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Post by Admin on Apr 30, 2014 23:57:59 GMT
For a timeless instant, the party stumbles between spaces. As the light of day again fills their senses, they find themselves in a forgotten glade in the middle of the woods. There is smoke rising from nearby, and they emerge onto a nearby road. The distant lapping of the waves can be heard as they see a blue ribbon stretching out over the horizon. They are about five hundred yards from a white sanded beach, but a single structure stands out: An inn with a signpost reading "The Beached Whale."
A portly man emerges from within, a covered wagon with horses and guards behind him. He is covered in rolls of cellulite, but his broad arms look like they may still easily swing a sword. His gaudy red and purple robes would put a number of kings to shame. Leath, Hans, and Jiao recognize him as Matteo Anafesto, the merchant who hired them to investigate the Vizzini estate. Psychlis is not familiar, but can easily recognize him as a merchant.
"Ah, bene!" he says. "I did not expect to see you near Constantinople."
"Ah, I recognize some of you, but not the wizard." He walks towards Hans. "Ah, my friend, it is good you are still alive. Tell me, do have any news of lucrative new markets? The Emperor's locked down the city on account of some unrest. To think I've come all this way for nothing!"
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Post by Admin on May 3, 2014 23:01:44 GMT
Suddenly, a man bolts out the front door. He is thin, dressed in rags, and has a maddened look in his eyes. "The end is nigh! Gaius has returned!" he pauses for a moment after seeing the party. "Along the shore the cloud waves break, The twin suns sink behind the lake, The shadows lengthen in Carcosa. As was in Carcosa, so too shall be the Second Rome!"
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Post by henwen88 on May 4, 2014 3:40:03 GMT
"Wow," Leath says to himself. "It feels like it's been quite a long time, Anafesto. Is this a friend of yours?" he asks, nodding in the direction of the raving man. He tries to make sense of what he hears, believing that not all that seems madness is without sense, but he cannot follow any of the allusions the haggard man seems to be making.
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Post by Admin on May 4, 2014 4:11:18 GMT
Anafesto looks at the raving man and shakes his head. "No, this fool was making a scene inside. The innkeeper must have thrown him out."
The lunatic walks towards Psychlis. "Yes, the elf, Gaius loves those of elven blood. So beautiful, so slender, with such musical screams." The half elf wizard notices his pungent body odor and stink. "The Yellow Sign will soon be upon the great city! Carcosa will claim its souls!"
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Post by jon on May 4, 2014 15:13:34 GMT
After greeting Anafesto warmly, Hans turns to the newcomer.
"My good man! Please relax, you are among friends." Hans says to the raving man with a warm smile [diplomacy]. "What is this yellow sign that you speak of?" Hans asks with a more solemn look.
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Post by Admin on May 5, 2014 0:47:37 GMT
[Diplomacy roll: 14]
"It is the three pointed mark of the King in Yellow, Lord of Carcosa!" the man says. "He will claim you, merchant. Just like the others bound for Byzantium. Three great men have been called forth to herald the King, but only Gaius does so knowingly and willingly. Yog Sothoth's weakness will cement the King's victory!"
The man begins laughing, and runs into the woods. He vanishes from sight, leaving no tracks or footprints behind him.
[Knowledge (arcana) check: 7]
Psychlis recalls hearing of a similar symbol in occult lore, but it is a theurgic sigil. As his specialty is arcane magic rather than divine, he'd be better off asking a theologian or consulting a library. What he does recall is rather alarming, as it is associated with a dangerous cult of some twisted deity. Beyond that, he'd need a library or lorekeeper to answer his questions.
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Post by Admin on May 6, 2014 2:49:00 GMT
"Dios, that man seemed mad," Anafesto says. "But not to worry. If you are traveling towards or away from Byzantium, there are horses and a guide for hire within."
He looks up at the sun. "Ah, I'd like to be on my way before the sun sinks too low... While you handled Vizzini's bandits, there are still other dangers on these roads."
Anafesto heads down the road, leaving the party by themselves. "Do any of you have an idea of a way we can contact Psychlis' friends in the city? Otherwise, we could be stuck at the gate."
Psychlis and Hans notice a small construct, a dragonfly-like machine of brass dwarven alloys, perched above the inn. Caldeus' machine beeps in recognition of them, likely awaiting their orders. It hovers over towards Hans and Psychlis, and telepathically asks. "Orders? Scouting and delivery protocols authorized."
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Post by henwen88 on May 6, 2014 3:36:42 GMT
"This Yog creature has been mentioned before in connection with the spheres, hasn't it?" Leath asks. "And now we have some madman claiming a weakness in this creature will cement a Yellow King's victory. Do we have rival cults on our hands? Does this have any connection with the spheres, or are these just the ravings of a lunatic?"
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Post by jon on May 6, 2014 11:52:26 GMT
"Hmmm very odd... but there may be a truth to what he says." Hans says to the group. "It probably isn't wise to try and understand the specifics of the man's ravings... however we do get a few leads, such as this pleasant sounding Gaius fellow who like screaming elves," Hans grins at Psychlis, "It may pay to disguise you as a human before we enter the city, Psychlis. They may be the ravings of a madman but if they arn't..."
