Chapter 4, Session 7: Ambush

General Summary

You are going to pay for what you did here!

• Esmerae challenges one of her bountied vampires after they attack The Wished Well.

Peregrine watched, frozen in fear, as the cleric in front of her burst into flames. The clerics nearby rushed to her aid, batting out the flames quickly. Eventually, the cleric was healed enough to speak, telling the guards she believed she was attacked and pointing to where she thought the attacker had gone. Peregrine went to look but saw no sign of an assailant - however, she did sense some of her sorcery points had been drained. She asked for the cleric’s name: Diviner Lisbeth. After asking what she did to trigger a memory, Diviner Lisbeth explained she’d cast Detect Thoughts. She also agreed to send a message to Peregrine should [Whispering Light wake up, having him tied down after Peregrine warned her he might try to leave immediately.
Peregrine then headed to The Wished Well to fill in the rest of the group, after tracking down a Detect Magic scroll. Hermione of Vallea agreed to learn the spell to help Peregrine access more of her memories, even when Peregrine warned her of the very real dangers she could be in if she did. The party also agreed to hunt the rest of the vampires for money after Esmerae mentioned the bounty on them. After tracking down Sigholdt Sofiasson and updating him, they also agreed to do the Sand Speeders job after killing the vampires. The party agreed to a plan to lure the vampires to them rather than trying to track them down - using Esmerae as bait by promoting a show that evening in the tavern starring her. Esmerae and Hermione went to cash in the bounties they already had, selling the two blood weapons. Esmerae then used her vampiric charm to try and get full price on the blood weapon she’d gotten from a vampire not in the city, succeeding and managing to get a bounty increase on the remaining bounties.
The two returned to the tavern, where Hermione asked after Wraith, learning he was probably in prison. Esmerae agreed to go with her to check it out. Meanwhile, Peregrine and Sigholdt bought the Detect Thoughts spellscroll as well as craft supplies to make advertisements and flyers for the show. They convinced Cherish Gray to help make the flyers, describing a ‘tasteful burlesque show starring Esmerae, all about cleaning the lake’. Peregrine and Sigholdt covered the town with flyers, and Sigholdt used a Skyline Hooks to cover even more ground, having to flee the police while doing so, leaving Peregrine to return to the tavern alone.
Esmerae and Hermione reached the prison and were barred entry, being told they needed to fill out forms. They learned security was at max alert, though the guard wouldn’t say what had happened. The guard was snarky and a bit rude, clearly wanting them to leave. In turn, Hermione and Esmerae were a bit more rude/Karen-esque, getting his name to report him. They headed back to the guard dower to speak to the guard under Esmerae’s vampiric charm (Jewelled Deda). He hesitantly told them Wraith was in the jail, in the repurposed layer - a high-security layer with individual demi planes. Wraith was caught with a Providence dagger, saying he was going to kill someone and was assumed to be a member of the group after attacking the guards. He was trapped two months ago. The mercenary who caught him was called Ilios. Deda mentioned a recent escape from the prison - Tarniq Seraf . After getting the visitation forms filled out, Hermione hit the library, though learned very little about The Woven Providence .
Eventually, the group regathered in the tavern room. As Peregrine helped Esmerae and the others prep for the show, Hermione told everyone about The Architect's and Wraith who was on the ‘Unconsciable’ level of prison. She also informed everyone of Tarniq Seraf’s escape - the name triggered a prey instinct in Sigholdt. Peregrine sorted out outfits for her and Esmerae, and the pair painted Sigholdt to be a glittery goldfish under ‘sludge’ armour. Finally, it was time for the show! The group put on a very good performance (some high performance checks!). About 15 minutes in, Hermione spotted three figures leaving, very clearly vampires. Sigholdt also sensed a space in the crowd had been desecrated. Hermione messaged Sigholdt who suggested sending Joly to track the figures. Through Joly, Hermione saw the three vampires mist up to the roof of the tavern and start to draw sigils, casting a conjuration spell. Hermione messaged Sigholdt to inform him.
Just as Hermione prepared to disrupt the vampires, the roof suddenly creaked. The entire second floor caved into the tavern, crushing many of the crowd. A very large creature fell through - humanoid with wings, and a contorted face choking on blood. Esmerae knew it was a vampiric abomination - what happened when someone was turned against their will. The creature then vomited out a large bat creature. Hermione cast Mirror Image on herself and moved for a better vantage point. Sigholdt summoned his armour and shot the abomination with Eldritch Blast. The abomination got right up to Sigholdt after killing some audience members, while Esmerae looked for her equipment and also shot the abomination with an Eldritch Blast, killing it! The blood-bat spoke in celestial to Esmerae, trying to cast suggestion on her, but Peregrine Counterspelled it.
The bat moved to corner Peregrine as the three vampires Misty Stepped into the space. One successfully hit Peregrine as another hit Esmerae. Peregrine used a healing spell before trying to cast a Guiding Bolt but found herself Counterspelled. The barkeep, Desdemona Boreal, worked on getting survivors out of the tavern. Esmerae threatened that the vampires would pay for killing so many, and the vampire looked disgusted at her, asking “What happened to you Victor?”, as combat began in earnest.

Report Date

17 Sep 2024