The Twice-Damned Prince - Session 51: Skarx's Prison

Dramatis Personae

Alfaren “Alfred” Eredel – Elf transmuter

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer

Boecca – Half-orc inquisitor of Erastil

Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) evoker

Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue/assassin

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma

Wealday, 4 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

The Returners press on with their assault against the Council thieves’ hideout. Boecca banishes an attacking imp, the bead of force-hurler, back to the pit of Hell, while Slavé and Tavo push on inside the bunker. Carlos lets the golem loose outside and hovers over the structure, waiting to take on any escapees. Another imp announces its presence by hurling a bead of force at Boecca, encasing him within an impervious sphere of force. He escapes the force sphere using a dimension door spell, appearing inside the bunker just in time to meet the the tiefling Council torturer Skarx Veskandi. Skarx, a monk of some skill, rains blows down on Boecca, but the resilient half-orc shrugs most of them off. The Returners numbers and superior abilities soon bring Skarx and her Council thieves down.

Skarx, ever the opportunist, is quick to surrender when it becomes clear that the battle is lost, and pleads for release, promising valuable information if the Returners let her out of the city. She balks under Boecca’s attentions, refusing to speak unless promised release. Frustrated, Slavé makes a snap decision and teleports with Skarx to a wooded copse outside the city. Thinking she will be set free, Skarx gives Slavé the information he is looking for: that Chammady Drovenge is holed up with Vuiper Ghivel, a cleric of Abadar and sole surviving member of a minor noble family that has been on the decline. Slavé slits Skarx’s throat and teleports back to the Council bunker.

Boecca confronts Slavé upon his return, decrying the rogue’s questionable behaviour and proclaiming him a threat to the Returners’ ultimate goals. Before the two are able to come to blows, the sounds of citizens in distress force the group back into action. Scouting a block north of the Council bunker, the party witnesses a group of six bearded devils mounted astride skeletal, flame-shrouded hellcats terrorizing three Wiscrani nobles. Acting quickly, Carlos flies into the citizens’ aid, grasping each of them and using a dimension door spell to whisk them away to safety before the devils and hellcats have a chance to react. The other Returners decide against taking on the devils with so few members present, and take the time to ensure the frightened citizens are safe before contemplating their next move – a visit to the Ghivel townhouse to confront Chammady Drovenge.

Treasure

· From the Council thieves:

o Potions of cure moderate wounds (3) (worth 450 gp total)

· From Skarx Veskandi:

o Belt of incredible dexterity +2 (worth 2000 gp)

o Bracers of armour +3 (worth 4500 gp)

o Ring of protection +1 (worth 1000 gp)

