Session0039

Episode 0039 - The Failure of Experiment XVIII
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**Setting:**

Dr. Dippel's Former Keep - May 25th-26th, 211 AW
**Synopsis:**

* At the former keep of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel, the party speaks with Valomir Quinn, discussing the possibility of XVIII drinking the vampiric blood to become fully undead, and the potential consequences of this choice.
* After extensive discussion, and despite some disagreements from other members of the party, XVIII eventually decides to drink the blood.
* Upon drinking the blood, XVIII becomes fully vampiric, regaining memories erased from their mind by Dr. Dippel, and bolstering their sense of self.
* The party spends the remainder of the evening at the keep resting while XVIII recovers from their ordeal, enjoying a meal and hospitality provided for them by Berty.
* Later that night, Lane Coronato and Valomir Quinn rendezvous in secret to resolve the circumstances of their last meeting, and they express romantic affection for each other.
* In the morning, the party departs from the keep, arranging to meet with Valomir Quinn again when they are ready to meet with Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel in person.
* The party searches for the pit of bodies wherein XVIII awakened after having been dead for 30 years, eventually finding it in the outskirts of the Chwaka badlands.
* As the party begins investigating the pit of bodies, several undead body parts and corpses animate and attack them.
* The party dispatches the undead, and recovers some scraps of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's notes amongst the disposed belongings.

## May 25th

While the rest of the party is within the former keep of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel speaking with Valomir Quinn, Gragnok, who remained hidden outside, sneaks into a window on the upper floor of the keep and begins snooping around. Searching through several rooms, he finds that much of the keep is in ruin and disuse, though there are some areas that have been maintained, including the apparent living quarters of Valomir and Berty, a garden, and some other living spaces. In a room which appears to be Valomir's office, he finds the original copy of Dr. Dippel's Acquisition Ledger, though he doesn't recognize its significance. Otherwise, he does not find anything else of note or interest, and eventually sneaks back out of the keep the same way that he entered.

Meanwhile, Valomir Quinn invites the party to a large dining hall to sit and talk more, as Berty begins preparing tea for the group. With Valomir's permission, Malkoth goes to look through the keep's library, which Valomir says is comprised mostly of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's books, not his own. Louche and Lane Coronato accompany Malkoth to the library, as the rest of the party sits for tea and conversation.

XVIII recounts to Valomir Quinn the events that have transpired since their awakening in the pit of bodies, including all of the party's travels together. XVIII spares only the most sensitive details previously deemed secret by the party, such as the Fable of the Thousand Year Door.

Meanwhile, Malkoth looks through the books in Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's library. He finds that the majority of the books are textbooks regarding medicine, herbalism, alchemy, and other academic pursuits. He also finds some books regarding the basics of necromancy magic, and historical records of powerful mages from the Age of Arcana who pursued immortality.

Berty brings tea to the library, where Louche asks her about her relationship with Valomir Quinn. She explains that the two are married, to the chagrin of her family. She says that she came upon Valomir living in solitude, and took an interest in him. She further reveals that she is aware of his vampiric nature and his history, and is a willing source of blood for him to feed on.

As XVIII is still recounting the party's story, Gragnok eventually comes to the door of the keep, and is invited in by Valomir Quinn after the party identifies him as an ally.

After recounting the party's story, XVIII asks Valomir Quinn to accompany the party to meet with Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. Valomir agrees enthusiastically, but clarified that he has no intention of a peaceful meeting, and intends to kill Dr. Dippel. XVIII says that they cannot allow Valomir to do so. With some persuasion, Valomir agrees to at least allow Dr. Dippel the opportunity to try to justify himself and hear him out before resorting to violence, but he emphasizes that he will not commit to a non-violent encounter. Valomir also points out that travel itself can be problematic for him due to his vampiric nature, and the party agrees to work out the specific logistics later when the time comes.

Valomir Quinn expresses his understanding for XVIII's amicability and loyalty to Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel, explaining that all of Dippel's test subjects were chemically, magically, and psychologically altered to be loyal and compliant. Afterwards, he explains, they were experimented on to turn them into undead thralls of various types. According to Valomir, these experiments were in the pursuit if some overarching goal, the nature of which Valomir does not know.

