Thursday, April 27, 2006

Black Trade in the Undercity

Session 109

Characters: Julian, Terus, Cael, Anthony, Grim, Balin.

NPCs: 2 Blinking Jaguars, Knights of the Sheild wizard, Knights of the Sheild guards, Edirra Swiftstar the Harper Agent, 3 Harper Strikers, Sergeant Shelden of the Cleansing Flame (Markets), Sergeant Clough of the Cleansing Flame (Fortress), Constal Joseph "Plaguebane" Throffson, Lobi-Tongo witness (Wainwrights), 4 Shar sewer guards.

E 26 Alturiak 1374 - L 26 Alturiak 1374

2125 XP

Although the other half of the party had recently learned of the Zhent and Harper presence within Zaz, Julian and Terus moved forward with their plan to investigate the inner-workings of the Knights of the Sheild mercantile guild. Julian managed to Dispel the magical aura within the greenish ink he had been covered in, and then the two thieves proceeded to Spiderclimb up the walls of the Knights of the Sheild guildhall. Arriving on the upper level they found the mansion to be largely cleared out. Unlit hallways led to empty rooms, however in the back of the upper level they found two large double doors and signs of movement from within. The two blinked into the master bedroom suspecting to find Fitch Creighton himself stirring, however all they found were two Blinking Jaguars. Even with the magical collars the Blinking Jaguars standed no chance for the two experienced thieves. Another door swung open as a Guildmage casted Dimensional Anchor upon Julian. Terus and Julian ferociously attacked however, the Guildmage was able to escape with a well-timed Teleport.

Somewhat shaken, the two moved with haste down the stairs and subdued a couple of un-prepared Guild guardsman. They reached the entrance to the underground level of the guildhall and recomposed themselves. Now invisible, and moving with great care, the two thieves pushed downward through the basement levels. Julian found a very large trap door, leading down to an obviously tunneled out space. These dark caverns led them deeper below the city, and they found much of the Guildhall’s missing furnishings. In addition, the two found evidence of continued sea trade even after the quarantine had been initiated 4 days ago. A personal letter to the Knights of the Sheild dockmaster was signed just 1 day ago under the name Cutlass. As they moved farther down these deep caverns they reached a great underground sea port. Being actively operated by numerous Knights of the Shield ship workers. A trade ship was just leaving the horizon under black sails as the rocky sea doors closed with silent mechanics. Clearly, the Knights of the Shield were remaining active in illegal operations.

Meanwhile, the party continued to converse with Edirra the Harper and learned more of her recent actions in the Zhent organization. She told the party of two suspicious locations in the Zaz sewer system that might offer more knowledge of what has been happening. The party agreed that the best option would be to act as if this Zhent cell had destroyed itself from within so that the Harper presence would not be expected. They then arranged for Edirra and the remaining 3 Harper Strikers to stay with the halfling Umarra Greypebble in the southern Wainwrights. After that the party moved towards the Fortress of the Faithful to re-join Julian, Samael, and Terus.

With the dew day’s sun rising quickly, the party joined up in front of the Fortress and found quite a disturbing sight. Sergant Shelden of the Fortress District informed the party that during the night a lynch mob of Lobi-Tongo converts had hung 3 Knights of the Cleansing Flame. In response for the terroristic action, Constal Throffson had ordered the public hangings of all those involved. Now almost 20 Zaz citizens hanged from the streetlights along the Fortress. Throffson personally met with the party and told them of the dire situation and the desperate need for the populace to fear instigating more violence and that he had imprisoned the Lobi-Tongo leaders for interrogation proceedings. The party decided they must quickly investigate the two suspicious locations that Edirra had told them of before other Zhent cells figured out theirs had been compromised.

With the need for quickness the party decided it would be best to Teleport through the other quarantine zones directly to the Wainwrights to investigate the first underground location. Terus led them with the Teleportation however, they were seen by at least one Lobi-Tongo convert whom promptly told a guard post of other Lobi-Tongos. Nonetheless, the party continued on and entered the sewer system. Although they had been in the bloody streets of Zaz for the past 4 days the sewers showed more blood and death than they could have imagined. The party moved through the winding Wainwrights sewers for a while, and reached a fairly large secret door that Julian disabled. Inside they found relatively clean sewers, with no signs of blood or dead bodies. Whoever had been managing the sewer entrances above was doing an especially good job in this area.

