Post by gavmeister on Jul 16, 2017 15:26:46 GMT
Pankas has no problem finding an aging rooster, but the small white puppy ends up costing him a gold piece. Finally he comes across a colony of semi-feral cats at the rear of a sullen building - the Wachterhaus. One of the cats is large and brown. All three creatures are handed over alive and well to Jeny Greenteeth.
A moral and theological dilemma
Van der Voort pleads with the others not to turn Milivoj and him in to the Baron and Strazni. Bran is unmoved – justice should be done and in this town the Baron’s word is law. Ricken argues on the contrary that the theft of the holy relic is an ecclesiastical matter. Position statements are made referring to the tenets of Amaunator and Lathander. Giselle and Ismark break into the debate, declaring they are none too keen on the Baron’s ‘justice’. They agree to consult Father Lucian at St Andral’s. Pankas rejoins them at the church.
The priest has little time for Van der Voort, but is pragmatically concerned about securing a steady supply of coffins if the old man is executed. Milivoj is more of a worry as Father Lucian fears the outcome for the boy’s siblings if the Baron and Strazni get their hands on him. Milivoj does appear contrite. In the end the party decide to leave matters with Father Lucian, although Ricken does suggest some inventive coffin-making related punishments for Van der Voort. Bran shakes his head and worries about the precedent set.
They head back to the Blue Water Inn for some Red Dragon Crush and a long rest. Passing the burgomaster’s mansion, they notice unsettling purple flashes emanating from the attic.
They return to the Blue Water just as a pair of young troublemakers, Nikolai and Karl Wachter, are ejected for over-indulgence in Purple Grapemash No.3.
Out and about in Vallaki
Theo starts work early on his family tree for Jeny Greenteeth. He promises to re-join the party as soon as the old lady has written off his debt.
Over breakfast the others ask von Richten whether Sasha Ivliskova could be the Vistana, searching for her mentor, spoken of by Madam Eva. Von Richten thinks the prediction is more likely to refer to his own protégé, Ezmerelda D’Avernir, but he has heard nothing from her for several years. The old vampire hunter departs, bearing apples for “Drusilla, my travelling companion” and a cooked wolf steak “for Blinsky”. Martikov tells them that Drusilla is in fact the carnival master’s horse, settled down in the Inn’s stable.
Bran visits Tibor Rannak’s smithy and pays over the odds for a greatsword. They visit the farmer’s market in the park but find little of culinary interest.
On the trail of the Vallakovich’s missing butler and maid, the adventurers look over the dreary Old Markov House. Disappointingly, it turns out to be securely shuttered and padlocked. There is no sign of the new owner, Lazlo Zelenski. They decide to return under cover of darkness.
In the town square, Ismark notices the little man who had been following them. He tries to rush the sneak, but makes his intentions too obvious and the man bolts for it. Ismark is too fast, however, and brings his target down with a flying tackle. Bran interrogates the man – Ernst Larnak - carefully, backed up by a menacing-looking Pankas. Larnak pleads that he is an innocent servant of Lady Wachter. The Lady likes to know about new arrivals in town. They march him back to the Wachterhaus and hand him over to a maid, Madalena.
There’s a commotion in the street. They find Lady Wachter’s sons, Karl and Nikolai, teasing and bullying a young girl. Giselle is having none of this and tells them to desist. “Yeah, you and whose army?” asks Nikolai, unaware that Pankas and Bran are standing behind him. They desist and are marched back to their mother’s Haus. Another maid, Amalthia, takes delivery but the door is once more closed in their faces. They return to the main square.
Izek Strazni and eight of the town guards pass by, carrying a body wrapped in a blanket. Rumours spread that a murdered Vistana was found at the Arasek Stockyard. The adventurers follow the trail to the stockyard where they interview Gunther and Yelena Arasek. Gunther found the girl’s partially clothed body in a shed that morning, covered in blood from two puncture marks on her neck. Perhaps one of the vampires from the coffin- maker’s shop? Perhaps.
They can’t fail to notice the brightly painted wagon belonging to “Rictavio’s Carnival of Wonders”. Pankas and Ricken take a closer look at the heavily padlocked wagon, finding dried blood spattered over the sides. The inscription on the door frame reads “I bring you from Shadow into Light”. The wagon suddenly lurches as something big inside throws itself against the inside wall. They hear metal scraping and the snarl of something inhuman. They fear a werewolf, but decide the creature inside is too big. Time for discretion.
