Talona’s Ebb and the Cure of the Bloodveil

Characters: Barl Bloodbones, Belton Stoutshield, Domollo Blue, JadeBlade, Vi’Helm

NPCs: Magoovial Hammerstriker, Olan Hanch, Dalvin Crand, Gurdainz Whitehorse

Synopsis: It is a brief moment after the death of Queen Andiasin that the group begins healing, pondering what their next action should be. As curing spells are cast, the light of the private chamber flickers slightly. The adventurers rally to the chambers exit, but their attention quickly shifts back to the body of Andiasin. Erupting from within, a tangled mass of flesh, muscle and bone twists the corpse seemingly inside out. Andiasin’s body has devolved into a diseased aspect of her twisted deity. Through concentrated efforts the group splinters the newly formed body, finally destroying the body with fire.

With only sections of the underground temple left to explore, the group rushes to the unopened doors throughout the complex. They discover a hall of prisons and rescue two survivors, stricken with the Bloodveil. Both Olan Hanch and Dalvin Crand are tired but healing spells allow them to rally and the group returns to the triage center where the two rescued prisoners find empty cots to lie in.

With enough evidence and conviction to expel Eliosa from her place of power, the group carries Magoovial back to the Temple of Torm where the guards quickly assume guardianship. The parley between the temple guard and Domollo is rapid and ratchets up the aggression between the two. Barl exposes the Torm’s brand upon his chest and the group is given audience to the high priests, lead by Gurdainz Whitehorse. Their explanation is presented and Priest Whitehorse thanks them for their valiant efforts. The high priests assume possession of the group’s evidence, promising swift justice after reviewing the facts.

The story of the Hospice of the Gray Maidens is punctuated with the presence of the vampire Arkmeinos. High Priest Whitehorse speaks of the vampire as from an empire that expired a long time ago called Korvosa. The master he spoke of is disconnected from the Material Plane and lost to the ages. But Arkmeinos has survived thousands of years, and the high priests are aware of his ambitions. Ultimately this includes a cure for his vampirism. Their collaboration with the vampire is a temporary, albeit uneasy, understanding.

The cleric Magoovial has survived the God-Touch of Torm and rests under the watchful eyes of temple priests. Whitehorse is at a loss for words when the group recounts Magoovial’s saving grace. It is a moment in modern times that is unprecedented; the last God-Touch was over a thousand years ago. The group is again thanked for their struggle and promised contact when the evidence results in the arrest of Eliosa. The long day has ended and the group returns to the Smelted Horse to celebrate a bittersweet victory, passing by many Teziirans still stricken with the Bloodveil.

The next few days quickly come can go. Four days following the defeat of Lady Andiasin, the adventurers receive word from the Temple of Torm. The healers were able to develop a cure for Bloodveil based on the hidden documents retrieved from the personal study of Doctor Duvalis. Clerics are working night and day to develop and administer it to the masses, which now number a third less of the total population. The plague has left a deep scare on the city of Teziir. But justice is to be delivered. The high priests of each of the represented gods in the temple district united in a single front to arrest Eliosa. She is to be tried in a tenday for her involvement in the outbreak, and the adventurers are to be key witnesses to bring her to justice. The promise of complete victory is enough to carry the group’s spirits for a little longer in this terrible time.

Encounters: aspect of Talona, temple guards of Torm

Achievements: defeated the last remnant of Talona, consecrated the evil deity’s shrine, delivered the collected evidence to the High Priests of Torm, and recovered the cure for Bloodveil.

The Evils of Doctor Duvalis and Queen Andiasin

Characters: Barl Bloodbones, Belton Stoutshield, Domollo Blue, JadeBlade, Vi’Helm

NPCs: Magoovial Hammerstriker, Doctor Duvalis, Queen Andiasin

Synopsis: Recovering from the smackdown delivered by the vampire Arkmeinos, the group dusts itself off and investigates the room and bodies. The man armed with cutlery and dressed in a heavy leather apron is identified as Jocylina’s lover Rolth. Numerous manic letters from the elf sorceress are found on his person. The prisoner of the vampire was definitely Jocylina’s stolen prize Ruan, the minstrel of the party at the Carowyn Manor.

