The Urchin and the Innkeeper

421TUrIn

The rest of the village was just as quiet as when they entered. Some adults were moving about in the disturbingly slow gait that they saw earlier while the younger villagers and the poor were moving about, visibly distressed.

“I eard’ that there was a pack of gnolls spotted nearby. Better get leaving, we’ll grab what we can and make our escape before the gnolls get here. A feast they’ll find.” One of the rougher looking individuals, who obviously had been looting as Tyren had indicated some were doing earlier.

“It’s not sounding good for the village.” Tyren said as he walked next to the party. “We don’t have enough people who are functional to defend from any attacks.” As they walked down the streets Tyren pointed out shops that used to be open to the public – but not a store clerk stood near by and watched the party with pleading eyes. Soon the swinging sign of the Muckberry Inn appeared.

Taniya watched as the party walked into the Inn. She analysed them with hard eyes before spotting Tyren. “I told you Tyren, No coin, no drink”

“I am not here for your pity Taniya. And if you can’t tell – there is no way for me to make an honest coin these days any way” Tyren responded crossing his arms as he leant against the door frame. “I brought these folks to you though just in case they can work out what’s going on here. Strange that only the young, poor and you, which are neither, are not affected.”

Taniya scowled at Tyren. “A mystery indeed. I would blame magic as elves have some resistance to it, but that doesn’t explain children or the beggars like yourself.” she retorted before looking at the adventurers before her. “Well if you can help, we’d owe you a great deal. From what I can tell they are aware of what ever is going on around them but their movements don’t keep up with them. A bit of a pickle considering what lies beyond the villages gates and walls really.”

“Now I can offer you a room, the others are taken by visitors that can’t leave, they can’t get out of bed that is. I can also offer you food and drink at a reasonable price considering you are my only customers at the moment. I did have some famous wine imported – but that’s ran dry and I’m waiting on a new delivery any day now. But with the townsfolk afflicted as they are I doubt that anyone will visit for fear of being cursed, infected or what have you. Strange times indeed.” Taniya offered as she looked between them all.

“Oh and don’t even think about looting and scooting or you’ll have to answer to me.” she added flicking the rag she was cleaning mugs with over her shoulder and smirking.

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Ramez and the Rose

420TuRaATRo

The adventurers had just left Rose before he activated the ring he kept on his right hand. A string of glyphs appeared around the office he was sitting in which blocked scrying or eaves dropping of any kind. Taking out a small book from his draw he opened the first page and removed a polished black stone from a compartment in the lid.

“Stone of Azriah, show me those responsible for the evil afoot in the city” he asked the stone. He hated using this thing and even as a swirl of black dust rose from the smooth surface he felt the familiar pangs of doubt in the magical item. Soon the dust revealed a face. A man with flowing hair, sharp cheekbones and an intelligent stare greeted him. He knew those eyes and that moustache anywhere and with a sigh he head held low. “You stupid stone. There is no way Ramez would have created this evil. Again, show me what caused this evil!”

After a moment the dust settled back into the stone before rising again, twice is all he could use it until it rested in moonlight and he was betting a lot on this use. As he watched he saw images of a group of people, the thieves, as they carried a crate but a blinding flash of light from the crate removed the dust-created figures and the crate late inert. After a moment another figure appeared, before reaching into the crate and retrieving an item from it. Upon contact the new arrival writhed in pain before both it and the item it retrieved withered and disappeared like the others before it.

After its latest attempt to answer the question the black dust then drifted lazily down to sit upon the stone. Rose stood up and walked to the window. “So the cursed item was stolen, the crate taken but something went wrong and who ever the late comer was has it and has disappeared.” he mused to himself. It wasn’t enough but he began to scrawl out a note while he still had the runes of warding up. Satisfied by the notes contents he called out his oldest friend, a small hawk who flew unbidden down to land on his shoulder.

“Celise, I need you to take this to Polson.” he said as he tied the message to the hawks leg. It wasn’t really a hawk as all familiars were something different entirely but he still marvelled at the creature as it took flight. Polson would get the message to the adventurers he just hired, or to the watch and they would be able to investigate. He could at least finish what Ramez started to remove the Amulet of Vek’lakah from this world.

