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Agon will be back!
I think everyone is 6th level at this point. Chubbs had revised Mari from a wizard to a beguiler. Kraken had revised Marcus from a homebrew ‘noble’ class to a bard / rogue (and picked up a few guns along the way).
Sharing GM duties seems to go surprisingly smoothly. The 8th Dwarf and I both have access to the Adventure Path, so if we know Ollie’s not going to be around we have a chat to him and he might suggest a short episode from the Path that we could run, or he might tell us roughly what he had planned and we will build something from that. I tend to run episodes pretty much straight from the books if I step in, whereas The 8th Dwarf tends to come up with his own stuff that fits the atmosphere of Korvosa. How much prep we do depends on how much notice we have that the GM can’t make it!
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Summary for Session 20: A Cult Leader and A Seneschal
Early Evening 4th Pharast
Note: The action picks up just prior to where Session 18 left off.
Questions, Questions, Questions
Tain arrives in the vicinity of the house in the Heights just as it explodes into flame. Making his way to the rear of the house, he sees a coach departing down the street at speed, and observe a rat-human hybrid tearing into several men as Marcus lies, burnt and injured, on the ground nearby.
While the Baroness rushes to help Marcus, Tain, knowing Agon’s secret and suspecting he knows the identity of the rat-man, chases after the later, his silver flail in hand. The rat-man, having finished off the cultists, dashes off into the city, and the much slower paladin soon loses him in the back streets.
Lellia partly heals Marcus. The coach returns (about the same time as Tain stomps back, empty-handed) and Mari gets out, holding a man at knife-point – a man that most of the group recognize as Seneschal Neolandus.
Mari quickly explains that Neolandus is the leader of the Harbingers in Korvosa (a ledger that Marcus found inside the house seems to confirm this), but that she has agreed to help him. As the group argue about what to do, Guard whistles are heard nearby. Unsure what the situation is, and whether or not it would be right to hand Neolandus over to the Guard, or whether he might be able to use his position to escape custody, Tain urges everyone (Neolandus included) into the coach, and gets into the driver’s seat. Marcus says that it may not be safe to return to his warehouse, and tells Tain to head for Osric’s. Tain sticks to back streets to avoid detection.
Marcus, Mari and Lellia question Neolandus briefly in the coach. He acknowledges that he is the local leader of the Harbingers, and seems resigned to the fact that the group’s activities has probably destroyed the local arm of the cult. He is unapologetic about the cult’s goals and activities, but hints that he has information that the group will find valuable, which he will exchange for his freedom.
The coach arrives at Osrics’s warehouse (the dwarf does not seem particularly pleased to see them, but allows them in and gives them access to a sound-proofed room). Neolandus is bundled inside with a hood pulled over his face and secured to a chair.
Marcus talks to Osric, offering him the coach as payment, asks him if he can organize a clean up of the Merivanchi warehouse, and looks through the ledger. It clearly implicates Neolandus as leader of the Korvosan Harbingers, identifies other members and cult activities, and includes something of a “hit list”.
Meanwhile, Tain leads the interrogation of Neolandus, being quite angry after the Seneschal described how Korvosa would soon be destroyed, and used derogatory language in relation to the town. Lellia tries to cast a couple of spells on the man but fails to affect him (including a truth spell). Mari successfully casts detect thoughts on the man, but after a time he seems to realize he is subject to such a spell and starts trying to deliberately mask his surface thoughts.
Neolandus reveals himself as a fanatic, who seems to truly believe in the prophecy, and that if it is allowed to become true, Aroden will return. He seems puzzled by the Vangaurd; he’s angry that they had hampered the Harbinger’s activities, but is convinced that they must also be believers in the prophecy, as their activities reveal them to be trying to achieve the same goals as the Harbingers.
Tain states that he intends to hand Neolandus over to the authorities to be trialed for treason. Neolandus says that he will be dead before he reaches trial, for the same reason he had to flee the Castle; he knows who killed the King. He offers to share this information (and evidence, he claims) in exchange for his freedom. After a brief discussion, Tain rejects the idea of a deal, as does Lellia. The Baroness states (in hearing of the Seneschal) that he deserves death, and that the group should kill him. Tain disagrees, saying that he is entitled to a trial, but there is enough evidence for the death penalty – plus, if someone does try to kill him in custody, the group may be able to work out who is trying to get rid of him.
Marcus comes into the room and says that he agrees to Neolandus’ deal – if he reveals who the king’s killer was, Marcus will personally ensure his safety, escorting him out of the city. Tain disagrees with this, but Marcus quietly tells him that Tain will be free to apprehend the Seneschal as soon as he departs the city. Tain reluctantly agrees.
Agreeing to Marcus’ deal, Neolandus says that it was Lady Elizabeth who was behind the King’s death, but he then admits that he is not entirely sure but believes the order may have originated with the Queen. The “evidence” is that he saw Doctor Devalus (brought in by Elizabeth), exchanging words and “material” with a known assassin within the Castle. He also thinks that Trinia was in on the plot, but wavers on this when presented with the opinion that Trinia had fallen out with the Queen and Elizabeth.
5th Pharast
Mari makes a magical copy of the Seneschal’s ledger, and Tain takes the original to the church of Abadar as evidence, along with word that he has information that the Seneschal will be attempting to leave the city through a certain gate at a certain time. He takes a squad of 5 church soldiers to arrest the man.
The others disguise Neolandus (through both magic and a hood pulled low over his face), then Marcus leads his horse towards the gate with Mari and Lellia following closely behind. Neolandus expresses the belief that he will not make it out of the city alive – someone will kill him before he gets out.
Marcus etc. find a crowd at the gates, as a squad of Grey Maidens are guarding them, searching people passing through. Caught in the crowd, the group become increasingly paranoid about assassins as various beggars and flower sellers approach Neolandus. Eventually Marcus starts bribing people to move forward in the line, and then, when the Grey Maidens question him at the gates, manages to mollify their suspicion.
He then allows Neolandus through the gates, and Mari removes the magical disguise.
Outside the gates, Tain quickly moves to intercept Neolandus and arrests him just as a traveler – Aerodus Merivanchi – approaches the city along the road. Neolandus whispers to Tain that he ordered his wife killed – Tain momentarily loses control and punches the Seneschal in the face, but manages to restrain himself before doing any more serious damage. Aerodus recognizes both Tain and Neolandus and approaches, asking what is going on. The Grey Maidens at the gate also take an interest in the commotion. Tain warily welcomes Aerodus back and invites him along, saying he will explain the situation soon, then takes Neolandus into custody and back through the gates.
The others spot Aerodus; Marcus greets him warmly enough, but Mari doesn’t seem to be pleased with the reunion.
Tain hands Neolandus over to the church whilst the Merivanchi’s and the Baroness catch up at the Laughing Sails Inn, though Mari soon retires. Tain soon returns to the group and helps update Aerodus on recent events.
The group hears a commotion outside – Lady Elizabeth has marched up to the gates of the Bank of Abadar, demanding that Neolandus be handed over into her custody. As the Archbanker is summoned, the group heads over to see what is going on. Tain directly questions Lady Elizabeth on the legality of such an arrangement – she replies that it will be law as soon as the ink is dry. Marcus comments to the watching crowd about the precedent this might set. Archbanker Tuttle arrives, and a squad of Korvosan Guard also march in from the other direction, having arrived to take Neolandus into custody (earlier organized by Tain and the church).
Tain quietly advises the Archbanker that it would be wise to hand Neolandus over to Lady Elizabeth, and then loudly asks the captain of the Guard squad to witness Lady Elizabeth’s demand and the exchange of custody. The captain understands Tain’s hidden meaning and agrees; he further suggests that he and his men will accompany the Grey Maidens to the Castle to ensure that no scoundrels try to attack the group or the prisoner along the way.
After this exchange, the group head back to Brock House. Marcus has a visit from a Korvosan Guardsman, who tells him about a murder and battle at the warehouse and asks him to come to take a look. Marcus agrees. On the way to the warehouse, Marcus realizes that he is a suspect, but does his best to deflect the Guards’ suspicion. After “assisting the Guard with its enquiries” Marcus is free to go. He notices that he has been followed about town this day, and confronts the man who appears to be following him.
The man is a reporter for the Korvosa Times, and wants to get Marcus’ statement on the arrest of Neolandus and the events outside the Bank. Marcus convinces him that a more “off the record” approach is better in this case.
Marcus then goes to visit Vencarlo, but discovers he has not been seen at his academy for a week. Paying a visit to Lord Banyer, Marcus further discovers that Banyer’s son is also missing and has not been seen for a week. Lord Banyer indirectly requests Marcus to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, back at Brock House the others discuss what their next move might be. They come to the conclusion that they want to speak to Doctor Devalus, and try to find out his movements. Tain asks about, and discovers that the good doctor is known to go for walks outside the castle at certain times of the evening.
Later that evening, Marcus, Tain and Lellia all receive letters from Lady Elizabeth, asking them to meet her at the Castle at “their earliest convenience”.
Loot
• Several rings and amulets taken from the Seneschal
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Mari / Aerodus – Chubbs McGee
• Tain – Mothman
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
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Chubbs was getting a bit bored of playing a spellcaster and wanted to try a more action based character. The plan was to retire Mari in favour of Aerodus (Mari was going to be married off to Orlando and give up her adventurous and rebellious ways). As it turned out though, Chubbs only played Aerodus for a short time and then decided to switch back to Mari.
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Book Three: Escape From Old Korvosa
Summary for Session 21: Barvasi and The Galtian
5th Pharast
Invitation to the Castle
The group (Marcus, Aerodus, Tain and Lellia) heads to the Castle in acknowledgement of Lady Elizabeth’s summons. Before leaving, Marcus puts some contingencies in place, with instructions to Dante and Mari to get the family and household to leave the city if they don’t return in good time.
At the gates they are met by a contingent of Grey Maidens who are under orders to escort them to the castle dungeon. However, the group is not relieved of their weapons.
In the dungeons they discover Osric, being well treated (partaking of food and wine in a reasonably comfortable room) but under close watch by some Grey Maidens. In the next room Lady Elizabeth is / has been questioning Seneschal Neolandus who is bound to a chair. It is clear that he is not being co-operative and Elizabeth is frustrated.
Lady Elizabeth implores the group to share what they learnt from Neolandus, or to get him to talk. She says that she acted so quickly to take him into custody for fear that someone on the Council would have him executed before he could give up what he knows. She seems to think he is in on or knows something of a greater conspiracy against the Queen and the city, and that one or more members of the Council are also involved. She seems genuine to the group.
She says that Neolandus has implicated the party as well as Osric as conspirators against the Queen. She did not believe it of the Merivanchis and their close allies whom she had met before (eg, Tain, Lellia and Agon) but did not know about Osric. The group vouches for the dwarf, who is otherwise in danger of imprisonment or execution.
The group tell Lady E that they think they have gotten all that they can from Neolandus, and summarise what he told them, emphasising that they believe he is a religious fanatic, and as far as they are aware they have ruined the Harbingers plans and organisation in Korvosa. Tain tells Lady E. that Neolandus had suggested that she/ and or the Queen were in fact involved in a plot to ruin Korvosa. He is careful not to say that the group tends to believe him on this point. They also relay to Lady E that Neolandus thinks Doctor Devalus is an assassin, and that either she or the Queen invited him to the city.
Elizabeth admits, seemingly truthfully, that the good Doctor came to the city on the Queen’s invitation (he was apparently her doctor in Cheliax), and that she (Elizabeth) does not trust the man. However, she thinks that the Queen is unaware of his dark nature and that she is in danger of falling under his influence. She (Lady E) had sent a servant to spy on his chambers, but he caught her (the servant) in the act and beat her senseless. Now the castle servants refuse to go near him, apart from a select few who seem very loyal to him.
Lady E asks the group to spy on Devalus and get some evidence that he is a bad guy that she can present to the Queen. She gives them free reign to enter the Castle at any time without invitation, although this only extends to public areas of the castle, not areas such as her, the Queen’s or Devalus’s chambers. She also says that Devalus sometimes takes walks of the city with only a minimal or no escort, and that she will send word to the group next time he does so, should they wish to speak to him “privately” or find out where he goes.
After the others depart, Marcus secures Lady Elizabeth's unspoken agreement that she would like the see the good Doctor "removed" if sufficient evidence to have him arrested is not forthcoming.
Before the group (with Osric in tow and filled in on events) leave the Castle, they make some enquiries of servants as to the direction of Devalus’s chambers. As they are leaving, someone (Marcus gets the feeling they are being watched. Looking back, they see a curtain being hastily moved back into place in an upper window.
Prison Break!
At the steps of the Castle, the group is met by Cleric Ishani of Abadar with an urgent message for Tain and Lellia. The Galtan former nobleman who had attempted to kidnap Lellia several days earlier had escaped from custody whilst awaiting trial at the Bank of Abadar; a feat that no one had succeeded at in living memory. Ishani sought to warn the baroness and seek the group’s help in finding the fugitive.
Marcus and The Baroness hurry back to The Heights to ensure that Lavinia is safe (and also, in Marcus’ case, let the household know that nothing ill has befallen him - and tell Cristiana that they have an open invitation to the Castle!) Tain and Aerodus accompany Ishani towards the Bank of Abadar, Tain also asks Osric to come along, knowing the merchant began his career as a locksmith, and figuring he might have some insight into how the escape was achieved (yes a "locksmith", that's it).
Arriving at the prison, Tain begins by questioning the guards who were on duty, and does not get the sense that any of them were derelict in their duty or complicent in the escape. The prisoner had been observed in his cell when the guard made a pass of the hall, on the next pass (half an hour later) he was gone.
Aerodus and Osric search the cell. The lock appears not to have been tampered with and there are no other obvious means of egress. Osric begins a more careful and exhaustive search, and eventually notices that one of the otherwise tight fitting flagstones in the floor seems a little crooked. On closer examination he notices that is has been set in place recently with some quick drying cement.
At about this point Marcus returns, informing the group that all is well. The group pries up the flagstone to find a shaft leading down to a tunnel below the cells. Tain calls for ropes and torches and the group descends.
Beneath The Streets
The tunnel that the group found themselves appeared to be an ancient street - a remnant of the old Thassilonian city that Korvosa was built atop. Rubble blocked one direction, so the group headed in the other direction.
Scouting slightly ahead of the group, Osric heard voices ahead - whispering tones seemingly wagering on a competition of living against dead. Then the voice’s owners appeared to hear the group’s approach and went quiet. Suddenly shadows enveloped the group, as their torches and light sources seemed to falter, not giving out as much light as before.
Moving forward, the group was ambushed by a group of short, blue skinned, wild haired humanoids - Derro! Despite the Derro’s magical abilities and poisoned weapons, the group handily prevailed over the little menaces, with Aerodus leading the attack, charging in and cutting down several of the Derro with his whirling blade.
Moving forward down the tunnel, the group saw a clearly dead but animated human corpse - freshly killed, with its legs hacked off at the knees, crawling after a sobbing, critically wounded woman. While Aerodus hacked apart the crippled zombie, Tain went over to heal the woman, and recognised her as one of the companions of the Galtan who had escaped during the carriage chase. On questioning, the woman told the group that they had been hired by Devargo Barvasi to free the Galtian - he had told them about this hidden passage, and another entrance to it behind an a meat processing warehouse elsewhere in the city. After successfully freeing the Galtan, the group had been ambushed by Derro - one was killed, the woman badly injured, and the rest, including the Galtan, fled further down the tunnel. Tain took the woman back to the prison and handed her over to the guards, then the group continued down the underground street, soon finding the way up that the woman had described, emerging in a yard behind the abattoir.
Showdown At Eel’s End
No escapees were immediately evident, but questioning of some of the slaughterhouse workers revealed that a group of men had emerged from beneath the street and set off north towards Old Korvosa about an hour earlier. Figuring that the Galtian was making for (and had no doubt by now reached) Eel’s End, Tain and Marcus led the way there.
At the landward end of the wharf, the group was stopped by two armed thugs, who told them they would need to leave their weapons behind if they wanted to go further. When Tain revealed the group as agents of the Bank of Abadar, the thugs told them to get lost - Barvasi had paid all his vice taxes, and they had a deal with the city that Guards and Bankers were off limit when on duty. Tain countered that they had reason to believe a wanted fugitive was being harboured at Eel’s End, and this meant all deals were null and void. Seeing that the group was determined, and that they were outmatched, the thugs let the group past and walked off into the city. However, as the group strode purposefully down the wharf towards the ship at the end - The Eel’s End herself - they saw a group of well armed and determined looking guards waiting for them at the base of the ship-s gang plank.
This group of guards would not let themselves be intimidated, and would not listen to arguments from the group to let them past. However, eventually Marcus’s diplomatic skills convinced them to allow just him onto the ship to negotiate with Barvasi. Tain and Aerodus cautioned him against this idea, but he would not be dissuaded. The two guards led Marcus up the gangplank onto the deck of the ship; then stopped, turned and pointed loaded crossbows at the nobleman’s head, telling the rest of the group to leave. Marcus shouted down to the others that he would be ok, but Aerodus and Tain did not put quite so much faith in his ability to talk himself out of trouble, and charged the five guards remaining at the base of the gang plank, Tain calling for Marcus to duck.
Aerodus was the faster of the pair, charging into the middle of the group and cutting down several guards before anyone else could react, then dashing up the gang plank, while Tain and Osric followed at a somewhat slower pace, dealing with the remaining thugs. Marcus ducked and rolled, drawing his pistols, as the two guards up on deck fired at him. One managed to inflict a flesh wound while Marcus blasted him in return with his pistol. The guards called out for reinforcements, and just as Aerodus was reaching Marcus and Tain and Osric had finished off the remaining guards on the wharf, several more emerged from the hold, led by the head of Barvasi’s security, the whale of a man affectionately known as Six Foot Cubed.
A furious melee ensued, the heroes hoeing through the rank and file guards, but Six Foot holding his own, wounding Aerodus and Tain with his harpoon (and nearly flinging Tain off into the water) before being brought down by a combined effort.
Cautiously, the group descended down into the hold. No one seemed to be present, until an ambush was launched by invisible and hidden enemies. A full scale battle erupted, with the heroes up against Barvasi with his poison encrusted bladed gauntlets, the Galtian swordsman (their quarry), a tiefling mage, and a couple of ettercaps and giant spiders. It was a taxing and difficult battle, but the heroes of Korvosa prevailed, letting none of their enemies escape - nor live for that matter. No quarter was asked and none was given. The Galtan would threaten the Baroness and her family no more, and Barvasi would no longer plague Korvosa with his presence and dens of vice. The band also discovered that they had likely put a dent in the Shiver trade of the city, as they discovered a sizeable Shiver lab in the Eel’s End’s hold.
Loot
• Bracers of Armour +1 (1,000 gp) taken from the tiefling Alexis.
• Pair of Bladed Gauntlets +1 (2,305 gp each) taken from Bavarsi.
• Leather Armour +1 (1,160 gp) taken from Bavarsi.
• Rapier +1 (2,320 gp) taken from Galtian.
• Breastplate +1 (1,350 gp) taken from 6 ft.
• Ring of Protection +1 (1,000 gp) taken from the tiefling Alexis.
• Ring of Feather Falling (2,200 gp) decorated with a tiny jade dragonfly.
• Scroll of Blur (150 gp)
• Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds (300 gp)
• 2 packets of Dust of Appearance (1,800 gp each)
• Elixir of Love (150 gp)
• Wand of Invisibility (4 charges remaining) (4,500 gp fully charged, around 360 gp currently)
• Jasper studded amulet (400 to 600 gp)
• Gold necklace set with emeralds (600 gp)
• Mother-of-pearl inlaid signal horn (50 gp)
• 800 gp cash
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In Attendance
• GM – The 8th Dwarf
• Aerodus – Chubbs McGee
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Osric - Norian
• Tain - Mothman
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Summary for Session 22: The Queen Revealed.
6th Pharast
A Fine Morning For An Outing
Marcus and Lady Cristiana are preparing for a day at the Castle, when a visitor arrives at Brock House – Marcus’s new contact at the Korvosan Times. He brings word that a gathering has been called by the Queen at the Castle for that morning, and that many of the city’s nobles and dignitaries have been invited. He suggests that if Marcus did not know about it, he might like to try to get himself invited, and that he also might like to pass along any interesting news, anonymously, to the Korvosan Times - apparently some big announcement is to be made. Marcus had not heard of any gathering, but pretends that he had - that that, in fact, was what he was getting ready for. He also tells Mari (who has returned from the country estate) that she may want to make ready to visit the Castle, and sent similar word to the Baroness.
Meanwhile, there is some commotion at the Bank of Abadar. Tain discovers that the Bank has been called on at short notice to provide additional security for some event or announcement that is being made that morning by the Queen at Castle Korvosa. The paladin wonders if it might have anything to do with recent events and decides he will intend. He is unable to find Aerodus in the barracks, but decides to visit Osric on his way to the Castle, figuring that since they have dragged the dwarf into events so far, it is only fair he be kept abreast of things.
The heroes are all admitted to the Castle’s main ballroom, along with a who’s who of Korvosan high society (including members of the City Council, other nobles and the heads of most of the churches (Field Marshal Kroft was conspicuous by her absence), and a very heavy contingent of guards - Grey Maidens and servitors of Abadar.
The Queen makes her way onto the stage, accompanied by Lady Elizabeth and Commandant Marcus Endrin of the Sable Company. Although the Sable Company had been keeping a very low profile of late, Endrin’s presence today was perhaps not surprising - with Seneschal Neolandus accused of treason, captured and no doubt soon to be executed, Commandant Endrin would be next in line for the position of seneschal.
Queen Ileosa began her speech by announcing that Seneschal Neolandus had been convicted of treason against crown and city, and would be executed forthwith. She then went on to reveal that under questioning, Neolandus had provided evidence that the Sable Company’s upper echelons had been complicent in his treachery. As such, the Sable Company was to be disbanded, effective immediately. It’s leaders, including Marcus Endrin, would be stripped of their positions and titles and investigated for treason. The enlisted men and women would be split between the Korvosan Guard and the Grey Maidens as appropriate.
Behind the Queen, Endrin’s face went very pale – this news was obviously a surprise to him. Suddenly, he grabbed a loaded crossbow from the hands of a nearby Grey Maiden, pointed it at the Queen’s head and fired. The Queen began to turn, just in time for the bolt to hit her in the temple, burying itself deeply into her brain.
Apart from a brief jolt, she did not react. Beside her, Lady Elizabeth collapsed, blood staining the bodice of her gown. Grey Maidens leapt belatedly forward to grab Endrin. The Queen, still standing and looking quite calm, reached up, yanked the bolt free of her head, advanced on Endrin, grabbed him by the throat and proceeded to stab him to death with the bloody arrow, before flinging his body aside.
Quite apart from the horror and physical violence of the episode, a wave of disquiet washed over the audience, a feeling of wrongness and evil. Mari felt intensely the same feeling she had felt on several occasions before - here in the Castle and outside the fortune tellers house - so strongly that it almost drove her to faint. Tain’s preternatural senses felt a wash of evil emanating from the Queen, almost overwhelmingly, causing him to reel. Marcus too, for the first time, felt this sense of evil power and was overcome by its intensity and collapsed to his knees.
The Queen turned back to the horrified audience and gave a short along the lines of “You’re either for me or against me, anyone else who is against me gets similar to Endrin,” then swirls away, retinue of Grey Maidens in tow, leaving Endrin dead or dying on the stage, along with the bloodied and unconscious Lady Elizabeth.
While Marcus tried to restore some semblance of calm to the panicking crowd, Mari and Lellia raced over to Lady E, whilst Tain and Osric looked to Endrin. Tain quickly assessed that Endrin was indeed dead, and that the force with which he was attacked was great indeed, as if perpetrated by one stronger than the paladin. Osric, meanwhile, pocketed the arrow / murder weapon.
One of the Grey Maidens also rushed to Elizabeth’s side - taking off her helm it was revealed to be Aria. The three girls hastily ripped open Elizabeth’s bodice, revealing her ... wounds. It appeared that the dagger wounds she had suffered some weeks earlier had spontaneously re-opened. Aria and Lellia tried to heal her, but the wounds seemed to resist the healing magic. Tain moved over to lay on hands, he could feel the positive energy he channelled into the wounds seeming to be drawn somewhere else, but the combined efforts of the three healers did appear to abate the wounds somewhat.
Calling for some of the Abadaran guards, Tain called for Lady Elizabeth to be removed to the temple of Abadar. Mari protested, suggesting that if someone was out to get Elizabeth, the church of Abadar might be in cahoots - they should move the woman somewhere they could keep an eye on her, Brock House for example. But Tain remained firm, unconvinced that his church would be corrupted and maintaining that Elizabeth would need the sort of healing care that a temple could provide.
The group left the Castle, accompanying Lady Elizabeth’s stretcher and the Abadaran guards back to the Bank of Abadar.
Information Gathering
The group briefly discusses what to do regarding the events that just transpired. The general consensus appears to be that the Queen is evil and powerful or backed somehow by great powers. The possible connection with Infernal forces are discussed. Some suggestion is made of what the heroes can do, but the general view is that they must not draw attention to themselves or else risk the Queen's wrath. Currently, they have at least made their intentions regarding support for the crown vague enough not to draw attention.
The heroes make plans to consult with their respective contacts and meet later in Old Korvosa. It is suggested also that they investigate the area of the plague cordon from the past month to see if any further information can be gathered. Osric heads into Old Korvosa to secure the meeting place - a tavern he knows well.
Mari pays a visit to her mentor Arius the Wise, along with Lellia, to discuss the enchanted daggers used in previous the assassination attempt on the Queen.
Marcus meets with Lord Bannyer to discuss what happened. The pair agree that the Queen must be opposed, but that to do so openly would spell destruction for all of them. He also informs Marcus that Vencarlo is still missing, but that he recently received word from the fencing Master. Vencarlo revealed he had been investigating something connected to the Queen and implied she was connected with some great evil. Lord Bannyer had feared Vencarlo had gone mad from the ramblings in the letter - until the events of that morning. Marcus promises he will try to meet with Vencarlo and find out what he has discovered.
Meanwhile, Tain travels to the Citadel to meet with Field Marshal Croft. Having noticed her absence at Castle that morning, Tain was attempting to determine what her views were and where she was placing her loyalties. Croft informed Tain that she had been contacted by Vencarlo Orisini and that he supposedly had information about the Queen and he was now hiding in Old Korvosa.
Marcus, Mari, Lellia and Tain meet at one of the bridge approaches to Old Korvosa to find the way barricaded by Grey Maidens, turning all back. Apparently Old Korvosa has been cut off from the rest of the city and no-one is to enter or leave under threat of immediate execution. Osric watches from the rooftops of Old Korvosa as the quarantine is put in place.
Into Old Korvosa
At Tain's suggestion, the group heads outside the city to Trail's End to meet with Grau and his family in hopes they may be able to provide a boat to gain access to Old Korvosa. Grau is drunk again, but dimly recognises Marcus as an old fencing companion. Marcus and Tain try to bring the man out of his stupor - Marcus appealing to his duty and Tain empathising with his loss. He ceases drinking for a while, but cannot provide much useful information. Tace on the other hand is more helpful and sets the group up with a neighbour who can loan them his fishing boat to cross into the old city. Marcus pays out a handful of Gold Sails to the fisherman for him to drop the group at the docks and return the next several nights to pick them up if they are waiting at the docks.
After everyone gathers their necessary supplies, the four heroes set out in the fishing boat with the rest of the small fleet at dusk. The small boat diverts from the group to land at the docks near Eel's End and the heroes disembark in Old Korvosa.
Loot
• None.
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Osric – Norian
• Tain – Mothman
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
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This session was probably the last we will see of the elusive Osric as a PC; his player was gearing up to move interstate and would not be able to make another game before he left.
Given this, and that it wasn’t clear if and when Agon’s player would return, we decided to recruit another player. Ollie new someone who was interested, someone who had never played pen and paper roleplaying games before. To introduce this player to Pathfinder, we took a hiatus of several weeks from the campaign while I ran some PFS scenarios with everyone playing first level characters.
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Summary for Session 23: Mantis Assassin Attack
6th Pharast (evening)
An evening stroll through the old city
Upon landing at the time worn docks at the unfashionable end of Old Korvosa, a myriad of tasks faced the companions.
It was decided that Marcus and Mari would attempt to locate the dwarven scoundrel Osric. The "legitimate business-dwarf" had entered the Old City earlier in the day to gather information, and had organised to meet the others at a particular tavern that he knew well.
Tain and Lellia would go to Vencarlo's fencing academy and if Vencarlo was not there they were to go to his house and await the others.
Grau's nephew Max (who had come with them on the fishing boat so as to check on the welfare of some friends in Old Korvosa) offered to accompany Lellia and Tain as he knew the area well. Thankful of the company the small group waved goodbye and began the troubling walk to the fencing academy; all about them there were signs of malnutrition and the shambling poor milling about the streets washed around the companions with an undercurrent of barely restrained violence.
Sights and sounds of life captured the companions’ collective attention as they passed near to Eel’s End; it seemed that someone had been quick to fill the power vacuum left by Barvasi’s all-too recent demise. Scum always floats to the top, as Tain commented as they passed.
Lellia and Tain marked the rapid decay of Old Korvosa; in only a few months what had been a run-down but vibrant part of the city had withered into a mire of hopelessness and despair. Armed toughs eyed the strangers dangerously as they passed, half starved children loitered in alleyways, and Lellia noticed that many a doorframe and post was marked with unusual and unsubtle graffiti - a stick-figured man wearing a crown.
The figures were evidence of the man who was likely Barvasi’s would-be replacement said Max; a gang leader who styled himself “The Emperor” - the new leader of the old city’s thieves and scoundrels it seemed.
Exchanging looks the three wondered if anything else could make Old Korvosa any more miserable.... Someone, presumably the Queen, was soon to answer their question with a profound yes.
It burns
The small band had by now reached the oldest area of Old Korvosa, that part of the old city that was still home to old money and the well-off, rather than row-houses and slums; the area that Vencarlo Orisini had his home and fencing academy. But it seemed that violence had not escaped this region either - thin columns of dark smoke rose into the night sky ahead of the group, highlighted against the dull glow of the burning bridges. It soon became apparent that the smoke came from the remains of the Fencing Academy. The building was a smouldering ruin that had evidently been burning for the better part of a day - only one corner of the structure remained standing.
The travelers stared at a moment in horror at the burning building. It was evident that no one within would have remained alive, so after a brief discussion they decided to hurry towards Vencarlo’s house; it seemed apparent that someone had targeted the Academy specifically, they may also have tried to target Vencarlo at his house.
Hurrying through the near deserted night shrouded streets, the group discovered Vencarlo’s house intact but the front door wide open - unusual to say the least at this hour on this day. While Lellia sent her raven up to the gables to keep watch, Tain strode into the building, a spell of light on his gauntlet and his flail held loosely in his other hand, calling loudly for Master Orisini. There was no reply.
The house that Vencarlo built
With no immediate signs of danger, the group enters and begins a search of the ground floor of Vencarlo’s house. Oil lamps have been lit in several rooms, but have burnt low, indicating that they have not been tended for several hours. A bath has been drawn in the bathroom, water puddles on the floor, but the bathwater has grown cold. All signs seem to indicate that someone has made themselves at home here within the last few hours, then vanished.
Searching Vencarlo’s study, Max finds several books of interest; Vencarlo’s notes on his students at the Academy, and a ledger for the same. Flipping through, Lellia notices that before she left the Academy two years previously, Sabine Merrin was Vencarlo’s top student. Surprisingly, Grau (her contemporary) was number two. Lellia is also surprised to notice that Mari has recently (within the last few weeks) enrolled as a student at the Academy, though that does explain her new found skill with the blade. The group also notices a small portrait of Sabine, looking more young and carefree than they have yet seen her, painted by Trinia Sabore. Tain recommends the group take the documents and picture for safekeeping, to return to Vencarlo when they find him.
The group found a pantry off the kitchen, filled with rotten and spoilt food. This caused some debate amongst the companions - it otherwise seemed that Vencarlo (or someone) had been in residence recently, but the food looked weeks old. Tain speculated that food supplies in Old Korvosa had not returned to normal since the disruptions immediately following the King’s death. Lellia wondered if magic or witchcraft had blighted the food. Either way the group agreed, if food supply was an issue, things could become desperate fast with the bridges out.
Arriving in the sitting room, the group notes some stairs leading up to an unlit upper level. Whilst searching the sitting room, Lellia hears a floorboard creak slightly from upstairs. Signaling to the others to act normally, she whispers what she heard. Max volunteers to sneak up and take a look, assuring the others that his skill at sorcery will keep him safe if there is trouble. While Tain stomps about downstairs to disguise any noise, Max ghosts up the stairs. Staying to the copious shadows, he spies a still, silent figure lurking in the shadows at the far side of the large training space above. It is tall and unusually bulky looking, but he cannot make out further detail in the dark. He sneaks back down to tell the others.
Immediately realising that the description of the person’s size does not fit Vencarlo, and assuming that anyone hiding in the shadows within this house must be up to no good, Tain grips his flail tightly and runs up the stairs.
The assassins unmasked
The light radiating from Tain’s gauntlet revealed the lurking figure to be a humanoid, preying mantis type creature, wearing leather armour emblazoned with the symbol of a rose, and wielding two daggers and a saw toothed sabre in its four hands. Assuming it to be evil, Tain charged to attack, calling on Abadar to smite the creature, hitting it and damaging it mightily. Behind him, Max began a spell to summon a fire elemental to fight for him, whilst Lellia used her magic to levitate up the stair well and cast a spell on the thing, magic which it mentally shook off. The creature returned Tain’s attacks but was unable to penetrate the paladin’s defenses.
Tain struck the creature several more times, but another similar creature burst from the door to Vencarlo’s bedroom and launched itself at Lellia, grappling her as she hung in mid-air and slashing at her with its saw toothed sabre. The witch tried to cast a spell, but was impeded by the mantis assassin. Max sent his small summoned fire elemental to help here, and targeted the mantis with a scorching ray. Both hit, but the creature appeared to be somewhat resistant to fire. The mantis warrior facing Tain fared less well, continually failing to hit the paladin.
As Tain swung his flail around, ripping open his opponent’s exo-skeleton and dropping it to the floor, Lellia managed to cast a spell that caused her opponent to let go and fall heavily to the floor below, and Max sent a lightning bolt down after it for good measure. However, it managed to easily dodge aside from the bolt. The elemental and Tain followed it down the stairs before it could escape, and, with help from a few magic missiles cast by Max, Tain managed to finish it off.
Although they could not identify the race of the mantis assassins, Tain did identify the symbol on their breastplates as belonging to the feared and infamous guild of assassins.
Loot
In the aftermath of their epic battle, the heroes searched the rest of the house, but found no sign of Vencarlo. They did find a hidden compartment in his wardrobe, containing a bunch of gear appearing suspiciously similar to Blackjack’s signature clothing and weaponry.
• Bag of Holding (V)
• Black hooded Cloak of Elvenkind (V)
• Black Boots of Elvenkind (V)
• Black leather Gloves of Dexterity +2 (V)
• Mithril +2 Keen rapier (V)
• Vencarlo’s note book (V)
• Ledger for the fencing academy (V)
• Portrait of Sabine Merin by Trinia Sabore (V)
• 6 masterwork daggers (marked with a stylized letter ‘B’)
• 2 masterwork saw-toothed sabers
• 6 flasks of alchemists fire
• 2 Cloaks of Resistance +2 (claimed by Lellia and Max)
(Note: items marked with a V are assumed or known to belong to Vencarlo, those present at the game plan to return them to him.)
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In Attendance
• GM - Ollie
• Tain - Mothman
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
• Max - Max
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Summary for Session 24: An Audience with The Emperor
6th Pharast (night) / 7th Pharast (early hours of the morning)
Where to next?
In the wake of the fight with the mantis assassins, Lellia, Max and Tain continue searching the house for any further signs or clues to Vencarlo’s whereabouts, but find nothing to tell them what might have happened to him. They did notice a somewhat unusual painting in his room, painted in an impressionist style, depicting a Shoanti warrior with the pyramid that now serves as Castle Korvosa’s base in the background. It was signed with the initials ‘S.S.’
Belatedly, Tain started to think they should have questioned the assassins before dispatching them. He assumes that Vencarlo was taken by them (or their allies), thinking that the man would not have otherwise left his valuable Blackjack-style gear. Lellia disagrees, pointing out that there was no sign of a struggle - Vencarlo may have perceived the assassins’ approach and snuck away without a chance to retrieve his gear.
As the debate and search continues without resolution, Marcus and Mari arrive at the house, bringing with them a young nobleman wearing a rapier at his side, whom Marcus introduces as Celino Maernos, a friend and fellow student of Vencarlo Orisini’s. The two trios quickly update each other on the night’s events. Marcus and Mari had gone to the tavern to find Osric, but after waiting for some time (and running into a spot of trouble with some local thugs) they saw no sign of the dwarf, and eventually headed towards the Fencing Academy. They had of course found it burnt near to the ground, but also found Celino lurking about the area. Celino tells the group that he had been at the Academy looking for Vencarlo earlier in the afternoon, but no one was in attendance. All of a sudden, some unseen persons had thrown several ‘Issian Cocktails’ in through a window, setting the building ablaze. Celino had done his best to fight the fire, but to no avail. Since then, unable to return to the main part of Korvosa due to the burnt bridges, the man had lurked about, hoping that Vencarlo might return, until Marcus and Mari had found him.
Tain asked Celino and Marcus if they knew of anyone in Old Korvosa that Vencarlo might seek out if he needed help or sanctuary. Although neither man could think of anyone specific (most of Vencarlo’s friends and students lived outside of the Old City), Celino mentioned that the last time he had seen Vencarlo (the previous day) he had been meeting with a local artist called Salvatore Scream. Celino had heard raised voices coming from Vencarlo’s office during a meeting with Scream the previous day, though as far as he knew the men had been spending a reasonable amount of time together in recent weeks. Celino confirmed that the painting of the Shoanti in Vencarlo’s room was Scream’s work, and that several more of his pieces had recently been hung at the fencing academy, though they must have been destroyed in the fire. Celino also mentioned that yesterday, when Vencarlo returned to the academy (prior to his meeting with Scream) his clothes had been blood stained. He had told Celino that he had been assailed by some would-be robbers, easily dealt with, on his way there.
