Campaign1/session-10

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Drip Drip Drip

Session Date: March 4,2000
Assynt 24, 1022

Sleep. Darkness. A place of dreams.

Running. With shorter legs. Younger legs. Looking back, I can see the guards chasing us. Us. The other is a young boy, his face in the wild glee of a game. Running from guards. Into the darkened alley.

Dark. Safe. No. Not safe. Garrin is here. She is too. Gold for a rune covered stone. That was the deal. The flash of a blade. Hers. Helpless as she bites into his wounded neck. Her eyes fixed on me. Dargai eyes. Something in her hand begins to glow. A globe.

She drops Garrin's lifeless body. Darkness swallows us.

Candlelight. A bedchamber. Two lovers. Conall. Her. A moment of rapture. He never sees it coming. Blood and feasting. Something in her hand begins to glow. Its light remains as everything else plunges back into darkness.

The light changes, shifts, stretches and condenses into the form of a muscular man in his mid-forties, thick brown hair laced with streaks of grey, dressed in plate armor. Watching mages. A hole in the wall opens. Beyond is Kalen. Many men in heavy armor run through the hole.

It all fades away, replaced by quiet inky blackness. Not entirely quiet. A sound. Another. Dripping. Like drops of water into a bucket nearly full. Drip, Drip, Drip.

The sound fades as consciousness arrives.

Mazériyan, Max, Charlis, Rheanon, and Telovien awaken to the sensation of gentle rocking and the sound of a cart and horses making its way on an unpaved rural road. Above them, a criss-crossing net of rope supports the weighted down blankets of Caela, King William and the Regent. Pulling back their own blankets reveals a similar webbing of ropes below them, supporting the group above Sitric, Melosia and Brohma Te Selmoc.

Max and Telovien slide to the back of the cart and lift the rear tarp, exposing them to the cold air of a cloudless night, Aryth's third quarter providing meager illumination of the surrounding gently rolling hillsides. The cart is tearing along at an impressive pace, only the driver's hood visible from the rear of the wagon. Both return to the relatively warm confines of the covered area, and work their way to the front.

Telovien and Max lift the front tarp and a blast of cool air rushes in. Ahead they can dimly see the road ahead, and both are surprised at the remarkable speed the driver is comfortable with under such conditions. While Max swiftly slips into the front seat beside the driver, Telovien distracts the driver with a loud question. "So, where are we going?"

The startled driver jumps in her seat and turns to spot Max beside her, glancing behind to spot Telovien peering from the interior of the wagon. "Ah. So you're awake." Regaining her composure, she resumes her intense concentration on the uneven road ahead. "My name is [Characters/Aethra|Aethra]]. I'm supposed to provide you with transportation to Kalen."

"How far is it?" Telovien queried as Max silently watches her.

"We will be there by dawns light, or perhaps a little later." She gave another sidelong look at Max, who simply sat observing. "Before then one of you will need to take the reigns. I will need to leave you before reaching Kalen."

"Why?" Telovien shifted to a more comfortable position.

"I was not given many details while you were transported through gate, but I was told that amongst you is the King and Regent of Hebridonia." Aethra paused to consider her words. "To drive a cart into Kalen with such passengers would invite scrutiny which would not benefit my line of work."

Max finished his mental picture of the driver. Though limited by the meager light of Aryth, he could make out that she has Elven facial features, wearing a fine heavy cloak over another dark garment, and leather gloves with 5 digits. So she appeared to be elven, though from recent past experience, Max knew appearances could be deceiving. "Do you do this sort of work often?"

"What? Driving cargo to and from?" The cart crossed a shallow ford, then turned to climb the gentle slope of the opposite bank. "On occasion. Most of my time is spent in Kalen gathering information. We like to know what is going on in the rest of the world, especially in places where we fear the She-ar'tyl may be active."

"Why, are you one of them?" Max again added to his reputation for blunt discussion.

"If I was, we would not be on our way to Kalen now." Though the light was poor, Max could feel her icy glare. "The cult is a threat to us, just as it is to Hebridonia. It already holds Demarian in its vice-like grip. We hope to keep their influence from spreading."

Telovien piped up, "Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?"

"Well, before we go too much further, I think you should know about the official means of your return to Hebridonia." Aethra shifted in her seat. "You see, it was decided that the Regent, Caela and Sitric posed too great a threat to us with their memories intact."

