Telvir retires to the group's lodging. Between conducting some research on his own interests, he sends letters between their friends in the Exporter's Guild and the new contacts within the Celebrants.
Before Ally and her maids strived to make a name for their primary lord by attending parties, performing shadowy dances through the city, etc.
Now the stunning bells of servitude use that connection to twist their lord's fate into the hearts and minds of the citizenry.
The bobbing black silks trimmed with white aprons and caps can be seen all over the dead city, aiding a vendor with their tasks, directing customers to their perfect choices, demurely offering to carry purchases to the buyer's home and... well, let's just say economics swell in the markets, quite a lot, over the next weeks.
Sfter each act of public service, the maid whispers the name of their master and their head mistress who the recipient should offer thanks to.
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Humerus again sets out, at Aily's instruction, to see what he can learn. He's a little unsure why she said his head is so empty no one could possibly ever think he's a spy, but that thought only lasts for about six seconds before he's focused on talking to anyone else who's interested.
Ceceka spends his private time attending public gatherings in temples and shrines. Their recent encounters with the faith and the faithful of Urgathoa have Ceceka seeking answers, and he doesn't mind that Urgathoa gatherings tend to include the finest food Geb has to offer.
A potential side effect of being seen at such gatherings is the public perception Ceceka might be a pious person.
Telvir is successful in negotiating a temporary partnership between the Export Guild and the Celebrants. Aily does good works, increasing the attitude of Mechitar's citizens towards your coterie of Blood Lords. Humerus fails to dig up any dirt on your rival factions, while Ceceka struggles to increase his public image.
You may continue with your machinations, or, if you are ready, you can challenge Blood Lord Hyrune.
Critical Success: The public reacts with eagerness and delight. The characters are granted the Arena’s favor and can set the conflict at any point they wish within the next week.
Success: The challenge is well received by the public, and rumors that Hyrune was involved in the incident at the waterfront begin to percolate through the city. Hyrune accepts the challenge, and the characters are granted the Arena’s favor, allowing them to set the conflict at any point they wish within the next 3 days.
Failure: The challenge amuses Hyrune but he doesn’t ridicule the characters. He accepts the challenge and is granted the Arena’s favor; the conflict must be resolved within 24 hours or Hyrune, as the accused, is absolved.
Critical Failure: Hyrune is amused by the pitiful attempt and counters the challenge with a wave of mockery that damages the characters’ reputation. He accepts the challenge and successfully demands that it take place that very night at midnight. Hyrune is granted the Arena’s favor.
"Aily, could you present our challenge to that cur, Hyrune?" Telvir inquires. [b]"I'll work with building up our reputation among the Great Factions in anticipation."
Telvir hosts a small summit to broker further communication between the two factions he has been working with.
Aily accepts the challenge.
One night, the streets before the rival blood lord residence goes from morbid quiet to an eruption of black silks twirling through discordant melodies, blood arching into the air contracting the dark, thunder rippling through the night in time with slippered feet, all ripping apart all normalcy in the night.
The shapes, colors, and women disappear and appear shadows, bringing the music and thunder with them as they slip in and out, over and over...
Until it all stops on a dime and the clouds part enough to shine moonlight on the poised perfection of Aily Yor.
The head maid's blood red eyes stare ahead to the roused and alarmed house of Hyrune. In a clear striking voice she announces "Blood lords Caraid and his allies Blood Lords Stanton and Ceceka formerly challenge Blood Lord Hyrune to do glorious battle in the Deathless Arena. My lords know their opponent to be worthy, without cowardice, so will meet him in three days time."
The clouds drift over the moon, shadowing the street again for just a moment. When the light baths all again, Aily and her maids are gone.
While his companions have been hard at work, Caraid focuses on what truly matters - his own importance. With such a dedicated helper at his side it is only right that he be as visible and superb as possible.
To that end he focuses initially on an under-served part of society - the Quick. Although fewer than the Dead, the living Blood Lords are a not insignificant force with a lot to offer Geb. All they need is a leader and Caraid sets to work impressing his fellow Blood Lords with his munificence and magnificence. In time all things will fall into place...
Then, once Aily's performance is the only thing on everyone's lips, Caraid throws another, even more lavish party. This time the Dead are the primary invitees - balance is vital in all things and since Hyrune undoubtedly has allies it would do to neglect making contacts of his own. Caraid is openly, if politely, dismissive of the battle to come and implies more than once that he himself will not take part in the battle since it won't be needed.
