GM Harrow’s Curse of the Crimson Throne - AE

Game Master GM Harrow

Cressida Kroft leans over the proffered book, scanning the text and frowning. "Cult of Urgathoa? That is very bad news. And yes, the name Andaisin is familiar. Give me a moment." She turns to rummage into one of the filing cabinets for what turns to be far longer than one moment - in fact, the term 'filing' might be overly generous, as the various papers, parchments and scraps of notes are more or less haphazardly shoved in various drawers and cubicles.

"Ah! Here it is!" The Field Marshal turns again, holding up a dusty sheet triumphantly. "Wanted criminal... if apprehended to be returned at once to Pangolais... ah, here - petite, pale skin, long black hair, no distinguishing marks." She exhales in frustration. "That is not very helpful, is it." Raising her head to look at Shrike, she says, "There is a shrine to the Pallid Princess in the Pantheon of Many, as far as I know people pray there occasionally to ward off disease- well, they are probably praying a lot more there now... Beyond that, there are rumours of underground cultists - as always - but I do not have concrete leads on a cult dedicated to Urgathoa in the city."

The Marshal turns to Shane, narrowing her eyes. "Why do you ask, do you require their services? You do look a little... unwell. All I know is that he served Queen Ileosa’s family in Egorian for many years. When she contacted him several days ago, asking for his assistance on her city's behalf, he assembled a group of the city's most talented healers an they were all magically transported to Korvosa."

Congratulations on completing this part of Book 2, and welcome to level 6!

Shane listens to the description of Andaisin, which sounds...typically Niddalese to him but yes, not too helpful, "So we go to the shrine and see if there are any folks taking advantage of this to proselytize perhaps? As a lead?" He looks to the others unsure if that's a good idea or not.

The Marshal turns to Shane, narrowing her eyes. "Why do you ask, do you require their services? You do look a little... unwell. All I know is that he served Queen Ileosa’s family in Egorian for many years. When she contacted him several days ago, asking for his assistance on her city's behalf, he assembled a group of the city's most talented healers an they were all magically transported to Korvosa."

For a moment Shane wonders if he really has caught the crimson veil then realizes his muscular atrophy is likely the cause of his looking 'unwell'

"The battle with the hag took a lot out of me," Shane explains, deciding in that case the truth works.. but as to the rest of it? "But one gets curious.Magically transported you say? I wonder if he's an alum of the Acadmae or even a prior guest speaker? I'd have to ask them if I got too curious there I know. It seems they have a lot of authority over the guard now. Did they mention their proposed system for tending to the populace? Which districts might be seen too first?"

Hearing Andaisin's description, Audria blanches. If not for the light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks, it might as well have been describing her.

"Guess I'll have to dye my hair a different color," she mumbles before pondering over what she observed when the physicians came up.

"Pardon me, ma'am," she says quietly while leaning carefully over Kroft's desk to avoid disturbing anything. "Is there something else going on with the Queen's Physicians? You seem as unnerved by them as I feel."

Diplomacy, if needed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"The description might not be much, but at least its something. We'll do what we can to try and track down her and her fellow cultists. Looks like the Guard is still stretched to the limit, especially if they have to escort these new doctors around."

"Ah! Here it is!" The Field Marshal turns again, holding up a dusty sheet triumphantly. "Wanted criminal... if apprehended to be returned at once to Pangolais... ah, here - petite, pale skin, long black hair, no distinguishing marks." She exhales in frustration. "That is not very helpful, is it." Raising her head to look at Shrike, she says, "There is a shrine to the Pallid Princess in the Pantheon of Many, as far as I know people pray there occasionally to ward off disease- well, they are probably praying a lot more there now... Beyond that, there are rumours of underground cultists - as always - but I do not have concrete leads on a cult dedicated to Urgathoa in the city."

"So we go to the shrine and see if there are any folks taking advantage of this to proselytize perhaps? As a lead?" He looks to the others unsure if that's a good idea or not.

"The description might not be much, but at least its something. We'll do what we can to try and track down her and her fellow cultists. Looks like the Guard is still stretched to the limit, especially if they have to escort these new doctors around."

Shrike nods slowly. It is foreign to her worldview to deliberately try to draw the attention of any evil power to her mortal concerns, for any reason. If nothing else, such a being would probably be annoyed at the insolence. Yet it is understandable if some people in desperate circumstances would attempt to propitiate a hostile god to ward off its malign influence or beg for a reprieve in exchange for some offering. And though it is ill-attended in normal times, the Pantheon of Many does of course have an officially sanctioned shrine to Urgathoa. Anyone seen often at the shrine before this disaster or who is overly enthusiastic now would be suspicious indeed. It is one more trail to follow, along with the unfortunately general description of Andaisin, the origin of Brienna's silver coin purse, and of course, the search for Lamm.

"Somewhere to start." She cocks her head away from the Field Marshal and toward Shane. "Maybe after healing."

"I wouldn't say no to a little rest and restoration." He admits

"A hag...? You fought a hag? I assume you won, otherwise you would not be here, and I assume the hag is dead, else you would have lead with "there is a hag in Korvosa"... at least, I hope you would have." Marshal Kroft unlocks a drawer in her desk and pulls out a vial which she tosses to Shane. "Here. I keep these on hand for those long nights filing reports. Should help a little, although if you still feel weak after consuming it you should find a healer."

