The Night Watch - Curse of the Blood Veil

Kuthona 7, 4708 - We were just finishing breakfast when it was reported that Field Marshal Croft wanted all the guards to assemble. It was at that time it was reported to all the Guards that Regent Queen Ileosa made a speech and revealed that Seneschal Neolandus Kalepopalus has been kidnapped right out of the castle. She then announced that she will be forming an all female guard force answerable only to herself, Field Marshal Croft and Sabina Merrin. After the talk Andrian ask me to go with him to the Seneshal’s room to look around. We went up to his room and noticed that the maids were picking up the room. Andrian noticed that nothing seemed to be broken just knock over. We also found out that his good cloak, sword and riding boots where gone, too. Andrian ask all the people to leave the room for a moment and told the guards outside to not let anyone in. Andrian and I started to look around for exit. As we were looking in came Field Marshall Cressida Croft and demanded to know what we were doing. We told her that we were trying to find out what happen here. We also told her that it is strange that nothing is broken as if it was staged to look like a struggle took place. We were looking for another exit. That when Field Marshall Croft told us we should not be in this room and should not be looking for other exit. Field Marshal Croft made it clear that if we did anymore checking in the castle she would put us in the dungeon. So, we left talking to each other why would the Seneschal want it to look like he was kidnapped? Because too much pointed to the fact that nothing was broken like he did not want to destroy any of his own items. Very little happen the rest of the day. I talk to a dwarf who will be going back to Janderholf and would deliver my journal and letter to my father. I gave him 10 gp to deliver the package.

Kuthona 8, 4708 – When Andrian woke up this morning he told us he had a dream and he needed each of us to pull a card from his harrow cards. Carufinwe and I picked a card even though I think they are just a trick and have nothing to do with Torag. Mine was sickness and Andrian seemed worried over this. Riley wanted to pick his card form Trinia instead of from Andrian cards.

Later this morning Verik Vancaskerkin came to us to ask for a favor. We wanted us to help a friend of his out. We ask him what do we have to do and he told us to get him to report back to his post. He told us his friend name was Grau and his story about him being on patrol during the riots when all of a sudden he saw someone on a roof top about to throw some kind of knife at the guards. His training just kicked in and Grau shot his cross bolt at the person killing him. When the body fell from the roof he noticed it was a child he shot. It was an accident but he will not listen and has crawled into a bottle ever since. We told Verik we would look for Grau and try to bring him back.

Grau was in the tavern that Verik told us he would be. He been drunk for over a week it looks like. When we came in Grau spoke to Riley as if he knew him. He called him Thurmon Pennyfeather and said he looks much younger than he remember him. Riley talked to him like he was this other person and asked if he could buy him another drink. I was just thinking to my self he does not need any more to drink, Riley was trying to be his bubby. When Riley got him to speak about the incident of killing the boy I was able to step in and ask him if he was going to talk to the family to tell them he did not mean to kill their son. He told me that he could not do that. But, I was able to tell him it would be better for them to know it was an accident and you are truly sorry. Just as I was making him think it was the right thing to do. Andrian entered the conversation as his commanding officers and started order him about. He was able to connect to his military background even though he was drunk and come back to his duty. I think Andrian used the Captain bit just because when we first started to talk to Grau he threw up on Andrian which got him a little mad at Grau.

After he got him clean up and feeling better I took him to the parents of the boy he killed. We talk to them for a while and you could see they were upset with him. But, now they understand why their son was shot by Grau. Grau was doing his duty trying to calm down the city during the riots. He saw something he thought was a threat to his patrol and just shot because too much confusion was already going on. I think in time they will forgive Grau for the accidental killing of their son. I gave the family 20gp for their lost. Grau did fell better after the meeting and I told him it is better to face your troubles then try to hide from them.

That evening we found out that Grau has been assigned to kitchen detail for his leaving his post. Verik thanked us for bring Grau out of his self pity and back to his duty. Andrian told Verik that he talk with Field Marshal Croft and ask if he could have Grau and Verik on the night watch when they are done with their punishments. Field Marshal Croft agreed to his request and told Andrian that they would report to him when they have done their time. It also seemed that Field Marshal Croft was relieved that we would take Grau because it seemed no one else really wanted him. Verik was pleased to hear this news also.

A side note after we talk to Grau Riley told us that he really wants us to use his code name of Rizzle for some reason. I have been using Riley for many months and it going to be hard to use his fake name of Rizzle but I told him I would try.

Kuthona 9, 4708 - We are going to be officially on the night watch. We are changing our schedule to sleep during the day and start our watch just before sunset to sunrise. So, my journal entries will begin when we wake up around 4 just as if it was Sunrise normally and end I go to sleep. So even thou it is two different days I will treat it as the day I wake up. I check up on the orphans I left with the Torag priest to see how they are after the riots. They are doing fine and I gave them a few more gold pieces.