Their defeat at the hands of Arkmeinos still lingers as the group explores the room. The tactics of the Physician’s Assistants reveal the mysterious green solution brewing in the massive culdrons. The room is facilitating the development of the Bloodveil disease. The manufactured virus was planted in the Teziiran population by those under Rolth’s direction. Domollo explores the upper catwalks once again and hears movement beyond one of the doors. With their presence already detected the group enters the room with expert tactics, but finds the one man behind it all. Surrounded by four of his minions, Doctor Duvalis stands secure behind his men, slowly clapping at the group’s detective skills.

Domollo questions the man on his morality, and is confounded by Duvalis’ bravado and lack of conscience. The man who engineered the deaths of hundreds, maybe thousands, claims promised gold was motive enough. The revelation sparks the group to action as JadeBlade focuses in on the doctor and charges past the minions. Again, combat spills throughout the room as the melee pivots in between massive glass chambers housing mysterious creatures. The four Physician’s Assistants are tested, but each remains beholden to the doctor. It is a truly vicious blast from JadeBlade’s dwarven war axe that stuns Duvalis. With his dying breath the evil man whispers, “What good is a reward if you’re not around to use it.” The words a buried beneath the doctor’s lifeless form.

The Physician’s Assistants are left alone, but a mysterious female voice beckons them to try for victory. One of the men unsuccessfully attempts to bash one of the glass chambers but cannot break it. The hideous aberration contained within twitches with life, all but screaming for its freedom. The creature’s prison holds and the last of the doctor’s followers is killed. The two double doors leading beyond are ajar, unable to contain the taunting voice coming from within. Domollo surmises that the owner is the mysterious Queen Andiasin, only spoken of by the likes of the Gray Maidens and followers of Duvalis. Perhaps it is Eliosa Arabasi’s alter ego, for her justice has yet to be served.

Before proceeding to the hidden voice’s location, Magoovial stops the group. As his eyes turn white, the healing energies wash over the investigators. It is Torm’s will that baptizes them with new energy and reinvigored life. No longer are they suffering from wounds; spells have returned to their minds, and mystic energies have filled their souls. After but a moment, Magoovial collapses. He lives but is incapacitated. The miracle stands as a testament to Torm’s reach. They have received the god-touch.

The lone figure in the room dominates half of the group, forcing them to pay homage for being in her presence. But the defiant Vi’Helm restores the will of the oppressed and the battle rages. Surrounded in obfuscating mist, Queen Andiasin finds the enlarged target that is Barl Bloodbones and buries her scythe deep in the Underdark dwarf. The two precise strikes prove deadly and Barl dies. From Vi’Helm’s divine vision, she senses her companion’s life force vanish. Domollo’s efforts to save the dwarf are fruitless. JadeBlade’s rage devours the dwarf as he races around the room attempting to find the flying queen.

Vi’Helm focuses her mind and disperses the mist. Finding her target she casts a spell allowing the raging JadeBlade the gift of flight. Now the queen cannot hide in the air. From beyond the Material Plane the god-touched Barl Bloodbones is met by the blessed Torm. The deity challenges the deep dwarf. As is the choice of all who parish, Barl is given the ability to return. But if he is to again walk the Material Plan, it must be as an avenger for the god. Barl promises to execute all who stand against Torm, and awakens in the midst of battle against Queen Andiasin.

The return of their fallen comrade is enough to flood the room with the morale of the adventurers. Barl stands to flank the flying witch with JadeBlade and through their combined blades, and the spells of Vi’Helm and Belton, Andiasin becomes the queen of nothing. Her body crashes to the ground, spilling the central fountain’s water, thus ending her reign of terror. Now the group has everything they need to indict the villains behind the Bloodveil. If only they could find the cure.

Encounters: four Physician’s Assistants, Doctor Duvalis, Queen Andiasin

Achievements: discovered the manufacturing facility of the Bloodveil, defeated Doctor Duvalis and his Physician’s Assistants, touched by the god Torm, and killed the witch Queen Andiasin.

