The Shadow Revealed

523WeShRe

As the orders from Cali were called out and the reluctant men started returning to their posts that’s when the crew and party realised it was too late. A metallic. unearthly screech tore through the air as massive boarding harpoons launched outward from portholes with thick ragged rope attaching each of them to the larger vessel. Each harpoon snaked forward, moving not with the random chaos of an abandoned ship – but with precision, with purpose as if guided by a force.

They struck the Stardrinker’s hull with power causing the ship to shudder after each impact. The harpoons, biting deep into its wood as the thick, aged ropes Grew taught as the larger ship pulled the Stardrinker back in line with it. For a moment after an foreboding quiet blanketed the ship as the crew reeled from the sudden attack. As Cali and Roth called back to ship demanding to be freed the silence was all that met their calls.

‘I know what this is,’ Cali muttered the colour draining from her face. ‘The Shadow.’ the words cut like a knife through the air and the crew started muttering to the gods that watched over those that sailed the sea, or anything that was watching that they would blessed another day to sail. But only the Shadow answered.

At first, it was subtle – the whisper of rope shifting against itself, the faint creak of tightening fibres – but within seconds, it turned into a monstrous, living force. The coiled mass of ropes, thick as serpents, unravelled from the ships masts and the deck, shooting down and outward like grasping limbs, searching, hunting. The Shadow revealed its final plan – to leave no prisoners alive.

One ensnared a deckhand first who was barely able to cry out before it wound around his arms, his legs, jerking him backward in a sickening snap. The ropes did not pull him overboard, nor did they drop him into the sea. They dragged him up and over the ripped wood, up the hull, through the broken railing and onto the deck where his cries began in earnest.

His scream, raw and desperate, cut short as a presence oozed out from the ship, outwards across the deck of the shorter ship.

And then the others were taken.

The second mate, Roth, fought against the ropes as they latched around his waist. He slashed at them with a knife, but they tightened, pulling him toward the edge. A sailor grabbed hold of him – two, then three – all trying to keep their second in the Stardrinker’s grasp.

The ship shuddered beneath them.

For a moment, it almost seemed like The Shadow breathed – a deep, guttural groan of wood bending, shifting, drawing closer.

Cali roared for them to cut the ropes, but the moment her voice rang out, one shot toward her, fast – faster than any natural movement. She ducked, rolling instinctively, grabbing hold of the wheel as it whipped past her.

The party had moments, seconds, to act before the ropes came for them, before the crew was gone, before The Shadow revealed more ropes and took them all beneath its deck to unimaginable horrors.

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Deserter of the Gift

522WeDeGi

Night had fallen without incident, the first time since leaving the Wolfgard. As the group had suffered some casualties and injuries in most recent encounter with a mage who practiced necromancy. As such the party had been nominated to watch the wagon over the night. The attempts had become less frequent as the days went on and despite the attack at the town where they were meant to pick up the draft horses – which resulted in the fresh horses being killed – there had been no more attacks during the night.

This was probably due to Captain Argent taking an alternative route off the main road which meant that only truly experienced hunters and trackers would find them. As the crackle from the small fired cast a flickering light across the crew that remained with them the party noticed an empty space where a bedroll was earlier that night. Investigating they soon found one of the guards, Buhfed, trying to sneak out using one of the small tents as a block.

Stopping him he sighed, dropped his sack filled with a few days of supplies and turned around. His face was one of exhaustion but not shame or guilt. ‘I kinda expected you would catch me. I just wont play the royals game any more no matter the bonus they were payin’ me to make sure it played out.’ he looked in the direction of the wagon but it was out of the line of sight.

‘The king is the one who put out the bounty on the wagon. The spells on it to protect the contents? Pah! they are spells so the king and his spoilt brats can watch the fighting that we have to do to get it there on time. I was promised a captains job, comfortable with a small team to guard the halls in the palace – nothing happens in there. But I didn’t sign up to fight the undead or necromancers. We lost too many men, I didn’t sign up for this.’ he added, his lips trembling.

