1351 Campaign - Act 1: Warlock's Crypt and the Plague in BG

[kleomenes]

Ameris returns with another donation of healing supplies received from Edmund, priest of Chauntea: a score of healing kits and herbs, as well as safety gloves and masks.

[kleomenes]

Brother Ameris heads north by means of magic with the assistance of Telia Navra, in order to visit Layana, a former Sister of the Temple of Ilmater, who now lives among the Greyfox Tribe.

Ameris and Telia meet with Layana and Nerys, Skald of the Greyfox. Words are exchanged: news of the south; memories of the past; fresh paths in life.

Layana had asked the tribe to gather healing herbs and healing supplies for Ameris to take away for the sickness. Ameris asked for them to gather or purchase more if they were able, and left coin in this regard.

Talk continued long into the night, with Telia speaking at length with their hosts. The visitors pitched their tent rather than make their journey back.




///11,000 gold donated to the Greyfox, 1000 in return for supplies, 10,000 outstanding!

[Carski]

A brazen move is made, as the drummer of the undulating beat takes the podium in the East District. He performs an oration, to the citizenry...and others, that may be within the crowd.

• Days have turned into weeks...
  
  The Dukes declared by official crier they would meet the sickness...as assumption to cure it, one can only presume...and that there would be no need to panic.
  
  Yet...*he pauses for effect*...what have any of you, citizens of Baldur's Gate, seen, but death, bodies and a need to panic!!!
  
  Open your eyes, just look here and there...you are being subjected by your lords to a suffering. It is not just a sickness you are exposed to, it is a rotting of this city...
  
  I speak to you, directly: give tribute to the Queen of the Depths, so that she may take course to cleanse this city with a furious storm...so that all that deserve it, shall be effected.
  
  *the bard makes a few dramatic beats upon his drum, calling more to attention*
  
  You have heard the rumors...of where this sickness has come. It may be that so-called adventuring merchants did unwisely bring upon you this wrath of disease, this suffering to rot in your own skin. How is it that your Dukes, your Lords that say they are here to protect you and provide you with a bountiful life...how is it that they do nothing to control these wanton adventuring merchants that can so easily cause such a suffering through their idiocy?! You are being kept in "place," by your lords and the law...and that place will be your death!
  
  Do not trust any that call themselves adventurer, or merchant, to be your friends or saviors...they are but selfish and cruel in their way, such that they would dumbly bring into your simple homes such a plague that continues to rip families apart, and destroy lives.
  
  None are without risk! From fishmonger to the merchant's in league to the upper crust! None are without risk...except!
  
  Do you not see?! Have you not heard that the Dukes have protected themselves in their Palace, such that they guarantee their lives, their health...while YOU the citizenry are but corralled into one district or another, slowly waiting out the sundial until the cough reaches you, until your body begins to turn inside out, until the blackness of Myrkul's domain in upon you!
  
  You are being put to suffer by your Lords, the law...and these types that take sword and sorcery into their profession of adventuring, without care to what demons they awaken, nor would unleash upon the salt of the earth.
  
  By right, and before it is but your end of life through subjugated suffering, take your breath and will to the very gates of the Duchal Palace, and demand what your Lords have promised.
  
  And beware those that bring potion and promise to your doorstep, or donations in your name to cure your ills. They are but self-serving! They only do such that they may continue to adventure, to merchant, to be the same unwise and ill prepared bearers of plagues, as it is now known, and it will be known again, and again....
  
  But there is a way, shall it be yours in will to make it so! You may give tribute to Water Queen, she that may be the cleansing this city needs! She that has the fury to bring a storm that will wash this city clean! It is not the Gods that have subjected you to this suffering and to rot into death, no...but, look to the Gods for salvation, for protection..else...you will continue to suffer, and die, and die...and die!

With the final words—and with some apparent enthusiasm—the bard of the unrelenting beat does drum hard upon his carved drum, emphasizing each word.

With bold eyes and a head held high, he walks down from the podium, and moves on through the city, continuing his played, undulating beat.

///Willing to make a skill check on perform, and more, should a DM warrant a DC for effect upon those that would hear his speech(es). Also, the above backed up by 3 hours of IG time in the East District.

