The Apparition of Market Street

420WeApMaSt

The party had come up with a dead end, well nearly, as the gang had so far eluded them the party walked down market street. The report of the blue ghostly apparition walking the streets had stumped them as the reports had been so varied and many that the people giving the reports had unconsciously contradicted their own stories.

As they walked amongst the buildings; mainly stores, taverns and inns they watched the people mill about the streets. They looked mostly happy people walking about buying groceries, stumbling from taverns and looking at what else Market street had to offer. But the calm would not be for long as the party noticed that several individuals were walking nearby the market street patrons.

Dressed in darker clothes the individuals started to follow those patrons of market street that were spending money. A few hurried exchanges of words left the people moving swiftly into the closest building or directly away from the people. The individuals would shrug, call out after the fleeing people and move onto someone else shortly after. It all seemed fine until a young man was surrounded by a group of these individuals who started to get aggressive. As the party approached everyone froze as a blue mist seeped out of the wall of a nearby building.

Slowly the figure of a gaunt elderly man dressed in a spectral blue robe appeared near the would be assailants. The thugs shrieked in terror before fleeing the apparition could fully materialise. It looked around at the people on the streets, the shopkeepers, the merchants and the patrons stopped and stared as its gaunt, spectral eyes look around. As it looked to the party its eyes snapped onto theirs and slowly its chest swelled. Faintly it muttered words which causes the nearest people to step back from it. It looked around more manically as it repeated louder. “Help me, I… Rose..!” which caused more people to step backwards. Watching people retreating from it the spectre boomed out its plea again. “Help me, I… Rose…!” the resonance of its voice causing a gust of wind to push outwards from it.

As the final word was uttered the spectre faded, growing faint in colour before it disappeared entirely. Its eyes never left the party as it faded from existence once more. The streets erupted in panic. “It Rose again!” screamed the people as they ran from the street leaving the party to wonder what it had just witnessed.

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The Taneva Brothers

419WeTTaBr

Jericho watched the noble as she danced, overpaid and overtipped on everything and how she over reacted when anything mundane to a commoner would occur. She was definitely the mark and even now he could see similarities to the crowned princess Satanya which is what had led heir employer to request this job. They had been trailing her for a few days now and had been waiting for the right moment.

However as he and his brother, Enrich, stood to approach the girl the door opened. In walked several adventurers who looked like they had seen the mean end of a dragon a few times and lived to tell the tale. They walked with confidence and purpose as they walked in their direction. Signalling to their accomplice, Bob, to keep and eye on them and prepare for trouble they waited, hands on blades. However a worse fate was in store for them.

The adventurers walked towards the princess in disguise and immediately it was clear that they were also here for her. Rivals for the same job was his immediate thought until he saw that they carried themselves differently. He signed and signalled to Enrich who stood a few feet away drinking with a few other drunks at the tavern. They had better move fast before the adventurers had time to realise what was happening. It was this moment that the princess looked at them, turned and spoke to the adventures before looking back. Her gaze piercing even as she slunk backwards towards the adventurers.

Jericho cursed himself silently without moving or even flinching as he took another swig from his tankard. “Should have got the bastard to pay for hazard pay as well.” he called to Enrich as they started to move quickly to intercept the princess before she was too heavily protected.

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The Manaeva Wall

418WeMaWa

Joe looked over the adventurers riding in the wagon cautiously. He had been told to look out for suspicious characters but the travellers before him had no reason to tie themselves to the pockets of discontent in the city. As he watched the wagon move past the gated checkpoint he shook his head. The lady of the city sure had her job cut out for her with what’s going on in the city itself.

Joe looked at his watch captain, Zyler, the man had never been a stickler for rules but he seemed more relaxed with this last wagon than normal. He didn’t seem any different but perhaps Zyler was having a bad day with the misses at home. Looking forward he watched the streets outside of Manaeva with the normal scrutiny. According to the Guard Commander they were seeing an increase in aggression from the rogue elements in the city and could expect something big in the coming days.