Julian and Terus stealthily moved ahead of the party and were able to knock unconscious 4 sewer guardsman fully covered in black protective clothing. Their uniform bore the symbol of Shar, as well as another symbol, which was most likely, some secretive mercantile guild. The remaining party members disguised themselves in the black sewer guard uniforms and moved toward some of the louder areas of these clean sewers. They arrived at a massive underground room where many tributaries of sewer water joined and left the city. The great room was filled with wagons and robed merchants actively trading many goods including, wild animals, precious metals, food, and slaves. The merchants payed homage to a large altar to Shar as their caravans arrived and left from a large underground tunnel leaving the city to the southwest. Disgusted with their sight the party could find no evidence of official Zhent activity, although undercover Zhent agents could still be operating under the guises of merchants and guardsman. They left the protected sewers and moved underground towards the Markets District to investigate the second suspicious location Edirra had described.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Terror in Zaz's Shadows

Session 108

Characters: Julian, Samael, Randal, Anthony, Grim, Balin, Cael.

NPCs: Sergeant Moran of the Cleansing Flame (Wainwrights), Constal Joseph Throffson, Bindery District Guardsman, Miss Stocks the gnomish merchant, Markets District Guardsman, Lobi-Tongo missionaries (Markets), Mr. Maelos the gnomish merchant, 2 guard dogs, 12 Sons of Tethyr, Alaundo Birdsong, Dyadin Rycigna, Apthrorus the Mystic Theurge of Mystra, Fitch Creighton the Knights of the Shield merchant, 4 Converted Lobi-Tongo guardsman (Ships), 2 Lobi-Tongo missionaries, Umarah Greypebble the halfling thief, Shadow Theives Assassin, Lord Bartaes (Gardens), Edirra Swiftstar the Harper Agent, 6 Harper Strikers, 8 Zhent Agents (Karlaggar Guardsman).

M 25 Alturiak 1374 - E 26 Alturiak 1374

6600 XP

After the party's meeting with Throffson and the Cleansing Flame reinforcements they found another abandoned home in the Wainwrights to finish their rest. After 8 hours with the midday sun high in the sky the party traveled towards the Bindery District. On the way they noticed the many dwellings which had been looted in the Wainwrights, however in the Bindery it was a different scene. Though the grassy streets of the Bindery were dead with Blight, many surviving gnomes and halflings worked with one another under the direction of the Cleansing Flame. Blighted trees were cut down and used to burn the bodies of the dead. At the Maelos-Stocks Alliance grain mill Anthony met with Miss Stocks while the other members stayed outside. Miss Stocks was exhausted and told Anthony that after they had left two days ago there had been two massive thefts comprising the entire mill's grain supply. She urged him to seek out her partner Mr. Maelos in the Markets District to check on their guild's other major holding. Without question, Anthony left and the party made full haste towards the Markets.

In the familiar Markets District the party traveled to the second Maelos-Stocks Alliance mill and found a large protest underway from the hungry citizens of the quarantined district. Lobi-Tongo missionaries had set up drum circles around the protest and were drawing increasing numbers of interested people to their conversion rituals. Those with the plague, Balin, Julian, Samael, and Grim decided it would not be wise to proceed with the dense people nearby. Anthony, Randal, and Cael however, moved forward through the crowd. Reaching the front Randal addressed the angry masses and calmed them with the hopes that through their diplomacy a more humane plan of action could be reached. Then Anthony informed the guards above that they were the emissaries of Justice for Zaz and demanded to speak with Mr. Maelos. They climbed a long rope ladder and were introduced to a very busy Mr. Maelos. He told the party that it was true he had hoarded grain in the initial days, however as of last night his tower was also raided and three of his guards were murdered. When the three emissaries investigated they interrogated a remaining guard that admitted to his cowardice of not raising the alarm. Frustrated and at a dead end, they left the Mr. Maelos' tower after Cael bartered for some food at a quite inflated rate.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party had been moving through the streets keeping eyes on the Lobi-Tongo, when Balin saw some suspicious movement out of the corner of his eye. The four moved to the back of a boarded-up blacksmith's shop and listened finding additional signs of people within. Julian and Samael set off the senses of two large guard dogs and they immediately Blinked into the rear shop dodging the bites from the angry dogs. Then they rushed forward and found themselves in a cramped space with 12 armed civilians wearing red sashes. After announcing that they were emissaries of Justice the rest of the party moved in and surrounded the building. The small militia announced themselves as the Sons of Tethyr, a racist organization directed towards the killing of foreigners that they believed were responsible for the plague of Bloodfever. While Julian and Samael initially sympathized with them, it was Grim who insisted they be brought to justice and called immediately for the Knights of the Cleansing Flame. The Sons of Tethyr were promptly arrested and taken back to the Fortress for further questioning.

