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 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

Council of Thieves, Part 2: The Sixfold Trial - Session 8: The Shadows Lengthen

Dramatis Personae

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer – works and performs at Cayden’s Blessing
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard – works at Rhialto’s Tonics and Talismans
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue – works at the Beer Golem Tavern
Slavé – Tiefling (appears human) rogue – detective in dottari employ

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma – employed as a mortician and coroner
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue – former nobleman, often seen at Alfred’s Smithy

Fireday, 27 Rova, to Starday, 17 Neth, 4708 A.R. (2 months)

The party members return to their normal lives for a time. Tavo begins to repair and repurpose the ruined church of Erastil in the northern ruins, contending with squators, thieves, and the occasional bold goblin raid. Slavé attempts to curry influence with his dottari superiors in an attempt to increase his rank within the organization. Nagiphax, Alizander, and Carlos continue their work at the Beer Golem tavern, Cayden’s Blessing, and Rhialto’s Tonics and Talismans, respectively. Vaeden continues with his studies on the shadow creatures plaguing Westcrown, waiting for the opportune time to face one of the creatures in the dead of night.

Tales of the Returners exploits and success against the Bastards of Erebus grinds through the Westcrown rumour mill and becomes the topic of discussion in smoky taprooms and perfumed parlours from the Rego Scripa to the Regicona. As the weeks pass into months, talk of the Returners wanes to an occasional murmer, and Janiven and Arael begin meeting with the group again at the shrine to Aroden, under the shadow of the Arodennama.

Sunday, 18 Neth, 4708 A.R.

Alizander receives a visit from Ailyn Ghontasavos, the Pathfinder Society member who suggested Alizander meet with Janiven on that fateful afternoon, months ago. Ailyn tells Alizander that she has been in Westcrown studying the abandoned Pathfinder lodge of Delvehaven, and that she believes that the key to stopping the shadow beasts stalking the night streets lies within the lodge. She suggests that they meet with Arael, Janiven and the rest of the Returners before relating her tale. At the shrine of Aroden, Ailyn tells her story to the group:

“In late 4605, a Pathfinder named Donatalus Bisby returned to Westcrown from a mission to the Mwangi Expanse – a mission previously believed to have been lost. Bisby’s unexpected return brought much celebration, despite the fact that of the dozens of Amber Privateers who traveled with him to the southern jungles, only he and his chronicler, the half-elf Ilnerik Sivanshin, had returned. Word soon spread that Bisby’s journals would revolutionize what was known about certain lost tribes of the Mwangi, and that he brought back with him a potent artifact. Yet before his journals could be published, the god Aroden died.

“Upon Aroden’s death, panic seized Cheliax. Details of what happened in Delvehaven are sparse, but it seems that the majority of the Pathfinders stationed in Westcrown – Bisby included – perished in the riots and mayhem. Worse, his journal and all of Delvehaven’s artifacts were cut off from the society for over thirty years. In 4674, many years after House Thrune seized control of Cheliax, they made a great show of reopening Delvehaven and inviting a select few Pathfinders back to run the lodge – but those choices were not the Grand Lodge’s to make. The House of Thrune only agreed to Delvehaven’s reopening if Chelish Pathfinders of their choosing were to manage the site, and the Society reluctantly agreed to the conditions. Securing an accurate list of what had and hadn’t survived in Delvehaven’s vaults was a political nightmare – the House of Thrune and their pet Pathfinders reported that nothing of value remained, but they were resistant to letting anyone from outside make their own inventory and exploration of the ruins. To the public, the lodge seemed to be run by the Society, but in truth we have very little idea exactly what was going on in Delvehaven during those years. The whole situation seemed to be coming to a head, with a full-on clash between House Thrune and the Society imminent, but as things worked out, Delvehaven didn’t remain under Thrune’s control for long. In 4676, something happened in Delvehaven that caused the deaths of all the Thrune Pathfinders and its subsequent sealing by the government itself. The House of Thrune has to this date refused to open Delvehaven or allow the society access to the lodge, and various conflicts with the Aspis Consortium and the House of Thrune in other parts of Cheliax have effectively distracted us from Delvehaven’s legacy. General consensus in the Society today is that Thrune looted Delvehaven to the root and that nothing of value remains within.

“But I’m not so sure. Over the past several months I’ve grown more and more intrigued by the unexplained mysteries of exactly what happened in Delvehaven. Of perhaps more interest to you and your friends, the group you call the Returners, is that I’ve learned a bit about the artifact Bisby returned with, an artifact that was in Delvehaven at the time of Aroden’s death and that hasn’t been seen since. Notes on this artifact are vague, alas, but from an initial report sent from Delvehaven just before Aroden’s death, it would appear that the artifact had ties to a dualistic religion of light and shadow. The fact that it was only a few weeks after the House of Thrune closed up Delvehaven that the shadow beasts first appeared in Westcrown can’t be a coincidence. I suspect they found this artifact in Delvehaven, but in so doing triggered the lodge’s defenses and caused something. I’m not saying that the source of the shadow beasts is hidden in Delvehaven – but in my experience, there are no coincidences.”