With few other leads, the group decided to seek out Salvatore Scream. Celino thought that the man lived on Wave Street, and Tain recalled having seen paintings of the same style in a window of a building on Wave Street several times recently when he had passed. As the group prepare to leave, Marcus has doubts about Mari continuing to wander the streets of lawless Old Korvosa at an hour well past midnight, and requests that she stay here in case Vencarlo returns. Surprisingly, she agrees. “Lock the door,” Tain suggests. “And hope they don’t have battering rams,” Marcus adds.
Wave Street
The group, sans Mari, head back out onto the moonlit streets, heading towards Wave Street. There are still a few people about on the streets as they head back into the slums, mostly armed toughs, though they universally give the group of armed heroes a wide berth.
Reaching the building on Wave Street they find a small gallery and shop with several paintings in the window, including some that bear Scream’s impressionist style. A door leads up some stairs to apartments above the shop in a similar arrangement to the place that Trinia Sabore was staying. There is a name board beside the door, indicating that Scream’s apartment is located at the back of the building on the top floor.
The group notices that the Emperor’s sign has been painted on the door; there is some debate as to its purpose. It might be meant as a sign that the building is under his protection or part of his territory, but soon the general conclusion is that it is meant as some kind of warning. The door is open, unlocked.
Heading up the stairs, Tain notices the smell of rot and blood. On the first floor, all the apartment doors have been smashed open, and a dismembered arm sticks out of one. The inhabitants of all the apartments have been killed, some of them having limbs severed by a sharp weapon, others with their faces pulped in. The group wonder if the mantis assassins might have been here, but the weapons used on these people did not deal the sorts of wounds that the saw toothed blades the assassins had used would have. Tain remembers the mark down stairs and believes the Emperor is responsible.
Running up to the top floor the group find a very similar scene. In Salvator’s apartment the group discover signs of a struggle but no blood and no body. While they are searching, Marcus hears a faint noise from the bathroom. Tain takes his flail in hand and strides into the room, expecting to find either a hiding artist or a would-be killer / kidnapper.
Upon first scanning the small room, Tain saw no-one ... until he suddenly realised that a tall, slim figure was standing right in front of him. Somehow at first glance his eyes had slid right past this elven woman dressed in black, tight fitting, spiked chainmail and holding a spiked chain in a non-threatening posture.
The group questioned the elf on who she was and what she was doing here, but she was initially reluctant to give her name. She seemed quite full of bravado, was quite flippant with her answers and flirted outrageously with Tain (much to the paladin’s obvious discomfort and Lellia’s obvious anger). Eventually she gave her name as Laori, and said that she had nothing to do with the deaths here or Salvatore’s disappearance. She had come here seeking the man and found this scene, only a few minutes before the PC’s arrived. The group could sense no deceit in her words, but Tain detected evil from her and demanded straight answers to what she was doing here and what her purpose with Salvatore was. The elf suggested the group move to another location to discuss such things; she was happy to talk, but had noticed the building being watched, and suspected that the PC’s approach had been noticed by unfriendly eyes.
Marcus went into the front apartment and looked out the window, seeing two armed toughs lurking on the street, looking up at the building. He suggested that the others head out (Laori suggested the back door with a sidelong look at Tain) whilst he moved around up here for a bit, making it look like they were still within. Tain kept a close eye on Laori as they went downstairs, but she again vanished when they got outside. With an effort of will Tain was able to determine her approximate location.
Marcus soon caught up with them as the group headed towards ‘the Zone’ - they had earlier noticed that this part of the Old city remained all but deserted despite the Hellknight blockade having long ended. Marcus noticed one of the thugs from Wave Street following them, and dashed after him. The man started to take off, but Max yelled out “STOP!” in an intimidating manner and the man momentarily paused, allowing Marcus to catch up with him, although not before the man made it back around the corner into Wave Street.
The thug’s companion was running towards the group, bringing a whistle up to his lips. Tain rushed towards him and tried to smack the whistle out of his hands (instead embedding the metal whistle into the flesh of his hand). Max cast a spell, reducing the other thug in size, and Marcus tackled and easily overpowered him, after Laori had restrained him with her spiked chain. The group restrained the two thugs and bundled them off towards the Zone for questioning.
In The Zone
The group found an abandoned warehouse near the edge of the Zone, taking the prisoners inside. Laori tagged along, despite Tain telling her to leave after she revealed herself as a worshipper of Zon- Kuthon after a display of sadism against the injured prisoner. She maintained that her immediate goals were aligned with the heroes’ and she could help them.
Questioning the men revealed that they worked for the Emperor. They claimed not to have killed the people in the tenement on Wave Street themselves (general consensus was they were telling the truth) and that they knew nothing about that (general consensus was they were lying). In the end they admitted that the Emperor had Salvatore, and revealed where the Emperor’s headquarters were, a warehouse near the docks.
The group left them tied up in the warehouse, then tried again to question Laori. She said she sought information from Salvatore and that she could help the heroes - the worshippers of Zon-Kuthon were against Queen Ileosa too she said. Apparently the crown that the Queen wore was decorated with the teeth of a long dead but very powerful ally / worshipper of the god of pain and loss, a relic thought lost by his worshippers long ago. Laori didn’t know how the Queen had ended up with it, but her religion wanted it back. Somehow she seemed to think that Salvatore could provide some help or answers to her, though she was very evasive about exactly how or why this was so. The group were generally rather reluctant to accept the help of this evil (if exceedingly cheerful) sadist, but generally came to the consensus that they would need all the help they could muster in Old Korvosa, and that “the enemy of my enemy is my reluctant ally”.
It was by now somewhere past three in the morning, some of the group members were starting to become dulled with sleep and the spellcasters would need sleep to replenish their spells. It was decided to sleep for a few hours in another abandoned house near the edge of the Zone before confronting the Emperor in the morning. They found a suitable location and established a watch. During his watch, whilst still dark, Tain heard a strange sharp ~crack~ noise coming from somewhere deeper within the Zone, followed soon afterwards by another. Later on he heard the same again, and looking towards the area it came from he saw a strange wavering greyness in the air, with something long seeming to grope along the ground in front of it. With the second ~crack~ both apparitions disappeared.
Once it was daylight, the group investigated the area Tain had seen these odd things. They found three strange, deep groove marks in the stone cobbles, as if made by enormous claws, which converged to a point then disappeared. The group were reminded of rumours that the disease in the Zone had originated from an extra-planar source, and also by the portal opening beneath the castle and the fiendish being they had seen. Lellia surmised that the portal that had been here had not been properly closed, and was occasionally springing open, allowing something from beyond to reach through. The group agreed that whilst this was a Bad Thing, they weren’t equipped to deal with it right now. They might need help from the churches or the Acadamae ... perhaps even Peryarv (though Marcus reiterated that he did not trust that man at all).
Wondering if the thing that came through the portal might have done something to the men they had questioned last night the group checked on them, but found them still bound (and sleeping) in the warehouse. So the heroes girded themselves and strode out towards the Emperor’s headquarters.
An Audience With The Emperor
7th Pharast (mid morning)
The heroes quickly scout the exterior of the warehouse. Through the main entrance there could be seen nine guards seated around tables talking, playing dice, etc. and occasionally directing people who enter the building further inside. Several side doors are noted and one seems to open onto a kitchen.
Tain and Marcus decide to utilise the same subtle plan that has worked before and march straight in through the front door accompanied by Lellia and Laori. Max and Celino remain outside as backup. When stopped by a guard, Marcus says “we have business with The Emperor.” He is told to “join the queue,” and is directed into a courtyard between the two buildings.
A small line of people wait in the courtyard. The group joins the line and Marcus offers some fresh food to the people ahead of them to take their place, moving quickly up the line this way. He also offers some fruit to the two door guards, a bribe they happily accept.
The group enters and inside is the “Emperor” on a makeshift throne. Two guards stand inside the doors.
Marcus and Tain attempt to threaten and negotiate with the emperor. Tain reveals he is a paladin of Abadar which the emperor brushes off claiming he is helping the locals more than the churches did. Marcus attempts to negotiate while Tain becomes more threatening. In response to Tain’s threats, the Emperor uses some form of magic to enhance his voice and screams for the guards.
The nine men from the entrance room grab their weapons and start to run out towards the back. Max and Celino follow quietly. Four red-shirted guards come into the “throne room” from a side door. A gnome with a mask covering half his face also comes through the side door. The gnome is (mistakenly) assumed by the group to be a wizard worshipper of Nethys.
The two guards from outside the throne room doors also enter. The group is mostly surrounded.
Tain acts first, casting Bull’s Strength on himself and calls out loudly that he is a paladin of Abadar and all who oppose him will feel the weight of justice, etc. etc. The two guards from outside the door decide that discretion is the better part of valor and slink off to enjoy their fruit upon hearing this.
Lellia casts lightning bolt targeting the gnome “wizard”. He and two of the red-shirts are wounded but still in the fight. In response the gnome hefts a small “greataxe” from his back starts frothing at the mouth and charges at Lellia. Barbarian apparently, not wizard. His charge passes directly between Marcus and Tain. Marcus catches him with a slight blow from his rapier while Tain lands a shuddering blow against him but he shrugs it off and continues after Lellia, wounding her badly with an axe strike.
Laori begins murmuring quietly, and summons up three shadowy figures.
The two wounded red shirts charge at Tain, the other two charge Marcus and the two door guards move to confront Laori. The Emperor quickly drinks two potions.
Max and Celino tail the nine guards from the front entrance as they race across the courtyard towards the sounds of battle, sending the waiting locals scrambling away in fear. Max pauses to cast a spell.
To be continued …
Loot
None.
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Lellia – the 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Max – Max
• Tain – Mothman
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Summary for Session 25: An Audience with The Emperor – Part 2
7th Pharast
The Fight Continues
Round 1 (continued from last game):
• Mari casts Cat’s Grace on herself and arrives outside the front building, and hears the sounds of commotion and battle from within the complex.
• Marcus steps back from the redshirts that have closed in on him, and with one smooth action, pulls a bomb from his belt, lights it with the cigar clenched between his teeth, and hefts it back over his shoulder into the midst of the guards running through the courtyard, who look down at it stupidly, not knowing what it is. It sits on the cobbles, the fuse slowly hissing.
• Celino charges the rearmost of those guards rushing from the front room into the courtyard, in the corridor between the two spaces, stabbing with his rapier - but he misses.
Round 2:
• Lellia takes a step back from the masked gnome berserker and casts hold person on him, a spell that he easily throws off in his enraged state.
• Tain charges the gnome, heedless of the three redshirts that strike at him as he disengages from or runs past them; fortunately only one wounds him, and he in turn hits the gnome, Jabbyr, heavily with his flail.
• Laori too steps away from the guards who menace her, as she finishes casting her spell, summoning three shadows. She orders her summoned minions to attack the two horrified guards on her. One is touched twice by the incorporeal terrors, draining the strength from him, while the other manages to dodge aside.
• Max finishes casting his own summoning spell then retreats from the chamber to the street (perhaps fearful of the enemies great numbers, or perhaps planning to stop any more thugs who might approach from the street). He spell summons a celestial wolverine into the midst of the guards in the courtyard, and it immediately leaps at one of the men, eviscerating him with tooth and claw.
• Mari moves past Max, casting Deep Slumber on a group of the guards in the courtyard and corridor; five of them succumb, slumping to the ground in deep sleep.
• Up on his stage, the Emperor casts confusion, trying to place the spell so as to affect the greatest number of his enemies and the fewest of his guardians; Marcus and Laori, although in the area of the spell, shake of its effects with a force of will - only one of the Emperor’s own guards (surrounded by shadows) is affected. Meanwhile the Emperor extorts and cajoles his guards to protect him, and capture one of the intruders alive to place within the guillotine that is revealed beside his throne (to Lellia’s horror).
• The gnome Jabbyr returns Tains blow, wounding the paladin.
• One of the unwounded redshirts in the throne room moves to attack Tain, hitting him from behind.
• Two redshirts (one unwounded and one wounded by Lellia’s lightning bolt) move to attack Marcus.
• The second wounded redshirt moves to guard the Emperor.
• The guard drained by the shadows flees the throne room in gibbering terror. The other (confused by his Emperor’s magic) attempts to attack Laori, but misses badly.
• Out in the courtyard, two guards who were standing watch over other ways in to the place, seeing their comrades cut down by wolverines, felled by sorcery, or shrieking about undead, look at each other across the yard, nod, and quietly slink away, following the two who left when Tain made his earlier proclamation. The last of the civilians who were awaiting the Emperor’s wisdom also flee the scene.
• The two guards who remain on their feet in the courtyard (one a redshirt), flank, attack and kill the wolverine.
• In the corridor of the front building, the guard fighting Celino fights back, wounding the nobleman.
• Marcus attacks one of the redshirts menacing him and maneuvers around so as not to be flanked.
• Celino desperately returns the guards attacks, but misses.
Round 3:
• Lellia fans and angles her hands, casting burning hands on Jabbyr (careful not to catch Tain or Marcus in the sheet of flame), but the gnome manages to dodge the main brunt of the blast.
• Tain calls upon Abadar’s might and smites the gnome - a critical blow, the swing of his flail smashes the gnome aside, killing him instantly as he drops out of his rage, to smash into the redshirt behind him as the weapon arcs around.
• Laori hangs back and watches in delight, giggling happily as her summoned shadows converge on the confused guard, draining his strength with their cold incorporeal touch.
• Mari steps forward to attack the guard that faces Celino, striking the man with her dagger suddenly grown to rapier - the thug howls in shock and pain.
• The Emperor levels his rod of wonder at Tain, furious that the paladin has struck down his cohort; but rather than blasting Tain with arcane energy, the strange power of the wand merely turns his skin blue, much to the Emperor’s chagrin. He calls for his men to bring him the paladin’s head.
• The redshirt attacks Tain, but misses without Jabbyr to back him up.
• The two redshirts facing Marcus press their attack on the nobleman.
• Out in the courtyard, the two standing guards, hesitant about entering the throne room without more back up, wake two of their slumbering compatriots.
• The guard in the corridor attacks Mari, who dodges aside from his clumsy axe swing.
• The poor confused guard, surrounded by shadows in the throne room, hits himself in the head with his sword.
• Marcus attacks, striking one of the redshirts he faces, a serious wound, his rapier piercing straight through the man’s bicep, and maneuvers around again to avoid being flanked.
• Out in the courtyard, Marcus’s bomb explodes wounding five of the thugs in the courtyard and corridor - however, most of them manage to leap aside, avoiding critical injury. Those still sleeping due to Mari’s spell are awakened by the blast.
• Celino presses the attack on the guard that he and Mari face, wounding the man a further time.
Round 4:
• Lellia casts a favourable hex on Tain, who goes on to hit the redshirt he faces twice, hard.
• Laori calls out to Marcus, asking if he needs some help ... then calls down a Flame Strike in the centre of the room, catching three redshirts in its radius. One of the redshirts fighting Marcus is incinerated, the other badly burnt, whilst the redshirt guarding the Emperor is blackened and barely on his feet between the fire and the earlier lightning bolt.
• The shadows keep attacking the confused guard, his strength all but gone.
• Mari continues her attack on the guard in the corridor.
• The Emperor, still infuriated with Tain, casts hold person on him, but the holy warrior shakes off the effects.
• The redshirt fighting Tain, having avoided being caught in the flame strike, hits the paladin.
• The wounded redshirt fighting Marcus also manages to hit his opponent.
• The redshirt in the courtyard attempts to rally his men, leading them in a charge into the throne room ... but only one other has the gumption to follow him after seeing the flame strike. The redshirt and guard move to flank Marcus, the redshirt hitting him hard and viciously. Marcus is surrounded and in trouble.
• Three of the guards from the courtyard decide that Mari and Celino look like easier targets than those in the throne room, and move to attack them, crowding up on each other in the passageway.
• Two of the guards from the courtyard, having seen their friend ripped apart by a wolverine, been magically put to sleep and then almost blown up, decide discretion is the better part of valour and slink away.
• Marcus, harried, maneuvers himself out of a flanking position, stabbing about him desperately.
• Celino stabs the guard he has been fighting through the wrist, causing him to howl in pain and drop his weapon.
Round 5
• Lellia casts another spell, and a swarm of thousands of stinging wasps vomits forth from her mouth, buzzing towards the redshirt who charged in from the courtyard to attack Marcus. The man is stung hundreds of times as wasps crawl over his flesh and attempt to crawl into his mouth and other orifices, nauseating and poisoning the man.
• Nearby, Tain finishes off redshirt he has been fighting, then moves across the room to assist Marcus
• Laori also moves to assist Marcus and finishes off one of the redshirts he has been fighting with her spiked chain. Meanwhile, her shadows finish off the confused guard who falls into the floor in a heap, too weak to support his own weight.
• At the other end of the complex, Mari steps back from the oncoming thugs and draws her wand. Spotting the Emperor up on his stage through the open doorways and ongoing melee, she sends a barrage of magic missiles towards the man, who curses creatively as they hit him.
• The Emperor steps out of Mari;s line of sight and aims his Rod at Marcus, who manages to evade the lightning bolt that crackles towards him. The Emperor continues to vent his frustration, but is starting to look worried.
• The redshirt in the midst of the wasp swarm is by now seriously regretting his decision to join the main battle and, unable to do much else, stumbles out of the throne room, swatting away wasps and vomiting as he goes. His companion, the other guard from the courtyard also flees in the wake of the wasp swarm and the shadows, slipping down a narrow alley that heads away from the courtyard.
• The four thugs in the corridor crowd in on Celino, and one hits him square in the face with her axe, splitting his face from scalp to chin. In agony, with blood running into his eyes and dripping down his shirt, Celino stabs back blindly, his rapier miraculously finding a target.
• Marcus darts towards the stage to attack the redshirt who remains guarding the Emperor, and easily finishes the badly wounded man off. The Emperor now has no allies or cohorts left standing in the throne room.
Round 6
• Lellia calls to Tain and Laori not to kill the Emperor “ we need him alive” then moves out into the courtyard, driving her wasp swarm ahead of her towards the guards in the corridor near Celiano and Mari, and calls for the alarmed looking thugs to throw down their weapons.
• Tain races up the stairs onto the raised stage, heading towards the Emperor.
• Laori directs her shadows to close in towards the Emperor from the other side.
• From across the other side of the battlefield, Mari casts dispel magic on the Emperor, seeking to neutralise any ongoing protective spells he might have.
• The Emperor casts a spell - and vanishes!
• Two of the guards in the corridor flee through the kitchen as the wasps fly towards them, two throw down their weapons and grovel for mercy at the feet of Celino and Mari.
• Marcus vaults up onto the platform to try to find the Emperor, swinging his rapier about (to no avail) in case the man has become invisible.
• Celino kicks away the weapons of the surrendering guards, and wipes the blood from his face.
Where Did That Bastard Go?!
Believing the "Emperor" has concealed himself with magic, Marcus and Tain spend a few moments searching the raised platform, poking at the air with their weapons and feeling about with their hands. Meanwhile, Mari rushes to join the others and Lellia moves to block the exits from the room, directing her enchanted swarm of wasps to cover the large courtyard door.
Mari openly questions the others’ allying with Laori, and fighting along-side her summoned shadows. Laori takes this cheerfully enough, flirting with Mari (who is not amused). Tain admonishes Laori to dismiss the summoned undead, and she does so.
After a few moments of searching Tain stops Marcus and suggests that Pilts may have in fact used some form of short-range teleport spell (Spellcraft skill to the rescue!). In consultation with Mari and Lellia, they agree it is the most likely possibility and reach the conclusion he may have teleported into the unsearched portion of the warehouse to escape or summon aid. Marcus and Mari recall a few things about Pilts Swastel - he was the owner of a play house with a rather disturbing reputation until it was burnt down in the riots following King Eodred’s death. He had a thing for the luxuries in life and aspirations to a higher station. The two decide that he would be unlikely to flee here without trying to take a few luxuries with him.
In the front building, Celino calls out questioning what he should do with his prisoners. After he receives no reply he scoops the men's weapons aside, nudges one of them in the ribs with his boot and tells them to "get out of here" gesturing towards the door with his rapier blade. After he is sure they have departed he checks with Max who agrees to cover the front door in case any of Pilts' men return.
In the "Emperor's Court", Lellia's attention is drawn back to the hulking timber frame of the guillotine at the edge of the stage area. Cold anger sweeping over her, she sweeps up an axe from the corner of the room and starts hacking into the machine. As the Baroness spends her anger against the despised device, Mari and Marcus investigate the adjoining portion of the warehouse. Tain and Lellia also use their gifts to heal the wounded members of the party (each other, Marcus and Celino).
A large open space is filled with litter, barrels and crates. In one corner stands what appears to be an office of sorts, partially screened from view by timber partitions. Maps cover the walls and papers and ledgers are laid out on a large desk. Marcus notes this for future investigation. At the far side of the warehouse is a door that presumably leads to the street.
Attempting to find the Emperor, Mari casts a spell seeking out thoughts of danger and escape and soon zeroes in on a mind desperate to flee. She directs the group up a small winding staircase to a mezzanine floor above the warehouse.
Mari sneaks up the stairs to the door that leads into the mezzanine area. Finding it locked, she attempts to pick the lock, but finds it beyond her skills. Tain tries to smash down the door, causing a loud racket, but the door stays firm. Concerned that Pilts will have heard this, Mari quickly casts knock to open the door, and the group pile in to the corridor beyond.
Questions and Answers with the Emperor
Mari notices an open doorway and, hearing the sound of breaking glass from somewhere beyond, leads the way through a dining room adorned with poorly preserved severed heads into the Emperor’s bedroom where the Emperor is discovered attempting to escape out his bedroom window. Mari and Lellia cast spells to incapacitate him before he can make good his escape. Tain hauls him back through the window and he is tied to the bed.
Three paintings by Salvatore Scream adorn the walls and Laori is fascinated by them to the exclusion of all else. One painting depicts a thin humanoid clothed in shadows with angry brilliant blue eyes standing beneath a dolman. The second shows a desert (its stones and sand comprised of thousands of tiny skulls) under a brilliant blue sky with a mountain range in the background, and a group of riders racing along on tusked camels in the foreground. The last shows a handsome man with a joyful expression but blank dead eyes peeling back the skin of his forearms to reveal flesh studded with glittering blue scales beneath. In the background are people impaled on stakes and behind them is some kind of indistinct mountain or castle.
Lellia asks Laori about the paintings, but she will say only that “they have it.” She then agrees to tell the group all that she knows about the paintings and Salvatore if they will let her keep the paintings. Lellia says she will need to speak to the others. Meanwhile, the usual looting occurs, but it appears that most of the Emperor’s possessions are not as grand as they first appear.
The group agrees to Laori’s request, although Mari puts in the disclaimer that the information must be useful. Mari privately tells the others that she has no intention of keeping this promise if it turns out that the paintings hold some clue to defeating the queen.
Laori tells the group that she is a member of a group within the church of Zon-Kuthon who are searching for relics of a “saint” of the religion (such as the teeth on the Queen’s crown - when Marcus pointed out that the teeth are much bigger than a man’s, Laori admits that this “saint” did not always keep human form). Her group noticed that several artists from Korvosa had begun to demonstrate themes in their work that seemed influenced by Zon-Kuthon, and she was dispatched here to check them out. By the time she arrived most of the artists were dead (seemingly by their own hands), all except for Salvatore. She wants to find out where he came by his inspiration, and thinks it possible he might provide her with some insight into getting the Queen’s crown, as, with the crown, Ileosa will be too powerful for Laori to take it. She wants the paintings because their themes are pleasing and holy to her religion.
Questions are asked of Pilts and the group agrees he is an evil fiend and that he has likely been running much of the Thieves Guild in the area. He implies he was Bavarsi's employer (something the ledgers later seem to backup). He claims that he was hired by House Arkona to kidnap the artist, and handed him over to their agent’s custody yesterday afternoon. He admits to having the other artists in the building killed, but says that he was told by the Arkona agent to “ensure there were no witnesses” and claims that he dared not go against the Arkonas’ implied order.
The group find a stash of food and other items taken as "payment" from locals. They also find several other Scream paintings, but many of these are half finished, or have been partially painted over. Even the finished ones seem to lack the vitality of the three in Pilts’ bedroom, and Laori has no interest in them.
Tain judges Pilts as guilty of numerous crimes (particularly multiple murders, crimes that he readily admitted to in regards to the executions) and determines (with some prompting by Marcus and others) that he should be sentenced immediately given the current circumstances.
Pilts is dragged downstairs and hung from the front of his warehouse.
Marcus and Tain speak to the locals and gather a few trustworthy people together. The form a small "Council" and suggest other useful people. Marcus and Tain entrust them with distributing the food and goods and hand over 500 gold sails to help.
They are also entrusted with getting together trustworthy young local men to take the recovered weapons and help keep the peace until normality is restored.
While all this is going on (a process that takes a good part of the day, and includes the involvement of the whole group), Laori slips away, apparently hiding the Scream paintings somewhere.
The group agrees they should try and infiltrate Palace Arkona to find the artist (as well as follow up on a rumour from a local that a carriage bearing the Arkona coat of arms was seen in the vicinity of Vencarlo’s house). It is decided that the group will arrive at Arkona's residence in the morning as a group of nobles seeking refuge from the chaos sweeping the Old City. In the meantime the group retires to Vencarlo’s house in the late afternoon to discuss strategy.
Loot
• Rod of Wonder (12,000 gp) - taken by Mari.
• +1 Glamoured Chain Shirt (4,050 gp) - taken by Mari (but she is lending it to Laori).
• Cloak of Charisma +2 (4,000 gp) - taken by Marcus.
• +1 Greataxe (gnome-sized) (2,320 gp).
• +1 Leather Armour (gnome-sized) (1,160 gp).
• Amulet of Natural Armour +1 (2,000 gp) - taken by Lellia.
• Gauntlets of Ogre Strength +2 (4,000 gp) - taken by Tain.
• Fine platinum and crystal decanter of fine brandy - taken by Marcus (temporarily of course).
• Assortment of gaudy clothes and costume jewellery. Most of the clothes are worn or soiled noble's outfits that are 10 or more years out of style.
• 11x paintings by Salvatore Scream. Most are of average quality and lack the distinct "power" or energy of his most famous works. Worth 20gp each.
• Strongbox containing 1,044 gold coins - Marcus hands over 504 gp of these to the new "Council for Civic Safety", the rest divided between Mari, Lellia, Tain, Celliano and Max (108 gp each).
• Assorted documents, ledgers, and maps from the "Emperor" showing his illegal activities, employees, areas under his protection, victims, etc. - taken by Marcus.
• Accounts for Eel's End. Shows a "tithe" being paid to the Emperor of Old Korvosa - taken by Marcus.
• Pilt's personal accounts and ledger. Shows money coming in from Eel's End and other businesses, also shows a "tithe" being paid to another unnamed party (presumably House Arkona - or could be the Thieves' Guild?) - taken by Marcus.
• Dozens of worn books, mostly concerned with erotic and/or violent themes. - some of the books were taken by Mari (as she is reading them during the downtime discussion).
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In Attendance
• GM - Mothman
• Mari- Chubbs McGee
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Tain - Mothman
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Summary for Session 26: Palace Arkona
8th Pharast
A Welcoming Reception
Early in the evening, as the group settles in at Vencarlo’s house, Ishani, the cleric of Abadar makes his way there. He had come to Old Korvosa hoping to help the population, and had heard of their deeds in Old Dock earlier in the day and tracked them down to here. Tain tells Ishani that he will be welcome to join them and updates him on events so far.
The group rests at Vencarlo’s house until about four in the morning, then make their way through the dark, quiet streets towards Palace Arkona. Max does not accompany them, choosing instead to check on some relatives in Old Korvosa.
Marcus gives his tale of woe to the guards at the gate, one of whom goes to awaken the Arkona’s major domo, a man at least six and a half feet tall, taller even than Tain. He listens to Marcus’s retelling of the tale mostly impassively, although he looks about the deserted moonlit streets in bemusement when Marcus speaks of chaos on the streets and wild mobs. In the end though he invites the group into the palace, extending the refuge of the house to the Merivanchis and their companions.
They walk through the extensive, wooded grounds, hearing the roar and rumble of wild animals from here and there (Marcus and Mari having previously warned the group that the Arkona’s kept a rather wild and exotic menagerie on the grounds), and soon reach the grand main palace atop the hill. They are shown to a sitting room with exotic if somewhat faded and out of date decor and servants bring in a grand breakfast of fresh fruit and bread, as well as basins of water and wash-cloths. Lellia, suspicious of the hospitality, makes a quick search of the room but finds nothing out of the ordinary. Mari casts detect magic, discovering only a minor, self-cleaning enchantment on some of the silverware. Lellia also tests the food for poisons or drugs, but discovers only that they are extremely fresh and of excellent quality. The group partake of breakfast.
After some time the major domo returns and invites them to partake of the palace’s bath house to refresh themselves, before meeting with the head of the house, Lord Glorio Arkona.
The Bath House
The group arrive at the bathhouse, a large ornate structure with two large bathing pools and changing rooms, where two Vudrani servants wait beside a stack of towels, scented soaps and such. Tain expresses some hesitation at the men in the group bathing alongside the women ... but Lellia and Laori are both already stripping down, Marcus looks like he’s into the idea and even Mari is not protesting (although she displays far more modesty than the other two ladies).
Tain did a circuit of the chamber, noticing that one of the attendants seemed to have a dagger hidden in his clothing, and that there was another set of doors presumably leading to out to the grounds. His vigilance was somewhat distracted by Laori parading naked past him.
Everyone got into the pools to bathe, except Tain who remained partially clothed, washing himself with a cloth with his weapons within reach. Lellia soon emerged from the pool to move to a lounge, asking Celino to give her a massage.
At about this point, Glorio Arkona entered the bath house, wearing only a robe which he soon shed to reveal a tanned and powerful physique. He welcomed the group to his house then slipped into a pool, commenting that he liked to conduct business in the baths, finding that nudity tended to make people more honest. He then asked them why they had come here.
Marcus again answered with the party line about being trapped in Old Korvosa and seeking sanctuary. Glorio commented that he had heard about the group and their efforts to save the city from disaster ... including their tangle the previous day with a local crime lord. Marcus admits to the confrontation with Pilts. Glorio goes on to say that a group of such caliber surely does not need to seek sanctuary from the dangers of Old Korvosa - what is their real purpose here? Everyone looks to Marcus to answer.
“We need to speak to someone else that we believe is staying here,” says Marcus after a brief hesitation.
“You speak perhaps of the artist, Scream?” Glorio replies. “Yes, he is my guest presently.”
Tain adds that they have also heard that Vencarlo might be here, and that they want to speak to him as well. Glorio agrees, and sends one of the servants to “fetch our other guests”. The servant leaves, but soon returns, whispering something into Glorio’s ear.
“Ah, it is as I feared,” he says. “You are too late. It seems that during the night my sister Vimanda has taken our guests down into the Labyrinth.”
The group stare at Glorio, flabbergasted. “You have ... a labyrinth?”
“Yes, below the grounds. It is filled with traps and guardian creatures, we use it as a testing ground for the house guards, ensuring that only the very best are employed.”
“Riiight ... and why would your sister take your guests there?”
“I imagine she thought that a spot of torture in an isolated location might get them to answer her questions. We’ve heard that the pair of them might have some insight into dealing with our Queen. I prefer a more subtle approach to questioning, but my sister and I don’t see eye to eye on many things.”
“Riiight ... um, can you send some of your guards down there to fetch them?”
“Alas no, my guards are busy protecting the palace from the lawlessness of Old Korvosa. No, it would probably be best if you went down there yourselves. For heroes such as yourself our training ground should prove hardly a challenge.”
Marcus was trying to judge the truth in Glorio’s words, coming to the conclusion that he was mixing together a lot of half truths into a coherent whole. Tain concentrated on detecting evil, and found that Glorio had a strong evil aura. But the group soon came to the conclusion that they had little choice - if they wanted to rescue Vencarlo and Scream, they would have to head into the Labyrinth themselves, especially as Glorio urged them to “hurry, before Vimanda tortures them too much. She’s a little overzealous. We don’t see eye to eye on many things ...” Glorio also offered the group a monetary reward and a magical ring, so long as they rescued the two men and allowed him to speak to them before they left the palace.
Glorio told them how to access the Labyrinth - on the grounds is a small grotto containing a golden elephant statue. If the statue is pushed in a certain place and manner, the entrance to the Labyrinth will be revealed. Upon Tain’s request, Glorio provided what he said was a map of the Labyrinth, though it seemed suspiciously simple for a place with such a name.
Marcus asked how Glorio expected the group to react should Vimanda not wish to give up her prisoners. Glorio answered that he would very much hope that no harm came to his sister, but of course the Labyrinth was a dangerous place and accidents had been known to happen ...
Almost sure that they were being duped and used, but seeing little other choice, the group dressed, equipped themselves, and headed out into the grounds.
The Labyrinth
The grotto is easily found with Glorio’s directions. A gold coloured door in the rock face on one side of the grotto is engraved with a picture of a person with four faces and six arms riding a tiger with human hands. Beyond the door is a small chamber with the golden elephant statue, which the group pushes aside, revealing a small staircase leading down to a large underground cavern.
The group were on a ledge overlooking a narrow underground lake or inlet, with a ramp leading down to some dry ground beside the water. Behind them on the ledge was a door, with another set of larger double doors at the level below. A row boat was tied up at a small pier at the water’s edge.
The group first investigated the door behind them, finding a small room, its walls lined with shelves bearing dozens of carvings of animals of various types in different materials. Not being able to discern the import of the animal carvings, the group next headed down the ramp. As they passed a particular area, Laori’s elven senses noticed a secret doorway, which the group opened up to reveal a long, twisting passageway. Deciding to investigate this passage later, they continued towards the double doors, noticing that they were carved with the same image as the door upstairs.
Tain pushed the doors open, and the group was greeted by a bizarre sight within. The large chamber appeared to be some sort of temple, with a golden statue of a tiger-headed humanoid as its focal point at the far end. The side walls of the chamber were lined with smaller statues of different animal headed humanoids.
In front of the large statue knelt something that the statue may well have been modeled after, a tall man with a tiger’s head. Weaving and bobbing in front of him were two absolutely enormous cobras. The tiger headed man seemed to be offering them a shed snakeskin, big enough to have come from one of the cobras.
The group all glanced at each other with expressions of confusion and horror at the spectacle. “Close the doors,” Mari whispered. Tain nodded, and started to push the double doors closed again, but some noise alerted the tiger headed man, who looked over his shoulder at Tain, his eyes blazing. The two snakes also looked up. As the doors closed shut, the man was standing and striding across the chamber, his giant snakes slithering beside him.
“I think that is a Rakshasa,” said Mari, looking about, as Tain held the heavy doors closed. There was a thud from the other side, and Tain was barely able to hold them shut. Mari spied a heavy looking steel bar lying on the ground nearby, and pushed it through the looped door handles. There was another thud, and the doors shook, but held.
The group agreed that this appeared it would be a tough fight, and didn’t seem likely to help them find Salvatore or Vencarlo (who had not been in the room, nor did there appear to be any exits). They hurried back towards the secret tunnel, entering and shutting the door behind them.
The tunnel twisted and turned down into the earth, finally ending at a set of double doors inscribed with a symbol of four circles composed of tigers chasing each other. Each circle had a tiger’s face at its centre. Beyond the doors was simply a small alcove flanked by statues. Tain and Lellia searched the blank wall ahead and realised that it was an illusion. Passing through, the heroes entered a circular chamber with a single lever protruding from the floor at its centre. As they discussed what to do next there was a grinding noise, and the whole chamber seemed to rotate a quarter-turn anti-clockwise. The entry point was obscured, closed off, but a new exit had opened up.
The group encountered a t-junction which ended at a closed door in one direction and an opening to a rectangular chamber at the other. Heading towards the open chamber, the group discovered another lever in the floor. Mari cast detect magic, and noticed a strong magical aura emanating from the lever. Moving to examine the aura, she noticed a symbol inscribed onto the lever. Suddenly, there was a bright flash and everyone went insane.
No one seemed to know quite what was going on, where they were, what they were doing or who they were with. People started wandering off, or eyeing the folk around them suspiciously, hands straying to weapon hilts, or just standing around stupidly. Tain used his detect evil ability, and, sensing evil in Laori, challenged her, weapon in hand. She began swinging her spiked chain in response.
Through a phenomenal force of will, Marcus managed to shake off the haze over his mind, and was able to diffuse the situation, dragging people away from the room. Away from the immediate area of the strange symbol, the insanity effect seemed to drain away or lessen, although Mari and to a lesser extent Lellia still seemed somewhat dazed.
The labyrinth continued to rotate, this time in a clockwise direction, connecting the entry passage of the t-junction to a different point. The group investigated the door they had seen earlier, and found beyond it a room containing three chests, each with riddle-like inscriptions in Vudrani on their lids. Ishani was able to translate these for the rest of the group, but despite several guesses they were not really able to ascertain their meanings, especially with Mari still somewhat out of it from the insanity effect.
Lellia touches the chest on the left, but there appears to be some sort of poison on it - fortunately she is able to fight off the effects. Tain then smashes the chest open and it is revealed to be empty. At this point Tain suggests that these chests are all part of a trick or trap and advocates leaving the room, but Lellia wants to keep trying. Tain tries to smash open the right-hand chest, but is enveloped in a spray of poison gas that seems to reduce his wisdom. Under the effects of the gas, and at the urging of Lellia, he stands behind the chest and smashes it again, releasing more gas (which further effects him) and revealing this chest also to be empty. At this point the group agrees to leave the chamber, but Tain, reckless under the effects of the gas, wants to go charging off, checking other rooms and pulling levers. Marcus manages to talk him out of it.
The group wander around the labyrinth, which rotates several more times in different directions, cutting off some passages and revealing new ones. They encounter several more chambers, including one with a small pool and fountain, one filled with mould-covered skeletons and one containing another level and four floating spheres. In one dirt encrusted chamber, Lellia uncovers another symbol that fills everyone with wracking pain (Laori seems to enjoy it). Stung by these experiences the group becomes very hesitant to touch or try anything, and their exploration slows to a crawl.
Tain’s wisdom returns and Marcus remains coherent and alert, although most of the others remain in a dazed and defeated state after their trials. Marcus, using his compass and a simple sketch is trying to understand the rotations of the labyrinth and map a route through it, but is becoming somewhat defeated, until Tain recalls the image of the tigers in circles on the entry doors, and realises that this was a clue to how the place rotates - four separate rotating circles, with some circles rotating clockwise and others anti-clockwise depending on the direction that the tigers were facing. Armed with this information, Marcus begins to get a better handle on how the labyrinth works, and finding a way through.
