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

[kleomenes]

Ameris recieves on behalf of the temple a donation of masks and gloves, as well as some food, from a Chauntean, Edmund.

He then receives some funds from a dark clad figure (OOC: Tegeus Cromnis), which seems to offest much of the recent expenditure on supplies.

[Carski]

A man with a complexion originating from peoples of the southern seas, displaying all the traits of a one that follows the bardic tradition, has walked the cobblestones of each district within Baldur's Gate, for some days, loudly drumming and pronouncing opinion on the state of affairs that develops in the city state.

No edifice, alley way or plaza was denied him, as he drummed an undulating beat of doom-like tempo. A wild grin accompanied the words he would periodically speak—spoken word in rhythm. His path seems to take him to another location at precisely the moment enough eyes or ears would settle upon his drumming—some say disturbance—and, eventually, through all the stops to capture the attention of the citizenry, he comes to a final place of performance: the Water Queen's House.

One overheard set of lyrics, would be the following:

Look to the Gods
Their power, unyielding and mighty.

Look away from the Gods
And see death rise from what is unearthed

When disaster spreads, all find their conviction
The powerful turn humble.

When the Lords stay quiet, all lose their conviction
Status becomes meaningless.

Silence shows fear, engenders more by the hour
The weak suffer en masse.

Declaration shows fear, statements true but unfounded
The weak continue to suffer.

What is the riddle? Who plays the game to win?
The cries of the dead are rarely heard.

One causes death, and others fail to deter it
The cries of the dead will be heard....

But the Lords may only hear them when it is too late...
And true power will rise to take their place....

[XyrisMourn]

A cowled figure glides lithely through the streets of Baldur's Gate, from the temple of Tymora where he appeared, to the Ilmateri house near the market. He stands still and silent, listening to the sound of those gathered without, drinking in their fear and despair at the affliction in the city. Though it is not apparent from his cold, emotionless expression, he quietly revels in their pain and misery.

Nevertheless, his hands bear a large package which he drops outside the temple, not wishing to step within. When found by the Weepers, they will discover a large number of healing packs and potions, gathered and donated by the cowled figure in offering to the people of the 'Gate.

[DM Theophanies]

As the days go by, more and more reports, whispers and rumors of citizens within the docks becoming infected and / or reinfected with the creeping sickness pop up. Those succumb to the disease laying dead in their homes or in the back corners of the district are reported and the Flaming Fist begin to remove them from the public. Temples are increasingly busy and the priests working steadily to deal with the increased occurrences of the sick citizens within the Gate.

Thankfully the resources supplied from various places and peoples help sustain their work to heal the sick... for the moment

[Ricastle]

A woman with unnatural light blue eyes and wearing a white mask directs many souls, to crowd the temple of umberlee with her own intentions. Not to honor the seabitch or glean followers ,but instead overwhelm her faithful with hundreds of followers well beyond their capacity to treat them. Her intentions strategic, to overwhelm the temple and infect the resident patrons likely kiling some of them as well as undermine their claims as they being the sole proprietor of a cure / being benevolent as they surely would cure their own at the expense of their patrons. Thus spreading hate among the general population against the evil goddess.

The woman also hires those who would be without work to plaster the docks offering masks to tact notice to lamp posts and buildings of all sorts stating 'Hear Ye, Hear Ye, the followers of umberlee, the loyal fury are responsible for this plague. Take arms against them! Show them no mercies as they've shown you none!"

//I'll have my character subtracted 10k for her activities here //

[DM Golem]

The dock workers and other residents of the docks have some reverence for the Sea Queen and willingly go to her temple; albiet in some cases with timidity, as she is a deity to be feared rather than loved.

The exhortation for sick harbour residents to seek treatment at the Sea Queen's Temple does help, seemingly, to contain the spread of the disease to within the Harbour District.

Something growing more common on the streets are prayers and petitions to Talona. At first hushed, then increasingly loud. Fear and reverence of the Mistress of Disease grows.

Already competing rumours abound as to the source of the pestilence. Some call it the wrath of one of the gods, although every person names a different god. Others talk of a contaminated shipment of cargo bringing with it a plague from Calimsham or Amn. Yet more talk of a gnome bringing back a plague after raiding an ancient tomb filled with undead or demons. Still yet more swear to seeing drow sneaking out of sewer entrances.