Valomir Quinn once again emphasizes that drinking the vampiric blood, which he left at the orchard for XVIII to find, will give XVIII mental clarity, and cleanse the mind-altering magic that Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel used to tamper with XVIII's memories. He also warns that drinking the blood will fully complete XVIII's transformation into a vampire, which will include both strengths and weaknesses, and will make XVIII fully undead and effectively immortal.

XVIII asks the party for their input and opinions regarding the decision of whether or not to drink the blood. Gragnok emphatically says that XVIII should not drink it, citing the fact that it would turn them undead. XV agrees, and reaffirms that he is forbidden from allowing XVIII to drink it, as doing so would cause XVIII to become a traitor like XX, according to Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. The other party members say that perhaps XVIII should speak with Dr. Dippel before deciding whether or not to drink the blood, to help him weigh the decision and understand its consequences. They also suggest the possibility of using magic to discern whether or not XVIII's memories have truly been altered.

To this end, Frog casts a *modify memory* spell on XVIII to investigate any magical tampering that has happened in his memories. He discovers that XVIII's childhood memories, all the way through his early teens, have been magically erased, leaving only his memories of his life under Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel.

Louche, overhearing the conversation and joining from the library, suggests that one of his magical psalms - the Psalm of Absolution - could be used to temporarily cleanse XVIII's mind of magical corruption, which could aid in his decision of whether or not to drink the blood. He also suggests that XV and Valomir Quinn could listen to the psalm as well, as a precaution.

Eventually, hearing all of the party's input, XVIII decides that they would like to drink the blood, and asks XV for it. After some hesitation, and with XVIII's assurance that XV can trust them, XV hands the blood over to them.

Gragnok strongly and angrily objects to XVIII's decision to drink the blood, and when XVIII insists that they are going through with it, he punches XVIII and storms off, leaving the keep.

XVIII and the rest of the group go down to the keep's basement, where XVIII spent most of their childhood. They find that the basement is largely untouched and not maintained, and Valomir Quinn says that he rarely comes down here. Notably, they find that the room which Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel used as his labratory has been completely emptied out.

XVIII finds the room where they lived as a child, and after strapping themselves down to the bed, drinks the vampiric blood.

Upon drinking the blood, XVIII's mind rushes with erased memories, including their acquisition as a sickly baby, the stages of experimentation which staved off the Pale Death, and the subsequent stages of experimentation wherein they were chemically and magically altered into compliance. As the memories return, XVIII's heart stops, and they physically die, becoming fully undead. A sense of mental clarity comes to them, as their mind becomes fully free from Dr. Dippel's influence.

Afterwards, as XVIII comes back to consciousness, the party asks them how they feel. XVIII says that they need some time to process everything, but that they much stronger physically and magically. Their wounds begin to naturally regenerate, and Frog notes that healing magic no longer affects them. The party leaves XVIII to rest, with the exception of XV, who remains with XVIII.

Valomir Quinn invites the party to stay at the keep for as long as they wish, and they decide to at least spend the night here. Berty says that she will prepare supper, but will need to head to a nearby market for food. Malkoth and Lane Coronato offer to accompany her, which she gladly accepts.

Accompanying Berty to the market, Malkoth and Lane Coronato talk about their coming return to Karaad. Lane bemoans having to go back to working for Baron Millan Watts. When Malkoth asks how dangerous Watts is, Lane tells him not to cross Watts, warning that while he may not be physically formidable, he has great influence in the city.

Meanwhile, Gragnok, who had retreated to the nearby wilderness, stealthily follows Berty, Malkoth, and Lane Coronato towards the market.

Back at the keep, Louche asks Valomir Quinn about his relationship with Lane Coronato, explaining that as strange as it sounds, he is Lane's father. He asks what Lane was like as a child, and the nature of their relationship. Valomir describes himself and Lane as awful bullies, both having been social outcasts due to their races, which brought them together as very close friends. He recounts what happened with the child who Lane murdered out of revenge for calling Valomir a racial slur, and his own subsequently being blamed for the death. He explains that no one cared to hear his version of what happened, as he was simply a half-elf orphan, and Lane was the son of a noble family. Louche asks Valomir how he feels about Lane's presence now at the keep, and Valomir says that he would like to speak with Lane privately.

Meanwhile, at the market, Berty buys groceries for supper, while Malkoth trades drugs with a young halfling drug dealer named Von.