"I have capable allies and even more capable servants." He says with a chuckle, drinking wine the colour of blood to match his more sanguine guests. "There is no need to sully my hands." With such an opponent is the message and the scandal of this upstart/foolish/arrogant/cocksure (delete as appropriate) Blood Lord makes ripples throughout Melchitar.
Oblivious to the others' goings-on, Humerus continues gathering gossip from the other skeletons.
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Caraid makes good progress in increasing his own status among the elite of Mechitar. Telvir's summit is a success, increasing your clout with both the Celebrants and the Export Guild. Unfortunately, all the skeletons Humerus talks to are boneheads, and he learns nothing useful.
***
Aily's challenge is well received by the public, and rumors that Hyrune was involved in the incident at the waterfront begin to percolate through the city. Hyrune accepts the challenge, and you are granted the Deathless Arena’s favor, allowing you to set the conflict at any point they wish within the next 3 days, with one limitation—it can only take place during the night, so that all of Mechitar’s citizens can enjoy the spectacle in the open-air arena without the sun keeping light-sensitive undead away.
The splendor of a fight between Blood Lords thrills the populace, and the Celebrants can use this to their advantage. The Tax Collectors Union is quick to capitalize on the spending such a spectacle creates as well.
"So, blood bosses, when do we want to challenge them? And should we get stuff to get ready for it?"
"The champion we face will no doubt have some weaknesses," Telvir muses. "Though we ought not to use vital magic on him in front of such a crowd."
Once her performance is over, Aily attends her lord's lavish party, a constant pretty shadow seeing to his needs.
Ceceka has stayed silent during the discussion so far. He's been busy imagining the fight in the theater of his mind and repeatedly rerunning the scene, hoping to stumble upon a key detail that can help them seize the day.
"We are fortunate to be a mix of the living and the dead, and it might be exactly that which will drive our foe's choices. Were I an undead cleric, I'd target myself and or Aily with paralyzing commands and then sack my minions on us. Alternatively, it might throw its minions at Humerus and then use its divine power to blast us with negative energy. But ... that somehow feels too obvious."
Clashes between Blood Lords are among the most popular entertainment offered at the Deathless Arena, and this latest bout is no exception. Word spreads quickly of the upcoming battle, and on the appointed night, the stands are packed with citizens eager to see the fight.
You are not allowed onto the field of battle before the fight begins, but you can look at it from the stands. The floor of the Deathless Arena is expansive, but as is tradition for a conflict between Blood Lords, the battle takes place within a boundary delineated by ribs harvested from gargantuan beasts thrust into the ground. Within this ring, additional structures rise from the dusty ground. The skeletal remains of a long-dead fleshwarped monstrosity adorned with rope bridges and wooden platforms fills the space.
As the time for the battle draws near, Blood Lord Hyrune arrived, attended by an entourage of servants and sycophants. The vampire wields an enchanted spear, and his familiar, a one-eyed, long-tailed hairless bat coils around his shoulders. He sizes you up with a disdainful glare before turning to the arena's organizers. "As the aggrieved party for this challenge, I am invoking my right to have champions serve as my proxies for the battle," Hyrune announces. "My own platoon of skeletons will be accompanied the Church of Urgathoa's hunter, the sumbreiva Cawadok."
Hyrune takes his seat among the stands as Cawadok prowls onto the battlefield. The hulking humanoid growls as he takes his place in the center of the Arena, flanked by two troops of skeletal infantry. As you have the favor of the Arena, you have the chance to cast preparatory spells and deploy onto the field second, allowing you to arrange yourselves to take advantage of the other side's starting position.
Once both sides are ready, the arena master declares the battle begun!
Telvir sniffs contemptuously and lifts a hand, lobbing a chunk of ancient bone at the troop of skeletons, after witnessing its effect, he embues Ceceka with a bit of magic.
Caraid wraps his companions in magic and then leaves the arena, taking a seat opposite Hyrune and leaning back in an ostentatiously relaxed fashion.
"Hey, blood boss, how come you're casting it on me first? Shouldn't ladies go first?"
"Ladies come first." Caraid agrees with an absolutely straight face.
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"Wait a minute! You don't think I'm a lady skeleton, do you, blood boss?! Am I ... feminine? I guess I never thought about it, but you don't really have any way of knowing. Not that it matters much to me, but I was a man."
He pauses, scratching his skull.
"Is gender a flesh construct? Not like, you know a charnel creation, but something that you only have if you have flesh?!"