---

As the party continued down the street they sighed in relief, it appears that K. had had some influence with the guard that night as they were let through without too much trouble. As they head towards the Tavern that they were told, the Cored Apple, a man approached them. “Well I am not surprised that you made it, we have a mutual acquaintance and I have come here as the Cored Apple has come under new management and, they take coin from a different more ruthless pocket now. The name is L. and I am glad to see you.” he said with a smile. He appeared unarmed and genuinely happy to see them.

Following L. they continued through the street in the direction they were heading before, as they could see the Cored Apple, they head off on a smaller side-street. As they went deeper things seemed to move like gnomish clockwork with wagons moving to block streets, open pathways deeper into a nest of buildings that had seen better days. As they moved deeper more people with a glowing lattice of marking upon their skin could be found – these were the people of Manaeva who were afflicted with the Manaflux curse.

L. stopped them in front of a double doors of a larger warehouse. “Well this is it. One moment.” he said as he rapped a pattern on the door. A moment later the door opened and hushed words were exchanged before several large pouches, one for each party member, were produced. “As K. would have told you this is the remaining fee plus a bit more for getting here in such a timely manner.” he said as he handed the coin over. A small urchin with glowing marks under his skin appeared.

“This is Cale, he is able to show you back out of this little nest and to the main road again. You have been instrumental in the healing of this city and thanks to you,” L. said with a smile as he ruffled Cale’s hair. “Cale will have a future.”

However the party also noticed that beyond the warehouse doors there were dozens of people moving around. Several with glowing marks under their skin and some without, but each and every one of them carried weapons and wore darkened armour. Something didn’t sit right with this, there was something more, something else at work here and maybe not for the first time they doubted that the crates that they had transported here were the cure for these people.

Perhaps they had been set up.

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Creature Approaching

417WeCrAp

Jane watched as the corn stalks moved and prepared her spell. Drawing her hand up the diamond on her bracelet caught the light from the sun as she drew energy from the weave. As the corn stalks stopped moving Harry gestured for her to prepare to release her spell as he took aim with his crossbow. The swift twang that resounded from the sleek drow-made device was met with a screech that sent a shiver down their spine. Jane released her spell – the chromatic orb bristling with thunderous energy as it slammed into the same spot that the crossbow bolt had lanced through the stalks.

The energy boomed loudly in the area, ‘Hopefully that alerted anyone nearby‘ Jane thought as she prepared another spell watching for any signs of life. The amount of energy she put into the spell was moderate – above what a new spell caster would be able to muster but as she saw three frantically moving tails in the corn she prepared a fireball. Retrieving the pre-prepared sulfur covered ball from a pouch within her sleave she began the spell. Drawing in the heat from the surrounding area she pushed it inwards to the ball. Mixing in the magical power from the weave she added more power than what would be required to fell a party of orcs.

“Jane. Something is wrong with this one!” Harry called as he drew his longsword in conjunction with loading a bolt into the crossbow.

“I’ll take care of it with this spell Harry!” she called back as the spell finished. Looking towards the multiple sources of movement she launched the ball forward watching it race into the point of impact. The resounding explosion sent burning stalks of corn raining down along with clumps of dirt and rock. Taking a moment to breath and look for signs of life she walked forward and prepared to face what would come out of the corn – if it was still alive.

---

The creature watched as the human walked forward and waited. The image of the lifeless form amongst the corn stalks lay a dozen feet from the human but yet the creature bade its time. There were two creatures that could be its source of food today. As the human discovered the body it stumbled backwards shocked, the image that the creature had created as convincing enough and so it stalked forward. As it moved on its six legs, the vestigial mouth twitched and salivated in apprehension of its meal to come.

Throwing out a second illusion the creature caused the human who had hit it with the bolt to turn around, hearing something behind it. As the magic user also responded to the sound the creature slunk up on silent feet and grappled the woman, the vestigial mouth chewing instantly at the midsection of the woman opening up painful wounds. Wrapping its clawed paw around the humans mouth it dragged it backwards into the tall crops causing the illusionary sound to be more frantic to ensure its escape with its prey. However the human lashed out with more magic causing a burst of sound.