She gives Audria a small, tight smile. "They are a little unnerving, but I should not let that bother me. They are here to help, and I'm happy to be of assistance in that." She tilts her head to Shane. "They were talking about healing those afflicted, and perhaps organizing a hospice somewhere as it would be safer to treat people there than in their homes or at a temple. Ah, and my guards were ordered to post these all over the city."

She lifts a poster from her desk, turning it so that everyone can read.

"By Decree of Her Royal Majesty, the Radiant Queen Ileosa, all citizens and members of the Korvosan Guard are to aid and admit the newly established Queen's Physicians in this time of urgency. These royal agents will extend healing to those who are ill and organize defense against the spreading affliction known as "blood veil". They are to be allowed access to any home or building they deem necessary in the course of their duties. All those suffering from disease or disorder are to submit themselves to the Physicians for treatment.

The Queen's Physicians will be making rounds of every city district henceforth until Her Majesty deems this misfortune has abated."

"A hag...? You fought a hag? I assume you won, otherwise you would not be here, and I assume the hag is dead, else you would have lead with "there is a hag in Korvosa"... at least, I hope you would have." Marshal Kroft unlocks a drawer in her desk and pulls out a vial which she tosses to Shane. "Here. I keep these on hand for those long nights filing reports. Should help a little, although if you still feel weak after consuming it you should find a healer."

"Well, to be fair, Pava and Shrike finished it off but I'd like to think we all contributed," When the vial is thrown to him, he catches it but it feels like a lead brick . Then he nods, lifts it, and drinks it right then and there. Whether it does the job or not he says "Thank you."

She gives Audria a small, tight smile. "They are a little unnerving, but I should not let that bother me. They are here to help, and I'm happy to be of assistance in that." She tilts her head to Shane. "They were talking about healing those afflicted, and perhaps organizing a hospice somewhere as it would be safer to treat people there than in their homes or at a temple. Ah, and my guards were ordered to post these all over the city."

"A hospice? Interesting they aren't working with a temple" He ponders "There would be no need of a hospice then.." The rest seems good strategy, but now is hardly the time for a strong statement on secularism.

She lifts a poster from her desk, turning it so that everyone can read.

[i]"By Decree of Her Royal Majesty, the Radiant Queen Ileosa, all citizens and members of the Korvosan Guard are to aid and admit the newly established Queen's Physicians in this time of urgency. These royal agents will extend healing to those who are ill and organize defense against the spreading affliction known as "blood veil". They are to be allowed access to any home or building they deem necessary in the course of their duties. All those suffering from disease or disorder are to submit themselves to the Physicians for treatment.

To aid in the duties of the Queen's Physicians, know that the order of the Gray Maidens shall also provide military support as needed. The Maidens answer directly to the Crimson Throne, and will be called upon as necessary to augment and strengthen the peace where city guards will not suffice.

Impeding or distracting the Queen's Physicians or the Gray Maidens in the pursuit of their duties is punishable by imprisonment. Impersonating one of the Queen's Physicians or Gray Maidens is punishable by death. Knowingly harboring or hiding the infected is punishable by death. Purposefully spreading blood veil is punishable by torture, then death.

The Queen's Physicians will be making rounds of every city district henceforth until Her Majesty deems this misfortune has abated."

His brow lifts, "Noticing a lot of 'death' for non compliance. I can see the logic of it, but blast it all, they're taking a steel grip through one avenue rather than dividing the supervision."

He sighs, "Pardon, for a moment I forgot what city we live in."

That said, the potion at least has kicked in

Lesser Restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Oh, that's much better. Excellent punch to that, again my gratitude."

"One fight at a time, Acadamae." Pava grimaces. "One fight at a time."

They sigh. "So, we have very little more than a name for Andaisin, but at the very least we know where to find some Urgathoans, and that's probably the best we can do for now."

The reminder of how harsh Korvosa's laws are further douses Audria's spirits. Talanaliel doesn't even try to draw Audria out from her darkening mood. She, too, hates how draconian the laws are.

"To the Pantheon of Many, then," she asks the others.

Oh sorry, I was kind of thinking Audria had explained the morning's activities up through opening the chest and finding the book to Kroft, so I didn't mention the hag and shark from the Direption. If anything was missed out there, Shrike will fill her in before going to the Pantheon of Many.

"Impersonating." Despite the flat croak, Shrike's feelings on the matter of the beak-masked physicians are not at all hard to read. She nods at Pava and Audria's words and turns to go. Before leaving, however, her head turns back to Kroft briefly. "If we're needed. Send word." The house drake messenger system is as yet untested, but she has faith in Majenko and his kin.

Once they are out of the Citadel, however, Shrike heads to Zellara's first, to collect the rest of her things and change into her normal garb. Though she does not have time to fully tend to her weapons and especially her armor, she dries all her gear carefully, applies a light coat of an oily wax to the chain shirt's fine dark links, rubs a metal polish over Thorn's exposed leaflike blades and the set of many imperceptibly different lockpicks, and treats her boots and the roll bag of the locksmith's tools with a leather conditioner after rinsing them and her clothes fully clean of the muddy smell of river water.