As he returned to the fire and spoke in a hushed voice that he was sure the spells would not be able to detect he told the party of what the plan was. Men, monsters, fiends of the gutters would fight tooth and nail for a chance to get the bounty on the wagon. The king would pay it too as his gift wasn’t something in the wagon – it was watching what happened outside of it as the party moved it across the land.

Since Edward and Anna had changed course he would up the ante, leak information as to where they were and it would get worse on their final day of travel and Buhfed wouldn’t have the blood of more people on his conscious. The bounty was only if the wagon was opened before it made it to the city and so if they still wanted the payout from the king – and to keep their reputations in tact they had to get it there fast.

The question was now, how? If what they had faced was just those who were unskilled what would happen if a group who was skilled caught up to them. The party needed a plan, they needed to let Anna and Edward Argent know.

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The String Master

521WeStMa

The party absorbed the unnamed mans words and shifted anxiously, tension thickening in the stagnant air of the courtyard. A setup. A carefully crafted story meant to write them as thieves in a crime that never occurred.

The man’s smirk deepened. He slowly loosened the clasp of his cloak, letting it fall open, revealing a sash lined with delicate silver embroidery—a mark of high station, but worn subtly enough to avoid unwanted attention.

‘You misunderstand,’ he said smoothly, ‘the vault wasn’t robbed, because it never needed to be.’

The words hung in the air for a heartbeat too long. Then, realization struck like the tolling of a bell.

The string master, the person calling the shots and twisting the story – someone within the king’s own court – had no interest in the vault’s treasures. They weren’t after gold, nor jewels, nor the ancient artifacts locked behind enchanted barriers. What they wanted was something already outside those grand doors. Something in the party’s possession.

A relic, A weapon, A key. Something that they needed desperately enough to kill the party and take it from their corpses.

Whatever it was, they had it, and they had never known its value – until now.

The man started to hum as the party asked for more information. ‘If I do, you’ll have few choices: leave this city quietly and live, or stay and become hunted again, or work with me to bring the real villain to justice.’

The party exchanged glances. They had fought for their lives since the moment they’d stepped into this tangled web. Retreat was not an option. ‘You were chosen,’ he continued, circling them like a man used to being in charge. ‘You were the perfect scapegoats – troublemakers with enough skill to disappear if need be, but reckless enough that nobody would question your supposed ambition. The theft was fabricated because they needed a reason to pursue you. If the bounty hunters can’t kill you then hopefully they tire you out just enough to hand over what they need.’

His grin was razor-sharp. ‘Why am I telling you all of this? Because I have something they want, too and I won’t be parting with it.’ The weight of his statement settled. This wasn’t just a revelation – it was an alliance forged in quiet desperation.

The question wasn’t whether they could trust him. It was whether they could afford not to.

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Chasing the Muse

520WeChMu

The party had found a different route that should take them out of harms way from the goblins territory. As they set up camp for the night they decided on a small fire to try and keep it smokeless and keeping it hidden by digging a deeper into a fire pit to avoid the light of the flame travelling too far.

Once the fire was set they retrieved their supplies to avoid trying to attract any wild creatures by hunting and cooking for their meal. But when they went to check what they had remaining they were greeted by a large hole cut into their bags – much of their supplies were missing.

As the night went on Reginald was strangely quiet, always staring off the way they had come and appearing to be listening to searching for something. When questioned he sighed and simply said ‘I fear that I will continue chasing the muse as the last day of travel has been uneventful.’ His attitude was wearing thin on the party – some of which were injured because of his previous actions.

As they settled down for the night the wagon driver offered to take the last watch to make sure they had a full nights sleep in case they needed to leave in a hurry. The party woke up to the sound of cracking wood and the dancing light of the fire as wood had been piled high into the pit. Reginald stood, awake, watching the direction they had come as his driver snored deeply – a wine skin of water tipped over in his lap.

‘I worried that the trail of food would not be enough. But I think this has done it. I saw something in the distance moving. Best wake up the rest of them as I believe I will finally have the inspiration I need for my masterpiece!’ he smiled broadly as he climbed to the top of his wagon and sat on the canvas with quill and parchment, waiting.

