Thursday, September 25, 2014

14.3: The noose tightens

Dramatis Personae


Beltin (Aasimar Dirge Bard/Cleric 10).

Bradley Weatherby (Human Dervish Dancer 10/Knife Master Rogue 7/Duelist 3).

"Jake" aka Alex, the actual character name but I refuse to go back and edit the old entries (Human Wizard/Rogue 10).


The noose tightens, Session 14.3 - 9/19/14


Day 21

Jake

After getting caught up on the latest rumors, Jake heads back to his compound and after sitting through a status report from Yohann (the men are almost good enough to be considered low ranking soldiers now, by his esteem), Jake gets down to serious business. He again examines the painting fragment and studies the ritual he sees. Yes, he is able to identify all the components he sees and all are strange or exotic. Gathering them may be expensive, but it is doable.

He turns his attention to the geometric seal he sees in the painting but of course a portion is ripped off. That could be a problem, but after studying it closely he realizes that the seal is just an incredibly complex repeating pattern; it should just be a matter of replicating it to fill in the missing areas. Tricky because that part of the operation will require intense precision. He ponders that as he heads to the market place.

After digging through various stalls (including the one of his old friend the false wizard), Jake manages to find all of what he needs or at least something with the exact same magical properties. Except for one item that is: A human eye. It seems no one has one of those for sell, and though he could just get one from anyone nearby, instead he decides to go to the Church of Nerull.

Inside he sees a few people in pews, heads down, and the acolyte Augustine copying names from the death shrine into a large, weathered looking tome. The cover appears to be leather of some kind, but it looks a bit strange. Jake decides it is unimportant and greets the acolyte, who is pleased to see him and asks how his killings went. Jake says fine, fine, but he needs something. Would he happen to have any human eyes?

Augustine, his eyes always glazed with something akin to madness, says that yes, he does in fact. He has two. Jake tries not to facepalm and asks if he has any not in a head. Augustine considers this for a moment and then smiles. He says no they don't but he could get him one. Jake says he doesn't want one of his own eyes removed. At that, Augustine's shoulders slump and he goes back to thinking.

And then he smiles again, a knowing smile, and says yes, he can get him an eye, but asks what rite Jake is performing. Jake immediately goes defensive, but the acolyte puts up his hands and says that hey, he is no stranger to dark rites and their components, so he isn't judging, nor does he want what Jake is after. It is just an academic interest, a hobby of sorts. Jake stares at the acolyte, and yeah, he can believe that from a weirdo like this guy.

He explains about the painting and what he knows (but doesn't mention what he doesn't know, i.e. what it does exactly) about the ritual he will be performing. Augustine grows more and more excited and seems to be barely containing himself as Jake talks of the painting. Jake finishes and Augustine asks to see it. Jake shows it to him and he gasps.

He gives Jake an art history lesson. This is a work by the famed blind prophet and artist Raziel Alhazred. He lived a long time ago (Augustine doesn't seem to know when exactly) and was renowned and feared for his mystical powers, some of which was supposed to be suffused into his works, all of which were masterpieces the likes of which had never been seen. But each showed a scene of utter ruin and disaster, and each was seemingly a prophecy of doom to warn those who could decode the sometimes obvious and sometimes not symbolism. Eventually the prophet was put to death for heresy and his paintings were supposedly all destroyed.

Yet some of his works have reappeared over the years, seemingly at the time when their prophesied time is approaching. It is said that his work, "The Corruption of the South" was discovered shortly before the first disastrous crusade against Tsar; supposedly it hung in the emperor's own personal art gallery as he and the Army of Light were forever lost in the poorly named Forest of Hope.

And that is not the only story like that, and Augustine gives more historical hearsays. No one knows how many pieces were created by the prophet and most of the names of his works have been lost, but among the believers the most commonly sought after piece is the mythical "The Fall of Man," for obvious reasons says Augustine with a laugh.

And now, Augustine concludes, another of the prophet's works has been found. He doesn't know if the myths concerning them are true or not, but wouldn't it be exciting if they were, and death was coming for them all? Many people would be very interested to possess a work of Raziel, especially one that has seemingly not yet come to pass. It appeals to two types of collectors, says Augustine, the philosopher and the one who just thinks it will look fabulous on his wall.

He looks at the painting fragment longingly as he hands it back to Jake, and says that if he ever finds the other pieces he would love to see it whole. He would love to know which scene of horror and atrocity he had examined.

The acolyte looks sad for a moment and then suddenly perks up. He says he wants to help with the ritual. He wants to be there and see what it does. It's just so exciting! Jake believes him when he says that he just wants to be there for the ritual's own sake, but damn is the kid creepy. But useful too. He agrees and says that he can use his artistic ability to create the seal. Augustine smiles and says he will get the eye and then they can talk more. Jake says fine and to meet him at his compound.

About an hour or so later Augustine arrives with a still bloody human eye. Jake doesn't ask. At this point he had already teleported Lucky's waitresses and Beltin is with him discussing the ritual. Augustine joins in, still so excited to be included especially now that his "death buddy" Beltin is involved, and they come to the conclusion that the best place to try what they are trying would be the Cross Roads; the barrier between worlds is already thin enough there.

They work to finish preparations and decide that tomorrow night will be the night. Jake says he will bring four of his students, the ones he thinks are magically gifted enough to help with the ritual without any chance of fucking it up.

Augustine points out that blood may be needed so perhaps he should bring someone else too, someone that he won't miss should that be necessary. The look on his face makes it clear that he dearly hopes it is necessary. Jake agrees and has just the right person in mind: Carl, his worst student. Finally, he may be useful in some way.

