The birth of the Infant child _____, adopted by the Malovorax family.
The child supposedly that of a relationship between ____ and the Desmodius family matriarch.
The Murders in Aginnum....
A Brief synopsis of the murders in Aginnum...
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The Unknown Childe....
Life, Birth -
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Alarhett Malovorax
Criminal ActivityThe Baron's Uncle, Alarhett Malovorax, was found deceased in his bedchamber, inside his townhome, in the Highholm district.His housekeeper came into the bed chamber to find her master face up with severe injuries to the inside of his mouth (and trachea/lungs).Upon investigation by the team:-A fragment of a Death Spore fungi was below the bed-The mattress reflected poison in a Detect Poison spell-There was a container in the bedroom, with a silk ribbon attached.-There were claw marks on the seat of the privy, such as a large rat would leave pulling itself into the chamberthus:Death Spore fungi had been placed inside his mattress at some point during the day of his death, apparently by a were-rat climbing through the sewers with a small box (5cmx5cm) tied to its self by a silk ribbon. In this box was the mushroom and its spores.The evening Alarhett was drinking in the company of his nephew, whom he treated as a son - Charles "Chonko" Malovorax.When Alarhett returned to his chambers, heavily intoxicated, he flopped on to the bed, and in the dark, being drunk, was unable to avoid or react to the explosion of the Death Spore fungi. -
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Radley Malovorax
Criminal ActivityThe Baron's elder cousin, Radley Malovorax, was found dead in his own privy, in his town home on the Market Square, in Mercer's Turn.He was found by his mistress, Gratidia, when she returned home from a friends house the night before. He had sustained terrible blackening of the skin on his fundament, coupled with sores leaking a foul smelling, sulphurous liquid, not normal to the human body. The friend was Regina d'Catulla, head of the Town Watch, though this was not asked for at the time.Upon investigation by the team:-A strange tar like substance had been found dried upon the privy seat - Devil's Residue, an alchemical subsistence thought to be created by the remnants of the material components used to summon an actual fiend. This is as hard and illegal to obtain as it sounds.-Thin metal needles, about a centimeter long were embedded into the privy, and doubtless into Radley's fundament to ensure the poison entered his person.-A Sewer Inspector, a Red Headed, thin male human, with pale skin, presented his identification papers as Marcellus Salonis and was alone in the maids privy, adjacent to the kitchen, "for longer than I had thought" (the kitchen maid). The kitchen was busy preparing food, and thus the staff made too much noise to infer what may have happened in the maids privy. -
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Plink Malovorax
Criminal ActivityThe Baron's own brother, Plink Malovorax, was found dead in his own gore by his servants in his home in Court Square, on the Market Forum.He was found by his adoring maid, Tiberia Sulla, in the morning when she came to open his curtains. He was found with claw marks upon his neck, and numerous stab and slice wounds to his body.
Upon Investigation by the team:
-The privy of the master's chamber was found to have claw marks equivalent to a large rat upon the seat and the leather cover.
-There was found a slim porcelain medallion upon a silk ribbon, lost behind a curtain. Its face had been inset with silver and gold, to create a single use magical charm of the Silence spell.
-There were guards on duty, lead by watch corporal Numasius - Tradicus, Thombiasus and Wretched Tom (a Halfling).The three on duty have been summarily banished for their failure.