[Darkcloud777]

*this report has the seal of Trust on and each copy is delievered to different organizations.*

Our group of six scouts headed out from Hilltop in search of the Crypt that the Gnome had pointed out on a map to Erza. The team was led by Vendor Xon. In addition to him Catam D'Argente, Rai Kuu Kynttila, Netanya, Rez Tel'perien and myself seeking all seeking the Crypt.

as we traveled the first thing we came across was the remains of an old campsite with the bodies of it's previous occupants littering the ground. From a distance the corpses looked as if they are mainly in tact. This was quite the oddity in hungry troll territory ." Catam checked a corpse for wounds or other signs of how they died. Rai appeared to be searching for coins and other valuable. I searched the bodies for Identification. I noticed that most of the bodies was wearing masks. "As you moved a mask you discovered their mouths were filled with a mass of feathery necrotic tissue." Realizing this i attempted to collect a sample. As i was doing this "Netanya picked up a stick and used it to dislodge a mask from one of the corpse's faces. As the mask fell off, the head turned and a mass of feathery necrotic tissue spilled out of its mouth... much more than one would anticipate." We all quickly vacated the area and I used my Restoration wand on us and Drank a cure Disease potion. It appeared we was all "familiar with the infection in BG, it had identical symptoms, the feathery mass." Netanya and Reza left shortly afterward on other important mission leaving our crew down to four. The path ahead appeared clear and We followed Vendor further into the wilds.

"WE managed to skirt the sides of the troll claws gaining some ground but our progress came to halt as Two Trolls fighting blocked the path ahead." Catam noticed first claims that these trolls was different. he then said that one of the Troll just spat something and asked us to wait as he used his woodlands skill to vanish even from my sight. i took the moment to put on my magic gear to enhance my sight and looked again. When i did i noticed "something odd, one of them coughed heavily and slumped one moment, then returned to a normal posture the next." Some time past as we waited in the bushes. I grew worried at how long he was gone and was greatly relieved when he appeared before us. "The trolls have the plague... but their regeneration keeps them alive.. There are many tracks.. and many trolls.... The trolls are also looking for the source. They have coughed out a large quantity of the black feathery masses." when Catam finished reporting it was agreed that Vendor would attempt to eavesdrop on the Trolls communications in the hopes that Jotun would be close enough to the troll language that he could understand. We waited.....I found myself chewing on a fingernail as time passed. Finally Vendor returned. "They have the sickness. And they are at war. Also they have a shaman." we all agreed we that we could make our way around and we all followed. As we continued, avoiding larger parties of trolls we come across two groups of trolls fighting and speaking of war. There was talk of tossing an acid bomb on them but Vendor reminded Rai that we needed to remain undetected. Rai discovered i had a fear of Trolls and teased me in whispers for some time. I bore the teasing and stayed focused on the task.

Thee forests of the troll bark forest began to arise while the mountains of the troll hills rose on the opposite side of us as wed headed between the two. I knew the gnomes map showed it somewhere between the two, near the middle of the mountain range's stretch. We was close to our destination. Needing a place to meditate we went off road and came across a cave. The entire entrance was coated in a white paint and symbols were drawn on the outside. Catam volunteered to check out the cave and when he returned we found out that the cave had one small troll occupant. The other Trolls avoided the area and we meditated so that Catam and Vendor could attempt to lean more by polymophing into Troll form and speaking to what we hoped was the shaman. Rai and i remained in stealth to back them up if anything was to go wrong. It was sleeping and Rai picked up a rock and hit it in the head waking it. Vendor spoke to the shaman and the gest of it was that it was exhausted and did not want to fight the undead. It assumed Catam and Vendor was asking for healing is what i was told. It also said that it fights other trolls not the undead. Vendor was able to learn the direction and we left leaving the shaman to its miserable life. North and West we went in search of more sick trolls and hopefully the source of this sickness.