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Sea Raiders

519WeSeRa

The waves had settled and for the most part the day had been smooth sailing. They had just moved to into view of the larger sailing ship of the crew in second place and based on the movement on deck they were not pleased to see the Surf Skimmer on their tail.

At dusk the breeze had held up well but had changed direction over the last hour which had caused the other ships to slow down. But the unique sail design of the Skimmer let Gareth move his vessel within shouting distance to the other ship. With just two more days to go until the race would be over they had to put in a lot of effort into making sure they were on track. They had a brief encounter with a pirate vessel that had tried to stop them with ropes and netting. But the party had dealt with them quickly which was much to Gareth’s delight at hiring them for the voyage.

As they settled in just behind the other larger ship they lit some small lanterns around the ship to make sure that visibility wouldn’t be an issue. The amount of preparation and movement on deck had worried Gareth and the party had noticed several trained looking guards that had been scouting them out for quite some time. As they were about to tuck in the second last night of hard rations the first sign of trouble appeared.

The Surf Skimmer’s hull hit something on the side which caused the ship to pull slightly to that side. Rushing to investigate a large spiked buoyant barrel had lodged itself in the hull and was interfering with the ships ability to cut through the waves. A second thud came a few moments later and the Surf Skimmer slowed down noticeable as a barrel connected to a hook by rope was lodged into the Skimmer again. As they started trying to free themselves from the impediments that’s when the next wave of attacks came.

Bolts of fire and wood rained down on them. Many hissed into the waters around them but some found their mark cutting through the canvas sails and embedding the flaming projectiles into the deck. Luckily the canvas would not light, it was designed that way, but the wood was not so lucky. The air buzzed with arcane magic as darts of arrow rained down around them – flung by a duo of mages that stood at the back of the ship that they were now nearly alongside of.

It appears that a fight was upon them and the true test of their skill and Gareths trust in them was about to start.

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Infiltrators Identified

518WeInId

The party had managed to track down the person they saw in the hall way outside of Lace’s room and using the information Lace had given them they believed them to be one of the infiltrators. The man in question was moving with haste down the empty streets with only the space lamplight to guide their way. Despite being a rough part of town that they travelled through the man they were following moved with a determined haste.

As they neared the man he quickly ducked into a doorway – just as swiftly the party hid from view and watched as he checked if he was being followed before entering quietly. A few moments later the party snuck up to the building and listened. ‘It’s going well. I have found the new faces of our cause since these ones’ usefulness is wearing off.’ a mans voice said. But, even as it spoke something changed within it. Gone was the masculinity and it was replaced with a lisp and feminine sound.

Looking through a small window they had to repress their shock when the face of the man they followed was shifting and melting off to reveal serpentine features beneath it, Yuan-ti’s. As they started to move away in shock a two towering figures stepped out from either side of the building and the door opened. It looks like they would have to talk or fight their way out.

---

As it turned out the Yuan-ti’s did not have talking in mind. Wishing to kill the party and assume their identity as a way of further infiltrating the groups trying to route them out. But they hadn’t accommodated for how powerful the party were or that they would be prepared for a fight. As the party secured the area and made sure that no one had seen the fight that occurred they scouted the room.

In a secret compartment in the table there was a stack of parchment. Details on the plans to infiltrate, who was being infiltrated and – more importantly – a meeting spot with a time and date. There was to be a gathering of the infiltrators in a few nights time within the city.

Armed with information and the semblance of a plan they disposed of the bodies and got ready for their next move.

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New Residents of the Peaks

517WeNeRePe

It wasn’t long until the party had left Wyrehaven that Sven rode up along side them. ‘Jin thought you could do with some local help so has asked me to accompany you. Also it means that I can report back anything else we discover for the sake of the guards.’ he explained as he started to take the rear guard for the party. The guards had provided them with horses, not the best but they would make do where they didn’t have their own beasts to carry them.

The party had been travelling for only a few hours when they found evidence of the goblins pretty easily as they left many of the dying or wounded behind in their attempt to retreat back to where they came from. Following the trail left behind from the goblins until night fall. It appeared that not all the goblins who were left behind died like the ones they had been finding.