“Of course, there remains the issue of getting into the lodge. My studies in the libraries of Skyreach in the Great Lodge in Absalom have revealed that responsibility for guarding the site of Devlvehaven has been passed from the House of the Thrune to the mayoral office. Worse, the fact that the House of Thrune has been engaged in an act of rewriting history since its rise to power means that reliable information about Delvehaven has become incredibly scarce. I know that there are several powerful magical locks and wards on the lodge placed there by House Thrune to prevent entry, and my research has shown that keys to the locks and documentation relating to those wards exist in only one place – Aberian’s Folly, the palatial estate of Lord-Mayor Aberian Arvanxi. Further, the House of Thrune’s devotion to order and tradition all but ensures that these keys and documents are kept in a complex, twelve-sided puzzle-box container known as a Chelish Crux, and that if it has been secured anywhere within Aberian’s Folly, it is likely to lie within the manor’s vault – a place known as the Asmodean Knot. Unfortunately, my research hit a dead end after that, and regardless, I am at a loss at how to infiltrate the Lord-Mayor’s manor without attracting undue attention.”

Most of the group is eager to do something about the shadow menace, even if armed with such fragile information. Several of the Returners recall seeing posters around the city advertising a casting call for actors in the Six Trials of Larazod, a notorious piece of Theatre Mortressci – plays where not only the cast’s reputations, but their very lives, are on the line during each performance – being produced by the Lord-Mayor himself. The Lord-Mayor’s love of theatre and opera is well-known throughout the city, and he is credited with the construction of many new and extravagant opera houses (all in the Asmodean black and red style popular in the capital city of Egorian), in addition to the introduction of progressively more violent and questionable entertainments. Lord-Mayor Aberian Arvanxi always invites his cast back to his villa for revelry following a production’s premier, parties that sometimes last for days, with the revelers lost in a drug- and orgy-induced haze – surely enough time to explore the mansion, find the Asmodean Knot, and retrieve the Chelish Crux without anyone – the Lord-Mayor included – being the wiser. The party agrees to audition for the play in the hopes of getting invited into the manor.

Moonday, 19 Neth, to Sunday, 25 Neth, 4708 A.R.

The party members audition for the play the following day under the severe eye and scathing insults of Robahl Nonon – the play’s director – a short and stout man sporting a silver-rimmed monocle. Each of the party members succeeds in obtaining a part in The Six Trials of Larazod. Vaeden takes the part of Tybain, the bumbling paladin of Aroden and comrade of Larazod. Slavé plays Drovalid, the torturer who has a change of heart and joins Larazod’s side. Tavo plays Dentris, the sharp-tongued wizard who has a knack for biting insults and a quick wit, who acts almost as a father figure to Larazod. Nagiphax takes the part of Ilsandra, the seductive erinyes and member of the judging Council who abandons her post in her lust for Larazod. Carlos the half-orc wizard is cast as Monris Blackward, a fiendish dwarf with blood-red eyes who frequently punctuates dramatic scenes in the play with blasts from his bagpipes. The role of Larazod, the tiefling accused of cavorting with demons, goes to Alizander. The party rehearses over the next week with their fellow actors: the insufferable Thesing Umbero Ulvauno, playing the part of the Magistrate Maleficarum – Montigny Haanderthan; the larger-than-life diva Visbarontess Delour Aulamaxa, the narrator and one-woman chorus of the play; the rising starlet Calseinica Nymmis, playing Ilsandra’s twin erinyes sister, Telphousia; and the stagehand and illusion-crafter, Millech the Hump. After suffering through the admonitions of Robahl Nonon, the thinly veiled threats and insults of Thesing, and the not-so-thinly-veiled contempt of Delour towards Calseinica, the cast gives a dress rehearsal of the play at the Limehouse Theatre near their own Adventurers’ Quarter to a crowd of rough and rowdy locals. Apart from a minor incident with a donkey, the dress rehearsal is a resounding success, and the cast is in high spirits for the premier of the original, uncut version of The Six Trials of Larazod to be held tomorrow night at the Nightshade Theatre in the noble district of the Regicona. That is, of course, until Thesing reminds them that The Six Trials of Larazod was banned after its first, and only, performance 200 years ago, and that it’s earned a reputation as the deadliest of the so-called “murderplays”.