Experience

· Council thieves (4): 3200 xp

· Imps (2): 1200 xp

· Skarx Veskandi: 12,800 xp

· Total: 17,200 xp

· Per PC (4): 4300 xp

Fame/Popularity

· Fame Check bonus: +32

· Fame Points Remaining: 16

· Popularity Points (defeating Skarx Veskandi): 1

· Total Popularity Points: 13

Current XP Total per PC

· Carlos: 190,629 xp

· Slavé: 186,629 xp

· Tavo: 183,184 xp

· Boecca: 173,854 xp

· Alfred: 168,374 xp

Alizander: 150,000 xp

The Twice-Damned Prince - Session 50: Assault on the Safehouse

Dramatis Personae

Alfaren “Alfred” Eredel – Elf transmuter

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer

Boecca – Half-orc inquisitor of Erastil

Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) evoker

Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue/assassin

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma

Toilday, 3 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

After apprehending the Blacknapes and returning the kidnapped Wiscrani to their proper homes, the Returners each attend to their own matters. Tavo gathers several of his errant followers and begins scouring the southern section of the Rego Cader, looking for undead menace to eradicate. Carlos checks in on Rhialto, the dwarf tinkerer Rolan, and the young Returners holed up in the safehouse at the old Shrine of Aroden. Boecca returns to the safehouse to continue his regular discussions with the vulpinal Jezeltrix. Slavé pays a visit to the nobleman Eirtein Oberigo in the Parego Regicona, where he finds the situation to have deteriorated considerably – the streets of the Regicona are devoid of citizens, and Slavé catches sight of a group of four erinyes devils piloting a barge through the canals of the district, replete with captured Wiscrani elite used as slaves and entertainment. He finds Eirtein holed up in his vira, afraid to venture onto the dangerous streets. Eirtein accompanies Slavé out of the Parego Regicona and into the relative safety of the Adventurer’s Quarter. From Eirtein the Returners learn that the group of Hellknight heretics first mentioned by Paralictor Gonville Chard of the Order of the Rack has a base of operations in the Parego Regicona, mere blocks from Eirtein’s own vira. Eirtein knows nothing of the heretics’ leader, Ara Verennie, but suspects if anything of her is to be found, the heretics’ hideout is where it will be.

The Returners reconvene at the Shrine of Aroden safehouse later that night to discuss their next steps. The Shrine of Aroden: the Returners’ place of refuge since that fateful day they were pursued by Hellknights through the sewers of Westcrown, led by the brash Janiven. Alas, the refuge is attacked in the early morning hours of Wealday. A gang of Council thieves led by two Council captains breaks into the safehouse while most of the Returners are asleep. Carlos, Tavo, Slavé, and Boecca manage to repel the attackers with the help of Jezeltrix and Janiven, but the effect on the mood of the Returners is significant. Efforts to secure the once-safehouse against further incursions begin at once. From one of the captured Council thieves, Boecca learns that they were sent from a Council cell located in the Parego Regicona, led by a particularly foul tiefling torturer named Skarx Veskandi.

Wealday, 4 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

The next morning, the Returners plan their assault of Skarx’s Council house. They find the location with relative ease, based on the captured thief’s directions. Slavé scouts the area invisibly, noting that the stone structure, a former dottari bunker, is windowless and seemingly unguarded. Reporting back to the rest of the group, the Returners hatch a hasty plan. Slavé, still invisible, breaks into the structure’s single door, stepping into a large common room repurposed into a torture chamber. The two Council guards inside leap to attention as the door opens. Boecca, Carlos, and Tavo rush in to attack while the entrance is still open. Just before reaching the door, a small bead comes hurtling from somewhere above the structure, exploding into a sphere of force as it hits the ground and nearly encapsulating Carlos and Tavo within it.

Treasure

· From the Council thieves:

o Potions of cure moderate wounds (12) (worth 1800 gp total)

· From the Council thief captains:

o +2 Studded leather armour (2) (worth 4175 gp total)

o Short swords +1 (2) (worth 2310 gp total)

o Composite short bows +1 (+2 Str) (2) (worth 8525 gp total)

o Human slaying arrows (3) (worth 3433.5 gp total)

o Blue whinnis poison (6 doses) (worth 360 gp total)