Eventually the band emerge from a recently rotated corridor into a large chamber filled with horrid torture devices (even Laori raises an eyebrow). Hanging by chains in an alcove on one side of the room, gagged and injured, is Vencarlo. There is a door giving egress from the chamber. Tain and Marcus are suspicious of Vencarlo being left here apparently unguarded, and fear an ambush. Tain notices that Vencarlo’s eyes seem to be flicking towards the door as if warning them of something. The group focuses their attention on the door as Tain opens it ... revealing a long, apparently empty corridor.
Behind them, “Vencarlo’s” form shifts and wavers as “he” steps out of the alcove, unrestrained and reveals “his” true form - a large, sphinx-like being with the body of a lion, the upper torso of a human woman and twisted horns upon her head. She holds a blood red kukri in either hand. The monster taunts them for falling for her trick, before Tain charges to the attack and battle is joined.
Ishani shouts out that the monster is a fiend known as a Dark Sphinx, and is resistant to many types of energy. Tain begins the battle with a big hit against the creature, but is soon pressed by the sphinx’s twin kukri attacks, which seem almost to drink blood, and he finds it initially difficult to follow up on his early success. Marcus inspires the group with a short speech, then he and Celino attack, but they too find it difficult to penetrate her defenses. Laori initially attacks with her spiked chain, but finding only limited success with her attacks, switches to magic, blasting it with fire, an energy that apparently the sphinx is not entirely immune to. Lellia casts some positive hexes on Marcus, as the creature seems to be largely resistant to spells she uses against it. Ishani alternates between channeling positive energy to harm the evil outsider and channeling healing energy to his companions.
Tain is continuing to be hard pressed, the creature scoring a number of serious hits against him, while it is looking wounded but not seriously threatened, when Mari, who had initially been using protective magic on herself, levels her newly found Rod of Wonder at the monster - and a fully grown elephant appears, standing over the creature. Panicking in the tight confines of the chamber and at the sounds of battle, the elephant stamps on the sphinx’s hind-quarters, seriously injuring it. Tain and Marcus press the attack and finish the fiend off. Tain managed to calm the elephant.
The dark sphinx (who had earlier introduced herself as Sivit, had claimed to have created the magical symbol traps around the dungeon and said she had been summoned here by someone called Bahor) was searched, and then the group left via the doorway (no one mentioned the elephant in the room).
The Prisoners
The passage led to a chamber holding a number of small cells, with Salvatore trapped in one and Vencarlo in another. Before the cells, surveying the prisoners, stood a beautiful young woman in a revealing gown whom some member of the group recognised as Vimanda Arkona, Glorio’s sister. “Hello,” she said calmly. “Did my brother send you?”
“We’ve come to rescue these men from your deprivations,” Tain answered sternly.
“Mine?” the woman answered with an arched eyebrow. “How so? It must surely have been my brother who had them imprisoned down here,” she continued. “This place is, after all, his pet project. I came here because my brother mentioned there was something that would interest me down here – I would imagine he is playing games with you, hoping that you would take me for a villain. The fact is, I was just about to set these poor men free.” She held up a large key as if to illustrate her point.
“Is there any truth to this?” Tain asked of Vencarlo and Scream, who were eyeing the heroes hopefully. Scream looked haggard, with deep bruises under his eyes, while Vencarlo appeared a little disheveled but otherwise unharmed.
“I’m not quite certain,” answered Vencarlo. “I received a summons from Glorio Arkona, it must have been the night before last. His message suggested he had something important to discuss with me, but dinner with he and his family, including this young lady consisted mainly of airy pleasantries as I recall. After dinner ... everything grows hazy. I believe I was drugged, but I cannot honestly say who might have been responsible and who may or may not have realised it. I awoke here, with senor Scream in the next cell. The young lady arrived here only a few moments before you did.”
Scream’s story matched what the group had learnt from The Emperor. After being handed over by that thug to some men wearing the uniform of house Arkona, he had been knocked out and awoken here. Neither man reported being tortured or abused beyond being locked up.
“Who was it who summoned that fiend we fought back there,” Tain gestured up the passageway as he looked to Vimanda, “to this place?”
“Oh, you met Sivit then?” Vimanda asks. “She has a temper doesn’t she ... or had? At any rate, she was not here on my summons, it was Bahor who bound her here.”
Tain was about to ask who Bahor was, when Marcus cleared his throat. “Perhaps you should let these men out of those cages now?” he asked Vimanda, though it was more of a forceful suggestion than a question. Behind him, Laori nodded, staring at Scream with bright, unblinking eyes.
Vimanda assented, and unlocked the cages. “Perhaps we should try to find out why my brother had them locked down here?” she suggested as she stepped aside to allow the men out of their cells. The group was also eager to know the answer to that question, but were wary about revealing too much in front of Vimanda. “Why don’t we ask your brother that question directly?” Marcus said, gesturing with a somewhat mocking flourish for Vimanda to lead the way back out of the labyrinth.
Loot
• Two masterwork kukris
• Amulet of Health +4
• Ring of Protection +2
• 3 interwoven fine-etched silver rings, the rings are interwoven threads of silver patterned in a 4-cord repeating knot, with two of the threads etched with fine symbols (2000gp in total)
• Ruby necklace, set with pearl, hanging on a fine silver chain (2,500gp)
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Tain – Mothman
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Due to real life events I needed to take a break from the campaign for several sessions at this point. For the next few games, Tain is either run as an NPC or absent (although where possible I provided advice via phone or email to the GM or other players as to what Tain’s course of action might be).
However, a new player character, Dario is set to enter the campaign. Dario’s player has gamed with members of our gaming group before. Also, as it happened, Mister Deparle returned from his interstate sojourn at about the point that I needed to leave.
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Summary for Session 27: Palace Arkona Part 2
8th Pharast
A Welcoming Reception?
Having secured the rescue of Vencarlo Orisini and Salvatore Scream, the group made their way back to the surface. Vimanda Arkona, Glorio's sister, followed wishing to learn what information Scream could be convinced to pass on.
Emerging from the tunnel beneath the golden elephant, the group found Glorio Arkona and several guards waiting for them. All fake smiles and false greeting, Glorio asked the group to await him in the dining hall while he gathered their reward. Marcus tentatively agreed, calming Tain's desire to strike the fiend-worshiper down on the spot. Meanwhile Mari and Lellia made hushed plans with Vencarlo.
Validian, the Major-Domo emerged from the shadows of the balcony to escort the group and Glorio stormed off up the stairs with his sister and the guards in tow. As Glorio disappeared, Marcus engaged the Major-Domo and remaining guards in conversation, distracting their attention. Vencarlo and Laori took the opportunity to spirit the artist Scream out through a side door and hopefully safely from the Palace.
Meanwhile . . .
Dario Ornelos awoke to find himself imprisoned. His arms were manacled above his head and a thick black bag was bound around his head blinding him and making it difficult to draw breath. The room around him felt small and cramped and he believed another prisoner shared the space with him, but one that did not move or speak.
From outside the room he could hear muffled sounds of conversation and the clatter of metal. Dario struggled to free himself, but to no avail. When he tried to call upon his magics, he found these to be blocked somehow, and he began to despair of his situation.
After some time lingering in the prison he sensed movement and felt someone working at his bindings. Within a few moments the manacles fell away and he was free. Lifting his weary arms, he pulled the hood away from his face to find no trace of his rescuer. In the near dark of the room his elven eyes could make out several other humanoid figures hanging in the small space - all dead, some missing body parts. Fear and disgust rising, he burst through the door from the small dark room, into a kitchen. On a wheeled butcher's block nearby stood a half-dismembered corpse, and the true nature of the larder he had been imprisoned in became apparent.
"Allow me to present my counter-offer"
Inside the dining hall, a sumptuous feast was laid out, the table dominated by a large ice sculpture of an elephant with a large bloodstone set in its temple. The group eyed the sculpture warily and none were willing to risk the fare laid out before them. Marcus, Tain and Mari engaged in hushed and heated conversation about what to do next, Tain was unwilling to deal with Glorio now after what he had witnessed in the Vivified Labyrinth. Marcus counseled caution, but was plainly not happy to be dealing with the Arkonas.
After a short time, Glorio swept into the room followed by a pair of guards. He was plainly unhappy and angered. Marcus stepped forward to greet his host, sweeping his broad-brimmed hat in a polite bow - and drawing a small flintlock pistol from his jacket behind the concealment of the hat with his other hand. Glorio's pair of guards moved around the edges of the room to guard the two other doors from the room.
Throwing a sword (identified by some as a Korvosan Guard officer's sword) roughly on the table, Glorio snarled at Marcus "I know your mind now Merivanchi, you come into my house intending me harm." He pulled something from his pocket - a ring - and threw it towards Marcus "Take your payment. But it will do you no good, you will not leave my home alive".
Smiling, Marcus simply replied "In that case, allow me to present my counter-offer," and fired the concealed pistol straight into Glorio's chest. The smile slipped from Marcus' face as the lead ball dropped harmlessly to the floor and Glorio was unharmed. "Oh Crap."
Following Marcus' lead, Tain hefted his flail and charged Glorio, "In Abadar's name I smite you down, foul fiend!", but Glorio easily stepped aside and dodged the wild swing.
Surprised but unharmed by Marcus' and Tain's assault, Glorio snatched an iron bottle from his belt and threw it forward, as he stepped back from his assailant. As the iron flask landed on the table the stopper fell free and a rush of liquid spilled out. A feral figure rapidly appeared, sliding put of the bottle - half-man, half-demonic rodent, clad in a ripped and soiled Guard uniform, covered in red scars and welts, and dripping noisome fluid. The group gasped and drew back as they recognised the form of the comrade Agon, now fully in the grasp of the lycanthropy that cursed him.
Agon's head darted back and forth between his former companions, seeing only threats and hated foes. Snarling, he grabbed up the sword from the table and lunged at Marcus, cutting him deeply across his left forearm.
Across the table from the melee, Celino drew his blade and stepped forward to guard Lellia and Mari. Lellia called upon her power to paralyse Agon, fixing him in place mid sword-stroke. Mari used her magic to vanish from sight and began circling around the room's to flank Glorio. With Agon secured, Marcus and Tain focused their attentions on Glorio. Marcus failed to land a blow on the Arkona Lord, while Tain injured him with a crunching blow from his mighty flail. Despite the savagery of the strike, Glorio seemed only slightly shaken.
As the battle joined, the two Arkona guards held position. One threatened the group with his sword while barring escape back through the kitchen door. The other guard smiled and drew a wrapped blade from his belt and hurled it across the table, where it landed at Marcus' feet. The rapier's hilt was gilded and decorated with gems, bearing the symbol of Abadar. The combatants hesitated slightly, all glancing at the blade - Tain and Marcus exchanged confused looks, while Glorio stepped back in shock . . . and fear? He screamed at the guard "What is the meaning of this, where did you get that blade, it is meant to be hidden!” The guard removed his helmet to reveal the half elven features of Dario Ornelos.
Seeing Glorio's reaction to the sword, Marcus flicked his own blade into his left hand and swept up the Abadaran rapier. Once again the battle was joined, as Celino moved in on Glorio's right flank. Lellia and Mari both attempted to snap Agon from his rage with their magical charms.
After several moments of furious combat, Tain once again wounded Glorio and Marcus landed two nasty wounds. The Abadaran rapier seemed to slide easily through Glorio's defenses and each blow did him great damage. Finally Glorio seemed to have enough and retreated a step and vanished into thin air.
Tracking The Tiger To His Den
Finally, Mari managed to use her magic and gain some control over Agon. He seemed still to wish harm to Marcus and the others but now Mari was able to exercise some influence over him. "Find your master," she whispered to him, and with a nod to Lellia, he was freed from his paralysis.
Agon growled at Marcus and Tain as he sniffed the air, then took off in search of his master, Glorio. Agon led the group out into the hall and to a grand flight of stairs leading to a broad balcony encircling the golden elephant in the garden below. At the top of the stairs stood Agon's brother, Felx. "Quick, this way" he called, "We can still catch Bahor before he has a chance to escape". Agon ran up to his brother and sniffed him before the two set off at a run around the balcony.
Felix stopped after a few moments and indicated a sturdy wooden door. "Bahor is in there. Go get him before he can prepare his defenses". Still seeking his master, Agon began scratching at the door, as Tain kicked it open. Inside Bahor was kneeling in the centre of the room, rummaging through scrolls and potions, obviously preparing himself for a final showdown, or escape. Tain screamed a challenge and charged to strike Glorio. Agon, instead started sniffing about the room as if seeking some unseen threat.
Marcus was about to charge in behind Tain, but hesitated. Something about Felix was not right, the stance, the tone of voice, the words he used. As the other heroes arrived and prepared for battle, Marcus stepped back slightly and swung the hilt of his rapier at Felix in a punch. Felix reacted with supernatural speed, and the blow went wide. "It’s not Felix," Marcus screamed at Mari's surprised reaction. As he spoke, Felix's features flickered and were replaced by those of Vimandra, Glorio's sister.
The End of House Arkona
The battle was once again joined once again. Tain and Celino engaged Glorio, while Marcus was locked in combat with Vimandra. Dario, Mari and Lellia raced to support their friends, when suddenly they felt a sudden surge of magic power. Dario attempted to scream a warning, but it came too late, as a ball of flames exploded on the balcony. Mari and Celino were blown from their feet and collapsed into unconsciousness, Tain and Marcus were severely wounded and staggered back from the heat. Glorio and Vimandra both seemed staggered but only mildly.
The source of the fireball was revealed for just a moment - a figure standing around the balcony, near the stairs the group had just ascended. Another scion of House Arkona stood there, Gloria, Glorio's daughter and supposed friend of Mari. A second later she vanished from sight, but her laughter and taunts could still be heard. Either she didn't think her relatives would be harmed by the flames, or she was hoping to remove both of them and seize control of the House herself.
Ishani, the priest of Abadar rushed forward to drag Mari and Celino from the fight, channeling his healing magic through the group as he did so. Somewhat restored by the magic, and the shouted words of encouragement from Marcus, Tain renewed his assault on Glorio, while Lellia hammered him with magic missiles from her wand.
Meanwhile, Agon, burned by the flames finally snapped free from the control Glorio had exercised over him and he charged into flank Vimandra.
Tain finished Glorio off with a bone-shattering blow from his flail, and the powerfully-built man collapsed. As he did so, his face shifted and was replaced by the head of a tiger - revealing him to be the fiendish Rakshasa Bahor. Tain then moved to engage Vimandra, but Marcus instead directed him to help the others against Gloria.
Gloria, having apparently missed the half-elf Dario near her on the stairs turned her sorcery again on the group and slammed a bolt of lightning into Lellia, nearly taking her from the fight. Dario moved towards the source of the lightning and pulling a small bag of flour from his belt pouch hurled it at the invisible figure. Now outlined in a dusty silhouette, Gloria could be tracked and Tain and Lellia turned their attacks against her.
Mari and Celino, now somewhat recovered from their wounds also moved to engage Gloria before she could hit them again with her sorcery. Battered and bleeding before the combined assault, she retreated to the top of the stairs, where Dario tripped up her footing and she tumbled to the base of the stairs, unconscious. Tain and Celino followed her down the stairs and Celino finished her off, cutting her head from her body. As the head fell away, it changed, revealing her too to be one of the Rakshasa.
Back on the balcony, Marcus and Agon were managing to press their attack against Vimandra. Marcus landed several telling blows with the Abadaran rapier, and she was slowly weakening from numerous bleeding wounds. Eventually, she attempted to flee, using supernatural speed and grace she leapt over the swordsmen and off the balcony, taking to the air.
Not wishing to see her escape, Agon chased and leaped after her, managing to roughly grab hold of her and the pair slowly drifted towards the garden below. Marcus swung over the balcony, grabbing a long banner to slow his descent.
Finally, grappled by Agon and unable to mount much more of a defense, Vimandra was eventually bought down by Tain and Marcus. Her face transformed into that of a fox as she died.
Thus the three powerful fiends controlling House Arkona were bought down. The heroes could now see several other Arkona family members watching from the balcony above or from open doorways. Several could clearly be seen with animal heads like those of Glorio, Vimandra and Gloria. Seeing the death of their leaders, the figures turned and fled deeper into the palace or out into the grounds. Still weakened from the fight, the heroes were unable to immediately give chase and most of the Rakshasa made good their escape.
To The Victors Go The Spoils
Finally recovered, the heroes searched their fallen enemies before moving through the palace in search of any lingering threats. In a hidden room off the balcony, the group found the Arkona treasury. Amongst the items in the treasury, Marcus discovered a pile of letters and journals. The papers clearly revealed the depth of House Akona’s depravities - strong evidence of their involvement in slavery, smuggling, thievery, prostitution, drugs and several plots against other houses. Lists of blackmail targets ran for page after page and it became clear that Glorio had been manipulating the Seneschal Neolandus and the Harbingers as part of some greater plot.
Finally, unable to root out any of the other Rakshasa, the heroes departed, making for Vencarlo's house.
Loot
Weapons
• +1 bane holy rapier (marked with the holy symbol of Abadar)
• +1 ki focus shock kukri
• +1 kukri
• +2 kukri
• Javelins of lightning (3)
Armour
• Leather armour +3
Potions
• Potion of cure light wounds (2)
• Potion of cure moderate wounds (2)
• Potion of non-detection
• Potion of tumbling (3)
Rings
• Ring of energy resistance (minor, electricity)
• Ring of evasion (with a bloodstone worth 100 gp)
• Ring of jumping
• Ring of protection +2 (Mayhana / Gloria's signet ring)
• Ring of protection +2 (Vimanda's signet ring)
• Ring of protection +3 (Bahor / Glorio's signet ring)
Scrolls
• Eagle's splendour (1)
• Fireball (2)
• Greater invisibility (1)
Wands
• Wand of dispel magic (CL 6th, 26 charges)
• Wand of hold person (CL 6th, 36 charges)
Wondrous Items
• Amulet of natural armour +1 (2)
• Belt of mighty constitution +2
• Boots of speed
• Bracers of armour +4
• Cloak of resistance +1 (2)
• Cloak of resistance +2 (2)
• Iron flask
• Wind fan
Other Treasure
• 7,900 gp in assorted coins, gems and jewels
• Bloodstone paperweight (masterwork worth 500 gp)
• Buckler (masterwork)
• Dagger (masterwork)
• Jawassan sitar (masterwork worth 350 gp) - decorated with gold filigree work depicting crocodiles eating storks
• Light crossbow (masterwork) with a quiver containing 10 bolts
• Rapier (masterwork)
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In Attendance
• GM – Chubbs McGee
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Dario – Dario
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Summary for Session 28: Escape Plans
9th Pharast
Scream's Story
Battered and beaten, but jubilant from their victory over the Arkonas, the heroes arrived at Master Vencarlo's house to find Vencarlo, Laori and Salvatore Scream safe and engaged in conversation.
Not trusting the Ornellos scion they had rescued, Marcus subtly suggested that Dario may want to make use of Vencarlo's bath to clean up and salve his injuries. After the half-elf had departed upstairs, the group turned to Scream for information. Upstairs, the sound of music could be heard as Dario relaxed in a hot tub of water.
"So I assume you have already learned what you wanted from the artist," Marcus asked Laori. She nodded, "Some". Turning to Salvatore Scream, Marcus spoke gently to him "I'm sorry to make you go over this again, but I need to know what you told her, about the paintings and your influence".
Hesitant, Salvatore explained that the inspiration for the paintings had come from dealings with the Shoanti. He explained he had met with several Shoanti, including a man called "Thunder something" near Korvosa. He had engaged in several rituals with these men, including the taking of "mind-opening" concoctions.
When Marcus pressed him for details on the darkness behind the inspiration, specifically about connections to Laori's faith and the Queen's crown of Fangs, Scream attempted to conceal the details. Marcus pressed him and finally Salvatore admitted he had been having dark prophetic dreams - dreams of thousands of deaths, of the end of Korvosa, a dragon larger than several city blocks with scales of darkest purple.
Asked further about his most recent dreams, Salvatore replied he did not wish to see the dreams any more and had not slept now for over nine days. He had been using powders he bought from the Shoanti to help remain awake. The artist was obviously a wreck. Knowing he needed more information, Marcus pulled a flask of brandy from his bag and poured drinks, he passed a large glass to the artist - "Drink this, it will help".
As the artist drained his cup, Marcus spoke to Mari softly in their secret language "Mari you have been able to somewhat enter the thoughts of captives before". Mari noddeed. "I am going to ask you to do something, although I don't want to ask it of you, I need you to be ready to do the same now to Scream". Mari agreed and prepared her magic.
Marcus turned back to the artist and began speaking softly and slowly to him, pouring another drink. His voice was, almost hypnotic. Laori smiled as she realised Marcus' intent and sauntered over to Dario who had appeared at the foot of the stairs "Do you think you could play us a soft tune on that flute" she purred, gesturing to the musical instrument Dario still carried in his hand. "Something, relaxing. . ." she ran a finger sensuously down his face as she spoke.
Dario agreed and started to play some soft, slow elven tune that threatened to send all present into slumber. Slowly, Salvatore's head began to nod and after a moment the empty glass fell from his hand and he drifted into a deep sleep. Within moments his eyes began to flicker as he began to dream. Marcus nodded to Mari, who cast her spells and tried to read the thoughts of the slumbering artist. Marcus pulled out a leather envelope from his bag and drew forth paper, pen and inkwell. He charged the metal pen and placed it in the artist's hand and placed paper beneath it.
Dark Dreams
Listening in on Salvatore's thoughts, Mari found herself pulled into his dream. She could see a jungle, and in the distance a tall pyramid. Before the pyramid stood a great bonfire and figures danced around the flame. In front of her stood Salvatore, she was not viewing the dream from his thoughts, but somehow was in it as a separate consciousness.
As the two of them approached the pyramid and the bonfire two figures stepped forward - Queen Ileosa and Lady Elizabeth. Behind the fire, Mari could make out another figure, a humanoid shaped blackness, a blind spot in the dream on which she could not focus.
As Ileosa and Elizabeth approached, the two figures flickered and seemed to rapidly switch places back and forth. Long fingernails, like claws, seemed to erupt from their fingertips as they drew closer. Mari tried to focus her attention on the shadow, and eyes began to appear in its form and stare directly at Mari. She could feel the same ancient evil presence she had detected several times before since the night of the King's death.
Meanwhile, in the waking world, Salvatore's hand began tracing back and forth across the pages laid out on the table before him. At first the strokes were random patterns, but slowly words began to take form and soon he was franticly writing, furiously scratching out words and nearly tearing the paper through. His features looked troubled and fear flickered across his face.
Seeing this, Dario questioned Marcus on what was going on. But Marcus ignored the half-elf and kept whispering words into Salvatore’s ear - Crown of Fangs, Ileosa, death, Dragon, etc. trying to direct or prompt his dreams. Instead, Laori explained what the artist was doing, how he had been suffering dark prophetic dreams and Marcus was trying to induce the dreams to learn from them. She leaned in close as she spoke, pressing herself erotically against him and obviously taking pleasure in the sudden discomfort Dario displayed at what was happening.
"I didn't realise you meant to torture this poor man," he pushed Laori roughly away and confronted Marcus. "What are you doing, this is tormenting the man".
"It is necessary" Marcus replied. "We need to know what he has been seeing, to understand his dreams. He is connected to the dark force behind Ileosa's power, somehow tied to an ancient artifact - the crown she now wears - and I MUST learn more about it. It is unfortunate he suffers, but it is necessary."
Disgusted Dario tried to argue further with Marcus but realised his words would not reach him. Instead he called upon Dresna, the goddess of dreams, and started playing a prayer of guidance to the sleeper, to see him safely through his dream.
In the dreamscape, Mari sped towards the dark figure, attempting to identify it, and Salvatore screamed as the two flickering women drew closer to him. Suddenly a bright flash of light descended from the heavens and the two were pulled from the dream back to the waking world.
The Maidens Visit
As he woke, Salvatore stumbled back out of his chair away from Marcus. "You, you bastard. You did that to me deliberately. You bastard, you bastard. . . ". He collapsed in fear and began to sob. Dario moved to comfort him and check he was all right, casting an accusing glance at Marcus as he did so.
Marcus instead turned to check on Mari, and after she recovered she quickly relayed what she had seen in the dream. As she did so, Salvatore flinched and withdrew more to hear the dream described.
Marcus gathered up the papers from the table and quickly folded them back into his writing pouch. "I am sorry, but it was necessary" he said, half-heartedly apologising.
Tain and Ishani joined Dario in casting accusing looks at Marcus, but said nothing. Before much else could be discussed, however, there was a loud knock at the door. The group immediately moved into action, Mari darted upstairs to keep watch out the window and others took up defensive positions as Vencarlo moved to open the door. Outside stood Kedar Bannyer, flanked by two Grey Maidens. "I must speak with you Vencarlo immediately, it is about . . " His voice trailed off as he saw the others in the room. " . . about our mutual business" he finished looking pointedly at Marcus and back to Vencarlo.
Vencarlo gestured for them to enter, and as they did so, one of the Maidens lifted off her helmet to reveal herself as Ariadne Merivanchi, Marcus' and Mari's cousin. The other remained helmeted and silent.
Kedar and Ari hurridly explained that the Queen had instigated a vengeance against those she deemed disloyal. Arrest warrants had been issued for the heads of several Noble families, as well as other leading figures in the city. House Bannyer was raided that morning and Lord Haythym taken prisoner. Some houses had declared loyalty to the crown immediately - Ornelos and Arkona chief among them. Others were now targeted as enemies of the crown - including House Bannyer and House Jeggare.
Currently the remaining two Great Houses - Leroung and Zenderholm - had neither declared for the Queen nor been proscribed, but Ari explained it was known among the Grey Maidens that several members of both houses were to be quietly removed. Marcus was relieved to hear House Merivanchi was currently spared proscription, Lord Magnus was obviously wheeling and dealing to keep the family safe, but had not yet declared openly for the Queen.
Kedar explained that others were also wanted, notably at the moment Vencarlo which is why they had arrived to escort him to safety. At this moment, the second Maiden lifted her helm to reveal herself as Lady Elizabeth. She confirmed everything Ari had explained, adding names to the lists she knew to be wanted. She explained that she herself was now wanted dead.
Ari and Elizabeth explained they have an escape route planned. Immediately they had a boat standing by, manned by loyal (not to the Queen, but Elizabeth) Grey Maidens to ferry them back to the mainland. From there the group would escape through the East Shore gate which was currently guarded by Maidens deemed loyal by Ari.
After a few minutes hurried conversation the group departed with Ari, Elizabeth and Kedar, agreeing to meet before dusk - and the changing of the guard - to make their escape from the city.
Loot
Information.
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Dario – Dario
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Whew! I finally caught up with your journal!
Very exciting stuff, it seemed that you guys went through the 3rd adventure much faster than the first two. It was much more action-packed as well. Once again, the changes your GM brought were interesting.
Sorry to hear that you will be missing for a while, but I'm happy that you're getting a new player in your group and that Agon is back! Hopefully he can take care of chronicling the group's adventures in your absence!
Out of curiosity, how did your GM handle the map of the rotating labyrinth?
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Book 3 took as 8 sessions, the same as Book 1, but by contrast there were a few short sessions and a few that were sort of ‘two-parters’. By contrast, Book 2 took 12 sessions.
Writing up these session summaries is a collaborative effort – it’s not all me! Most of the Book 1 sessions were written by Ollie, while the Book 2 and 3 sessions were mainly written by myself and Kraken, with (in some cases substantial) contributions from Mister Deparle, The 8th Dwarf and Chubbs McGee.
The rotating labyrinth was tough, our GM didn’t map it for us at all! Kraken and I did our best to map it as we went, I’m really not sure how successful we were, especially as we didn't figure out exactly how it was rotating until we were part way through. In the end the GM took pity on us (or wanted to wrap up the session) and sort of simplified the end of it.
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I didn’t attend that session, so I’m actually not entirely clear on all the details.
I’m pretty sure the GM gave the group the rapier to a) allow Marcus or Agon to contribute to the battle with the rakshasas (neither of them could otherwise overcome the DR) and b) avoid a possible TPK, given that between their DR and SR, only Tain could easily harm them. The rapier was a +1 holy rapier. As I understand it, there is actually a weapon in the adventure that can overcome the Rakshasa’s DR but we didn’t find it.
As for Dario, it is not really properly explained in the session summary exactly what went on there. Dario claims to be an outcast from House Ornelos (mainly due to the fact that he is a half elf and – I think – a Desna worshipper) but his explanation of how he came to be imprisoned by the Arkonas was vague at best. Marcus is more than half convinced that he is a spy for House Ornelos, reporting back to his family on the group’s exploits (although Marcus may just be paranoid, given that he killed Toff Ornelos, and his uneasy feelings about his sister’s betrothal to Orlando).
What the session summary doesn’t go into (because I don’t think the group learned about it till some time later) was that Dario was freed and given the rapier by a halfling rogue (NPC) named Bulzo Tarhair, a mysterious figure who is somewhat opposed to the Cerulean Society and seems to work with or for (or owe a few favours to) Arius the Wise, Mari’s magic teacher.
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Hi Moonbeam! How are you doing?
Yes, Bulzo Tarhair (using a bit of magic) infiltrated the Arkona Palace. He located and stole the magical rapier, initially for his own grudge against the Arkona, and was lucky enough (due to some helpful feats) to have the heroes stumble into his path. So, instead of risking his own skin, he gave them PCs the edge. Bulzo throws the rapier on the table and flees, changing back to his halfling form as he runs away, explaining something about a debt to Marianna being repaid.
The rapier was a +1 bane holy weapon.
Dario on the other hand, escapes the pantry to discover a grim secret about the culinary needs of the Arkona family. He overcomes a butcher, takes his knife and using the wheelled cutting block to ram through the door to the dining room. The guard on the other side is surprised and wedged under the block. Dario then joins the action as he recognises Mari (a future member of his family) and her brother Marcus.
Bulzo was initially an NPC I had planned to run as a part of Book 4. However, our main GM remained in the hot seat, so Bulzo has only returned to the game recently. Now, he is opposed to the Cerulean Society (he has designs on uniting like-minded halflings into a new guild) and he hates the Queen (she is bad for his business). For some reason, he also has a strong connection to Arius the Wise and the Grey Council (yet to be revealed to the PCs).
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Immediately following the events of Session 28, the heroes returned to the main part of Korvosa and spent a day or two putting their affairs in order – making sure that family, friends, servants, assets etc are in safe positions or able to get out of the city. Word of conditions in Old Korvosa and the secret identity of the Arkonas is spread to the Bank of Abadar, the Korvosan Guard and the city’s good temples.
Following this, Agon, Dario, Liella, Marcus, Mari, Max, Celino (Marcus’s cohort) and Lavinia (Liella’s daughter) secretly depart the city, making for Vira Amaranta, one of House Merivanchi’s holdings outside the city. Tain and his loyal cohort Ishani remain behind, unwilling to abandon their duties at the Bank of Abadar, and trusting that the Bank will shield them from any retribution Ileosa or House Arkona may try to enact.
Dario and Max seem generally content to be out of the city and lying low. Mari spends time re-building her spellbook (out of character, Mari has now changed from being a Beguiler to a multiclass Wizard / Rogue) and crafting magical items. Liella comes and goes from the villa on several mysterious errands of her own, using her magic to re-enter Korvosa undetected at several points.
Agon makes it known in certain circles that he has fled Korvosa, but soon returns to the city in secret, finding it a simple matter to do so in his dire rat form, to pursue several hidden agendas. Although he appears to have abandoned his duties in the Guard without leave he is in fact (or so he later tells Tain) reporting directly to Field Marshal Kroft on a secret mission. He makes secret contact with Sabine Merrin, offering to inform on the activities of Marcus and co in return for a big promotion and noble title – it is unclear which party he truly intends to betray. On top of all this, along with his twin brother Felix, he begins recruiting a group of loyal and like-minded folk from amongst the ranks of former Guardsmen, the lower classes, Varisians and criminals into his ‘gang’.
Marcus spends his time trying to drum up a determined resistance to Ileosa’s rule amongst the minor (and some major) noble houses. He recruits a group of dissatisfied young noble scions into a para-military unit he dubs The Companions of the Crimson Banner – Marcus expects that it may come to civil war against Ileosa and plans to be prepared, seeing the Companions as forming a well trained and well equipped core of a rebel army should it come to it and some point in the future. His agenda takes him back to Korvosa several times (he slips in and out of the city with the assistance of his various contacts and Agon) where he keeps Tain appraised of events.
Tain undertakes his duties at the Bank of Abadar, but grows increasingly frustrated as the Bank remains neutral in affairs, despite Ileosa’s increasingly draconian laws, persecution of tax-paying citizens and disruptions to steady trade. Meanwhile, he begins recruiting members to a group that is part military, part secret society that he calls the Order of the Key, made up of active but disgruntled members of the church of Abadar and the Korvosan Guard, as well as former members of the Sable Company. Tain charges the group with acting in secret to keep the populace safe against the depredations of the Grey Maidens, and to keep their ears open, reporting back to himself and Aerodus Merivanchi.
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Book 4
Summary for Session 29: Of Digs and Ditches
25th Pharast
Waiting at the Vira Amaranta
Waiting for Lellia and Marcus to return from Korvosa, the remaining heroes wait anxiously at the Vira Amaranta. Surrounded by the beauty of the Merivanchi vineyards and the warm Spring breeze, the companions sit in the garden enjoying the peace of the countryside after the chaos and danger of Old Korvosa.
Discussion inevitably turns to the events in Korvosa and possible reasons for Lellia and Marcus being held up in the city. Mari is worried, but is confident that it is simply a minor delay and that her brother will return with the Baroness soon. Shortly after the companions hear an approaching horse and prepare to welcome their friends home.
Instead the rider is Kedar Bannyer, who is severely wounded and almost delirious in the saddle. Agon and Mari move forward to help the scion down from his mount, while Dario assesses his wound and casts a weave of healing magic to ease his suffering. The heroes help him inside while Agon orders the servants to prepare a room.
Laying the wounded Kedar on to the bed, Mari asks him where her brother and the Baroness are located as they should have returned with him from the city. The man begins to ramble a bit, but reveals that he does not know where the Baroness is and that Marcus had fallen near the archaeological excavations on the borders of the Bannyer and Jeggare estates.
Meanwhile, Dario's attempts to heal Kedar's wounds are made more difficult by some form of elemental enchantment. Every attempt to clean the wound — caused by an axe he claims — is foiled by dirt appearing and soiling it again. After using his wand to dispel the effect, Dario successfully tends to the wound and Kedar appears to feel an ease from the pain.
Following Kedar's description of his attacker — a large dark man wielding an axe, who appeared to come from the very earth — Mari is determined to find Marcus and makes plans to leave immediately. When Agon suggests leaving at first light, she tells him firmly that she intends to ride to the Bannyer estate that very day.
The companions begin quickly prepare and ride to find Marcus.
The Book and the Dig
The heroes arrive at the Bannyer vineyards. Agon quickly dismounts and scouts ahead for danger. He sees the signs of battle are everywhere and equipment lays in situ as if randomly discarded in the panic. After determining there was no immediate danger, he returns and leads the companions into the archaeological dig.
Dario and Mari begin poking around the dig site, finding the remains of a few of the archaeologists, some artefacts including an open canoptic jar and what appears to be an ancient copper tome. Meanwhile, Agon and Max wander around the central ditch looking for any clues as to where Marcus might be at this time. The heroes see little evidence as to why the archaeologists and their friend may be missing, but determine it may have something to do with the artefacts following Mari's weave of detecting magical auras.
At the dig site they find the remains of the archaeologists, an ancient copper book, and an open canoptic jar. Upon touching the book a large, dark visaged ghostly Shoanti warrior appears to fight them... and is defeated.
Not content with taking care of that situation, the players found the start of a set of steps leading underground. The three magic users started an in-depth conversation about how to do go about their investigation, whilst Agon actually investigated. When he touched the book again, the spirit warrior came back ... but no one immediately noticed.
So deep in discussion were the three magic-users that they didn't notice the psycho barbarian ghost appear next to them until he tried to kill them. Agon, who had moved down the stairs, came running at full speed to help them fight. But the magic-users rallied and destroyed the ghost.... and then went back to their discussion now that the distraction had been dealt with!!!
After that the group worked their way underground where they rescued an unconscious Marcus from a room with two stone biers and 15 other (unopened) canoptic jars.
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Loot
Information.
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Dario – Dario
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Max – Max
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Summary for Session 30: A Meeting of Peers
26th Pharast
Returning to the Villa
The game opened with the group returning to Vira Amaranta, having rescued Marcus from the Shoanti ruin. As Marcus was recovering, Agon nosed through Marcus room and his records, notes, etc. - obviously looking for some way to help. Later that day, when Marcus had recovered and the group had explained to him what happened, Vencarlo arrived at the estate with Dante, Vessania and Trinia Sabor (who has apparently been hiding out in a small abandoned estate building near the Bannyer lands). Vencarlo explained that a covert meeting has been called by the noble houses to discuss recent events. The group agreed it was a trap, and agreed to attend.
29th Pharast
Back to Korvosa
Three days later, the group entered the city under the stolen papers Marcus has been using. They are followed by a suspicious figure. Agon and Mari ambush him and drag him into the warehouse where he is questioned. He is revealed as a Corporal of the Sable Company and informs the group he is part of a small group who are upset at the recent disbanding of the Company and willing to act. Marcus enlists their help to secure an escape from the city if things go pear-shaped tonight.
A Meeting of Peers
The meeting is held in the former Arkona slave-pits. Minor representatives of every noble house are there - except for Jeggare (except a possibly disguised and unnamed representative), Arkona and Orisini. Rumours and accusations bounce back and forth. Then each of the representatives is given time to speak and state their views. Most preach towing the line - straddling the fence, waiting to see what happens, etc. Eventually, one speaker from House Leraunge preaches accepting Ileosa "she is new, must give her more time, she has done well considering the trouble,” etc.
Marcus replies from the balcony, arguing each of his points. He calls on the listeners to consider the old laws and customs. The separation of power that used to exist with the independent Sable Company, the Queen's creation of a private army, he even plays the outsider card. He then calls on them to consider the treatment of House Bannyer and Jeggare. "Who will be next? What if the next family to anger her is yours, or yours, or yours," he appeals to the audience. Listening to Leraunge's feeble replies Marcus suspects he is not putting up a strong argument on purpose - possibly he took a strong stance purely to provoke a response from someone.