We traveled for hours silently through the mountainous regions avoiding larger populations of trolls though it becomes harder and harder to do. A particularly large group forced us to separate at one point and i breathed a sigh of relieve when we could gather once more. We all saw the tower but Catam once again show heroic bravery when he volunteered to scout the region. we all settled in as he once again faded from view headed towards the tower. Vendor and i spoke quietly and i was startled when Catam's voice cracked as it barely utters the name
of Vendor as he searched for us hidden so well. The look he gave us was of utter dismay. " I saw it......... So many....." Vendor mad contact with catam and ordered him calm and and Catam nodded and took a knee and breathed slowly until he was calm. Vendor then looked to me and asked that i mark this location, i quickly complied then looked to Catam as he began to speak. "My Lady, my Queen... Mielikki.. give us strength.....Thousands.. perhaps.. hundreds of thousands....undead.....And spires.. connected...South west of the tower. The spires were black.. and seemed to be connected.. there were many spires in the distance... " Vendor requested that i give them all death ward and i quickly complied and we all made our way towards the tower. "As we made your way to the cliff edge i noticed how high up on a ledge we truely was here in the mountains. The land below stretched out flat. Held below is was the remains of a netherese flying city... though it is as if the city itself rose in undeath. Newer black spires reached out from the ruins to defile the sky. i gasped in horror at the sight of the undead army that was visible to our sharp eyes. The movement of undead down below was hard to focus on due to a very intense magical field surrounding it the area. The sheer volume of the Necropolis and the utter amount of undead moving far below was horribly breathtaking." it appears we found the source. we all took the time to mark the area. i with a rune while the druid used the plants. Vendor looked at us, "our job is done." we all agreed knowing that to try to go down there would be utter madness. from there i teleported us back to Hilltop and made our report to the leader there. this ends the report on the events of our scouting mission .

Signed,

[Layla0340]

Troll cave search near Kheldrivver
Alturiak 8th, 1351 Mission Report
(2015-02-07)

Mission Status: Complete

Report:
After being originally assigned to Erza and her party, Mercury and myself were reassigned to Lord Revenark's party at the last moment. An assignment I was delighted to accept. We formed up and departed town heading in the direction given.

I cannot give a full accounting of who all joined us. I just do not know every ones name. I do know that along with Kraak Helzak leading the mission, Trust, Order of the Silver Rose, and Dark Hold were represented. I believe a member of the temple of Hoar was there, but not of details.

Our first encounter was a band of trolls fighting a band of Orc's. Outside the actions of one particularly reckless gnome, we sat back and watched. We did try to communicate with the victorious hill giant king when he finished, but he was not interested in communicating with us. The crazy gnome's attacks may have contributed to this.

Regardless, we continued on, fighting off a few trolls and eventually arriving at the cave where the trolls infested in numbers. Entering the cave, we commenced clearing out the trolls in number. Along the way we encountered trolls tainted with negative energy. These trolls were strengthened by this energy, and made tougher, but appeared to lose there regeneration as far as I could tell.

We slew these trolls and continued, eventually reaching a center chamber. There we encountered a large number of trolls tainted by this negative energy. One troll was so twisted he had gained sorcerer like necromantic powers. We also destroyed a very powerful troll, a champion who had been corrupted. I carefully searched both the necromancer and the other trolls, but did not learn anything additional. Several other members of the party search the room these trolls were holed up in, but found nothing more then the ubiquitous ones you find every where trolls nest.

We departed the Cavern then, and encountered some ant nests on the way out that we destroyed.

We never did find the source of the taint in the Trolls.

The negative energy that tainted these trolls. It had effects similar to undeath, but I cannot actually say there is any connection. Negative energy is also frequently used in the binding and animation of undeath, so it is possible there is a connection.

Conclusions:
The troll cave has been removed as a threat to the town of Kheldrivver for the time being. Some sort of Taint has begun corrupting trolls.

*signed*
Sani Bryce
of Trust Company

[Layla0340]

Search for the cause of the wipe out of a Troll clan
Alturiak 8th, 1351 Mission Report
(2015-02-07)

Mission Status: Success

Report:
After arriving back from our mission in the troll caves, it emerged that a large number of dead Trolls had been found nearby.

The Captain of the guard for the town of Kheldrivver requested that a team of adventures volunteer to find the source of this slaughter.

Our mission was:

• Find the source of the slaughter
  Report back about the source
  Survive

A large number of us volunteered. The captain took our names, but I admit, I did not keep track myself. I know members from Kraak Helzak, Trust Company, and Dark Hold present. I am sure that there were far more I did not account for here.

We headed out from Kheldrivver, and quickly came across a massive mound of dead trolls, heaped up. The mound had a horrible stench, and I kept my distance. Rilae'ar'an, Opal, Loriah, and others burned the pile, with fire and acid. I believe Loriah also attempted to consecrate the ground after, but I was to far away to really know. I admit to being terrified of that smell. Rilae'ar'an helped me with my terror, which I would be very grateful later.

