RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to AP-Curse of the Crimson Throne

19:22, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Night of the Ball.

Posted by The DealerFor group 0
The Dealer
GM, 622 posts
Fri 12 Dec 2014
at 04:16
  • msg #1

The Night of the Ball

...I am begining to think they are setting me up...

Rois Vindmel was nothing if not an idiot. You can only assume his was the body you found floating in the captain's cabin. The damned fool not only let them destroy him. He let 'them' destroy an u told number of the city's populace as well.

But perhaps it would be best to start at the beginning.

Vencarlo helped haul you all back into the boat, as well as the locker you had found. Evening was approaching, and all you could think about was your wounds and dry clothing. Vencarlo was prepared. As soon as you reached shore, he provided you all clean if cheap robes and some healing salves. Selvin has a bandage wrapped around his midsection and Vaddis has a few lengths of cotton gauze encircling his leg. But that is mostly to keep the wounds clean. The magic and a night before the fire are working wonders on healing you all up. You should soon be as good as new.

Once back at the inn, you had attacked the locker. It was easy enough to get into once steel was brought into the equation. Inside you found various papers, the ship's log, and one of those accursed coffers. You turned to the paper first, leaving aside the coffer for review later.

The papers told a story. A story of a foolish man. Rois Vindmel was listed as the nominal captain of the Direption. Though from his entries you get a sense that Vindmel couldn't have captained his way out of a pillow case. The ship was deeded to 'R Davaulus' from a group only known as 'B7'. None of you have a clue who B7 is. But Davaulus..well. The head of the Queen's physicians is Rogero Davulus. You saw him in the Palace courtyard just the other day. It could be coincidence but not likely.

Vindmel sailed the Direption, who's cargo was ambiguously labeled as samples, from the north to Korvosa. Worse, Vindmel does little to hide the fact that he was a member of the Cult of Urgathoa in the log. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the whole crew was. Followers of the Queen of Illness. A ship full of 'samples'. And now this plague. It doesn't take much to follow the lines.

Vindmel seemed to have had no knowledge of the contents of the hold. He was simply following the orders of someone named Andisain. The last entry made must have been written just as the Direption began to move into the harbor just outside the city. Vindmel found himself alone on the ship. All his crew had disappeared, abandoning him to take the last of the voyage on his own. Thoug the logs don't detail what occured next, you can work it out. Vindmel must have aimed the ship towards the shore, hoping to flee before the city guard began to fire on the ship. He must not have been succesful. The hag must have boarded the ship as it was sinking and locked these documents into the water-tight locker until she could peruse them later at her leisure.

You all fall asleep that night, well aware that beyond the inn's walls, hundreds if not thousands of people are sickening and dying from Blood Veil. As you awake the next morning, you can hear the death carts rattling through the streets outside. A glance out the window shows the carts are filled to the top with bodies. Vindmel was at least succesful in his mission, whether he meant to be or not.

The innkeeper is absent as you come downstairs. His daughter is running the front room by herself. She looks tired. "My parents are just resting," she mutters to any questions. They must be sick as well. She sets a note down with the bread and ham. It is addressed to Tarrov. A reminder he is to entertain tonight at the Corawyn mansion.

I'l let you ask any questions, etc before we move on
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:16, Fri 12 Dec 2014.
Tarrov Garrick
player, 289 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Sat 13 Dec 2014
at 07:41
  • msg #2

Re: The Night of the Ball




"Well," said Tarrov, exhaling as he sat back in his chair.  "That is interesting information.  But what can we do with it?"  He directed his questions towards Vencarlo.  "The Queen's physician is apparently connected in some fashion, but I imagine it would be difficult arranging a meeting with him, or getting him to give us truthful answers to our questions if we did.  Maybe a late-night excursion to his quarters could unearth some additional information?  But I'm not sure any of us," he waved his arms around the room, indicating himself and his companions, "would be as adept at that as you, Vencarlo."

The bard picked fitfully at his borrowed robe.  It just didn't have the same feel as the fine clothes he normally wore.  And he felt almost naked.  But there would be time to worry about later.  "What about this 'B7' organization?  Does anyone know anything about that?  Or know who this Andisain character might be?"  Tarrov thought hard about the names, trying to think of anything he might have heard about either of them.