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Post by Admin on May 6, 2014 22:48:23 GMT
[Knowledge religion check: 16]
Jiao muses for a moment. "The spheres are artifacts of Yog Sothoth, an divine entity of the Great Old Ones," he says. "The Great Old Ones do have cults that feud with each other, and the Yellow Sign is the symbol of one of Yog Sothoth's rivals. In particular, I believe it's Hastur, the King in Yellow and master of a domain called Carcosa."
He continues. "Perhaps this Gaius fellow is a follower or head cultist? Odd, as the name seems more Latin than Greek."
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Post by kooshster on May 7, 2014 17:42:26 GMT
Psychlis looks up at the flying construct. "Try and get in touch with Sven One-Eye, of the Varangian Guard. Failing that..." he gives it the names of the harbormaster and sea captain he knows and who owe him favors, instructing them to devise a way by which the party might enter Byzantium safely and quietly.
To Hans, he grunts and lifts his hood over his ears. "I know not why a half-elf would be the target of such derision in my own homeland, but desperate times cry out for stealth."
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2014 0:00:10 GMT
"Response will be waiting tomorrow morning," the construct says before buzzing off.
Jiao looks towards the inn. "In that case, why not just call it a night? I need to pray and meditate to restore my powers. I'd hate to confront anything in that city without healing."
Hans, Leath, and Psychlis, all realizing their spells had been depleted since the battle in Newton, require rest to restore. They head inside the inn, and they find it is nearly deserted. A lone man in leather armor sits in the corner, finishing a bottle of wine to join the other empty ones on the table. A woman with dark skin and dressed in chain mail talks with a dwarf holding a crossbow in an unknown tongue. An elf with blond hair whispers to a brunette human woman, staring at him with obvious interest. The man behind the bar is a tall and spindly figure, his eyes turning to the party. A comely serving wench, likely a half orc, carries more wine to the drunken man in the corner.
"Welcome to the Beached Whale," he says. "Can I help you?"
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Post by kooshster on May 8, 2014 12:54:48 GMT
Psychlis grumbles something under his breath about he could've used some healing spells during the battle that Jiao wasn't even there for. Clearing his throat, he says to the barkeep, "What do you have to eat and drink? We also need accommodations. What rents do you charge?"
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Post by jon on May 8, 2014 14:13:41 GMT
Hans orders a pint and sits at the bar. He glances at the residents, waving and smiling when eye contact is made. He also attempts to overhear any interesting or suspicious conversation.
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Post by Admin on May 9, 2014 1:34:52 GMT
The bartender replies to Psychlis. "It should be 10 gp for all of you for the night, counting the pony I saw out the window," the bartender says.
As Psychlis and the rest of the party have thousands of unspent gold, it would be a mere pittance.
Jiao pays the 10 gp, and says, "Also, could you arrange for a transport to Byzantium? We are in dire need to get there."
"Ah, the city gates are locked tight, but there is a weekly merchant caravan that can take you to the city walls tomorrow morning. I can wake you when they arrive."
Jiao nods in agreement.
---
Hans hears the dwarf and dark skinned woman talking.
"Hird, who are these cults in the city? Why cannot we return to our employer?"
"Eh, Abeke, they've existed for a while, but the last few weeks saw 'em get bolder and crazier," the dwarf Hird says. "There's the Olympian Orthodox, lead by a charismatic man named Julio. He really plays to the crowds, but never gets too political. They're relatively harmless, but the Patriarch doesn't like 'em. They're whole philosophy is that the old Greek Gods were just how the Latins saw Yahweh."
"Yes, the god of the Abrahamites," she says. "But what of the other one?"
"Oh, they went by several names, but everyone just calls 'em the Signed. They go around chalking these strange yellow "X" shapes all over town, while committing all matter of violent crime," Hird continues. "They preach the end is near, so all should abandon morality and sate their inner beasts. Nasty fellows, and their leader's a crazy man named Gaius. They say he's got a pet red dragon, but you can't believe everything you hear."
"The Olympians we saw were more polite," Abeke says. "But are they really as violent as the Signed?"
"Not originally, but the Signed seemed to be targeting them. There's been some back and forth killings, and the city guard got involved..." Hird says. "That's why the Emperor brought in those Italian mercenaries."
"Oh, yes, I recall," Abeke says. "The ones with the fire-lances?"
"Muskets, they called them," Hird says. "No one's sure where they're coming from, but they're loud and scary. Emperor Basil wants to buy some to use on the Bulgars. I guess he's never had enough of slaying them."
"I remember those Italians at the gate. So rude and inconsiderate."
"Yeah, their leader, Cesare, is a real piece of work. Most of the army's out defending the borders, the city guard's overextended, so he brought those mercenaries in to keep the peace," Hird hesitates. "Or at least the illusion of it."
"Heretics, murder cults, and mercenaries. No wonder the Byzantines can't live in peace."
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