Max cursed, but held his tongue.

"Each of them could wield enough power to hurt us without breaking the Geas. So they remember a different history of the past few days, blurred somewhat by the trauma of the experience." Aethra paused, thinking Max had something to say, but he simply closed his mouth and resumed his deadpan watch. "They remember you finding them in a cave in the Ring of Fire, which is true from a certain perspective. Someone named Selmott?"

"Selmoc." The Nilhen interjected, breaking his silent eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Yes, Selmoc. And some other fellow named Mazeron"

"That's Mazeriyan." The goblin rolled his eyes, but continued to listen.

"That's it. Selmoc and Mazeriyan found some area of high mana concentration to power some gate pendant that the King was wearing. They hoped it would carry you all back to Kalen, but you fell short by a bit." Aethra paused to maneuver the cart through a rough patch in the road, and resumed as the dirt track became more regular again. "You made your way to the nearest road, and after a time you flagged down an elven merchant returning from a day's trading in Kalen. You borrowed the cart with the understanding that you'd return it to the merchant in Kalen when you're finished with it."

Through the tarp, Max and Telovien could hear Mazeriyan musing to himself. "I wonder if that would work? Hmmm..."

"So you want the horses and cart back?" Telovien gave a puzzled look to Max.

"Yes, if you'd be so kind. They would be expensive to replace. You can find me when you're finished at the Royal Court."

"How will we find you?"

"We can meet at a tavern. Not many will be open today since its Fastingday, but the Split Pig should still be busy. Do you know where it is?" Aethra turned briefly to regard Max and Telovien.

"I know the place." Max nodded.

The conversation turned back to the topic of how to enter Kalen with the King and company. Some wanted to simply drive up to the gate, while Charlis made a case for reaching the Royal Court without anyone in Kalen knowing about it. At the mention of using the underground passages, Aethra interupted the conversation. "Unless you have means of warding off the Lyril, it would be dangerous for you to travel any serious distance in those tunnels." "Whats a Lyril?" Telovien's eyebrows raised with interest. "You know that sometimes being underground can be very confusing, perhaps unnaturally so." "Yeah, so?" Max nodded. "The Lyril have the natural ability to make people forget the passage of time, or become disoriented. They try to trick you into wandering deeper underground, where eventually you will grow weak enough for the Lyril to eat you." The group decides that the underground passages are probably not the best solution to the current dilemma. As morning's glow arrived, the discussion continued, and Aethra stopped the cart. In the distance, the dirt track joined a well traveled road familiar to most as the trade road between Kalen and Mejis.

"This is where we part company for now." Aethra handed the reigns to Telovien. "Best of luck entering Kalen."

Max and Telovien bid her good-bye, and Aethra walked off the road and sat down on a nearby hillock. Telovien shook the reigns, and the horses resumed their task, though at a much slower pace.

The discussion of entering Kalen was just getting back into full swing when the Regent spoke up. "Ah! Are we in Kalen yet?" Sitric and Caela were also stirring.

"Not yet." Charlis answered eagerly, before anyone else could make an utterance. "We were just discussing the best way to enter Kalen, whether it is necessary to smuggle you back to the Royal Court, or if its ok to simply show up at the gates."

The Regent agrees with Charlis that discretion is probably wise, and provides more options for dealing with the situation. Rheanon finally comes up with the winning solution: hide everyone in the cart under a layer of illusionary hay made by Selmoc. Telovien stops the cart, and the group removes the rope-hammocks, gently lowering the king to the center of the cart's floor. With the canvas sides and top removed, along with the metal supports, the group piles into the cart and gets comfortable for the last several miles to Kalen.

"Here we go." Selmoc drew a solitary rune in the air, which remained floating with a golden hue. The shape expanded quickly, and made a remarkable covering of hay above the group. Max reached up to touch the hay, and it vanished in a snap.

"Don't touch!" Selmoc scolded.

"Are you going to tell that to the guards when we arrive?" Max chided back.

"Hmmm. Alright then... what about this!" Selmoc wrote a different sigil in the air, which made a thicker covering, plunging everyone beneath it into amber darkness.

Max reached up and felt the cover, which bore a passing resemblance to loose hay. "Much Better."