We moved on then, and repulsed wave after wave of undead trolls attacking. We finally found an area of unholy ground. It seemed to distort with a powerful darkness. I was fearful, and kept my distance. The bodys started moving then. I believe Loriah tried to stop it with a consecrate. I think Opal tried to do something also. I put a sunburst into the pile, which halted them for a second, no more. Rilae'ar'an sang to her goddess and cast a powerful blessing, which seemed to burn brightly for a moment and then the darkness began to well.

The darkness rolled off the area like a black fog, along the ground. I fled before it. Loriah stayed, attempting to repel it with a prayer to Lathander. It enveloped her, and she finally fled as we begged her to leave that place. Opal tried the longest, and did not leave. A particularly crazy gnome entered, and along with Rilae'ar'an, pulled her out. Rilae'ar'an appeared to be protected by the power of her Goddess, but I do not know what the gnome was protected by.

Maxwell called for the group to be death warded a this point, and I cast death ward on everyone I could find or see. I also cast bless weapon on there weapons to.

At that point the bodies, the bones, started to congeal, it was a horror unspeakable by my lack of words to properly express it. The bones congealed, and formed four powerful revenants for lack of better word. Our party assaulted them then. I personally crippled three of them with minor magics I am able to do, but the fourth was uncrippled. I went around and hasted every member of our party I could find. I also focused a number of sunbursts into them, and started to focus fire one of the ones I crippled. The combined efforts of the group attacking it, along with a few magics I am able to do from this plane and the upper planes, several sunbursts I cast, and over 30 Hammers of the Gods I dropped on it finally put it down.

From here on things became confusing. I believe two more revenants joined the fray. Dispells were cast on us and people started dieing. Sensing the battle turning, I grabbed a corpse and announced I would flee by teleport in one minute. A few other people came to my call, grabbing corpses also. It soon became obvious to all the battle was lost. Some people tried to to flee to me. but were caught in powerful binding magics and were unable to escape. I portal-ed out after my one minute timer, taking a few people with me, and leaving the majority behind. It was a cold cruel act on my part, but it was necessary for the success of the mission. The ones that tried to flee to me and could not, there expressions as my magic teleportation swirled around me leaving them behind … it was not good.

All that I left behind were killed.

We bandaged our wounds, resurrected the corpses. As soon as we could we made our way back to the town of Kheldrivver to report to the captain.

It turned out while we were recovering, the undead foes we fought moved away from where they slaughtered the rest of our party. The captain of the guard of Kheldrivver was able to recover there bodies, and many were brought back but left dazed, confused, and without memory. They were unable to give a report of what happened to the captian, and were not really in the condition to do much of anything.

I returned to the captain, gave him the report as outlined above completing the mission objectives. I was then dismissed accordingly.

Conclusions:
bring lots of fire
need to somehow free people to retreat
this threat is beyond what an army of adventurers can achieve by brute force
the village of Kheldrivver is in extreme danger

*signed*
Sani Bryce
of Trust Company

[Layla0340]

((((OOC this report was written by RagingPeace aka Gunnar Vintarskjold. Thanks Gunner!

Investigation in the City
Alturiak 8th, 1351 Mission Report
(2015-02-07)

Another report containing several spelling and grammer errors.

Me, Rilae and Kory were assigned to Erza and Laitae, among another man from Candle keep, I do not remember his name.

On our way to the city we witnessed the murder of a local man, by a local hero called Garl something, supposedly the murder of over a hundred trolls. He threw a dart directly into the man's face, and instantly killed him - his wounds were too grave and we were unable to save him.

At this point Laitae and Erza had walked ahead, told us to deal with the incident. We brought the corpse to the city and handed him over to the guardsmen of the city.

When we caught up to Erza and Laitae they were having a conversation with some locals, about a digging, or something, I have to be honest, I'm unsure what it was about. They entered the home of the locals, and we were ordered to wait outside. While waiting Steph arrived, followed by some other people, I do not remember their names. When they left the house of the locals, they left in such a haste that we were almost unable to catch up with them. We eventually arrived at a crypt or tomb of some sort. It was a mess - books everywhere and furniture turned over. We were ordered to search for books that were readable, and gather them, very, very carefully. For long we searched for books and made them ready for transport. At some point the man from Candlekeep discovered a hidden entrance to something, several bookcases and books were blocking the entrance, so, we began to move those as well. Me and Kory had a brief arguement with Laitae, as we disapproved of their attitude, but it was swept away quickly. After moving the books from the entrance, they decided not to enter it, and we were to carry all the books to the caravan, and so we did.