These she wrings out as best she can, but the cloth is inescapably damp when, fully equipped and properly masked, she is ready to set out again. The only truly dry article she wears is the cloak that is still, for the moment, marked with the skull-fly of Urgathoa. On the threshold she pauses, puts all her visible weapons into the magical haversack, and makes some minute adjustment to her sleeves at the elbows. Without so much as a ripple in the air to mark the change, the cloak becomes a plain light gray affair that darkens gradually to black at the hem, and her mask a simple white porcelain face with a veil of black mourning lace shading the eyes under the drawn-up hood of the cloak.

Thus costumed, she steps out for the Pantheon of Many. A plan is forming in her mind. "If we find someone likely. Could let the illusion slip."

Elric skims the text of the posters, taking mental note of the hard-fisted approach.

"It's admirable that the Queen is making such a dedicated effort to bring the plague under control. Let's hope the cure does not turn out to be more deadly than the disease. We'd better do what we can to steer clear of any of these doctors and their Grey Maiden escorts."

He straightens to offer the weary-looking Marshal a sharp salute before joining the rest of the group as they head out.

Like Shrike, he makes sure to tend to his gear and counteract the water exposure before they depart to the Pantheon of Many.

"Good plan. I'll hang back a bit, keep a careful eye on the worshipers, see if I can spot anyone reacting."

The fourth largest building in Korvosa, the Pantheon of Many in South shore needs all that space today to accommodate the hundreds of worshippers that have come to pray, to entreat any deity who might listen. Within its massive octagonal white-marbled walls it holds shrines to 17 different deities, all equally sized and tended to by priests and clerics under the watch of a pair of impartial observers. Of the twenty main deities of Golarion, only Gorum, Lamasthu, and Rovagug do not have shrines within the pantheon. No sacrifices of creatures are permitted, intelligent or not.

Urgathoa's shrine is busier than usual, as it might be expected, with perhaps two dozen people pleading that they, or their loved ones, are spared from the scourge of the blood veil. They are mostly poor - dockworkers, day labourers, fisherfolk, the kind of people who generally cannot afford the clerical fees for curing a disease once it has taken root. The priestess is a strikingly beautiful woman with silvery-white hair, wearing a cropped shirt that leaves her scarred abdomen bare.

Before leaving the Field Marshal's office, the young paladin says a prayer for her and all of the guard that Shelyn and the other goodly gods would keep them safe.

===

Audria follows Shane to Zellara's and takes a moment to wash off the film the Jeggare River left on her. The clothes will need to be laundered, but thankfully Audria has a number of outfits to choose from, and changes into the white blouse and blue skirt, vest and jacket she'd worn when she had talked to Elric about how she couldn't let Queen Illeosa destroy Korvosa. She hides her dagger in the small of her back, figuring that looking inconspicuous would be better.

"I think it might be better if we arrive and leave in separate groups instead of all at once," she suggests to the others and asks Shane if he would mind posing as her attendant or tutor.

At the shrine, Audria feels a pang of both guilt and anger at the sight of so many of Korvosa's poorer denizens praying at the shrine to Urgathoa. Guilt for not being able to do anything to truly help them and anger at such a foul goddess using beauty as a lure. She pushes the irrational thoughts and emotions aside, reminding herself that she and her companions have a job to do, and this is their only lead. She looks to Shane and hopes he has more of a clue about how to approach this than she does.

"Sensible, duckling. Long as I toss a rose to Iomedae or Cayden I'm not acting too suspicious, so just no one get out of shouting distance, eh?"

Pava isn't in disguise, their tight brightly colored vest and loose linen trousers easily picking them out of a crowd for those who watch. They want to approach the desperate at the Pallid Princess's shrine. Poaching's a bad look though, yeah? All a family of pinchers needs is for me to draw her eye by offering help when they're buying her off. Not today. Crimson Veil.

They take in the priestess's beauty with a quiet grunt of appreciation as they wait for her to have a moment for them to slide in. Down boy. First the Maidens' uniforms then a bleeding Urgathoan? Remember, fire's prettiest right before it burns your face right off. And that's if her goddess isn't one of the jealous types. Earth and sky a good scar tells a story though.

"Pardon me priestess, do you have a moment to speak to me about a wayward member of your faith? I do believe we can help avoid what either of us would fin unpleasant."

Audria follows Shane to Zellara's and takes a moment to wash off the film the Jeggare River left on her. The clothes will need to be laundered, but thankfully Audria has a number of outfits to choose from, and changes into the white blouse and blue skirt, vest and jacket she'd worn when she had talked to Elric about how she couldn't let Queen Illeosa destroy Korvosa. She hides her dagger in the small of her back, figuring that looking inconspicuous would be better.

"I think it might be better if we arrive and leave in separate groups instead of all at once," she suggests to the others and asks Shane if he would mind posing as her attendant or tutor.

"Mmm, well, we've established my thespian skills are dubious at times, but why not? Sounds like as good a cover as any, and I agree going all at once would be a bad idea. Call me Mister or Tutor Cole." It's close enough to Driscol he should answer to it.

He'll get an appropriate outfit. One that screams intellectual servant/tutor, and touch up his hair and shift his skin hue a bit with prestidigitation. Oh, and those glasses he rarely uses and doesn't need.

