Session 458 – The Complete Works of Shakespore

The Story So Far

Ash - An expert in the occult and a skilled monster hunter. Ash uses his talents and budding alchemical expertise to battle what people fear most for a price.

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Ryobi - A monk of the embattled Order of the Warriors of Mameka. Ryobi is given an important mission: retrieve the holy blades containing the souls of his brother knights, which were lost in the recent Rethemi civil war.

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They are joined by Vinzent, a bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.

This is the continuation of Session 456 - Nightmare In Wax.

14^th of Ilvin (Winter) 729TR

Ryobi and friends were exiled after committing robbery, murder, and blasphemy in the Kingdom of Rethem. Now, under a decree from the new Apalankh (the Agrikian Primate of Harn), Ryobi has been pardoned for his many crimes and recalled; his exile is at an end. However, the warrior monk has good reason to suspect a trap and will act accordingly. Nonetheless, the trio begins their long journey home.

The travelers have arrived in the port City of Cabra, part of the Kingdom of Palithane, and while they wait for their next vessel, they have been helping Alderman Halfgolt deal with the remnants of a destroyed cult of Morgath Worshipers. The party has documentation proving that Arnalt of Voisin, the Pedler, and Davi of Brino, the Bookseller, are cultists and have escaped justice. Alderman Halfgolt has hired the heroes to eliminate these individuals in a way that leaves no paperwork.

Location: City of Cabra in the Kingdom of Palithane

Part 1 – The Pedler

The heroes investigate Arnalt of Voisin, the Pedlar, a traveler who sells an eclectic mix of overpriced goods from his wagon as he moves between settlements. He has a bad reputation and is disliked, even among the nomadic Night People, who refuse to associate with him. The heroes have learned that he acts as a messenger between various Morgathic cults and hidden worshipers in the region. After some time, the party learns he is traveling between several nearby villages, and they prepare an ambush. They locate a section of the road with few witnesses. Ryobi hides among the foliage and plans an assassination. Remy and Vinzent wait on the road as a distraction.

Ash asks Arnalt to display his goods, and the sleazy peddler is more than happy to do so. As he carefully observes the cultist and becomes certain he is not what he seems, Ash suspects he is undead by the way his skin and shadow interact with the sunlight. While the peddler shows Ash his goods, Ryobi sneaks up behind him and strikes with his holy sword. His weapon strikes true, driving deep into the man’s side, causing what normally should have been a fatal injury; however, the peddler survives. But he is badly staggered. He is indeed undead, an Amorvin or free-willed undead.

The undead strikes back, and the horse pulling the wagon rears up, attacking with its hooves; some of its skin falls off, revealing it is also a corpse animated by necromantic magic. The pedlar has some control over dark magic and attempts to tear Ryobi’s soul from his body; luckily, the warrior monk is made of sterner stuff and easily resists. The undead are dangerous but are eventually destroyed, both disintegrating into dust when slain.

The heroes know that an Amorvin will reform stronger in a specially prepared unholy sanctum. The peddler isn't finished, however, when examining the wagon, the heroes discover a well-hidden secret compartment in the floor. It is shaped like a coffin, with the interior covered in unholy Morgathic magical script. Believing this is the sanctum, the party destroys it. Hopefully, this will be the last anyone hears of Arnalt of Voisin, the peddler.

Part 2 – The Complete Works of Shakespore

“I want to complete my collection of the Complete Works of Shakespore,” he asks. Brinson apologizes, saying he does not think he has any books by that author, but directs him to the section on great plays. The pompous man browsing a book nearby suddenly interrupts, “I love Shakespore,” he comments, “such fine tragedies.” However, Ash soon realizes this man wants attention and is something of a fool, trying to appear more well-read and intelligent. He has no idea Shakespore is Ash’s creation. Nevertheless, bookseller Brinson takes the man’s order for the Complete Works of Shakespore before he departs.

After Vinzent creates a distraction, Ash discreetly coats some Zahrik Dust into his hand. This alchemical dust typically glows and burns undead. Ryobi and Vinzent buy some books, as the bookseller shakes their hands before they leave the establishment later that evening. Brinson notices the dust on his hand, does not understand its significance, and is unaffected.

Part 3 – A Secret Shrine

The heroes hide in a back alley, observing the bookshop. Shortly after, Brinson and the guard leave and travel to a dwelling half a block away. After midnight, they attempt to sneak in. Ash silently picks the door's intricate lock while Ryobi uses magic to appear behind the guard and grapples him, attempting a sleeper hold, but the madman wiggles free and shouts a warning. Ash bursts in, and the guard is knocked out; however, Brinson, who is revealed to be a powerful mage, is awakened from his sleep, opens the door, and, upon seeing Ash, casts a Maze. Ash disappears, leaving Ryobi and Vinzent to fight alone.

Brinson’s next spell is Polymorph; however, Ryobi resists being turned into vermin. Vinzent utters a few inspiring verses for Ryobi’s benefit, and then, by modulating his voice, instills fear in the mage. Ryobi moves forward and, with an impressive display of skill, nearly decapitates the Bookseller. Meanwhile, in extra-dimensional space, Ash quickly figures out the pattern of this magical maze and escapes, then kills the mage.

Part 4 – A Job Well Done

The party searched the residence and discovered a secret door in a wardrobe that led down into a hidden cellar. Morgathic paraphernalia covers the walls, but this shrine is small and amateurish in appearance. It does not seem particularly magical, and Ash quickly destroys it. The remains of Brinson the bookseller, after being partially destroyed by acid, are Dimension Door'd into the city's sewers, and the heroes stage the appearance of a robbery and escape.

Aldermen Halfgolt rewards the heroes, and the next day, they set sail on the next ship to their homes on the distant island of Harn.

To be continued.

Created Content

Nothing this week.

Related Reports

Amorvin, free-willed undead and Gulmorvin, Unfree Undead.

Player Characters

Ryobi - Human - L16 Monk

Background - Temple Guard.

Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.

Ash - Human - L16 Thaumaturge

Background - Weaponcrafter.

Archetypes - Alchemist/Vestige Hunter.

NPC Companion

Vinzent - Human - L16 Bard

Background - Cursed.

Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.

Next Session

Session 460 – A Banshee Wails.