The issue settled, Telovien resumed driving the cart toward Kalen. As they approached the gates, Telovien noted that a large number of the apparent guards appeared to be elven! One of the elves stepped forward, signaling for Telovien to stop as he reached the northern gate. The elf examined the cart for a moment, before addressing the driver. "You're a little early aren't you? Merkatday is tomorrow."

Telovien quickly though of an excuse which the guard seemed satisfied with. The rest of the group were shocked that he believed him! A few tense moments passed as the guard and Telovien exchanged some idle chitchat about places in Kyelsoran, and finally the guard waved him on.

As they passed beyond the gates, and made their way through Kalen to the Royal gatehouse, Telovien could hear several of his companions express surprise at their good fortune.

The gate for the Royal Hill complex was similarly manned, though a few more human guards were present. A human guard signaled for Telovien to halt. "I'm pretty sure we're not expecting a delivery of hay today. What is your business?"

"I'm supposed to take this cart to the Royal Palace." Telovien said confidently, knowing that he was telling the truth!

The human guard was not buying, but one of the elven guards interrupted, recognizing Telovien from the long march south they took not long ago, convinced the human guard to reluctantly let him through. As Telovien guided the cart up the broad boulevard that spans the center of the Royal Hill, Selmoc canceled the illusion which covered them with hay, and the group looked out over the grounds, to the astonishment of several onlookers.

A slack-jawed manservant waiting at the palace entrance took a moment to realize who had just arrived in the back of a commoner's cart! Soon the group was engulfed in a sea of people attending to the King, the Regent and Caela. The Regent immediately took control of the situation, dispatching Selmoc and Mazeriyan to assist in researching the King's condition and restoring his health, and assigning several servants to take care of Melosia and Sitric.

As Melosia departs with the servants, she turns back toward her companions, and through Sitric's interpretation, bids farewell to the group. "I wish you good luck on your journeys." Melosia bowed, "Perhaps our paths will cross again, but under more favorable circumstances. Take care."

With the King carried inside, the Regent escorts the remaining group to a waiting to receive breakfast and further instructions. "I will return shortly, as soon as I have assessed the full situation of events which transpired in my absence." Without pausing to register the groups reaction, the Regent left the room, swarmed by several advisors.

After breakfast, Max, Rheanon, Telovien and Charlis made themselves comfortable on the cushioned furniture of the lounge. Just as the group was thinking that they'd been forgotten, Ravensfeather (the new captain of the Elven guard) arrived and spoke briefly with Telovien, instructing him to stick with the others since they will be assisting in the underground mapping project and the search for the linking stone. Though friendly with the others, Ravensfeather did not linger long to exchange pleasantries with Max, Rheanon or Charlis, but rather hastily departed on 'urgent business'.

The Regent returned a few moments later, and informs the party that he entrusts them with the task of determining who Faegan's co-conspirators were. Since the mention of the linking stone seemed to trigger Dahlia and Faegan's attack, this investigation might also assist in tracking the whereabouts of the linking stone. Since Islay Manor seems to be the most like source of leads, the party will be provided with room and board at the manor while they investigate, with Royal court staff and guards to provide services as needed.

"What happened to the original staff?" Charlis looked curious.

"Well, guards were sent to bring the staff in for questioning after we disappeared." the Regent's eyes darkened, "Apparently the head manservant and two of his underlings knew something that someone did not want us to learn. As they were escorted from Islay manor, each was struck with a poisoned crossbow-bolt in the chest. The assassins were pursued, but were lost in the winding back alleyways. The inquisitor determined that the remaining servants didn't have anything useful to add to our investigation and were released from service."

With the matter settled, the Regent bids the group good luck and indicates that the staff will be expecting them before dinner. Max, Rheanon, Charlis and Telovien each go their separate ways to attend to business before reconvening at the manor by nightfall.

Telovien speaks with several elves who bring him up to date on the events within Kalen over the past 5 days. After the King's disappearance, elven guard with human escorts were dispatched to investigate everyone who had a remote connection to someone caught in the magical disturbance. The elves felt their hands were tied in the initial investigation, unable to conduct searches, and limited to 'interviews' without a truthsayer or inquisitor present. Only yesterday were they allowed more latitude in the investigation, but the sentiment was that it was too little too late. Though the elf insisted they were courteous to all they encountered, he indicated that there is am irrational growing resentment for their activities amongst the townsfolk, which manifested itself last night in a mob marching to the Royal court gates! The human mages claim that the group was magicked, but the elf was unconvinced.