Thus:It appears that the entering wererat had come up from the sewer through the privy, intent on some other form of murderous methodology. On finding Plink still awake, he used his silence amulet to attack the man. Plink put up a solid defense, but was overcome with a choke hold from behind. This permitted the wererat to stab him numerous times. It is possible the blade was poisoned as the average wererat is not known for strength. -
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Arexi Malovorax
Criminal ActivityThe Baron's own Sister, Arexi Malovorax, was killed in her library/study, by a crossbow bolt fired from the doorway, killing her.She was found by her maid, Distacia after lunch, when she had returned to her library to do some reading.Upon investigation by the team:-There had to have been an assailant inside the house, shooting from the doorway.-She was found to have been reading tomes including:-An Almanack of Practicum Mortis - including marked sections on knife wounds, poison and toxins, similar to those taken by the preceding three.-1001 Edible and Avoidable Plants of the Gnomish Interior - including a marked section on the Death Spore fungi.-Treatise on the Ravings of Garrius the Insane - detailing the end of the line of the Traitor Desmodius, a baron of the Amantius family, who had duplicious dealings with the Occidental Kingdom. Garrius claimed that the Baron's infant daughter had survived the purge of the family line by the actions of a "Most Friendly Legate" who "took pity on the charming child and took her as his own". The events detailed take place in 1177, with the pamphlet published in 1209.-The neighbors had recently hired and fires a stable hand, A redhead man, thin, with a particular tattoo, who was terrible with the horses, and on inspection of his lodgings it was found that he could and did move to the Arexi household across the roof via damage tiles.-The house maid claimed temporary deafness the day the murder happened, at about the same time - "she says it came and went, strange quick, it did" (the maid).Thus:The red haired assassin entered the house through the servants floor window (damaged), and made his way down stairs under a silence spell. He entered the library, and shot Arexi from behind, killing her swiftly. It is possible that the bolt was poisoned, given the swiftness of her death. He then returned to the neighbor's and was soon fired for being crap at his job (and absent without permission multiple times, though this was not elucidated by the neighbor steward). -
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Splatto's Trip to Divona
MiscellaneousHe left for Divona on Friday 30th November.
He arrived on Tuesday 4th December,
He negotiated for two days 5 and 6th December.
He departed on Friday 7th December travelling until caught in a snow storm at lunch time on Tuesday 11th December.
His death, Tuesday 11th of December, at an unchartered settlement is a deep loss.
The Heroes arrived in Aginnum on Wednesday 12th December.
The Heroes spoke with Baron Malovorax, inspected the tombs and captured Brixson the Were-rat (killed Cookie) on Wednesday 12th December. -
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The Death of Splatto Malovorax
MiscellaneousThis day, Tuesday 11th December in the Reign of King Cerano VI....
In the afternoon of this day, the party sought shelter in an Unchartered Settlement off the Via Caracticus. Here in the encountered a band of wererats trying to kill a small party of travelers.
The surviving members of this party are Ser. Splatto Malovorax, son and heir of Baron Frodo Malovorax of Aginnum, Minucia Auspexia, his betrothed companion and mother of his unborn childe, Decius Vibullus, a Militia Captain of the Barony of Speared, and his Sword's womand Calventia. -
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Today....
MiscellaneousThe party began its investigation on the morning of Thursday 13th December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI.They survived the day.On this day, the messenger boy, Canus the Short, was jumped while delivering the Sewer Map to the party at the Docent and Deville, in Drapersgardt, by North Gate.He was beaten by his father for his failing.Upon interview by the party:-he was jumped by two heavily cloaked figures --a black haired man with a face full of scars, more than one would normally expect.-a woman with long blonde hair and green eyes of so striking a nature one should be hard pressed to forget the face (beautiful). -
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The Story of the Escape -
MiscellaneousPer the guard, Mettius, the prisoner was:- Beaten by Castellan d'Catulla, and Corporal Numasius.- That night, at 9pm they checked the prisoners, and locked them in their chambers, behind a stout door of iron reinforced oak.- Shortly after that there was an altercation at the Arch and Lector, in Three Bridge, where in an Elf traveler was stabbed over a gambling issue.- Mettius had to take the elf, Sylias Greenthorne, to the Temple of Sune (did not specify which one). After this the Elf is expected to have departed on his Journey back to the Elven Dales via the long road to Vessuna.- He says he was cheated in the tavern in a game with a tall, thin redheaded man with blue eyes and Centradan accent (from the Aermo Centrada province).- After this he returned to his post at the watch office, and they passed the night uneventfully. When they checked the prisoners in the morning, they found the wererat to be missing. -
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Friday...