Returning via the town square, Giselle’s conscience is pricked by the plight of the seven townsfolk locked in the stocks. She gives the rest of her day’s rations to the prisoners. Bran hangs back, unwilling to risk the Baron’s wrath. Desultory applause breaks out but is quickly stilled. A couple of passers-by hurry off towards the burgomaster’s mansion.
Von Richten’s Plan
The adventurers return to the Blue Water Inn, its roof once again host to the resident kindness of ravens.
They confront von Richten about his wagon. The vampire hunter confesses that he has brought an armoured sabre-toothed tiger with him, which he plans to unleash on the nearby Vistani camp. He’s been training it with the Vistani doll he bought from Blinsky. The adventurers point out that not all the Vistani are bad – what about Ezmerelda? The old man does admit to some weaknesses in the scheme. Perhaps it needs a rethink.
They ask Urwin Martikov about Lady Wachter. She’s a wealthy woman from an old Vallaki family whose husband passed away a few years ago. Rumour has it she’s no friend of the Baron. Rumour also has it that she hosts an exclusive book club at the Wachterhaus; membership by invitation only.
The Old Markov House
The adventurers wait for cover of darkness and head over to the Old Markov House. Ricken scouts around and finds the building is lit from within by many candles. Giselle undoes the padlock and kicks the front door open. They are confronted by nine hooded cultists chanting over a glowing pentacle inscribed in the floor. Bran is having none of this and charges in with Amaunator’s Divine Favour, closely followed by Pankas. The big lads get stuck in with cold steel. Giselle steps back, first sending an arrow at the nearest cultist. Battle is joined.
The Cult Leader casts Spiritual Weapon, summoning a diabolic pitchfork to attack Ismark. He then tries to Command Pankas, but the monster-hunter is too old a hand to be caught out.
Ricken Blesses the party, then sends a barrage of Scorching Rays at the cultists. One by one the scimitar-wielding crazies are brought down, but not before one of them casts a painful Inflict Wounds on Bran. Vengeance is swift however; Giselle sends an arrow straight through the cultist’s heart. They finish off the cult leader and look around.
A den of iniquity indeed – but there is no sign of the missing butler and maid.
A moral and theological dilemma
Van der Voort pleads with the others not to turn Milivoj and him in to the Baron and Strazni. Bran is unmoved – justice should be done and in this town the Baron’s word is law. Ricken argues on the contrary that the theft of the holy relic is an ecclesiastical matter. Position statements are made referring to the tenets of Amaunator and Lathander. Giselle and Ismark break into the debate, declaring they are none too keen on the Baron’s ‘justice’. They agree to consult Father Lucian at St Andral’s. Pankas rejoins them at the church.
The priest has little time for Van der Voort, but is pragmatically concerned about securing a steady supply of coffins if the old man is executed. Milivoj is more of a worry as Father Lucian fears the outcome for the boy’s siblings if the Baron and Strazni get their hands on him. Milivoj does appear contrite. In the end the party decide to leave matters with Father Lucian, although Ricken does suggest some inventive coffin-making related punishments for Van der Voort. Bran shakes his head and worries about the precedent set.
They head back to the Blue Water Inn for some Red Dragon Crush and a long rest. Passing the burgomaster’s mansion, they notice unsettling purple flashes emanating from the attic.
They return to the Blue Water just as a pair of young troublemakers, Nikolai and Karl Wachter, are ejected for over-indulgence in Purple Grapemash No.3.
Out and about in Vallaki
Theo starts work early on his family tree for Jeny Greenteeth. He promises to re-join the party as soon as the old lady has written off his debt.
Over breakfast the others ask von Richten whether Sasha Ivliskova could be the Vistana, searching for her mentor, spoken of by Madam Eva. Von Richten thinks the prediction is more likely to refer to his own protégé, Ezmerelda D’Avernir, but he has heard nothing from her for several years. The old vampire hunter departs, bearing apples for “Drusilla, my travelling companion” and a cooked wolf steak “for Blinsky”. Martikov tells them that Drusilla is in fact the carnival master’s horse, settled down in the Inn’s stable.