After a brief encounter with some desperate but no longer blinded goblins they had a rough sleep and decided to inspect the bodies of the goblins when they had light to do so. Looking for a sign of infection, disease or something else manipulating the creatures they found some of the goblins had puncture wounds like that of a spider or snake bite in irregular places. Others had healing cuts, gashes or bruises that were the sign of fighting – perhaps from the party but some appeared older.

Mulling over the information as they rested they welcomed dawn and continued in the direction they were heading, stopping to check the trail when they could but keeping a good time as they moved onwards. Eventually after another uncomfortable nights sleep they came to the foot of the mountains where a small goblin camp could be seen amongst the trees at the bottom. Up above were signs of a goblin village in a large open mouthed cave but even from here the party could tell there were no goblins in the caves.

The camp was deserted, recently so based on what they had left and more strange tracks were found. Some were from beasts like lizards, giant spiders and even some similar to a large wolf but there were others. Similar in size to a goblin but different all the same. Following the tracks they were led to the gave where the goblins once lived and immediately they could tell something had moved in.

Many of the goblin huts had been ripped, burnt or otherwise destroyed leaving shells and refuse of where they once were. Bones of goblins and of other small humanoids were littered throughout the room, gnawed clean of any meat and cracked open to ensure nothing had gone to waste. There was also the stench. A heady aroma of pungent musk and something metallic and sulfuric blended through which was almost enough to make the party gag.

What ever had driven the goblins out was setting in its roots and if it had disrupted a healthy goblin clan it could not be good news for the party or near by civilised settlements.

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Didn’t See it Coming

516WeDiSeCo

The party had returned to the temple with Tusicka leading them for potentially one of the longest stairs they have encountered. As they reached the open-style temple they saw several brown cloaked men and women walking around the temple with a black scarf wrapped around their waists.

‘The Diviners of Earth. We’ve had a large intake of them this year due to the Mistress of the Stone, Aeligica. She is one of the best diviners that this city has seen and luckily, her connection to the weave and the gods has remained strong during these times.’ Tusicka added.

‘And it shall remain strong Flame Singer Tusicka.’ A voice as neutral as stone added as she walked forward and clasped the hands of Tusicka before greeting the party. ‘Water and Air have gone out at the High Oracles request to get more incense to see if the offering was not enough during he ritual.’ she added as he walked along side the temple. The space was large, a hundred feet on all sides with dozens of mages and priests moving about the space with robes of red, white, green, blue and brown.

There were so few of the other coloured robes present which when Tusicka noted the parties interest she spoke in a quieter voice. ‘Since the divinations stopped being prophetic many took their leave to reconnect with their craft or deities. Those that stay either have no where else to go or hold onto faith.’ she smiled weakly.

‘And while our brothers and sisters find themselves Earth find themselves having to answer to all queries as our connection remains strong as the roots of the earth itself. Tusicka smiled but there was something behind her eyes.

‘Aeligica, how goes the Oracle?’ she added as she went to head towards the small raised platform where the High Oracle knelt in prayer. A strong hand grasped her shoulder which caused her eyes to snap suddenly towards the owner. Aeligica stared against the fire in the eyes of the Flame singer.

‘She has requested to not be interrupted as she recontinues to connect. It’s been foretold that under the strength of earth that her connection will crystalise and the can commence once more.’ Aeligica spoke plainly but there was an element of coldness to her words. Tusicka practically sizzled as the taller and broader woman refused to remove her hand.

‘The Oracle will want to hear what I have foreseen, the news I bring.’ she replied as she contained her emotions just beneath the surface. The Mistress of the Stone’s gaze hardened. ‘I see.’ is all she said before she threw the smaller woman across the open space in the temple towards the edge. The shock of the attack was so much that as she collided with a pillar mid chant the words of her spell were cut off as she slid over the edge.