........
Like others, Shane is a bit heart sick to behold the desperation of those at the Plinth, and particularly the Shrine of Urgathoa. The spectacles he has chosen to wear add he hopes to his disguise as he talks as if he were a tutor to a young lady only now learning of various faiths particularly when perched just so.

"Now, the Pantheon of Many is quite the institution. As you can see constructed of White Marble, this immense octagon of a building holds shrines to seventeen gods... upon first opening, it was lacking shrines Cayden Cailean and Desna but a mob of worshipers loyal to those are said to have blocked entry... and the authorities at the time quickly amended that. Now today we shall be learning of Urgahoa, as you were so curious about the Pallid Princess given the challenges our poor city faces currently" He sounds as if he were giving a tour.

Taking ten on Bluff if allowed for 20 total

If they should see Pava, 'Tutor Cole' pretends he doesn't know them.

Audria sighs as she accepts that Pava is always going to call her duckling. At least her suggestion seems to be a sound one, and the young paladin feels a little more confident about it with the Shoanti rake's agreement, though she does wonder what Pava has to do with Iomedae. While not especially well versed in other faiths, Audria knows enough to know that The Inheritor's faith is one that clashes with someone that seems to enjoy seeing how far beyond the boundaries they can push. That is a question that she'd have to ask Pava another time, though.

She gives Shane a reassuring smile when he agrees.

"Very well, Mister Cole, I'll do my best to be a good student," she says, a little of the good humor and cheer she had before Korvosa had seemingly gone mad shining through her somber mood.

===

Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Following Shane's lead, Audria tries to take on the appearance of a nervous, if dutiful student, and manages to succeed for the most part, even if her thespian skills are rudimentary and she's mostly getting by on her natural charm. She listens as Shane as he rattles off some of the Pantheon of Many's history. She nods as she listens and takes in the architecture and artistry of the building and its shrines.

When "Mister Cole" mentions Urgathoa, she unconsciously drifts a little closer to Shane, feeling naked without the armor or the weapons she'd gotten used to carrying, especially now. Tally, perched on the paladin's shoulder and feeling Audria's emotions through their bond, rubs her head against Audria's cheek, hoping to comfort her friend and ease the paladin's nerves.

"I am Mister Cole," Audria says softly, as much to avoid drawing attention to the pair of them as to try keeping her voice level. "Does she truly spare those who pray to her from death?"

Shrike separates from the others slightly before reaching the Pantheon, and when she gets there strides to the offerings-table for some two-pinch sticks of incense. She takes it to the shrine of Nethys, one of the two situated closest to Urgathoa, and waits patiently there for the sole worshiper — a middle-aged female halfling with several wands and charms dangling from her shop-mage's robes — to complete her devotions, giving her plenty of space. The woman is muttering under her breath, apparently reading out every other sentence from the long passages written all over every part of the walls of the interior of the shrine.

While she does this, Shrike has plenty of time to look sideways through the mask and observe the activity at Urgathoa's shrine without appearing to be watching the worshipers or gleaning what she can about the priestess. She eavesdrops on Pava's interaction with her as well as paying close attention to anyone who seems especially faithful.

Please forgive the deception, All-Seeing. I mean no disrespect by it. It had been this or Zon-Kuthon, Urgathoa's other neighbor, and she wanted to stay as far from him and his faithful as possible at all times.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

She gives Shane a reassuring smile when he agrees.

"Very well, Mister Cole, I'll do my best to be a good student," she says, a little of the good humor and cheer she had before Korvosa had seemingly gone mad shining through her somber mood.

The fact SHE perks up perks him up. We all need a little sunshine in the dark.

When "Mister Cole" mentions Urgathoa, she unconsciously drifts a little closer to Shane, feeling naked without the armor or the weapons she'd gotten used to carrying, especially now. Tally, perched on the paladin's shoulder and feeling Audria's emotions through their bond, rubs her head against Audria's cheek, hoping to comfort her friend and ease the paladin's nerves.

"I am Mister Cole," Audria says softly, as much to avoid drawing attention to the pair of them as to try keeping her voice level. "Does she truly spare those who pray to her from death?"

He's unsure how to play this Praise the Pallid Princess and get in good with this priestess if she's listening, but risk urging innocents into the goddess' clutches? or the reverse with a risk of offending the priestess but at least I have a clean conscience? Well, perhaps just act like a teacher "I don't claim to know the full power of any goddess, of course nor their will, but Urgathoa is also the goddess of Undeath, and some believe she was the first undead... but I digress. Urgathoa has a lot of followers who seek to BECOME Undead... so her version of salvation doesn't keep you alive." Thank goodness at least one of my peers was a Necromancer.

If he can, he tries to keep an eye out to see who shows interest in this, or takes offense.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Audria's fine clothes and silver jewellery draw a few curious stares, and so does her 'tutor'. On the other hand, Shrike blends right in, as plenty of people have taken to wearing masks or to covering their faces entirely in an attempt to protect themselves. Although it is not yet clear how the disease spreads, some people seem to have taken a cue from the Queen's physicians in trying to put as much barrier between themselves and the world as they can.

The priestess of Urgathoa arches an eyebrow at Pava. Although she is not as tall as the Shoanti youth, she somehow manages to look down her perfect nose at them. "Wayward? In what way?"