Bran visits Tibor Rannak’s smithy and pays over the odds for a greatsword. They visit the farmer’s market in the park but find little of culinary interest.
On the trail of the Vallakovich’s missing butler and maid, the adventurers look over the dreary Old Markov House. Disappointingly, it turns out to be securely shuttered and padlocked. There is no sign of the new owner, Lazlo Zelenski. They decide to return under cover of darkness.
In the town square, Ismark notices the little man who had been following them. He tries to rush the sneak, but makes his intentions too obvious and the man bolts for it. Ismark is too fast, however, and brings his target down with a flying tackle. Bran interrogates the man – Ernst Larnak - carefully, backed up by a menacing-looking Pankas. Larnak pleads that he is an innocent servant of Lady Wachter. The Lady likes to know about new arrivals in town. They march him back to the Wachterhaus and hand him over to a maid, Madalena.
There’s a commotion in the street. They find Lady Wachter’s sons, Karl and Nikolai, teasing and bullying a young girl. Giselle is having none of this and tells them to desist. “Yeah, you and whose army?” asks Nikolai, unaware that Pankas and Bran are standing behind him. They desist and are marched back to their mother’s Haus. Another maid, Amalthia, takes delivery but the door is once more closed in their faces. They return to the main square.
Izek Strazni and eight of the town guards pass by, carrying a body wrapped in a blanket. Rumours spread that a murdered Vistana was found at the Arasek Stockyard. The adventurers follow the trail to the stockyard where they interview Gunther and Yelena Arasek. Gunther found the girl’s partially clothed body in a shed that morning, covered in blood from two puncture marks on her neck. Perhaps one of the vampires from the coffin- maker’s shop? Perhaps.
They can’t fail to notice the brightly painted wagon belonging to “Rictavio’s Carnival of Wonders”. Pankas and Ricken take a closer look at the heavily padlocked wagon, finding dried blood spattered over the sides. The inscription on the door frame reads “I bring you from Shadow into Light”. The wagon suddenly lurches as something big inside throws itself against the inside wall. They hear metal scraping and the snarl of something inhuman. They fear a werewolf, but decide the creature inside is too big. Time for discretion.
Returning via the town square, Giselle’s conscience is pricked by the plight of the seven townsfolk locked in the stocks. She gives the rest of her day’s rations to the prisoners. Bran hangs back, unwilling to risk the Baron’s wrath. Desultory applause breaks out but is quickly stilled. A couple of passers-by hurry off towards the burgomaster’s mansion.
Von Richten’s Plan
The adventurers return to the Blue Water Inn, its roof once again host to the resident kindness of ravens.
They confront von Richten about his wagon. The vampire hunter confesses that he has brought an armoured sabre-toothed tiger with him, which he plans to unleash on the nearby Vistani camp. He’s been training it with the Vistani doll he bought from Blinsky. The adventurers point out that not all the Vistani are bad – what about Ezmerelda? The old man does admit to some weaknesses in the scheme. Perhaps it needs a rethink.
They ask Urwin Martikov about Lady Wachter. She’s a wealthy woman from an old Vallaki family whose husband passed away a few years ago. Rumour has it she’s no friend of the Baron. Rumour also has it that she hosts an exclusive book club at the Wachterhaus; membership by invitation only.
The Old Markov House
The adventurers wait for cover of darkness and head over to the Old Markov House. Ricken scouts around and finds the building is lit from within by many candles. Giselle undoes the padlock and kicks the front door open. They are confronted by nine hooded cultists chanting over a glowing pentacle inscribed in the floor. Bran is having none of this and charges in with Amaunator’s Divine Favour, closely followed by Pankas. The big lads get stuck in with cold steel. Giselle steps back, first sending an arrow at the nearest cultist. Battle is joined.
The Cult Leader casts Spiritual Weapon, summoning a diabolic pitchfork to attack Ismark. He then tries to Command Pankas, but the monster-hunter is too old a hand to be caught out.
Ricken Blesses the party, then sends a barrage of Scorching Rays at the cultists. One by one the scimitar-wielding crazies are brought down, but not before one of them casts a painful Inflict Wounds on Bran. Vengeance is swift however; Giselle sends an arrow straight through the cultist’s heart. They finish off the cult leader and look around.
A den of iniquity indeed – but there is no sign of the missing butler and maid.