MiscellaneousUpon this day, Friday the 14th December, in the reign of King Cerano VI...The party did investigate the deaths of various members of the Malvorax clan, who could claim the right of Succession.They all seemed a little suspicious.The party did investigate the disappearance of the Sewer Map, which they had sought, and interviewed Canus the Short.The party did enjoy being ambushed by a gang of Wererats upon the roofs adjacent to the street upon which they returned to their inn. They were accosted by a group of Street Thugs, who reminded them to leave well alone.Then they got shot at by some wererats, who fled when two of their party suffered weapons malfunctions (two 1s).They located the thugs, employed by the Mendicants Association of Aginnum (the thieves guild), and they identified that a Redhair, pale skinned male human had hired the guild to deliver this message.The party did enjoy a visitation at the tavern by on Calvino Greyhem, Senior of the Association, who delivered an apology to the party for actions taken by the guild on behalf of servants of Malar. To make a practical amend, he gave them a copy of the only Sewer MapHe may be reached through the bartender at the Nasty Halfling, in Rum Hollow.
The party did survive the day. -
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Saturday...
MiscellaneousUpon this day, Saturday the 15th December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI...The party did investigate the curious Marcellus Salonius, Privy Cleaner, and found that his guild papers had been stolen within the last two-three weeks.He is not a redhead, pale human male.The party survived through Elevenses.After this is the party went to the Drapergardt Granary, and investigated it for clues.-The building burnt to the ground quickly, and there is a traceable scorch-path through the building.-In the Otyugh Pit below the main tower, where they used to catch rats, they spotted and recovered a Fragment of an Enchanted Ruby, identified to be Magical (Conjuration) and bearing an Ind Rune.-In the 20' (6m) deep, spherical pit, there was a chiseled tunnel into the sewers, large enough for an Otyugh to squeeze through. From this hole game the sounds of a bag, like maize, being dropped repeatedly and irregularly, along with two creatures making loud roaring noises. This ceased after a while.-They met Granny Nessia, a local who told them of the guards, Titus and Mettius. (see entry earlier for their story).-She gave you the address for the survivor, Mettius, in Three Bridge.After this everyone agreeably went to the home of Mettius, -
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More after lunch
Miscellaneous- Here they found out that they had been followed by Wererats, who attacked. Kelx did an excellent job at denying the rats an easy escape, giving Ollie time to kill the last two while they were slowed by Ezquirriel.- Mettius was trying to write to Titus' mother to describe his passage, but his heavy drinking kept delaying the inevitable. He confirmed as neat a description of a Fire Elemental as can be given by one who does not know what such are like.-Of the two killed wererats one was Dark haired, possessed the Anchor/Claw tattoo. The other was brown haired, tattooed, and dead. The Former had a variety of wood crafting tools, the latter had some strange powder in a leather sack. The raven haired one had a Free Drink token for a tavern #27, marked with a bearded man's face, beset by three tridents.After this, surviving well enough, the group headed down to the City Watch Headquarters in the backside of the Town Hall, inside a small courtyard, watched over by a wounded watchman resting on an empty crate.- The captured wererat, Cookie, had escaped, the same night! After a beating and interogation attended by Castellan Regina d'Catulla and Corporal Numasius. The Desk slave did not have any more insight on the result of the event. He is a desk slave.- They did get the name, and address, of the two guards on duty that night. Coporal Numasius (Rum Hollow, near to the Nasty Halfling) and Watchman Gerrick (In Three Bridge, Near Midbridge).-Gerrick described an strange side event at the Arch and Lector, that drew him away. (see earlier entry).At this time they moved to interview the Corporal Numasius, at his Residence Near the Nasty Halfling.- The rooms were occupied by prostitutes ("We done nothing wrong, and we have paid our "taxes", what do you want?!)- At the last moment, they addressed Ezquirriel by name, without asking for it.- After a brief bout of Domestic Violence they confessed to being paid to deliver a message to the Beggar Outside the Witch and Wassail, in Wyrdwarde. They had an unusual Silver Coin, from the Occidental Kingdom, to hand as an identifier.The Beggar, Thorne the Gimp (as in Lame, not a deviant), was kind enough to agree to:- Sell them the information for 1gold piece, but that as he sells their business, he is only fair to sell yours.- For 100gp he offered to tell you where the messenger boy who collected the information ran to. Ezquirriel talked him down to 50gp.- The boy ran to a specific address in High Holm, where the "City Flag hung on the Gate" and "There was trees and stuff growing through the roof".- As an aside the party all noticed a woman of exceptional beauty, with Blond hair, and deep, bottomless, green eyes at the bar, drinking with a black haired man. No action was taken.At this the hour was late, and the party went back to their tavern, and thence to bed. They narrowed their sleeping arrangement, and kept a good watch. See the interlude panel subsequent to this one. -