Experience

· Council thieves (12): 9600 xp

· Council thief captains (2): 19,200 xp

· Total: 28,800 xp

· Per PC (5): 7200 xp

Fame/Popularity

· Fame Check bonus: +32

· Fame Points Spent (spreading word of the attackers’ defeat): 4

· Fame Points Remaining: 16

· Popularity Points (defeating the attack on the safehouse): 1

· Total Popularity Points: 12

Current XP Total per PC

· Carlos: 186,329 xp

· Slavé: 182,329 xp

· Tavo: 178,884 xp

· Boecca: 169,554 xp

· Alfred: 168,374 xp

Alizander: 150,000 xp

The Twice-Damned Prince - Session 49: Bringing Out the Dead

Dramatis Personae

Alfaren “Alfred” Eredel – Elf transmuter

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer

Boecca – Half-orc inquisitor of Erastil

Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) evoker

Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue/assassin

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma

Moonday, 2 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

Carlos, Alfred, Slavé, Tavo, and Boecca attack Sunset Gate head on, confronting a horde of zombies led by a female devourer. They defeat the undead host, and searching through the devourer’s necromantic lab they discover that her name was Irimeian, a name Alfred recognizes as belonging to a legendary villain that resided in the city decades ago. They also discover a link between Irimeian and a being called Melavengian, another name familiar to the elf wizard. Alfred recalls the name Melavengian from books retrieved from Delvehaven and believes it belongs to a powerful barbed devil cleric of Mammon. They also find several lists of commands, presumably to another group of undead in the area. The commands are fairly generic, consisting of the usual undead activities – kill, terrorize, devour, destroy. Curiously, the name Palaveen appears several times, perhaps another leader. The Returners recall the name Palaveen as the leader of the Bastards of Erebus, the tiefling bandits defeated by the party almost a year ago.

The Returners continue on to Massacre House, which they find deserted. Boecca picks up the faint scent of vampire, but loses it outside of the structure. The party decides to shore up defenses in Massacre House and stay overnight. Slavé teleports back to Taranik House and checks on developments between the Hellknights and dottari. He also heads down to the docks to gather information on the Hellknight heretic, Ara Verennie. He doesn’t find out anything about Verennie, but does hear rumours that some Hellknights have been torturing, beating, and mugging citizens on the streets. Hellknight beatings wouldn’t be unusual, but random muggings and beatings without reason (however justified) are not typical Hellknight behaviour. Perhaps they are being perpetuated by the Hellknight heretics under Verennie.

Back at Massacre House, the group is joined by Alizander, who tells them that the brother of the young actress Calseinica Nemmis tracked him down in the Adventurer’s Quarter and told him that Calseinica has recently gone missing. Calseinica’s brother, Georni, says that the family found several pieces of correspondence between her and the actor Thesing Umbero Ulvauno. They fear that Calseinica has run off with the infamous womanizer, and hope the Returners may be able to help save her.

Toilday, 3 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

The next day, the group decides to take care of the Blacknapes before continuing their search through the northern ruins. Carlos uses divining magic to scry on Midpier Island, the home of the Blacknapes, and acquires a clear picture of the Blacknapes’ hideout. The group teleports directly into the Blacknapes’ midst. Beocca sets Cinnamon upon the shocked cutthroats. The liger is only too pleased to pounce and tear into the thugs. Carlos rolls out the portable hole containing his golem creation, which promptly grabs the ankle of a nearby Blacknape and pulls him into the hole to meet a gruesome end. The remaining Blacknapes are defeated summarily. One of the thugs surrenders, and is only too willing to cooperate under Boecca’s inquisition while Slavé and Tavo aid the few Wiscrani still prisoner to the Blacknapes.

From the captured Blacknape, the party learns that the organization was tasked with gathering funds via kidnapping and extortion by none other than Chammady Drovenge. The Blacknapes began their nefarious activities over a week ago, and have not heard from or seen Chammady since, though they have had some success in their efforts to procure funds. The Drovenge daughter was, of course, very reticent to provide the Blacknapes with an address.

Treasure

· From Irimeian:

o Rod of thunder and lightning (worth 16,500 gp)

o Piece of devourer flesh and bone

· From the Blacknapes

o Potions of cure moderate wounds (6) (worth 900 gp total)

o +1 Studded leather armour (4) (worth 2350 gp total)

o +1 Buckler (4) (worth 2330 total)

· From the Blacknapes’ ill-gotten gains:

o 2600 gp worth of jewelry, silverware, artwork, etc.

o Necklace of adaptation (worth 4500 gp)

Experience

· Fast zombies (20): 4000 xp

· Irimeian, devourer: 12,800 xp

· Blacknapes (4): 6400 xp

· Story Award (breaking up the Blacknape gang and rescuing their prisoners): 9600

