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 Sixfold Trial - Session 10: The Cornucopia

Dramatis Personae

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue/barbarian
Slavé – Tiefling (disguised as a human named Jencen) rogue

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue

Wealday, 28 Neth, 4708 A.R.

Janiven and Arael provide the group with several healing and restorative potions, unsure of what they might face if they are successful in gaining entry into the Asmodean Knot while at the Lord-Mayor’s party.

Alizander, Carlos, Nagiphax, Slavé (as Jencen), Tavo, Vaeden, and the rest of the main players in The Six Trials of Larazod arrive at the Lord-Mayor’s party in full costume, and are ushered into the monstrous villa’s main hall, where they are introduced to the Wiscrani elite. The party – called The Cornucopia – unfolds in a series of six decadent courses, featuring ever-more exotic dishes and increasingly intoxicating wines and spirits. The group trades gossip with several of Westcrown’s most decorated citizens, including members of the nobility (the shrewd Eirtein Oberigo, the lush Sascar Tilernos, and the beautiful but dangerous-looking Chammady Drovenge), General Vourne (the Commander of the Gemcrown Fleet, based out of Egorian), Crosael Rasdovain (the Lord-Mayor’s most knowledgeable majordomo) and the Lord-Mayor Aberian Arvanxi himself. From these individuals the party learns several important pieces of information, including:

· that the rumours of the Lord-Mayor’s villa being powered by an imprisoned pit fiend in the dungeons below the manor (the so-called Nessian Spiral) are purportedly true, and that the pit fiend was a gift from House Thrune to the first Lord-Mayor (of the Thrune-era) 70 years ago;

· that the Lord-Mayor is concerned by the minor glitches and troubles he has been experiencing with the powered lights, running hot water, and fireplaces in his villa of late;

· that the wine and narcotics being served at the party are especially potent and that if they wish to remain sensible by the party’s end they should pace themselves and eat with caution;

· that Crosael is concerned about one of the newer hires – a servant by the name of Sian who’s been missing for two days now along with a valuable bust of Asmodeus;

· that the Asmodean Knot is said to be a pocket dimension that is accessible from a special mirror hidden somewhere in the house, and that it is likely guarded by devils and shadowy undead; and

· that Sascar believes the stories that Aberian Arvanxi has a sick, deformed son locked in the attic.

As the 40 or so patrons of the Cornucopia partake of the final course and reach a state of orgiastic, inebriated oblivion, the Returners head surreptitiously upstairs and begin looking for the entrance to the Asmodean Knot (Vaeden ensures that Calseinica, his costar in The Six Trials of Larazod, is safely asleep in her room before heading out). It doesn’t take them long to find the special mirror located in a secret room in the attic. Merely touching the metallic surface of the mirrors whisks the party-members into a long, corridor paneled in an unusual, polished grey wood – the entrance to the Asmodean Knot. At their feet in the hallway is the corpse of what appears to be an elven man wearing old, tattered wizarding robes. Alizander picks up the dead elf's backpack and begins rooting through it for clues and information.

Treasure

· Potions of Cure Serious Wounds (6) – from Janiven and Arael

· Potions of Lesser Restoration (6) – from Janiven and Arael

· Backpack (unidentified, moderate conjuration) – from dead elf

· Pearl (unidentified, strong transmutation) – from dead elf

· Scrolls (5 – unidentified, all radiate necromancy) – from dead elf

· Wand (unidentified, moderate conjuration) – from dead elf

· Tattered parchment (non-magical, not yet examined) – from dead elf

Experience Awards

· Learning Gossip (Lord-Mayor Aberian Arvanxi) – 800 xp

· Learning Gossip (Crosael Simiin Radovain) – 800 xp

· Learning Gossip (General Vourne) – 800 xp

· Learning Gossip (Eirtein Oberigo) – 800 xp

· Learning Gossip (Sascar Tilernos) – 800 xp

· Finding entrance to the Asmodean Knot – 3400 xp

· Total – 7400 xp

· Per PC (6) – 1200 xp

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 9)

· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 9655 xp each

· Nagiphax – 9135 xp

· Tavo – 9000 xp

· Croso, Orem – 2875 xp

· Total Current Fame Points - 8

The Sixfold Trial - Session 9: The Six Trials of Larazod

Dramatis Personae

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue
Slavé – Tiefling (appears human) rogue

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue

Moonday, 26 Neth, 4708 A.R.