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Tippy's New Friend
Cultural eventThis event happened on the night of December 15th, 1211, in the Reign of King Cerano VI.Tippy got bored.-She revealed she had taken a mortal man, and beguiled him to believe he was her puppy, Mr Biggins.-She needed to use the toilet, and conjured a demon, Malach, to watch over the sleeping Ollie and Zwart.- Malach is a busy creature, and was trapped inside his summoning circle.- Apparently Tippy summons him to serve "as a "BFF" whatever benighted, soul crushing thing that might be." It seems her Fey heritage has innured her to demons machinations. She thus blithely chats to him about all sorts of nonsense.- Malach would rather appreciate if the Party got her a real friend.- He's busy. -
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The day they met Numasius
MiscellaneousThis day, the 16th of December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI, the heroes did thusly adventure forth, fortified by a night's good rest....They went to the watch office in the southern end of the city to locate Corporal Numasius, finding him eventually in the Granary in Court Square.- He is a tall fellow, with fire like red hair, blue eyes, and he is relatively thin for his height.- He is charming, and quite nice. He came to the town via the river, from the town of Tolosa to the south.- Zwart is not responding positively - he is keeping well clear, and his fur is up. -
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The End of Tercius Numasius
MiscellaneousThis day, the 16th of December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI, the heroes did thusly adventure forth, fortified by their belief in the just nature of their cause, and some zealous use of magics...
Corporal Tercius Numasius, officer of the Watch of Aginnum is apparently, now was, a wererat.
Also, Oswalt the Fat, a Drapersgardt merchant is bribing the watch for extra supplies to sell in his store.
This was revealed through extensive efforts by the ranger Ollie to try and get him to be cut by silver. He declined this, and fought to flee. He failed in this after numerous efforts to stop him, ending with being cut down by a Spiritual Weapon called forth by Raphael. Numerous ranged attacks, excellently delivered by Kelx, and Ollie, were deflected by years of training in blocking projectiles held by the nefarious corporal.
But, in the end, he was unconscious upon the floor. There after the creature was bound and taken to the storage room behind the shrine of Helm in the town, at the House of Shrines.
In God's Broomcloset, the players interogated the fallen creature, and also picked over his stuff.
Things we discovered through Ezquirriel and Raphael:
The Perpetrators of the Assassination are:
Tinkle Malovorax
A hideous and ugly woman in Ezquirriel's second sight through Detect Thots. She would be immediately recognizable.
Per the watch captain, who provides you with addresses, she is the daughter of Bingo Malovorax, the next person due to die by the Wererats.
Pongo (Nay-Nay) Malovorax
An old, white male, living in the city, who provides fortunes and predicts the future.
Chonco "Shiverhand" Malovorax
The baron's surviving son and heir.
The party then had the wererat attempt to escape, and met his three relatives. They then killed him from 554 feet away with some nifty magic from Ollie.
Afterwards, everyone went to the castle to speak to Captain Decius, but discovered that they have insufficient evidence to prove any of this to the Baron's satisfaction.
Oh, and we all found a book of Bromantic Fiction, "Heirs of Angels"
It is worn, and certain pages are heavily read and referred to. Perhaps there is something important hidden in those pages? -
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The Time we hunted wererats and did good, mostly...
MiscellaneousThis night, the 16th December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI, the heroes did wisely venture forth to investigate a tavern, identify, follow and locate some were-rats. They then tried to fight the wererats, before running away. Then they did more stuff...
That Night...
The PCs went to the Witch and Wassail, to check out the two people spotted there before - a good looking blonde woman (Zebulia) and a dark haired man with numerous scars (Valdo). They found out that they were out of town for a couple days, but that their rooms were retained for them.
Thus - the Taxabi went to speak to the drunk Paladins of Tyr at the table, and hit it off promptly with some salacious songs about a woman from Catulla. The Dwarf snuck upstairs to sneak a peak in the womans room. The Dragonborn and Goblin hung at the bar talking to the Goliath barkeeper.