Kuthona 10, 4708 – It is hard switching time another night of not sleeping well. At least the watch has been very quite as the city seems to be calmer now.

Kuthona 11, 4708 – Another long day sleeping but did get some sleep in before starting the watch at least nothing happen worth reporting.

Kuthona 12, 4708 – My best night sleeping starting to get use to the time change. The city was quiet as we walked around.

Kuthona 13-15, 4708 - Finally getting a good night sleep since we have changed our sleeping schedule. The city has recovered from the riots and everything seems to be coming back to normal for Korvosa.

Kuthona 16, 4708 – Andrian wanted to see Vencarlo about the rumors he has been picking up about Neolandus Kalepoplelus. Rizzle (Riley) wanted to come with Andrian to select his card from Trina. But, Andrian did not want him to come with him but he would get her deck. We meet up as planned and Andrian told us no more than what we already knew that Neolandus Kalepopelsu was being dragged out of Korvosa by two large men. Rizzle did get to pick his card from Trina deck which Andrian left again to return. Just as the watch was ending a child came up to me and told me that a lady ask her to deliver this note to me. After a small discussion about giving the child more money to take us to the lady which Rizzle pay and of course when we get to the location no lady can be found. Rizzle just does not get it that we can never catch them this way. We read the note and it was from Xanesha indicating that she has kidnapped Neolandus Kalepopelus and will contact us later about the ransom. We took this note to Field Marshal Croft who took it to the Regent and then we here that there is a price on Xanesha head for the kidnapping.

Kuthona 17th, 4708 – Just as we were heading to the Academy to find out information about doppelgangers. I noticed a flaming Trebuchet missile being fired down by the river. We all started to run down to the river to find out what they are firing on and why. We found out it was a black sailed pirate ship with a yellow light on it. To my surprise Andrian knew that the yellow light meant it was a quarantine ship. Since it failed to respond to their hails they had no choice but to fire. They also noticed no one was seen on decks. The ship was hit and sank with no survivors. This was strange but it all seemed in order so we went back to the Academy to find out about the doppelgangers. We meet the guard on duty at the academy and after talking with him for a while we left the note asking our questions and left. The guard told us to come back in a couple of days for our answer.

Kuthona 18th, 4708 - As we were coming off watch we heard rumors about the sinking ship last night but nothing we did not already know first hand.

Kuthona 19th, 4708 – Andrian wanted to check back at the Academy to see if his questions have been answer. They did answer most of his questions with information we already knew. But, one point of interest was that an adult doppelganger cannot look like a small person or a gnome or Halfling. So, in less they have child doppelganger with them they can not look like Rizzle. They probably will never look like me because of my armor. They can not duplicate what we wear so they have to have copies of our cloths. The Tiefling guard also told us that he believes that Varisia used to be owned by his people thousands of years age. Plus pureblood Tieflings were said to have red eyes, red skin and big horns. The rest of the night was quiet. We encounter a couple of fights that was easy broken up.

Kuthona 20th, 4708 – Another quiet night.

Kuthona 21th, 4708 – Just before we started our watch Grau asked for our help. It seems he has a niece named Brienna and she is very sick. They do not have the money to take her to the healer and he is asking us if we could help her. I was glad to see if I could. When we got to see Brienna she was very sick and had some kind of disease I have never seen. A Priest of Abadar named Ishani Dhatri was trying to help with no success. He could not use the cure disease ritual on her unless he was paid. Andrian gave me the gold to go out and get the herbs I will need to cast the cure disease ritual. Brienna mother Tayce was saying that her daughter face was looking like a “Bloodveil” meaning the face was all red like a red veil was covering Brienna face. Once I was able to get all the herbs for the ritual I needed I told the family that I will do my best to cure Brienna but this ritual will take a lot of Brienna strength out of her and it could kill her anyway. With Andrian and Ishani assisting I started the cure disease ritual. After I finished the ritual Brienna face was returning to normal and within minutes Brienna was asking questions. She was soon up and around with no more effects of the disease. Because Tayce was so overwhelmed and wanted to show her gratitude for our help. She cooked us a special meal for saving her daughter Brienna. Andrian talked to Brienna to see where she had been the last few days to find out where she was might have contacted the disease. As he asked more questions Brienna broke down and told us that she found a wooden coffer filled with coins from Riddleport that she used to by candy. We needed to report this to Field Marshall Cressida Croft so we thanked Tayce for the wonderful meal. As we left Ishani ask to come with us. As we left he told me that he is frustrated with his order rules against uncompensated charity work. That he is a little jealous that I was able to save Brienna without being compensated for performing the ritual. I told Ishani that the family could not pay and I was glad to be of service. Torag would not give me the power only to be used if people had to pay for it. My only restriction would be that I myself would not have the funds to buy the healing herbs needed to perform the ritual. If I did not have the funds and it was in Torag wish for me to heal that person than it would happen. I talk to Ishani more about Torag and he listen to me with great interest.