She seems to pay no mind to Audria or her companion, but beyond that Shrike cannot get a read on her. Shane can discern a certain smugness about the priestess, like someone who has been ostracized for most of their life now getting the upper hand might feel.

Audria realizes that her disguise probably wasn't the best for avoiding attention as she sees a few people stare. It was too late now, so she tries to lean into it as Pava talks to the Urgathoan priestess and Shrike listens in. At the very least she doesn't have to feign her shudder of revulsion at Shane's explanation.

"I suppose that's the same as sparing a thief's hands by lopping off their feet," Audria observes. "What drives someone to seek undeath, though? Is it fear," she asks, still trying to keep her voice down to keep from disturbing the petitioners here in the Pantheon. Despite her own revulsion, she finds herself genuinely curious, if only morbidly so, about what drives people like that. Perhaps by knowing, she might better understand them.

Elric does not wear a disguise, but pulls up his scarf and wraps it around his mouth like many of the other worshipers.

He enters the Pantheon alone, and slowly wanders around inside the temple, pausing briefly to offer an honest prayer at the shrine of Iomedae.

His sharp eyes dart around, searching for anyone matching the description they got from Marshal Kroft.

Take 10 Perception for 23 total

Audria realizes that her disguise probably wasn't the best for avoiding attention as she sees a few people stare. It was too late now, so she tries to lean into it as Pava talks to the Urgathoan priestess and Shrike listens in. At the very least she doesn't have to feign her shudder of revulsion at Shane's explanation.

"I suppose that's the same as sparing a thief's hands by lopping off their feet," Audria observes. "What drives someone to seek undeath, though? Is it fear," she asks, still trying to keep her voice down to keep from disturbing the petitioners here in the Pantheon. Despite her own revulsion, she finds herself genuinely curious, if only morbidly so, about what drives people like that. Perhaps by knowing, she might better understand them.

Shane almost forgets his role for a moment as he sincerely contemplates the question, remembering Callibrie, the half elven peer at the Academy who was his friend, even infrequent lover. She was once pure and well intentioned, and then... she kept making excuses, and in the end she loved the power more than the reason she'd first sought it. He lowers his voice, "Some people...start from a good place. Seeking ways to preserve life but it quickly goes spirals down into darker almost primal causes. Pride, 'how dare the gods judge MY afterlife?' Fear, of course, 'I'm not sure what's coming and I want to hide from it'.. or 'I know what a monster I've been and I'm very afraid of what I've earned by my wicked deeds.' Greed, of course, 'if I can't take it with me, I just won't go' and more. In the end, almost all that drives one to voluntary undeath is born of vice or weakness. Notice one ever delves into necromancy in the hopes of being a mindless skeleton or zombie. The preservation of self is the goal, one some would argue is impossible, for your spirit and soul are never the same if you keep them at all."

Pava keeps themself from gulping or, spirits protect me blushing, but the blink that they first respond with is a half a second too long. "Ah, well, wayward in one of the only ways I know we'll both find troubling."

"Now, as a priestess-in-good-standing of this fine cathedral, I'm certain that your own service to Lady Despair is largely intercessory, or focused as to the areas of Her interests that are relatively Korvosa-friendly. Hence the shrine's presence in this cathedral where other faiths do not have such a home." Like any of mine

"Still," unconsciously their feet shift into a stance that would make Orisini proud "I wouldn't be surprised if your wisdom were also commonly offered to cults and practitioners whose activities aren't quite as cathedral-friendly. As an example: Mme. Andaisin, a woman whose exploits were violent and indiscriminate enough to see her driven from even the darkest shadows of Nidal. Now, it is possible that her excesses of destruction are nothing but delightful to the Pallid Princess, and possibly even yourself, but in seeking after her trail, we have discovered that her followers are wont to exalt her in herself, even going so far as to deface Serving Your Hunger by scratching out Her name to instead offer praise to Andaisin herself."

Pava's gaze is fixed hard to the priestess's face. "That seems like something even Herself wouldn't want to spread too far. Any thoughts on a profitable course of action for those looking to nip an ambitious incursion onto your turf in the bud?"

"Some people...start from a good place. Seeking ways to preserve life but it quickly goes spirals down into darker almost primal causes. Pride, 'how dare the gods judge MY afterlife?' Fear, of course, 'I'm not sure what's coming and I want to hide from it'.. or 'I know what a monster I've been and I'm very afraid of what I've earned by my wicked deeds.' Greed, of course, 'if I can't take it with me, I just won't go' and more. In the end, almost all that drives one to voluntary undeath is born of vice or weakness. Notice one ever delves into necromancy in the hopes of being a mindless skeleton or zombie. The preservation of self is the goal, one some would argue is impossible, for your spirit and soul are never the same if you keep them at all."

Audria shivers as Shane answers her question. She looks at the shrine to Urgathoa once more before turning towards the one dedicated to Shelyn and leading the wizard over to it.

"What makes them raise the dead," she asks, unconsciously reaching up and grabbing her left arm where a woman called Embercat had wounded her on the night the Order of the Nail had been unleashed on Korvosa. "why create more monsters when there are plenty enough already?"