The actors are paraded through the streets of Westcrown, from the Parego Spera to a barge on the eastern shore which ferries them across the River Adivian to the Parego Regicona, the fortress island that houses the nobles and elite of Wiscrani society.

The troupe is transported with much fanfare to the Nightshade Theatre, a colossal theatre dressed in Egorian black and red; Lord-Mayor Arvanxi’s most recent architectural paean in honour of excess and extravagance. At four o’clock sharp, Robahl Nonon welcomes the audience, Visbarontess Delour sings an aria introducing the Six Trials of Larazod, and the curtain rises.

The actors proceed through the seven acts of the play, enduring ever more dangerous and deadly trials as the show progresses. The plot and background of the play are as follows:

Larazod receives a vision from Asmodeus in which the dark god unveils a prominent Chelish magistrate—the sinister Paraduke Montigny Haanderthan – as a traitor to Cheliax, who has compacted with demonic powers and plans to bring the worship of Asmodeus to a sharp and brutal end. Burning with unholy justice and diabolical purpose, Larazod, along with his stalwart companions, sets out to expose the highly placed traitor Haanderthan. They are greatly overmatched, as Larazod is a minor scion of a piddling noble house whose influence lies tattered in the wake of Thrune's seizure of power in Cheliax. Undaunted, Larazod vows a smoldering blood oath to Asmodeus to see the traitor fall before Haanderthan's actions bring the dark glory of Cheliax low.

Larazod's actions swiftly bring him to the attention of the Paraduke, who has the young tiefling scooped up in the crushing grasp of the law and brought before his dark tribunal for questioning. There, a dire confrontation ensues wherein Larazod reveals his vision and heaps accusations upon Haanderthan in full view of a well-attended tribunal session. Outrage and scandal threaten to topple the order of things, and Larazod's enemies grow in number. Only one high-placed member of the tribunal takes his part—a beautiful daughter of House Sarini and rival of Haanderthan named Ilsandra. A sultry love affair between Ilsandra and Larazod develops as the pair seeks to topple the treacherous Haanderthan.

Haanderthan, using the awesome influence granted a man of his stature, forces Larazod to undergo six trials to prove the truth of his accusations, stating, "If Asmodeus truly granted you this vision, then his almighty black hand shall shield you from dismemberment and disembowelment in the trials we've planned. Surely your faith does not waver?" Larazod agrees to the trials, blasting the magistrate with unholy oaths to see his foolish plans undone.

The trials follow. Combat with foul beasts and grievous tortures leaves Larazod and his companions brutally maimed both in body and soul. At its climax, though, Larazod emerges unharmed and is vindicated as Asmodeus himself drags the nefarious magistrate to Hell.

The party survives the deadly play – suffering through torture and self-mutilation, immersion within an acid-filled statue of a vast serpent, and battle with demon-spawn and skeletal beasts – to the great amusement of Lord-Mayor Aberian Arvanxi and his fawning audience of nobles. Arvanxi thanks the troupe before their exit, and tells them to expect formal invitations to a party to celebrate the success of the once-banned play at his villa in the coming days. The troupe makes its way back to the Limehouse theatre in the Spera, arriving soon before nightfall. Thesing leaves early (clearly perturbed by the party’s popularity), and Delour makes her exit excusing her need for beauty rest. After several bottles of Robahl’s best vintage, Vaeden and Calseinica explore their budding relationship further. The other party members celebrate the success of the play well into the early morning hours, returning to the Adventurers’ Quarter only after the sun has risen over Westcrown once more.

Treasure

· Payment after completing the Six Trials of Larazod - 1500 gp per PC

Experience Awards

· Act II – Trial by Torture - 800 xp

· Act III – Trial by Pleasure - 1200 xp

· Act IV – Trial in the Belly of the Beast - 1200 xp

· Act V – The Birthing Trial (5 lemures) - 2000 xp

· Act VI – Trial by Combat and Love (2 troll skeletons) - 1600 xp

· Story Award (surviving the Six Trials of Larazod) - 4000 xp

· Total - 10,800 xp

· Per PC (6) - 1800 xp

· Fame Points (based on Popularity points garnered) - 3

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 9)

· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 8455 xp each

· Nagiphax – 7935 xp

· Tavo – 7795 xp

· Croso, Orem – 2875 xp

· Total Current Fame Points - 8