It was late and we could not see Field Marshall Croft tonight. So at the end of our watch we were able to report to the Field Marshall. We told Field Marshal all about Brienna and curing her disease and her finding the Riddleport coins. We told her that we thought the coins where dropped off during the time everyone was looking at the pirate ship being sunk. That the ship was a diversion from the real part of dropping the disease coins on the shore line. We also ask that all Riddleport coins be collected for cleaning in boiling water to remove what ever was placed on the coins which we feel is what started the spread of the disease.

Kuthona 22nd, 4708 – Rizzle woke up just before we would of gotten up with a fever. As I looked at him it looks like he has caught the disease. I went back out and picked up more of the healing herbs to cast the cure disease ritual on Rizzle. After curing Rizzle we ask did he touch any of the coins and he said no. After thinking and talking more about it Rizzle remember a beggar that came up to him and then cough on him. Rizzle had to wipe his face off from the cough. That got me to thinking that this disease can spread by the ones having the disease as well as the coins. We went to see Field Marshal Croft about this news but she would do nothing about it because she did not believe that this could be that bad. But, did send out a notice that everyone cover their mouth with a scarf or cloth until the disease is over as a precaution.

As the watch went on we noticed more people having the disease. We went by the Temple-bank of Abadar and noticed a large crowd of people with the Bloodveil disease gathering and asking to be cured. Most of them could not afford to pay for the cure. Ishani found us and ask if we could order the temple to perform the ritual on everyone. He told us he would pay us if we would take him to Field Marshal Croft to ask her. We agreed because once he paid us to take him we then paid him to heal one of the poor who had the disease which he was able to do. This nearly touched off a riot because everyone one wanted to be healed The priests had crossbowmen on top of the roof and told them they would start to fire upon them if they did not come under control, which they did.

We took Ishani to see Field Marshal Croft to which he told the Field Marshal his concerns. I also told her that we are starting to face an epidemic and we need to find a place where we could quarantine the sick until this disease is over. As we talk old Korvosa was an island which we could make separate but when Cressida told us they could not guard all the bridges to keep the sick from coming back across. Rizzle suggested that we burn the bridges to old Korvosa only leaving a few bridges to cross. Field Marshal Cressida Croft thought this was a good idea and would pass the idea along to the queen. Andrian did not like the plan at all and argued against it but Field Marshal Croft would not listen to him. I also try and tell him that it is the only way to save the people of Korvosa. The ones not having the disease may leave the island but we need a way instead of shutting down the business again to try and stop the spreading of the disease.

Later that day Field Marshall Croft delivers a speech to the Korvosan Guard, the Sable Company, the Hellknights and the new Queen Gray Maidens that the queen has organized a call for the Queen Physicians lead by her own personal physician Dr. Davaulus to cure and stop the Bloodveil disease. The Korvosan Guards will be assigned to protect and render assistance to the Queens Physicians. Each captain along with Andrian was given a special mask that looks like a bird beak to prevent the wearer from contracting the Bloodveil disease. Andrian was told that we should investigate more on why Korvosa was given this disease.

Kuthona 23rd- 30th, 4708 – He tried to help as many people as we could and ask all the folks to cover their mouths with a scarf or cloth as much as possible. Stay away from ones having the Bloodveil and taking that person to Old Korvosa to be care for in a quarantine place. Andrian was thinking we were trying to kill off the poor while we are just trying to save as many people as possible. Hoping that people will be more careful about taking care of the sick and washing up after and before they do.

We hear a rumor that a group of the Rat’s Teat Boys are planning a war against Korvosa while they are weak by this plague and told this to Field Marshal Croft. Also, hear that a perfume has been developed to cure the disease but I believe it is the mask the doctors are wearing is what they are talking about. We also heard and tried to stop the dumping of bodies in the river and back alleys instead of burning them just because there are so many bodies to burn. He have also heard that a pile of burning bodies in the Gray District is haunted and is found in a different place every morning. I believe that a new pile is created and is burn each morning. Heard reports like a young Varisian singer keeps going to the Citadel asking for help in finding her missing brother. Not sure how one would find him if he caught the disease and dead. This is a sad place and how is it all tied together.

It has begun the Gray Maidens are now ready to burn the bridges and they are not allowing anyone to cross the bridges. I pray that Sabina Merrin who is the leader of the Gray Maidens can control the burning of the bridges without blood shed. The way these people think which is only for themselves and not for the common good of stopping the disease before everyone is killed by it.