The party fully met up after these incidents and decided it would be wise to continue their investigation of the arcane spellcasters responsible for the terrible traps they had seen previously. They moved north through the Markets and reached the oddly shaped structure known as Alaundo's Books. The once beautiful Calishite glasswork had been smashed through and boarded up, and there was no initial answer at the door. After continued knocking Alaundo answered from behind and refused to open up to a group of plague-ridden individuals. Much diplomacy and forceful speak transpired and finally, they had reached an accord. Alaundo opened his door from afar and casted a single quick spell to slam it back shut. Luckily, Grim was able to perceive the magical signature of this spell and knew Alaundo was not to blame for the traps. Then they traveled to the Carpets District where they sought out the magical signature of Dyadin Rycigna the owner of the opulent Hanging Gardens Tavern. They found the older Dyadin to be helpful and were able to clear his name of any wrong doing. With the daylight falling quickly in the west, the party traveled back to the Wainwrights where Throffson waited to inform them about the interrogation of the disguised Wainwrights riot leaders. After some fearless persuasion Throffson had learned that these men were actually employees of the Knights of the Shield merchant guild. Based in the Ships District, they were the largest in Zaz, and it was still uncertain what they could possibly gain from insightful such riots. Furthermore, what were the connections between the Hezrou plague demons of the previous night, the riots, the missing food stores, increasing thefts, and many of the other elements of foul-play that had been occurring. The party decided it would be best to speak with the merchant guild leader Fitch Creighton.

They moved with haste as darkness fell in Zaz, and reached the mansion door of the Knights of the Shield merchant order. The party entered and found it largely empty of its former grandeur. The old former naval guardsman Fitch Creighton entered fully robed to protect himself from the party's obvious diseases. The niceties of formal discussion did not last long as the prideful Creighton defended himself and his guild's links to the riot leaders. The conversation reached a volatile peak when Julian threatened that he would forcefully arrest Creighton in suspicion. Creighton remained stiff and sighted numerous violations of law that would follow and promptly kicked the party out of the guildhall. The party now decided that the best plan of action would be to split up as Julian and Samael investigated the Lobi-Tongo vessel in the Ships District while the other members patrolled the understaffed Karlaggar District for signs of suspicious activity. So although tired and diseased, they ingested more of their java "dawnbeans" and continued on.

The two rogues stealthily moved into the inner docks and found two converted Ships District guardsman watching over the plank onto the ship. They slipped into the water and Spider Climbed up the ship's side. However, on deck they realized they were now soaked with water and hide behind some storage barrels trying to squeeze the excess wetness off. Still sopped with sea water the two moved down a cramped stairwell and were nearly caught by two Lobi-Tongo. After a number of close calls with the alarmed guardsman the two rogues made their way to the lowest levels of the large vessel. They found a secret trap door and quickly opened it setting off a magical cloud of bright green ink. They scrambled to cover a number of high priority books under their cloaks on the ground and sifted through them for information as the guards crashed down to the lower decks. In the last instant Julian and Samael found a terrible page depicting a large obsidian altar adorned with powerful magical runes. But their time had run out; the two Blinked out of the ship's lower deck into the surrounding sea water, and stealthily flew away under the cover of darkness.

The other party members, Randal, Cael, Anthony, Grim, and Balin were busy patrolling the cramped streets of Karlaggar when from within a dark ally Randal spotted a suspicious figure fumbling with a tavern lock. He shouted out for the person to come forward and the spooked halfling opened the door and ran in. The ensuing pursuit did not last long as Randal and Cael surrounded the tavern and captured the frightened thief. Umarah Greypebble explained that his family had been starving and he was doing everything he could to save them and himself. They gave him some food from Cael's magical cloth and he ran off through the streets back home. Then they continued the patrol eastward along the riverside border between the sparkling Gardens District and the darker Karlaggar. That was when again Randal spotted a suspicious figure concealing a raft on the garden's District side of the river. With Cael's help the party Flew across the wide river chasing the dark figure as it climbed the inner walls. The chase ended as the suspect climbed the tower of Lord Bartaen's inner palace. Grim and Balin stayed behind while Cael, Anthony, and Randal tackled the dark figure as it drew a black blade in Bartaen's bedroom. The assassin had been stopped, but they quickly learned that he was infected with a near deadly stage of Bloodfever. Bartaen fearlessly interrogated the assassin with the party's help and they learned he was a member of the professional Shadow Theives guild. With much thanks from the Morninglord of the Gardens District the party moved on back to their patrol of Karlaggar.