Experience Awards

· Story Award (minimum 15 in base Popularity) - 900 xp

· Story Award (befriending Millech the Hump – Carlos) - 600 xp

· Story Award (befriending Calseinica – Vaeden) - 400 xp

· Story Award (befriending Delour – Slavé) - 600 xp

· Story Award (successful casting calls) - 2400 xp

· Story Award (dress rehearsal) - 3500 xp

· Total - 8400 xp

· Per PC (6) - 1400 xp

Frienship Benefits

· Millech the Hump – Non-offensive magical assistance during performance at the Nightshade Theatre (Carlos)

· Calseinica - +2 morale bonus on all skill checks during performance at the Nightshade Theatre (Vaeden)

· Delour – can name drop Delour Aulamaxa 1/day to receive a 20% price reduction on any item up to 500 gp (subject to GM discretion) (Slavé)

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 8)

· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 6655 xp each

· Nagiphax – 6135 xp

· Tavo – 5995 xp

· Croso, Orem – 2875 xp

The Bastards of Erebus - Session 4: The Purloined Press

Dramatis Personae

Alizander - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Croso Galen - Human fighter
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue
Orem "The Ser" Galt - Human (Chelish/Kellid) fighter (formerly in the service of Iomedae)
Slavé – Tiefling (appears human) rogue
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue

Moonday, 9 Rova, 4708 A.R.

Vaeden, Croso, and Oren strip the Hellknight Signifier of his full plate armour while the other party members race back towards Westcrown. Slavé speaks to Arael during the ride and asks how he came to form the revolutionary group. They eventually meet with Janiven and the other Returners on the road. At Gorvio’s insistence the party heads to Jacovo’s stables to return the horses upon reaching the city, while Arael and Janiven head straight for the Returners’ safehouse.

At the stables Alizander, Nagiphax, and Carlos have an altercation with Thesing Umbero Ulvauno, a moderately famous actor and tenor, who they find arguing with Jacovo over the horses the party borrowed earlier that morning. Carlos and Alizander flatter Thesing while Nagiphax apologizes for not returning the horses in time, which appears to mollify the egotistical actor. Nagiphax, in particular, receives special attention from the Thesing, who seems fascinated by the cyclops-kin unusual but fetching appearance. The three PCs attend Thesing’s performance of The Elopement of the Dowager Princess later that evening, which suffers a minor setback when one of Jacovo’s horses kicks an actor on stage and interrupts Thesing’s solo aria.

Meanwhile, Vaeden, Croso, and Oren return to Westcrown with the stolen Hellknight armour, which they decide to bury about a mile west of the city. The three PCs head to the safehouse and speak to Arael and the Returners. They are eventually joined by the rest of the party, including Slavé. The Returners celebrate Arael’s rescue and talk about what their next step might be. The rise in banditry both on the roads leading to the city and within Westcrown is discussed. Sclavo tells the group about an abandoned printing press that he has learned is stored in a dottari warehouse near Taranik House, the Order of the Rack compound. The printing press is said to be a former government press that includes the stamp of Aroden, marking anything printed as official government copy. Seeing an opportunity to spread Returner propaganda under an official guise, the party decides to mount an operation to retrieve the printing press the following night. Sclavo provides the party with a scroll of shrink item to facilitate removal of the press.

Carlos, Vaeden, and Alizander each fall ill during the evening. Arael examines them and asks them about their activities the day before, suggesting that they may have contracted some ill humours while escaping the Hellknights in the sewers. Carlos and Vaeden manage to fight off the worst effects of the illness, but Alizander’s fever worsens to the point of nausea and dizzy spells.

Toilday, 10 Rova, 4708 A.R.

Slavé returns to the dottari guardpost in the Adventurers’ Quarter in the morning and, using his dottari identification, performs reconnaissance at the warehouse containing the printing press. He convinces the guards to let him into the facility and takes account of the press’s location and the number of dottari that guard the warehouse during the day and night. Slavé feigns interest in another crate in the warehouse before leaving and heading to the safehouse to inform the rest of the group of the guard complement and building layout.

That night, the party mounts a stealth operation at the warehouse. Carlos and Alizander succeed in rendering two of the dottari and their guard dogs unconscious with sleep and colour spray spells, while Nagiphax and Vaeden use their saps to good effect on the other two dottari. Carlos successfully shrinks the press while Nagiphax breaks into several of the crates to make the break-in appear to be a random robbery. She examines some of the furniture held in the crate that Slavé showed interest in while scoping the place out earlier in the day and happens upon a pouch of 100 gp hidden within the upholstery of one of the chairs. The party returns to the Returners’ Safehouse with the invaluable printing press.

Treasure

· 100 gp

· De-commissioned printing press

Experience Awards

· Story Award (horse drama) - 1580 xp

· Dottari guards (4) - 540 xp

· Guard dogs (2) - 400 xp

· Story Award (the purloined press) - 2100 xp

· Total - 4620 xp

· Per PC (7) - 660 xp

· Fame Points (the purloined press) - 1 Fame Point

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 4)

· Alizander, Carlos, Croso, Orem, Slavé, Vaeden – 2875 xp each

· Nagiphax – 2355 xp

· Tavo – 2215 xp