Stephanie Oz now owes me several drinks at a location of my choice.

**Below is drawn an ale mug**
http://cdn.vectorstock.com/i/composite/ ... 528074.jpg

Signed Gunnar Vintarskjold

[DM Theophanies]

A Duchal Decree is circulated and announced throughout the city.

---

We, the Dukes of Baldur's Gate regretfully inform the public of the failure of the Dock's District quarantine. This sickness has spread and now ravages the Eastern Gate and Palace Districts alike. Care should be taken when in public. We currently have an ongoing investigation into the failure of the quarantine and any relevant information can be brought to Captain Beldurion of the Flaming Fist.

The one beacon of light is that the instances and seriousness of infections within the Docks are diminishing.

The shortage of both food and healing supplies within our great city are not beyond our watch and we have received confirmation that aid is coming from the Lord's Alliance with the first shipment from Elturel arriving in just over a tenday.

Until the bulk of our shipments arrive, we the Dukes of Baldur's Gate, would formally ask for the aid of our local allies and any concerned citizens to provide both healing and sustanence for our people. We understand this is a challenging time and it is in such challenges that we must rely on the bonds between us.

Signed and sealed with wax by the official scribe of the Council of Four

[DM Theophanies]

A second letter is also circulated through the city, though often removed by the Flaming Fist. The penmenship is not nearly as articulate and often the handwriting is completely different.

---

People of Baldur's Gate! The Duchy has failed you! They could not contain it, they could not control it, they can not stop it. Now they must rely on others to protect you. Others they waited to long to reach out to!

Join with us and as the sun warms the earth and the skies water it, once again shall we grow from the virtuous soil!

[7threalm]

Three orcs and human exit some caves in the sharp teeth with a book of untold power, the book radiates disease.



((Druids may find this information by talking to the animal life in the sharpteeth for IG purposes, pm for details about the orcs))

[mireigi]

Rumor spreads through the city that a priest of Lathander have returned to the temporary shrine to Lathander in the Palace District. Healing and aid against the plague will be offered at the shrine to as many as the priest is capable of aiding.

http://www.bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?p=581939#p581939

[ladyawesome]

This evening Tegan walks through the city with teeny bits of food, coaxing all the wild cats into following her. her face is properly covered as she does not contract the disease again. She opens the doors to the warehouse and any cat that follows it lead into the warehouse. She closes the doors and waits patiently to see if the cats will find any of the rats.

[Carski]

A second letter .... often removed by the Flaming Fist.

In places left empty, but where once a statement upon parchment flew in the wind, new inked words are posted. There are not many, as hand written, and upon some examples, it seems ink was running thin.

/// Short notice. Saturday Feb. 14 @ 19:00 GMT (server clock)

[PiaMango]

Recycled posters are setup on the bulletin board outside the Elfsong Tavern, and within the Temple of Ilmater.

A call for aid of able hands

Volunteers are needed for an intrusion into the docks in attempts to suppress the spread of the disease. Those able to administer to the diseased, and those with able strength to move large weights and ensure peace is maintain are necessary for any success to be wrought.

You will be subject to conditions where you will be in contact with those inflicted with the disease, and where humanity is faced with depravity. Provisions will be ensured that volunteers do not fall victim to the disease. I ask only of those of the strong gutted, faltering in commands will undermined any success.
22:00 on the 14th of Alturiak
We gather at the Temple of Ilmater hour 21:30 on the 28th of Hammer. It is requested that volunteers dress in nothing heavier than leathers. Manual labour will be expected, and it is not war we bring to the docks.

Sveta Asperan

(( After much delay and rescheduling this is finally going to proceed at 20:00 GMT Saturday ))

[DM Bloodlust]

Muggings and breaking and entering becomes more common in the Dock's District. Enraged citizens try to storm the Flaming Fist HQ after desperation sinks in, but are beaten back badly.

A ship thought to contain hidden supplies is attacked by the mob, who slaughters the crew then turns on each other for the goods. Adventurers intervene and it turns into a massacre, about 100 people died and all the goods are ruined, destroyed or tainted. The wooden planks are slick with blood. Trying to depose of the bodies, one adventurer sets the docks ablaze. The danger is averted by some quick thinking by other adventurers, as well as a Flaming Fist cleric putting the fires out. The whole incident has just made things worse.