The Fall of Rolth and the Truth of the Minstrel Ruan

Characters: Barl Bloodbones, Belton Stoutshield, Domollo Blue, JadeBlade, Vi’Helm

NPCs: Magoovial Hammerstriker, Ruan, Rolth, Arkmeinos

Synopsis: War erupts in the underground laboratory between the adventurers and the practitioners of evil. JadeBlade looses his rage on the awaiting priests of Tylona and Physcian’s Assistants. The group pours into the room and divides the targets. One after another falls to the blades as their leader sparks lightening from within to scorch the attackers. The advancement is slow at first, but JadeBlade and Magoovial move up to the catwalks and engage the assistants in elevated positions. Barl sends his attacker to the floor, cut down from his great sword, and pulls himself up to the suspensed walkways. As Belton’s spells cripple the priests, Vi’Helm rushes to his allies healing gaping wounds instantly.

The assault is overwhelming. Barl is the first to reach the leader and ends the man. JadeBlade and Magoovial wipe up the rest of the goons and Domollo quickly scouts the doors adjacent to the sickening room. The first door he reaches results in unintended success. Inside the room a pale man stands over another that is strapped to a table, clearly against his will. A harp lies in the corner. Domollo pieces the clues together. The man on the table is Ruan, the minstrel from the noble party at the Carowyn Manor. The crazed Jocylina wrote of her lover Rolth and her delivery of the harper to his hands.

Domollo draws his weapon, but the pale man catches his eyes. He is undistressed at Domollo’s intrusion as if a fly had entered his kitchen. Looking over the man closely, Domollo is suspect especially coming from the blood bath. As the factotum moves toward the imprisoned Ruan, the man warns him that he is outclassed and should vacate the room immediately. Domollo remembers his pact to find Ruan, but as the man speaks, Domollo spots the telltale signs. The man is a vampire. Before he can stop himself Domollo screams for the others. Shaking his head he motions for the dismissal. He introduces himself as Arkmeinos and denies the request to free Ruan. The minstrel has a unique quality and Arkmeinos’ master wants Ruan for himself.

Domollo cannot stop JadeBlade who rushes into the room and charges the vampire. The attack is wild and rage-fueled, and massively off-target. Arkmeinos concentrates on the dwarf and blasts him. The battle is joined by Barl, who immediately falls under the dominating gaze of the vampire, forced to defend the one thing he wants to kill. Domollo works against the deep dwarf as the others arrive. JadeBlade is still undeterred, swinging his axe for the vampire’s throat. The first swing is a violent miss, but the return blow lands true and slashes him. The moment he strikes the target, JadeBlade’s rage is exercised and transferred to the vampire. Now Arkmeinos’ anger is beyond suppression.

Domollo can only look on with stunned eyes as his sword stroke that would surely injure a normal man misses. The vampire looks at the dwarf as his next target, who has moved well beyond shear annoyance. His blow drops JadeBlade to the ground. Watching his group disintegrate, Domollo brokers a cease-fire. The group retreats as Vi’Helm heals JadeBlade from the brink of death. Ruan’s freedom is sacrificed for the party’s survival, but Arkmeinos sends both Vi’Helm and Domollo sailing through the air before mentally slamming the door shut. Ruan is lost to his fate.

Encounters: four Physician’s Assistants, six of priests of Tylona, Rolth the Mortician, the vampire Arkmeinos

Achievements: defeated Rolth the Mortician and his personal guards, discovered the fate of Ruan and his special ability to repel the Bloodveil disease, survived the vampire Arkmeinos, and learned of his servitude to his master.