OOC:

23:40, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 24 using 1d20+8. Knowledge Check re Names.





The Dealer
GM, 625 posts
Sun 14 Dec 2014
at 04:30
  • msg #3

Re: The Night of the Ball

Nothing springs to mind.

The physicians are ensonced in the royal palace. Not impossible, but it would probably be difficult. I leave that up to ya'll to decide. Let me know so I know how to proceed.
Izzick
player, 74 posts
Sun 14 Dec 2014
at 06:18
  • msg #4

Re: The Night of the Ball

"I'm not sure revealing our hand to the Queen or her physicians is our best course of action. If we're caught, that's it. Then again I'm not sure what a better idea would be unless this plague is just going to up and vanish tomorrow," the orc says, as he mulls it all over. His hand goes to the vial of antidote they had been given. He'd yet to take it, but every time they had to cross the streets, it certainly became tempting. Still, in times of trouble, his harrow deck had never led him astray. Though they gave a grim read out today.

This time, I got the Eclipse, so that's +2 to a Wis check today
Vaddis Sonaden
player, 447 posts
Sun 14 Dec 2014
at 13:04
  • msg #5

Re: The Night of the Ball

"I'll let you make the decision."
The Dealer
GM, 626 posts
Mon 15 Dec 2014
at 06:24
  • msg #6

Re: The Night of the Ball

Izzick drops a hand to his deck. Perhaps a simple reading. Four cards then. One for each of the cardinal directions. A quick, to the point reading.

The first card...a man leads  woman through the steps of a walt. Behind them a harlequin plays a fiddle. But the card comes out upside down. The Dance, inverted.

The next card...a flock of crows descending upon the aftermath of a battlefield. This card is usually representative of murder.

The third card is also ominous. People being dipped alive into vats of hotwax and set out on display for paying customers to view. The Waxworks. Imprisonment snd torture.

The last draw is an odd one. Seemingly by accident the half orc pcks up two cards t once. They seem stuck together for a moment. The one that shuld have come up is The Lost. A woman wanders the hallways of an asylum, pulling her hair out while behind her people howl at a moon peeping through windoes covered in thick metl bars. But the card that was attached flutters down to the table, landing atop the inverted The Dance card. A gnomish mage is looking wide eyed at a tome of knowledge, pointing at  passage he had not noticed until now. The Hidden Truth. Something revealed.

On the face of it, it appears that the Harrow is simply saying you will find what you seek after much evil is met. But what is off isn't this extra card. It is the first card you drew. The only inverted card that has come up. The Dance...

Didn't somebody say something about a ball being held this evening?
Selvin Larst
player, 347 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Mon 15 Dec 2014
at 17:36
  • msg #7

Re: The Night of the Ball

Selvin was glad to be healed a bit as well as his ally and companions. And to be out of the water. Sharks. He didn't like them. He thanked Vencarlo for his aid (and foresight).

Once back at the inn, he glanced at the documents, reading them with a frown. He listened to his companions and licked his lips. "Right. I agree. Let's not go tippin' our hand t'the Queen or physicians..."

His voice lowered, and he looked around before speaking, "Do we...do we think the Queen is behind this? I mean she's been actin'...odd an' brutal. First that guard turns against her. Then the deal with the girl we saved an' had t'be re-saved by Blackjack...now...this..."
The Dealer
GM, 627 posts
Tue 16 Dec 2014
at 22:19
  • msg #8

Re: The Night of the Ball

Anyone? Need to know what you wanna do, go to the ball, sneak into the palace, something else?
Selvin Larst
player, 348 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Tue 16 Dec 2014
at 22:31
  • msg #9

Re: The Night of the Ball

I say go to the ball, as my dialogue fell flat.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:44, Tue 16 Dec 2014.
Vaddis Sonaden
player, 448 posts
Tue 16 Dec 2014
at 22:38
  • msg #10

Re: The Night of the Ball

"Agreed, the ball it is then."
The Dealer
GM, 628 posts
Wed 17 Dec 2014
at 05:37
  • msg #11

Re: The Night of the Ball

The address for the Corawyn Mansion is in a well-to-do neighborhood in southwest Korvosa. As you head that way, the streets grow wider and better paved. The buildings are newer or at least better kept. There are more trees and shrubs. Even the rats look cleaner.

