Citadel's Shadow II, Session 68

Citadel's Shadow II, Session 68 was a session of the Citadel's Shadow II campaign, played on 23 February 2020 (UTC) (22 Februrary 2020 for some participants). Note that Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2020 02 22+ was a mini session played the same day; one player was temporarily unavailable.
== Personnel ==
===Game Master===
*GM: played by Michael Lee Viviano
===Player Characters===
*Fern the Siegemaster: inventive fox-person student played by Rail Runner
*Minigallith "Miss Mini" Atakares: half-elf mage played by Alden Loveshade
=== Prominent Non-Player Characters ===
* Asathene: vampire sometimes called an "angel of mercy"
* Katerina Smartcat: cat professor at St. Bassard's School and Home for Disadvantaged Youth
* Rajzhela Carnelian: half-thalosian student at St. Bassard's
* Rico Wylde: human student at St. Bassard's
* Rufus Barnel: older human man
* Scorpia Lee: human student at St. Bassard's
== Events ==
=== 1742 ===
Heris 34 (Reckoning): Fern the Siegemaster was continuing to work on a long term project with others at St. Bassard's School and Home for Disadvantaged Youth on a project.  They intended to build a steam engine to represent the school in the Festival of Damira.  The team had ran into a major snag that might delay the project's completion, but Fern believed she had worked out the problem, but there was still a lot of work to do before the deadline.
Fern asked Professor Katerina Smartcat if she should go to the St. Bassard's After-Class Exercise Club event that day or continue to work on the project.  It was decided Fern had time for the after-class group.
Fern told others she would be gone for a while.  Fellow student Mugsey Dormp said, "Aren't you supposed to be a project leader? Where do you dip out to time and again?"  Other student Turgan Tin-Finger said, "Fern's business no your business!"  Fern said, "I'm reasonably sure that the project will get done in time."
The after school training that day was weapons training with Nyssa Antellios, Sister of Surrea.  While Nyssa was working with Fern and Scorpia Lee, Rico Wylde, sitting at the side, said to assistant teacher Miss Minigallith Atakares, "Miss Mini, is it true that you are a priestess of Divine Pleasures?"  Rico talked about her "teaching" him some things about Divine Pleasures, and Mini spoke as if he meant a theology lesson (even though she was quite attracted to Rico and was pretty sure what he was hinting at.)
Some of the group laughed at Rico, and called him a "horn dog."
Professor Katerina Smartcat quietly and privately to the side reminded Miss Mini that, even though she was in the same age range as the students, intimate relations between teacher and student could be grounds for dismissal.  However, as the rules were relaxed in the "exercise club," it likely wouldn't be a problem--as long as it, along with other activities of the club, remained a secret.
Due to Rico's behavior, Nyssa said, ""Alright, Rico! Since you want to play with the ladies, you get to spar with Lyndara and Rajzhela at the same time!"  Fern did fine, Mini did well against Deldin Zlomar, and Rico lost badly.
Prof. Smartcat said the group would go back ot Zarmit's Needle, and meet on the bridge over the Cut, "and don't get caught."  Scorpia Lee said, "Help me make sure I don't run into the guy with the beard," meaning Juan Silvio-Vagle.  Mini suggested they each go with at least one other person.  Fern, Mini, Prof. Smartcat, Scorpia, Rico, and Rajzhela Carnelian left,
As it happened, some of the group near the Maisson Boulavier almost got seen by Juan, and Scorpia bolted.  Rajz latter told her "If you're hid, stay hid until you know you're busted!" with which Mini agreed, adding, "And if you're seen, sometimes you can just act casual like you're supposed to be wherever you are. Acting innocent can work!"
The group got together at the bridge, but noticed that Fern was missing.  They thought she might have gotten distracted, might have gone to work on the project, or might have gotten found by an officer, possibly Deputy Constable Blackeye Snarkin.  Prof. Smartcat decided that the group could continue to the Needle, and they discussed the history of Zarmit's Needle.
Fern later joined them; she had seen a small white thing flying overhead that went to the north.
The group was on a ledge about 120 feet up over the city.  Some of the group saw something small and white flying.  Some of them then saw a person in rags walking with a stick.  They were panting and wheezing.  It was a man about fifty yards away on the ground below.  He was walking on the grey street to the north of the needle, then stumbled to the ground.  He then crawled.
Fern started climbing down, while Mini apportated down.  They both got safely to the ground.  Mini suggested Fern try first aid; Fern agreed; but they did not see the man.  They looked; Rajz, who was on a ledge, signaled them by throwing a rock, and Fern and Mini saw Rajz pointing toward an alley.
Fern and Mini checked the alley.  They saw a lot of debris, and finally saw a figure hunched over another who was lying on the ground.  Fern heard the kneeling figure say, "Please tell me about yourself, who you were."  The kneeling figure appeared to be a young woman with long white hair.  While the man on the ground was wheezing and making a rattling sound, she caressed his face.
Mini examined the man, and believed he was at the end of his life and would likely be dead by morning.  Fern was concerned about the man being cold.  The young woman said, ""I may help him pass in comfort, if you leave him to me."  But both Fern and Mini thought he should receive medical care from a physician.  Mini read the man's thoughts; he thought, "Dying... can't breathe... eh? To heaven! Take me up to heaven to be blessed!"  After asking his name, she got, "I am Rufus Barnel, I've always tried to be a good man, as much as I could."
The girl says, "You may not want to hear this, but it is best to end it. I can take care of it."  Mini asked who she was, and she said, "Some call me 'the Angel of Mercy'. My name is Asathene.  "Of course, others consider me a demon or a monster."
Mini believed she had heard of Asathene, and was uncertain of what to do.  Fern hadn't, and insisted they should make Rufus comfortable and get him medical care.  Fern suggested improvising a litter to carry him to where he could get care; Mini agreed.  They learned Asathene was a vampire, but she had no intention of making Rufus one in "a living hell," and Mini said she had no intention of trying to stake her.
Rufus became unconscious again, and stopped breathing; Fern tried restoring breathing with a barrel, and had temporary success.
Professor Smartcat contacted Mini's mind to learn what was going on; Mini told her.  Rufus died.  Asathene said she believed he knew people cared about him.  Mini told Asathene she hoped they met again.  (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2020 02 22)  (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2020 02 22+)