Bloodlusting
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| Current Campaign: The Knights of Eaton | |
| Episode 04: "Bloodlusting" | |
| Year: 1753 Winter | |
| Location: Kandorr City | |
| PCs: | |
NPCs:
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| Previous Episode: "The Siege of Kandorr" | |
| Next Episode: "The Inquest Rebellion" | |
| Previous Campaign: The Thuzuulan Heresy | |
Summary
Following the resounding defeat at the Siege of Kandorr, Dellforth exacts revenge on Kandorr by unleashing a terrifying sickness upon the city. King Gregory descends into madness and tragedy follows.
Developments
- Kandorr is infected by a mysterious contagion.
- Lord Chaplain Torkas and his clerics are exposed to the contagion and attack the city.
- King Gregory decrees a quarantine and city curfew and thereafter falls ill.
- Margaret, Grespin, and Tas lead a counter-attack; Drake kills Torkas.
- Ambrose discovers the illness was caused by Grutek, a high priest of Thuzuul.
- Gregory, mad with fever, leads a skirmish against Borric and his retinue; he is killed by Borric.
- The illness faded in two weeks; Garn Simonson assumes the throne.
- A funeral is held for Gregory; wracked by grief and guilt, Borric leaves for Avandell to join his father Croyd.
Story
Act One: Contagion
A mortally wounded ranger steered his weak horse to the main gate and he collapsed; he was shot through by silver-tipped arrows. The soldiers on duty reported to Drake who called for a physician, but the ranger died. The physician removed the arrows and gave them to Drake who bundled them all except one, which he took to court to report to his lord. At court, Drake gained an audience with Gregory, who summoned his lord chaplain Ilasion Torkas and his court mage Ambrose the Younger to inspect the unusual arrow. Lord Chaplain Torkas perceived the arrow to be cursed with a virulent contagion and he destroyed it immediately. Ambrose II scanned their surroundings and realized the black magic had spread to the barracks and was spreading rapidly, so he cast a spell to sterilize the barracks and then himself; the effort left him weak and in pain. King Gregory issued an immediate quarantine and shut all the city gates; no one was to leave the city and everyone was to remain indoors. He ordered his mages and priests to set up healing stations throughout the city.
As day turned to night, reports of disturbances escalated throughout Kandorr City and the guards were too few to reliably keep the peace. Gregory ordered his soldiers to assist the city guard and Margaret and Grespin led a unit to the most dangerous part of town, where reports of fighting had intensified. They briefly clashed with a group of city stevedores, who fled after light resistance and soon they arrived at the Red Mermaid, where they found the tavern-keep murdered and his patrons delirious with anger. Margaret climbed a table and tried to talk down the crowd but they hurled bottles and stools at her. Grespin and his soldiers rushed to her defense and they all fought their way to the door as the mob grew more frenzied. After they pushed their way outside Margaret wedged her sword across the main door and ordered the guards to blockade the other exit. They tended to their wounds while the patrons inside murderously turned on each other. Someone within hurled a lamp and soon the interior was alight; within seconds the tavern became a crucible as Margaret and Grespin looked on in horror. They turned and saw a hostile crowd gathering and Grespin suggested to Margaret that she turn back to the castle to report on what had happened while he and his men would defend the fire team. As she ran quickly up the road Margaret looked back on the city and saw random conflicts in the streets below. Lord Drake took a moment to himself to burn the remaining arrows and he joined with Tasselhof to patrol the streets and maintain order.
Act Two: The Fire Inside
Within a week nearly half the city was sick with the mystical illness, which followed three stages: fever, blotchy skin, and irrational behavior, usually followed by severe bouts of violent aggression, and finally paralysis. Most victims eventually recovered, but hundreds died in the melees and fires throughout the city.
Lord Chaplain Torkas and a handful of his loyal priests fell ill, but their sickness was unknown to anyone due to their seclusion in the abbey. That week the sickness spread throughout the abbey until all the Kalamir adherents were infected and became susceptible to Torkas's influence. Torkas incited his warrior priests to purge the city in holy fire and slay any heretics who stood opposed to them; his priests launched deadly assaults on the temples in Kandorr City and infiltrated the castle, where they attacked the palace guard. Margaret, Grespin, and Tas led a counter-attack and soon the entire castle was in turmoil. Drake tracked down Torkas and slew him.
Meanwhile, Ambrose was studying and researching the sickness and discovered that Gregory was weakened by a mystical sickness that allowed an evil presence to possess him. Ambrose learned that the dark force called itself Grutek, a high priest of Thuzuul and an ally of Argonheim. He alerted Margaret and she and Borric confronted Gregory, who ordered his bodyguard to restrain them. They drew swords and fought. As the skirmish waged, Gregory fled the throne room and barricaded himself in the queens's quarters, where he held his mother and her maidens hostage. They broke down the doors and Borric struggled with Gregory and killed him; the lethal strike to Gregory also destroyed Borric's sword.
Borric ordered Ambrose and his remaining priests to exorcise the castle interior and had his soldiers continue patrolling the city in shifts; Kandorr City was placed under emergency curfew and the sickness faded away in the following two weeks. Garn Simonson assumed the throne and continued Borric's policies until the danger passed. A state funeral was held for Gregory, who was interred at Karim Abbey. Borric chose to depart for Avandell to join his father Croyd.
Meta
Points awarded
- 3 points
Season Pool
- 17 points