But regardless of the average median income, you still see signs of the epidemic. Death carts still roll by. Businesses are still locked up tight. People peek out from behind curtained windows to watch you walk past. The sun begins to dip in the west.

You leave the road to walk up a short but winding private drive. The estate is surronded by a high, stone wall. On the other side you can see a thick canopy of trees. Bloodwood and elm mostly. Costly trees to maintain in this climate. A couple of birds twitter inside the wall. You don't hear any other sounds though.

The front gate to the estate is a thick wooden door set into the wall. Oddly, there is no one around. No guard or valet is waiting to see you in. There are several carriages parked a little further down the drive, in front of a stables that must be set up for the draw horses. But you see no movement down that way either.

There is a bell and pulley set up just beside the closed gate. Perhaps you need to ring for entrance then. As you come closer, you see one odd thing. The pull rope on the bell is stained black in one place. Dried blood from the looks of it.
Vaddis Sonaden
player, 449 posts
Wed 17 Dec 2014
at 13:33
  • msg #12

Re: The Night of the Ball

"Hmm, something odd going on here. Should we ring the bell?"
Selvin Larst
player, 349 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Wed 17 Dec 2014
at 13:57
  • msg #13

Re: The Night of the Ball

Selvin shook his head. "I think this is bad. That...looks like dried blood. I think I should summon my friend." He sits down and begins chanting unless stopped.
Tarrov Garrick
player, 290 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Wed 17 Dec 2014
at 21:52
  • msg #14

Re: The Night of the Ball




What was going on in Korvosa?  Tarrov had lived in the city all of his life and had never experienced even one of the things that had happened in the last couple of weeks, much less all of them.  The city truly seemed sick.  Something dark was at work, of that the young bard was sure.

"No guards and no servants at a formal ball?  And no music?  No conversation?  No one stepping outside for a private meeting?"  The silver-haired man shook his head.  "This isn't right.  We should definitely be on our guard.  Something has happened here."  He looked at Vaddis.  "I wouldn't ring the bell.  It might alert whoever has done whatever has happened here.  At worst we stumble into a surprise party and make our apologies.  At best we surprise whoever's done this."  He gestured to the building in a general sort of way.

"Summon your friend."  Tarrov nodded at Selvin, then looked at the others.  "And make whatever preparations are needed.  Something bad has happened.  And whoever did it might still be here."




This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Wed 17 Dec 2014.
Izzick
player, 75 posts
Thu 18 Dec 2014
at 06:42
  • msg #15

Re: The Night of the Ball

Sorry had meant to suggest it, but got busy before I managed to post

While his race had often been a problem at such social events, the half-orc had made good to look good, as well as applied some of his most expensive perfumed cologne. He knew it tended to impress the well-to-do. But the night was quickly playing out more like a horror story told in the abandoned buildings of Racker's Alley than a nigh at the ball. A scroll of Shield came out into Izzick's hand, making certain he was ready to cast it at a moment's notice.

"Do you hear anything?" he asked, quieting them all as he tried to listen as well. Maybe it could let them know who or what awaited them inside. Though his senses seemed to fail him if there was anything to hear.

01:41, Today: Izzick rolled 1 using 1d20-1. Perception.

Though Izzick himself is useless to the cause

This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:58, Thu 18 Dec 2014.
Vaddis Sonaden
player, 450 posts
Thu 18 Dec 2014
at 12:56
  • msg #16

Re: The Night of the Ball

Vaddis checks to see if the gate is open.
The Dealer
GM, 630 posts
Fri 19 Dec 2014
at 04:45
  • msg #17

Re: The Night of the Ball

Map uploaded to group 2

The gate swings open easily, though it creaks. The squeal sounds louder than it actually is given the unnerving silence. A path extends up past the gate to a series of wide stone steps. At the top of the steps sets the manor. In the moonlight, you can see a small trail of dried blood leading up to the manor door. Someone was bleeding as they came or went.