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The Faces of Satanya

419TuFaOSa

The party left the store after following another clue of the rich noblemen and noblewomen who had come through the town of Corneth where the town holds a celebration along the edge of the river bank, the Corneth Bank Celebration. The merchant had told them that they had sold a few pairs of travelling clothes, a blue cloak and a pouch to a nobleman who paid several times the amount. It matched several other reports of the overspending from travelling nobles in the town.

However despite all these reports of mysterious nobles buying clothes, food, drink or other goods each person always gives a different description of what the noble looks like. However they all speak as though they come from far-far out of town, overpay by several times the standard price and all wear the colour blue in some form. But they were closing in and the flash of blue in a tavern drew them forward. Before them a young woman drank heavily from a pint of mead, danced enthusiastically and, more importantly, was acting as all the merchants, innkeepers and other witnesses had reported so far.

Approaching the woman wasn’t the hard part, trying to confirm who she was. But after the realisation that she had been found sank in, her face dropped. “I suppose my parents sent you to retrieve me. Well you can tell them that they won’t find me again. I don’t want it, none of it. I want to dance, I want to be free to do what I want. Not what they or some idiot wants me to.” she continued to dance, basically ignoring them. That was until she noticed that there were two extremely rough looking mercenaries staring at her.

“Friends of yours?” she asked nervously looking back at the party, but she could tell from their faces that they were not and from the way that they stared at her, they also knew exactly who she was.

Some of the Faces of Satanya

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Smuggling K

418TuSmK

The streets were dark as Kass slunk along the streets that were barely illuminated by her low burning lantern. The scarf around her head barely hid her features but she was counting on the darkness of the night and the part of the village that she was striding through to get the job done. It had been a while since she had been this nervous but this shipment to Manaeva was the largest she had attempted and it was the riskiest.

Despite this she was confident that the adventurers she had been recommended would get the job done. Outsiders with no ties to her, the city or the harpers had practically guaranteed them being untraceable. As the form of the wagon loomed in front of her she whistled once to let the guard watching know that she was here and once he had turned around she climbed into the back of the wagon.

It had been a while since her first job and the nerves and pang of remorse had long disappeared. She didn’t even regret lying about being a member of the harpers or about the contents of these cloth wrapped crates. Some of them, the ones that were open to inspection would pass as ‘viable cures’ but the ones hidden deeper and in false bottoms to the crates were definitely not. It was these vials that were the real product being sold, that and a few other surprises scattered through the deeper boxes. Hopefully the adventurers would be able to drop them off and head out without a problem. But there was always a chance for it to go wrong.

After checking the contents of several crates and satisfied that the real contents were hidden correctly she slipped back out and left a pouch of gold coins just inside the wagon. A bribe for the guard to keep his mouth shut and to not delve too deeply into where he wasn’t paid to.

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Orster Trading

417TuOrTr

The road out of Krencham after the storm; and revelation of what it may have left behind afterwards, was calm. Branches and leaves lay strewn about the road which was lined with trees that separated the raised surface from the fields of overgrown and long forgotten crops.

Up ahead a pair of humans rode towards them on horses that pulled carts behind them. Waving and signalling the party they, a man and woman, stopped alongside the party. “We didn’t think many people would be braving these roads after that storm last night. But here we are and well met.” the man said with a smile, his hand holding the handle of a rather ornate looking longsword, his other hand by the side of his horse and hidden from view. “I am Harry and this is my wife, Jane. Any news of the road up ahead that we should be aware of? The horses can cross over fallen trees, however the carts are not so lucky.”

After the party explained what happened the night before both of them exchanged a glance. “Well we haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary except a pack of dire wolves hunting up ahead. Luckily I was able to persuade them to hunt easier prey” Jane replied with a knowing smile.

After a few more pleasantries Harry and Jane excused themselves, Harry storing a hand-crossbow that he had concealed at first meeting once he had determined the party meant no harm. As they rode off towards Krencham and beyond the party couldn’t help but worry for them but they seemed formidable enough that they should be able to take care of themselves. As the party continued up the road the silence was oppressive. The birds seemed to be hiding away from the world and there wasn’t any game to be found.