Rheanon meets with several of her Ellylon peers in the Royal court, and also learns that unrest has been growing since the incident 5 days ago. The mob at the castle gates were pretty worked up about alleged atrocities perpetrated by the elves. Of course, none of the Ellyl believed the stories, which turned out to be false memories implanted in some of the crowd! Since the incident, all places of public gathering (taverns, temples, parks, etc.) are being monitored for any activity which might explain who is manipulating people's memories to promote civil unrest. Large meeting places like the playhouses have been closed entirely for this reason. So far, the suspicion is that the same group (perhaps a She-ar'tyl cell working in Kalen!) is involved in the incident at the castle 5 days ago.

Charlis meets briefly with Niven Apley, the manager of the Whitehall Playhouse, and learns that the playhouses have been closed until further notice. No official reason was given for the closing, though Niven suspects that the religious leaders might be behind it, since they view the playhouses as dens of immorality. There has even been a rumor floating about that some cult is using them to recruit members! Charlis and Niven hatch a plan to run a 'morality play' that will curry favor with the religious establishment, thus re-opening their playhouse while the others remain closed. Niven tells Charlis he'll pay good money for a decent script!

Max attends to some errands, then slips down to 'The Split Pig' for some food and to learn whats been going on over the past several days. Several people express their unhappiness with the heightened presence of the town guard, supplemented by the elven garrison that arrived 5 days ago. As one fellow is relaying his story to Max, another man interrupts his story, suggesting that he's heard that the elves have been brutalizing the townsfolk. Max notices as the 2nd fellow is speaking, that he moves his hand in a strange flourish, akin to what Max has seen Mazeriyan do on occasion while casting a spell. The first stranger then becomes very agitated, and starts ranting about how he saw a group of elven guards beat a man senseless in an alley nearby.

The second fellow seems to lose interest in the conversation, and turns back toward his table for a time. While continuing to listen the conversation, Max observes as the 2nd stranger engages another fellow in a similar conversation, again with that strange flourish! Max memorizes the man's characteristics, and notes that while the fellow is wearing clothes that blend in with the general clientele of 'The Split Pig' (which is to say, the lowest stratum of the Kalen class structure), they are in better condition than they should be for his supposed station in life. Only a keen observer like Max would note that the patterns of dirt and wear on the fellows clothes don't quite match right. An outsider trying to blend in.

The outsider finished his latest 'conversation' and rose from his table. He briefly scanned the room with is grey eyes, and pulling a hood over his jet black hair, he stepped outside. Max followed him out the door, and nearly ran into Aethra as she entered the tavern!

"Oh, there you are! I didn't expect you to..."

Max interrupted Aethra, "Come with me." Without further explanation, Aethra followed Max as he stalked the outsider to a tavern further down the street: 'The Water Barrel'. Leaning against the side of a building across the street, Max briefly glanced at Aethra. "During our conversation earlier about means of entering Kalen, you seemed to know a few things about the passages that run beneath the city."

Aethra nodded. "They're very handy in my line of work. Especially when caught in a tight situation. As long as you have a navigation stone, its safe."

"Whats that?" Max diverted his steadfast gaze from the tavern entrance for a moment.

"Its kind of a misnomer. It doesn't really help you navigate, except that it keeps the Lyril at a safe distance." Aethra surveyed the street to insure they weren't being intently observed. "As I mentioned earlier, the Lyril have the ability to make you forget where you've been, and make you disoriented. They try to trick you into becoming lost. People who are unprotected wander deeper into the passages until they are too weak to fight off the Lyril. Then they're lunch."

"And how do I get a navigation stone?" Max shifted to another wall and resumed his vigil, hoping for a simple and inexpensive answer.

"They're not exactly a known commodity. Dwarves are just about the only ones who know about the Lyril or how to keep them away. Its a very tightly guarded secret which I'd keep to yourself and those you can trust not to spread it." Aethra looked around again. "I found out by hiring an underground guide, then beating the information out of him. That was alot of work. Dwarves are stubborn and tough."

