requires us letting the mask … relax people before attacking. And it should work on fantasmas y espookies.”
Kendren found Ceto's talk very abrupt - almost dismissive. He hoped she would treat this with the seriousness it required.
As they prepared to enter the sewers, he took a position in front, a little back from Coral, so that he could easily get to her if she found trouble while protecting the others from any attacks that came their way.
"How many people can the mask target at once? If just one, you can tell us who to avoid attacking, and we can do so. If a group, we'll only attack those who seem unaffected."
The voice of Lola sounds ethereal, ”any number of enemies. But anyone who is threatened and sees the threat - their reverie is broken.”
"Right. So only attack those who are not enraptured by the mask."
Leaving the festival grounds behind, the party’s pace is determined as you weave through Vigil’s streets back to the Erstwhile Dyeworks. The streets, still buzzing with the festival's energy, slowly begin to empty as you reach your destination - the warehouse. Once there, Coral quickly inspects the sewer entrance for traps and she gives a nod, allowing the party descends into the sewers below.
As you step into the undercity, you’re met with a humid, rancid atmosphere. Vigil's ancient sewer tunnels, remnants of trenches from when some old structure must have once stood on this ground, stretch out before you like a maze. The passage ahead is narrow, with an 8-foot-high ceiling, giving just enough room to navigate. A 3-foot-deep trough of sewage sludge dominates the center, with narrow, grime-covered ledges on either side. Dim shafts of light occasionally filter through firmly affixed grates above, casting a muted glow on the slick brickwork and the shadowed corners of the passage. The wooden walkways spanning certain sections of the trough provide a cautious way forward, though you’re treacherous underfoot.
The air hangs thick with the smell of decay and rot, and every step echoes slightly, reverberating down the tunnels.
A disembodied voice clears their throat, "there is a clear trail of footprints, there - and there. The tracks are heavily armored, like that of knights. It seems more likely than not that the seal breakers went here, as we surmised."
Feena was a bit surprised at the way they were treated when they found the Grand Marshall but, after thinking about it, she decided that it made some sense. The Marshall didn't know them from the next guy and she suspected it was only Isabet's presence that got them anywhere, Fortunately they made their case well enough and Feena felt that was as much as they could do for now and they would need more proof to get any further.
The trip back to the dyeworks left Feena rather nervous, particularly after how badly the last time went. When they reached sewers Feena's nose wrinkled at the stench. She had thought the dye works were bad but they had nothing on this. Fortunately she had taken some precautions and got out a handkerchief that she dobbed a little perfume onto and wrapped it around her lower face to help hide the odor. She also took some effort to make sure her new dress was kept up far enough from the floor to avoid dragging in the muck. She nodded in understanding when Lola told them she had found the trail but kept quiet so she wouldn't risk alerting their foes.
Sister Isabet gives the sewer entrance a deep frown, but unfortunately the entrance doesn't seem to care. With a resigned sigh, she presses the wax into ehr nose, casts fastidious on herself to keep from bringing the stench with her, and descends into the excrement tunnel.
"Unless there are heavily armored tourists coming to witness first hand the splendor of our city's underbelly... hmmm... more like intestinal track... never mind. You are probably right."
Coral has her sword in hand.
What do we have for light? Coral has neither Darkvision nor low-light vision nor, I think, any source of light.
While some of their group could see normally down here Feena quickly found that she could not. She said a few words, gestured, and conjured up a set of four bobbing lights to let them see.
Sword in hand, Kendren went down into the sewers, hoping his armor would at least keep the stench from being too overwhelming. At least he didn't have to worry about bringing the smell with him.
Kendren drew out his sword, allowing the flames to run up its length.
The party presses forward, light emanating from Feena's spell as well as Kendren's blade, following the heavy, distinct footprints of armored figures embedded in the grime. After winding through the maze-like passages for what feels like an eternity, the tracks suddenly stop.
There are subtle rake marks in the sludge—a sign of deliberate efforts to obscure the trail.
Before they can inspect further however, raised voices are heard up ahead of you. On the opposite side of the tunnel, across two make-shift wooden bridges that span the filth washing slowly past, stand four dark figures arguing in a hushed, urgent tone.
"It’s pointless, all this scraping and sweeping! Let’s just move before those lumbering filth-eaters decide to wander back here!" one voice grumbles, followed by the heavy thud of boots shifting.
"Quiet!" another snaps, "We finish the task as ordered, or you can answer for it."
As your light sources wash across them, the four figures all turn abruptly. You've found the knights you've been searching for, clad in blackened full plate armor adorned with grim symbols of skulls and skeletal hands on broken disks.
Feena heard the men talking and realized they were enemies about the same time as they realized her group was there. Wanting to try and prevent them from easily getting away Feena gestured as she spoke a few words, and a sheet of fire appeared twenty feet behind them across the corridor to make them either brave the flames or face their group.
Isabet's eyes widen with surprise as fire erupts behind the warriors, a sentiment shared by the warriors in question. As they gulp turn around and face their enemies, Isabet rewards them with a stunning burst of radiance.
A quiet, haunting melody starts to play; a dirge for the lost.
Coral will move up and try not to bump into the invisible bard (who Coral can more or less locate thanks to La Guitarra).
She takes position at the end of one of the bridges (in case the enemy tries to cross to attack), and readies to strike the first foe that comes within reach.
If she gets Sneak Attack, applying Disoriented, for -2 to attack rolls, or -4 vs Coral.
Her AC is a base 27, but with Lastwall Phalanx, Fighter's Tactics, and Auspicious Birth she gains a sacred bonus to AC and saves against evil foes equal to 1 plus the number of adjacent allies (since she treats all allies as having her teamwork feats).