More time in the darkness passed as the party traveled through the diseased streets of Karlaggar. As they moved along one of the many closed down Duke's Taverns, Randal saw a number of highly suspicious figures surrounding the building from the adjacent alleyways. The numerous figures were clad in black carrying curved moonlit blades and bows. Randal charged quickly towards one and struck with a hard fist dropping the figure to the ground. To only Randal's keen ears however, he instantly heard a clatter of many clicks characteristic of only one group, Harpers. As soon as it happened Randal knew the tragedy which he had unleashed, the rest of the black clad Harpers rushed to the back as their cover was blown. The rest of the adventurers, unaware of Randal's fatal discovery, quickly surrounded the Duke's Tavern. Cael ran into a readied Harper Striker with two blades at his neck. The Harper whispered quickly that they knew o the adventurers and needed them to help dispatch an undercover Zhent terrorist cell. All at once, the occurrences and foul-play within Zaz became much darker.

The party converged on the building and scrambled for clues as to what the truth really was. Cael moved to the back alley and found himself in a brutal melee between black clad Harper Strikers and apparent Karlaggar Civic Guardsman. In fact, Cael had even recognized some from the previous days. One of the Harper Strikers broke down the front door, Grim and Balin saw two men clad in Karlaggar Civic Guards uniforms with spearheads at another female Karlaggar guard's throat. The Harper Striker rushed in and Grim assisted with a powerful arcane blast. Anthony, and Randal were now in the rear ally as well helping the Harpers in battle against the Zhent agents. Randal pummeled his way through the wall of the Duke's Tavern and rescued the female clad in Karlaggar Guardsman armor as her assailants yelled "We shall murder ye traitor!" The bloody seconds that transpired in that dark Karlaggar alleyway at first glance would seem quite the norm. A number of black clad figures and civic guards dead in an alleyway behind an old Duke's Tavern. But then the party fully realized, the black clad figures were Harpers, the guardsman in fact Zhents.

The female dressed as a Karlaggar guard was familiar with the party's reputation and introduced herself as Edirra Swiftstar a Harper agent who had infiltrated this Zhent cell or over a year in disguise. She had called for the Harper Strikers in desperation. For she knew that what ever was happening in Zaz was getting out of control far too fast, and her cover was increasingly in question. She had used her arcane powers so far to act as a convincing leader for this terroristic Zhent cell of Cyric. Although the party had grown to expect something of great terror behind these events, the revelation of Harpers and Zhents from within the shadows of Zaz would change everything. The party continues to converse with Edirra Swiftstar and the remaining 3 Harper Strikers about the Zhent influence in the shadows of Duke's Tavern. The consequences for murdering the first Harper Striker are still unresolved and have just begun to weigh upon Randal's heart and soul.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

The Bloody 25th

Session 107

Characters: Julian, Terus, Balin, Anthony, Grim.

NPCs: The Zaz Council of Lords, Apthorus the Mystic Theurge of Mystra, Constal Joseph Throffson, Azikiwe the Lobi-Tongo Prophet, Lobi-Tongo chieftain Runako Tangela, Kadan Swordswreath the Herald of Zaz, Corporal Earnluf of the Cleansing Flame, Dying Illmaterian, Gullac Forhv & family, 2 Hezrou Plague Demons, sergeant Moran of the Cleansing Flame.

E 25 Alturiak 1374 - M 25 Alturiak

3600 XP

After the trial the rest of the Zaz District Lords as well as the Lobi-Tongo diplomats entered the courtroom. An exhausted Joseph Throffson came in some minutes later after having quelled the riot and imprisoned the remaining Wainwrights rioters. It was past midnight and many of those present began to all asleep in their chairs. The main opponents of the party in the past meeting such as Duchess Hhune, and Arbos Fullstein used the opportunity to verbally batter the party and the rest of the Council Lords. Some of the party including Balin, Terus, and Julian responded with blatant accusations against Hhune, Azikiwe, and Fullstein. Constal Throffson put the meeting back under control and those present began to discuss the troubling problem of missing resources, especially food. Due to the shortage of available manpower, the party offered their services to the Council in investigating this matter further. The meeting was adjourned and afterwards, Julian spoke privately with Lord Nassir and Lord Exar.

Once the party had re-joined with Julian they met with Throffson in his personal quarters to discuss the limitations on their magical abilities. Without the use of powerful Teleportation magic, Throffson gave the party horses to travel. Then they headed back towards the Wainwrights District to rest at the Firehawk Inn. On their way through the Markets however, the party came across a desperate plague victim in the streets. The Illmaterian acolyte spoke of the fall of the House of Tears just hours ago; he begged for them to take him back to that he may die on the formerly hallowed ground of the Suffering God. They rode at full speed and found the massive pile of marble rubble which used to be the Illmaterian mission. A disturbing site indeed, for if they had only more rest, equipment, and time the structure and those still unevacuated could have been saved. After that bleak site however, the party still tired moved back to the Firehawk and began to rest. Both Balin and Grim had contracted the deadly Bloodfever and thus stayed in the abandoned dwelling adjacent to the inn.