Grey Maidens Attack
Then word comes that Grey Maidens have been seen in the area. The crowd makes to depart via one of the exits, but the sound of marching feet can be heard ahead in the corridor. Mari directs people to escape via a secret corridor she discovered earlier. Marcus leads another group out the lower entrance into the alley behind Summoning Street. Upon exiting near the gazebo, Marcus finds the Sable Company men engaged in battle with a handful of Grey Maidens. Marcus and Lellia rush to assist them and are eventually reinforced by Mari and Max. The maidens are taken down, but one managed to sound a signal whistle and a large group of Maidens closes in. The Sable Company summon their hippogriffs and the group escapes into the sky as a company of more than 30 Maidens close on their position.
It is believed that nearly all of the nobles managed to escape, but no one is really sure. The group escapes from the city again and lands outside the walls.
Thoughts of Betrayal
One thing of note, when the group first arrived, Agon moved through the room looking for clues, then left to conduct scouting actions outside and guard against the Grey Maidens. Just before he leaves, Mari had cast a detect thoughts spell scanning for thoughts of betrayal to the queen. She picked up a feeling from Agon as he departed the area. So now, Mari has suspicions that Agon plans to (or is at least considering) betraying the group, and the Grey Maiden raid followed his departure. What the group does with this information should now prove interesting.
...
Loot
Nil.
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Marcus – Kraken
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Max – Max
Why is Agon trying to betray the group? Is it his new rat blood that's causing him to act like this?
Its a bit of that, and Agon likes to play the tainted and fallen characters looking for redemption.
Lellia knows of the thoughts of betrayal and has prepared several poisons.... The rest of the party wont let her kill him at the moment.
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Our characters don’t know if becoming a lycanthrope makes you evil, but in fact Agon’s alignment has changed to evil. As far as betrayal, no-one is quite sure what Agon’s plans are; he might be seeking to betray the group for personal gain, or he might be trying to gain Sabine and Ileosa’s trust in order to double-cross them.
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This is how the party stood going in to session 31:
Player Characters
Agon Deparle – Male Half-Elf (Varisian) infected lycanthrope (Wererat) Fighter (Educated Fighter) 6 / Ranger (Urban Ranger) 3
Dario Ornelos – Male Half-Elf (Chelaxian) Oracle 4 / Diviner 3 / Mystic Theurge 2
‘Baroness’ Liella Delamore – Female Human (Taldan) Witch 9
Marcus Luciano Merivanchi – Male Human (Chelaxian) Bard (Arcane Duellist) 6 / Gunslinger 2 / Cavalier 1
Marianna ‘Mari’ Luciana Merivanchi – Female Human (Chelaxian) Rogue 3 / Wizard 5 / Arcane Trickster 1
Max Power – Male Human (Varisian) Sorcerer 9 (Fire Elemental Bloodline)
Tain Locus – Male Human (Chelaxian) Paladin 9 (Abadar)
Cohorts
Celino Maernos – Male Human (Chelaxian) Fighter 5 / Cavalier 2
Felix Deparle – Male Half-Elf (Varisian) Ranger (Guide) 2 / Rogue 5
Ishani Dhatri – Male Human (Vudran) Cleric 7 (Abadar)
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Summary for Session 31: Cross My Palm With Silver
29th Pharast
Meanwhile ...
While the rest of the group were battling Grey Maidens in the streets of Korvosa, Tain was at the Bank of Abadar, drawing a line in the sand with the Archbanker in regards to the Bank’s tacit support of Ileosa. Unable to reach an accord with Tuttle, Tain quits the Bank and stalks out of the building. Ishani elects to come with him.
In the streets, Tain meets Agon, who has come from the Auction House to look for the paladin. Agon briefly updates the paladin on recent events, then suggests he knows a way out of the city to meet the others.
30th Pharast
On the road
Agon, Tain and Ishani catch up with the rest of the group (Marcus, Mari, Max, Lellia, Dario, Celino, and Varclaw) some way along the road out of the city, before dawn the next morning, at a pre-arranged meeting place. The others had been discussing how the Grey Maidens had found them – and whether they had been betrayed, but they halt such talk when Agon and crew arrive.
Greetings are exchanged with Tain (who has not seen most of the others for some time) and an immediate course of action is decided on – to head to the Bannyer estate to further question Scream on his paintings and dreams.
The group heads out, but a short distance along the road they spy an encampment of Varisian nomads. There is a fair-like atmosphere to the encampment, with market stalls, entertainers, fortune tellers and the like. The travelers decide to approach to talk to the Varisians.
Varisians and Fortunes
Some of the group make some small purchases or browse the stalls (being careful to watch their purses and horses). Meanwhile, Agon pulls Tain aside and the two have a discussion in which Agon alludes to having been given a secret mission by Field Marshal Kroft to gain Ileosa’s confidence – which could (in theory) mean appearing to betray the group. Tain advises caution in any such endeavour (although Agon does not admit in so many words that he has been given such a mission).
The group speak to the headman of the band of Varisians, and Agon reveals his identity as a Varisian prince to the man, who is very respectful. He tells the group that his troupe is headed to Korvosa. Tain warns the man that conditions in Korvosa have deteriorated and that they may face trouble. The man says they are aware of some trouble, but that the band’s wise-woman (the headman’s wife) has guided them that way, saying it is important they go to Korvosa.
The adventurers ask to speak to the wise-woman, and are shown to her tent – decked out as a tent of a traditional Varisian Harrower. Agon, Dario, Lellia, Marcus, Mari and Tain enter the tent, whilst the others remain outside, enjoying the markets and entertainment.
The wise woman conducts a Harrow reading for the group – everyone draws a card and she explains their significance. She then focuses on Marcus, saying that the cards tell her there is something to be revealed – she asks him if he has had any disturbing dreams of late. Marcus explains that when he was unconscious at the dig site he had a dream that he thinks was important, but the details are maddeningly vague. The Harrower agrees that the dream is important, and tells the group that she has a way to reveal the details.
She bids everyone inhale the smoke from a pipe that she passes around – everyone but Tain does so. She then produces a crystal ball. Waving her hand over it, images appear within. Everyone who inhaled from the pipe can see the images clearly and hear words being spoken, while Tain only gets a vague impression of the images.
In the images Marcus stands in a clearing in a forest, before an enormous ziggurat, speaking to a tall Shoanti warrior who carries a massive axe, long sharp teeth embedded in its head. The ziggurat appears similar in style to the structure in Korvosa atop which is built Castle Korvosa, but Tain (who knows the city so well) confirms that it is not the same one; the ziggurat in this vision appears far larger than the one in Korvosa.
The Shoanti in the vision introduces himself to Marcus as Ranbus. He says that he is interred within the ziggurat and that Marcus should seek out his resting place. He says that the teeth in his axe are the teeth of a powerful creature that he slew, and that they give his axe much power.
After the vision finishes, the group discuss where the ziggurat might be, and the significance of the warrior. They come to the conclusion that Ranbus is the same Shoanti warrior depicted in the portrait that Scream painted for Vencarlo. They plan to ask Scream what else he knows of Ranbus including where he might be buried.
Before they leave, Tain again warns the Harrower about the political situation in Korvosa. The wise woman says it is important they go there, but doesn’t say why. Tain asks her to look out for Brianna’s family in Trail’s End if they do go.
On the trail of the Shoanti
The group head to the Bannyer estate to speak to Scream about the Shoanti warrior he painted. He has little more to tell them – the imagery for the painting appeared to him in dreams, and under the influence of mind altering substances provided by the Shoanti. What he knows of the Shoanti people he learnt from a number of Shoanti, including Thousand Bones. Scream tells the group where to find Thousand Bones – he is likely in his small shack an hour or so NE of Korvosa. The group spend the night at the estate then head out in morning.
1st Gozran
Approaching the vicinity of Thousand Bones hut, Lellia’s raven familiar spies him invisibly catching fish in the river. They talk in his hut, asking him about the final resting place of the Shoanti hero Ranbus. Thousand Bones says he doesn’t know for certain; two other shamans might, both are far away, one lives in the Cinderlands to the north, one around the Bloodsworn Vale to the south.
He is able to give some information on the history of Ranbus and the battles he fought as remembered by him and taught to him through traditions. He comments that there is an ancient burial site not far from here, though he can’t say that Ranbus is interred there.
The party decided they needed to go back to the dig site on the Bannyer estate and investigate further.
Reaching the dig, the party enters the small room in which Marcus was found previously, and upon close inspection finds that the second stone bier opens up into a hatchway down into a dark pit. A light-stone dropped down shows the ground is some 180 feet down. The bier top acts as a ramp pointing down into this darkness.
Agon changes into his hybrid form and scales down the ramp, looks around underneath it, and sees the top of a ziggurat within dropping distance if people swing over and descend carefully. Agon goes first to help secure the rope, the Baroness flies down, and Dario uses a spell to float down ... but chooses to float down to the bottom of the ziggurat to have a look around.
The ziggurat is huge, 13 levels tall. Around the bottom two levels grows thick green vines. Quick testing by Dario shows the vine to react to movement and attack things; it also squealed when burnt back to allow Dario to move back up the stairs.
On levels 4, 8, and 12 of the ziggurat, there are large dark open doorways either side of the main stairs.
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Loot
Each PC present drew a Harrow card, which gives them some boon or advantage for the remainder of this book.
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In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Tain – Mothman
• Dario – Dario
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
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Summary for Session 32: Back to the Future
1st Gozran
The Ziggurat
Those in the group who have not yet done so make their way down the rope to the upper levels of the ziggurat. It is decided that Ishani, Celino and Vorclaw (Lellias cohort) will remain above to guard against intrusion while the bulk of the group investigate.
Tain heads towards the upper most entrance on the left hand side of the ziggurat, and after asking Lellia to cast a light spell on his gauntlet is ready to lead the way, until Agon convinces him that he and Mari should scout ahead (moving stealthily and using darkvision). The scouts go in with the others following a short way behind. As those with the light sources (Tain, and Dario bringing up the rear with his bullseye lantern) pass a certain point just within the entry, the lights appear to dim or fall ‘flat’, but brighten up again after a short distance.
The stone walled passageway continues for some way. Thick dust covers the floor and there is no sign of recent use. Soon enough the scouts come across the site of what appears to be some ancient battle. There are some dropped weapons, broken arrows and some arm bones ... just arm bones. An examination by the group determines that they appear to have been bitten off at the wrist and cleanly chopped off at about the elbow. Confused and a little disconcerted, the group continue along the passageway, the scouts once again out ahead.
At some point it occurs to the smarter and more observant members of the group that this straight passage appears to be longer than this point high up in the ziggurat should be wide – essentially the passage has gone beyond the physical confines of the pyramid. A quick discussion concludes with the idea that they must have passed through some sort of magical portal near the entryway. Dario returns to the entry, and notices again that the light of his lantern seems not to penetrate a certain point in the passage, near the entry. Passing through that point, his light works normally again and he emerges at the top of the ziggurat. He returns to the group safely to report his findings.
Meanwhile the scouts discover a similar ‘dark spot’ further down the corridor. They pass through and are lost to sight to the rest of the group, finding themselves in what appears to be a wide natural cave or tunnel. The air is humid and moist, with an earthy smell to it. Although he cannot see anything, Agon gets the sense there is something else in the cave, some creature or presence.
Tain steps through the dark spot to join Agon and Mari. Moving protectively ahead of the scouts, further into the cave, he uses his ability to detect evil, detecting the presence of strong evil ahead.
The monsters
The rest of the group moved through the black spot, including Darius, carrying his bullseye lantern. As the mystic theurge moved forward towards Tain, the light from his lantern illuminated the beast ahead.
It crouched on the ground some fifty feet ahead of the paladin, a thing twice the height of a man, roughly humanoid in shape, but with long taloned claws, coarse, patchy fur covering its torso, and a nightmare head, looking something like a cross between a troll, a bear and a wolf. As the light fell upon it, it climbed to its feet and howled loudly, the sound echoing around the cave.
None of the group could put a name to the beast, but Darius and Lellia recognised it as matching the description of a troll-like bogeyman of Korvosan mythology, a beast warned of to children who might be inclined to leave their homes in the Korvosan countryside at night.
Expecting a battle, various members of the group began casting spells or otherwise preparing themselves for battle. Agon and Mari began moving forward, moving widely to skirt and flank the creature. Tain called forth divine fire to envelope the head of his flail, and challenged the creature to move aside. Lellia did not wait, but cast a hex on the creature.
Its response was to stand to its full height and roar ... and roar that was answered from behind the group! There, from behind the ‘black spot’, another similar creature had emerged.
“Mari and I will handle this one,” Tain called to Agon. “You help the others with that one. I’ll be there when I can.”
Mari had noticed that the creature’s eyes were milky white, and that it appeared to be sniffing the air a lot, so she threw a flask of sewer-stink at it, hoping to confound its primary sense, then moved towards a flanking position. Tain called upon the power of Abadar, then charged forward, smiting the creature mightily with his flail. It returned the attack, raking its sharp claws across the paladin’s chest.
Max summoned a dire wolf and directed it to harry the second monster, while the rest of the group attacked it from range – Max with scorching rays, Agon with arrows, Lellia with hexes, Darius with magic missiles (standing gallantly in front of Lelllia to do so) and Marcus with his pistols. The spells seemed effective against the monster, but Marcus’s aim was off, and neither the wolf’s teeth nor Agon’s arrows seemed to penetrate far into the creature’s thick, hairy hide.
Mari stabbed at the first creature with her enspelled dagger, stabbing in deep to reach vital organs, while Tain pressed the attack with his flail. The flaming flail hit the creature in the side of the head, staving in its skull, and it toppled to the ground, dead.
The group pressed the attack on the second monster with spells, while Agon and Marcus cast aside their ranged weapons to engage the beast in melee. Marcus was slashed painfully across the face as he moved in, but between them the heroes were able to fell the monster just as Tain and Mari arrived to help.
When and Where are we?
The group wandered outside the cave and discovered they'd gone back in time by a good 3000 to 6000 years and were in the north east, near where the Worldwound is located in their own time. The ziggurat of Marcus's dream was there, surrounded by the forest of the dream.
The party approached the ziggurat to find around fifty Shoanti warriors, plus the hero Ranbus and his main shaman, waiting near a large (not yet lit) bonfire. The Shoanti shaman had been expecting "helping angels" and the group were assumed to be those angels. During this the PCs see Ranbus' great axe; he informs them the teeth were taken from the remains of a dragon.
The Shoanti were readying themselves to go into battle with their greatest foe; the mother of the dragon that Ranbus had slain.
When the players were ready, Ranbus indicated the flames should be lit, and guiding lights were lit along the steps of the ziggurat. Within seconds of the bonfire being lit a large roar could be heard in the distance, and lightening flashed so bright it left a purple afterglow. The beating of large wings came next, then near silence broken only by a soft whistling noise. White lightening arced down onto the ziggurat steps as a beast flew overhead and some five Shoanti warriors lost their lives, slain by the monster's electrical breath.
The creature landed nearby, a midnight-purple dragon! Everyone attacked. The dragon used a mix of attacks - breath of lightening and acid, as well as its great claws and teeth - quickly taking down another twenty of the Shoanti warriors. The heroes from Korvosa attacked the dragon with spell, arrow, bullet and flail as Ranbus attacked from the front, wounding the creature with his great toothed axe.
Eventually most of the Shoanti warriors were slain in the fight; the dragon resisted for a long time before succumbing to the combined efforts of all present. Ranbus was gravely injured during the fight, sustaining an eviscerating wound plus major damage to the upper shoulders.
After the battle the shaman guided the stumbling Ranbus towards the ziggurat. Suddenly, the still night air was again broken by a loud howl followed by a piercing whistling noise. Another - larger - purple dragon lanced through the sky, picking up Ranbus and tearing him in two. His remains plummeted wetly back to the ground. The new purple dragon crested the ziggurat and took the time to scan the people who had attacked its child.
They say elephants have long memories; imagine how long an ancient purple dragon could remember and hold a grudge against the people that had slaughtered its child/grandchild...
After the dragon
After a moment, the dragon roared again, then beat its great wings and flew off into the night. Another roar pounded the night sky and lightening rained down in forks from the mother purple dragon as it let its anger out at the nearby mountain range.
Following the battle, the heroes of Korvosa did what they could to heal the Shoanti walking wounded and ease the passing of the dying as the shaman knelt next to Ranbus’s torn corpse, lying in a sickening puddle of blood and gore.
It soon becomes apparent to the heroes that, for whatever reason, the dragon is not going to return.
After Marcus has sung an ode to the fallen Ranbus, Liella has an opportunity to ask the Shaman why the mother dragon has not yet attacked.
The Shaman turns his head slightly to the side, looking inquisitively at Liella. He stares for a few moments before asking "Is this the first time we have met?"
He shakes his head. "Never mind that now. As for why it doesn't attack... this place is a seat of power, dark ancient power that was here long before we came. I suspect it will be here long after we are gone. This temple..." he points towards the ziggurat. "This temple stands as a gateway between here and a terrible place, a place full of monsters and demons unlike anything you've ever seen!
"Our stories tell us that not long after my people settled here, many devils came forth and attacked. They ravaged this land, leaving ashes in their wake. We bravely fought back and pushed these things back into the nether from which they came. But without someone here to guard it, we fear the creatures will again burst forth to attack. Three times in our past the portals inside have opened, and three times we have fought and repelled the creatures.
"The Shoanti are proud to stand here and guard against the invasion of the darkness.
"That... thing..." he nods towards the mother dragon in the distance, "is an abomination. Our stories tell us it came through during the second time the portals opened. That is long into our past and yet still it lives. It has prayed on our peoples and the lands of this area for many generations but it never attacks us here.
"We - I - believe it is afraid we can open the portals and send it back to the place it came from. It must have been beyond its mind with grief to land even for a moment on top of here just now."
The Shaman looks sorrowfully at Ranbus. "We discovered some time ago that that thing's offspring were not afraid of this place. Ranbus' plan was to lure the children where the mother was afraid to go, and slaughter them."
The shaman further explains that Ranbus will be interred within the ziggurat. He refuses the group’s requests to take Ranbus’s axe in exchange for another magical weapon.
...
Loot
1x Dragon corpse
In Attendance
• GM – Ollie
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Tain – Mothman
• Dario – Dario
• Lellia – The 8th Dwarf
• Max – Max
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It seems that some players were a bit uninspired when coming up with names for their characters. :)
Ha!
Actually, it’s just that at the request of some of the people in the group I don’t want to use anyone’s real names, and ‘Max’ and ‘Dario’ don’t have Paizo.com user names, so I’ve doubled their character names as their ‘board names’.
Too bad we already know that the real identity of Max Powers is in fact Homer Simpson. :)
It's Max's first RPG experience (I feel a little sorry for him kicking his gaming off with a group of RP heavy angst driven veteran gamers). He is also a stand up comedian and he brought a little of that to his character creation. :-)
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Summary for Session 33: A Diplomatic Mission to Valdreine
9th Gozran
It has been about a week since the group returned from the time-jump and their battle with the dragon.
Drilling The Troops
Marcus and Tain are busy drilling the troops in the grounds of the Merivanchi estate, when a horseman arrives, obviously having been riding hard – it is Alonso Seraglio, the brother of Marcus’s follower Conrad, and a lieutenant aboard the Korvosan Naval ship Warsprite.
He tells the group that the navy is in disarray. With the disappearance (death) of Neolandus, a man named Torremar has been put in charge of the navy – a political appointment by Ileosa. Torremar is an obese bloat-mage with no formal naval or military experience. He has replaced a number of captains, and put Grey Maiden agents aboard many ships.
The navy has split into three main factions; those loyal to Ileosa, those who oppose Ileosa but wish to stay loyal to Korvosa, and those who oppose Ileosa and are planning to defect to Magnimar.
A captain Antilles is the head of the second faction, he has three ships under his command (including the Warsprite). Another captain, Harlock is the head of the third faction, he has eight ships under his command. Both captains have been invited to a meeting with the new Magnimaran ambassador to discuss defection.
Alonso is one of Antilles men; he thinks Antilles does not want to defect but rather rebel; but is not aware of any effective resistance against the Queen. Alonso knows of the exploits and political leanings of Marcus and his companions through his brother but has been sworn to secrecy. So he has ridden to urge Marcus to attend the meeting and try to convince Antilles (and if possible Harlock) not to defect, but to join or assist the resistance.
The meeting is in 3 Days, to be held at the Garden of Pearls near Palin’s Cove. Darius, Marcus, Mari, Max, Tain, Celino and Ishani all agree to go along. Agon is nowhere to be found and Leilla, soon after hearing the news, quite literally vanishes with no explanation. Marcus and Mari requisition spare horses and rations for everyone, and the group set out.
On The Road
On the road to Harse (a day and a half's ride distant) the group notices a lot of Varisians apparently heading towards Korvosa, but do not have time to stop and talk to them. They encounter a Hellknight patrol, the leader talks to Tain and Ishani but basically ignores the others. Tain begins pushing for a fight when the patrol leader casually mentions executing some Varisians without proper trial, but Marcus convinces him to back down.
At Harse, the group pays for passage on a barge down river to Palin’s Cove. They lunch at the Gilded Eel.
The barge journey passes uneventfully, and upon reaching Palin’s Cove in the morning the group head out immediately, through the hills towards the Garden Of Pearls. They spend a miserable night in the road, camped on the trail at the edge of a cliff that plunges down to the sea. Heading out first thing in the morning, they soon arrive in the vicinity of the Garden of Pearls. A meeting seems to be taking place near the top of the hill around a camp fire, and the heroes notice a Magnimaran galley moored in a cove at the bottom of the cliff, and two Korvosan carracks off the coast. They hurry towards the meeting.
12th Gozran
Secret Meeting
A halfling named Alam bearing a Magnimaran accent greets the group at the bottom of the hill, and, after advising them to leave their horses behind, leads them up. Around the fire near the top of the hill stand the two Korvosan captains and their seconds (sailors) as well as the Magnimaran ambassador and his bodyguards – a burly half-orc with a great axe wearing the symbol of Abadar at his neck, and a human woman. Tain recognizes the half-orc as Kylar, an orphan raised at an Abadaran orphanage in Korvosa; he had wanted to join the priesthood but had been refused, likely on account of his race. When Tain mentions this to the group in a low voice as they approach, Mari stops in surprise and looks at the half-orc. “He must be the one,” she mutters to herself. When the others ask her what she means she declines to elaborate except to say that she thinks Aria knew Kylar as well.
When Captain Antilles sees Alonso he is shocked at the betrayal, but Marcus immediately jumps to the man’s defense, saying that he did what he felt was best for Korvosa. He, Tain and Mari immediately begin arguing that the captains should not defect to Magnimar (and throw in a few insults about that city in the process), and explain that there is organized opposition to Ileosa. The Magnimaran ambassador, Talian Veleri, counters that Magnimar can offer sanctuary to the defectors families, something that the Korvosan’s cannot guarantee, and that the defecting captains will retain control of their ships. The debate rages back and forth. Antilles seems willing to listen to Marcus and his allies, but remains concerned about the safety of his family. Captain Harlock seems more inclined to go with the Magnimarans.
After arguments on both sides have been presented, Veleri suggests that the captains retire a short distance away to the plinth at the top of the hill to discuss their decision. While the naval men (including Alonso and the sailors) discuss amongst themselves, the Magnimaran delegation and Marcus’s group wait in uneasy silence, except for Tain and Kylar who exchange a few words of wary greeting.
The situation takes an abrupt turn when globes of shadow suddenly appear around the hilltop.
The Battle of The Garden of Pearls
Globes of darkness fall around the group, dimming the ambient light and creating areas of shadow. The group’s mages react quickly, weaving themselves in spells of defense – and not a moment too soon as humanoid figures wearing red, insectoid masks, red armour and wielding serrated sabres begin appearing around and in the midst of the group, and at points around the base of the hill – Red Mantis Assassins!
Assassins charge in to attack Tain, Darius and Marcus. Celino and Mari move in to help defend their comrades. An instant later a fireball explodes at the top of the hill, centred between the Korvosan naval officers and the Magnimaran ambassadors. The two Korvosan sailors are incinerated, while the two captains, the Ambassador, Kylar the half orc and the woman are injured. Alonso and the halfling are outside the blast radius. Sharp eyed members of the group spot the Red Mantis mage lurking amongst the trees at the bottom of the hill. Darius, trying his best to avoid the assassin harrying him, prepares to counterspell should the mage cast again.
There is a droning sound from above, and two enormous, red praying mantises swoop down to attack Tain and Kylar, but both heroes quickly dispatch the monsters. The other defenders, with help from Ishani’s Holy Smite spell, wound or kill most of the nearby assassins, but more continue to appear. One attacks Celino, another fires a heavy crossbow at Tain, and another two attack the ambassador and the captains. At the same time another humanoid looking creature appears near the captains, a horrid thing with flesh like melted wax. Tain can detect the stink of evil from it.
Tain, Celino and Mari continue to fight off the assassins that initially attacked the group. Whilst Darius engages in a spell duel with the enemy mage, Max summons a celestial grizzly bear and sends it bounding down the hill towards the mage. Seeing the great animal bearing down on him, the mage tries to flee but is cut down by a swipe of the bear’s huge paw. The ambassador’s bodyguard and the Korvosan captains work together to fight off the assassins and the lemure that attack them. As Marcus races over to assist them, they bring down the fiend, but Harlock is struck down by one of the assassins, before Marcus and Antilles manage to finish him off. Ishani casts a spell to further soften the muddy ground, sending the crossbow wielding mantis assassin tumbling down the hill. Now with the upper hand, the heroes and their allies are able to finish off the remaining attackers, who stubbornly fight to the death.
In the aftermath of the battle, the heroes discover that some of their masked attackers were tieflings. With Harlock dead, and seeing the battle prowess of the heroes, Antilles agrees to join the rebellion. Marcus brokers a deal with Veleri to still offer sanctuary to the families of rebelling sailors for future favours should Ileosa be brought down.
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Loot
• +2 Unholy Sawtooth Sabre (32,315 gp)
• +1 Corrosive Sawtooth Sabre (8,315 gp)
• +1 Sawtooth Sabre (2,315 gp)
• +1 Sawtooth Sabre (2,315 gp)
• +1 Sawtooth Sabre (2,315 gp)
• +1 Heavy Repeating Crossbow (2,700 gp)
• +1 Frost Crossbow Bolts (5) (54 gp each)
• +1 Corrosive Crossbow Bolts (4) (54 gp each)
• +1 Shortsword (2,310 gp)
• Masterwork Short sword (310 gp)
• 2x Dagger (2 gp each)
• Heavy Crossbow (50 gp)
• Light Crossbow (35 gp)
• 20x Crossbow Bolts (2 gp)
• +1 Agile Half Plate with +1 Armour Spikes (4,350 gp)
• +1 Chainmail (1,300 gp)
• +1 Chainmail (1,300 gp)
• +1 Studded Leather (1,175 gp)
• +1 Shadow Leaf Armour (5,250 gp)
• +1 Heavy Steel Shield (1,170 gp)
• Extended Metamagic Rod, Lesser (lvls 1-3) (1,500 gp)
• Persistent Metamagic Rod, Lesser (lvls 1-3) (1,500 gp)
• Potion of Magic Fang (50 gp)
• Potion of Blur (300 gp)
• Potion of Bull's Strength (300 gp)
• Potion of Bull's Strength (300 gp)
• Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds (300 gp)
• Ring of Protection, +1 (2,000 gp)
• Amulet of Mighty Fists +1 (5,000 gp)
• Belt of Giant Strength +2 (4,000 gp)
• Boots of Striding and Springing (5,500 gp)
• Catching Cape (200 gp)
• Cloak of Elvenkind (2,500 gp)
• Travelling Spell Book (with Flame Arrow, Fireball, Summon Monster III Scorching Ray, Invisibility, Acid Arrow, Summon Monster II Burning Hands, Enlarge Person, Magic Missile, Shield, Ray of Enfeeblement, Summon Monster I Acid Splash, Prestidigitation, Ghost Sound, Ray of Frost)
• 6x Mask of the Mantis (6,000 gp each)
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In Attendance
• GM – The 8th Dwarf
• Dario – Dario
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Max – Max
• Tain – Mothman
• Ishani and the Magnimaran contingent – Ollie
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So at this point in the campaign, The 8th Dwarf wanted to run a side arc to the main campaign. This last session was sort of a prelude to it, but the next few sessions will be a modified version of the Pathfinder Module ‘From Shore To Sea’. This coincided with Ollie wanting to take a break from the GM chair.
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Summary for Session 34: The Shadow Over Blackcove
12th Gozran
“I came to warn you”
As Captain Antilles and his men prepare to depart, the group hears the sound of an approaching horseman. Within a few moments, Agon gallops into view on his horse. Realising a fight has already taken place, he slows his pace a little. “I came to warn you,” he explains, having received information that an attack against the group was imminent. Apparently his sources have revealed that break-ins have happened at each of the characters homes and small personal effects taken – a hairbrush, some clothing, etc. Further investigation reveals that the items could be used to perform magical rituals to scry the owner’s location and transport assailants. He rode immediately for the Merivanchi estate to warn his companions, then, learning of their intended destination followed their trail.
With the group obviously safe, Agon informs Marcus he has other news as well. He speaks of rumours about a “Farmer’s Militia” that has been forming in one of the outlying estates. Rumours are that the peasants have gathered in opposition to Illeosa’s rule. He has also heard about a figure known only as the “Grey Magus” who is Illeosa’s chief auditor. Apparently the Grey Magus is auditing all of the noble estates and seeking opposition to the Queen’s rule.
Reefclaws
The group decides it may be best to begin the return journey, back towards Palin’s Cove. After an hour or so of travel the hear calls for help and sounds of a struggle. As they round a sharp bend in the seaside road they see, just off-shore a man in a small fishing boat fighting off four reefclaws of enormous size. Each of the creatures is over 6 feet long and are rearing from the water to attack the man, who is armed only with a broken oar. Nearby, the road approaches close enough to the beach that the group can easily ride down to the man’s assistance. Agon hangs back and fires several arrows, skewering one of the “fish”, meanwhile Tain and Marcus drive their horses into the surf, attempting to come to the man’s aid. Tain’s horse balks however, and he is left in the whitewash struggling to control it.
Seeing the would-be rescuers, the fisherman coils a rope and hurls it towards the shore. Unfortunately the rope falls well short into the water, but Marcus mutters a few words and points at the falling coils and they suddenly rise in the air and fly towards his outstretched hand. Securing the rope to his saddle, Marcus turns his horse back up the beach and tries to haul the boat to shore. The horse however, struggles to gain a solid footing in the surf and is unable to move far.
Sensing new and possibly easier prey, one of the reefclaws swims after Marcus’ horse and opens a large wound in its side with its wicked claws. Moments later Max blasts one of the others with bolts of fire, cooking it instantly in its shell. Within a few more moments the companions have finished off the last two creatures and safely pull the man’s boat to shore. Dario and Ishani offer healing to the man as he struggles onto the sand. He then weaves his strange tale and begs the group for their help.
The man’s name is Adler Vanderholt from Gareth’s Rock, a fishing village west of Palin’s Cove. He recently met and fell in love with a young woman, Sarah, from the small settlement of Blackcove, while she and her people were trading in Gareth’s Rock. After a short romance, the two returned to Blackcove to be married, two-days ago. After their wedding, the two sailed out to a small island offshore from Blackcove to a place known to the locals as Wedding Rock. His memory of Wedding Rock seems hazy and he claims horrible creatures rose from the waves to drag Sarah away from him. He managed to fight off the sea creatures and escaped back to Sarah’s boat, but as he made his escape a great storm rose up and drove him out to sea. Since then he has spent the last two days struggling to return to Blackcove with a shattered sail and only a broken oar for propulsion. Adler pleads with the group to help rescue his wife and help the people of Blackcove.
The group question Adler about Blackcove and the attack. He is unable to describe the exact location of Wedding Rock, saying it is a place known only to the locals of Blackcove, and his memory of the site seems hazy. He tells them Blackcove is only a short distance east of where they now are, probably half-a-days ride back along the coast, in a secluded cove on this isolated stretch of coastline. The settlement is apparently small, only 200 or so people, and they keep very much to themselves only coming to other settlements occasionally to trade. Sarah had warned him that Blackcove was in bad shape, with people disappearing from their homes at night, and locals fearing someone called “The Sea Witch”. He has only spent a short time in Blackcove and knows little more than this. The pair had planned to return to Gareth’s Rock to live, but Sarah had insisted on travelling to Wedding Rock to consummate the marriage as is the tradition of her people.
Marcus gives his word to Adler that they will do what they can to help Blackcove and find Sarah, although in the back of his mind he is wary of any delay that keeps them on this gods-forsaken stretch of coast.
Blackcove
Adler’s boat is abandoned on the beach and he is given one of the spare horses. A heavy rainstorm has started sweeping along the coast and going is slow and gloomy. After several hours Adler leads the group from the main coast road onto a poor track leading out onto a rocky point. By late afternoon the group rides down a narrow path into Blackcove. The settlement is located in a small semi-circular cove, surrounded on three sides by high cliffs and on the fourth by the sea. Many of the wooden homes appear abandoned and in poor condition. A tall lighthouse can be seen at the end of a natural rock causeway stretching out into the surf, at the far end of the village.
The town appears deserted with no sign of life in the streets, though the light in the tower blazes against the approaching gloom. By now the rain is teeming down, making visibility limited and conditions down-right unpleasant. While Marcus sets Celino and Max to start corralling the horses, Mari and Dario spy what appears to alchemical equipment in an abandoned hut near the trail out of town. Exploring inside, the building definitely looks abandoned, including what appears to be a dead or dying homunculus in a large jar. Dario gets it in his mind to take some of the lab equipment with him and brew a potion of water breathing. Adler leads the group to Sarah’s house at Marcus’ suggestion, to ensure she has not returned before him. They find the house empty.
While Dario, Mari and Adler move the alchemical equipment, Marcus, Agon, Tain and Ishani search the town. Many of the buildings appear abandoned and all are empty. Closest to the water, a number of buildings are in poor condition and are close to collapse. The town appears abandoned. Exploring some of the empty homes, they find old food in the pantry and travelling cloaks and boots still in the house – an obvious sign that someone didn’t simply pack-up and move.
By now the sky is growing dark with the approaching dusk, peering out to sea, the group can make out what appears to be a small group of fishing boats on the horizon. As the watch, Agon spies a figure on one of the dilapidated piers. The group runs to the waterfront and the figure, sensing their approach, dives into the sea. Agon arrives first at the pier and finds the remnants of a half-chewed fish where the figure was seen. Moments later, he falls through a section of weak timber on the pier into an abandoned storeroom. Tain and Ishani rush out onto the pier, while Marcus stays back, holding the lantern and scanning the beach.
Marcus is surprised by an approaching figure, an old ugly man, with lank hair, waxy skin and scarred face. He has an arrow nocked to his longbow and aimed at Marcus. Marcus holds out his sword to his side in a gesture of peace and hails the man, saying they have come to help one of the townsfolk. When Marcus sheathes his sword, the man relaxes a little and introduces himself as Nicoleus, the Constable of Blackcove. Marcus explains how they met Adler and have come at his request to help find his wife. Nicoleus appears upset at Adler’s name, but also concerned for the fate of his townsfolk. He claims that people are packing up and leaving town due to the poor catch and bad storms, but Marcus can easily read through the man’s words. He appears to be trying to convince himself that this is the truth as much as convince Marcus. After a few moments he warns the group that night is fast approaching and they should get inside. He says if they want answers about the town to speak with Leera at the Shrine or Jervis at the lighthouse.
Insights
By now twilight is falling and Nicoleus appears visibly worried, so the companions hurry back to Sarah’s house. Marcus sends Celino and Max back out of town with the horses, fearing what may happen to them overnight. The group then makes for the shrine. Nicoleus explains that the remaining villagers are either at the shrine praying for the fishermen or seeking shelter in the lighthouse. Apparently, the remaining 30 odd residents now sleep in the lighthouse each evening for safety.
Near the shrine lives a crazy old man called Bartok, living in an overturned keelboat. Apparently he combs the beach for salvage and often finds strange ancient items washed up from the deeps. He runs over to the group and mutters some gibberish about “stealing the water’s gift from our veins”; then calms and offers to trade with the group. He offers an ancient silver dagger, obviously of Thassalonian design, which is eventually purchased with a bottle of fine brandy and a hangover cure from Dario.
As they approach the shrine, the village priestess appears visibly worried at the sight of Tain and Ishani. Marcus quickly realises she may not wish to confront the Abadarans and asks Tain and Ishani to escort the villagers across to the lighthouse. Inside the shrine are idols and icons to hundreds of gods and demi-gods. Towering over one end is a large statue of Asmodeus, adorned with seaweed and shells. Leera explains that visiting Hell Knights recently “offered” the statue to Blackcove (at Blackcove’s expense of course) to protect them.
Leera offers some insight into the village. She tells them that people have been disappearing ever since the alchemist Gurlak visited Nar Kashel. Nar Kashel is apparently an island or city, lying offshore from Blackcove. Wedding Rock is on a beach of Nar Kashel and visited by the villagers on their wedding night, but the rest of the island is off limits. Gurlak apparently theorised that the Wedding Rock or Nar Kashel was responsible for the poor health of the locals, all of whom seem ill – many coughing, sunken features, waxy skin. Leera believes that Gurlak has stirred something by his trespass on the island. She explains that only around forty or fifty people remain now, as the disappearances increased recently. Around thrity are on shore seeking shelter in the lighthouse each night, while some take to the sea, trusting their own skill as sailors to protect them by night.
The group then makes their way to the lighthouse. The lighthouse is round stone tower, around 30 feet high. The ground floor apparently is inundated at high tide, with water marks and barnacles part way up the wall. On the second floor, the villagers are huddled around makeshift beds and small cooking fires. Here the group meets with Jervis, the aged lighthouse keeper. He leads them upstairs to the light to answer their questions away from the villagers.
Jervis offers some more insight into wedding rock and Nar Kashel. Nar Kashel is a Thassalonian name, and the belief is an ancient city once lay offshore at that place. He also explains that the trip to Wedding Rock has been a local tradition for as long as anyone can remember. Children conceived by the couple on that night are supposed to be blessed by the sea. He explains that those “blessed-one” were the first to disappear recently, but once they were all gone, others started to disappear. Now they suspect that something is coming from the sea to drag people away at night, pulling them from their homes into the deep.
