The Quarantine of Litala (Game Thread)

[atlastrembles]

Aurix pipes up when Henry finishes, turning to the tiefling commander to correct a minor point. Uh, excuse me, just to be clear, I believe it was a hobgoblin wizard that attacked us. It also seemed like the spellcaster was perhaps working with the creatures that have attacked the city. I believe that the creatures were aboard a ship recently docked. Whatever is creating these creatures, it doesn't seem to be a sickness that can spread. This suggests an intentional mutation. They are strong and fast and well-armoured, so some sort of military application of transmutation magic?

Aurix finally gasps a breath, interrupting his rambling for a moment so that others can interject.

[Ramsus]

Copper & Bronze Fire Genasi Artificer Pirate & Construct Tiger HP: 19/48 & 33/33 Concentrating on: Arcane Weapon (15/60 minutes) Conditions: -- & Conditions: -- "We found this book on the spellcaster too. But none of us can read goblin." Copper adds, taking out the book and handing it over if the captain wants it.

[tigerusthegreat]

"That is most troubling. The attacks seem to have quieted down for now. I will see to finding someone who speaks goblin to uncover anything that might be found in that. For now, you all have my thanks. I have rooms in our barracks set aside for you, if you wish to rest. I can have some food brought to you as well." Looking over your general demeanor and wounds. "And I will have someone tend to your wounds."

[atlastrembles]

Just as the Captain finishes letting them know they can rest, get healed, and most importantly, eat, Aurix collapses to the floor, his stomach growling audibly.

[JbeJ275]

Finnegan asks for directions, keys and any available alcohol in that order.

[tigerusthegreat]

The group is lead to a large barracks style room with five beds, footlockers, and the like in it. There's a large table in the center, with food already on it. A few minutes later, ale is brought in, and a young man, dressed in the same gear as most of the guardsmen, comes in and bandages your various wounds, cleaning them with a stinging solution of some kind, and even stitching a few of the worst injuries.

[JbeJ275]

So, Says Finnegan once the guardsmen have left. This was a stincker, now the attacks have stopped I hope we can get this done with and leave the rest to the gaurds quickish.

[atlastrembles]

Aurix flops down onto the bed still chewing, spraying crumbs all over the sheets but too exhausted to care. He barely stirs when the medics come to patch him up, but manages to croak out to Finnegan with eyes still closed

I don't think it's that easy, Fin, unfortunately. Whatever happened tonight, I think it was a beginning, not the end.

[tigerusthegreat]

The night passes quickly as you mostly pass out from exhaustion. As you wake, you are greeted by what can be generously called porridge. Its edible, but has next to no flavor. The ale that goes with it is similarly utilitarian. You are beginning to regret taking up the offer of a free bed and food.

As you gather your belongings and return to the main room of the fortification, the Captain and several of her officers are having a hushed discussion over the map of the city. There are a large number of markers on it.

"Good morning. This..." she points to the now open book you recovered from the hobgoblin. "was of great help. We managed to engage and destroy a couple of groups that we believe were behind it. One of them is in our cells being interrogated right now. There is no doubt that this is a coordinated attack of some sort, but we've not been able to determine the source."

"The real disturbing thing is that these creatures used to be citizens. They've been twisted and transformed into something mindless and violent. There have been a handful of further attacks, but for the most part it is under control. Now we just have to find what force is coordinating them."

[Ramsus]

Copper & Bronze Fire Genasi Artificer Pirate & Construct Tiger HP: 48/48 & 33/33 Concentrating on: -- Conditions: -- & Conditions: -- The food wasn't great but she'd certainly had worse many times, the bed was honestly (sadly) better than any she'd ever slept in in her entire life before she came to this place. All in all, not a terrible morning for her. And hey, ale for breakfast, who can complain? "Glad it was useful." she says, assuming they're about to be assigned a task or the others will volunteer their group for one any moment now.

[atlastrembles]

Aurix appreciatively scoffs down both the ale and porridge, feeding some of it to Mutt who laps it up carefully with tiny flicks of his snake-like tongue. He had had worse, and less, food at the Temple on occasion, so eating the thin gruel and watery ale was no real hardship. Plus, he was still high on the reality that he was still breathing.

As they gather around the Captain, Aurix frowns down at the map, worry creasing his scaled face. So just like we thought, this isn't random. Where else in the city was attacked, Captain, and how can we help fight back?

OOC - Aurix examines the map and tries to determine if there are any patterns, like if the attacks radiate out from a particular point, or are clustering in any particular areas, etc.