· Total: 32,800 xp

· Per PC (5): 6560 xp

Fame/Popularity

· Fame Check bonus: +32

· Fame Points Remaining: 20

· Popularity Points (breaking up the Blacknape gang): 1

· Popularity Points (slaying Irimeian): 1

· Total Popularity Points: 11

Current XP Total per PC

· Carlos: 179,129 xp

· Slavé: 175,129 xp

· Tavo: 171,684 xp

· Alfred: 168,374 xp

· Boecca: 162,354 xp

Alizander: 150,000 xp

The Twice-Damned Prince - Session 48: Playing with Fire

Dramatis Personae

Alfaren “Alfred” Eredel – Elf transmuter

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer

Boecca – Half-orc inquisitor of Erastil

Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) evoker

Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue/assassin

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma

Moonday, 2 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

Events in the city of Westcrown continue to deteriorate the morning of Gozran 2^nd. The Returners discuss whether to pursue the Blacknapes or an alternate course of action, and settle on paying a visit to the Parego Dospera. There they hope to track down the undead marauders that were responsible for destroying both the Order of the Scourge headquarters and the Massacre House that was appropriated by Tavo. Prior to leaving, Carlos tracks down a small quantity of diamond dust for his dwindling spell component pouch, while Boecca continues to train and bond with his newly-acquired animal companion, the sleek Cinnamon, a female liger larger and more muscular than either of its parent kin.

On the way to the ruined northern section of the city, the Returners are approached by a group of distressed citizens who beg their urgent assistance. Following the Wiscrani, the Returners round a bend to face a massive conflagration at the Gargling Gargoyle tavern. The flames threaten several nearby buildings, and the Returners waste little time rushing into action. Carlos flies to the second floor, shouting inside to determine if anyone is inside, while Boecca, Alfred, and Tavo rush into the heat and smoke engulfing the ground floor. Alfred and Boecca suffer the effects of a fiery backdraft within the tavern, and come face-to-face with the obvious cause of the blaze – a spiny hamatula, better known as a barbed devil, flinging jets of fire to and fro.

In the fierce battle that ensues, the Gargling Gargoyle tavern is eventually consumed by the fire. The Returners defeat the hamatula and send it back to Hell. They are lucky to escape the crumbing, burning ruin intact, and help the citizenry douse the fire as it spreads to nearby buildings using fire-quenching cone of cold spells.

Moving on, the Returners arrive at the Parego Dospera in the early afternoon, where they are joined by Alizander, who has been shoring up defenses and guarding his daughter over the last week. The northern ruins were never a hospitable or safe place, but it is clear the region has deteriorated markedly. The place is quiet, silent as the grave. The evidence of undead activity is apparent upon closer inspection – the odd human or tiefling body part, even a half-eaten corpse or two. The Returners head north towards Massacre House. Before reaching the ruined church of Erastil and former Order of the Scourge headquarters, however, Boecca spies movement to the northwest, near the Sunset Gate. Alfred, invisible, flies over and scouts the area. He counts four zombies, fast-moving, not the typical lurching variety, led by a more powerful morhg. Alfred continues past and examines the Sunset Gate itself. Once a major entrance and exit into Westcrown, the Sunset Gate has been barred and unused for decades. It features two squat towers flanking a stone parapet over the bricked-in gate. Alfred uses his detect undead spell to scout the area, scanning each narrow arrow slit as he flies by. He estimates at least 15 zombies within the gatehouse, and detects one significantly stronger aura within the north tower, an overwhelmingly powerful undead presence. Alfred flies back to report his findings to the rest of the group.

Experience

· Barbed devil: 12,800 xp

· Story Award (dousing the fire at the Gargling Gargoyle): 12,800 xp

· Total: 25,600 xp

· Per PC (4): 6400 xp

Fame/Popularity

· Fame Check bonus: +32

· Fame Points Remaining: 20

· Popularity Points (defeating the barbed devil and dousing the fire at the Gargling Gargoyle): 1

