Winds of Vesperia

[eveglass]

This week's session answered some important and integral questions: How difficult is it, really, to infiltrate the High Cathedral of Sigil? What is causing the infection at the heart of Vardin? And what happens when you piss off beings far more powerful than you are? (Hint: It ends badly for at least one major NPC.)


[In the forest near Vardin's capital, we hear the sounds of at least two more packs of ferals.]
DAX: "You need a distraction."
Sela: "Captain, shall we let DAX be our distraction?"
Jass: "Yup."

[DAX allows DAX Supreme to take over, which is good inasmuch as it's providing a truly memorable distraction for Vardin's army, and bad inasmuch as DAX Supreme hates all elves and knows that there's a huge city full of them right nearby.]
Kyn the GM: "He's advancing on the city. Now, every step he takes, he has to cut down innocent... well, relatively innocent elves..."

[We rush into the city, knowing that we leave DAX Supreme behind us.]
Kyn the GM: "Look at the bright side."
Marc: "What bright side?!"
Tony: "It's not raining."

[Many peasants from the outlying villages are rushing into the capital to escape the 'thing in the woods.' Thankfully, we have a master negotiator with us.]
Kyn the GM: "Bast finds you a nice little inn called The Prancing Troll."
Jass: "How... No, I don't want to know."

[The big talk around the inn is what the heck the thing in the woods is.]
Kyn the GM: "There are a lot of conspiracy theories. Not one of them involves an ancient warforged with a hatred for elves."

[Esmeralda spends the night getting drunk, and is exceedingly hung over in the morning.]
Esmeralda: (hung over) "Yeah, not gonna do that for a while."
Sela: "You want me to hold you to that, or just laugh at you the next time it happens?"
Esmeralda: *gives her the finger*

[As we wake up, we find out about the fallout of DAX Supreme.]
Bast: "He didn't hit a single warforged to kill, only to disable."
Sela: "The elves, on the other hand..."
Bast: "He killed 112 solders, 30 mages, and a general. He managed to do more damage to the Vardin army than the last two Falan incursions."
Sela: "Remind me not to get on his bad side."

[After everyone's had a good night sleep -- everyone but Jass, anyway -- Bast brings up some concerns to his captain.]
Jass: "You are my friend, Bast."
Bast: "That's the problem."

[Sela, Esmeralda, and Jass go out shopping.]
Sela: "It's Vardin, so I'm sure there's stuff... and hordes of unwashed peasants."

[After much soul-searching, Bast has decided he wants to leave the group. Esmeralda tries to figure out a way to convince him to stay.]
Sela: "That's a belt of gender changing."
Esmeralda: "Well, he likes men. Why not?"
Tony: "We have magic for that! If you're born in the wrong body, you just change your body!"

[Esmeralda is upset that Bast is leaving.]
Kyn the GM: "Esmeralda engages in the best kind of therapy: shopping."
Tony: "With my money."
Kyn the GM: "She bought silk rope."
Tony: "...I'm not even mad."

[Meanwhile, Garrett catches sight of the fire-mage we killed last session, very much not dead. We try to figure out how this might be.]
Esmeralda: "He might be the son of a noble."
Garret: "Well, I'm going to be responsible for killing the son of a noble... a second time."

[Garrett managed to remove a crystal from the fire-mage's forehead after we killed him. It turns out to be a secondary spellbook, with an additional page at the end written in a language none of us can understand without Comprehend Languages.]
Sela: "Can you understand it?
Jass: "Yes."
Sela: "What is it?"
Jass: "Bad news."

[The extra page was a prayer to Zorn, written in Illithid. On the other hand, we now have some bigger problems, like the fact that Bast is missing.]
Sela: (to barkeep) "Have you seen the catfolk we came in with?"
Barkeep: "Nope."
Sela: "Not anywhere?"
Barkeep: "Nope."
Jass: "You asked the wrong way." *slides coins to the barkeep*
Barkeep: "Oh, that catfolk!"

[The barkeep informs us that Bast had rented a second room for himself, and he was taken from it by three elves, one of them in service to Sigil.]
Jass: "You've been very helpful."
Barkeep: "How helpful have I been? Because they were asking if he had any friends."
Jass: *slides over a ridiculous amount of coins* "He didn't have any friends."

[The elf of Sigil returns, only to realize things are amiss.]
Kyn the GM: "He slams the barkeep's head into the bar."
Tony: "Ooh, that pays more than gold!"

[The elf and his soldiers rush to the room where Sela, Esmeralda, and Garret are hiding. There's no back way out of the inn. On the other hand...]
Julie: "Is there a conveniently-located pile of hay below the window?"
Kyn the GM: "Naturally!"