Investigation - (1d20+6)[23]

[tigerusthegreat]

"The attacks seemed to have happened anywhere a significant population was. That book you recovered details that they were trying to make this an infectious agent able to self propagate, so that any fallen victims would rise as creatures of the same kind, the way some undead reproduce. We've taken to burning the bodies to be sure, but so far none of them have risen in that way."

"Our best guess is that one of the two nations is trying to subtlety push us towards an alliance with them, by either showing we are vulnerable or by blaming the other for these attacks. Neither has said anything as of yet, but news of this would not have reached far. "

Aurix quickly notices that there is indeed a pattern. Several of the clusters seem to be in close proximity to maintenance access to the sewer system. Presumably the other clusters may also be close to them.

[Ramsus]

Copper & Bronze Fire Genasi Artificer Pirate & Construct Tiger HP: 48/48 & 33/33 Concentrating on: -- Conditions: -- & Conditions: -- "Well we sure don't want that." Copper comments. Though by "we" she means "pirates".

[atlastrembles]

No indeed, we do not want that, we have to defend our city.

Aurix points out the pattern to the Captain and his companions examining the map. Look! The attacks all seem to be clustering around the drains to the undercity. I bet you that's how they're moving around. Aurix blinks slowly, realizing with dread what they might have to do next. We have to go down there...don't we?

[JbeJ275]

Yeah, probably. It's a stinker I can tell you that but it makes sense if they were trying to do this. Those places are never safe, but if your foolish enough to risk your neck you can get away with a lot of stuff down there.

[tigerusthegreat]

(Shortly ended up being most of the day because work sucked)

"It wouldn't be easy to infiltrate the sewers from outside the city. The only access is two very secured areas....metal bars over the sewer and regular patrols. It'd be hard to get anyone past, let along enough to plan this kind of attack. I can get you access if you want to check it out, but it will likely be a dead end."

[JbeJ275]

I think it would be worth checking out, even if it's not how they're smuggling things in they might be taking only less dangerous parts in one at a time through the gates then combine them down there. Besides we've got no other leads worth anything.

[Ramsus]

Copper & Bronze Fire Genasi Artificer Pirate & Construct Tiger HP: 48/48 & 33/33 Concentrating on: -- Conditions: -- & Conditions: -- "Yay, sewers." Copper comments unenthusiastically. Though in truth this is something of a facade. While she absolutely doesn't enjoy the idea of the experience of being down there, it seems these sewers could grant access all over the city which could have some avenue of profit to it.

[tigerusthegreat]

"If you are intent on investigating them, then I will get you an escort. I'm not sure what we can spare in terms of supplies, but I can see about getting you anything you might need."

[atlastrembles]

Aurix nods decisively and begins gathering his things. Thank you Captain, any support you can lend would be appreciated. I know we are not soldiers, but we will fight just as hard to protect our homes.

[JbeJ275]

"If you are intent on investigating them, then I will get you an escort. I'm not sure what we can spare in terms of supplies, but I can see about getting you anything you might need."

If you have anything that will illuminate us without casting a flame it would be most useful. Gases can build up down there something fierce.

[tigerusthegreat]

You are provided with two everburning torches, as well as a single sunrod. One of the guards leads you through a few back alleys to a foul smelling area where several rivulets of water drain into grates. In the center is a round piece of iron about four feet across. Retrieving a key and a rod from his pouch, the guard puts the rod in a small crevice in the piece of iron, and turns the key in a small hole. He then twists the rod slightly and heaves the heavy piece of iron out of the ground. It reveals a round passageway leading straight down, with iron handholds every foot or so. It leads about thirty feet down before opening into a larger room that is blocked from sight for now.

"I'll put the cover back on when you go down, but this one will be unlocked. Try not to get too lost, as the rest of these should be locked tight."

[Ramsus]

Copper & Bronze Fire Genasi Artificer Pirate & Construct Tiger HP: 48/48 & 33/33 Concentrating on: -- Conditions: -- & Conditions: -- "Is there a way they can be opened from the inside?" Copper asks, contemplating trying to steal the man's key and rod somehow.

[tigerusthegreat]

"If they'te unlocked you just have to push. If it's locked, it will take a lot of force to break the lock."

[JbeJ275]

Well, no time like the present. With that, Finnegan takes one of the everburning torches and begins to descend down the ladder, once they'e all down they'll navigate towards the sewer exits where the most densely packed attacks came from.

[atlastrembles]

Aurix takes one last look around as if memorizing what daylight looks like, takes a deep breath, and follows Finnegan into the sewers. Mutt's tiny claws dig anxiously into his tunic for purchase as the pseudodragon nuzzles into his partner's neck for comfort. The dragonborn suppresses a shiver as he descends, uncomfortable in the dark but resolved to help his city.