· Total Popularity Points: 9

Current XP Total per PC

· Carlos: 172,569 xp

· Slavé: 168,569 xp

· Tavo: 165,124 xp

· Alfred: 161,814 xp

· Boecca: 155,794 xp

· Alizander: 150,000 xp

The Twice-Damned Prince - Session 47: A City in Turmoil

Dramatis Personae

Alfaren “Alfred” Eredel – Elf transmuter

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer

Boecca – Half-orc inquisitor of Erastil

Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) evoker

Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue/assassin

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma

Sunday, 1 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

Alfred Eredel finds Boecca and Jon Disaster as they prepare to dimension door to the rowboats offshore, presumably carrying the kidnappers and their ill-gotten booty. Boecca and Jon disapperate and reappear in the centre of one of the rowboats, sending the craft rocking. Jon loses his balance and falls into the dark waters of the Adivian River, but manages to grab on to the side of the rowboat before sinking beneath the current. Boecca takes on the two thugs in the rowboat himself, while Alfred, flying, skims the surface of the water and throws a colour spray in the faces of the two thugs in the second boat. With surprise on their side, the two Returners and their new companion defeat the kidnappers and rescue the kidnappee, a teenage boy named Roya. After interrogating one of the captured thugs, Boecca learns that they are part of a larger group calling itself the Blacknapes, who have a lair on one of the small docking islands between the mainland and the Parego Regicona island. The Blacknapes have been terrorizing the nearby area for several days, causing discord and kidnapping young men for recruitment and others for ransom, all at the behest of a larger criminal organization promising the Blacknapes riches and power under a new regime.

Further south in the Rego Pena, Carlos and Slavé make preparations in the contest between Carlos’ clay golem and Rolan’s automatons. Slavé, always wary of a trick, manages to obfuscate himself out of the situation and convince Carlos to cast a silent image spell to make it appear as if he is watching the proceedings. While invisible, he sneaks into Rolan’s shop, looking for anything that might deactivate the automatons. Apart from several personal belongings and treasurers, Slavé finds nothing that seems connected to the animated objects.

Meanwhile, Carlos’s clay golem makes short work of Rolan’s automatons. When the dwarf tinkerer attempts to rein his creations in, the automatons disobey his commands and begin to advance out of the barricade and into the surrounding crowds. Carlos and Slavé manage to subdue the automatons. Rolan is beside himself, but Carlos and Slavé eventually manage to console the dwarf. Rolan agrees to remove the barricades and recalibrate all of his automatons. He promises to create two automatons for the Returners as an apology for recent events, and tells them they will be ready by the end of the week.

Experience

· Blacknapes (4): 6400 xp

· Story Award (aiding Rolan the Tinker): 6400 xp

· Total: 12,800 xp

· Per PC (4): 3200 xp

Fame/Popularity

· Fame Check bonus: +32

· Fame Points Spent (curing Rolan of his delusions and gaining his help): 2

· Fame Points Remaining: 20

· Popularity Points (curing Rolan of his delusions and gaining his help): 1

· Total Popularity Points: 8

Current XP Total per PC

· Slavé: 168,569 xp

· Carlos: 166,169 xp

· Tavo: 158,724 xp

· Alfred: 155,414 xp

· Boecca: 149,394 xp

· Alizander: 127,784 xp

The Twice-Damned Prince - Session 46: When you stare into the abyss....

Dramatis Personae

Alfaren “Alfred” Eredel – Elf transmuter

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer

Boecca – Half-orc inquisitor of Erastil

Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) evoker

Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue/assassin

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma

Sunday, 1 Gozran, 4709 A.R.

In Guxer Ciucci, the Returners find a man broken and destroyed. Unkempt, dirty, dressed in a sweat and urine-soaked suit of padded armour, Guxer glares at the party through a cracked-open door. Paranoid and suspicious, Guxer accuses the Returners of coming to kill him, sent by his treacherous brother Arten to silence him. Much as they try, the Returners have to resort to magic to calm Guxer to the point where he lets them inside his room. Through Boecca’s psychoemotional spells, Slavé’s skillful diplomacy, and Tavo’s curative magic, the Returners finally succeed in having a conversation with Guxer. The story he relates is one of betrayal and woe.