[Sela, Garrett, and Esmeralda run away one way. Jass greases the stairs as the guards rush back down to the common room, blows a kiss to the elf of Sigil, and runs the other way.]
Tony: "I tell ya, I know how to run away from crowds!"

[Realizing we're probably going to get into more combats.]
Sela: "I wish I had my eagle."
Jass: "I have my ego... Oh, you said 'eagle.'"

[We enter the secret tunnel into the Cathedral of Sigil. It is pitch dark.]
Kyn the GM: "There's a light far ahead in the tunnel."
Julie: "Is it an oncoming train?"
Kyn the GM: "Trains don't exist in this world."
Julie: "It's a dragon."

[We emerge in a circular chamber with two statues of Sigil. They nearly wallop Garrett before he realizes at the last moment that he must recite his oath, at which point, they stop.]
Kyn the GM: "You guys could probably have taken the statues. They're only CR 10... from the special book."
Tony: "Fuck that book."

[The circular chamber can rotate to access various areas of the Cathedral. Which is good in that we can get to the dormitories with less detection, and bad in that is seems we've lost our way of escape as the chamber rotates back behind us.]
Kyn the GM: "Now there's a wall behind you."
Julie: "...Yay."

[We emerge at the end of the secret passageway.]
Kyn the GM: "You're in a closet. A broom closet. Because everyone knows that all secret passages end in a broom closet."

[We get our bearings.]
Esmeralda: "Will the room we're going to be occupied?"
Garrett: "Likely."
Esmeralda: "By a Primus?"
Garrett: "Secundus going on Primus, yes."
Esmeralda: "...Why do I ask questions, really?"

[First step: emerge from the broom closet and don't tip off the acolyte who's walking by.]
Kyn the GM: "He stops near the closet... closes it properly, and keeps walking while muttering about people who don't close doors properly. He rolled a 2 on his listen check."

[Jass steals some clothes from a nearby chamber. Unbeknownst to him, they are Primus robes of a Conspirator of Sigil.]
Kyn the GM: "You are the dark side of the Lady."
Jass: "...I need a moment."

[We walk down the halls of the dormitory, trying to fit in.]
Tony: "They can detect if I cast spells, right?"
Kyn the GM: "Oh hell yes."

[We find the correct room. It is large. And occupied by someone sleeping. Sadly, we don't know where exactly the key is hidden.]
Marc: "It's... one of the flagstones."

[Garrett tries to find the key. There are some small problems with this plan.]
Julie: "Are you wearing armor or robes?"
Marc: "...Armor."
Julie: "We're all dead."

[Garrett figures out where Primus Arcturus would have hidden the first key to his book.]
Garrett/Marc: "Oh, you sly bastard. I go to the hearth."
Kyn the GM: "Wow, got it in one shot."

[Sadly, Garrett's investigating the hearth has woken up the room's true occupant, who's a Primus, the highest rank in the Church of Sigil below the Hierophant.]
Kyn the GM: (to Marc) "You have enough wisdom to let the bullshitter bullshit."
Tony: "...I'm sorry, this is a horrible plan."

[Jass still plays the part of the Conspirator whom he is impersonating, effectively telling the other Primus to shut up and let Garrett do his job.]
Kyn the GM: "She's staring directly at Garrett."
Tony: "I've got my poker face on."
Julie: "In a mask!"

[Sometimes you realize the relative importance of various NPCs for the sake of the story.]
Jule: "What's the Primus' name?"
Kyn the GM: "Doesn't matter, she's not a recurring character. Also, I'm probably gonna kill her."

[The Primus turns out to have been put there to guard the key. She is on our side. She agrees to escort us to the entrance of the dungeons where Bast is likely behind held.]
Kyn the GM: "With two Primuses, there's even less chance that you'll be stopped."
Tony: "And she's a legitimate Primus!"

[Jass is still impersonating the Conspirator.]
Tony: "I should make it clear that at no point do I pray to Sigil while wearing this, because that would be blasphemy."
Kyn the GM: "...Sigil notes that."

[Reflecting on the fact that Tony is yet again impersonating a cleric.]
Julie: "You can play a cleric of every religion! Collect 'em all!"
Tony: "I've only done Sigil."
Julie: "Also Elaurynt, in the first session. Also to rescue Bast and Esmeralda, as I recall."

[In the dungeons, we see a large crystal with tentacles emerging from it and into the heads of many people, sucking out their life force.]
Kyn the GM: "There are like 80 people being sucked."
Julie: "Let's not make it 83."

[In addition to the people whose life forces are being drained, there are others who are clearly being corrupted with the infection that is spreading through Vardin.]
Julie: "This is why I'm very glad I'm not playing a paladin, 'cause if I was, I'd have to do something about this."