Those speaking loudly of these sources are met with condemnation from the Flaming Fist, being arrested if they do not desist. Similarly leaflets or pamphlets are confiscated, and posters torn down where-ever they are found. The Flaming Fist are clearly taking a stern attitude towards actions which might lead to the spread of panic among the citizenry.

[Carski]

Before a clean up of pamphlets is made in earnest by the Flaming Fist, a man dressed in bardic fashion comes upon an example, having been posted far and wide by some willful—perhaps misguided—source.

As he reads it, a fury grows upon his face. [ // ] Right there, in the midst of the city where the pamphlet was found, he closes his eyes, and channels a greater fury into form, in words of the mind, the bard being washed over with the power of creation.

His eyes open, and he surveys the place. With practiced movement he takes his drum from it's harness at his back, and he begins to generate a beat, to which he begins to add these words:

• For centuries, the sailors know
  That before you set the sails, one must throw
  
  A coin or two or five or ten
  To pay tribute to the Queen, against a fateful end
  
  She controls the waves, the wind, the spray
  Why she is always fierce, is easy to say
  
  The power she wields is pure chaos you see
  As she resides in the house of the Lords of Fury
  
  Many see chaos, only evil upon the waves
  But their tongue they should hold; their ignorance they should save
  
  The Queen is of the Fury, she is wed to nature, and thus
  To curse her is also upon the path to curse Silvanus
  
  Mortals like to think themselves above the Gods; ego sings
  But those that tempt fate, upon their own ship and sail, will fury upon them they bring
  
  If within this Gate, suffering and sickness you do see
  And if it is your folly to falsely accuse the source as Umberlee
  
  Have you asked her yourself? For maybe you are correct to think
  But publicly insulting her House will only put your body in the drink
  
  Not showing your face yet pointing a finger of blame
  Is to be the embodiment of a coward, by another name
  
  It is the rulers of this city, who have sat on their arses
  And as you have seen, it is the Water Queen's House that does not witness this sickness as any sort of farce(es).
  
  Yet the sickness is here, the death toll does rise
  The source is failure to pay tribute; those that find faith, are cured before their eyes
  
  And it is directly because so many fail to pay tribute to this God
  Continue to watch, and you'll see: how mortals are taught more by the rod.

After finishing one round of his lyrics, he turns and walks back to the Water Queen's Temple, and there, repeats the lyrics a number of rounds and serenading those that travel near it, before entering the Temple.

[DM Theophanies]

There is a stirring in the docks at first light as the Flaming Fist begin operations. Increased guard presence at the entrances to the Palace and East Gate districts can be noted. Priests from the local temples join the guards in ensuring the sickness remains within the docks district, though allowing people they deem to be not carrying the sickness passage to the other districts.

More of the Flaming Fist make their way down to the docks proper, loading up supplies and arms onto their war ships.

At the Temple of Umberlee, a few of the faithful exit the temple with banners in hand singing praises for the mercy of Umberlee in saving them from Talona's clutches.

More of the citizens in the docks district seem to be getting sick, the disease spreading rapidly amongst the poorer population. With the increased presence of the guards, whispers of unrest and worry begin to spread among the citizens of the docks.

[Calodan]

Koryeneer sets up just outside Baldur's Gate on the stage he begins calling out to gather all who can hear

Starting today ladies and gentlemen of the coast I am putting on a charity auction for the afflicted of the docks! I have in my possession a heirloom of finest quality that I am sure you all will like and I am willing to part with it for the greater good of this city!

///OOC Charity Auction Link>http://www.bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=44894

[DM Pun Pun]

*Rumors abound of two women being stricken by the plague. They tried to enter the East Gate district but were pushed back by the Flaming Fist. Later on, the same two women were seen in the Temple of Ilmater. People wonder how they got there and the fear of the plague spreading is beginning to take over. *

*The body count in the Harbor district is starting to rise and more and more people are falling ill. *

[Amethystt]

A young woman with firey red hair shivered in the shadows of an alleyway in the vicinity of the Fist Compound, with a few rotted feathers on the stone around her. Dressed only in what appeared to be a silken dress-like undergarment and without any possessions except for her longsword, she lay curled in the foetal position coughing through any sleep she managed.

To say her first night on the Coast ended rather terribly would be an understatement.