The question comes out as a plea. The young paladin feels so small and insignificant against the depths of depravity that she keeps learning about or discovering. Gaedren Lamm had been bad enough, but the Cow Hammer Boys, Trinia being framed for regicide, and learning about what drives someone to seek out necromancy and not just use it, but embrace it have chipped away at something that she hadn't realized until now, she believes that people want to be good, yet time and again she finds more and more people who want nothing more than riches and power over their fellows.

She hesitates a few steps from the shrine to her goddess. She's supposed to find the beauty in anyone, but she can't, not in the people who were behind this latest tragedy to befall her home.

"I'm sorry, Mister Cole," she apologies, "I--I think I need a moment."

The flicker of interest in the priestess's eyes dims. "If what you say is true, then it's her followers who blaspheme. Either way, such things are for my lady to judge and punish, not for mortals such as ourselves." She begins to turn away as a supplicant approaches with an offering. "Still, I thank you for bringing this to my attention. I shall keep watch for this Andaisin."

Shrike remains facing the shrine to Nethys and consciously shifts her weight in place, as a bored or impatient petitioner would, but all her attention is on the beautiful silvery-haired priestess and whether her apparent ignorance of Andaisin rings true.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Anyone with better Sense Motive want to help a butcherbird out? That was some great roleplaying, Pava, and it's annoying when the dice doesn't cooperate.

Pava smiles. "Well then," Skies and burning stone, I **had** her! "Glad I could be of some assistance," Where did I lose her? Do I keep trying or... "Perhaps another day."

No. A remise only works if her guard's not up or she makes a misjudged riposte. She wants nothing from me, and her guard's certainly not down.

We need a new line.

"What makes them raise the dead," she asks, unconsciously reaching up and grabbing her left arm where a woman called Embercat had wounded her on the night the Order of the Nail had been unleashed on Korvosa. "why create more monsters when there are plenty enough already?"

"Because some are under the mistaken idea that only monsters are safe from monsters. That's not true, of course. Monsters enslave other monsters all the time, or flat out destroy them. All becoming a monster really means is that if another monster takes you out, people don't grieve, they cheer or at least are relieved." he sighs "That's my theory anyway."

"Still, I thank you for bringing this to my attention. I shall keep watch for this Andaisin."

Despite hsi talk, he IS keeping an ear and eye on that conversation and tries to determine if the priestess was lying.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

The priestess does not seem to be lying; in fact, Shrike gets the impression that she holds most people in such contempt that she would not bother lying to them.

1d20 ⇒ 2

Still, the expedition hasn't been entirely fruitless. The Urgathoan priestess will watch for Andaisin, of this much Pava can be certain; they can sense that the bait was swallowed, even though she may decline to act on it for the moment. And as Shrike loiters nearby, she overhears a half-whispered conversation.

"Did you hear? The Hellknights of the Nail are giving up on Korvosa and are making plans to leave the city. I suppose all their scary armour can't protect them from the blood veil..."

Free rumour!

"I suppose that is truly a pitiable fate," Audria replies softly. "I suppose you'll have me reading philosophy if I admit that I'm not confident I can judge the worth of your theory, Mister Cole," she adds, a shade of genuine humor peeking through the dark veil that has fallen over Audria of late. She continues on towards the shrine of Shelyn and kneels before it, humming as she prays to her goddess and gives thanks for the friends she's made since that night she snuck out and helped end the reign of a petty tyrant. That his dominion was an old fishery made no difference. To the children trapped under his thumb, he was as bad as the Whispering Tyrant.

One step at a time, a voice whispers in her mind. One step at a time, Audria. That is how you will get through this.

Despite the pain and turmoil still enveloping Korvosa, the young paladin feels hopeful.

All we need is one lead, and we can unravel this. Kindness builds on kindness, like the strokes of a brush on a canvas or the layers of clay on a potter's wheel. Please help me to remember that, my goddess, she prays before standing up and leaving with her "tutor."

As she does so, she glances over at the crowd around the Urgathoan shrine and prays for them, too. Even the most wicked of souls can turn from evil and many of those she suspects are just desperate people trying to live and survive in a city gone mad.

Those are the very people she's called to protect as best she can.

===

When she and Shane meet back up with the others, Audria looks to Pava and Shrike.

"What do we do? Do we try to track down this Andaisin or do we continue the hunt for Rolth Lamm and the elf he's with? The book Shane took from Rolth's library had a description of the disease now ravaging Korvosa, didn't it? I hardly think that's a coincidence."

When the halfling woman departs, Shrike approaches Nethys' shrine and carefully lays the incense, unlit, upon the altar for the use of a later worshiper who may not have the money to buy it. She bows her head in respect for a moment, then moves away.

Before leaving the Pantheon entirely, however, she returns to the offerings-table for a small dry bundle of the cedar leaves her grandmother would sometimes burn before a hunt, if a fire was not too risky. The shrine to the elves' pantheon shows some evidence of increased activity, though not as much as those of other gods. Someone has left a spray of rose quartz in the stylized shape of a butterfly upon the altar, and the broad shallow bowl used for incense and other burnt offerings has been meticulously tended, leaving the sand pristine and sculpted in the shape of a protective rune.