Gragnok, meanwhile, speaks with a group of Imperial guards posted at the market, and asks if they know anything about the abandoned keep in the mountains. They explain that they're aware of the keep and have heard rumors that it's occupied by a vampire, but that they have not yet had any cause to act on the information because no harm has been done by the vampire. Gragnok mentions having seen a woman with bite marks on her neck coming from the keep, and describes Berty's appearance. The guards recognize the description, and say that they will look into it. Afterwards, Gragnok departs.

The guards approach Berty and explain that they've received a tip that she might be in some danger. She insists that everything is fine and she is in no trouble. Malkoth asks them who gave them this tip, and they give a description matching Gragnok's appearance. With Berty's permission, one of the guards casts a *dispel magic* spell on her to ensure her mind is not being manipulated, but the spell has no effect.

After gathering their required goods, Berty, Malkoth, and Lane Coronato return to the keep. Gragnok remains outside, making himself a campsite in the nearby wilderness.

Rejoining inside, Malkoth tells Valomir Quinn about the encounter with the guards at the market outpost. Valomir expresses some frustration at the turn of events, but emphasizes that he will avoid violence to the maximum possible extent.

Berty and Buttonsworth work together to begin preparing dinner for the party. Meanwhile, XVIII arises from his rest, and excitedly shows Odell around the keep. The two discuss XVIII's past, and they new state of mind. They discuss who is responsible for the deaths of Freddie and Daisy Hackett, and what to expect from XV now that XVIII has drank the vampiric blood. XVIII says that they just want to reunite their family, including both XV and Valomir Quinn, and that they won't allow them to hurt each other or be hurt. During the conversation, XVIII expresses more of a sense of self than they have in the past, and refers to themself in the first person, instead of their usual third person speech pattern. XVIII asks Odell not to tell XV about how they have changed, to which Odell agrees.

Outside, Jack finds Pepper making a painting of himself and Lo together in various romantic and familial scenes, including one scene in which they are holding two baby gnolls. When asked, Pepper says that he dreamed of these scenes, though he expresses skepticism that they are prophetic. The two discuss Pepper's desire to someday have a family, and Jack expresses his misgivings based on his own past, but also his hope for Pepper to have the life that he wants.

Eventually, Berty and Buttonsworth serve a wholesome dinner to the group. Over dinner, they discuss XVIII's new vampiric nature, and his need for humanoid blood to survive. When asked, Valomir Quinn explains that feeding on someone causes no lasting harm when done carefully, and that creating a new vampire requires a very specific process that most be done intentionally.

Malkoth asks Valomir Quinn about the pit of bodies where XVIII woke up, and which was described in a job posting at the Pathfinders Alliance adventuring guild in Mimrinoth. Valomir explains that the pit is where Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel disposed of failed experiments. He says that he has not personally investigated the pit. After some discussion, the party agrees to head there next when they depart the keep, before continuing on to Karaad. Malkoth says that he will burn any remaining corpses at the body pit, but Valomir cautions against indiscriminate burning, as other survivors like XVIII may still be there.

XV confirms that Valomir Quinn is still in agreement to meet with Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. Valomir agrees, but once against emphasizes that he makes no promise of a peaceful meeting.

After dinner, the party settles in for the evening. Valomir Quinn tells Lane Coronato that he would like to speak privately, to which Lane agrees. Jack and Pepper sleep outside, and Gragnok remains at his campsite, while the rest of the party finds various places to rest within the keep.

While settling in the for the night, Malkoth gives Frog a dose of bumble - a powerful fey drug.

Later, after nearly everyone has gone to sleep, Valomir Quinn and Lane Coronato meet in the front courtyard of the keep to talk. Louche uses an *invisibility* spell to sneak nearby and eavesdrop on their conversation. Lane and Valomir discuss what happened between them as children, and the killing of the boy in Avallon. Lane insists that Valomir would have been executed even if Lane had told the truth, and emphasizes that Valomir should have run away when he had the chance. As they discuss, the two express their continued fondness for one another, and they share a kiss.

Lane invites Valomir to abandon Berty and his current life, and come with him to the Hells, explaining that he has made arrangements and secured a way to get to the Hells for himself. Valomir insinuates that he does not truly have romantic feelings for Berty, but expresses a deep admiration and appreciation of her, and says that he can't leave his life behind until he has gotten his revenge against Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. The two of them then go to Valomir's nearby carriage and have sex.