[Maugoth]

It was an average day for the dark warpriest. He had thought little of his decision to travel to the city by ship. It was the usual way of things, faster than walking and cheap enough to remain feasible. The trip was quiet and mostly peaceful. He had willingly entered into a debate about law, and of rulers. The discussion had ended abruptly as the ship pulled into port, and the folks began to panic. Disembarking with the rest of the passengers, he moved slowly down the gangplank onto the pier. It was clear something here was amiss... Corpses lined the harbor, a few even floating in the sea as men tried to fish them out with nets and poles. What was going here?

Those citizens that still took breath did so behind the cover of cloth which had been wrapped around their noses and mouths. Being no stranger to sea travel, Maugoth was aware of the dangers posed by plague-ridden rats and had indeed prepared a spell or three to cure such ailments. He worried little, but still he he pulled his cloak up and over his face for the sake of appearances if nothing else. He quickly and quietly made his way out of the harbor district, only to find signs posted (complete with guards and a civilian crowd) stating that the harbor district was under quarantine by order of the Flaming Fist. After some pointless banter with the crowd, it was clear he had not been noticed by the guards as having come from the quarantined district himself.

He stood by as a woman attempted to bring a pair of sick men to her temple for healing. It was rather disgusting, the way they coughed and vomited on themselves and the woman they followed. Despite her begging and her tears, thankfully the guards upheld their decree and did not allow them to pass. Before being turned back, the woman had pleaded for Maugoth (and others present) to fetch aid from the temple if Ilmater. It was difficult to hide his contempt at that last, but he managed to refrain from speaking out. This was a unique opportunity to take advantage of.

He left the scene, wondering to himself how he might play his hand. If he was swift and prudent, he could well come out of this with a few followers in the city. At the least, he could put some coin in his pocket and force a few unwilling prayers to the Dark Lord to those who wished aid badly enough.

The night had given him something to think on, surely enough.

[XyrisMourn]

A young woman with firey red hair shivered in the shadows of an alleyway in the vicinity of the Fist Compound, with a few rotted feathers on the stone around her. Dressed only in what appeared to be a silken dress-like undergarment and without any possessions except for her longsword, she lay curled in the foetal position coughing through any sleep she managed.

To say her first night on the Coast ended rather terribly would be an understatement.

*A pretty young thing, and not her fault she caught the plague. Neither her fault that the two men that found her were of dubious honour. The poor thing was coughing and shivering with the plague, but she was wearing a nice set of chainmail, and her cloak and boots were both well cut and fairly new.

Morton and Gruel were just wandering past when she asked for some help. Of course, the two lads were eager to do what they could, and in exchange for her chainmail, they offered her a potion to cure all her ills. The redheaded lass was only too pleased agree to the trade... well, if not eager, suffice to say she agreed to the necessity.

The three headed to a quiet alleyway, where Morton pulled out his curative potion, and Gruel watched eagerly as the lady removed her armour, revealing her thin silk undergarments in the chilly Dockside breeze. Quickly was the exchange made, the chainmail handed over to Gruel and the lovely young lass drank down her tonic eagerly.

Morton and Gruel watched, almost shivering with excitement for the Oil of Taggit to take effect, and in a short while the poor girl, on her first night in Baldur's Gate, collapsed asleep in that dank alleyway, the coughing from her disease ceased as she lay unconscious upon the ground. In short order Gruel and Morton had relieved her of her boots, cloak, necklace and the few other items she had. Leaving her just her thin shift and her sword.

Why her sword? Well, the Sword Coast is dangerous place, and Gruel and Morty aren't monsters. Just two honest, working lads trying to make their way in the world...*

Welcome to the Sword Coast, Red!

[DM Theophanies]

Criers from the palace district in Baldur's Gate depart into the city to announce the news that the Harbor District is officially now in quarantine. They advice that the Dukes are preparing to meet the epidemic and there is no need for panic.

The mighty warships of the Flaming Fist depart from the docks to block any incoming ships from coming to Baldur's Gate though small ferries likely can get around the blockade with some risk.

Checkpoints are set up at the entrances to the Palace and East Gate districts to limit those who enter and leave, under heavy scrutiny and checking.

[Carski]

At the Temple of Umberlee, a few of the faithful exit the temple with banners in hand singing praises for the mercy of Umberlee in saving them from Talona's clutches.