Half a mile later a flock of crows broke the silence as they burst forth from the tall crops. A waft of wind brought forth the sticky-sweet smell of blood from the site where the crows had gathered. Approaching the site the party bore witness to a massacre. Seven dire wolves lay dead, well what appeared to be seven dire wolves at least. The bodies were ripped apart, severed and torn apart and the pieces strewn about. All the body cavities had been ripped open and the innards removed, or devoured.

As they considered what could have done this the crack of thunder could be heard from the direction of Krencham. From this distance they could see flashes of magic, an explosion signalling a fireball, a blast of lightning and even booms of thunder as a fierce battle raged on. But within a few heart wrenching moments the magic stopped and silence swept across the plains again.

The party had no doubt that Orster Trading had met something hostile on the road through Krencham. Victorious or defeated they knew not but whatever the case they had better put some distance between them and the site of the battle in case they are next on the menu.

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The Blackwater Crew

416TuBlCr

As the party waited for the township of Swans Reprieve to settle down after the discovery of the wagon suspended in the tree the town looked to them to assist. “Please, you are all we have. We are no warriors and the guards we have are busy defending against goblins, orcs and gnolls that hunt the forests.” The mayor asked as he waited for the total sum of the job offer to be collected.

The inn was the current staging ground for the mission and it was nearly empty this time of day – except for the party, the mayor and a drunk at the table. The door opened causing a bell to chime to announce the new visitors. “I will ensure that you are paid. We don’t have another choice…” he began once more.

“Well lad, that isn’t quite the case.” a gruff and strong voice said from the door as a rough, burly dwarf walked towards them. “We heard about the little problem you have at the moment and myself and my partner, Jayke, are here wanting to help you.” The dwarf said thumbing towards the tall human.

“Daruden is right. We are willing to look into it for you with or without these adventurers.” Jayke said, flashing a smile. “We are merchants and adventurers and it’s in our best interest if we are able to do business with Swans Reprieve. So if there is trouble here then we want to ensure that we can remove the problem then it solves our problem too.” Jayke ordered two ales at the bar and leant against the table near the party.

“Tell you what, we can even do it without these adventurers so they can continue onwards their way.” Jayke said, looking into the tankard as he swirled it around. “If they aren’t willing to help out the town unless it fills their pockets then we can take care of it for you.”

Daruden grunted and practically inhaled his tankard of ale. “Aye, there is none better than the Blackwater crew. We are the best hunters, trackers and problem solvers in the land.” he clapped the human on the shoulder “Just make sure your guards protect the town and we can handle what lies in the woods, our way,” he paused for a moment as he looked at the party members, “the right way.”

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Samaeth of Verone

415TuSaVe

“Heroes come in all shapes and sizes” Samaeth said as she polished her sword, the blue light within the blade making the sword look like it vibrated in the air. “That’s what my mother used to say after dad left on his last quest. I think she was trying to reassure me that even though I was the first daughter to be born into the line of the Heroes of Verone it wouldn’t matter.”

As she stared deeper into the blade, the blood from the creatures earlier that day having been wiped clean the a log rolled from the fire and spread burning embers around her. The dry tinder caught not even after a moment’s thought and a foul wind caught the fire and threw it up around her. But Samaeth’s eyes flashed blue, matching the same internal light as her sword and the fire began to bend and twist away from the trees and fuel that they had prepared for the fire. The flames licked at her clothes trying to catch her alight but the malicious blaze was bending to her will.

The fire danced upon itself again, travelling from burning logs and scorched ground across to the campfire. The sound of crackling wood and burning leaves retreated until it was contained within the burning pile. She looked up at the party and smiled. “I feel a runaway fire and some beasts attacking during the day are child play to you also, I don’t consider myself any different from you adventurers who have stories and mighty deeds already etched into your name. After I complete this test that the Order of Heroes has given me and I purge the black tower again I hope to start earning my title, like you have.”

After the fire had died down and the party fell into silence animals would be seen coming to the edge of the fire light and staring at Samaeth, inclining their heads and necks towards her as if bowing to the queen of the forest.

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Seb Bastenwort

414TuSeBa

Heading through the tunnels beneath the arena Seb, as he was now known as, walked at a fast pace compared to the humans. “This whole place, the mechanisms, the cells, the arena itself is all designed to hold creatures and the heroes for the show. It’s a marvel, an absolute marvel.” Seb rattled on as he pointed at different mechanisms, cages and chains.

