Game summary for August 26, 2014, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Ashes at Dawn adventure; PCs included Brutus Bonesmasher (human fighter), Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Emilian Sandulescu (human paladin/ranger), Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), and Malthus Brightray (half-elf cleric), accompanied by NPC companions Alleric Swiftblade (half-elf rogue) and Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).
Setting off into the dark tunnels toward the Vampire Underground, the team advanced cautiously with detect undead and death ward active. However after quite a while of travel and encountering nothing, their spells expired. After a bit, the team was suddenly surrounded by a pack of flushed vampires whom some of the team noticed had dilated eyes. After a few quick words, the group convinced them to take them to an audience with the eldest vampire, Luvick Siervage.
The team was escorted before the court of the ancient one and greeted as either brave men or fools. They discussed the vampire murders and entered into an agreement with Luvick. If they bring the murderer to him, he will tell all he knows about the Whispering Way. He gave them a signet ring and fairly free reign to roam his territory and speak with the other vampires.
The group first spoke with Luvick’s retainer and tailor, Radvir Giovanni. He revealed documents taken from the nobles of Caliphas showing contracts for the slaying of various vampires. It also included the mark of Ramoska Arkminos, a nosferatu currently imprisoned by Luvick. He also told them one of the slain vampires was an elder named Lucian.
Next, the team met Ramoska in his cell. The disturbing creature formed out of a pile of vermin to appear as a bald, gaunt, horrific humanoid. The bizarre monster told them it was being framed because of its connection to the Whispering Way. It claimed to have helped the Way with a potion that could transform a single individual, willing or otherwise, into a lich! He said the Way betrayed him and never paid, so if the party would clear his name with Luvick, he would tell them all about the Way including where they have gone after leaving Caliphas!
The team then moved to the parlor of Lady Evgenya Zunaida, a decadent vampire noble obsessed with nobility and pleasure. She insisted Gnok dance with her to prove the legendary grace and dexterity of the dwarves. He did his best version of a dance, much to her delight. Pleased, she told them all the victims were master vampires with enslaved thralls. She also indicated those released thralls were acting somewhat strange, seemed flushed, and acted almost as if they had a new master.
Desmond Kote was next on their list to visit. This powerful religious zealot is a servant of Zaebos, the infernal duke of arrogance, nobility, and perversion. He was in the middle of sparing with two other vampires and soundly thumbing them when the team arrived. Dario politely apologized for disturbing them, which seemed to infuriate Desmond. He demanded Dario step out of his shrine, but Dario stood his ground and stared down the great vampire. Soon the vampire laughed and appreciated the tenacity of the mortal in the face of certain death. He gave the team a furniture leg carved into a stake. He showed them others; the collected murder weapons! He tasked them with finding the source of the furniture legs in the city above.
The team went back to the surface, got breakfast, and they slept for eight hours. Next they got up, had lunch and started scouring the city for the right furniture maker. After some time, the located the craftsman. They spoke with the man and learned the tailor next door had purchased dozens of such furniture legs a couple of weeks earlier…
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