[Also in the room, emerging from one of the side corridors, is an illithid, aka a mind-flayer. Who, as the name might imply, reads minds.]
Kyn the GM: "The illithid looks around. It stops."
Julie: "I'm gonna get us all killed. I'm sorry."

[Garrett is not happy with the situation.]
Marc: "If we did anything here, how many would we have to fight?"
Kyn the GM: "Dozens... and an illithid."
Tony: "TPK, man."

[The illithid moves on without killing us. We find Bast. He's being held by the fire-mage.]
Jass: "Hold!"
Fire Mage: "What do you want, slave?"
Tony: "...Oh, in here, he commands me?"

[We realize there's only one way to deal with this.]
Tony: "If Garrett moves, I move. Let's do it."
Julie: "...It's been a pleasure gaming with you."
Garrett: *strangles the fire mage*
Jass: *stabs the fire mage in the neck*

[Having rescued Bast, it is now time for the better part of discretion. For most of us.]
Kyn the GM: "You guys are making your way to the door."
Marc: "I can't resist it."
Julie: "Are you about to do something stupid?"
Marc: "I might be."

[Garrett attacks the crystal in the middle of the room. It shudders but isn't quite destroyed. Esmeralda joins in.]
Kyn the GM: "She's gonna go all-out and cast two spells. She does have the belt of battle."
Marc: "Have I mentioned how happy I am we gave her that?"
Julie: "We give our NPCs nice things."

[The crystal shatters as a wave of mind-force erupts from it, dealing massive damage. Everyone infected falls to the floor.]
Julie: "You might be responsible for killing half the people in Vardin."
Marc: "It's possible."

[We rush out of the dungeons. Kyn the GM describes the scene.]
Kyn the GM: "Every infected just fell down."
Julie: "Well, now you know who they are."

[Garrett tries to give a pep talk to his fellows as we're running. For certain values of pep talk.]
Garrett: "Your infectious source is there!"
Marc: "...I'm not so good with the words."

[As we carry Bast back into the hidden corridors, we realize he is infected already. He speaks with the voice of the Hierophant.]
Bast/Hierophant: "I serve a higher power."
Garrett: "Then it's not just you that will have the reckoning."

[Bast is not himself.]
Jass: "Tell me if we can get him back."
Bast: "I'm right here, Captain."
Jass: (sadly) "No, you're not."

[Part of being infected is that Bast now sees the big picture. More or less.]
Bast: "The Eater is coming. The feast will happen. The question is, do you want to be on the menu or sitting at the table?"

[Bast tries to convince us to join him.]
Bast: "Jass, truthfully, how many nights have you sat doubting yourself, worrying that you'll never amount to anything?"
Jass: "Oh, none on that count. I've always known I'll amount to something."

[Bast is destined to be one of the 'master' infected, as opposed to just a slave. This brings with it a certain amount of ego.]
Bast: "I'll have you, Jass, either as a master or my slave, but I love you. I won't let you go this time."
Jass: "I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or a threat."

[The infected are not only kinda crazy, but also immortal, hence why the fire mage is still alive.]
Bast: "You will join me, Jass."
Jass: "I won't. I'll kill myself first. And then incinerate the body. In that order. I'm good like that."

[Bast sees through Jass' bravado.]
Bast: "You won't kill yourself."
Jass: "Yeah."
Bast: "You won't abandon Esmeralda."
Jass: "Yeah."
Bast: "I know you too well."
Jass: "Yeah."

[Bast gives a parting shot as we all leave.]
Bast: "We'll get the book and we'll get DAX's head. Those are the only two things we need to summon the Eater."
Garrett: "...Thank you for the information."

[Having escaped the Cathedral of crazy infected Zorn-worshippers, we must now get back to Jass' ship, which is several days' walk away.]
Marc: "I think I have an idea."
Julie: "I do like ideas."
Marc: "Where do they keep the flying carpets?"
Tony: "Is it in the same place I'm looting?"
Kyn the GM: "...Probably, yeah."

[We return to the ship.]
Therrion: "Oh, you're back!"
Sela: "Yes. Yes, we are."
Kyn the GM: "He's gained a few pounds."

[Therrion has received the magical saddle Sela bought for him.]
Therrion: "Is this for me?"
Sela: "Yes."
Therrion: "It was delivered to the manor."
Tony: "Did he eat the delivery boy?"
Kyn the GM: "...She said no one from this manor."

[Esmeralda is very upset that Jass let Bast go.]
Esmeralda: (to Jass) "Maybe it's time for me to stop running away. One of us has to, and it's obviously not gonna be you."


That's it for this week! Winds of Vesperia is gonna take a brief hiatus for me to go to Pennsic, but after that, it's on to the raptorian home island to try to find key #2. Fun times!