The pain lashed through the creatures body as it turned its claws inwards and slashed at the woman before retreating to lick its wounds to encourage its rapid healing. As the creature scurried away it watched as the human with the crossbow rushed to the mauled human witch. She was very weak now which increased the odds of the creature surviving. As its wounds knitted together, bones cracked back into place and bruising disappeared it prepared for its meal to come.

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Leading the Game

416WeLeGa

Jayke paused and looked deeply at the ground before mumbling something that the party didn’t quite catch to Daruden. Nodding and pointing further ahead through the forest they called back to the others. “Well I can see why the mayor wanted us to come along as well. Lucky for you we found the way that they went with the people and the rest of the wagon” Jayke said with a smile beckoning over the party.

The party had searched there already and were sure that there was nothing there. When they approached there were a few gold and silver pieces that head off into the forest away from the site where the wagon hung from the tree. However as plain as the coins sat amongst the grass and pine needles now when they looked before they had not seen them.

Following Jayke and Daruden they encountered similar occasions where the party would search the area or look for the path or clues to the next area but the expert scouting skills of Jayke and Daruden always revealed something that was nearly impossible to see, or, something that the party had missed. Over the course of the day they had travelled to the base of a mountain where the setting sun cast a large shadow and the calls of, something, echoed through the trees.

“That there be the source of these problems” Daruden said as they watched the flickering fire light. “Sounds like it’s coming from above us in the mountains above us. You know they say that there is a castle up there, made by giants.”

“Now Daru, no need to frighten these adventurers off. That curse is nonsense any way” Jayke replied shooting Daruden a glare from across the room.

“My ancestors have told the tales of the giants in these mountains for generations. The curse is real just like the treasure behind those walls.” Daruden replied.

“Well I wont blame them if they have a change of mind. They’ve been mighty brave to come with us this far into the forest and towards the mountain. Tomorrow we climb the cliffs and will see if the castle is real and find out what’s causing trouble for these nice people.” Jayke replied as he stood to head to his tent. Daruden grunting in response but clasped one of the adventurers on the shoulder.

“We wont blame ye lad if you don’t follow us. Jayke has led us astray before but he hasn’t gotten us killed, yet.” he said before joining Jayke in turning in for the night.

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Top of the Tower

415WeToTo

The last few steps were both a relief and filled with dread. The tower had taken most of their energy and sanity to climb between the broken steps, the creatures that swooped at them from the cavernous ceiling above and the very tower itself coming alive at points to impede or assault them.

But they had made it to the top with Samaeth and as they gazed upon what would be their final test they were puzzled. Ahead of them a resplendent throne bathed in radiant energy sat behind a barrier of golden light. The barrier seemed to buzz when Samaeth approached and shimmered with a blue light that matched the energy that she gave off herself.

As Samaeth approached the barrier the shadows stirred around them, avoiding the glow from the barrier and throne but they waited as if expecting something. The faint sound of winds could be heard from above as a figure descended on smoking wings.

“Ah a new Hero has arisen. We have been expecting you to arrive and to complete the task set before you. I see you have the companions as well, good we can begin.” The deva spoke huskily as if starved.

“What do I have to do?” Samaeth asked as she nervously looked at the beasts gathering around the throne.

“A simple task. Sit upon the throne and you shall be protected by the barrier as I empower you with Angelic might.” the deva responded.

“What about my companions?” Samaeth asked.

“The barrier will protect you, but you yourself are the hero – not the others. Make your choice as these creatures will only hold back so long.”

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The Monster is Revealed

414WeTMoRe

The passageways looked the same. Chutes heading towards the arena above them and people moving about completing their business. The crates, boxes, weapon and armour racks as well as a few areas that looked reserved for the warriors were stationed near some of the chutes. As they moved through trying to find the same tracks that they saw near the cage they struggled to identify anything other than the occasional damage to the stonework on the edges of the corners.

Suddenly there was a cluster of people around the chutes “It’s no use. We will have to tell Seb that this entrance is not operational for now until we can work out why the platform won’t rise.” a man said from near as a female dwarf tinkered with a large metal cog that appeared pitted and deformed.

“If I get my hands on the idiot that dropped acid on the mechanism I will have Seb put them in the ring” she said as she threw her tools behind her. As the people around the chute moved backwards the same damage from the creature they were following could be seen at the edge of the stone work below the jammed chute’s platform.