There's no room for banter in Ceceka's mind nor does he care for it. There is glory to be won today, mountains to be slain, lords to be humbled. And there will be pain, so much delicious pain.
He rushes forward and narrows his field of view to the sumbreiva, and just the sumbreiva. Telvir is already taking care of the blasted skeletons, but the big one, Ceceka is claiming that one. "Bend the knee now and I won't make this hurt too much," he spits out with utter disdain for their foe.
Aily Yor sways into the Arena, her black silks and starched whites, as the shadows play around her like eagers puppies. Her bright red eyes glare at the champion, raising her blade to point its tip at its throat and flips it in such a way she would open his flesh and bath her in his crimson.
If he was close enough, which he is not... Yet
But she just smiles as the brutal Ceceka smashes into the creature and the skeletons are shattered with hulking bone.
Aily's battle cry leaves Cawadok shaken. Still, he manages to completely evade Telvir's telekinetic bombardment. One troop of skeletons dodges the worst of it, but the other is caught completely off-guard, the barrage of projectiles eradicating a large portion of the infantry! Ceceka moves in to attack Cawadok, striking him once but failing to shove him away.
Cawadok roars and lashes out at Ceceka with his shadow whip. The tendrils wrap around the fighter, restraining him. The sumbreiva attempts to drain Ceceka's life force through the whip!
The skeletal troops raise their shields before charging Ceceka, attacking from his flanks with their longspears.
Aily sees the fear in the champion's eyes, gives a slight smirk, then rushes into the battle... or would if the field of battle wasn't swarming with skeletons. She knows from regular field tests on Humerus that her blade is less effective on bone.
The smirk turns into a withering frown. Cecaka is swarmed, no, bound AND swarmed. Aily considered her options, including leaving Ceceka to his fate while magic and boulders were thrown into the packed mix...
...
...
...
She does consider it, it sounds like a good plan...
...
She looks to the audience, to the only one of the throng she cares about and sighs. The maid then slips into her own shadow, rising with lethal grace behind the large and oddly fresh scented champion and slices up into his arm pit to reduce his hold on her companion. "Tsk Tsk, etiquette states it should be ladies first." she whispers to him as her blade slips in.
Telvir unleashes the tight control on his powers, hoping to end the battle quickly. He mentally tears at the enemies.
and
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HP 220/220
AC 35 / 37 in Mountain Stance or 39 if use Mountain Stronghold
Resistance 3 to cold, electricity, fire, piercing, and slashing damage
Fort +22, Ref +22, Will +20 (+1 vs. disease and poison; +2 circumstance bonus to Fortitude DC vs. Grapple and Swallow Whole; +2 circumstance bonus vs. being Shoved or Tripped while in Mountain Stance, +1 vs. fear)
Hero points: 3
Effects:
"Hey, blood boss, don't get confused," Humerus calls out as he rushes in to help Ceceka. [b]"I don't want to be racist, but I think we we sort of all look alike!"
With too many to grab, he strikes out with his fists, trying to batter the smaller of the two troops.
Savaged by Cawadok's whip and a forest of sharp-tipped longspears, Ceceka roars in anger. He thrives during these moments when life balances on a razor-sharp edge and death is more likely than survival, and part of him willingly invites the pain. "You shouldn't have done that, Cawadok!
The notion of sparing this foul creature's unlife is a long-forgotten memory by now.
Aily shadow jumps behind Cawadok and drives her blade into his back, weakening him. Humerus pummels a squad of his skeletal brethren before Telvir reaches out with more telekinesis. The weakened troop is annihilated, while both Cawadok and the other troop are injured. Ceceka escapes Cawadok's whip before slicing and shoving the sumbreiva so hard that the hulking humanoid careens across the battlefield! The crowd cheers while Hyrune scowls.
Recovering quickly, Cawadok hurls the smaller blade in his off-hand at Ceceka before drawing another and throwing it as well. The first throw is a critical hit, the blade slicing Ceceka's neck, while the second impales him in the chest!
The remaining skeletal troop forms up and stabs at Ceceka and Aily with their spears.
With the troop greatly diminished, Telvir turns his attention toward Cawadok. He bends space around the opposing champion, aiding the teams' attacks, then fires one of the errant spears littering the stadium at him.
or for
For a brief moment, Ceceka regrets taunting the massive bastard, but the overwhelming feeling, one that burns like a searing truth, is anger. He unleashes it on the nearby troop of skeletons and starts smashing them to a pulp.