Kendren moved with Coral to take up the end of the near bridge, hefting his shield before him as he called out, "If you lay down your weapons and surrender, you will be treated well as you await trial for any crimes you have committed."
He readies an attack against the first one to come within his reach.
Isabet's light burst on the other side of the tunnel, temporarily overwhelming the senses of the knights and inflicting some damage to them.
The group moves into a defensive state, attempting to secure up position on their side of the sewer. The knights seem perfectly fine with that, however. Three shuffle forward past the bridge entrance, sending a blast of negative energy filling the sewer tunnel. The fourth remains back, casting a spell.
P12 Bl
R12 Da
Y12 Da
B12 Da
The cleric shakes off the waves of negative energy the knights are emmiting, like invisible ink soaking into her body, tugging at dark desires that she has mastered long ago.
In response, Isabet concentrates on her training, speaking her prayer while thinking: Protect the unit, share your knowledge, protect yourself.
Inwardly she hears a Scoff, which makes her lip curve up in fondness. "Cayden feels flamboyant stabbing, which is the proper way to fight, is not about teamwork, but he still allows his clerics to disagree. Freedom means telling anyone They Are Wrong."
Kendren weathered the blasts of negative energy relatively easily - the Obol or whatever it was that was stuck inside him, combined with his Sarenrae-gifted grace, made it easy to shrug off.
Quietly, he said to the others, "Continue waiting for them to come to us? If they choose to sit back and keep channeling, we'll have to go to them."
Coral resists the negative energy.
"Or we let Damian and Feena pick them off while their dark energy fails to harm us. But I'll do as you wish."
harmlessly absorbs an amount of negative energy equal to double the character’s number of Hit Dice from any given source or attack (or each round, for ongoing environmental effects).
imparts spell resistance equal to 11 + the PC’s Hit Dice against all necromancy spells. (This spell resistance cannot be voluntarily lowered, so the PCs may have a difficult time benefitting from spells such as false life.)
causes the PC’s natural and melee weapon attacks to be treated as magic, cold iron, and silver for the purposes of overcoming the damage reduction of undead opponents.
The sounds diminish to nothing, and the only sound remaining is the grunt of combat.
As the negative energy spill through the sewer, the party finds that the energies seemingly have little to no effect upon them, much to the dismay of the knights.
Feena felt the worst of the negative energy bursts wash off of her and felt that the idiots had made a serious mistake, something they seemed to realize as they advanced. She was all too eager to take advantage of it though as she chanted, gestured, and sent fiery energy lancing out at the caster int he back.
Damian gasps as the wave of necrotic energy washes over him. A little shaken, he steps past Feena grasping the staff to bring forth a prayer for his allies and against his enemies.
Coral readies to strike the first foe in range.
Her AC is 30 (against evil foes) with 2 allies adjacent.
She also has Bodyguard to defend adjacent allies against melee attacks, and Cut from the Air to defend adjacent allies against ranged attacks. Will roll these as needed (or the GM can). Bodyguard just needs to hit AC 10 (only fails on a 1), Cut from the Air is an opposed attack roll (at net +17). Both use up AOOs, and she has 6 AOOs per round.
With the knights clad in full plate and their faces masked by their helms, it's difficult to tell whether they are shocked or disappointed by the lack of effectiveness of their negative energy assault.
Both of Feena's bursts of fire scorch the knight in the rear of the group who was casting spells. The rest of the party sets in and tries to get the knights too come to them, but they do not seem to be in any hurry.
Each of the knights holds their position and retrieves a potion and quickly downs it, tossing the empty vial to the ground. Afterwards, the three knights on the left all shifts five feet to the east.
Seeing how the bastards did not want to cross the water to them Feena decided it was time to force the issue. She cast once more, this time placing another wall of fire right behind the line of goons and on top of the spellcaster in the back. She was curious to see how long they would just stand there now.
"They want to burn over there, that's their choice."
Coral again prepares to receive visitors.
Kendren shifted, maintaining his defensive stance as he awaited the approach of the enemies. Feena's Wall of Fire would hopefully drive them towards the group, where they were waiting.
Isabet casts a simple guidance on Coral to aid with the defense of their side of the sewer. "A weird hill to die on, don't you think?" the cleric muses aloud, but otherwise just waits.
A few arrows should further encourage the knights to cross the canal, thinks Damian as he pulls the bowstring back and lets fly.
The tunnel quickly turns into a fiery trap as scorching walls of flame are felt by nearly everyone in the sewer.
It appears Feena's tactics are working, because the knights finally decide to move towards the party, though it is not through the route they likely would have prefered. Instead of taking the closer bridge where the party is lining, up, they hustle and circle back through the other one, with three of them reaching your side of the sewer and moving towards Kendren.
The longsword of the one in the rear begins to glow with an unholy light, but just as that happens Lola unleashes an arrow which finds its mark and puts that knight down.
Damian's first arrow misses, but the second one finds its target.
Pleased to see the goons move up Feena cast another spell and sent a bead of fire out behind the three thugs where it detonated in a fiery explosion.
"One down, three to go." Isabet says as she continues her blessing to Coral now that the swinging of swords are about to begin. "Unless you three want to surrender!?!" she raises her voice to ask the approaching warriors who seem to want to ignore. "No?" she raises her brow, egging them on a bit, but the Feena is dear and explodes them in fire.
In the chaos of fire and yelps of pain, the sister moves ever so slightly closer to the barbecued men, one to keep her magic helping Coral and Ken, but also to keep her skin from further baking.
Seeing that the enemies approaching, Lola tips her cap, clicks her feet, and then disappears.