# 89_20210828 Karias Drach %%[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCPMhgPVGlM)%% ## Session Summary The assassin asks for a conversation as we draw closer. He introduces himself as Karias Drach, and says that his nine brothers had been trapped by a devil a thousand years ago, and he needs to trap 555 dragonborn souls to free them. Every time he would die, one of his brothers can die in his stead. Karias tries to get us to surrender Ka'ira. When he sees her among us, even though she's invisible, he realizes it's a futile effort. We attempt to convince him to kill Neverember at the rally. After Ka'ira says that she was a tiefling before she became dragonborn, Karias says he needs to think about what to do about that, and leaves. It is apparent that he was using an illusion, and that the real Karias was elsewhere, safe. Ka'ira makes friends with a merchant named Gallio, whom I convince to consider letting Oma sell her clothing in his stall. We buy a set of adamantine dice for Mordai Vell and head to Vellguard Manor to talk to him, but his guards do not let us through. Ka'ira sends a message to him through the sending stone, saying that we have information he may want to hear. The servant responds to let us know she will try to tell Mordai, but that he's quite busy until tomorrow. We head to the Driftwood Tavern. After a while, Madame Rosene shows up. We update her on the last few days, including the possibilty that Karias will make an attempt on Neverember's life at the rally. ^summary ## Recap of last session ![[88_20210821 Trying to get to Vellguard Manor#^summary]] --- ## Log [[Orvis]] is the name of the stableboy at the [[Round Rump]] who was taking care of the cart for Maestro and Ka'ira. Confirmed: it's the [[Assassin of the Black Bolt]]. It seems like he got new clothes from a random person. The bandages are the same, though freshly dressed. There is a fountain in the middle of the square, but it isn't working. He mutters something and wings materialize out of smoke as he glides down to the fountain on the ground. He has a band in front of him that carries his crossbow behind him. He snatches something in the air, something like a bottle. He knows that Invidoo is close! He is muttering something in Supernal, but Ka'ira doesn't understand the words-- they are probably magical. Dragonborns are rare in this world, rarer than eladrin. Many people don't know that there is a special way to become dragonborn ([[Ritual of Becoming]]). You can also be born naturally as a dragonborn. Sometimes the two dragon gods choose to give worthy people the ability to become dragonborn as well, a pure type of dragonborn. They are touched by the dragon lords and are blessed/protected/guided in some way. There's also a counterpart for those chosen by [[ttrpgs/Order of the Wandering Mind/Tiamat]]. They look dragonborn, but they are more accurately called [[Draconians]]. I cast Extract Name. If enemy has a Will defense, we will use that instead of DC 15 + his level. I rolled very high (24), but it feels like a failure. I can't try again. Maestro asks him why he wants to kill dragonborns, and he says it's because of his family-- his brothers. He wants to try to reason with us because he had never been beaten in a thousand years, and in this city, he's already been beaten twice. He has been promised that the 555th dragonborn soul he kills will bring his brothers back. Ka'ira was within 3 squares of the assassin when he realized she was invisible. When Ka'ira mentions she was a tiefling, the assassin says that's more complicated. He confirmed that he fought a dragonborn that turned out to be an actual dragon ([[Cyriac]]). He is collecting souls in a gold, ritualistic dagger that is intricately carved. His entire family was fooled by a devil and he wants them back. He has two more to do before his family comes back, but Nefnon and Tyrus will not be joining them. He used to have 9 in total. He seems to lose a brother every time he dies. His name is Karias Drach. He is an assassin of legend. There are no records of anyone talking to him. He has killed nobody named [[Zaile]]. Everyone he's killed has been a dragonborn. A bolt comes from a different direction. We were talking to an illusion the whole time. It's the same bolt that hit Ka'ira last time. We smell sulfur. Invidoo thinks Karias is a devil. He says that when devils are killed, they disappear and are reformed in Hell, 99 years later. Usually in a lower form. There's only one rank lower than imp. That's lemurs, and they are disgusting. Soulworms are souls, and they are currency. It's a privilege to be here. Invidoo says it's not a devil thing to be able to have the power to resurrect oneself by sacrificing others. [[Invidoo]] can't make a formal pact, but he could if he were promoted. He can get promoted if they are able to convince mortals to turn lawful evil-- but Invidoo doesn't say that directly. Invidoo says all [[Devils]] are resistant to fire damage. Sometimes poison, sometimes lightning, but always fire. We go to [[Vellguard Manor]]. Ka'ira makes friends with a merchant of various knickknacks: fancy clothes, etc. [[Gallio]] is his name. Gallio is a humble merchant trader who "does well enough". He calls Maestro "Just Maestro". He has assistants but they're not here right now. Maestro buys some fine clothes from Gallio. Gallio is interested in the guilds being reestablished. I gave him one silver and told him that Oma will have a similar one. Gallio said he would consider featuring her work if we send her after sundown. He has adamantine dice for sale. Eraithe says that adamantine is one of the most prized metals for creating weapons. They are lighter than steel but stronger. We buy the adamantine dice for 50 gp. At Vellguard Manor, there are guards! Their faces are covered by cloth and their heads by turbans. They don't have traditional mercenary weapons. One has a net on his belt and the other has a bola (two heavy things connected by a string). They have various pouches bulging with stuff. They tell us that [[Mordai Vell]] is not accepting visitors before the rally. Some of them have whips as weapons. We saw 4 of the turbaned guards and some of the servants. Ka'ira uses the sending stone to try to talk to Mordai's servant. [[House Shadowgust]] is for making ships. Mordai wants to start a banking guild. We go to the [[Driftwood Tavern]], but [[Madame Rosene]] is not there. After about an hour, she shows up looking disheveled. She looks like she was just hurrying to get here. We told her: - [x] state of affairs with Mordai Vell - She says she can't really help with this and isn't really involved - [[Neverember]] has always been adamant about not having guilds. - [x] Assassin - [x] Sabine - She has also heard good things about [[Sarthos]], but she's not sure if he could control the mercenaries - [[Sabine]] arrived at the [[Moonstone Mask]] last night, with her [[Force Chimera]]. - [x] Cyriac is a dragon - [x] [[Ice Phase Spider]] - She knew already, because it was the talk of the town. - Neverember doesn't actually lie; he misdirects. Other topics - Bartholomew Shadowgust is on board - Historically, only the Nine were protecting Alagondars.