‘Its surprising how much power fire, water and air try and claim where they gather their power from earth. But shift the temple a few feet off the centre to break the connection with their planes and their power dwindles down to naught. The Oracle does not need the weak and the new age of stone will solidify the belief of the people in the prophets as they are guided by a strong hand, a stone hand.’ Aeligica said calmly as a later of burnt stone floated off her hand where she had grasped Tusicka.

The room moved quickly with those in brown robes surrounding the vastly outnumbered red, white, green and blue. As the party stared down the Mistress of stone, heat flooded over their back. ‘I knew something was up. When I returned to the old ley lines I was able to reconnect and divine the outcome.’ Tusicka landed clutching her left arm with her body wreathed in flames.

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The Largest Catch

515WeLaCa

The party eventually found the source of the stemmed water. A ramshackle but functional dam had been created in the middle of the stream causing the wet season river to well up and flood a well established pool into something even more. A small hake had been falling behind the dam and several trees that had once been at the rivers edge now had several feet of water encroaching up their trunks.

As the party looked over the waters surface they noticed a bunch of leaves moving across the waters surface. Not thinking much of it as the volume of water backed up behind this dam consisting of mud, trees and rocks was quite active as the currents swirled behind it. But soon they saw the leaves and connected branches were occasionally moving against the current as if something was caught on the other end.

Sil pointed at it a few heart beats after they had noticed. ‘There’s a fish or something big trapped in that branch. Its got to be the creature that attacked me!’ before waiting for a reply she was climbing up the more solid parts of the dam where they formed a natural blockade where a large rocky outcrop rose out of the soil.

Within moments the party were following her up the rocks and dirt and they watched as she hurled a silken rope with a large weighted hook at one end at the branches. It struck true and as she hauled on it the rope went tight. within moments she was being pulled towards the water and if it wasn’t for her throwing herself around a tree at the now-lakes edge she would have been dragged into the water.

‘I don’t remember it being this strong!’ she called out as the party reached her. The rope had managed to wrap itself around her wrist and as it pulled her arm became tangled and stuck between rope and the trunk of the tree. As the party added their strength to this side of the tug of war they could feel the power of the creature on the other end. Not only was it pulling against them but against the current to and only after a few minutes of heaving on the rope did it start to tire and they started gaining more ground again.

Suddenly the tension was lost and the party fell back into the wet soil with Sil. They hauled in the branch expecting an exhausted monstrous fish on the other end but instead the lower parts of the branch had been stripped clean of its bark and branches and saw like markings could be found long it all. As they examined the branch the waters surface broke as two eyes watched them from the surface as the creature crept closer.

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No Food for Thought

514WeFoTh

As the door swung open a sigh of relief came from Glenda. ‘Oh its just Rueb. Rueben is my assistant who has been good enough to go into the pantry down stairs to get ingredients and try and find those rats.’ Glenda smiled but the party could tell something was wrong. The man was decomposing and despite the man moving around normally there was a stiffness in how they walked.

‘Sorry Glenda. I have not caught those rats.’ the man said as he glanced lightly over at Talley. ‘I am very close, though to catching a big one.’ he spoke in a soft voice. As he finished speaking a clump of hair fell from his head to the floor, drifting slowly until it landed at his feet.

‘The poor lad isn’t well and can’t stay on his feet for too long. But he’s getting there. I let him stay here where its warm and safe and he works hard.’ she added. Behind him in the pantry something moved, a thud on the stairs and the sound of something skittering in the dark beyond.

‘These folks are just helping me with young Talley here then they will be down there to get rid of the rats for us…’ Glenda began.

‘No, I’ve got this. You don’t need them. Let me handle this.’ he snapped at the dwarf. A pressure emanated from the man before Glenda’s face relaxed.

‘You’re right Rueb. You’ve got this. I don’t need them.’ she said with her eyes unfocused.

‘Miss Glenda. My friends are in there. I’ve heard them. The man is keeping them down there!’ Talley erupted. The sudden burst of noise caused Glenda to stumble before looking between the girl and the man. ‘Is this true. Are those poor children down there Rueben?’

As if on silent command the skittering erupted from down below as the stairs shook as several grutesque legged brains scuttled up the stairs. ‘The others grow tired of hiding. There is no escaping now fools.’

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