Between bouts of sobbing and paranoid fits, the Returners learn that Guxer found his wife Cecelly dead and beaten, his brother Arten standing over her covered in blood. Arten escaped the scene before Guxer could restrain him. In the week since, the household has descended further into despair. Guxer’s daughter Delilee has revealed that Arten seduced and ravished her several times in the weeks before murdering her mother, and Guxer swears that his dead wife has been visiting him in the dark of night. As he speaks of his dead wife, Guxer lapses back into a paranoid state.

The party finds his daughter Delilee in another room down the hall. Her room smells strongly of lilac perfume, but Boecca recognizes another scent, obscured by the lilac. He can’t identify the scent, but can tell that it is coming from Delilee herself and that it is decidedly not human in nature. As the Returners investigate further, Delilee’s true nature eventually reveals itself, and she sheds her human form to reveal a lithe, pale-skinned alien form – a doppleganger that has taken the shape of Guxer’s daughter. The doppleganger is overwhelmed by the Returners’ greater numbers, and the party learns that Zeravaxus, as the creature is called, murdered Delilee months ago and has been using her form to sow grief and madness in the Ciucci family ever since, including murdering Cecelly Ciucci in the shape of Guxer’s brother Arten.

The Returners put an end to the psychopathic doppleganger and continue trying to cure Guxer of his paranoid delusions. They manage to track Arten Ciucci down in a hovel in Magnimar; using teleportation magic they return the disgraced brother to the family. Tavo finds the body of Cecelly Ciucci and brings her back to life with powerful resurrection magic. They discover the body of Delilee in the crypt under the house, but are unable to bring her back due to the age of the corpse. Cecelly Ciucci takes control of the situation and gives the Returners her thanks; she promises all the resources necessary if the Returners can find a way to bring Delilee back to the family.

Later that evening, Boecca witnesses a gang of thugs abduct an individual from a darkened alley near the Adventurer’s Quarter. He tracks the gang to the dockyards where he is accosted by a swarthy dockworker named Jon Disaster. Jon tells Boecca that the men belong to a gang calling themselves the Blacknapes living on a small island in the Adivian River. Boecca convinces Jon to accompany him and take care of the thugs.

Meanwhile, Carlos learns from Rhialto that an old friend, the dwarf tinkerer Rolan, has been causing a scene in the Rego Pena. Carlos, Slavé, and Tavo head to the district and find Rolan has barricaded the streets around his shop, and has his mechanical automatons patrolling the area, knocking intruders senseless. The Returners confront the eccentric dwarf and attempt to appeal to his sense of community, pointing out that his creations have been causing havoc among the neighbours. Rolan is resistant at first, insisting that his automatons are cleaning up the city as it falls into chaos, but does concede that several of his creations have acted out of turn. He agrees to pit his automatons against Carlos’ clay golem in a competition, and promises to scale back the barricades and recalibrate his creations if the golem wins.

Treasure

· From Zeravaxus, doppleganger

o +2 Buckler (worth 2082.5 gp)

o Ring of protection +1 (worth 1000 gp)

Experience

· Zeravaxus, doppleganger: 12,800 xp

· Story Award (saving Guxer Ciucci and convincing the Ciuccis and Mhartis to work together): 12,800 xp

· Story Award (raising Cecelly Ciucci): 9600 xp

· Story Award (exonerating Arten Ciucci): 6400 xp

· Total: 41,600 xp

· Per PC (4): 10,400 xp

Fame/Popularity

· Fame Check bonus: +32

· Fame Points Spent (securing the deal between the Ciucci and Mhartis families): 5

· Fame Points Remaining: 22

· Popularity Points (recruiting the Ciucci family): 2

· Total Popularity Points: 7

Current XP Total per PC

· Slavé: 165,369 xp

· Carlos: 162,969 xp

· Alfred: 152,214 xp

· Tavo: 158,724 xp

· Boecca: 146,194 xp

· Alizander: 127,784 xp