The manor consits of a two story house with a hedged in garden behind it. The hedge is higher than a man and blocks your view of the garden. There is an outbuilding set at one end of the hedged garden. Probably a servants quarters or storage shed.

You can see lights inside the house through the windows. Shadows move across a couple of windows, so someone is home. But you can hear nothing. There is no music or chatter of conversation.

You all finish your preperations.

You can go up to the front doors. Look in the wondows. Duck through the hedge. Or what have you.
Vaddis Sonaden
player, 451 posts
Fri 19 Dec 2014
at 13:15
  • msg #18

Re: The Night of the Ball

"Window?" Vaddis questions the others.
Selvin Larst
player, 350 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Fri 19 Dec 2014
at 17:38
  • msg #19

Re: The Night of the Ball

Selvin stretched as his ally arrived and melded over his body. He nodded at Vaddis' observation and then realized he was asking a question. "Not goin' through the door?" He moved towards the manor, loping on all fours. He gave a shrug.
Tarrov Garrick
player, 291 posts
Performance Artist
Cracking the Whip
Fri 19 Dec 2014
at 18:45
  • msg #20

Re: The Night of the Ball




Tarrov made an intricate motion with his fingers, then pointed first at Vaddis, then at Selvin, then at Izzick.  "Here's a little trick I learned," he said, and all could hear his voice whispering in their ear, even though he was standing several feet away.  "You can all communicate with me wherever you go on these grounds, and I'll be able to communicate with you.  Just whisper something, and I'll hear it."

He pointed to the hedge-obscured garden.  "I think we should ensure that no one is outside, first." He pointed to the trail of blood.  "Someone could be injured, or hiding, or both.  They could let us know what happened here.  Also I don't fancy being ambushed by someone left outside, or having them alert whoever's in the house to our presence."

With that, he moved quietly up to the hedge and inspected the garden as surreptitiously as he could.

OOC:  Tarrov casts Message.




This message was last edited by the player at 18:45, Fri 19 Dec 2014.
The Dealer
GM, 631 posts
Sat 20 Dec 2014
at 06:57
  • msg #21

Re: The Night of the Ball

I'm assuming Vaddis and Selvin are looking through the nearest windows first. These would be the ones on each side of the main door. Also assuming Tarrov is peeking through the hedge and Izzick is keeping watch. Uploading an updated map to group 1

The two sets of windows on the front of the manor look into small rooms. To the east of the door is a small drawing room. A couch is visible as well as some chairs. The room is lit by a ornate lantern suspended from a finely wrought chain hanging from the ceiling. The room looks deserted, though the couch faces away from the windows and anyone sitting on it is not visible from your vantage.

The windows to the west of the front door look onto a small gaming parlor. A round table surronded by chairs takes up most of the room. It looks like a game of mah jong tiles had been set up for entertainment. A man is seated at the table, his head slumped down on the table top. Blood is caked onto his neck and it looks like the back of his head has been caved in. You see no sign of him breathing.

Peering through the hedge shows a grizaly sight. A woman is laying face down on the grass in the middle of the garden. Her fine gown has been shredded, and it appears she crawled out a backdoor before succumbing to her wounds. She os dead as well. Some birds are already dining on her.

Selvin and Vaddis, as you cross from window to window, you can make out some faint sounds behind the front door. It sounds like footsteps. Quite a few. The gait of them is odd. Slightly rhythmic but horribly offbeat. There are some thudding sounds as well. But they sound more faint and are probably farther inside the house.

Feel free to move around to the side to look into more windows, climb through a window, open the front door, enter the garden, or what have you.
Izzick
player, 76 posts
Sat 20 Dec 2014
at 07:29
  • msg #22

Re: The Night of the Ball

Izzick stays around the front of the yard, trying his best to keep a good look out for the group, listening for any messages while ready to send any message warning he needs to, all the while, the tattoo on his arm seemed to crawl from his flesh, forming a solid black scorpion that remained just as alert as he did as it crawled across his clothing. Then again, his thoughts were still elsewhere with the plague seemingly so advanced and unstoppable now.

Bring out my Scorpion familiar so I gain Alertness (completely forgot about that)

But I still can't roll at all
02:28, Today: Izzick rolled 4 using 1d20+1. Perception.

Sign In