Aily easily sidesteps every blade the fleshless attempt at her, while dancing through the thon to get back to the champion. "Humerus" she calls when she sees Ceceka lost to his rage on lesser opponents. "I require your assistance"
HP 220/220
AC 35 / 37 in Mountain Stance or 39 if use Mountain Stronghold
Resistance 3 to cold, electricity, fire, piercing, and slashing damage
Fort +22, Ref +22, Will +20 (+1 vs. disease and poison; +2 circumstance bonus to Fortitude DC vs. Grapple and Swallow Whole; +2 circumstance bonus vs. being Shoved or Tripped while in Mountain Stance, +1 vs. fear)
Hero points: 3
Effects:
Seeing Ceceka badly hurt by Hyrume's champion, Humerus realizes he's going to have to take things into his own bony hands. "You got it, Blood Boss!" he calls as Aily has the same realization, and he rushes to put Cawadok between them.
Though Humerus fails to hit Cawadok, the distraction allows Aily to sneak attack him from behind. Telvir impales the sumbreiva with a discarded spear, and the great warrior falls to his knee. "Enough. I yield," he growls, just as planned.
Ceceka's battle rage allows him to make swift work of the remaining skeletons, pulverizing them with mighty blows! And with that, the battle is over!
The crowd erupts into cheers, while Blood Lord Hyrune is shocked and outraged. He leaps to his feet, his voice rising above the din of the crowd. "Impossible! You must have cheated!" he shouts, pointing his finger at Caraid accusingly. "There is no way you could be strong enough to defeat Cawadok. Unless--there is treachery afoot! Yes, that must be it! A conspiracy by the church of Urgathoa itself to paint me as the fool! I will not stand for this! I will not be a mockery!"
Hyrune casts a spell and teleports away, making a humiliating spectacle of himself with that glorious display of unsportsmanlike conduct. His undignified retreat only cements your victory.
Moments after Hyrune's departure, a ghostly image of Geb himself appears, a hundred-foot-tall projection that looms over the arena. The crowd immediately falls silent. "The challenge is over," Geb proclaims. "These Blood Lords are the victors. I am disappointed in Blood Lord Hyrune's foolishness. I will have nothing short of a full investigation into Hyrune's ill deeds. Until such accusations are resolved, I hereby suspend Hyrune from all benefits, accolades, and protections afforded him as Blood Lord, and forbid him from leaving the city of Mechitar until the investigation is concluded to my satisfaction."
Geb's eyes glance in your direction, and your minds are filled with information as the Ghost King telepathically imparts some key knowledge known only to a few in Mechitar—Hyrune keeps a hidden fortress in a chamber deep below Mechitar, a place he calls his Hanging Castle. Along with this information, Geb reveals the location of a small subbasement below your (and until now, Hyrune’s) alcazar that contains an entrance to this hideout. Geb doesn’t come right out and say it to you, but the implication should be obvious—he’s given you the location of where Hyrune has fled to and has revoked the vampire’s status as Blood Lord. What actions you take against him and how you use this knowledge is up to you.
Killing a blood lord vampire, and one her own sire had said an acceptable word or two. The thought sends a thrill through Aily so dark and hungry, her shadows answer swarming around like a blanket before unfurrowing like a dark orchid with her in the center drawing eyes, capturing hearts, she swirls into a graceful curtsey, presenting her service in this, before slipping down into the shadows. Gone.
Caraid so course senses her as she emerges behind him. The rustle of her skirts, her scent, close enough for any others who didn't know: She is his.
After leaving the arena, Telvir confides in the group. "It seems our charge from the Ghost King is clear; even if we didn't have the information from him, I would recommend that we eliminate Hyrune. He is desperate and blames us for his downfall."
"If we don't take care of him, he will muster his remaining resources to attack us."
Caraid so course senses her as she emerges behind him. The rustle of her skirts, her scent, close enough for any others who didn't know: She is his.
Without looking around Caraid reaches up and rests one warm hand lightly on the back of Aily's neck. Despite the lightness of his grip it is an extremely possessive gesture as a number of the Blood Lords around him cast covetous eyes at his shadow warrior-maid.
The politicking takes some time and Caraid doesn't leave until he's wrung every last drop of influence and favour from the victory, and Geb's dramatic appearance afterward. Once they return to the alcazar he settles into a chair, draws Aily into his lap and then gives Telvir his full attention.
"Quite right." He agrees. "Especially since there is an entrance here. Better that we move on him than he move on us. Humerus, you will be on guard tonight while we sleep. Then tomorrow, we act."