Shrike lights her cedar bundle against one of sage that has been left still smoking slightly. The smoke curls around her as she holds it in both hands and then places it upright in the sand. Hunter, I know that some sicknesses are a necessary part of the natural balance of things. This one is the opposite. A weapon, aimed at the village by a madman bent on perverting nature to cause purposeless suffering. I cannot tend the ill or provide a cure. All I can do to end this sooner is track down the weapon's wielder. In your name, I pray for us sharp senses and keen minds, still hearts and steady hands, in the hunt for all responsible for this plague. May our steps be swift and hidden and our aim be true to yours.

***

"What do we do? Do we try to track down this Andaisin or do we continue the hunt for Rolth Lamm and the elf he's with? The book Shane took from Rolth's library had a description of the disease now ravaging Korvosa, didn't it? I hardly think that's a coincidence."

"Lamm. And his elf friend. We're sure they live here. 'Jenny' was last seen in Eel's End about a month ago. Someone knows where they den." Maybe Ivy knows something that could help. I wanted to let her come out in the world again on her own terms, talk to her friend to friend, but we have no time. Wish I could just watch the whole city from above— Shrike rocks back on her heels subtly, and mutters, almost to herself, "House drakes."

"House drakes? Is that a euphemism for something," Audria asks, genuinely confused.

Shane is a genius, just ask him, so he guesses "I suspect Shrike wants to ask the House Drakes to snoop around the city for us." He ponders "I wonder if Lamm's senior's old hide outs have been staked out recently?"

"Oh," Audria says as her cheeks color a little. Pushing through her embarrassment, she asks, "What if Lamm and this Jenny are using the vaults?"

"Haven't checked there," Shrike admits slowly. "Worth a look."

Pava nods slowly, a bit of hope entering their eye. "Lairs don't often stay empty for too long."

"I guess we could see if there's a passage we missed in his old lair," Audria muses. "But I doubt they've been back there. The Church of Pharasma knows about it, and they seemed rather, um, irritated that a necromancer had set up shop under their noses."

Just an FYI, Audria's talking about Korvosa's undercity, I couldn't remember what it is called at the time I posted, but it turns out it's called the Vaults, so just consider the lack of capitalization a typo, I guess.

After thinking a little more, the young paladin looks up at Shrike.

"Do you think we could bait him into a trap?"

The shrike mask, restored to its normal appearance, tilts consideringly. "Got to find him first. Or nearabouts." A trap laid along paths the prey doesn't already travel is a waste of time. "We'll ask Majenko's help. Check the Old Fishery. Then try the Vaults. You know how to get down?"

Once things are decided, she sets out for Lancet Street once more, thinking about what to ask Majenko. And, once the day is over, Ivy. Her rootless friend had always bunked with the Lofties or in various upper-story squats around the city, not seeming to want to have a fixed address. She'll ask Sorcia first if she has turned up at any of their common Shingles hideouts.

For Majenko, once at Lancet Street:
"Majenko, your kin see much from the skies. Can you ask them to look for certain kinds of people, or odd things? Or if they have already seen them? We can trade for the information."

"I know of a couple of ways," Audria says before looking down at her current outfit. "None of them ways I'd wish to go dressed as I am, now."

She ponders what Shrike says for a moment, about needing to find Rolth before adding, "Do we need to know where he is or just how to get word to him?"

A couple of corrections. The books found in Rolth Lamm's library did not have a description of blood veil, but they contain enough information about similar diseases that they are still helpful. And since Shelyn has a dedicated temple in the city, there is no shrine to Shelyn at the Pantheon of Many.

From the Pantheon of Many, Shrike and the others make their way towards Midland again, walking north on Breach Street through the ruins of the Pillar Wall, which stretches across most of the southern end of Citadel Hill - a 100-foot-tall remainder of what once must have been a magnificent barrier. Past the wall and heading towards Pillar Boulevard, on their left is Kendall Amphitheater, an open-air auditorium built over the immense sinkhole caused by ankhegs 130 years ago. The city asked for the help of the dwarves of Janderhoff to stabilize the ground around the 300-foot diameter hole, and it was also the dwarves who build the smoothed basalt bowl that now forms the seating area of the amphitheater. Kendall Vault, the large cave complex beneath the amphitheater, occasionally receives visitors in the forms of explorers seeking new passages, Korvosan Guards patrolling for new outbreaks of ankheg, and Janderhoff dwarves looking for subtle clues of further erosion.

As they make their way through the southern end of Midland towards Lancet Street, the sounds of an angry mob draw their attention. Shouts of "Hang 'im!" and "Filthy creature!" lead them towards a group of about thirty people gathered at an intersection and focused on the scene before them. A wererat, struggling against the bonds holding his arms by his side and tying his hands behind his back, is about to be hanged. Three burly men are holding him while a fourth is attempting to get the rope of the makeshift noose over the horizontal arm of a lamp post. The crowd around them is hurling insults at the wererat. "Your kind brought the plague to Korvosa!" "You want to kills us all with disease and rule over the city!"

Backtracking a little, so the conversation with Majenko hasn't happened yet.

Shane wishes he had prayed at the Plinthh to Nethys, patron of magic. But it wasn't fitting for his role at the time.

All things in their time. He muses to himself The Broken God of Magic will show one face or another I suppose if this catches his interest. Let's pray it is his healing and kindly side.

Of late, religion has been more on his mind. He picked Nethys because, well, magic and he's a wizard, but all this time around a Shelynite has him appreciating that goddess and others a bit more. Isn't it better to be trying to better the world?