Louche, returning back inside, tells Malkoth about what he saw.

Meanwhile, in the basement of the keep, XVIII and XV talk about the events of the day, and XV expresses guilt for having betrayed Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel by allowing XVIII to drink the vampiric blood. XVIII assures XV that Dr. Dippel will understand, but XV disagrees.

Jack, meanwhile, wanders off alone into the nearby wilderness and takes some starberry oil. Under the influence of the drug, he has visions of Djinni in an alternate universe, and they discuss their hopes for Pepper's future.

## May 26th

In the morning, Patches shapeshifts into a nimbid - a cloud-like humanoid.

The party reconvenes at the Zenith for Louche's Psalm of Absolution. XV refuses to partake in the psalm, expressing his guilt for having betrayed Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. The psalm has no effect on anyone else in the group, other than the effects on Louche, which he had experienced once already in Mimrinoth.

As planned, the party decides to proceed to the body pit, and from there to Karaad, eventually planning to reach Volus in search of Tamrius Grimm and Avara Wasanthi's Tome of Rune Magic. Valomir Quinn says that the party can reach out to him using magical *sending* when they are ready to meet with Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel, and they can arrange travel logistics. During the conversation, Malkoth reveals that he has spoken to the true Patches (Deity), and says that "Patches" true name is Ice.

Before leaving, at XVIII's suggestion, the party plays a game of hide and seek in the keep.

Valomir Quinn and Berty give XVIII their carriage, to keep them protected from sunlight in their travels. XVIII is very appreciative, and pays them far more than the carriage's worth in gold.

As the party prepares to leave, they see no sign of Gragnok, who is still at his campsite in the wilderness. Frog sends to him and asks if he's coming with them. He responds, asking if Valomir Quinn is coming with them, and what ended up happening with XVIII and XV. Frog replies that Valomir is staying behind for now, and says that they are headed to the body pit for now. Gragnok agrees to meet them there, but still keeps a distance from the party as they travel.

Over the morning and afternoon, the party travels out of the Emerald Highlands and into the scrubland of the Chwaka desert, where they begin searching for the body pit. They eventually find it, in a remote area far away from any roads. Looking from a distance, they see that the pit is mostly full of dismembered body parts, seemingly primarily those of children afflicted with the Pale Death. At the party's suggestion, Lane Coronato goes to investigate closer from the Ethereal Plane. When he returns, he says that in addition to the bodies and body parts, he found some scraps of burnt paper and vials of liquid, but he couldn't manipulate anything from the Ethereal Plane.

When the party approaches to investigate more closely, several of the body parts and bodies animate as undead and attack the them. They battle and defeat the undead body parts.

Searching through the remains of the body pit, they find a few in-tact potions, as well as some scraps of burnt records from Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's experiments. Malkoth is able to place these scraps into chronological order, and they read as follows:

>
> "...treatment is serviceable for subduing the willful nature of..."
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> "...course, a more stable creation will require that I refine my..."
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> "... alchemy alone cannot accomplish this feat, nor can necromancy alone. But blended..."
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> "...a very sensitive balance. On the one hand, the subjects must be rendered fully obedient; on the other, a mindless..."
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> "... to say, the experiments will fail far more often than they succeed, but such is the... "
>
>
> "...rhaps a creature of higher intelligence - a revenant, for example - would..."
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> "... my most successful experiment to date; but alas, it has reached a frustrating end. Experiment number XV produced a stable and obedient creation, but..."
>
>
> "... failure of experiment number XV means that I must try a new approach. I believe a vampiric creation could..."
>
>
> "... I have only my own folly to blame. In the future, greater care must be taken to protect the experiments. From themselves, and from the dangers of the laboratory..."
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>
> "... I spoke too freely with them. I was careless, and if I must admit it, too hopeful. Perhaps experiment number XVIII would have also benefited from another regimen of the..."
>
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> "... Nonetheless, the work continues. I am on the verge of success, even after the failure of experiment number XVIII..."
>
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> "... betrayed. Experiment number XX absconded..."
>
>
> "... with politics. They are short-sighted - unwilling to accept that sacrifices must be made if..."
>
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> "... must flee. My aspirations have drawn too much undue..."
>
>
> "... approach. I am not the first to attempt this experiment. There was..."
>
>
> "... to Saltcrest. Whatever remains of his work, I must find it."
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>