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.