Then they stumble onto the possible hanging of a monster and he remembers that idealism can be a massive headache and bound to backlash.

As they make their way through the southern end of Midland towards Lancet Street, the sounds of an angry mob draw their attention. Shouts of "Hang 'im!" and "Filthy creature!" lead them towards a group of about thirty people gathered at an intersection and focused on the scene before them. A wererat, struggling against the bonds holding his arms by his side and tying his hands behind his back, is about to be hanged. Three burly men are holding him while a fourth is attempting to get the rope of the makeshift noose over the horizontal arm of a lamp post. The crowd around them is hurling insults at the wererat. "Your kind brought the plague to Korvosa!" "You want to kills us all with disease and rule over the city!"

He tries to think of what he knows of Wererats..

Oddly I think it is Knowledge Local for them? 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Even as he mutters to his allies "I am not sure I'd call any were-rat 'innocent' but I don't think the mob has the right target here. I don't normally assist such...creatures, but it occurs to me that if any being might know the sewers and underground of this city, a were rat might."

"Then let's hope these people are still willing to be reasonable," Audria says as she discretely fishes her holy symbol out from the neck of her blouse. "Elric, would you mind hovering over my shoulder if they get any ideas? I don't fancy being made a victim," she asks the Sable Company Marine, hoping that his presence might deter the mob from deciding to make an example out of her as well.

As Talanaliel, hiding under Audira's hat, mutters a quick prayer to Shelyn (Casting Guidance), the paladin walks up to the apparent leaders of the mob and calls them out.

"What is going on here? Has this person done something to warrant his hanging," she asks, the note of anger in her voice not at all feigned. She is tired of watching her fellow Korvosans trying to tear the city apart, but even with her patience wearing thin, she's still willing to try talking through this rather than resorting to threats or violence. She lets her question hang in the air for a moment before continuing.

Diplomacy (Guidance): 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 = 28

"Haven't we suffered enough madness and bloodshed? Are you so eager to add to the toll and stain your hands in the process? Would you restart the violence that lead to so much death and the marching of the Order of the Nail through our streets as they crushed anyone who got in the way underfoot? Would not this time be better spent with your friends and loved ones? We are not guaranteed a tomorrow with them. Some may leave the city, others may not survive the disease ravaging us right now, and killing him in cold blood will not change that," she says as she points to the wererat. "Please, I beg of you, all of you, go home and cherish the time you have with those that you love. There is no justice to be found in hanging this one. His death will not undo the pain and loss we have already suffered. Please, do not add to that pain with your own hands."

Elric nods grimly and hefts his lucerne hammer as he follows Audria closely. The message is clear: anyone who would be tempted to take a swing at the young paladin will face swift retribution.

As they pass the Kendall Amphitheater, site of her first paid job with a dance troupe, it occurs to Shrike to wonder if Kendall Vault might connect to the rest of the Vaults somehow. She had never gone down deeper than the trap level right below the stages, for they had all been strictly warned of how dangerous it could be to run into trouble alone in the rest of the warren of subterranean passages. It might be worth trying to enter there if other avenues do not pan out.

Knowledge (Local) - wererats: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Shrike pulls up short and instinctively reaches for her bow when they come upon the mob preparing to hang the odd rat-human hybrid from a lamppost. Bipedal and around the size of a man, everything else from its face to fur to wormlike tail says rat, and though she has never seen anything like it before, she hears Lennick Imlios's cultured and slightly paranoid voice in her mind:

"All sorts of unsavory groups are capitalizing on the unrest. Thieves, anarchists, assassins, wererats, cultists - they are all plotting against us in the shadows!"

She hadn't even exactly disbelieved him at the time, but it seems she owes Lennick a drink.

Even before Shane speaks and Audria steps up, Shrike's decision is made. Regardless of the wererat's guilt or innocence, if he dies he cannot tell them what he knows. She lets Audria walk forward and draw the crowd's attention first, then steps up behind her other shoulder, flanking her along with Elric. The longbow is in her hands, but no arrow on the string yet.

"Think he's plague-bearing? Then be smart." The croak is flat iron. "Be somewhere else."

Diplomacy, Aid Another: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

It would be so simple to just start breaking heads.

"You should listen to the girl and move along; we don't all want to talk this through."

Shane lets the others talk, he whispers among them what he has studied. He remembers the classes given to warn the youth. 'Lycanthropy, a false path to power'... it was treated with some disdain, at least the infection version was. To grow more bestial was to risk losing your focus, your discipline, and that was anathema to any wizard.

Health Class in Evil Hogwarts is weird, I'm just saying.

"Were rats have had purges directed purges against them in the past and given their nature I'm not that sympathetic. Wererats are lycanthropes, meaning that they can change shape and become a rat, a human, or hybrid. If they're in their animal or hybrid form, avoid getting bit, that's how they infect another. They can form a rapport with normal or even dire rats. They also do carry a filthy fever, that's true, so if you don't get lycanthropy you might get that. But it predates the Crimson veil. Sneaky bastards, they are stealthy and manipulative and there are stories of whole thieves guilds or gangs taken over by them.Oh, and they have an amazing sense of smell."

I hope I haven't just made a mistake, Audria thinks to herself as Shane whispers what he knows in her ear.