Urst had success in breaking into the room of Zebulia and recovered a very nice, small, locked chest. Then in came two of the Numasius family, dressed as watch officers with swords and headed upstairs. The Taxabi called them out, and they fled into the street.
Everyone followed and jumped two innocent watch guys with spears. The Paladins of Tyr helped, until they all figured it was the wrong duo, and the team spotted the right two fleeing off down a different street. Hijinks, a Spike Growth, a Darkness and an Arrow to the Foot later, and the party were following the two guardsmen across town to the Wererat Lair in a city tower in the Drapergardt district (The Wailing Tower).
At this moment everyone except Kelx felt a keen thirst, and repaired to Matron Tangy's Ale House therein to wet their whistles. Brave Kelx, under an invisibility enchantment entered the tower and over heard the wererats discussing various things:
-That they had sent two of their number to deal with "one ugly girl".
-That they would have to kill Pongo tomorrow, but locate the PCs and kill them tonight.
-That Chonco had paid them to clean up his mess now that things were going wrong - has he lost his nerve?
Present and identified were:
Valdene - a Female cleric of Malar, clad in full plate. She is a beautiful redheaded woman, except for the hate she bears.
Wandle - a Roguish wererate male, non-descript beyond his brown locks.
Deucius - A were-rat rogue in the same redhaired vein as Tertius.
Quintius - A were-rat monk in the same redhaired vein as Deucius.
How did it go?
Not well. The wererats did not spot Kelx, but did send Quintius to locate the PCs and plot their imminent demise. He was spotted leaving and the ranger Ollie sent Zwart after him. Ezqurriel and Ollie then ran over to the fallen Quintius, who stood with nary a pause - and called for help.
Everyone was less than surprised when he punch the sorceror into losing concentration on his invisibility, and that his family came to his aid.
Everyone ended up running away.
The team reported this location to the militia, and then went to look for Tinkle Malovorax, at her father, Bingo Malovorax, house. Here a nice half-elf maid, Tanicia, told them that she was out at her aunt's estate for a few days, and that Tanicia had told two members of the city watch (Zebulia and Valdo by description), the same thing.
Everyone then left town to save Tinkle...
Leaving town for the three hour trip to the Bigups Malovorax estate the team passed a small copse on the final ridgecrest, where in they found 8 horses and some camping gear readied for the owners return. Then they went down the ridge the last couple miles to the distant estate.
Some stuff happened with a fake guard that Ollie identified as a member of the bandit fraternity known as the Brothers of the Luna Wolf. He escaped into the darkness (and survived).
They went into the estate, found some dead servants, saved a dying servant, and then entered the manor. Ezqurriel finally got to use his fire spells, and set the manor alight. The party killed a lot of bandits pretty quickly, and captured two Wererats - Zebulia and Valdo.
Tinkle managed to fake not being guilty, but is hideous. She is also a follower of Beshaba, as the statue found in her chambers reveals.
The night ended with everyone getting some sleep to return to the city in the morning.
Cool Items of Note:
The Sacrifice of the Virgin - A small, amazing jading statue of elven creation, cut from jade, showing a cultist offering a virgin to a dragon. The Face of the robed cultist is a cut ruby, the virgin a sapphire, and the dragon wraps the whole scene in his tail , and his wings. The jade is carved so that the various small changes in coloration highlight the various elements of the scene. It is worth 8,000gp on the criminal market, and more in a legal sale. It is owned by Frodo Malovorax, but found in a sealed box in Zebulia's possessions.
The Heirs of Angels - A second, equally used copy of the Bromantic Fiction of various dubiously written male characters and their love of spiced pudding.
A hit list - Noting the PCs resident at the Docent and Deville inn, and then each by name. An illegible substance is noted as being introduced into the rats cooked for Kelx. Given the age of the note, and the time since rat was last served, it is unlikely to have had any effect... -
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That one time we rescued a guy to experience his demise PoV
Military actionThis morn, the 17th December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI, the heroes did briskly return to the city of Aginnum.
There in they did return the prisoners, and save the life * of a Malovorax malfeseant.
There is more in the full edit.... -
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What Ho! ... No, actually you are a Hag! ... What, Hag!
MiscellaneousThis noon, the 17th December, in the Reign of King Cerano VI, the heroes did briskly investigate the cescendo of their purpose here...