"Oh!" Humerus exclaims at Telvir's words. "Is that what that was? I thought I was remembering something, but couldn't really remember what, and then I was just confused."
He nods at Caraid's words.
"You got it boss! I'll come in and let you know if I see or hear anything."
Aily's eyes narrow at her minion. His words make her think he will come in to report 'Nothing yet' repeatedly throughout the day. "Report to Blood Lord Stanton." she orders from her perch in the other blood lord's lap.
The next morning, a courier arrives at your door with a boon from the Export Guild. To show their growing support, the faction provides each of you with a panacea and a tribute of 300 pp for the group!
When you are ready to follow Hyrune, you head to the entrance that Geb showed you in a forgotten subbasement of the alcazar. A hidden passage leads to an old stone door. It is stuck, but you should be able to force it open without too much effort. You have time to make any long-term preparations you wish before opening the door.
The air in this ancient crypt is dusty and stale. Six plain stone sarcophagi sit along the chamber’s uneven walls in pairs separated by short flights of steps leading deeper. The room’s far end has an ancient iron grill set into the floor.
Three undead creatures stand guard here. They are skeletons covered in a protective shroud of flowing magical blood. The sentries raise greatswords as they prepare to attack!
Telvir thinks on the creatures: What are their weaknesses?
He thickens the air around them, hoping to hinder them.
Caraid throws chaotic energy at the creature without real effort. This thing is not the true enemy.
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HP 220/220
AC 35 / 37 in Mountain Stance or 39 if use Mountain Stronghold
Resistance 3 to cold, electricity, fire, piercing, and slashing damage
Fort +22, Ref +22, Will +20 (+1 vs. disease and poison; +2 circumstance bonus to Fortitude DC vs. Grapple and Swallow Whole; +2 circumstance bonus vs. being Shoved or Tripped while in Mountain Stance, +1 vs. fear)
Hero points: 3
Effects:
"Whoa, boss, where did you get those nice blood cloaks?" he asks, automatically falling into his fighting stance
He rushes forward and stomps his foot, creating a minor tremor. Grabbing one of the skeletons, he drives his fist into its skull.
Aily does not trust the protective shroud of blood around the warriors. So she waits to see the effect on the minion. Instead she throws her second dagger at the nearest, then again and again as it returns to her hand
Ceceka charges in after Humerus and assists the skeletal warrior in its efforts to undo one of the three greatsword-wielding menaces.
Caraid's spell misses the mark. One of the undead resists Telvir's spell, one is briefly slowed, and the last one is significantly slowed. Humerus stomps the ground, knocking two of the enemies prone. He grabs the one still standing before delivering a critical punch to it skull! Aily scores a hit with her dagger, while Ceceka manages to strike it twice! As he does so, though, the shroud of blood reacts, attempting to drain the fighter of his own blood!
The grappled skeleton channels powerful magic into its sword before driving it into Humerus' chest. It's a critical hit, and the spell discharges into the skeleton, attempting to disintegrate him! The second undead gets up to its feet and fires a normal disintegration beam at Ceceka, while the third severely slowed foe can do little mor but stand up.
Critical Success: As success, but the creature becomes temporarily immune to Sanguine Shroud for 24 hours.
Success: The creature is unaffected.
Failure: The creature becomes drained 1 and takes 2d6 persistent bleed damage. The bloodshroud gains 15 temporary Hit Points.
Critical Failure: As failure, but the creature becomes drained 2, and the bloodshroud gains 25 temporary Hit Points.
Telvir gets behind Humerus and plants a seed of void energy inside the skeleton, knitting some of his bones back together. Meanwhile, Smoke zips up to sniff the enemy in the skeleton's grip.
HP 108/220
AC 35 / 37 in Mountain Stance or 39 if use Mountain Stronghold
Resistance 3 to cold, electricity, fire, piercing, and slashing damage
Fort +22, Ref +22, Will +20 (+1 vs. disease and poison; +2 circumstance bonus to Fortitude DC vs. Grapple and Swallow Whole; +2 circumstance bonus vs. being Shoved or Tripped while in Mountain Stance, +1 vs. fear)
Hero points: 2
Effects: Fast healing 7
Humerus lets out a cry of pain as nearly half his bones shatter or disintegrate. "Not nice, boss!" he growls, as he drives his remaining phalanges into it. He goes to toss it aside, only to realize too late that his throwing bones seem to be missing.
Aily frowns at the battle, then hurries in to feel the impact of her daggers entering flesh, which doesn't come with simply throwing them.