Ch 2, Part 8: The Shield of Faith

Cry to the Watch

The heroes leave the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden and go straight to Citadel Voleyshenek to ask Field Marshal Kroft for aid. They bring with them stories of deceit and betrayal by the queen and a number of rescued prisoners that can verify their account.

The field Marshel listens intently and ponders their next course of action. She is concerned that the Grey Maidens will re secure the Hospice and she is also worried for the many bedridden victims still inside. If she sends in her watch, she fears her commands will simple be countermanded. She asks the heroes to think up a way that they can hold on to the Hospice and the patients within without openly moving against the crown.

The heroes ponder this then propose a number of outlandish and extreme measures such as burning the hospice down and creating a diversion to draw all the Grey Maidens away from the Hospice. Eventually the Field Marshal shakes her head and overs an alternative solution. If the heroes could use their connections with the local upstanding churches to ask for healers to replace the slain Doctors; the Grey Maidens would be unlikely to move openly against them while the clerics are helping at the Hospice.

The Shield of Faith

The heroes think its a great idea and set about rallying the local churches. Sparrowhawk secures the aid of the Shrine of Shelyn, Sol is able to convince the Church of Abadar to help; Gritt secures the Church of Sarenrae and Mandraiv is able to secure the aid of the Church Pharasmsa. While in the Grey, Mandraiv also brings the body of Justin to be interred and purchases a lavish and expensive tomb. He also meets a past acquaintance of Justin, called Helious who is another firearms specialist. He doesn't seem particularly concerned over Justin's death but does accept an offer to avenge him and decides to join with Mandraiv.

The heroes escort the clerics to the Hospice where they begin tending the sick. They adjourn for the night at the Three Rings Tavern to rest and recover. Theandra offers to watch over them while they rest.

The next morning Sol visits the Pantheon of Many to speak to a Cleric of Iomedae and learn more of his faith. He is given the Acts of Iomedae to read and ponder a conversion to Iomedae. The rest of the group set about selling loot and making some purchases. By late morning, the heroes arrive at the Hospice. They see two Grey Maidens standing guard, but some undercover City Watch Guards inform them that there are no Grey Maidens inside and that the clerics are fine.

The heroes sneak in via the back loading bay and find the clerics still busy tending the sick. Sparrowhawk takes Slyvana aside and tells her the truth about what lies belong in a secret lair. She is shocked and angry at Sparrowhawk for being used as a human shield but she cannot stay angry for long and quickly forgives her.

The Leukodaemon

The heroes then descend the elevator and quickly come face to face with the sickly horse/bird demon. It is a terrible and exacting fight that the heroes win but they are terribly hurt; almost everyone suffering from multiple diseases. Once more they retreat to rest and recover, spending the night in the Hospice. When Slyvana hears the heroes account of what happened below she angrily storms out of the Hospice. The next morning the clerics help the heroes recover from their effects of the disease. They also dip heavily into their wand of lesser restoration.

Also that morning Slyvana shows up dressed in a brand new (fashionable) explorers outfit and insists she is coming along to help keep the heroes up and fighting.

Encounter	Grit	Helious	Mandraiv	Sparrowhawk	Sol	Watson
Pre-Session	23,769	18,869	22,569	20,619	22,119	19,869
Journal			500		500
Altruism: Freeing prisoners	600	500	0	500	500	500
RP: Cressida Kroft	600	500	600	500	500	500
RP: Getting churches to help	600	500	600	500	500	500
RP: A tomb for Justin			600
RP: Crisis of Faith					500
RP: Slyvana				500
Leukodaemon	1067	1067	1067	1067	1067	1067
Chief Tea Maker					250
Total	26,636	21,436	25,936	23,686	25,936	22,436