After just a couple hours of rest the party in both locations was shaken awake by a stentorian blast of demonic chanting. The walls of the Firehawk began to shake apart, and the party realized they had been ambushed by 2 plague-ridden Hezrou demons. The greenish stink from their infected bodies clouted the senses of all but Anthony. The Hezrou demons ripped into Balin and Anthony, as Grim, Terus, and Julian stumbled away vomiting. Anthony battled against the Hezrou while Balin struggled, and was thrashed down attempting to escape. Terus moved back and guarded Anthony just before he would have fallen, and Julian landed a devastating sneak attack. The Hezrou demons had taken enough and immediately Teleported away, leaving a glowing greenish cloud of disease in their wake. After the battle Anthony attended to Balin while Julian checked on the inn keeper Gullac. In addition to their bloody wounds, Terus had contracted Blinding Sickness, Julian contracted the Shakes, and Grim contracted Slimey Doom, and the Forhv family had contracted the Red Aches. By the time the Moran and his Cleansing Flame Knights arrived there was little anyone could do.

The party explained to both Moran, and then Throffson after having being sent for. In addition, Terus and Julian implored Throffson to allow them to break quarantine to heal their wounds and diseases. However, the experienced plague-fighter would not allow it, refusing on the grounds that the unforeseen consequences could harm thousands in the process. Instead Throffson gave each of them java "dawn" beans to chew so that their fatigue may be lessened, and additionally, a white lichen called Crusader's Moss which could be eaten to fight off the worsening effects of their illnesses. Finally, Throffson offered the suggestion that perhaps they should apply their abilities in espionage and concealment to learn more about the past ten day's deadly foul-play. Although their bodies are wrought with exhaustion, illness, and wounds the party continued on. For the past 28 hours had been the bloodiest day Zaz had seen in nearly a century and if the coming day was to not worsen there was much to be done.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Rebellion in the Wainwrights

Session 106

Characters: Anthony, Grim, Balin, Terus, Samael, Randal.

NPCs: Constal Joseph Throffson, Daneus Bloodgrace the priest of Illmater, Corporal Earnulf of the Cleansing Flame, 4 Disguised Riot Leaders (Wainwrights), Peter the Triad Priest (Tyr), Father Akkul the Triad Priest (Illmater), Hensley the Triad Priest (Torm).

L 24 Alturiak 1374 - E 25 Alturiak 1374

675 XP

With the last burning remains of the Smiling Centaur Inn and the Illmaterian hospital put out the party turned and addressed the enraged mob of Wainwrights citizens. The Knights of the Cleansing Flame and remaining Civic Guardsman pushed back the unorganized mob and dispersed it. Grim investigated the remaining magical auras of the Explosive Runes and memorized a faint spell signature to compare future enemy spells with. Daneus Bloodgrace, the young Illmaterian priest thanked Randal or saving his life and asked that he may assist in the monk's exalted quest. Randal noticed that although this priest was young, his body bore many marks of powerful faith. Daneus told the party of two similar Illmaterian missions, in the Markets and Karlaggar Districts and his concerns with their status.

Terus Teleported the party to the Markets where they walked toward a massive marble structure; the former Grocers Guildhall now turned a bloody Illmaterian mission. As the party passed through the pinkish blood-soaked air they saw many acolytes and hundreds of suffering plague-stricken Zazpesspurians. Grim, Terus, and Samael investigated the great marble structure for signs of traps; just as the acolytes and wounded were becoming restless they found 4 small spells at key points in the foundation. Meanwhile, Anthony, Randal and Daneus spoke with the head Illmaterians and calmed the wounded that they were here to help. Samael did not feel confident in his abilities to disarm the magical traps, and Grim was out of spells. Thus, Balin suggested that they secretly move the sick out of the structure to a nearby safer one under the guise of moving the dead. This plan was carried out slowly for the remainder of the night as the party left for the Illmaterian mission in Karlaggar.

The party had not been to Karlaggar for quite some time and took note of the many different Inn architectures all bearing the sign "The Duke's Tavern" after the owner and Karlaggar Lord, Arbos "Duke" Fullstein. They moved toward a moderately sized quad of residential buildings which shared a common courtyard. A dark haze rested over the area, the screams of suffering Bloodfever victims from the surrounding buildings was louder here than anywhere else the party had been so far. They investigated further as Balin noted that the effects of the disease were more severe here than in the other areas. As Samael, Grim, and Terus searched they found yet another magical rune which resonated with evocation and evil within the courtyard fountain. Grim determined that it had been active for at least a day, and that it was written by a different spellcaster than in the Wainwrights explosion. Samael could stand the horrors of the plague around them no longer and succesully deactivated the evil script. As the dark haze passed, the sounds of suffering lessened. Balin, and Samael however immediately noticed to their terror that their skin had broken out into a red rash; they would join Bloodfever's dead if something was not done soon.