He also blames Gurlak for stirring up something that lead to the current trouble. Gurlak visited Nar Kashel several times, but then disappeared and that was when the problems started.
The Night of the Tentacles
As the group is talking with Jervis there is a call of alarm from downstairs. The group comes down to investigate and find the villagers pointing through the hatch in the floor, explaining that the sea is rising. Looking down to the ground floor the tide can be seen to be rising fast, and quickly rises above the highest water marks on the walls below. Within moments, water starts to bubble over the rim of the hatch and several villagers struggle to close it against the rising water. Marcus orders the villagers upstairs and rushes to the window to look out.
As Marcus peers out into the gloom, he sees a huge eye staring straight back at him, and then a huge tentacle bursts through the window sending him flying. Seconds later, tentacles burst in through the other windows and the hatch is thrown open by another tentacle grasping for prey. Several of the tentacles grab villagers and try to pull them back through the windows. The group fights back, struggling to protect the villagers, badly wounding several tentacles and forcing them to withdraw, although they are replaced almost immediately by others. One man is pulled screaming from the room, though the others are saved.
Dario rushes up the stairs past the panicking villagers and can see a huge squid, over a hundred foot in length, wrapping itself around the base of the lighthouse. As the others keep attacking the tentacles, Dario launches a fireball at the squid’s body and the beast goes limp and drops slowly into the sea. The sea water slowly begins to recede. A tense night passes with watches posted at all points, but no further threat appears.
13th Gozran
As dawn breaks, the group can see the enormous size of the beast that attacked them, now half submerged and being eaten by sea gulls and sharks. Jervis is in a state, fearing the complete destruction of his village and offers a reward to the group of gems and jewellery from the sea if they will do something. The group offers to travel to Nar Kashel and try and stop the attacks.
Nar Kashell
Estian, the local Boatwright offers a longboat he is repairing to help get the group to Nar Kashel. It takes several hours of work, with all the villagers chipping in to finish the repairs to the vessel and make it ready to depart. With little sailing skill between them and no knowledge of the local waters, Marcus requests assistance from the locals, with Estian and Adler offering to row the group to their destination. The group sets off by late morning across the waters and into a deepening fog. Nar Kashel is apparently shrouded in fog year round and with few ships passing this close to the treacherous Mushfen coast, only the residents of Blackcove seem to know of its existence.
As they approach, the fog seems to part, opening a passage for them. Below in the water can be seen a thick cloud of jellyfish that seems to blanket the waters for miles around the island. As the fog parts, strange jagged lumps of rock and shattered towers are seen protruding from the waters. Remnants of buildings, walls, floors and statues poke from the sea at crazy angles. In the air overhead, several towers float in a random orbit about the isle. Ahead, the coast of the island is sheers cliff walls, save one narrow beach where stands Wedding Rock.
Estian, who had appeared cheerful earlier, now halts. Coughing he slumps in his seat and mutters “no, no, I won’t let it happen”. The group stares at him dumbfounded as his waxy skin starts to shed from his face and arms, sharp teeth burst from his gums and large bulging eyes blink at them. Mari reacts quickly and paralyses the “man” with a spell. Before the group can then decide what to do, Agon rapidly fires four arrows into the man’s chest, narrowly missing several of his companions in the crowded boat. Everyone is dumbfounded, Marcus orders Agon to stop, who replies, “you don’t order me Marcus”. As Agon prepares to fire again he tries to explain that Estian is a Skum, some kind of evil creature of the deeps. “Then finish it, but stop trying to kill everyone” Marcus replies and draws his dagger, stabbing the man in the kidneys and pushing him overboard.
A moment of uncertainty hangs in the air as everyone regards each other and decides what to do or say. Tain breaks the silence, informing the group he could detect the evil in Estian as he changed. Muttered conversation follows for a few moments debating whether Agon’s actions were necessary, while Marcus and Agon eye each other warily. Finally Tain and Adler take the oars and propel the boat towards the beach. As the near the shore, Marcus can see a figure scramble from the surf, Estian likely, but he says nothing. Moments later, Dario points out the figure as he climbs the short cliffs from the beach. Agon again tries his marksmanship, but his arrow falls wide of the mark at this great distance.
On the shore, several of the group can hear or feel a low hum emanating from the Wedding Rock, where it stands in the middle of the small beach. Agon approaches the rock then halts, going pale and stumbles back towards the boat. He says he was overcome with crazy images or memories as he neared the rock. He tells of being attacked by strange fish-people, of molesting hands and being pack-raped on the rock hundreds and hundreds of times. He is clearly shaken, though the precise details of the memories seem to fade quickly as he discusses them, becoming more of a hazy impression. It seems that the new husband has little to do with the wedding night conception of any of the “sea-blessed” children born in Blackcove.
Tain, Max, Ishani and Adler are left to guard the boat while the others make an initial recon of the area. Skirting the zone around Wedding Rock, the group finds a narrow section of cliff that is easy to ascend and climb up to the plateau above. At the top of the cliff lies the ruins of an ancient and bizarre city among wild growths of trees. The remnants of a white paved road curves away in an organic spiral, towers stand nearby abandoned and broken. Strange spires rear from the ground like sea urchin spines and coloured globes hover around their tips. Overhead several ancient stone towers float about like boats on the waves.
As the group prepares to explore one of the ruined towers, the bloody fish-figure that was Estian lunges from behind a growth of shrub and tackles Agon. He bites and rips at him with sharp claws, wounding him viciously. The others rush to Agon’s assistance and slay the fish-man.
Loot
• 1,000 gp in gems and jewellery.
• An ancient enchanted Thassalonian hair comb of orichalcum, decorated with a manta ray. When worn, the comb will instantly clean and style the wearer’s hair.
• An ancient enchanted Thassalonian dagger of Orichalcum with alchemical reservoir in the hilt. The orichalcum blade is beautifully etched with entwined lovers and the handle is inlaid with sapphires and blue and white coral. The hilt of the blade is hollow, containing an alchemical liquid and strange metal coils.
On a successful attack you can discharge a surge of electricity. You can use either 1, 2 or 3 charges in the attack. Using 3 charges will power down the device and it will not be able to discharge any more charges for that round or the following round as the Thassalonian coil recharges. Each charge used in a surge will do 1d6 points of electrical damage. The use of 1/2 a charge will cause the dagger to glow as if it had a light spell on it, for 3 hours. The use of 1 charge will cause the dagger to glow as a light spell with double the radius for 6 hours. The dagger can also discharge a surge of 3 charges to a range of 15 feet as a ranged touch attack. This will power down the device for the remainder of the turn and the next turn. The dagger has a capacity of 50 charges and the cost for the alchemical liquids to refill the reservoir is 1,000 gp.
• two scrolls of comprehend languages
• 4 bottles of preserved brandy that predate the ascension of the House of Thrune, worth 20 gp each.
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In Attendance
• GM – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Dario – Dario
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Summary for Session 35: The Shadow Over Blackcove Part 2
13th Gozran
Of stirges and will’o’wisps
Hearing the sounds of battle from above the beach, Tain hurried up in the wake of the others, to reach them just as they felled the fish-man. As the creature’s blood drained away into the marshy ground, two of the floating, glowing globes that hovered about the ruined town’s spires drifted down towards the corpse. Hovering above it, the two globes (one slightly larger and red in colour, the other smaller and white) pulsed, their glows brightening, the globes sparking with small electrical discharges.
Tain detected an aura of evil from the globes, and Agon identified the things as will’o’wisps – aberrations known to haunt swampy areas and lead travelers into bogs to feed off their fear and life force as they died. Both warriors suggested attacking the creatures, but Marcus and Mari cautioned restraint, noting that there were dozens, perhaps hundreds more of the globes floating just above. Wisely, restraint was shown. The globes appeared to finish with the body and floated a little way off, although they stayed relatively close to the group.
Seeing that exploration of this island was doubtless going to be dangerous, Tain decided to accompany the others after all, sending Dario back down to the beach to help guard the boat (possibly their only means of return). Tain and Agon eyed each other warily, the paladin having been stewing over the situation in the boat, and his private revelation that he had detected evil not just from Estian, but from Agon as well. He had been internally debating whether to first confront Agon or to confide in Marcus, but decided that either course of action would need to wait for now – the current situation was too dangerous and too urgent.
The group continued moving towards the large, mainly intact structure they had been heading towards before the attack, keeping a wary eye on the will’o’wisps floating in the foggy sky above, and the pair that bobbed along a dozen yards behind them. Many of the ruins that they passed had an organic look to them, not just in their form but in their construction, as if they had been grown rather than built. In some cases this growth seemed to have malfunctioned, either through time or due to the disaster that had caused part of the city to sink, with cancer-like growths marring some buildings, or pieces continually sloughing off.
They reached their building, which, like many of the structures here, was circular in plan. The interior was one large space, with twelve raised, circular platforms of some coppery metal around the perimeter and a series of tiered benches in the centre. Engraved on the wall in Thassilonian runes (which Mari could read) were the words ‘The lecture hall of the twelve’. More glyphs and runes were carved into the sides of the platforms, partially obscured by the dust and grime of ages. Mari used a mage hand spell to sweep aside the dust, but was unable to read the writing, it being in a magical script, and she had not prepared the requisite spell to interpret it. Tain, knowing that Ishani habitually prepared such a spell, hurried back along the path to the cliff overlooking the beach and called for the cleric. Upon arriving, he cast his read magic spell and was able to activate the magic in the words – he immediately started glowing brightly, a glow that faded when he moved out of the building.
Marcus and Tain began searching the building for any sign of the missing villagers or clues to their whereabouts. Meanwhile, Mari suggested that she and Agon scout out the next building that had caught her eye, a tower almost completely overgrown by thick vines. Marcus protested that splitting up might not be a good idea, but Mari was already off, heading through the tangled undergrowth towards the building. Agon went after her, whilst Marcus and the others, not finding anything else in the lecture hall of the twelve, soon continued following the path they had been on. The path curved towards another cliff up ahead, where the island rose to a higher elevation – the plan was to follow the line of the cliff around to near the overgrown building and meet Mari and Agon there.
Mari meanwhile had made it to within about sixty feet of the overgrown tower, noticing that the vines bore dozens of enormous, blood red fruit, several feet in diameter. As she watched, the skin of the nearest fruit seemed to peel aside, and a creature the size of a small dog, looking like a cross between a bat and a mosquito crawled out, followed by several more. Mari hid in the shelter of a tree as the stirges flew in her direction, passing over her hiding place towards where Marcus, Tain and Ishani were walking along the path towards the cliff. Ishani heard the droning of the stirge’s wings as they approached, and loaded his crossbow, but then the creatures were upon them. The lead stirge zoomed towards Tain, aiming for the only exposed bit of skin on the paladin – his face. Its needle-sharp proboscis pierced his cheek as its hooked claws latched onto his face and beard.
Literally before Tain could react, Agon, who was concealed amongst some bushes nearby, shot an arrow directly at the stirge latched onto the paladin’s face. It was a direct hit – the stirge burst apart in a shower of blood, leaving Tain shocked but unharmed. A second later, a second stirge latched onto his face, and two more stirges latched on to Marcus and Ishani. Marcus and Ishani both tugged at the creatures, but failed to dislodge them, and both stirges began to siphon the men’s blood. Agon fired again, once again shooting a stirge off Tain’s face. The paladin threw Agon an incredulous look through the gore covering his face, then grabbed the stirge sucking from Ishani, ripping it away from the cleric, who drew his dagger and slashed at the struggling beast.
Marcus pistol-whipped the stirge attached to him, and Mari, who had by this time run over, cast a spell to daze it. Agon took careful aim and shot an arrow into the stirge that Tain held, stilling its frantic movements, while Ishani and Mari finished off the stirge sucking Marcus’s blood with their daggers. Marcus had suffered some substantial blood loss, but Ishani cast a spell to heal him, and the group moved on.
Figuring that the rest of the fruit might conceal a lot more stirges, they decided to abandon further thoughts of exploring the vine covered building or the nearby ruins. Agon scouted about the cliff for an easy point to climb up to the next tier of the island, made the climb, then lowered a rope for the others to follow.
The second tier
The next level of the island was arranged similarly to the previous one; a relatively level, crescent shaped stretch of land, crisscrossed by curving roads and strewn with ruined buildings, trees and undergrowth. Some distance away another series of cliffs divided the island into another even higher level.
Three nearby ruined structures caught the group’s immediate attention as they stood at the edge of the plateau, the two will’o’wisps still hovering nearby.
A broken tower leaned precariously over the cliff to the tier below – the group decided to avoid this one, both due to concern that their explorations would cause it to topple and due to its relative proximity to the stirge vines below. Nearby stood what appeared to be a cylinder of smoky, opaque glass, about fifteen feet in diameter, its top sheared off and cracks marring its walls. Beyond the cylinder stood another ruined tower, partially roofed by a cracked and broken crystal dome. The group decided to investigate the glass cylinder first.
There was an opening in one side of the cylinder with a plaque bearing Thassilonian runes next to it; “Here lies bound Krashar, traitor to the city and the lady. Let all enemies tremble and beware!” Mari translated. Looking through the opening, Tain could hear a screaming sound and could see something on the inside walls, but couldn’t quite comprehend what he was seeing for a moment. Ishani joined him and stared in horror at what was inside the tower. “Do you know much about the medical arts Tain?” he asked. The paladin shook his head. “I mainly just hurt people.” Ishani pointed out what he saw on the walls – pulsing internal organs, throbbing veins, flayed skin, gnashing teeth – it was as if a man had been cut open, turned inside out, then smeared across the walls while somehow kept alive.
Mari cast a detection cantrip, identifying strong necromantic and abjuration magic from the structure. Tain concentrated and detected great evil; telling the others to stand back, he began smashing at the walls with his flail, causing a large shard of glass to fall. As he did this, the two ever-present will’o’wisps flew towards him, pulsing angrily.
Mari had been studying the floating globes, and realised that their pulsing was a form of communication. She cast a spell that should enable her to communicate with the creatures. Unfortunately, as they did not possess a spoken language, her tongues spell did not enable her to speak with them or understand them precisely, but the magic enabled her to understand the gist of what they were ‘saying’. They are communicating their displeasure at Tain damaging the glass tower as they think of the ruined city as their place to look after / protect. They also seem to indicate that it is dangerous to break open the tower.
Tain realises that while he originally thought the evil was emanating from the structure of the cylinder itself, or the spells upon it, it is actually coming from the still living but broken person bound within ... and he must be quite powerful to radiate such strong evil. Not wanting to inadvertently release an evil he could not defeat (and at the urgings of the others who did not want to fight the will’o’wisps), Tain reluctantly stopped trying to destroy the structure. The group moved on to investigate the tower with the broken crystal dome.
As the group picked their way through the rubble and undergrowth, everyone noticed that some dark, viscous liquid appeared to be leaking from Marcus’s eyes. Ishani examined him and found that the liquid was blood, although it didn’t appear to be Marcus’s own and there didn’t seem to be anything else wrong with him – or anything that could be done to stop the blood running out from his tear ducts. Ishani suggested that it might be some magical or mystical effect that the island was having on him.
The broken domed tower had once been beautiful, but was now as ruined as the rest of the island. Looking through a large opening in the wall, the group saw dozens of books with pages of beaten copper floating lazily around inside, above piles of rubble. Something moved amongst the rubble – and then three strange creatures, looking like bizarre crosses between insects and dinosaurs the size of draft horses, with long feathery antenna, armoured bodies and paddle shaped tails, charged out, heading straight towards Tain.
Before anyone could react, one of the creatures brushed its antenna against Tain’s new spiked half plate armour, causing the armour to instantly corrode and rust. Mari used her magic to repair the paladin’s armour, while Ishani cast a spell to obscure his presence from the creatures before they could attack the paladin again. The spell did not serve Tain long, for he lashed out at the beasts with his flail, killing one and injuring another. Marcus darted in with his rapier, finishing off the wounded one with a precise thrust, while Agon deliberately enacted a change into his dire rat form and leapt at the third beast, though neither his teeth nor sword were unable to penetrate its armoured hide.
The creature again rusted Tain’s armour, Mari again fixed it, before Tain finished the beast off. There was a tense moment while rat-Agon stared hungrily at the group before Marcus instructed him to change back.
The group entered the building and Mari began grabbing at some of the floating books, reading the titles (in Thassilonian) and flicking through the most interesting looking ones.
The books included one about the history of this place; it had begun as an isolated observatory that over the years had evolved into a place of learning – a university, about which a town had sprung up. Another book dealt with ‘The Seventh Column’ – they appeared to be a secret society active in the town. A badly damaged book called ‘Sigil and Glyph’ seemed to deal with a secret experiment, something or someone called ‘The Unwelcome Guest’ and the person called Krashar (who may have either been The Unwelcome Guest or the person who brought that entity to the town).
As well as the books, a search of the place revealed a copper plate seemingly made up of interlocked glyphs. Manipulating the thing, Mari managed to activate it, causing the individual glyphs to come apart and form a rotating halo around her head, forming what she surmised was a command word for some sort of evocation effect. While the group searched, a serious coughing fit came over Agon.
Moving on from the ancient library, the group moved further around the tier, passing through an area of dense rubble, the remains of ancient dwellings by the look of things. Beyond that section of ruins was another tower. The broken top of this tower seemed to be continually trying to repair itself, bits of the strangely organic building material that much of this ruined city was created from kept growing then sloughing off onto the ground around the tower, or right off the tall cliff into the sea below.
As the group approached the tower, an enormous lizard – easily twenty feet long – charged out of an opening at the base of the tower, hissing at the group, the frill around its neck extended in what is intended to be an intimidating display. As it charged forward, Mari activated the power of her newly acquired crown of glyphs, blasting the lizard with a ray of searing light, while Marcus shot at it with his pistol. While both attacks injured the lizard, they did not slow it down, and it chomped down on Tain (but didn’t try to swallow him thanks to the spikes on his armour) and swished its long tail around, winding Mari. Tain swung his flail, hitting it mightily in the head, whilst Agon, Marcus and Ishani all shot at it, with bow, pistol and acid dart. The lizard was badly wounded, but it was Mari who took it down as it prepared to bite at Tain again, evoking a lightning bolt from her rod of wonder.
Heading into the building, Ishani was hit a glancing blow by a piece of the sloughing material. Inside, the group searched the lizard’s lair, finding lots of old bones, the lower half of a partially consumed fish-man, and a small box bearing Thassilonian runes reading ‘Horn of Fog’. Inside the box was a beautifully adorned horn of silver inlaid ivory.
As the group searched, Ishani began to feel sick, vomiting all over the floor. Meanwhile, Mari’s skin had begun to develop an oily, moist sheen, and Tain’s eyes and lips had begun to change shape, his eyes looking very big and far apart, his lips taking on a ‘fishy aspect’. Ishani’s examination again determined that no illness, disease or poison was responsible. The group realised that the island was slowly changing them into fish-men, and resolved to continue their explorations with haste.
Moving further around the tier, the way was blocked by a steep cliff, plunging 160 feet down to a narrow cove and beach at sea level. Through the mist the group could see a group of about 80 villagers – some exhibiting similar ‘fishy’ features to the group – digging a canal across the beach from the sea to a cave opening in the cliff face at the narrow end of the cove. The villagers were being directed by about 8 fish-men. The group discussed attacking the fish-men and freeing the villagers, but realised that they couldn’t easily get down the cliff from here. In the end they decided to look for another way down, or return later via boat.
It was decided to travel back around the tier towards the crystal domed tower, where Agon and Marcus had spotted an easy looking way up the cliff to the island’s next tier. As the group headed back through the ruined suburb, noise was heard ahead, and the heroes spotted a woman dressed in ragged clothes (with a somewhat ‘fishy’ cast to her features) being chased through the ruins by three creatures that vaguely resembled manta rays covered with tatters of sea weed. Two of the flying creatures were roughly the size of humans, whilst the third was at least twice as large.
As the heroes dashed to intercept the monsters, one of them engulfed the fleeing woman, bearing her to the ground. Another let out a chilling moan that seemed to badly affect Ishani, causing him to double over in pain, retching. The largest creature flapped towards Tain, biting the paladin, who called on Abadar to smite it – only to find that it was not evil. The creature that had moaned now flapped forward to engulf Agon, who changed into his hybrid form and began tearing at it from the inside. Tain, Marcus and Mari focused their attacks on the big one, which continued to bite at Tain and slash at Mari with its barbed tail – but soon enough the heroes brought it down.
Mari and Ishani ran to assist the woman, who had stopped struggling – together they slew the beast wrapped around her and pulled her free. Ishani realized she was still alive and used his magic to heal her, while Marcus and Tain assisted Agon in tearing apart the last creature. Searching the creature revealed a magical ring and an enchanted metal plate, wrapped up in folds or adorning tails.
When the woman came around, she introduced herself as Sara – the heroes realized she must be Adler’s missing wife. Her features had taken on a fishy aspect, her skin was slimy, her hair straggly and oily, but she didn’t seem to have any of the homicidal urges that had afflicted Estian, and she was of sound mind. She explained that when the sea creatures brought the villagers here, they began to change, and most of them could not think for themselves, but did what the whispers told them. She could hear the whispers, but managed to resist their compulsion and escaped the fish-men overseers. The other villagers toiled at digging that canal down on the narrow beach. Occasionally, one of them would completely turn into a fish-man, at which point they would go into one of the buildings up on the top tier of the island and not be seen again.
After Sara escaped, she found Gurlack the alchemist, who had begun to change but did not hear the whispers. He said that he was working on a way to reverse the change, and talked about experimenting in a large building at the back of the top tier of the island; but before he could finish whatever he was working on he succumbed to the change – ‘He is more fish now, than man,’ Sara explained, and she doesn’t know where he is.
She describes some of the other buildings on the top tier – she saw a ‘silver man’ in a large building near where the heroes plan to climb up to that tier. There is also another building above the narrow cove, the place that the fish-men go into.
Tain tells Sara that Adler is waiting back at their boat, but she doesn’t want to go, saying that she doesn’t want him to see her like this. Tain insists, saying that it will be safer for her back at the boat. He asks Ishani to take her back and to give the others an update on what has been happening and where they will be.
Pools of ancient knowledge and finding the key
Preparing the scramble up a pile of rubble to the next tier, another enormous coughing fit overcame Agon – so severe that he could not draw breath for several minutes! Surprisingly, he suffered no ill effect from the lack of oxygen, discovering that he could hold his breath for much longer than normal. The strange change had continued to affect the others too. Marcus’s eyes were now completely black, but he found he could see in the dark (back in the boat, the same change had overcome Dario). Tain’s eyes had grown larger and begun to shift to the side of his head, giving him excellent peripheral vision. Mari’s skin had become even slimier (+2 to CMD to resist grapple). Back at the boat, Ishani found that all his internal organs seemed to have shifted around, whilst Max suffered from the same coughing fits that plagued Agon.
Reaching the island’s top tier (with the will’o’wisps still following), the heroes spied a nearby damaged building, now consisting of a circular low wall surrounding seven round pools. Gulls picked at a collection of human bodies piled nearby. There were about twenty decomposing corpses, quite neatly arranged with their hands clasped to their chests and their skulls staved in. Residue of some silvery substance clung to the bodies, especially around the heads and hands.
Each of the seven pools bore plaques with inscriptions in Thassilonian runes – three of the plaques had been cleaned so that the inscriptions could be easily read; each seemed to refer to a particular lesson or lecture by some professor or other luminary.
Amongst others, the inscriptions referred to a master of lenses, and a professor of glyphs and sigils.
Examining the pools, the plaques and the corpses, Mari was able to determine that the now dead people had been sacrificed to re-activate the pools, so that the ancient lessons captured within could be viewed, and perhaps even questions asked of the ancient lesson-givers; however, only enough residual energy remained now to ask one question.
Not yet knowing how best to ‘spend’ this energy on a question, the heroes moved on. They also noticed that the will’o’wisps stayed well back from the pools, flashing quickly.
The group made their way towards the building that Sara had described as the one Gurlack was most interested in, near the back of the island. It had once been a domed observatory, and the heroes could still see lenses, orbs and glyphs all swirling about within, through openings and holes in the walls. As they hesitated before the observatory, the will’o’wisps moved a little closer, still flashing brighter and duller quite rapidly.
Mari had been observing the will’o’wisps for some time now, and she realized that their flashing was a type of code – a language! In fact, it was a coded form of Thassilonian, with various groups of flashes representing individual letters or words. The incredibly intelligent woman found that she was able to mentally translate the flashes into words and sentences.
“Welcome to Nar Kashel, visitors,” the wisps communicated. “Do you seek to rid the island of The Unwelcome Guest?”
“Yes,” Mari replied in spoken Thassilonian (they seemed to understand) after a quick consultation with the others. “Where can we find him?”
“Under the city,” answered the wisps. “The children of the city seek to dig him out.” The wisps went on to indicate that the Unwelcome Guest somehow controlled the villagers through some apparatus housed in the observatory. This control could be turned off through the means of some sort of key. The key was possessed by a fish-man who, when asked, the wisps said they had last seen at “the growing tower”.
The group figured out that the growing tower was the building back on the second tier, the lair of the giant lizard. They had seen half a fish-man corpse in the lizard’s lair, but nothing resembling a key … which probably meant it was with the other half of the fish-man, inside the lizard.
After heading back down to the tier and finding the lizard’s body, Agon volunteered to fish out the key, a call that no one objected to. Agon slit open the lizard’s belly and then, while Tain held apart the flaps of skin, crawled within to retrieve the partially digested upper half of the fish-man. The creature wore an amulet of grey metal with interlocking spheres, an item that Mari identified as having magical properties.
With what they assumed to be the key in hand, the group prepared to travel back to the observatory.
Loot
• Three ancient books ('Idionestra's Histories', 'The Seventh Column', and 'Sigil and Glyph')
• Thassilonian Minor Crown of Blasting (Mari)
• Thassilonian Amulet of Natural Armour +2
• Armillary Amulet (+5 to Spellcraft checks) (Mari)
• Ring of Arcane Signets
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In Attendance
• GM – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Kraken
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Tain – Mothman
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Summary for Session 36: The Shadow Over Blackcove Part 3
13th Gozran
Observing the observatory
Ishani returns from the boat along with Max, to meet the others at the building with the pools. After a brief discussion it is decided that Agon should return to help guard the boat – their only way off the island. The decision is at least partly motivated by the growing tension between Marcus and Agon and Tain and Agon. After Agon departs, the others head towards the observatory.
Before reaching the building, Mari volunteers to cast a clairvoyance spell to observe the inside of the building, in case of any guardians or ambush. Marcus is not convinced this is safe, fearing some sort of magical backlash, but reluctantly agrees.
The building consists of a massive domed structure with a smaller tower attached to it. The tower has been sheared in half, but the top half of the tower still floats around, orbiting around and above the dome, passing within about ten feet of its broken base every few minutes. Smashed doors of coral give access to the main part of the building. This vast open space is dominated by a huge and complex orrery showing the movement and position of dozens of heavenly bodies. The orrery still functions after all these centuries, although parts of it work very erratically, sending metal comets and planets suddenly lurching through the air on unpredictable orbits, and huge sparks of electricity sporadically arc through the air from one piece of machinery to another. Dozens of columns ring the perimeter of the space. The broken domed ceiling is covered by a detailed illusion of the night sky with hundreds of bright stars. Here and there, beams of light lance down from one star or another, to be redirected or refracted through a series of lenses and floating glyphs.
The main building seems empty of any creatures, as does the base of the broken tower, so far as Mari’s spell can see.
The heroes move towards and around the building, looking for any other way in apart from the main doors, but short of scaling the walls of the broken tower there does not appear to be another entrance. A loud grinding sound can be heard from within – obviously the machinery that moves the orrery is on its last legs (though it may well have been so for centuries).
By now, everyone has begun hearing faint whispers in their minds – at this stage a mild compulsion (ignored easily enough) to head down to the narrow beach and begin digging. They figure it is a matter of time before the urgings become more insistent and harder to resist. Tain suggests that everyone keep an eye on everyone else, and speak out if any odd behavior is noticed.
Mari asks the ever present pair of will’o’wisps where the mechanism that the Unwelcome Guests uses to control the villagers is located, and how to control it, but they do not know, beyond that it is within the observatory. There is nothing for it but to go inside and investigate. Max casts a spell on himself and Mari, allowing them to resist electricity, fearing the sparks that arc about the place.
The ornery orrery
Mari, Marcus and Ishani cautiously entered the observatory, whilst Max and Tain remained at the doorway, watching for any signs of trouble from inside or out.
Ishani and Marcus examine the orrery, looking for signs of the familiar, and soon come to the (fairly obvious) conclusion that the solar system depicted in their own. They are able to spot the sphere representing Golarion. A ray of light projected from a star in the illusionary sky above passes through a suspended lens, where it is refracted and split into two beams, each directed towards a different floating glyph. Each glyph redirects its beam back towards the Golarion sphere, where they appear to intersect at about the same point on the globe. Ishani casts read magic, and determines that the glyphs mean ‘Control’ and ‘Move’ respectively. The group theorise that this must have something to do with The Unwelcome Guest’s mind control of the villagers.
Ishani and Marcus decide they want to get a closer look, and glancing about, notice the rusted remains of a metal catwalk circling the chamber at elevation, with some old ladders attached to the wall leading up to it. They begin to climb up to the precarious perch. Marcus is shocked by a sudden arc of electricity as he begins to climb, and Ishani barely ducks aside from a rogue comet that whizzes by his head. Getting close to the Golarion globe, Ishani can see that the outline of the continents, whilst vaguely familiar is quite different to any map he has seen. Concentrating on the globe, trying to make sense of it, he sees the map slowly shift to represent an outline he is more familiar with, the coast of modern Varisia. He can see that the beam from the ‘Control’ glyph appears to be focused on this very location on the map, while the beam from the ‘Move’ glyph is focused a very short distance away. He and Marcus think it might be pointing at Blackcove. The pair discuss what the ‘Move’ glyph might be and what course of action would be best to take.
Down below, Mari examines the pillar closest to the door, finding that it (and the other pillars) is carved with hundreds of tiny Thassilonian runes in lines of text. Reading some of the runes, she realises that the pillars hold the instructions for operating, understanding and manipulating the orrery! However, she thinks it would take her many hours (at best) to read everything and understand it all. As she stands reading from the pillar, a stray beam of light from the star field above seems to literally cut through the air before her, opening up a rift in space-time, and she is pulled through. With a yell, Tain dashes forward, only to be pulled through another rift.
A few seconds later Mari reappears in another part of the room, only to vanish again, reappear again elsewhere, vanish again. The same thing happens to Tain. Eventually both adventurers manage to make their way outside the circle formed by the pillars, and the dimensional blinking stops.
Mari explains that it would take her a long time to figure out how to manipulate the orrery to redirect or shut off the beams. Tain advocates the direct approach – if it will take that long to ‘switch off’ the control, why not just start smashing things? Surely if the lenses and orrery were broken it would have the same effect? Mari and Marcus seem somewhat horrified at smashing this ancient (and expensive) piece of magical equipment. Ishani suggests a compromise – why not try to disrupt the beam? From his precarious perch he begins fishing about in his pack, looking for his frying pan, intending to put it into the path of the beam of starlight.
Tain swings his flail idly and begins examining the orrery for a good place to start smashing it- if necessary – when all of a sudden an enormous tear opens up in the fabric of space in front of him, and a pair of enormous, bristled, spidery legs emerge, pushing apart the edges of the tear to allow the thorax, legs and mandibles of a massive, spider-like creature to squeeze through. The spider lunges forward at Tain before he can react, its fangs phasing through his armour as if it didn’t exist, piercing deeply and painfully into his flesh, pumping an agonising poison into his body.
At almost the same time, another similar rift tore open near Marcus and Ishani, and a second spider-beast thrust through to bite Marcus, though Ishani quickly reaches out to heal his wound. Momentarily stunned by the poison coursing through his system, Tain is unable to react as the spider bites him again, almost driving him to his knees. However, before the beast can finish him, Max steps into the room and fires two rays of scorching flame at the creature, causing it to shriek and thrash in pain. With a force of will, Tain shakes off the debilitating effects of the poison and smashes the spider in the head with his flail.
Mari points her Rod of Wonder at the spider attacking Marcus, and a bolt of lightning splits the air, crackling around the spider. Marcus stabs at the creature with his rapier, but loses his tenuous grip on the wall, tumbling towards the ground – only to disappear in mid air before he hits the floor. Finding himself alone, facing the spider, Ishani lets go of the wall, following Marcus, but the cleric actually does hit the ground heavily. The spider lunges after him, then it too vanishes – only to reappear behind Tain and beside Max. The spider bites Tain, who is by now badly wounded and struggling to fight off both spiders. Max steps back and fires off another two scorching rays at the second spider, while Tain attempts to manoeuvre around so as not to be caught between the two monsters. Mari once again levels her Rod at the spider that was attacking Marcus but is now menacing Max and Tain – and a fireball blossoms around the creature, also enveloping Max in flames. The spider is badly burnt, but Max stands unscathed as the flames lick around him, partially sheltered by the spider’s bulk and saved from being burnt by his elemental heritage. However, the spider is not dead, and it bites him, wounding him badly.
Marcus reappears next to the spider and Max just as the flames die away. He has the presence of mind to attack the spider again before he once again vanishes. An instant later the spider vanishes, reappearing on the other side of Max. Tain swings his flail at the first spider again, this time pulping its head in a shower of gore – it crashes to the floor, dead. Ishani picks himself up from the floor, when a ray of focused starlight hits him, and he vanishes. Tain charges across the chamber at the remaining spider, dodging and ducking through the arms and gears of the orrery, to strike at the spider, before Max finishes it off with another scorching ray spell.
Marcus eventually stops blinking around the room, but Ishani is yet to reappear. The heroes call out for their lost companion, but there is no reply ... until Mari feels a tap on her shoulder. A moment later Marcus feels a similar tap, then Tain does. They realise that it is Ishani, who has somehow become invisible and inaudible. Mari prepares to dispel the magic on him, but soon he begins to slowly reappear.
Mari tells the others (with a meaningful look at Tain) that she does not think smashing the mechanism or the lens is the way to go. She also cautions Ishani against trying to interrupt or divert the beam – the beam of ‘starlight’ is intense and will likely burn through anything placed in the way, other than the specially made lenses and glyphs. She goes back to studying the workings of the orrery, frequently looking at the lens and the glyphs. After a time she declares that the lens is damaged, locked in place – it should be made to redirect or shut off the beams, but until the lens is replaced or repaired that cannot be done. She suggests that they try to seek the way to do so from the pools of ancient knowledge, but a decision is made to try to explore the floating tower first, in case more answers can be found there.
Floating towers, fish-men, and fixing the lens
The party moves carefully around the perimeter of the observatory towards the tower. The broken lower half of the tower is devoid of anything interesting apart from a stone stairway that winds itself up the inside face of the curved outer wall, terminating at the point where the top of the tower was sheared off in the ancient cataclysm. That tower top orbits slowly through the air around the observatory, passing about ten or fifteen feet above the top of the broken stairway every few minutes. The tower top has tilted in relation to the bottom of the tower at some point. It rotates lazily around its axis, and occasionally lurches or dips in the air.
Tain pulls his rope and grapple from his pack and spends several minutes knotting the rope – halving its length but making it easier to climb – before handing it to the dextrous Mari. She swings and throws, catching the grapple around an outcropping of stone in the tower top, and begins climbing the rope before the orbiting tower pulls it out of reach. She is able to make it up, bracing herself on the upper part of the stairway and a nearby wall. Tain grabs the trailing rope and climbs on the tower’s next pass, less easily than Mari, weighed down as he is by his armour, but eventually he makes it up. The others all follow suit (though Max needs to be assisted).
Once at the top part of the tower, everyone begins half climbing, half scrambling up the stair towards the intact upper floor of the tower. At one point the tower lurches, and Ishani loses his grip and slides towards a wide window opening. Just before he plunges through, Mari lunges out to grab him … but she is not strong enough to pull him back up, and the cleric’s armour weighs her down. Ishani dangles out of the window above the rocky ground some thirty feet below, lurching lower and lower as Mari is pulled towards the window. Tain reaches out to grab Mari, but her newly slimy skin makes getting a proper grip difficult. In the end though, the paladin is able to find purchase on her clothing, and hauls everyone back up.
Without further mishap the group makes it through a trapdoor into the upper floor. A collection of various objects float in the centre of the chamber here, including a number of boxes bearing runic markings; several books; and a number of small statues of odd creatures, some humanoid some not, including a vaguely elven looking woman and a creature with four arms and a triangular head.
Mari moves into the centre of the room, then notices that there is a magical defense system in place, that she did not set off thanks to her wearing the ‘key’ amulet. Opening the boxes she finds that they contain lenses and other spare parts for the orrery. She finds the lens that she needs and passes it carefully to Tain. Examining the books (written in Thassilonian), she finds one entitled ‘Zen and the Art of Orrery Maintenance’ (or something like that). She takes the books. The statues are labeled as being the native races of various other planets in the solar system. Ishani realises that they are made of Noqual, a type of star-metal, and as such are quite valuable. The statues are duly taken.
The group manages to get back out of the tower and down to the ground without mishap, then Mari settles down on the ground outside the observatory building in the fading afternoon light to peruse the book on orrery maintenance, hoping to find instructions on replacing the lens and shutting down the star beams.
As she reads, there is a rustling in the bushes, and five giant fishmen – resembling the others the group had seen or encountered, but standing some ten to twelve feet tall – charged into the area, throwing tridents that wounded several members of the group. Max and Mari both reacted quickly, Max casting a defensive illusion and Mari brandishing her Rod of Wonder – but the only effect of the temperamental item was that a disembodied voice boomed out ‘Surrender now! All hope is lost!’ Little attention was paid to it.
As the giant scum charged in to rend at the group with teeth and claws, Mari used the Rod again, but only succeeded in making the surrounding area somewhat shadowy. Tain steps forward to meet the two abominations that charge at him, swinging his flail about mightily – the weapon catches the first fish-man squarely in the face as it stoops in to bite the paladin, and the creature’s head explodes in a cloud of bone and gore. As the second fishman turns about, the flail rips through its back, tearing out its spinal column, and it collapses as its legs turn to jelly. Two down.
