The Aberration Caverns

423WeAbCa

As the party followed the water that cut through the rock and trickled deeper into the mountain. The party had been lucky discovering this waterway as within the first few feet of entering the sink hole they were met with a scattering of gold pieces and gems laying in the shallows of the waterway. Following onwards more gold, gems and even small trinkets caved out of semi-precious stone was found in the water ways. The light from the torches flickered and uncovered more treasure scattered along the tunnel as they delved deeper.

It wasn’t until they had met a few crossroads that they discovered the first of the bodies. Fresher than what one would expect investigating where remains of an ancient war these were of humans, elves, dwarves and a gnome. An adventuring party. Many showed signs of being killed by poisoning and apart from a few smaller punctures there was no evidence that they were met with anything other than, potentially, a venomous giant spider or the like.

However the gold, gemstones and even wondrous magical items that they had in their possession indicated that this path led deeper into riches. Even as they wondered what could be deeper in the cavern several gemstones started to emit a glowing light from the walls. Several signs carved into walls from the adventurers before them indicated that there was something at the end of this tunnel and some indicated treasure and a great danger.

A faint glow could now be seen deeper at the end of the pathway which cast glittering lights long the rough stone walls at the end of the passage. But as the lights danced across the walls, and ceiling of the passage the party did not see the faint spiderwebs that covered the ground, clung to their clothes and hair and as they moved through the passage the snapping of the webs created a vibration that rippled through the passageway undetected.

---

Fortuitous Scout

422WeFoSc

As the party were called before the aged king and queen they looked about as distraught as one could imagine. As the party approached many of the guards that they saw on the streets were present and they nodded with respect at the adventures.

“Friends, guests to this kingdom. I wish I could just welcome you and thank you for your service in defending my people but unfortunately instead of being able to thank you I stand here asking to be in your debt again.” he paused looking anxiously towards one of the doors out of the hall. “I was hoping Cassana would be here but unfortunately she has been stricken with grief and does not want to see anyone at the moment.”

“What my husband was saying was that we have heard how you bested the wyvern in the streets. No easy doing. We hope that you are willing to bet your steel against the same beasts again and try and return out son. We hope and pray to Tyr that he is safe and will be returned in one peace. But…” she paused to catch a sob. “I realise that this may be an impossible request. Our scouts have found where the warlord Korvak and his men are camped, a day or two ride away. We have organised them to be ready to go and infiltrate the camp and return my son, or his body so we can grieve.”

“Just over this next ridge is where the scouts said the camp was.” Sana said as she crept up a hilly outcropping. It had been a few hours since the scouts had left her in charge to escort the party to the warlords camp while they scouted ahead to make sure that they were unable to leave, yet. During these hours Sana had acted and spoken differently with the party than when she was around the scouts.

Dressed in thick but light mail she moved nimbly across the rocks but she didn’t show any prowess in scouting. She missed obvious signs, notes and messages left by the scouts and was marvelled by everything that the party would have expected the scouting force to be aware of. Yet despite this she kept up pace and moved at a nearly fervent pace.

As they reached the top of the hill and hunkered down next to the rocky outcroppings she looked into the camp. A large Wyvern wore chains the held him to the ground, but otherwise he looked obedient and well trained. Men walked around the camp, some of them familiar from the scouting party – who had pulled a miracle and infiltrated the camp. Then in the middle of the camp a cage was there and Keldard sat there, beaten but alive.

“He is alive,” Sana pointed at where he was kept. “It looks like they have some kind of shackles on him. I wonder why he hasn’t used his magic though.” she pondered. “Well, we need a plan if we are to rescue my brother from all of that.” she said before looking worried back at the party. “Well the cats out of the bag then…” she smiled before sliding her hand over her face where it distorted and shifted to reveal the face of Cassana, the crowned heir of the kingdom except her hair had been cut short compared to when they saw her in the streets.

“I could not let my brother suffer and I was the one that recommended that you be put forth as the rescue team. I saw how you fought and knew I needed that strength to help me. It’s strange though, the scouts didn’t mention that they would infiltrate the camp – just that they would stop them from leaving. And Kel has similar magical abilities – he should be be able to break out. Unless he was betrayed and they have used Obsidian to bind his magic.” she murmured. “Something doesn’t feel right – the scouts wouldn’t go against the orders of their king like this.”

---

Wellfords Affliction

421WeApMaSt

The party watched as Taniya moved about the kitchen and worked the knives on her belt with such dextrous movements that it was easy to see that she was not always the owner of the Muckberry Inn. As she chopped up the vegetables, mushrooms and expertly diced up what appeared to be rabbit she hummed a tune as the food cooked.

“So where do you start?” Tyren asked as he shamelessly strolled nearby looking around the inn for something to eat or drink that was left behind. Smiling in triumph he grabbed a small bottle that had been corked and left on the windowsill.

“Ah, you’re in luck today Tyren.” Taniya called out as her keen elvish ears picked up what he was up to. “It was already paid for so I am not going to take it from you but its probably the last of the Wellford Wine that we sold out of. Savour it as I don’t know if the next delivery will make it here, or if there will be anyone left to drink it.” she sighed as she put a large pot in front of the adventurers with the stacked stew filled with fresh greens, tender meat and mushrooms.

As she watched the party eat she smiled. “I wasn’t always the keeper of the inn. I was a ranger for his lords army and before that I tended the great forest as one of its shepherds. I learnt a great deal about nature, people and beasts.” she said as she pointed a slender finger at one of the darker mushrooms. “This is witches wort. Poisonous if you don’t respect it and treat it just rightly. But if prepared in just the right way it cures many illnesses that you could find.” She smiled as she watched the party. “I don’t intend to poison you, the green leaf here, elves ears, neutralises the poison and together they will provide some protection from dark magic and illness. Or so it is said.” she smiled.

“Bunch of myths if you ask me” Tyren replied as he sat down and uncorked the small bottle. As he drank a mouthful he sat back and savoured the wine. “I can see why the village went nuts for this. It really is marvellous.” He said as he admired the bottle. Hesitating before he drank the last drop he handed it to Taniya “Here, you must want to have the last of it if it is to be the last drop in the village?” he asked.

“No, thank you but I don’t drink. Never have, something like a preserving action really.”

“Well, the next few days may give you the reason.” Tyren replied placing the bottle before the elf before she took it and placed it behind the bar.

“We’ll see.” Taniya replied before busying herself around the Inn.

---

The day was spent investigating around the town and its people but apart from the way they moved there was no sign of magics or disease on any of the people of the village. They could tell that the villagers understood them but they couldn’t respond to the adventurers in the normal ways.

As they began to retire for the day they became aware of a light battering on the door to the Inn before it was opened by Taniya. “Uh, we have a bit of situation!” called Taniya. The party head downstairs and were greeted with Taniya staring at Tyren who with eyes watching them intently moved with the same excruciatingly slow pace as the rest of the villagers – his eyes fixated on the kitchen to a corked bottle that stood on the shelf.

---

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.

---

The Taneva Brothers

419WeTTaBr

Jericho watched the noble as she danced, overpaid and over tipped on everything and how she overreacted 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 their 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 an 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 pierced 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.

---

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 headed 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 headed 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 the 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.

---

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 sulphur covered ball from a pouch within her sleeve 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 feel 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 was 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 human’s 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 creature’s 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

---

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 won’t 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 won’t 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.

---

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.”

---

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.

---