Almost immediately, a paige of the Karlaggar District had reached the party and told them that a great rebellion had erupted in the Wainwrights. The citizens had organized as Throffson feared and were breaking barricades, attempting to break quarantine, and attacking the Wainwrights District's courthouse. With Terus' help the party Teleported yet again to the Wainwrights central square where they were surrounded by the last stand of Civic Guardsman, and Cleansing Flame Knights whom were protecting the Wainwrights Courthouse, and the mysterious Lord Exar Civulteq's manor. The enraged civilians carrying many torches, and makeshift weapons were being lead by 4 figures, 2 Lobi-Tongo converts, and 2 former Civic Guardsman. Throffson asked the party to hold the lines while he organized reinforcements, and Grim casted a powerful Mass Hold Monster to paralyze a large group of rioters. Terus leapt forward into the crowd and used his psionic Stomp to knock an equal number prone and unconscious. Randal leaped from a nearby well into one of the organizers and subdued him. Meanwhile, Samael attempted to gain the rioters attention as a magically disguised Runako Tangela, a Lobi-Tongo prophet. Despite their epic contributions it seemed the riot was only getting worse as plague-effected civilians overwhelmed Guardsman and barricades.

Then, Grim casted a large Web spell to ensnare upwards of 200 rioters. Tragedy struck however when as the Web struck the mob it bursted into terrible flames killing nearly every one of them. After it happened Grim had known what his Web spell had caused, and the nearby Corporal Earnulf of the Cleansing Flame arrested him. Grim attempted to cast a Wish to undue the atrocious misfortune however, he could not control the Weave well enough and it failed. The rioters were getting closer and just as it seemed all hope was lost Constal Throffson rode in with a reinforcement of Calverymen from the adjacent Districts and began to disperse the rioters. However, the central mob would not move and as his Cleansing Flame calvary pushed forth it spearheaded directly through the unarmored civilians. Rioters were knocked to the ground, tramples by heavy horse and killed as the Knights rode through. After a second brutal pass, the Cleansing Flame knights had broken the riot and began to arrest the remaining violent protesters.

Meanwhile, Anthony and Samael had noticed something else of interest. It seemed that during his address as a Defiant leader only some of the Lobi-Tongo converts had stopped to listen. Others however, seemed uninterested and countinued to riot. During the fallout of the Wainwrights Rebellion Randal and a civic guardsman noticed that one of the guardsman riot leaders was not in fact a former guardsman, but disguised as one. The surviving riot leader was taken back to the Wainwrights Guard Headquarters. Then, the party Teleported with Grim and Corporal Earnulf to the Fortress of the Faithful where an emergency criminal trial was held. At the trial, the High Priests Peter, Glais, and Akkar heard the argument set forth by Earnulf. Grim pleaded guilty to the charge of reckless use of magic and accidentally causing the deaths of 200 civilians. However, he cleared himself of the second charge on the grounds that if his Wish had gone off, it would have righted the terrible wrong immediately. His fellow adventurers spoke emotionally on his behalf. Still, the Court had found him guilty of a terrible manslaughter and use of magic. As punishment, the freedom given to the party by the Council of Lords to use any of their powerful magic within their digression was revoked. Those who took extra responsibility for their fellow party members, Julian, Anthony, and Randal were charged additionally for their failures. Finally, Grim was given a harsh punishment he would likely never forget. At a great cost, blind scale of justice had once again been balanced.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

The Dead Sorcerer and The Smiling Centaur

Session 105

Characters: Julian, Cael, Grim, Terus, Randal, Davvin, Balin.

NPCs: Constal Throffson, Moran the Cleansing Flame sergeant (Wainwrights), Cleansing Flame hospitalers, Illmaterian hospitalers, Civic Guard (Carpets, Ships, Wainwrights), Kyrillos Diamitros the Centaur, Daneus Bloodgrace the priest of Illmater.