Inspired by Tain’s gory heroics, Marcus steps forward and fires his pistol at the scum charging him – striking it for an extremely minor flesh wound. “You’ll get there Marcus,” Tain encourages him.
As the remaining fishmen tear and bite at the heroes, Mari levels her Rod for a third time – and both she and the fishman she was aiming at vanish. Max scorches the remaining two fishmen with magical fire, and Tain and Marcus finish the wounded creatures off. Everyone looks about for Mari or the vanished fish-man.
Mari suddenly finds herself in the top level of the lighthouse at Blackcove, where the frightened remaining villagers huddle. They start at Mari’s appearance before recognising her. “How did you get here?” one of the villagers asks. “It’s a long story,” Mari replies. “What’s been happening here?”
“The water level is rising again,” she is told. “We don’t have long before we are swept away!” Mari is about to reply, when suddenly she finds herself back on Nar Kashel with her brother and the others. The vanished fish-man also reappears from wherever it went to, and the heroes make short work of it.
While the others clean up after the battle, Mari hurriedly concludes her reading, and after several more minutes announces that she is ready to try to install the new lens.
Marcus takes the lens and Mari casts a fly spell on him, intending to direct him, step by step from the book, how to change the lens. Marcus flies up towards the damaged lens, but is hit by a random beam of projected starlight on the way, and immediately vanishes, dropping the lens at the same time. Acting quickly, Mari casts a mage hand to try to catch the lens as Tain leaps to stop it shattering on the floor. Mari’s mage hand cannot hold it, but slows its descent enough for Tain to catch it, the paladin narrowly ducking under a stray planet to do so, before scrambling back out of the orrery’s workings.
A few minutes later Marcus appears again, and, still under the effect of the fly spell, takes the lens to have another try. This time he reaches the arm that holds the lens in place without mishap, and, following Mari’s called directions is able to loosen various screws and manipulate various levers and switches to loosen the old lens and insert the new one. Once the new lens is properly installed, Mari directs Marcus to a lever that can now be moved, causing the beam of starlight to shut down. Checking the instruction book, Mari tells Marcus which other levers to pull to turn off all the beams, including the ‘Move’ beam directed at Blackcove.
The beach
As soon as the ‘Control’ beam is turned off, the faint whispers that everyone has been hearing in their minds cease. Concerned about what might be happening where the villagers have been working at the narrow beach, Tain and Marcus hurry over to the cliff overlooking the beach. Looking down, they can see that the eighty or so villagers are milling about in confusion, their scum overseers yelling at them to get back to work. Tain pulls out his crossbow to begin firing at the scum, but then Marcus notices a narrow path carved into the Cliffside, leading down to the beach. The heroes hurry down.
As they neared the bottom of the rocky stairs, one of the fishmen guards noticed them approach. “Leave, you cannot be here!” one of the fishmen gurgled at the heroes, waving its flippers at them. Marcus casually drew his pistol and shot the creature. The fish-man dropped to its knees, looking down in surprise at the blood gushing from the hole in its torso. As the villagers screamed and fled to the far side of the beach in panic, the remaining fish-men guards charged towards the heroes.
Ishani called on the power of Abadar, and sharp serrated spikes and spines erupted from the rocks that the fishmen were clambering over, shredding their feet and legs. The Korvosans were able to quickly finish off the wounded and hampered fishmen with arrows and spells.
The heroes of Korvosa make their way across the beach to where the frightened crowd of fishy villagers huddle. “Who ... who are you?” one asks.
Marcus introduces himself and explains what they are doing here, telling the man that Jervis sent them. This seems to calm the villagers, although a few still murmur that the heroes killed their kin, presumably meaning the fish-men. The villagers seem confused as to how they got here or exactly what they have been doing, but say that they had to obey the whispers in their heads; they say the voice belonged to something called ‘Molomug’; the heroes surmise that ‘Molomug’ and The Unwelcome Guest are one and the same.
Marcus asks if Gurlak is amongst this group. “No,” says one of the villagers. Gurlack has been completely transformed, and is thought to be in the pit in the middle of the island. A few of the villagers remember him saying that he had a secret place there, where he was working on a cure for the transformations before he too turned.
The group gather the villagers and escort them up the stairs, and back across the island to the beach where Dario and the others wait. When they get there, they discover that Leera, the priestess from the village has arrived by boat. She offers to help as she may.
Loot
• Books (including books about the orrery and spellbooks) and noqual statues (worth a total of 2500gp) from the floating tower.
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In Attendance
• GM – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Max – Max
• Tain – Mothman
• Ishani – Ollie
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The party levelled after session 36. Going into session 37, we have:
Player Characters:
Agon Deparle – Male Half-Elf (Varisian) Fighter (Educated Fighter) 6 / Ranger (Urban Ranger) 4
Dario Ornelos – Male Half-Elf (Chelaxian) Oracle 4 / Diviner 3 / Mystic Theurge 3
‘Baroness’ Liella Delamore – Female Human (Taldan) Witch 10 (not present)
Marcus Luciano Merivanchi – Male Human (Chelaxian) Bard (Arcane Duellist) 6 / Gunslinger 2 / Cavalier 2
Marianna ‘Mari’ Luciana Merivanchi – Female Human (Chelaxian) Rogue 3 / Wizard 5 / Arcane Trickster 2
Max Power – Male Human (Varisian) Sorcerer 10 (Fire Elemental Bloodline)
Tain Locus – Male Human (Chelaxian) Paladin 10 (Abadar)
Cohorts
Celiano Maernos – Male Human (Chelaxian) Fighter 5 / Cavalier 3 (not present)
Felix Deparle – Male Half-Elf (Varisian) Ranger (Guide) 3 / Rogue 5 (not present)
Ishani Dhatri – Male Human (Vudran) Cleric 8 (Abadar)
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Summary for Session 37: Getting Rid Of The Unwelcome Guest
13th Gozran (evening)
The pit
The heroes – Agon, Dario, Ishani, Marcus, Mari, Max and Tain – stand before the ruined structure in the middle of the island. Low walls surround a wide, tiered pit that plunges some 160 feet down into the rock of the island. Two round pools, filled with fouled tepid water that ripples slightly stand at the entrance to the structure. Alert for anything lurking in the pools, Tain throws a rock into one of them – and the surface of the water erupts as two particularly tough looking skum leap upwards. Another two emerge from the other pool.
Marcus inspires courage and misses with his pistol. Max fires scorching ray. Dario stands back to contemplate the situation. The others finish off the skum.
The group heads down into the tiered pit, at the bottom Mari investigates and falls down a 90 foot drop when an aperture at the bottom of the pit suddenly opens up. Tain, Marcus, Agon and Dario immediately jump down to try to rescue her but only succeed in also falling through the aperture. Everyone is saved from certain death by Mari and Dario’s magic, various levitate and feather fall spells. Max and Ishani, without any such magic, elect to stay behind.
Under the island
The remaining heroes find themselves in an underground chamber slowly filling up with seawater. They are attacked by shrieking eels, which they defeat although Tain finds himself in dire straights. Fortunately the giant eel constricting him also impales itself on his spiked armour. Marcus inspires courage and misses with his pistol. Dario stands back to contemplate the situation.
The follow a tunnel and come to a room where there is a +2 bane vs aberration heavy flail just lying about. It’s a trap! The group is attacked by cloakers. Marcus inspires courage and misses with his pistol. Dario casts Flame Arrow and provides mood lighting for the fight with all those flaming arrows he fires into the ceiling and walls. The others defeat the cloakers; fortunately the cloaker engulfing Tain also impales itself on his spiked armour.
The Unwelcome Guest is shown the door
The heroes had finally made their way to the lair of the Unwelcome Guest. It sat on a stone bier in the centre of the chamber, a strange alien mass that the heroes did not recognise at first as an aboleth. Cautiously, the heroes entered and fanned out.
Battle soon ensued, as Tain charged the aboleth and Agon held back preparing to fire his bow at the aberration. Dario and Ishani called on their magical powers to bring down the vile enemy. Meanwhile, hoping to close the gap between her and the Unwelcome Guest, Mari opened a dimension door so she could position herself behind it.
Moh'lo'mohg was far from defenceless. He began his assault on the heroes, while his sent his will forth and dominated the half-elf who was now drawing back on his bow string. He felt the weaker mind fall before his stronger consciousness and took control.
As Moh'lo'mohg reeled under the righteous power of Tain's crushing flail, Marcus stepped up and unloaded both pistols into one of the eyes of the aberration, the hot leaden ball burning its way through to the aboleth's massive brain, destroying it.
The aboleth's powerful mind released its grip on domination on Agon. The former guardsman lowered his sword and plucked worriedly at the still burning crossbow bolt embedded in his shoulder. His new suit of mithral chain had saved him from further injury.
Dario desperately shut out the pain from the vicious cut on his arm and watched Agon, ready to order the massive fire elemental he had summoned to burn the lycanthrope to a cinder should he attack him again. His borrowed crossbow with a flaming bolt remained leveled at Agon's face.
Mari stood on top of the aboleth's bier her wand of wonder readied, around her were piles of Thassilonian gold and artefacts.
A scream from the ceiling brought them all to their senses. "You killed the Master!" A Ulat Kini of huge size, with multiple arms and tentacles, had dropped from the roof on to Marcus ripping him almost to shreds.
The others finish off Gurlack (for it was he) before Dario can say ‘Wait, it spoke with a Blackcove accent it might be Gurlack, the guy we need alive because he can reverse this change that is overcoming us!’
Fortunately the group finds Gurlack’s lab down the corridor, complete with elixirs of true form which cure their fishiness (and Agon’s rattiness). They get back, give the spare elixirs to the most fishy looking villagers (at least one of whom changes back to a gillman not a human) and give the formula to the druidess lady who can make some more to cure the others. The group also keeps a copy of the formula, along with unspecified riches from the aboleth and Gurlack. The will’o’wisps come to tell the group that they are welcome guests and won’t be attacked in future.
Loot
• Suit of +2 Liquid Mithral chainmail (Agon)
• 3423 gp in assorted coins
• 6 potions of levitate (some used)
• Fire Elemental Gem
• a +2 bane vs aberrations heavy flail (Tain)
• Ioun Stone Dusty Rose Prism (+1 insight bonus to AC)
• Glyph of Power (Pearl of Power level 3)
• 3545 gp in artwork
• potion of CLW x 4
• potion of invisibility
• wand of ray of enfeeblement (10 charges)
• Ring of protection +2
• +2 trident
• cloak of resistance +2
• headband of Vast Intelligence +2
• A wand of remove curse with 6 charges
• Magic weapon (oil)
• Enlarge person (potion)
• Bull’s strength (potion)
• Rage (potion)
• Gurlack’s alchemical supplies, alchemical and vivisectionist lab and notes on making elixir of true form
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In Attendance
• GM – The 8th Dwarf
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Mari – Chubbs McGee
• Tain – Mothman
• Dario – Ollie
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Summary for Session 38: A Harvest Of Evil
13th / 14th Gozran
Dreams and portents
Following the defeat of Moh’lo’mohg, The Unwelcome Guest, the party spend the night camped on the beach at Nar’Kashel, except for Ishani, who had rowed back to Blackcove with some of the villagers straight after the battle, intending to ride hard, day and night for Korvosa, to make it back before the end of Taxfest.
That night, several of the heroes had their sleep troubled by strange dreams, apparently sendings by Arius the Wise of the Grey Council. In the morning, Mari wakes early to speak to Tain, telling him that the group must return, but that she will be staying on Nar’Kashel for a time to study the Thassilonian ruins. She gives Tain a gem she found amongst the treasure haul, a magical item she dubs The Eye of Nar’Kashel. By magically (and somewhat painfully) affixing it to Tain’s forehead it will allow her to remain aware of the group’s position and Tain’s physical and emotional state, as well as offering the paladin some defensive benefits. After speaking to Tain, Mari has a similar conversation with Marcus.
The party discusses the dreams they have all shared, a subject brought up by Tain. The dreams call the party to meet with the Grey Council at a hidden location, the location of which has been couched in riddles in the dreams. Mari’s dream has been clearer, possibly due to her connection with Arius the Wise. She tells the group that they must travel to Luca, on the Sorona River, about two days east of Korvosa. There they will find Kader Bannyer, who is apparently of importance to the struggle. The party agree to ride to Palin’s Cove, then via one of the Merivanchi holdings to the Bannyer Estate. There they will pause to re-organise supplies and followers (and to allow Agon to slip into Korvosa) and then move on to Luca.
Mari announces to the others that she will remain in Blackcove and Nar’Kashel to examine the ruins found, seeking to learn their secrets and apply them to the current struggle. Dario says that he will stay also; he is keen to conduct further research into this lost culture and style of magic. He says he will also help keep Mari safe. Marcus is hesitant to leave Mari behind (and less so alongside ‘the Ornelos spy’ – Marcus has long had suspicions about Dario’s motives), but would rather do this than take her along into further danger. As a side note, Marcus and Tain seem somewhat more inclined to trust Agon again, now that the Elixir of True Form has cured him of his 'rattiness'.
After bidding Mari and Dario farewell, the group row back across to Blackcove. Marcus spends a few hours negotiating with the locals to use Blackcove and surrounds (including Nar’Kashel) as a staging port for sea-based transport of an obfuscated nature. The presence of friendly locals, combined with the many coves and inlets that outsiders shun due to superstition makes the region an excellent asset for smuggling operations. The area can be alter used for clandestine marine operations during any civil war or conflict, and for later trade movements should port tariffs wish to be avoided. Agon follows Marcus’ lead and provides support where possible, seeing the value of such an operation and area.
Liella awaits the group in Blackcove, having arrived as mysteriously as she left. She speaks little of her journeys, saying she has been involved in business of distant Irrisen. The experience has changed her and the party respects her wish to not speak of the harrowing time.
Their business in Blackcove concluded for the moment, the heroes saddle up and head towards Palin’s Cove.
The Varisians
On the way to Palin's Cove the party comes across two Varisian caravans going over the remains of a third that appears to have been thoroughly destroyed by fire. The party approaches, with Agon taking the lead and brokering a peaceful approach with the caravans through their leader, Ecanu, despite an initial suspicious and frosty reception. The destroyed caravan was burned to destruction the night before. Ecanu believes that the responsible parties were from Korvosa, although the destruction was not witnessed and left no survivors – the arriving Varisians could not even tell which troupe this had been, so complete was the devastation.
After Tain swears an oath to do his best to bring the perpetrators to justice, the Varisians allow the party to investigate the scene. They give the heroes a banner that was found at the site. The banner itself was grey and carried the crest of Korvosa. The heroes speculate it may be the symbol of the Grey Magus. It appears to be a valuable and magical banner that may have been removed from its staked position by the Varisians who happened upon it, triggering a magical alarm. A small band of 20 heavy cavalry then rode down and herded the caravan into a circle.
Following the cavalry attack, a large winged beast (likely a dragon) landed and destroyed the caravan with acid. To cover this event, magical fire was used to burn whatever was left. Thirteen Varisians, including four children, were killed. The attackers then disappeared, likely using a teleportation spell — powerful magic and force indeed!
The group is able to deduce the above from investigating the scene and examining the banner, but are at a loss to explain what it all means – were the Varisians attacked because they removed the banner? If so, why? Why use such overwhelming force and powerful magic against a small band of Varisian travelers? Why go to such apparent lengths to obscure the details of the attack or the victims, but leave the banner behind? It seemed that such questions would not be answered without questioning those responsible.
However, the attack does seem to bear some relation to rumours that Agon had heard in Korvosa following their escape from the Old City, unconfirmed rumours about a high ranking, magic wielding Grey Maiden known as The Grey Magus.
As a result of the attack, and its ferocity, Ecanu is told to spread the world to other Varisians not to touch the grey banners should any more be found. Marcus, Tain and Agon likewise intend to spread this message via their own networks when able to do so.
The group travels with the Varisian caravans after rituals for the dead are performed. Friendships are struck and company is enjoyed. Agon forms a strong bond with Ecanu who agrees to speak on behalf of the Varisian prince on his travels. Kylin, a young female bard from the caravans, forms an intimate relationship with Agon and leaves the caravans to join his followers. Marcus forges his usual ties of diplomacy and friendship, encouraging the Varisians to view him and his own as allies, and to see the Bannyer Estate as a temporary safe haven if required. The heroes are told that the Varisians are moving en masse from the north due to the arrival of orcs under the banner of the Blackfist Clan from Belkzen via the Cinderlands. These movements are pushing the Varisians south. Agon begins to think he should move north to deal with this problem to his people, once the situation in Korvosa is dealt with…
During a break in the journey, Ecanu performs a Harrowing for the heroes. The following cards are drawn from his deck:
- Hidden Truth signifying obfuscated knowledge and potential discovery of old secrets.
- The Tyrant signifying a monarch who rules through power and harms the land.
- The Empty Throne signifying the loss of a monarch and an empty throne.
- Agon received 'The Twin' card.
- Liella received 'The Owl' card.
- Marcus received 'The Uprising' card.
- Tain received 'The Paladin' card.
The accuracy and relevance of the cards drawn is much commented on, and the heroes present feel inspired and driven by the reading.
15th Gozran
The heroes part company with the caravans at Palin's Cove. Unlike the isolated populace of Blackcove, the citizens of the town are aware of the events plaguing Korvosa. Thankfully, Guardsmen are in the majority here with Grey Maidens filling only a few key positions at present. The party plans to stay for a day before heading towards the safety of a Merivanchi holding.
Marcus spends his time recruiting a number of promising young men and women to his cause. He also makes arrangements to exchange or trade some of the loot from recent adventures and shares the funds with his companions.
Meanwhile, Agon seeks to gather information in the community. Unlike Blackcove, the people of Palin's Cove do not feel as secure about recent events. Rumours of orcs to the north and the increasing presence of Grey Maidens outside the city has set them on edge. The threat of inhuman raiders and Varisian refugees is making compliance with Korvosa more attractive. On his rounds, Agon gains a loyal companion, a hound named 'Titan', who seems more intelligent than a canine should be!
Back to Korvosa – almost ...
17th / 18th Gozran
Midday on the 17th Gozran, the heroes arrive at an outlying Merivanchi holding belonging to Marcus' father. The horses are returned and the Merivanchis once again make out like bandits by providing extra horses.
The party rides on to the Bannyer Estate, arriving there towards evening on the 18th of Gozran. Ishani is waiting for them, having returned safely from Korvosa. He reports that he had little trouble getting into the city – although Grey Maidens guard the city’s gates, they did not appear to be paying too much attention to people entering the city, more concerned with who might be trying to leave. No comment was made by Ishani’s superiors at the Bank about his late arrival to the Taxfest, and he was allowed to depart again without interference. Tain considered this a sign that although they could not be seen to openly oppose Ileosa, the Bank tacitly supported his cause.
Ishani had expected to have to talk his way past the Grey Maiden guards while leaving the city, but to his surprise he was let through the gates without so much as a second glance – the paranoid might think that someone had ordered him let through without hassle.
Reports from the Order of the Key suggested that conditions in Korvosa remained similar to when the group had left the city – nothing new to report, except that the Grey Maidens were taking over more and more of the duties of the Korvosan Guard within the city. Guard numbers continued to decline, while the ranks of the Grey Maidens swelled. No one knew quite where all the new Grey Maidens were being recruited from, certainly now it was outside the ranks of the Guard and the former Sable Company. Some said that common street thugs were being recruited, while some spoke of foreign mercenaries.
There were more rumours of the Grey Magus and her elite team of Maidens operating both within and without the city, but nothing seemed able to be substantiated. One rumour in particular suggested that there had been some sort of ‘Farmer’s Rebellion’ against the new regime around a town called Twin Oaks to the East, past Luca, that had been quickly and bloodily put down by the Grey Magus, but details were extremely vague.
At the estate, Liella enjoys a bath and much needed rest. Marcus and Tain begin to sort out their followers and assess the progress of training and supplies; several more former Sable Company marines have found their way to the estate, wishing to serve under Tain. Agon is found in the stables in the middle of the night by one of the servants, but explains away his presence. He is gone the next morning, leaving a note saying he is headed for the city.
19th Gozran
In Korvosa, Agon delivers notes on behalf of Dario and Marcus. The notes are read prior to delivery and are thus delivered with their seals broken. Agon explains this by saying he had a need to know what correspondence he was carrying. Agon discovers through his criminal contacts that Felix is missing, having left a week prior with Azhir Kren, the fallen paladin and supposed lieutenant of the Grey Magus. Two other women are described as being seen in Felix's company prior to his departure, ‘Sabella’, a scarred woman in armour who is able to bring pain through magical needles and subsequent mind-control. The last is a youthful woman of small stature and dressed like a noblewoman. In spite of her innocent appearance, there was something wrong about her. Along with his hunt for Felix, Agon makes reports to and receives reports from various of his contacts around the city.
Agon returns in the afternoon, reporting to the others that Felix is missing. He encountered the same thing as Ishani, it was surprisingly easy to get out of the city, Agon is convinced that the Grey Maidens on the gate deliberately looked the other way as he passed through. Agon also reports that the Maidens have taken over many of the Guard’s duties. According to him, Field Marshal Kroft is ‘sitting on the couch in her office in her underwear, bored out of her skull’. Gallant as ever, both Tain and Marcus immediately volunteer to go and see her to rouse her from her melancholy ...
With Agon returned, the group departs for Luca. Marcus takes five of his followers and his cohort. Tain does likewise, bringing Ishani and five of his ex-Sable Company recruits. Agon brings Kylin, the young Varisian bard, who now shares his bed. His hound Titan is his new companion. Lelia takes herself and her familiar.
The Crimson Fisher
The town of Luca is situated on the banks of the Sonora River, a tributary of the Jeggare River, in a wide low valley. The town is dominated by huge trees that tower above the town and is, at the time the party travels there, the recipient of lush spring weather. The town gains economic strength from its agriculture and supplements this with dominant barge rights. Luca is also a centre for the worship of Erastil and a shrine (a grove of sacred oaks) to one of the faith’s patrons (Sylvanias the Oak Father) is a regional tourist attraction. The normal town population is approx 570 with two-thirds of the town’s population being Varisian, although the council is of Chelaxian descent. The mayor is a half-elf. The town council secretary, Amicus Palladius, is a cleric of Abadar. It is currently the time of the Good Harvest Festival, a tie of feasting, dancing, and music, and the town’s population has tripled with many people camping along the riverbanks. Legends say the most perfect of grapes are harvested at this time.
The festival atmosphere is dampened somewhat by the dour presence of Grey Maidens! Two watch the inn, the Crimson Fisher, the party has been told to go to in order to find Kedar Bannyer. These Grey maidens mark the presence of the party and then seem to deliberately pay no attention, as if under orders to ignore them.
Marcus suggests that Celino and his and Tain’s followers set up camp some way outside of town. The others will head into town to try to find Kedar, starting with the Crimson Fisher.
The Crimson Fisher is the oldest and largest building in Luca. The festival atmosphere is in full swing inside as the patrons drink, and dance, and gamble, and flirt and play. Inside, the party is approached by Bulzo Tarhair, a gaudily and richly dressed halfling who speaks to the party as if they are all old friends. Some members of the group recognise the halfling as the same who freed Dario and provided the Abadaran rapier during the battle with Bahor at Palace Arkona. Tain somewhat stiffly thanks him for his previous assistance, which the halfling hastily waves away with a quick glance towards the Grey Maidens in the town square outside the window. Bulzo waves the group over to a table and mentions “their mutual friend”, as well as claiming to have, “their boy, Marcus’ brother”, waiting for them upstairs in a room. While Tain is lost, Marcus and Agon catch on swiftly, speaking to (and threatening, insulting and generally sparring verbally with) their ‘old friend Bulzo’ in order to deflect interest from the Grey Maidens or their agents.
Bulzo waves a bar maid over to their table to take drink orders, and a pretty blonde, her breasts straining the ties of her bodice, hurries over and begins clearing their table. As she bends over the table (presenting Agon with a pleasant view of her rear and Tain and Marcus an equally pleasing view of her cleavage), Tain, ever the gentleman (and aware of Liella’s presence at the table), politely looks away. Marcus, being married, decides to get a good eye-full ... and notices that the woman wears a brooch on her bodice, a very familiar looking one. Marcus is sure that it is the same brooch that Tain gifted to Talia, early in their romance, Marcus remembers seeing his sister wear it often. Fearing that Tain’s reaction to the brooch is likely to draw the attention of the Grey Maidens at the least, Marcus does not mention it, but makes a show of watching the barmaid as she sashays back to the bar with their order, and asks Bulzo if he knows her.
The woman’s name is Dania, Bulzo says, and she is very well known to a number of the patrons here ... not he though, in that way, he prefers his women shorter. Marcus heads over to the bar and begins flirting with Dania, turning on his considerable wit and charm, and has soon talked his way into her room at the back of the tavern in her upcoming break. Tain watches in disapproval, and Agon is quiet, perhaps mystified as to why the woman is giving attention to Marcus and not he.
Marcus joins Dania in her room, and comments on the beautiful brooch she wears, asking casually where she came by it. “It was a gift from Sabella,” Dania replies when pressed, obviously wanting to move on from the subject and onto more intimate actions. Looking about the room, Marcus notices a bloodstone lying on a dressing table, a twin to the ones at Palace Arkona that allowed Bahor to spy on the group. The nobleman takes off his jacket, throwing it casually over the dresser to cover the bloodstone, fearing that someone is spying on them. Not truly wanting to betray his marriage vows with the barmaid, Marcus decides he must use the magic he has long denied, and weaves a spell into his words, trying to magically charm the woman, but she resists the spell. Marcus tries again, attempting to hypnotise her, and this time the magic works – the woman sits blank eyed on the bed. Marcus speaks softly and quickly, planting a suggestion that the pair of them have completed and enjoyed their tryst.
Out in the common room, Tain is very concerned at Marcus’s apparent actions, but Bulzo keeps him talking, suggesting that Marcus knows what he is doing and wouldn’t appreciate the interruption. Deciding to trust Marcus’s judgment for now, Tain tries to steer the conversation with Bulzo from mundane matters to particulars of their current situation, but the halfling is reluctant to speak. He does reveal, in a roundabout fashion, that he has some connection with Arius, and that it is at the wizard’s behest that he is here to guide the group to Kedar. He also says that he wants to score points with the Bank of Abadar.
Marcus and Dania return to the common room (the girl looking a little confused). Marcus hastily tells Tain that he will explain his actions later, and asks Bulzo who Sabella is. Quietly, Bulzo says that she is the apparent leader of the Grey Maidens here in town, and that she always asks for Dania to serve her personally when the visits the inn.
By now apparently confident that they are not being monitored, Bulzo gives the group the key to an upstairs room and suggests that they check on “Marcus’ brother”. Marcus and Liella go upstairs to find Kedar waiting for them. He says that he fled here to Luca to escape the attention of the Queen and the Grey Maidens, but has been lying low at the Crimson Fisher for the last week, since the Grey Maidens showed up. He has an odd feeling that he has been spotted and recognised by the Maidens, but they have made no move against him. He thinks they would try to stop him from leaving town. He has been waiting here for Marcus and the others on Arius’ instruction, although he does not go into detail (perhaps because he does not know any details). They return to the common room to sit with the others.
Bulzo mentions the Grey Maidens have been in town for about a week and have been looking for something. He says they also spent a few days up river at a 'backwater town' by the name of Twin Oaks, a village north of Luca, but returned without apparently achieving their objective. Bulzo asks if the heroes would also make the journey to the thorp to discover the whereabouts of a young paladin of Abadar, Hamden Cassalanter, and his companions who are now missing – they travelled through Luca to Twin Oaks on some quest but have not been seen since. Tain knows Hamden and agrees to try to help him - the others are persuaded with Bulzo offers them a large diamond in exchange for their help. The group agrees to travel to Twin Oaks before meeting with Arius – after all, they are still not entirely sure from the cryptic dreams exactly when or where this meeting is supposed to take place, if at all.
Marcus has a plan to throw some confusion on where the group is heading. He seeks out Dania again, and asks if he can join her again. She is a bit confused, but indicates she has another break in a few hours. The group waits around till then, then Marcus finds Dania in her room. Feigning drunkenness, he tells her (making sure that the Bloodstone is clearly visible) that he had to see her again one last time, as he needed to return to Korvosa that very evening. He pretends to get sleepy and pass out on her bed, resisting all attempts to ‘wake’ him. More confused than ever, Dania leaves to return to her work. After a few minutes, Marcus pretends to wake and stumble out to join his companions. The group then leave the inn, with Kedar in their midst, marching out of town in the direction they arrived from, as if heading towards Korvosa. They head back to pick up Celino and the others from the camp site, then strike out in the direction of Twin Oaks, circling wide around Luca.
Here Be Dragons
20th Gozren
Late in the day on the 20th of Gozren, the heroes find themselves following the path to Twin Oaks as it passes through a wide clearing in a wood. The party is strung out over some distance, with Agon riding in the lead, when Agon spots something over the trees in the darkening sky in the distance. Is it a bird? Is it a hippogriff? No, it’s a … “Dragon!”
A green dragon flies rapidly towards the party, bearing an armoured rider. Liella tells the others that green dragons have an acidic breath. As the dragon approaches, Agon un-slings his bow and takes a shot, but the arrow falls far short. Tain orders his ex-Sable Company rangers to fall back towards the tree line, dismounts, draws his flail and focuses his will on the approaching dragon. Marcus orders his men into the tree line and to get ready to fire from the trees. Liella begins riding out of the path of the dragon.
Agon fires again as the dragon flies to within seventy feet or so, aiming for the rider, a dark armoured Grey Maiden holding a scythe. His arrows finds its target, then Agon begins to scatter out of the dragon‘s path. Marcus and his men fire at the dragon, some of the shots penetrating its scales. Tain holds his ground as the dragon bears down, casting Eagle’s Splendour on himself. He calls out to Liella, asking her if she has a way to help him fly. “Not exactly.” she says, and begins casting a summoning spell. Ishani, seeing that Tain intends to face the dragon head on, casts a spell protecting the paladin from acid, then starts to scatter. The dragon swoops in low (30 feet above the ground) and exhales a cone of acid into the clearing. Proceeding the beast is an almost tangible wave of fear. Not even an acid breathing dragon can frighten Tain, and those still close to him are inspired by the paladin‘s steadfastness. Agon‘s horse panics and bolts, nearly throwing the Guardsman. Several of Marcus’s men, as well as Kader and Max, who have been bringing up the rear, are also overcome by dragon-fear, and flee the scene. The acid catches Tain squarely (though he remains unharmed due to Ishani‘s spell), whilst Agon, Marcus and Ishani are all splashed by the acid to some degree (although Ishani‘s god given resistance to acid mostly protects him). All three men’s horses collapse under them, hideously burnt by the acid.
As the dragon begins to fly away, Agon leaps to his feet and fires again, hitting the rider and knocking her from her saddle! She falls heavily to the ground at the far side of the clearing. Marcus fires his pistol at the dragon, wounding it, then starts moving towards the downed rider. Liella finishes casting, summoning a griffon next to Tain, ordering it to allow the paladin to ride it, then casting a lightning bolt at the dragon. Celino rushes in towards the woman, blade in hand. Tain mounts the griffon and flies up after the dragon, Ishani channels energy to heal himself, Agon, Marcus and the horses. The dragon flies upward then wheels around to face Tain. The black armoured Grey Maiden stands and summons a wraith.
Agon fires again at the woman, hits, then drops his bow, and draws his trident and shield. Liella casts another lightning bolt, at the woman and the wraith (which is destroyed). Celino and Marcus move towards the woman, weapons drawn. Tain charges the griffon at the dragon and smites it mightily. Ishani casts shield of faith on Marcus. The dragon feints and attacks Tain and the griffon; it misses Tain but badly wounds the griffon with a swipe of its huge claw. The Grey Maiden channels negative energy, damaging Agon, Celino, Marcus and Ishani.
Agon Celino and Marcus all surround the Grey Maiden, attacking her from all directions, whilst Liella casts a spell at her to no effect. Ishani channels positive energy again, healing the damage done by the Maiden cleric‘s channel, much to her obvious frustration. She points a finger at Ishani and screams “Die!“ - fortunately for Ishani he is able to resist her spell, and is left sorely wounded rather than dead.
High above, the dragon climbs into the air, leaving the slower griffon behind. Tain lays hands on griffon, partially healing its wound, pulls out his potion of levitation and urges his mount after the dragon. The green dragon wheels around again and swoops down, biting the griffon in two. Tain begins to tumble through the air.
Agon, Celino and Marcus continue to attack the woman, and it is not long before she falls under their blades. Tain has his potion of levitation to his lips, and bites through the neck of the glass bottle, spilling the liquid down his throat just before he hits the ground then levitates back up. The dragon wheels around and flies towards Tain, breathing a spray of acid at him which is once again rendered harmless by Ishani‘s protective spell. As the monster flies past him, the paladin lashes out with his flail, damaging its wing. The dragon, realising that the battle is over, flies off. Tain yells a challenge and taunt after it, and it almost turns around, but then wheels off in another direction and is soon lost to sight in the darkening sky.
Back on the ground, Ishani uses a minor spell to stabilise the dying Grey Maiden. Marcus and Agon gag her and strip her of her armour, weapons and holy symbol, while Tain, after he returns to the ground, manacles her. The woman’s scythe lies where it fell, at the centre of a wide circle of blackened and lifeless vegetation; realising the weapon’s necromantic nature, Marcus and Liella destroy it. Tain and Ishani examine her holy symbol, four short straight lines radiating out from a central skull, but they cannot place it; it does not appear to relate to any of the more widely known evil deities.
Loot
Magical Items
• +3 bane unholy blight scythe ---> This black-bladed weapon is marked with an unholy symbol (a skull with four black bands radiating out from it) and radiates an aura of evil. Knowledge (religion) (DC 40) check will reveal the nature of the unholy symbol. This was destroyed by the heroes.
• +2 fortified full plate (-5 penalty to confirm criticals on wearer) ---> This armour is fashioned in the same manner as the armour of the Grey Maidens.
• +3 cloak of resistance ---> This cloak is fashioned in the same manner as the cloaks of the Grey Maidens. Appraise (DC 20) check will reveal that it was made by the same person who weaved the banner.
• +1 ring of protection ---> This ring bears the crest of House Callandos.
• Rod of withering ---> This black sceptre is marked with an unholy symbol (a skull with four black bands radiating out from it) and radiates an aura of evil. Knowledge (religion) (DC 40) check will reveal the nature of the unholy symbol.
• Wand of inflict serious wounds (CL 9th, 23 charges) ---> This ebony wand is marked with an unholy symbol (a skull with four black bands radiating out from it). Knowledge (religion) (DC 40) check will reveal the nature of the unholy symbol.
• Wand of cure moderate wounds (CL 9th, 33 charges) ---> This ebony wand is marked with an unholy symbol (a skull with four black bands radiating out from it). Knowledge (religion) (DC 40) check will reveal the nature of the unholy symbol.
• Potion of cure serious wounds (CL 9th) x2
• Potion of heroism (CL 9th) x2
• Bloodstone brooch ---> This bloodstone brooch radiates a strong aura of divination and necromany magic. Spellcraft (DC 30) check will reveal its nature.
Coins, gems and jewellery
• 275 gp ---> From Sabella Callandos.
• Diamond (2,000 gp) ---> From Bulzo Tarhair.
• Masterwork silver holy symbol (325 gp) ---> This silver holy symbol is marked with an unholy symbol (a skull with four black bands radiating out from it). Knowledge (religion) (DC 40) check will reveal the nature of the unholy symbol.
________________________________________
In Attendance
• GM – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Liella – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Tain – Mothman
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Interlude: The Interrogation of Sabella Callandos
Late afternoon / early evening, 20th Gozren
Liella examines the bloodstone brooch that Sabella wore, determining that it allows the creator to see and hear whatever the wearer is sensing. The brooch also acts like a magic jar, and allows the creator to possess the wearer. Agon appears quite interested in the brooch and suggests that he could use it to run a misinformation campaign. Liella looks at Agon suspiciously and does not give him the brooch.
“You are our prisoner now Sabella,” intones Tain grimly, looming over the prisoner. He wears his spiked armour, and smoking dragon’s blood still drips from the spikes of the flail he holds. “You saw how easily we defeated you and your pet – there is no chance of escape. Tell us what we want to know. Now.”
Sabella sighs in relief as the bloodstone brooch is removed with her other possessions. Dark lines encircle her eyes and exhaustion washes over her face, although she appears unfazed by Tain’s attempt at intimidation. "I am free now," she says looking up at Tain, nodding at his spiked armour and the gore, "I know much paladin, and so little as well. My popularity has descended greatly recently or you and your friends would be dead now!
"Before I say anything further, you must destroy the brooch immediately and promise me a quick, clean death. I will not stand trial and I will not return to Korvosa. If you do not, then there is nothing more I will say to you."
The paladin studies Sabella intently then nods. “That decision is not mine alone to make,” he says, “but for myself, I agree to both of your terms if it is your wish. Certainly I believe that the judicial process of Korvosa has been corrupted – if it is a clean death you seek, I will grant it. From what my companion has told me of the brooch, we would be best to destroy it.” Tain looks to Marcus for his agreement.
"I do not recognise the authority of your friends, paladin," Sabella says, also looking at Marcus, "You are the only one present close to the authority of Korvosa or an authority I will recognise. I will cooperate with you, paladin, though you alone."
Tain nods again, but he still waits for Marcus to give his opinion – Marcus probably knows Tain well enough to realise that this is a courtesy on his part; the paladin has already made up his mind to agree to the woman’s terms, seeing sense in them, and will be hard to convince otherwise.
Marcus nods in agreement with Tain's assessment. He walks a few paces to where Liella kneels examining the objects taken from Sabella and holds out his gloved hand.
Marcus places the brooch on the ground, and taking up a nearby rock, smashes the bloodstone.
He then speaks with Agon and Celiano. "Agon, keep a watch in case that beast returns, you're probably the best climber here and can easily reach a high vantage point. Celiano, send some of the men ahead on the trail and back the way we came to keep watch for riders approaching. We will move out as soon as possible, but don't want to be caught with our pants down in the meantime."
Once he is finished, Marcus returns to stand near Tain and observe the interrogation.
“There is your answer,” Tain says to Sabella as Marcus crushes the brooch. “Tell me in what manner you would die and we can move forward – I will act as executioner in absence of a more legitimate authority.”