---

As the party descended down the chute the grunt of the other members of the group could be heard from above as well as the discussions from the arena workers. When the party reached the bottom of the chute they could tell it was a small storage area where discarded sets of armour, boxes, crates and the like were set up against the walls. Several crates and boxes lay broken, splintered and smashed as their quarry had pushed past them in a hurry. The same scrape marks could be seen along some of the walls and a trail of pox marks could be seen on the ground as they followed deeper.

The passageway led for a few hundred feet until the sound of rushing water could be heard beyond an archway. As they stepped through the droning of the water rushing against steps, the bump of a boat and the hum of activity nearby assailed them. As they looked around the room dockhands moved to boats before both boat and worker disappeared in a spray of water. No one panicked or noticed the sudden disappearance but they moved past and around the party in their ongoing efforts to move stones, chunks of wood and discarded armour and gear into the boats.

The overwhelming sense of disorientation, of people disappearing, reappearing and the droning noise caused the party to fall down, barely aware of their surroundings until a pair of very real creatures stepped in front of their vision.

“So the famous adventuring party made it all the way here, how lucky am I.” a smooth yet oily voice spoke. “I am terribly sorry how we are meeting but you see I can’t have you interfering with my plans. For too long the people of this forsaken city have allowed the atrocities for too long. But no longer. It’s time for nature to win, for the animals to defeat the oppressive warriors and system.” the man said, bending down next to the party as a large, armoured creature crawled up next to him.

“You will be the ones to die. Sorry it had to be you but the warriors that Seb picks are the best. No creature could survive that party. But you lot? Not a chance.” he said before chanting an incantation before the world went black.

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Target Confirmed

413WeTaCo

The twang of wire was the only indicator that something was wrong as a bolt whistled past the party and buried itself into a barrel of apples next to them. A crash and groan of pain followed and following the screams of people they found one of the watchers pulling themselves from the ruins of a stall. Untangling the fabric of the shade cloth that was suspended above the wooden frame they looked to the party.

“I spotted them. They nearly hit you with the bolt but I hit them first.” she paused, catching her breath. “However I didn’t expect them to rush at me and knock me off the vantage point and down here. They took off north from here” she pointed to emphasise her point as she touched a wound on her ribs. “I need to clean up here. The other watcher is taking pursuit but we have confirmed that they are after you. So be careful as in our experience when the target is confirmed and the assassin knows that we are aware they either raise the ante or they will change tactics completely. I will catch up in a moment.”

Taking off and allowing the watcher to make amends with the shop owner and tend to her injury the party head north. If the assassin was aware that they were close then they may feel cornered and be irrational. People were pointing and muttering about a chase happening on the rooftops as they passed. Quickly asking bystanders they were able to trace the steps of the suspect and the watcher to an abandoned church.

Drawing their weapons they entered the door and began searching. It didn’t take them long to hone into a tower at the back of the building – the only part of the church that had roof access. Climbing the stairs they heard a rattle in the room at the top of the tower, one that was level with the roof judging by one of the windows. Pushing through the door the first adventurer was pushed against the wall by an unseen assailant – a large thin dagger pressed against their throat. After a split second the figure withdrew the dagger and stepped back – slumping against the wall.

“Thank god it’s you.” the figure spoke. He was young and dressed like the other watcher but clutching his stomach. “I followed the assassin in here. I can’t believe I chased him like a rookie. Next thing I know I get a few swift hits in the stomach and he dashes out the window. I thought you were him coming back to finish me.” he said as he stood up slowly. “I’ve got to follow him.” he said before pushing past the party and climbing onto the roof.

As the party stood there in the silence the sound of something dripping could be heard from deeper in the room. Following it they found a pool of dark blood and a young man that had been stashed in the rafters of the roof, stripped down to his undergarments. “This isn’t good. That’s John” came the familiar voice of the female watcher from before. “and it looks like our assassin has their hands on a watchers outfit now.”