M 24 Alturiak 1374 - L 24 Alturiak 1374

5200 XP

With the new knowledge that the Zaz Bloodfever was magical, Balin and Julian analyzed samples of grain and leaf-matter finding that these two plagues were also magically enhanced. Clearly, this was a foul plan being unleashed upon the growing metropolis. Meanwhile, Grim memorized a Discern Location spell and found that Jinjivar the lost Sorcerer-Lord of the Carpets District was in the bathroom in his Calimport tower. After much discussion of the exceptions of the quarantine and the urgency of finding Jinjivar, Julian and Terus telepoprted to Calimport and then hailed a carpet to the evoker's Calishite tower. Finding the lower 4 levels of the tower uninhabited they reached the highest level and found signs of a struggle as well as a great deal of blood in the bathroom. Jinjivar's plague-ridden corpse lay in the bathtub with a stab wound in the chest. The two rogues noticed his tower empty of any useful personal effects and significant magical items, however at the lowest level they found a blood written message on the wall... BETRAYER. Julian and Terus made haste to cleanse the tower of the plague and then Teleported with Jinjivar's corpse to the Carpets District. They turned the body over to the Sergeant of the Cleansing Flame on duty and re-joined their friends.

With this new twist of fate the party decided it be best to consult with Constal Throffson once again in the Wainwrights. After they witnessed the last few minutes of a well-organized burn of corpses, the party told Throffson of what they had found concerning the magical plague and Jinjivar's disappearance. Throffson thanked them once again and asked if they proceed to clear some of the waterways with their powerful arcane abilities. They reconvened in the Ships District where thousands of dead and bloated bodies were clogging the waterways. Grim was ready for the challenge. He polymorphed the other 6 party members into Large Gold Dragons and created two massive water elementals. Within no time they were removed tons of corpses and piling them onto an empty stone dock. Afterwards, Grim helped Cael heighten a number of powerful Disitntigration spells which reduced the 2700 cubic foot pile of water-logged bodies by two-thirds. Just as that happened however, Breca the Cleansing Flame paige approached and told the party that Throffson's Wainwrights operations were severely under-manned and needed assistance before things got out of control.

They immediately Teleported and found themselves surrounded by taverns, crowds, Civic guardsman and water-lines as the famous Smiling Centaur Inn was burning to the ground. Also nearby was a large Illmaterian missionary hospital where many parishioners of the suffering god comforted the dying inside. Throffson was in the process of evicting the tavern owner Kyrillos Diamitros for piling plague infected corpses on his property in a non-sanctioned area. Cael began to assist Throffson in grappling Kyrillos, while Balin rushed to help in the water-line efforts. Grim created an illusion of more fire to scare the rest of the Smiling Centaur inhabitants out of the structure, one panicked however, and nearly fell from the 4th story balcony. Randal Dimension Doored up and bravely rescued the civilian. Meanwhile, Julian casted many Telekinesis spells to lift burning timbers. Davvin rushed into the Illmaterian hospital and began comforting the dying before their passage.

Just as things were beginning to get under control, the shifty winds began to blow fiercely. Massive burning timbers flew off the Smiling Centaur and smashed into the roof and sides of the smaller, adjacent Illmaterian hospital. Balin knew this was not possible for the current weather conditions and Grim located the magical rune and Dispelled it. Cael and Terus rushed forward through the falling debris and flames and found Moran the local Cleansing Flame sergeant trapped under a heavy burning timber. Cael knew there was no longer any time, he activated the Ring and Sword of Kenewrec and a burst of ice instantly covered the area around them. Moran was rescued and Terus and Cael began to put out more peripheral fires. Grim also used his last spells to cover surrounding buildings in thin ice sheets. Randal and Davvin were still in the hospital just as a illusion of more flames activated, covering up a number of magical explosive runes on the roof. The building instantly began to topple as the two struggled to rescue any of the survivors. Grim and Julian were the only two that had seen the runes activate and knew that this had been a set-up. The party was able to put out the remaining non-magical fires on adjacent buildings and turned to address the rage-filled and panicked crowd of Wainwrights citizens whom has seen the whole event unfold. Throffson, the Cleansing Flame Knights, and the surviving Wainwrights civic guards are now fully pressed using all of their efforts to hold back the enraged populous.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Plague Politics

Session 104

Characters: Julian, Terus, Cael, Balin, Anthony, Randal, Grim.

NPCs: Constal Joseph "Plague-bane" Throffson, Duchess-Consort Lucia Thionne-Hhune (Ships), Lord Arbos Fullstein (Karlaggar), Samnilith Simonne Whitebrow (The Bindery), Azikiwe the Lobi-Tongo Chieftain, Asif the Librarian, Order of the Gorgon guardsman, Lady Elena Kessler, Kadan the Herald of Zazesspur.