The Secrets of the Hospice of Blessed Maidens or The Dungeons of Arcona Imports

Characters: Barl Bloodbones, Belton Stoutshield, Domollo Blue, JadeBlade

NPCs: Magoovial Hammerstriker

Synopsis: JadeBlade and his companions return to Teziir with the much coveted, but also skeptical, spoils of the Astorian hideout: the case of the cure for the Bloodveil plague. The priests of the Temple of Torm are in disarray as too many of the city folk have fallen to the disease. The cleric of Torm Magoovial Hammerstrike takes the cure in possession, but expresses dismay at the current state of Teziir, especially his fallen brother Eshtani Doctri. Magoovial explains that he recently came in possession of documents detailing strife among two factions of wererats that infest the city below. One faction is lead by the wererat Geargz, the other Ariz Yelloweyes. The letter insists that Geargz and his followers intend to lay waste to Teziir and begin their campaign of rule from the sewers. Aria Yelloweyes contends that this will upset the status quo and bring ruin to her kind. At its weakest moment, Teziir is under attack.

Magoovial summons two other aides and asks for JadeBlades assistance. JadeBlade follows the cleric as the priest of Torm describes suspicions regarding the actions of Doctor Duvalis and Eliosa Arabasi. Rumors are abound of their deviance and Magoovial is to inspect the converted Arcona Imports warehouse that now serves as a triage center for those infected by the Bloodveil. The city streets are desserted until they reach the warehouse where a line of ailing people are governed by several Gray Maidens, followers of Eliosa. Magoovial dispenses with the present authority, gaining access to the facility. The sea of the dying is overwhelming as cots are populated with those struggling to live, but losing badly to the Bloodveil. But the priest stops as he sees the telltale signs of battle. Blood stains the walls as numerous bodies include both Gray Maidens and Duvalis’ masked physician’s assistants.

On the upper level of the warehouse, Barl, Crulamin, Domollo, Belton, and Vi’Helm stand outside an engraved door, desperately seeking the truth they know they must find. So far their investigation has discovered only death. Breaching the door, they find another set of patients. But these are in the most advanced stages of the Bloodveil, each strapped to their bed amidst a wicked laboratory. Three attending physicians stand at the ready and loose their crossbow bolts on the intruders. The battle is quick as the group overruns the demented assistants. As the combat ends Magoovial and JadeBlade arrive and greet Domollo’s mates. Familiar with the group, Magoovial updates Domollo with the recent knowledge of the advancing army of wererats.

Beyond the lab is an abandoned private study littered with alchemical beakers and scattered papers. Nothing of value is apparent, but the condition of the office indicates that it was recently occupied. The adjacent lab reveals cruel treatment and potential experimentation on the sick. As the group is looking for clues, the warehouse’s lift begins to move. The group moves to the sub-floor to find a vast network of rooms. Among the first chambers are a watch guard of Gray Maidens and another alchemical equipment room.

Under the guise of Physicians’ Assistants, the group stumbles upon a ritual party headed by dark priests of Tylona, goddess of disease and death. Domollo immediately falls into character, order the troop to return to the “queen” as they have been summoned. He summons one of the priests into the equipment room and, while shutting the door, instructs Barl to cut him down. The physician is slain, leaving nothing but stained robes on the chamber floor. Their infiltration is coming to an end.

The network of rooms becomes more evil with each subsequent chamber, culminating in a despicable hall of horrors. Encased in transparent walls of force, undead bodies writhe in a crawl space around the circumference of the room. Body parts pivot and blood coats the poor souls trapped within. The display is sickening, even to the heartiest of warriors. Quickly moving to through the opposing doors, the group finds a disturbing room with corpses fastened to beds in the most extreme case of depravity. It is a room of total experimentation with complete disregard of the dignity of life. The entire building is saturated in evil.

Moving through the hall of undead, the group soldiers on, passing through mighty double doors. On the other side is a montage of priests and phsycian’s assistants waiting in silence for the intruders. The room supports elevated crosswalks that pass over massive culdrons of bubbling ooze. Standing atop the central catwalk is a man dressed in heavy aprons, equipped with a multitude of cutting instruments and miscellaneous surgical devices. The room is silent in the exposure of pure evil.

Encounters: three Physician’s Assistants, four Gray Maidens, a gas-trapped foyer, a multitude of priests of Tylona, and the mad experimentor.

Achievements: uncovered the secret compound of the Physician’s Assistants, revealed the evil experiments being performed on diseased folk, and discovered the participation of priests of Tylona.