“Todays show was something that I didn’t even want to know about. So I had my chief handler organise a surprise asset for the main event.” He scratched his well maintained beard. “But that’s where it went wrong. I can find my handler and we’ve lost the creature. I wish I could tell you what it was but I wanted it to be a surprise for me as well.”

He stopped moving at one of the cages and stood there expectantly. “Well this is it. The cage where it’s meant to be but isn’t.” He pointed at the broken chain, the ajar door and the various bits of scrap, food and mess that lay around the cage.

One thing was clear. Something large was once in here and it was loose. The party would have their work cut out for them in tracking down this creature but also, finding out how it escaped.

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Rudy Tasslewor

413TuRuTa

Gathering around the bar the owners of the Tavern and Rudy, the barman who was unluckily the person who Ikob took drinks from all waited as the guards and the city’s watchers looked around the room. Questioning the party, several of the watchers; elite guards and spies, tried to find out what happened leading up to the death of the noble.

“So you say that you ordered the drinks and Lord Ikob Thunderdash received them instead of you. It could be something else as we have, so far, no motivation for anyone wanting to kill adventurers of little fame such as yourselves. But we will investigate the body and see if there was another source.” The Watchers were all masked and showed nearly nothing that could be tied back to who they were. However the watcher that was asking the questions was a female and sounded middle aged and local.

“Anything over there, watcher?” one of the guards called from across the room – the reply was a shake of the head. Rudy, the barman smiled weakly at the party as he walked over.

“I am sorry you got caught up in all of this. The only time I didn’t have eyes on the drink was when the old blind man needed help getting back to his table. But it wasn’t for that long and I had no idea.” He stopped and paused as he saw the look on the party’s face.

The guard approached and shook their heads as they stopped next to the party. “Well we can’t rule out it was an inside job. Ikob was a well known noble for the wrong reasons but he was nobility, after all. Even if the drinks weren’t meant for him there is no way to prove otherwise. But I would recommend that you stay safe and keep a low profile over the next few days until you leave town. Don’t go anywhere at night as the city streets aren’t patrolled as much.” the older guardsman said as he scratched his neck.

“You may also have a watcher or two posted to follow you to see if they can catch the assassin. But don’t bring attention to them. The quicker they can do their work the quicker you will be safe.”

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The Caravaner

412TuTCa

Gathering around one of the many campfires Sal laughed and drank deeply from the Tankard she had poured herself. The Princess had brought with her several vast kegs of ale and had opened them when they stopped. The guards who were not on duty were guarding the princesses wagon, which no one had seen her yet as she remained inside her wagon.

As Sal laughed and joked with the guards several of them attempted and failed to flirt with her as she gently, generally with humour, declined their advances. A few stern looks from the caravan captains made the men move on quickly enough if they didn’t get the message. As the night went on and the feasting died down the party returned to their tents and bedrolls and soon only the occasional noise from the guards could be heard.

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Sometime in the early morning the party woke to complete silence. Positioned not far from the princesses wagon – and thus the guards this was an abnormality from the previous few nights. But there was a feeling of wrongness that crept through the camp and across the tent as if the air itself was trying to retreat further away from some unseen miasma.

Leaving their tent and bedrolls the party looked around the camp to find that not only the camp fires had been extinguished – many with guards passed out where they sat the night before but the torches and braziers had been too. Moving swiftly through the camp after drawing and donning their arms and armour they discovered on the other side of the wagon a bloody battlefield. Bodies lay strewn about the grass and chopped up soil. Humanoids in dark leathers and clothes littered the dead guardsmen who had died in a circle in front of the princesses wagon – which stood there with its heavy set doors ripped open.

Soon people who woke in the wake of the party moving through the camp joined them and the cries of alarm drifted through the camp. Guards raced from tents, wagons and where they fell the night before to begin lighting torches and forming a perimeter as they investigated the invaded wagon. Clothing lay strewn about the floor of the wagon where cupboards had been ripped open. A small secret compartment lay chopped into and a chest lay half full of gold and jewels lay cascading down from a padded seat. 

The princess was nowhere to be found.

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