When it's nearly hanging time, Augustine says they could use a break and a hanging is always worth seeing. The other two reluctantly agree, but he is just so enthusiastic. The town square is crowded and people look like they've been having a bit of a party. Near dusk the Usurer climbs onto the gallows and stands still and silent.

The sight of him brings silence to the crowd at once, and then Sheriff Tarl approaches with two bound men in tow. One seems to have a broken jaw... and a bloody, dripping rag over one eye socket. So that's where that eye came from! Tarl reads a long list of charges, most of which deal with using gold instead of bits in a variety of mercantile endeavors. Then he asks if they have last words.

The one with the broken jaw tries to say something but can't and the other starts to go on about how this is a mistake. He starts blubbering and Tarl loses his patience and hits the lever. They hang! The crowd cheers! The party begins again! And with the spectacle complete, Augustine, Beltin, and Jake leave to get back to work.

Bradley Weatherby

Though in character BW doesn't know it, today is the last day of his life. Out of character? He is prepared. He knows he has this coming. And he does his best to in character metagame himself into a better position. Can't argue with that.

BW first heads over to the Dancing Bear and gets a free drink from Floyd. The guild is pleased with him. He is in. He spends some time talking up their exploits, sees Beltin in passing, and then heads over to see his friend Horace at crusader encampment. He meets him outside of a newly set up field hospital as he is overseeing the transfer of some wounded crusaders. He is a bit grim due to his duties, but he smirks a bit as he sees BW approach wearing his new dwarven crown.

They talk and BW explains how they met the undead army and the lich and destroyed both. He makes himself out to be the key player again, of course, and also says that the dwarves were so grateful for their aid that they gave him the crown. Yay, high bluff. Horace believes him, not only because he is a great liar, but also because this undead menace was on the crusade's radar; they had reports of it and BW's story fit. Of course they would send people to the battle site to confirm and see if there was anything missed, but that was standard procedure. He shakes BW's hand and says he's won another great victory in the war against evil, but alas, the fight continues.

At this point BW says he didn't just come to spread word of his feats, but he also wanted to give him something. He takes the crown off his head and says he is tithing it to the church of Thyr and the crusade. May they use it well. Horace wasn't expecting that and asks him to reconsider, but BW says no, they could make better use of it than he. He also doesn't realize that if they were so inclined they could use it to see through all his lies. Hope they don't check.

Horace asks if there is anything they can do for him as repayment for such a gift, but BW is humble. He just asks for some doses of holy water and that maybe they could name something after him. Horace says they could do that and the hospital will be named in his honor. And BW gets his holy water.

Horace excuses himself and says that he has more work to finish and then as a representative of the god of justice, he must attend the lawful executions of the two criminals and that time is approaching. He clearly finds the spectacle of hangings distasteful, a feeling BW shares. BW departs and heads over to the rangers.

As he goes he sees a crowd gathering in the town square and vendors selling food. Looks like it will be a bit of a block party for the plebian masses. BW turns his head at the excited crowd as he goes by; hangings are low class. Now, a good beheading, that's something worth seeing. He passes some of the rangers on their way to the spectacle, but he continues on toward their base. He sees a single ranger standing at the door and he nods to BW as he enters. The only people inside are Skeriber and Georgia, both studying a map in silence.

BW approaches and waits and soon after Skeriber folds the map and asks what he needs. BW says that he gets the feeling he has made a lot of enemies and now he is trying to rectify that. He's looking for people he can trust, people who may at some point be offered a sum of money to kill him, but out of loyalty will instead come to him and warn him. Friends, you know.

Friends would also give advice, perhaps legal advice. BW mentions that with his growing connections with the crusade he was thinking of confessing to his involvement with the murder of Caepio, but claiming ignorance, self-defense, whatever. With the rep and what he has done he thinks it may fly, though Beltin and Tarl may have some issues.

Georgia and Skeriber look at each other and both ask if he is stupid or something. The church of Thyr is not known for forgiveness and that in their estimation, the best he could hope for by throwing himself at their mercy would be for a quick death after which they would sanctify his body and pray for his soul.

No, it would be better to stay quiet. Plus, adds Skeriber, from what he heard there wasn't any evidence to be found at a certain cemetery. It seems the crusade has no leads about what happened to the doomed expedition after all. He gives BW a meaningful look.

This is clear to BW and he thanks Skeriber for his wisdom and his aid. Friendship is fun. And friendship works both ways. He has some items the rangers may find useful.

Skeriber nods and BW begins pulling out weapons, loot he has accumulated and not had any use for personally, but that they may find helpful. He places each piece on the desk one by one and Georgia picks them up, examines them, and places them off to the side. When BW gets to a coat pistol he got from somewhere at some point, Skeriber takes it and begins to play with it, spinning it. He doesn't say anything, but it looks like he likes it.

BW finishes giving away some old belongings to curry favor with the rangers, thinks for a second, and takes out one last item, his Ring of the Sophisticate. He explains it can locate people and be used to find taverns; always useful, but he has other rings now. He asks Georgia to wear it and think of one of Clantock's assassins. It seems that one is in town somewhere, she says, but that is not surprising. There are many places in the Camp for people to stay hidden.

BW says they won't stay hidden for long. Soon he will take care of them (as per the agreement with Father Death, right?), but in the mean time, why doesn't she go for a stroll with him? She says, well, there is that hanging going on, but BW says that is low class thrills. She smiles at him and asks what he has in mind then. He mentions he got a new bedroom setup and rolls for it. She is interested.

Skeriber is uninterested and waves them away, and they begin to walk toward to the Bender Brothers Inn and BW's inevitable assassination.

To be continued...