A grim look of satisfaction replaces the relief and weariness that dominated the woman's features as Marcus destroys the brooch. She nods and looks up at Tain. "Now we can begin. I ask you to execute me in a manner fitting a Chelaxian military officer and noble. A sword thrust to the neck along the spine.
"Ask me your questions, paladin. I may or may not know the answer, so please do not frustrate this situation by second guessing my intent. By Asmodeus, the master I served before joining the Grey Maidens, I agree to tell you the truth and to answer your questions to the best of my knowledge. I swear this to you, Asmodeus and Abadar."
Meanwhile, Liella places some hexes on the captive to lower her resistance. Casting message she whispers to Tain and Marcus "I believe either she had a "rider"; a soul that possessed her and controlled her from that brooch and that soul is now missing from her body. Who was closest to her when she was brought down? There may have been a transfer the "rider" may have escaped into a new body or returned to its own. Either way our location and actions are known to this woman's superiors.
"What also concerns me is Agon’s eagerness to posses the brooch....It has not made me any less apprehensive about his notions of playing both sides to our advantage (his advantage more like). I could put something in his food, it would be quick and painless and save us further consternation.
"Tain could you confirm the nature of her soul weather she leans towards good or evil?"
Tain senses evil in the woman’s soul. “What were your orders in regards to operations in this region?” he demands of Sabella.
"My orders were to establish a base of operations at Luca and to seek out the vampire Kyriani Agrivar," Sabella states, "I was successful in achieving both objectives."
“Who gave you such orders?” Tain asks. “And of what significance is the vampire Kyriani Agrivar – I assume your orders were more detailed than to seek the thing out – what contact did you have with the creature?” Tain's voice is flat when he speaks of the undead.
While Tain asks his question, Marcus speaks quietly to Liella. “Was she or her master responsible for the break-ins at our homes?” he muses, “and where are the items that were taken? Did she give the bloodstone to the barmaid back in Luca?” However, some quirk of wind or location causes his voice to carry, and the captive hears.
Sabella looks at Marcus and rolls her eyes. "I make it easy on you paladin and answer those now!"
"I do not know about anyone breaking into your residences. I am not a thief. However, I was asked to give a brooch, a personal effect of Talia Merivanchi Locus taken from the home of Tain Locus, and to give it to the barmaid Dania. I did not, Tain, break into your house and steal this item. I was commanded, however, to carry it and place it in a place where you would encounter it.
"Dania was easy to corrupt, as she resented the faith of Erastil and wanted to make a new life for herself in Korvosa. Small town girl with big town dreams. I placed with bloodstone in her room as I was intending to use Dania to lure men into my influence through her.
"I am not surprised to see that one of you managed to find yourself in her company. You are, after all, the inferior sex."
“What?” Tain loses his grim but calm demeanour when Talia’s brooch is mentioned. “Who took the brooch?” he growls. “And WHO GAVE YOU SUCH AN ORDER?”
After raising his voice and looking like he intended to pick the woman up and shake her, Tain takes a deep breath and visibly calms himself. He looks at Marcus questioningly.
Marcus returns Tain's look, his face calm and expressionless, he simply replies "We will discuss it later, lets return to the matter at hand".
"Azhir Kren," Sabella replies, ignoring Tain’s outburst but answering his question. "She was my commander and I did as she ordered. I would sacrifice her black heart to my former master, yet I do not intend to live to see that accomplished." Sabella licks her dry lips, "May I have some water please?"
Tain sees no point in cruelty to the prisoner and gives her a small sip of water. “Azhir will not die by your hand,” he says quietly, calm again now. “But she will answer to us before the end ... she will answer to me personally for Talia’s brooch. Enough of that though – you have not answered my question on the vampire.”
“Inferior sex,” muses Liella, “Interesting. The infernal lord believes the opposite no?” The Baroness brushes the Callistrian holy symbol that hangs at her neck. She is fairly sure that Sabella is not lying about her affiliation to Asmodeus. However, she knows that the Grey Maidens are a sexist organisation as well. There is something missing here. Liella does not know why or how Sabella was lured from Asmodeus to the Grey Maidens, but she might have found a more suitable home for her personal views amongst the Maidens.
"Thank you, paladin," Sabella says after swallowing the water before continuing, "Your wife’s brooch was taken by agents of the Red Mantis I believe. I do not know and cared nothing for the matter to be honest. The Grey Magus arranged the appropriation of specific items and these were handed to Commander Kren. She was enthusiastic, to say the least, when she received them. The 'why' is beyond me. As I said, I did not care and had concerns of my own. That is all I know. I was later commanded to ensure the brooch made it ways to you."
"Before I continue in reference to the vampire," Sabella looks sternly at Tain, "Let us keep to our agreement. I will only answer questions from you. My answers to the contrary were simply to speed the questioning along. I believe the Baroness was keen to ask me something."
"My main objective was to locate the vampire Kyriani Agrivar. I did this successfully. I traced her to her lair in Castle Dreskyn. Later, I was commanded to punish her and put the ruins to the torch. I intended to burn her lair to the ground and catch her as she fled the flames. The b+$&+'s magic allowed her to escape certain death at my hands. I failed and was recalled to Luca.
"The vampire is now free to roam the region. I did not understand at the beginning, but Agrivar was bound to the castle. Some powerful warding had been put in place to keep her interred there. I imagine she fled to safety elsewhere."
Tain and Marcus recognise the name ‘Castle Dreskyn’ as an old Chelish fortification from the early days of the Empire’s expansion into this region, before the city of Korvosa was established. They did not know that a vampire laired within, but that would explain why the Abadaran paladin Camden had travelled to Twin Oaks, the nearest settlement to the old castle – presumably to destroy the vampire.
Tain muses this for a moment then turns to the others, “I have given my word to the prisoner – for reasons of expediency if nothing else, please let me ask the questions.”
He turns back to Sabella. “Who is the Grey Magus? What is her agenda and operating parameters? What size force of Grey Maidens are in this region?”
"Asaria Sabbas is the Grey Magus," Sabella answers, "She is a necromancer from the Academae in Korvosa and powerful enough to bring the dying back from the brink of death or to return life to those who have died. I was already dead when I met Asaria and through her arcane power she was able to restore me to life - twice. I know next to nothing of her past.
"Queen Ileosa favours Asaria and she has benefited immensely from her patronage. I have heard a rumour that the Queen has demanded that the Academae accept Asaria as her representative to the school. I imagine her magical talents instil more fear in the masters than the orders coming from the Crimson Throne.
"Asaria has been entrusted with establishing the power of Korvosa in regional areas and to crush any opposition to the rule of Queen Ilesoa. She has been given a free reign in her mission and the resources to complete it. Asaria commands sixty heavy cavalry and three dragons. She also has access to the Red Mantis.
"I was given command of twenty Maidens and the green dragon Ascanthus. I know Azhir Kren rides the blue dragon Sargonnas and commands another twenty Maidens. The other green dragon has another master I do not know, also under Asaria, and she commands, I imagine, the remaining twenty.
"I have mentioned only her mortal forces," Sabella continues, "Asaria is a necromancer and is favoured by at least one archdevil. She is guarded by devils and the dead."
Tain sets his jaw at the mention of the force sizes – where is Ileosa recruiting all these Maidens from? And dragons?
“Are you aware of Kren and Sabbas’s current locations or orders? If so, where and what are they? What manner of devils does Sabbas command or ally with? Their physical descriptions if you do not know their names.”
Sabella laughs at Tain. "Do not stress your simple brain too far, paladin! A new order is rising in Korvosa and it is far more efficient and powerful than the patriarchal mess that it has replaced. Once the lesser races and nonhumans are put in place, there will be no power in Varisia that will stand in defiance of the Queen.
"This is what I know; Asaria has committed a lot of her family resources to recruiting her own troops. The Sabbas are a military family after all and with many interests with various mercenary companies in Cheliax and Varisia. Of course, I imagine she is not the only one recruiting for the Queen's forces.
"The forces involved are nothing. Sixty heavy cavalry and three dragons is not an army. If you and your friends here actually put some effort into recruiting allies against the Queen, I am sure you could come up with something... more substantial. Your attempts so far have been less than impressive.
"I would be asking who has assisted Asaria in achieving her command and the freedom to do as she pleases in Korvosa? I wish I could tell you. Asaria is favoured by the Queen, as well as by other powers, but how can you explain her meteoric rise? I do not have the answers.
"As for Asaria and Azhir, I do not know where they are or what they've been ordered to achieve. You destroyed the most powerful connection I had to her. She now has no immediate way to control me and I have a chance now to escape her for good. Anyone who accepts a brooch is cursed and will become nothing more than a tool for the Grey Magus.
"I do not know if there is a plan. There is an element of chaos in how Asaria conducts herself, as if she has her own ambitions but these are dominated by something else... She is not entirely sane. Charismatic, fearless and intelligent, yet at the same time arrogant, frail and selfish. One moment you are the world to her and in the next, you do not exist. It was hard loving her."
Sabella goes silent for a moment, reflecting on her words.
Tain does not respond to Sabella’s taunt about their own forces, nor does he comment on Sabella’s talk of love for Asaria (though he notes the comment on her sanity) – the nature of the love that Sabella felt for her commander does not concern him, although he files it away for future reference; it may be that love or sexual relationships between members of the Grey Maidens is encouraged to build camaraderie, or to build loyalty to Ileosa, who is rumoured to prefer the company of women to men.
“The devils?” he prompts.
“Asaria is small and frail of form. She has dark black hair and a youthful look about her. You may mistake her as mere girl, if she puts her mind to it. Asaria is often dressed in girlish dresses of white, but this is a deliberate choice as she wants people to underestimate her. Men always do, mainly because she appears so weak physically. She has the most beautiful dark brown eyes.
"Azhir is the opposite. She is fair of hair and skin with blue eyes, though she often uses magic to disguise herself. Descended from Ulfen warriors, she is every bit as impressive as her ancestors. If Asaria is the glass cannon, then Azhir is the tower shield who defends her.” It seems that Sabella is rambling, staring into space, but soon enough she moves on to answer Tain’s question
"As for the devils. I know that Asaria is protected by a small impish creature that often advisors her and acts as a spy on her behalf. He is named Zakri'el. At least two erinyes protect the Grey Magus at all times. They are not always visible, but she summons them for show and they have been present in some of the audiences that I have attended.
"Eldinarcus is the creature you should fear. It protects Asaria. I am not sure what it is, but you can sometimes see it lurking about her or enshrouding her. It appears roughly humanoid though it is gaseous. I have only ever seen him at night when the moon is brightest."
The heroes don’t know what to make of this description of Eldinarcus, although Ishani, who is nearby listening, has heard stories of cultists of Urgathoa binding incorporeal spirits somehow related to the undead menaces known as Daughters of Urgathoa to themselves for protection.
Leilla casts message again to Tain and Marcus.... “What does she know of Scream and the elven cleric of Zon Kuthon?... Also the harbingers and the gathering of the Varisians?”
Tain nods slightly, acknowledging Liella’s questions, although he is not sure they will be things that Sabella knows the answers to. The paladin is silent for several moments while he ruminates on this latest bit of information. Then he begins his questions anew, focusing on a different topic.
“Clearly the Grey Maidens had some idea of our whereabouts and goals – what orders did they have regarding us? Why were we allowed to come and go from Korvosa and Luca? What changed for you to attack us here?” Tain looks over at Agon, and considers what he discovered in Korvosa.
“Additionally, why did you take Deparle? Where is he now?”
"Asaria has made it clear that she intends to deal with you," Sabella says without a moment of hesitation, "If you oppose the Queen she will eventually hunt you and your companions down. However, you are a low priority for her. From what I can tell, she needs only keep any opposition to her plans at bay until she completes her objectives. After she is successful in whatever she is planning, your resistance will be futile and none shall be able to resist the Queen.
"The Grey Magus is the least of your worries, paladin. Azhir Kren is the one that wants your blood. I believe she has convinced Asaria to keep you free and out in the open. She knows you by name and appears to hate you with an intensity that I could only imagine existed between the most fierce of enemies.
"Asaria has ordered that no Grey Maiden is to interfere with your passage unless ordered by herself, Kren, Nadees or Sabina Merrin. We are to monitor you, keep you hedged in and if need be safe from harm. That is why Kader Bannyer remained unharmed at Luca.
"Why did I attack you? Because I needed to free me from the Grey Magus. Do you know what it feels like to die, to experience the peace of afterlife and then be torn back into this world? Twice I have found sanctuary in death and twice I have lost it. Do you think that Ascanthus and I would have left so many of your alive if I intended to kill you all? I have violated the orders of the Grey Magus and you have destroyed her brooch! If I do not die by your hand, paladin, I will fall under her thrall again and I will kill for her."
She stares wild eyed for a moment, as if remembering something best left forgotten, then takes a deep breath and continues.
"Felix Deparle," she nods, looking at Agon, "Varisians, like roaches that have grown too big for the sewers and now wear clothing so they can prance around like high men and women. Why do you care what happens to that worm?" Sabella pauses to note the look on Agon's and Tain's faces, nods again and takes another sip of water.
"Insurance. You have left your friends and loved ones exposed. Marianna is alone on Nar'Kashel with a gimp-footed half-breed to help her. Felix Deparle will follow anything with breasts and his simple mind falls under the sway of minor enchantments. Precious Lavinia cloistered on an estate, waiting for Mother and her gallant Tain to come home. Have you not see what was done to the Varisian scum? How easy it was to herd them together and melt their flesh?
"We could achieve a similar outcome at the Vira Amaranta. Imagine all those poor blue-blooded Merivanchis burning inside their fine manor house!
"Why did we take Felix Deparle? Because we wanted to. Your friend here has been making some interesting promises of late. He has so many balls flying in the air that we wanted to ensure ours do not touch the ground. However, you may be relieved to know that Felix has gone north to investigate rumours of attacks on Varisian caravans.
"Beyond that I do not know. Asaria has plans and they evolve all the time. I imagine she sees this as some kind of perverse game in which we are all pieces on a board. The value of the pieces appear to be changing constantly."
Tain glances again at Agon, then at Marcus and Liella; not for the first time he is concerned about the safety of Mari and Lavinia, but to know their enemies know their exact whereabouts and circumstances is troubling indeed, although the paladin resolves not to show it.
“Why do you and Ileosa hate the Varisians so?” he asks, focusing first on that aspect to draw attention away from his concern for the others. “They were in this land long before we came, and though their ways are different, we are all people – they are little different to us. Perhaps those of you fresh from Cheliax – poisoned by the lies of Asmodeus and thrice damned House Thrune – feel yourselves to be superior, but those of us born here, who have lived amongst the Varisians here can see that we are all just people. I realized long ago that blood does not make one great, deeds make one great – which makes Ileosa an ungrateful cur compared to some Varisians I have known.
“Why did you attack the caravan near Palin’s Cove? Was it merely your unreasoning hate or something more? What is the significance of the grey standard we found?”
No point in saying anything in front of Sabella about the safety of family and allies … or about Agon’s loyalties, Tain thinks. But to clarify, “So you are saying that Felix is no longer in the custody of the Maidens? You could not hold him?”
"Why do you care?" Sabella questions, "My role in this conflict is coming to a sharp conclusion. I cannot even remember where my own beliefs end and those of the Sla Afl begin. I have been a puppet long enough that the last threads of my will were spent to convince you to destroy the bloodstone. Best to kill me ..."
“I have given my word,” says Tain. “You will die by my hand – though I wonder what afterlife you will find? You have implied that your faith in Asmodeus has waned, and from what I understand he is rare to forgive – what holy symbol is this that you wore?” He holds up the skull symbol they took from her.
Reflecting further on her words, the paladin scratches his closely trimmed beard thoughtfully. “Kren hates me personally? Or all of us?” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what I’ve done to make such an enemy of her – of course, the fact that she and the Grey Magus have sided with the false queen makes them enemies enough. Have no doubt that we shall overcome them as we have overcome everything else that Ileosa and her allies have thrown at us to date – if not, we shall at least give a good account of ourselves before we die. Now; what is it that Asaria plans? Have you any inkling, any intuition despite not being informed?”
"Kren hates anyone who opposes the Queen or does not share her view of the world. She hates you more intensely because you represent everything she is not. Kren is your opposite.
"As for Asaria and her plans. I am not sure. She will probably focus on the Baratheas Estate and her work there. Kren will probably take charge of the Maidens and continue to reinforce the Queen's authority in the regional areas."
Sabella sighs wearily. "I have answered your questions, paladin. It is time for you to keep your part of our agreement!"
Tain nods and draws the longsword he keeps sheathed at his belt. He tests the sharpness of the blade with his thumb.
“A few last questions,” he says. “You have not answered my question on why the Varisian caravan was destroyed? Why are the Varisians gathering at Korvosa? What do you or the Grey Maidens know of the source of Ileosa’s power?”
“Those are the last of my questions Sabella. Once you have answered, take a few moments to prepare your soul. May whatever god has some compassion for you take it and keep it. Abadar guide me in my duty here.”
Sabella sighs, "If I knew your line of questioning would have taken this long, I would have given myself to the half-breed’s arrows." The Grey Maiden looks up into the sky for a moment and closes her eyes. "The Varisians were destroyed in part as they removed the banner from the ground and in part as they were Varisians. Peace and stability can only be achieved if the rightful peoples order and control the weaker races, as well as removing the nonhuman species.
"The Varisians, as you say are people, and know they are in danger. They are drawing close to the city in hopes of escaping the dangers in the north, but also because they are sensing a need to draw close to the city. Something is happening amongst the Varisians that I am unaware of, though your 'prince' here might be able to clarify this migration."
"You ask of the Queen's power?" Sabella laughs loudly, "You have not figured this out yet? How do you hope to oppose her if you are too blind to see the obvious? I am not leading you by the nose, paladin. The Queen is my liege lady and I will not betray her.
"Asaria must be stopped. She is a threat to Korvosa and to the Queen. The Grey Magus has taken all that I was and used me to achieve not only her own objectives, but for her amusement as well. I have given you enough information on Asaria and Azhir, enough that I will not start on the Queen..." Sabella voice trails off.
"I am not sure what I believe anymore," she continues, "I was once Sabella Callandos, but now my memories and beliefs are confused with those that Asaria has forced on me. Kill me, I desire only the emptiness and solitude of the grave..."
“Then find rest Sabella Callandos, or find oblivion.”
Tain cuts the bonds about her wrists, then, positioning her head gently with one hand, thrusts the sharp point of the sword into her neck along the spine, whispering a prayer to Abadar as he does so. Sabella gasps, eyes wide, then her lifeless body slumps to the ground.
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Agon hasn’t said anything, up until now, but he has been listening closely. “Kren abducts my twin brother and Marcus' response is ‘Might be something to pursue.’” He thinks, having heard Marcus murmur something to that extent. “I can't help but wonder if such apathy would flow from an attack on a Merivanchi family member?”
Agon's response at the end of the interrogation is simply this... “So Asaria knows of Felix and the others. Let us find her and wring the information from her black heart.”
"Don't worry Agon, if Kren or Asaria have your brother we will find him. Considering all that Sabella has told us, we need to track down this Grey Magus and her pet and put a stop to them,” Marcus answers.
"Agreed," nods Tain firmly, though he is left confused now as to Felix’s current status – did the Grey Maidens let him go? Or have they set him off on a mission for them?
In any case, the orcs marauding up north has Agon concerned. He is a very good soldier and capable leader. Perhaps he should be fighting for his people in the north and not in Korvosa? But the Varisians are gathering near Korvosa for some reason. Agon's instincts tell him they have some part yet to play in this game of thrones; and that both he and his brother are needed for that piece of the puzzle.
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Summary for Session 39: On The Trail Of The Whispering Way
20th Gozran, evening
Cry Wolf
While Tain was interrogating Sabella, Marcus and Liella were investigating her gear. Having cast detect magic, Liella noticed a distinctive aura radiating from Agon - an almost identical aura to the one that emanated from Sabella’s brooch. Liella and Marcus quietly discuss the implications of this between themselves, but do not have an opportunity to alert any of the others without tipping off Agon (assuming that he is aware of what he carries).
There is some discussion of how to treat Sabella’s body after Tain executes her, with Agon favouring stringing her naked corpse up from a tree as a warning and a message, but with Tain eventually insisting that she is entombed in a makeshift cairn. That task complete, the heroes of Korvosa and their retinue decide to move on some distance from the battle site before setting camp.
As night falls, Agon, in the lead, comes across the remains of a wagon. It has been torn apart and the horses and cartiers apparently butchered by the bloodstains and entrails, though there is no sign of the remainder of the bodies. Agon finds the tracks of orcs and worgs, seven of each, with one of the worgs seeming particularly large. Despite the darkness, the tracks of the large worg are quite easy to follow, heading off to the south.
The group debate the wisdom of following the orcs at night, but Agon is eager to do so, seeming almost personally insulted by the thought of orc raiders in Korvosan lands, and, with his elven sight not deterred by the dark. It is decided that the main group will make camp here while Agon, Tain, Marcus, Liella, Celino and Ishani follow the orcs.
With Liella and Ishani creating magical light to see by, the group journey for about an hour deeper into the woods, until Agon notices shadowy movement ahead. As the group ready themselves for trouble, six wolves apparently made of shadow prowl silently out of the woods towards them. One of the wolves howls an eerie, spine chilling sound. While most of the heroes steel themselves against the supernatural howl, Agon breaks and runs. One of the wolves leaps after him, bearing him to the ground. The other heroes spring into action; Tain’s magical flail and smite and Ishani’s channeling of positive energy make short work of the nearest shadow wolves, although Marcus and Celino have a harder time with the wolves they face, their non-magical weapons passing straight through the incorporeal creatures. Liella’s spells and her supplying a magical dagger to Celino help.
Agon, behind the main line of defenders, hears a high pitched whistle as he tries to fend off the wolf attacking him, and glancing back notices an armoured orc sitting atop a large worg on a hillock behind the group. Agon finishes off his shadow wolf and slinks off into the shadows, aiming to circle around behind the orc. At about the same time the others finish off the last of the pack and also notice the worg rider behind them.
Tain strides forward and sees that the rider is a half orc, dressed in a finely crafted suit of spiked full plate armour, over which is a tabard bearing the symbol of a black hand. The half orc wields a wicked glaive and a sack stained and dripping with blood hangs from the worg’s saddle. The worg is a particularly large specimen with long, razor sharp teeth glinting in the witch-light.
The half orc calls for Tain to halt, saying that he does not wish to fight the group. “Why did you send your minions to attack us then?” asks the paladin.
“I wanted to test your mettle, to see if you were worthy of speaking to,” answers the half orc.
“Test this mettle,” says Marcus, raising his pistol and firing, scoring a minor wound on the half orc, who snarls and prepares for battle. Tain charges in, smiting the worg with his flail, but not before he is cruelly wounded by the half orc’s hooked guisarme and the worg’s razor teeth. Liella throws hexes at the rider, Marcus fires his other pistol, Agon comes out of hiding and shoots at the half orc with his bow, Ishani moves forward to heal Tain, and Celino moves forward warily, looking for an opening.
Another two hits and Tain takes out the worg, but he is sorely wounded by both his opponents in the process, Ishani’s channeling, his own healing hands and the boots of regeneration keeping him standing. The half-orc leaps down gracefully from his dying mount and continues to press the attack on Tain. All the heroes are now focusing their attacks on the orc, but he is a powerful and tenacious opponent. His armour deflects many of the attacks and some magic he possesses causes his wounds to slowly heal, even while he continues to inflict grievous wounds on Tain with his supernaturally sharp polearm. Even so he is slowly worn down.
The half orc swings his guisarme around him in an impressive display and shouts at Tain to fall back, but the paladin remains unshaken and presses the attack, eventually striking the half orc down.
The group begin searching their fallen opponent. As well as his enchanted armour and weapon, a ring of regeneration and sundry other items, he bears two belt pouches, one filled with coins, the other bearing a document. There is also the large sack containing something bloody, which the heroes assume to be the remains of one or more of the people on the wagon.
Before they can investigate further, they see the glow of fireballs exploding over the trees to the north - the direction of their camp. Grabbing a choice few items, the group hastens back to the camp.
Meanwhile, back at the camp
The heroes return to the camp to find that the remaining orcs and worgs had attacked in their absence however Kedar and Max led the defense and handily defeated the attackers. Like the half orc, these orcs all wear the sign of the Black Hand, an orc tribe known to raid into the Cinderlands.
The group takes some time to investigate some of the items that the half orc was carrying. Tain opens the bloody sack - and recoils in horror as he sees Talia’s pale, severed head staring back up at him. Tain and Marcus are in shock, but Liella determines that the dismembered corpse has been shaped by necromantic magic into Talia’s likeness.
The coins are freshly minted coins from Korvosa, bearing Ileosa’s likeness. The letter is to the half orc and is signed by Azir Kren. It instructs that the half orc is to leave the body where Tain will find it. The orcs are instructed to lead the heroes to Kren, not to engage them … clearly they did not follow these directions to the letter.
It is decided that Agon will head back stealthily to the site of the battle with the half orc, to retrieve some of the items left behind and to look for any sign of additional forces. He departs, estimating that the round trip will take some two hours.
Shortly after he leaves, Liella and Marcus bring Tain in on what they have learned about Agon. A discussion ensues about whether Agon is a traitor, an unwilling dupe or something in between. It is agreed that he must be aware he carries the item, and if he did not previously know what it did he likely knows now, after what they learnt from Sabella. Tain wants to confront Agon with this knowledge, to either challenge or warn him, but Marcus and Liella suggest that they can use it to their advantage, feeding their enemy disinformation. Tain uses the Eye of Nar Kashel to detect anyone who might be scrying on them now. He senses they are being watched - by Mari from the orrery on Nar Kashel.
With further discussion the heroes realise that it is due to Agon that Sabella - and therefore the Grey Magus - seemed to know so much about them, including the whereabouts of Mari, Lavinia and the Merivanchis. They decide that Agon must have been carrying the item since before or soon after the groups adventures on Nar Kashel, and therefore anything that was said or done in Agon’s presence since then must be considered compromised, including Marcus’s plans for Nar Kashel, Blackcove and the renegade captains, the numbers and whereabouts of the Companions of the Crimson Banner and the Order of the Key and other things. Marcus is thankful that at least the letters he had Agon deliver to Korvosa all contained false information. The trio grows particularly concerned - and angry with Agon - when they realise that their loved ones are now in potentially real and immediate danger. Mari is listening in and therefore aware of the situation, but they need to figure out a way to warn and protect Lavinia and Marcus’s family.
At the Vira
Marcus and Tain begin discussing writing letters and sending some of their followers back to the estate with warnings, but it will be days before they arrive. Liella has a better idea she uses her pact for power to teleport the three of them directly to the estate, into the guest bedroom she used during her recent stay. Exiting the room, they hear the sounds of an argument from the main bedroom, and spy Marcus’s parents arguing through the partially open door. They are surprised to see the heroes. At Marcus’s request, Liella and Tain head off to speak to Lavinia and Aerodus while Marcus speaks to his parents.
They had been arguing about him and his companions, and whether to stand openly with or against the queen. Marcus presses his case, but his father in particular seems far more opposed to Marcus’s rebellion than he was even a few days ago. Marcus begins to warn about the Grey Magus when his father mentions that a young lady named Sabbas visited the estate with a retinue of Grey Maidens a day or two after Marcus departed. They made a tour of the estate and made a point of meeting Christiana and Lavinia. Marcus asks urgently if they left anything here, his father reveals a bloodstone brooch that he wears, almost identical to the one that Sabella wore.
Marcus yells for Liella. At the same time Tain, who is nearby giving Aerodus a quick recap of recent events, detects that they are being scryed from an unknown source. Liella and Tain race towards the room. Marcus tries to wrench the brooch away from his father, but it seems stuck and he is unable to do so. The brooch begins drawing blood out of Merivanchi senior’s body and he collapses to the floor. Liella and Tain arrive and try to remove the brooch with similar lack of success. As they pull at it, the brooch begins drawing out their blood too. Finally Tain, with a burst of strength, manages to wrench the brooch free and tries to crush it in his gauntleted fist - without success; the delicate looking thing is surprisingly tough. Instead he throws it to the floor and smashes it with his flail. Liella heals Marcus’s father.
With not much time remaining until Agon is due to return, Marcus and co quickly update the family on the situation. Marcus tells them to move to an old out building on his vineyard, he and Tain also entrust Aerodus with some messages they want to get into the city and to other allies. The three say some hasty but heartfelt goodbyes to loved ones, then Liella teleports them back to the camp.
Twin Oaks
21st Gozran
The group is not far from Twin Oaks, and after travelling for a few hours in the morning, the woods begin to thin and the band encounter signs of civilisation. They come upon a windmill in a meadow, but it appears abandoned, as do the next few outlying cottages and farm houses. Soon the group comes across a house on a wooded hill overlooking a village that must be Twin Oaks. The house has boarded up windows, but smoke rises from the chimney and as the group approaches a peasant woman steps out of the front doorway, apparently on an errand. However, some of the sharper eyed members of the group spy an armed and armoured man lurking in the shadows inside the house. Agon slips away amongst the trees, beginning to circle around behind the house.
The group hails the woman, who introduces herself as Sian, the wife of a local farmer. She says that nothing is wrong here in Twin Oaks. As they talk, the sound of a crying child comes from within the house, but is quickly stifled. Tain confronts the woman about the armed man in the house - she initially denies it, but then she throws off her magical disguise, revealing herself as a tiefling wielding twin swords. Armed men begin pouring out of the house and archers stand up on the roof.
The heroes draw weapons and prepare to do battle - but at a signal from Sian lights are lit within the house, revealing over a dozen hostages, many of them children, with more combatants holding bared blades to their necks. “Throw down your weapons Korvosans,” calls Sian, “or we start killing hostages.” Realising that they will not be able to take out all the bad guys before they can kill some of the children, Tain and Ishani drop their weapons. The other heroes have little choice but to lower theirs as well.
At the back of the house, Agon quietly tests the lock at the back door - but before he knows it he is surrounded by hidden guards.
Sian accuses the group of being ‘more attackers from Korvosa’. She says that Korvosan troops attacked her mistress and burnt down their home - she points out a burnt out, ruined fortress on the far side of the valley. Her mistress is the vampire, Kyriani ….. And she assumes that the group are allies of Sabella, come to finish the job. The heroes manage to convince her that they too are enemies of the Grey Maidens, and that they killed Sabella. Sian invites the to come to the village to speak to her mistress as their goals might align - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Tain demands that the hostages be let go first, Sian refuses, saying that the hostages are insurance against the heroes attacking the vampire. Tain replies that if any of the children are hurt, he swears by Abadar that he will make it his primary goal to hunt down her mistress and destroy her. Intimidated by the paladins fervour, Sian agrees to let the children go if the heroes promise to hear her mistress out without hostilities, and give her a reasonable head start if they do not like what she has to say. If they do so, the rest of the hostages will be set free once they are done. Tain agrees to this. The children are brought out and left in the care of Max, Kedar and the followers, whilst the others follow Sian down to the village.
The village appears mostly, but not entirely devoid of people. Sian leads the way to the village inn. The innkeeper bears a frightened expression and twin puncture marks on his neck - he mouths for the heroes to help him, trying not to let his plea be noticed by Sian or some of the vampire’s other followers who occupy the common room.
Marcus suggests that Celiano, Ishani and Agon stay up in the common room to keep an eye on things whilst he, Liella and Tain go down into the cellar with Sian to speak to the vampire. Agon initially agrees but later heads downstairs to join the others.
Interview with the vampire
Waiting down in the cellar, surrounded by several tiefling guards is a beautiful and pale young woman, Kyriani Agrivar, the vampire.
The group initially approach with barely concealed hostility, Tain in particular has difficulty disguising his distaste for talking peacefully with an undead creature however his attitude softens as Kyriani tells her story. She says – and he believes – that she was a young girl who was transformed against her will (interestingly enough in a necromantic ritual rather than being turned by another vampire) by her former master, the wizard Aeonlus. She had no wish for this eternal unlife – she hates it, but has never had the will to end her miserable existence, holding out a forlorn hope that there might be a way to ‘cure’ her condition. She refused to create any spawn, despite an increasing, almost irresistible urge to do so, and was magically locked away within Castle Dreskyn, where she surrounded herself with tieflings and other servants whom she could feed from but not turn into vampires. Somewhat to his surprise, Tain detects only faint evil from her despite her undead status, supporting the claim that she tries to resist the inclinations that this curse brings upon her.
She also claims, seemingly truthfully, that she is appalled by her followers taking hostages, she never ordered such. She has, however, been drinking of the villagers, unable to resist the fresh blood, and fears that she will begin turning them before long. Already she turned a paladin and his companions who came recently to try to destroy her, and if not prevented, they will rise from the town graveyard as vampires with the next nightfall.
Kyriani says that her former master was an adherent of the Whispering Way, and drawing of the whispered lore of that philosophy, sought a way to create life from undeath. Her own vampiric state was as a result of one of his experiments, and the whispered secrets that created her silently urge her to propagate, create spawn, whispers that have become almost impossible to resist. Although her master considered her a failure, she understands that he did succeed in his goal of creating a life out of undeath, a young woman, one Asaria Sabbas, also known as The Grey Magus. She does not know what the current relationship between Aeonlus and Asaria is, but believes that the Grey Magus is searching for her creator.
The vampire rejects Tain’s offer to end her existence swiftly and painlessly, as does she Liella’s musings that the witches of Isseren might know of a cure for vampirism. Instead, she says that she intends to end her own existence in the light of the sun, but only if the heroes promise to track down and stop the Grey Magus and the Maidens who destroyed her home, the sanctuary that made it possible for her to resist the Whispering Way. The group agrees (telling her they have already killed the one who led the attack on Castel Dreskyn), but only if she agrees to have her people free all the hostages without harm, a condition she readily agrees to.
Loot
• +2 keen guisarme
• 5x +1 bane (human) returning javelin
• +2 full plate with +2 armour spikes
• 3x Potion of cure moderate wounds
• Cloak of resistance +5
• Boots of elvenkind
• Ring of protection +1
• Ring of regeneration - this was non-standard regeneration
• Amulet of natural armour +1
• Masterwork backpack
• Pouch of finely decorated leather containing 200 platinum coins bearing the symbol of the Grey Magus (whatever that is) and 1,000 gp in assorted gems and coins
• 7x Hide barding - for worgs
• 7x Masterwork heavy wood shields
• 7x Masterwork battle axes
• 7x Masterwork military saddles - for worgs
• 7x Potion of cure light wounds
• 133 pp (also with Grey Magus symbol)
• Letter to ?? the half-orc warning him not to engage Tain, but keep him under control and contained
• Fake head
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In Attendance
• GM – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Liella – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Tain – Mothman
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Interlude 2: What Lies Beneath
"I believe the Grey Maidens sought me out for a reason," Kyriani continues, "I believe Sabella wanted to know the whereabouts of my former master as well. I have not seen him for many years, for Aeonlus has not returned since imprisoning me within Castle Dreskyn. He did leave me servants to ensure I was fed, though I attracted Sian and her followers when I realised they would do less evil in my charge.
"As I said to you, I believe Aeonlus was planning on using the girl he created to lead his other 'children' in some scheme to recreate the work of Tar-Baphon. Korvosa would be his Gallowspire. However, since Aeonlus was forced to flee the Acadamae, he may be continuing his plans - as disrupted as these now are by his fall from power - in secret. I doubt he would remain within the city, he would be in one of his hidden sanctums somewhere.
"May be he has given up on his schemes altogether, but the plots he put into motion may still be going ahead. His apprentices may be continuing his work or being drawn together by the scheming of their master. I know that Mararune is still active in Kaer Maga, he visited me about three years ago, and that Nazgrel Thuul is now amongst the Blackfist Clan in Belkzen. This I learned from Mararune. I believe he did not know the actual location of Aeonlus, because that is why he bothered to visit Castle Dreskyn in the first place.
"Boreas may still be in Magnimar. I am not sure, though he was keen to return to that city even before he completed his apprenticeship. He was loyal to Aeonlus, though he held the Acadamae in contempt. Boreas may still be plotting on behalf of Aeonlus, for he was second in favour only to Nazgrel. The half-orc was always the favourite and proved himself a talented necromancer.
"There is one that remains in Korvosa, I believe, who may be able to help you find Aeonlus or the other apprentices. He was a master at the time Aeonlus was master of the Hall of Whispers. However, he was master of the Hall of Seeing. I believe they were apprentices at the same time. He resigned I believe, though he was a sage of great knowledge. Arianus was his name."
“I’m not aware of anyone by that name,” Tain glances at Marcus. “Though I am aware of someone with similar skills and a similar name ...” Could this be a coincidence? Arianus, the wizard and sage ... and Arius the Wise, wizard and sage?
Tain feels a growing evil intruding on the room, especially at the mention of the name "Arianus". The aura of evil seems to surround Agon, emanating from him...
The ongoing effect from the Eye of Nar’Kashel that Tain activated the previous evening has allowed him to detect any scrying attempts on the group. He has been dimly aware of Mari scrying on them from Nar’Kashel, but now suddenly there is a second scryer. Bending his will (And the considerable power of the Eye), Tain tries to determine the identity and location of the watcher. A name appears in his mind, Asaria Narissa Sabbas, who is currently in both the Baratheas Estate and Twin Oaks.
Liella shudders and Keko her familiar squeals and attempts to hide. Liella rasps as if the wind had been knocked out of her "A presence powerful monstrous and unseen has entered the room. Be ready....."
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Tain turns to face Agon. “This charade ends now,” he says, his face as stone. “I feel your presence Asaria Sabbas. Leave this man and prepare your defences – we are coming for you, whether you hide at the Baratheas Estate or elsewhere.”
Agon looks confused. Is Tain talking to him? What is going on? Agon's hands move to his dagger and his sash... Is he about to be attacked?
Agon's hand drops from his dagger, as his eyes begin to burn with a fierce intensity. Sweat begins to break out on his forehead and his skin exudes a heat that almost removes the chill of the cellar. Agon looks at each of his team-mates in turn, before his eyes rest finally on the champion of Abadar.
"I see you have finally found Kedar Bannyer," Agon says, his voice higher and sharper than normal. "No matter, his use to me has come to an end."
The silence is broken by a blast of a horn in the distance, somewhere near the thorp of Twin Oaks. As the half-elf speaks, Kyriani begins to back up towards a wall, where a small window is propped open. Fear and loathing is evident on her beautiful features. Agon smiles.
"Enough empty threats, paladin," Agon says, "Kyriani cannot help you. She is paralysed by the promise of her power, and she could have been oh so very powerful."