L 23 Alturiak 1374 - M 24 Alturiak 1374

5200 XP

The masses of plague-stricken rioters had been broken by the great waves of the sea gates closing. The party moved into the main isle of the Ships District where Throffson awaited the return of Lucia Thionne-Hhune's imperial vessel. The ship docked slowly at the port while Throffson's remaining Knights of the Cleansing Flame surrounded it. Lucia Hhune exited and met with Throffson whom promtly took her into custody and sent her off to the Fortress of the Faithful under his powers of martial law. Throffson gratefully thanked the party for their quickness of action and decisiveness by rewarding them with the Purple Dragon merit of the Vigilant shield. As Lucia was sent away she ordered that the Ships District guardsman comply with the Cleansing Flame until she stated otherwise. The party then returned to the large and empty Firehawk Inn for the night.

Early in the morning they were awoken by the sounds of preaching, drums, and tribal chants coming from the Wainwrights streets. The party bustled outside to find a group of Chultan missionaries preaching against the "false pantheons" and moving the bodies of dead civilians out of the streets. Randal found one of them to be a former worshipper of Illmater whom had decided that worshipping Illmater was no different than praying to the most powerful priest of Illmater on Ferun. Also amongst the group was a number of Wainwrights guardsman whom graciously assisted the missionaries. The party interrogated these Defiants and finding no evidence of guilt moved toward the Fortress of the Faithful to seek out their leader Azikiwe. By foot the party passed over the civic bridge into the Markets District, guarded by a Knight of the Cleansing Flame and a number of followers. In the Markets District the party found the great tent-shops and store-fronts completely closed down and the streets baracaded. The only faces seen in the empty Markets District were guardsman and Lobi-Tongo, many of the guardsman were converting.

The party then crossed the greatest of the Zaz bridges into the Faithful District where a large non-violent protest was taking place on the front grounds of the Fortress of the Faithful. No signs of Bloodfever were present in the beautiful high-city of Zaz. The Lobi-Tongo chanted as they converted a number of acolytes from various temples to their tribe. The party passed through as an acolyte of Torm smashed his own holy symbol against the ground and embraced the Lobi-Tongo high-priest. Julian marched through the crowd as it parted and spoke personally with the leader on issues concerning the absence of divine power within the city. The well-educated leader told Julian of the fickle nature of the gods and made a number of convincing statements supporting his claim. Then the party was ushered into the Fortress where they were greeted and allowed to participate in an ongoing emergency council meeting. The meeting featured the remaining Lords of the Zaz city council, aristocrats from local noble houses, Triad high priests, other priests of Zaz, Azikiwe the leader of the Lobi-Tongo mission, and was presided over by Constal Throffson himself.

The party was formally introduced to the council by the Herald of Zazesspur and first heard of the recent claim that the blight of Harvest's-bane had been found in the largest grain store of the Bindery District. Food shortages were argued intensely by the council and then they turned to the party for a fresh opinion. The party offered their suggestions that the absence of high-powered arcane magic was severely hurting Zazesspur and that the disappearance of Jinjivar must be investigated. In addition, Julian and Randal led a push for the legal domain to use their powerful magical abilities to clear the city's waterways and streets of the dead. Members of the council, particularly Lord Arbos Fullstein of the Karlaggar District and Duchess Hhune expressed their concerns for outsourcing such dangerous powers to a group of non-bound adventurers. Still, Throffson and the rest of the council agreed, the party had little to gain through deception and had done much previously for the good of Zaz. Thus, it was decided they would be declared official Emissaries of Justice for Zazesspur.

With their new legal powers the party followed Balin to the Gardens District. While they found excellent and expensive quarantine methods being used, and no signs of Bloodfever. However, nearly all of the Garden District's formerly lush plantlife had been afflicted with a serious infection known as Archer's Blight. Although the sky was overcast, the remaining daylight still penetrated through the canopy to the marble floors. Asif, a librarian of the Zaz Library had already collected a great deal of historical information concerning Bloodfever, Harvest's-bane, and Archer's Blight. Balin and the rest of the party read through the texts and found similar symptoms to the one's previous in Zaz's history. Then they followed Asif to the lower auditorium where 3 human dissections were taking place. The different stages of the illness suggested that there was a terrible respiratory element not mentioned in the historical texts. Randal hypothesized that if they could examine bodies from the previous plagues that they may find concretely whether or not this is the same Bloodfever. The party went with Asif to the oldest noble house of Zaz, the Kessler merchant family. There they were met by a guardsman dressed in dark blue robes, carrying a magical staff as were permitted to enter after they cleansed themselves. Lady Elena Kessler, was deeply opposed to the exhuming of her ancestors. However, through Randal's incredible diplomacy they were given full access to the tombs of the 2 Bloodfever plagues. The old sarcophagi were opened and upon basic dissection the party concluded that the previous Bloodfevers did not have a respiratory component. Grim was most certain that this current disease was a heightened magical version based upon Zaz's old Bloodfever.