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The Hobgoblin Threat

412WeHoTh

Search parties departed and followed the infrequent and nearly non-existent tracks left by the attackers. After searching the bodies they found a mixture of goblins and orcs had been amongst the bodies. However the injuries on the bodies of the guards were too accurate and efficient for normal goblin and orc swings.

As the party guarded the wagon Sal looked nervously around and several of the Iron Harvest guard leaders spoke to her in hushed whispers. The Wagon was filled with thousands of gold pieces worth in weapons and armour and the shock of the attacks from the night before and the mystery in how no one in the camp had heard what had happened had the camp nervous.

However as the sound of thundering hooves reached them from between the trees nearby as muffled shouts came. A horse burst from the trees only two hundred feet from where they stood and they saw that it was one of the scouts riding back. The man was barely holding onto the reigns of the horse as it powered towards the camp. “We are under attack!” the man called as an arrow whizzed past him and buried itself in the dirt.

Soon the figures of hobgoblins appeared at the edge of the forest as a volley of arrows reached the back of the guard, his face contorted into a silence scream as he fell from the horse who rode past the party – stumbling from both exhausting and a few arrows that had missed the light barding of his coat.

---

Soon the hobgoblins were rushing forward, goblins and some orcs were amongst their ranks but it was clear that the hobgoblins were in charge and that they had orchestrated the attack last night. As the guards clashed with goblin, orc and hobgoblin the party fended off a few creatures as arrows crashed against them and the wagon. Soon the guards were falling back and a gap emerged between them and the wagon. Sal drew a blade and a small shield from next to where she sat and she joined the party. After a moment several other guards, all experienced captains ran to aid in the defence of the wagon.

“Surrender the princess, enough of this trickery. Give her up and spare your lives!” a lean, well armoured hobgoblin called from the front lines of the battle. As he called, several guards rushed at him, cursing and rejecting his offer. A few swift sword strokes saw those guards lose their heads with deft, deep blows.

“Sal, we need to retreat. Get on the wagon and let’s get out of here.” one of the guards called. Nodding but hesitant Sal climbed into her seat, the party grabbing onto the wagon as they dashed away, some guards throwing themselves at the attackers who gave chase.

“Stop that wagon!” roared the hobgoblin leader as the sounds of horns mixed with the blood chilling sound of guttural howls as the outriders of the hobgoblin army rushed forward to cut them off. The sound of crashing armour, breaking bones and howls of pain from goblins, beast and man heralded that they were not quick enough and soon worgs were circling them, waiting for the signal.

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The Cult of the Dragonslayer

411WeCuDr

Something told the party that the red stain on the captain’s clawed gauntlet was not something from the food market outside. As he pushed into the room and undid his helmet the bronze Dragonborn, Garius, looked across the party and at Duplicity. “There is a cult in Yole. We have a location to meet a contact but we don’t have their headquarters. But that is where the complexity comes in, and perhaps this is an opportune meeting that we have here.” he paused as he watched the gears turn over in the lieutenants mind.

“You can’t be serious, Garius. The council will never approve this.” she spat as her complexion grew a deeper purple. The faint smell of sulphur wafting in the room as tension grew.

“Deadly so. I need someone who can get the information I need and Tymora has granted me an adventuring party.” he paused as he cut off a rebuttal from Duplicity. “They know our members, they can suspect that we know but they may not suspect outsiders to the city. They call themselves the Cult of the Dragonslayer and they will be looking for more recruits as they lost a dozen on the attack at the parade. I fear that this is just the beginning.” he said as he scratched at his scales.

---

As the party sat next to the beggar playing three dragon Ante at a barrel near the Bearded Ent tavern. After a few hands the party produced the card that had been given to them. A Dragonslayer card which had been defaced with a symbol on its face which caused the beggar to add in a single bent copper to the ante. After a few moments the beggar stood up, swayed once and declared loudly that he was done. This was the signal the party had been waiting for and after a moment excusing themselves from the same they followed the beggar about fifty feet behind.

A few twists and turns later they found the beggar sitting on the steps of a building, his face illuminated by the pipe he was chomping on as he inhaled deeply. “You play a mean game of Ante. Do you also seek the truth of this world?” he asked, his face watching theirs with great intensity.

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