From somewhere inside, a low groan escapes Agon's lips. His eyes are red and his skin has taken on a sickening pallor.
"You may pursue me, though that may not be most wise of choices. You have too many loose ends to deal with, and what about your fellow conspirators and rebels? My reach is vast! You still have to ride a horse! What do you honestly hope to achieve?"
The half-elf's burning eyes sweep the room in a challenge.
“We did not come here for Kyriani’s help, but to deal with an evil you set loose,” Tain answers. “I think you will find my threat is not empty – whether soon or not, we will come for you and defeat you. We have already rid the world of one of your lieutenants and defeated one of your pet dragons. Whatever forces you have arrayed against us outside, do not doubt that we will overcome them, and that one day we will come for you. If you let Agon go and flee this land now, perhaps you can delay that day.”
Tain suddenly lunges towards Agon, the words of a prayer on his lips, one hand on his holy symbol, the other palm out seeking to touch Agon’s chest. The possessed warrior tries to slap the paladin’s hand away, his possessor seemingly surprised by the sudden move, but to no avail. There is a burst of golden light beneath Tain’s hand where it touches Agon’s chest, and the warrior gasps, the fire gone from his eyes.
Seeing the intensity and hatred fade from Agon’s eyes, Tain realises that his spell was successful. “Quickly Agon,” the paladin says urgently. “Where is the gem?”
Agon, Marcus and Tain sense a change in Sian's attitude. Her face creases with hatred and her eyes gleam malevolently. As soon as Tain forces Asaria out of the room, the tiefling resumes her previous demeanour. Sian blinks in confusion and looks to Kyriani, who has now retreated to the wall under the window - her back facing it.
Tain no longer senses any scrying from any source. Liella realises that Kyriani has cast a spell, probably some form of abjuration magic to block scrying.
"I smell the blood of orcs," Kyriani says, glancing up at the window, "Your time is short, our magic will not last forever. How do we proceed now?"
Agon fills his hands with steel! His ancient Thassalonian shortsword in one hand, his dagger in the other, as he steps back from Tain and takes an en guarde position. Titan, Agon's faithful hound who is resting nearby, sees his master take up a fighting stance, stands and growls.
"What do you mean, 'our magic will not last forever'?"
Kyriani looks uncertainly at Agon. "The paladin has channeled the power of his deity and I have weaved a spell to secure this room. However, our magic will soon fade. The one who was possessing you will be able to re-establish control once our wards run out."
“How do we proceed?” Tain turns his glare from Agon to Kyriani, but despite himself his expression softens with sadness as he looks upon the beautiful, monstrous girl. “We destroy the gem our companion bears, and then we go out and save what you have left of this village from the orcs. You should see to your loyal cohort,” he points to Sian. “Either she is not as loyal as she pretends or she too bears a similar token, something that makes her an unwitting spy for the Grey Maidens. Then you may choose to show some humanity remains with you and aid us against the orcs, or not, it is your choice.”
Turning back to Agon, Tain sees that the half-elf now has his weapons in hand. “By Abadar's Golden Vault, Agon!” the paladin cries, exasperation evident in his voice. “What will you do, fight your way through us all? Take the gem – or brooch, or talisman or whatever it is that you wear,” Tain points at Agon’s chest, where Liella sensed the hidden magical aura, “the focus that allows Sabbas to scry on us and take possession of your body, and throw it to the floor! It seems that Kroft’s plan to have you gain Ileosa’s trust worked more truly than envisaged! How do you think the Grey Magus and her lackeys knew of Mari’s whereabouts, of Lavinia’s and Cristiana’s? Why do you think that even now she may be moving against Marcus’s family? How do you think the Grey Maidens have seemed a step ahead of us since before we arrived in Luca? You have been the spy in our midst Agon!”
Agon ignores Tain’s outburst and turns to Liella.
"For all the hate you bear for me, Crone, I ask that you speak the truth now with your forked tongue... who spies on us here and now?"
“Calling me crone, now that is just rude.” Liella shifts to her lithe and nubile youth form to reinforce her point. “I don’t hate you either, you are a threat and a betrayer and I am disappointed more than anything else.
“No one spies on us at this time, the vampire has cast a spell.... Our time is limited, your mistress will soon retake the reins of your soul and her forces will spill the blood of the innocents of this town, just as she murdered your people.
“Make your choice, do it quickly, every second you waste is a dead villager.”
Agon relaxes at Liella's words.
"Well then if we can speak freely, then I will do so for the first time in months."
"Tain, you know why I have done this and can vouch for what has been and is my plan. I ask you all to follow Tain's lead."
"Do not destroy the brooch. Yes, it allows her to track us, but it also allows me to track her. And I have learned much of her and her ways. Be patient as I bait my trap. Simply throw the brooch away. I will return later by stealth and collect it. Factor it into your planning, and conduct whatever plans you have in secret when I am absent - I am our best scout after all, and have cause to be away often."
"But treat me no differently. In your eyes, for all of you, I must remain as un-trusted as I was this morning. And Marcus, if we end up crossing blades in a few minutes from now, you must play along. We have crossed blades often enough for you to know my basic tricks, and I can assure you that you will only face them. Look for the moment and take my blades from me. Tain, I ask you to stand down, Kyriani tells me you are promised to someone else to kill."
"So, bring me back into the fold for good or let me continue to play my double game. The choice is yours, but I assure you I know what I am doing, and what I do is for the benefit of us all in the end."
Agon then takes up his blades again into the en-garde position, and squares off against Marcus.
"This is madness," Kyriani says, looking at Agon raise his blade against Marcus, "I am not sure what to make of any of you." She turns slightly to face Tain squarely, "I will deal with the orcs. I was once a wizard and still retain my powers. My followers and I will save the people of Twin Oaks, it is the least we can do for our evil so far. I swear to you that I will bare myself to the sun this coming morning and trouble this world no more - nor will my servants."
Tain senses truth in her words and nods, locking eyes with her for a moment, although he does not completely divert his attention from Agon, who still has not given up the brooch.
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Kyriani walks over to a large chest resting near her bed, sand holds up a golden key. "I took what treasures I could from Castle Dreskyn and from the young heroes I slew in self-defense. Take whatever you wish, I have no more need for it. While I distract the orcs, go to the graveyard and destroy what I have created. If you do not, more than one vampire will plague this region.
"I do not know where to find Aeonlus or who this Grey Magus is exactly. You need to find Arianus and convince him to tell you where to find my former master. I fear that his plans may have gone awry or he has settled on chaos and destruction out of spite. To rid this world of Aeonlus would be a great boon for Korvosa.
"Now go or whatever chance I have of assisting you will be wasted."
Sian takes the key and begins pulling bundles of weapons, armour and other gear from the chest, far more than it would seem the modest container is capable of holding, and laying them on the floor.
In one of the bundles Sian pulls out of the secure chest, Tain notices the items bear motifs and symbols of Abadar. The tiefling is very cautious to keep the fur lining between her and the items. Tain feels drawn to the blade jutting out of the bundle, hearing the distant hum of what sounds to be chanting and a deep, reassuring voice speaking over through the harmony. He feels stronger in its presence and a greater connection to Abadar.
The Baroness, still looking at Agon, shakes her head with disappointment. “The item you are bound to allows our enemy to posses you, to take control of your soul, she knows everything you know....everything. She knows your double game even your triple game. While you are bound to her you are her creature.”
Agon chuckles.
"Baroness, not even -I- know what game I am playing! And my soul is mine alone. As much harm as this gem may do to us, it is harm you can manage and plan around; but it allows me to plant myself deep within our enemy's bosom. We all play with the talents the gods gave us."
"The orcs are calling. Make your decision! I have lives to save."
The Baroness sighs. “Your soul is yours to whore out to which ever master will give you the power and influence you crave. Because of your double game, resistance to the queen has been compromised, allies have been murdered or placed in jeopardy, and the family of your friends have had their souls bound to your mistress. Cleaning up after you is diverting valuable resources from the task at hand and showing us to be incompetent buffoons to our allies.”
"This is not the time to quarrel, lady," Kyriani says sharply, "Orcs are approaching and in great numbers. Your friend seems to have fallen under the influence of our enemies, but his choice may not have been based solely on selfish reasons." The vampire tilts her head to the side, listening. "I can hear worgs amongst the orcs, that will make your escape more difficult. You will need the half-elf to get out of Twin Oaks alive, so I would counsel - for whatever my words are worth - to set aside your anger and fight your way free of here."
"Good point," Agon says, pausing as he strides for the exit. "I'll need these." Agon gathers up one of the bundles.
“I can vouch only for what you have told me Agon,” says Tain sadly, having been momentarily distracted by the sense of deific connection emanating from one of the bundles of gear. “I believed you at the time – I wanted to believe you – but I have since learnt that the wererat within you had turned you towards evil. Since then I have seen no tangible benefits from your plan, only betrayals, whether intended or not. I no longer know whether to trust you or not. We are fighting a war and I understand that there will be casualties, but we must do our best to keep our innocent loved ones out of the line of fire. The gem you carry – or you yourself – has betrayed Lavinia, Christiana, Mari, even your own brother to the attentions of the Grey Magus. I can only pray that we have given them enough warning to keep them safe.
“You have carried the thing for how long? Days? Weeks? And never once given us any hint. We have openly discussed plans, strategies, safe havens and allies with you, and must now assume all of them compromised. Certainly the enemy now knows of our deal with the navy captains, knows the location of Nar Kashel, knows the whereabouts of our loved ones, knows the strengths of the Companions of the Crimson Banner, knows of the existence of the Order of the Key - knows our location at any given time. Well Agon, you have succeeded in one part of your plan, to cause your friends to distrust you – but at what cost and to what benefit?
“You say that you can use the gem to learn of our enemies, and feed them misinformation, that it is a tactical advantage to keep it. How so? If we had known from the start – if you had told us Agon – perhaps we could have distributed misinformation, but the enemy already knows our secrets, and now knows we know of the spy in our midst, and are unlikely to completely trust what they hear going forward. The Grey Magus can take over your body at any time, as she did not two minutes ago! How can you be sure she will not force you to undertake something that cannot be undone? You say that you can learn to use the gem against her – Agon, you could not resist the lure of evil that lycanthropy forced upon you, you could not resist being taken over by the Aboleth on Nar Kashel, you were fooled into thinking that taking this gem was a sound idea, you could not stop the Grey Magus from possessing you – do you truly think you have the power of will to use this against her?
“You are smarter than me Agon, and a better tactician than I will ever be ... but it would take a fool not to see that giving the enemy your location, your battle plan, the map to your stronghold, your strengths and weaknesses, the numbers of your allies and allowing them to plant an agent in your midst at any time is a poor exchange for perhaps being able to learn your enemy’s position.” Tain shakes his head, but does not raise arms against Agon, being internally conflicted between his history and friendship with the man, and the growing realisation that he may not be able to turn him from the path of evil.
"It seems we are done talking then."
Agon continues to walk away.
"You know we can't let you do that Agon" Marcus says, moving to block the door, rapier in one hand and pistol in the other.
"I really don't know what you hoped to achieve making the devil's deal you have. Maybe you really can get information out of the Magus, but she will take far more from you. If you step out of this room still carrying her token she is going to seize control of your mind and you will be no better off than Sabella. You saw yourself how broken she was. You won't come back from that!"
For once, Marcus calm facade is gone, the look on his face is obvious, the anger at his sister safety being compromised, the feeling of betrayal.
"When the others counselled that you might betray us, I argued in your favour, to wait and be sure. But now. . ." Marcus raises the pistol to cover Agon's movement, smoothly thumbing back the flint.
"If you can't bring yourself to cast that stone aside, I can't let you leave here"
"Then take the bauble, Marcus," Agon says calmly, icily calm, "if you think it helps."
Agon unclips the brooch and throws it to Tain's feet. He then speaks over his should to the champion.
"You are right, Tain. I -am- a better tactician than you. I know what I have given our enemies, and what I have not. The compromises you speak of have not come from me. I was not her only spy. Perhaps in time, I would have found the others. But now... who can say."
Agon scoops up some items from one of the bundles and turns back to Marcus.
"Now, my friend, if you are satisfied, I do believe I have some orcs to kill and the lives of our allies to try to save. So kindly stand aside. Or use your weapon, if you feel your anger is righteous and if you think one bullet will stop me."
Agon stalks out of the room.
Tain does not respond to Agon, not having the time to try to determine if the warrior believes his words to be true, if it is more bluff and bluster, or if he is outright lying. The paladin hastily asks Liella to confirm with her magic that the bauble is the one she detected after Sabella’s interrogation ... while she does so he glances thoughtfully at the hilt of a sword sticking out of one of the bundles.
As soon as Liella confirms the brooch is the one, Tain smashes it to pieces with his flail.
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"Your friend is firmly entrenched with enemy I sense," Kyriani says, her voice filling the minds of the remaining companions like whisper and webs, "The Grey Magus, as you call her, may now have a hold on the half-elf that cannot be broken by simply destroying the brooch. I am not powerful enough to break her hold, unless I turn him and become his master. Even then, the enemy appears to be a master of the darker art of necromancy, so we would both be susceptible to her magic." The vampire pauses, you can feel her thoughts forming in her mind. "I can only warn you of this: he sent out his thoughts for her to contact him. She may have enough control of his soul to speak with at will. He is still in danger and must atone for the darkness that fills his heart. Agon may betray you again, consciously or not, as long as he remains under the influence of the Grey Magus. I wish I could be of more help, yet I remain a danger as well."
“This isn’t over,” Tain states the obvious to the others once Agon has left the room, more inclined to trust the vampire than Agon at the moment and not sure if they also heard her words. “Be guarded in word and action around Agon, but he is right in one thing, we need to deal with these orcs right now.”
As Agon threw the broach to the floor, Marcus still pointed his pistol at the half-elf. Slowly he lowered the flintlock and stepped aside as Agon made for the stairs, but still held him in his line of fire in a hip-shot stance. The barrel followed Agon up the stairs, almost without Marcus being conscious of his actions.
"No one bullet may not stop you" he thought, "but it will slow you down enough". Marcus' calm features returned, masking the conflict in his mind. He was still unsure what to make of Agon's previous actions. Had his old friend truly betrayed them or had he been used. Unfortunately it was starting to look like the Baroness may have been right from the start. If Agon continued on his current path, Marcus feared, a showdown between them was coming and he would be forced to do something he did not wish to.
Marcus was vaguely aware of Tain and Liella hastily discussing something, but the words were a dull hum behind him. Broken from his gloom by the sound of an orc horn - much closer now - Marcus grabbed the gun belt from the ground and raced up the stairs two-by-two.
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Summary for Session 40: The Pallid Princess
21st Gozran
The Raid
Agon leaves the cellar to fight orcs. After he leaves, Kyriani tells Marcus, Tain and Liella telepathically that Agon is tainted by the secrets of the Whispering Way and will continue to be a pawn of evil even though they have destroyed the brooch. She then says she will deal with the orcs - and her people - if the heroes deal with the vampires in the graveyard.
The group head towards the graveyard, killing orcs on the way (about a hundred including some worg riders attack the town) and getting hit by arrows. Agon notices that the orcs are not actually killing people in the village, just terrorising them then letting them go. The orcs wear the symbol of the Black Hand. At the entrance to the graveyard, Agon turns and charges the nearest group of orcs. The others seek out the freshest graves, finding six shallow graves that are packed tightly together. Tain and Ishani channel energy over the graves, which writhe and smoke; a hand emerges from one and is burnt by the sunlight. Ishani continues to channel energy while Tain grabs a shovel and begins digging up the graves.
Agon obscures the area with smoky darkness, but is attacked by a band of orcs and sorely wounded. Several worg riders jump into the graveyard and the heroes fend them off, including Tain who charges and kills an orc then beats its worg into unconsciousness with his shovel, while Ishani continues to channel positive energy into the graves, destroying the vampires within. Agon uses his armour to assume liquid form and escapes the orcs who have piled up on him.
A horn sounds and the cavalry arrives, quite literally; about fifty mounted knights charge in and, with the help of the heroes, make short work of the orcs, killing or driving them off. Agon sneaks off and captures an orcish shaman, but before the group can question it, an erinyes appears in the air and shoots it through the throat with an arrow, then teleports away.
Mathias Baratheas
After ensuring that the latent vampires in the graveyard and have been destroyed, and discovering that there is no sign of Kyriani or her followers, and that the hostages at the farm house are safe, the heroes speak to the leader of the knights, Mathias Baratheas, the nobleman who led the Farmers Revolt. He was not killed by the Grey Magus but was severely wounded and captured. After taking his estate, the Grey Magus and her cultists raised a huge cauldron and put dead bodies and dismembered body parts into it, then sacrificed two young women into the cauldron. After that things - presumably undead - started crawling out. Now the estate is over-run with strange beasts, undead, cultists and a strange green mist. Mathias only barely managed to escape, then enlisted help from his old contacts in Andoran (his forces are a mix of Andoran mercenaries and hastily trained farmers). He also mentions the Grey Magus having some interest in an old grey tower on a mountain near his estate.
He says that his spies inform him that a large contingent of Grey Maidens has occupied Luca, presumably just after the heroes left the town, and that the Grey Maiden presence in Palin’s Cove has also increased. He asks the heroes what their plans are. Marcus and Liella tell Mathias privately not to discuss his true plans in front of Agon, Tain says the same thing openly. Agon leaves so that such things can be discussed.
Mathias plans to attack and liberate Luca and urges Marcus and the others to join him, but the heroes tend to think that the estate is more pressing and that they should go there to cleanse the place. Tain remembers that he promised to report to the halfling Tarhair the fate of the paladin Camden and his companions. Upon examining the bundles of gear that Kyriani left behind for them, Tain realises that one of the dead heroes was related to Tarhair. They decide to scout Luca and also pass on the message to Tarhair using Liella’s teleport spell.
The others tell Agon that the plan is to head towards the estate in the morning, without mentioning Luca. Agon says he will scout the way ahead and departs. Once he is gone, Mathias asks why they continue to travel with Agon if they don’t trust him? He also says that Agon has been tainted by the Grey Magus in the same way that he was, he needed to seek an atonement from a powerful priest in order to rid himself of the taint of evil and erase the link that the Grey Magus forged with him. None of the group can currently cast an atonement spell, and they are not sure if it would work anyway unless cast by a priest of a god that Agon worships.
Fun times in Luca
Liella and Tain plan to go to Luca, along with Conrad, one of Marcus’s men, who will remain there as a spy, conditions permitting. Tain agrees not to wear his armour or take his flail as it is too conspicuous, but takes along his new magical sword from the vampire’s treasure haul. Liella teleports them into Kedar’s old room at the inn. It now appears to be the room of a Grey Maiden officer with maps and charts laid out on a desk. Chained to the wall is the barmaid Danica, her eyes glowing green and her teeth and fingers having been sharpened to points. As Tain approaches her she snarls and attacks. Tain realises that she is undead and beyond help, and runs her through. Liella and Conrad begin gathering up the charts and maps. They realise that this is Kren’s room, but it appears that she is away. Liella senses that the place is under a dimensional anchor effect and she will not be able to teleport back out. An alarm spell also appears to have been set off. Conrad looks out the window and sees Tarhair in a cage hanging from a gibbet in the town square. The group find a strongbox under the bed and take it.
Conrad sneaks out and looks down to the common room below, seeing that there are a number of off duty guardsmen and Grey Maidens in the common room and that the stair down is guarded. The trio splash oil around the room, light it, then hurry away through the maze of corridors looking for a back way down. They overhear a conversation about the occupation – the locals appear to have mixed feelings about the Grey Maidens, but fear rumours of orc raids - then climb out through a window and down to the stables. They saddle some horses to make a get-away in case they cannot get rid of the dimensional anchor.
Making their way through the alley towards then through the square, they attract attention as they are not dressed like everyone else. They see that the town hall has been destroyed by lightning and is used as a blue dragon nest (dragon absent). Men from the town are beginning to construct a wall around the town, the temple of Erastil is lightning damaged and boarded up, and many tents have been erected to house soldiers.
Next to the gibbet is a pole bearing another grey banner. Liella thinks that this is the focus for the dimensional anchor. As they approach they are noticed by a Maiden and ordered to halt. Conrad points up at the window of the inn and calls out ‘Fire!’ throwing people into panic as they notice the flames licking out of the window.
Tain begins hacking at the banner with his sword, and Maidens begin running towards them. Conrad shoots one with his pistol. Tain calls out ‘For Korvosa! For Abadar, Down with Ileosa!’, then hacks down the banner. Everyone takes hands, Liella grabs Tarhair through the bars of his cage, then they all teleport away.
The plan
Back at camp, the group discusses their next step. It appears that Kren, her dragon and the bulk of the forces she commands are away, probably with the Grey Magus. Tarhair is very sick, apparently poisoned, Mathias also says he is tainted in the same fashion as Agon. He wears another Bloodstone brooch which the heroes with some difficulty remove and destroy although not before it drains some blood out of Tain. Investigating the maps and the contents of the strongbox, the group gets some sense of Grey Maiden troop movements and numbers, including ‘allies’ such as orcs and Korvosan Guard. The bulk of the forces in the local area appear to be moving towards the Grey Tower beyond the Baratheas Estate. They find letters to and from Kren. One mentions Agon by description and says that he will lure one innocent to them and that one will lure another. The letters also mention Agon’s foolishness in thinking that he can resist the power of the Whispering Way.
The group decides that the Grey Tower is where they should head; it appears to be the Grey Magus’s focus, and, based on their earlier dreams they suspect it is where they will find Arius. Once Agon has returned from scouting a way through or past the estate, the bulk of the heroes’ and Mathias’ forces will march for the tower. Liella, Tain and Marcus have some other errands to run in the meantime, they plan to teleport to the vicinity of the tower to meet up with the others in about two days time.
Early in the morning, Liella along with Tain, Marcus and Tarhair will teleport into Korvosa, leaving Tarhair with the temple of Abadar for safekeeping. They also intend to swap the paladin and cleric’s gear with the temple, and call on their goodwill of giving them the rapier from Palace Arkona, in exchange for some atonement scrolls.
22nd Gozran
The next morning the trio, along with the comatose Tarhair, successfully teleport into Korvosa, arriving not far from the Bank of Abadar. Heading to the Bank, they convince a cleric to give them three scrolls in exchange for the rapier they had earlier delivered, and to take care of Tarhair. They also sell other gear at the temple and make contact with various allies in the city to find out what has been going on.
23rd Gozran
Next teleport destination is Nar Kashell to warn Mari about Agon (‘kill him on sight’ is the advice the baroness plans to give) and enlist her help in warning Lavinia and the others at the vineyard. Tain has noticed through the Eye’s link that Mari seems to be distracted by other matters, he also detected Dario scrying on them that morning.
Things go very wrong
Arriving at Nar Kashell, the group find Dario at the orrery (which has been partially repaired), but find no sign of Mari. Dario is distracted by his research, but says Mari left that morning, teleported out using the orrery after asking him to keep an eye on it. He doesn’t know where she went, but mentions that she has been spending a lot of time with a particular gillman of late. After some time, the group manages to track down and question the gillman and eventually determine that he has been possessed by the Grey Magus and has been feeding Mari disinformation. He also gave her something – he cannot remember what. The group realise that the Grey Magus intends to sacrifice Mari and Lavinia, being ‘pure’ maidens, to power the cauldron. Liella gets a crash course on how to work the orrery from Dario, working through the night.
24th Gozran
Liella uses the orrery to scry on Lavinia, who appears to be safe at the vineyard, but Mari is not with her. Marcus suggests that Tain should visit Lavinia and consummate their relationship so that she is no longer a viable sacrifice – Liella doesn’t dignify the suggestion with an answer.
With some difficulty, Liella manages to find Mari with the scrying device. She appears to be at the grey tower near the Baratheas estate, in the midst of a battle! The narrow radius of the scrying sensor does not allow Liella to see who her opponents are, but she appears sorely pressed.
Liella, Tain, Marcus and Dario immediately teleport to the tower, but are shunted to a nearby hillside. The tower is under siege by Azhir Kren, the Grey Magus, several devils, three dragons, cultists and a large force of Grey Maidens. Mari lies bound on the ground near Kren. The tower is sorely pressed, though magical blasts coming from it suggest that there are yet defenders barely holding off the attack. The odds are near hopeless, but Mari’s life is at stake. Tain prepares to charge.
End of session.
Loot
Bundle 1:
1 x +1 elven courtblade* (Agon) - adorned with a leaf-and-ivy pattern on the hilt and blade.
1 x +1 distance flaming composite longbow* (Agon) - crafted from yew and stained a reddish-brown it is adorned with flame motifs.
1 x efficient quiver with 25 +1 arrows* (Agon) with red/orange fletching - the quiver and arrows appear to accompany the longbow as they are similar in design.
1 x +1 elven chain mail* (agon) - this suit of fine mithral chain mail is adorned with a leaf-and-ivy pattern.
1 x belt of many pouches* (Agon) - a broad belt made of high quality leather.
1 x boots of elvenkind* (Agon) made from grey leather.
1 x cloak of elvenkind* (Agon) made from thistledown.
1 x pouch - a large pouch made of high quality leather. With 378gp
Bundle 2:
1 x +1 holy heavy mace* (Ishani) - stamped with the holy symbol of Abadar on the pommel.
1 x heavy crossbow - masterwork heavy crossbow.
1 x +1 scale mail* - finely crafted scale mail.
1 x potion of cure serious wounds* (Tain).
1 x wand of cure moderate wounds – 31 charges* (Liella).
1x belt pouch with 331 gp in assorted coins and gems.
Bundle 3: Owner identified as Badger Tarhair.
1 x +1 quick longsword* - finely crafted small-sized weapon.
1 x +1 chainmail* - finely crafted small-sized suit of chainmail.
1 x +1 longbow* - finely crafted small-sized longbow.
1 x +1 heavy steel shield* - finely crafted-sized longbow.
1 x potion of cat’s grace*.
1 x belt pouch with 287 gp in assorted coins and gems.
Bundle 4: Owner identified as Dogger Shaw
1 x +1 keen rapier* (Marcus) - adorned with skull-and-bone motifs.
1 x pair of +1 distance flintlock pistols* (Marcus) - adorned with skull-and-bone motifs.
1 x +1 chain shirt* - finely crafted chain shirt.
2 x potions of Cat’s Grace* (Marcus).
1 x ammo pouch with 8 charges remaining. (Marcus)
1 x belt pouch with 63 gp.
Bundle 5:
1 x +1 spear* - a finely crafted shoanti spear.
1 x bracers of Armour +3*.
1 x headband of charisma and intelligence +2*. (Tain)
1 x potion of eagles splendour*.
1 x wand of lightning bolt – 27 charges*. (Liella)
1 x belt pouch with 134 gp in assorted coins and gems.
Bundle 6:
1 x longsword* ‘The Keepers Blade’ (Tain) - adorned with door-and-coin motifs.
1 x +1 champion full plate* (Tain) - extraordinarily crafted with a golden finish.
1 x +1 champion heavy steel shield (Tain) - extraordinarily crafted with a golden finish and bearing the holy symbol of Abadar.
3 x potions – bless, shield of faith, divine favour*.
1 x belt pouch with 339 gp in assorted coins and gear.
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In Attendance
• GM – Chubbs McGee
• Agon – Mister Deparle
• Liella – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Tain – Mothman
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Summary for Session 41: Assault on the Grey Tower
24th Gozran
At the Tower
Liella, Tain, Marcus and Dario appear on a bluff overlooking the Grey Tower. The tower is under siege by Azhir Kren, the Grey Magus, several devils, three dragons, cultists and a large force of Grey Maidens. Mari lies bound on the ground near Kren. The tower is sorely pressed, though magical blasts coming from it suggest that there are yet defenders barely holding off the attack. The odds are near hopeless, but Mari’s life is at stake.
As the group watches, the two green dragons circle the tower, blasting it with their breath weapons. The larger blue dragon hovers nearby, blasting the top of the tower with lightning, before sweeping in and landing on the top of the tower, tearing at the stonework with its claws.
The Grey Maidens, around 60 in total, appear to be hanging back and waiting for the wizards and dragons to breach the wall surrounding the tower's base. On the far side of the valley, a robed cultist blasts at the tower with a large horn. Overlooking the scene the heroes can see the Grey Magus, Asaria Sabbas, and her cultists sacrificing villagers and feeding their blood into an enchanted cauldron, causing dead defenders and attackers alike to rise as zombies under Asaria’s control. Two winged devils stand guard at her side.
Near the base of the tower stands Azhir Kren commanding the assault. At her side the wizard Sossana D'Alene focuses her attention on a large glass orb that glows with power. Lying beside these two is Mari, bound and gagged.
Tain, Liella and Marcus quickly discuss tactics and spells, while Dario prepares his magical defenses. Tain uses the Eye of Nar’Kashel to send a message to Ishani. The cleric replies – he and the others are not far away, and have help in the form of Lord Barethius’s knights and a force of Korvosan Guard that Agon has convinced to help; however an army of orcs is sweeping in from the north to reinforce the Grey Maidens.
Mari, sensing the group, sends a telepathic message to Tain through the Eye, advising him to destroy the globe. Kren apparently senses Mari's action and turns and strikes her down with the wicked-looking sword she carries.
Charge!
Seeing Kren strike down his sister, Marcus loses control and starts charging down the scree slope towards the battlefield, and Tain quickly follows him. For the moment, the Grey Maidens do not appear to have seen the pair charging down the hill towards them.
Liella and Dario blast the nearest unit of Maidens with fireballs and ice storms, opening a gap in their ranks. This magical artillery draws the attention of the nearby forces to the heroes. Moments later, a winged devil swoops down from the sky, drawing aim at the two with its fiery bow.
Liella quickly quaffs an invisibility potion, and unseen, takes to the sky. Dario follows suit with a fly spell, protected by numerous mirror images of himself. The two sweep through the air after Tain and Marcus to support their charge, continuing to clear the path to Mari and Kren with their spells.
Finally, the cavalry can be heard closing in on the southwest flank of the Maiden's force. Lord Barethius and several of his cavalry erupt from the treeline, followed closely by Ishani, Agon, Celiano, Marcus' pistoleers and several of Tain's Order of the Key rangers.
Three hippogriffs, bearing ex-Sable Company marines, fly in low over the treetops and close on the Erinyes devil, tying up its attention and protecting the heroes' flank.
The Battle is Joined
As Barethius and the cavalry prepare to charge, Ishani hears a crashing sound approaching rapidly through the trees behind them. Closing in at their rear is a giant corpse-creature, a stitched abomination formed of dozens of dead bodies. Agon, Barethius and his bodyguards turn to face the corpse-creature, aiming to hold it off or destroy it, while Ishani and Celiano order their men in to harry the rear of the Grey Maidens' formation. In the distance the sound of another battle can be heard as the remainder of Barethius' troops, alongside the Korvosan Guardsmen, engage the orc warbands supporting the Grey Maidens.
Up on the bluff, Asaria’s attention is distracted by the heroes charging through her forces in the valley below. She orders more peasants sacrificed to the cauldron, and a dozen of the Grey Maidens slain by Liella’s and Dario’s spells raise themselves out of the mud as relentless zombies.
Un-noticed by the Magus, one of the cultists throws back his hood and charges silently towards her back, knife raised – it is Felix! But although her attention is elsewhere, that of her ever-vigilant bodyguard is not. The spirit creature called Eldinarcus issues forth from Asaria’s body and sweeps Felix aside with a huge, scythe-like claw grown suddenly tangible. Felix is knocked screaming off the cliff.
Meanwhile, Marcus and Tain continue to charge through the gap in the Grey Maidens' formation created by Liella' and Dario's magic assault. Another small group of Maidens charge to block their progress, but Marcus pulls a grenade from his pouch, lighting the fuse with a minor spell and throws it in their path. Moments later, the group is slain in the blast and shrapnel. Another spell of Liella’s sends several of the newly raised zombies back to the grave.
Seeing Tain charging across the battlefield, Kren charges forward to intercept him, screaming a challenge. He accepts and the two meet in a clash of steel, zombies and Maidens alike clearing a space for their duel.
The rangers begin firing upon the rear of the Grey Maidens force, drawing several small groups out of formation, but have little luck penetrating the Maidens’ armour. Meanwhile Celiano and Conrad lead the pistoleers to engage the women warriors. The horsemen pull up short from the enemy, fire their pistols in a great volley, and wheel their horses away, drawing more Maidens out of formation and slaying several. Ishani casts a spell, causing a swathe of the battlefield to erupt in a field of jagged stone spikes beneath the Grey Maidens moving to engage the archers.
In the sky above, the hippogriff riders continue their dogfight with the Erinyes, but are unable to best the devil. The enormous blue dragon continues its assault on the tower, while the two smaller (but still huge) greens wheel above the battlefield.
Challenges and a Battle of Will
Tain and Kren engage in an epic duel, each inflicting grievous wounds on the other. As they battle, a number of Grey Maidens move to block Marcus, but are blasted again by Dario's fireballs.
With a great sweep of wings, one of the green dragons, Ascanthus, hovers before Marcus, but appears to be holding back. Marcus aims his pistol at the beast, but before he can fire it warns him it "doesn't wish to fight" and Marcus hesitates. At his back, Marcus can hear the sounds of the other green dragon flying close up behind him. Fearing a surprise attack, Marcus spins on the spot, aims and fires. The bullet rips through the wyrm's chest and punctures its lung, almost bringing it to the ground.
Ascanthus bellows with rage and unleashes a blast of acid at Marcus, wounding him, but he manages to escape the worst effects. The wounded dragon turns wing-over-wing and flies away from the main battle horribly wounded and confused.
Tain finally defeats Kren, running her through with the Keeper's Blade. The anti-paladin screams a final curse at Tain and collapses, her flesh rapidly rotting and turning to dust. With Kren's curse echoing in his ears, Tain feels his connection to Abadar cut-off, all of his Paladin's powers are swept away from him and he is left hollow, with the blessed blade in his hand searing his flesh. Calling out for Abadar not to abandon him, Tain casts the blade aside and draws his flail.
Seizing on the distraction caused by her friends, Liella flies over to where Sossana D'Alene commands the orb. Still concealed by invisibility, she mutters a spell and her hair lengthens and animates, writhing downwards to grab the orb. The moment her strands make contact she feels a powerful force penetrate her mind and attempt to overwhelm her. She is left paralyzed, caught in a battle of wills with the artifact, and completely defenseless against the enemies all around her.
The walls surrounding the tower collapse and the Grey Magus and her Devil bodyguards charge through the breach with a number of Grey Maidens and cultists. However, the Magus and her two Erinyes hesitate at the entry, turning back to watch the battle and ensure that the heroes are dealt with. The remaining Grey Maidens close on the Grey Tower and encircling the four heroes.
The Tide Turns
Liella, locked in a battle with the dragon orb, hovers completely exposed above the Maiden's command force. D'Alene casts a spell of disintegration at the witch, wounding her badly and blasting away her clothes and magic cloak.
Tain and Marcus charge to rescue their friend, heedless to the forces closing in all around them. Marcus holds off the nearest Grey Maidens while Tain races towards Liella. One of D’Alane’s apprentices stand between him and his friend. As he raises his flail to strike her down, the Grey Magus attempts to dominate him, turn him against his friends, but fortunately the magic circle against evil he raised earlier still holds, and prevents the attempt at control. The warrior sweeps aside the lesser wizard before him and charges D'Alene with his trusty flail, drawing her attention away from Liella. The wizard is no match for Tain, even stripped of his powers, his strength and flail are enough to penetrate her defensive spells and within moments she lies at his feet, a bloody ruin.
Marcus screams a magical curse at the Maidens closing in on him, sending fear through their ranks and blasting them with flame. Most flee before his words of power and he pursues them, hoping to break the troops guarding Mari.
Seeing the battle beginning to turn, Asaria orders her two devils onto the battlefield and calls for the blue dragon to attack Liella, before heading back into the Grey Tower.
Finally, not a moment too soon, Liella gains control over the dragon orb. She sweeps high into the sky and sends out mental commands to the dragons. She completely dominates the blue dragon sending it back after the Grey Magus. The great beast rips into the walls of the tower, pulling away great chunks of masonry in search of her. The other two dragons, Liella respectfully asks to turn on the Grey Maidens - a request the happily comply with, having suffered humiliation at the hands of the women previously commanding them. One of the dragons sweeps down on an advancing column of Maidens, scattering them with its dragon-fear, whilst the other swoops in on the Erinyes still battling the Sable Marines, melting the devil with its acidic breath. Liella also requests one of the dragons to take Mari to safety and protect her.
The two other Erinyes take to the sky and sweep in to take on the heroes. One lands nearby and prepares to engage in melee, while the other lands a little further off and fires flaming arrows at the group. Before the first devil can do any damage, Marcus pulls the iron flask from his belt pouch, pulls the lead stopper and utters a command word. The devil screams and is pulled into the flask.
Meanwhile the sounds of a great battle can be heard from the tower as Scryos the dragon takes on the Grey Magus and suddenly the tower collapses in a great cascade of rubble. Moments later the dragon is blown back out of the rubble and can be seen struggling with an intangible amorphous creature - Eldinarcus - the Magus' mysterious bodyguard spirit. No sign can be seen of the Magus herself.
Ishani, Celiano, the pistoleers and the rangers have battled their way across the valley and now provide covering fire the heroes, harassing the Grey Maidens who are now mostly fleeing from the dragons.
Ishani blasts the final Erinyes with a ray of holy power and blinds the creature temporarily, but not before it summons two bearded devils to fight beside it. Seizing the opportunity, Marcus charges the blinded devil, opening up a couple of minor wounds. Seconds later, the devil regains its vision and steps back a pace before firing an arrow into Marcus' chest wounding him badly.
The spirit creature Eldinarcus oozes off the critically injured blue dragon and closes in on Tain and Liella. Liella blasts it with magical cold and Tain attacks it with his flail. After a brief but violent struggle, the creature is destroyed.
Meanwhile, Marcus continues to struggle with the devil and eventually wounds it badly with a series of blows, stunning it and injuring its leg badly, causing it to stumble, while Celiano, Ishani and the pistoleers finish off the two bearded devils. Finally the Erinyes is destroyed and the heroes are left to survey the battlefield, watching the remaining forces of the Grey Magus flee before the twin green dragons.
Loot
In Attendance
• GM – Chubbs McGee
• Liella / Dario – The 8th Dwarf
• Marcus – Ordinary Kraken
• Tain – Mothman