"And?" Max rolled his hand, urging an answer to his question.

"And I only know of one way to get a navigation stone at present." Aethra grinned impishly. "Find a dwarven underground guide who has one and lighten his load a little. Or flat out beat him senseless and take it. Either way, you're in for some long-term trouble, even if you kill the little bastard. They always have friends that turn up at the most inopportune times and have to be dealt with."

Aethra spotted an elf leading her two horses and cart to the front of 'The Split Pig'. "Ah, theres my cart. I should get it before the guard decides he's in the wrong part of town."

"Let me know if you come across a navigation stone for sale. Perhaps we can do some business." Max looked at Aethra again, and strained to imagine this beautiful elven woman robbing a dwarf. Ruthless. What lies behind those hazel eyes?

As Aethra turned to leave, "Will do. Find me if you come across any reliable information on the She-ar'tyl in Kalen." Without waiting for Max's reply, she jogged up the street to reclaim her property.

Max resumed his surveillance of the inn, and soon spotted the outsider leaving the tavern, and making his way further up the street. At a distance of 20 or so yards, Max followed behind the man until he slipped into an alley between two shops. Max quickened his pace and ducked into the alley, intent on catching the outsider. Ahead, he could see the man moving quickly down the narrow passage, and as the outsider turned into a smaller side-alley, he spotted Max in pursuit!

When Max rounded the corner, he found the outsider waiting for him, his short sword drawn. "What do you want, brigand!" Max tried to engage the outsider in conversation with the hope of gaining some information, but when he saw the telltale sign of wiggling fingers, Max lunged for the other man with his own short sword. Several blows were exchanged, including an impressive blow to the outsider, whose wounds showed no blood. Max decides to cut the risks and becomes invisible, and manages to tackle the outsider as he turned to run.

Once Max had the outsider pinned, he turned off the invisibility and pulled the outsider's hands underneath the weight of Max's legs. His opportunity for further questioning was curtailed when two town guard arrived and demanded Max to release the man. Despite Max's protests and warnings about the other fellow being a dangerous mage (all while the outsider insisted he was waylaid by 'this brigand'), the two guards take them both into custody and relieve them of their weapons. Both are detained in separate rooms to await a session with an inquisitor.

When Max finally explains what has happened, the inquisitor seems satisfied and instructs the guards to release him. When Max recovers his sword, he learns that the outsider was "accidentally released" by a guard who fell under his spell. Max departs the guardhouse disgusted, and seeks out Ravensfeather to explain what happened and confirm that at least one rogue mage has been tampering with the minds of the people of Kalen. Ravensfeather provides Max with a paper bearing his personal seal and a note to any guardsman to pay heed to Max's warnings.

With evening nearly at hand, Max joins Rheanon, Telovien and Charlis at Islay Manor. After settling sleeping arrangements and enjoying a fine meal in the dining room (served by the Regent's provided staff), the party begins the task of searching the manor for clues. Though Charlis seems keen to discuss strategy and information, Telovien and Rheanon decide to investigate the workroom above the library, where last they saw several artifacts retrieved from the Ring of Fire. With Max's attention also drawn to the workroom, Charlis reluctantly follows and assists in searching the area.

Unlike their last visit, all of the artifacts and items are gone, with the exception of one of the unusual coins brought back by the expedition, which fell into a crack in the floor. After much tugging, Rheanon manages to pull the coin free, and it is set aside for further examination.

Max opens a locked trunk in the workroom to reveal 3 fine cloaks with beautiful embroidered patterns along the edges. Beneath the cloaks is a lockbox, which after further manipulation by Max's dexterous hands, yields several letters apparently from Dahlia to Faegan, mostly of a personal nature, which the group sets aside for further investigation. Finding nothing else of interest in the work room, the party returns to the comfort of the library to examine the letters and discuss strategy.

Rheanon becomes bored and decides to explore the rest of the Manor, leaving the others to relax by the fire in the library with a pitcher of ale left by one of the servants. Though she finds it difficult to see in some places which are not lit at night, Rheanon makes a nearly complete survey of the downstairs, pausing before an open doorway at the rear of the building near the servants quarters. At first, Rheanon assumes that a careless servant has left a closet door open, but upon spying a hatchway leading underground, Rheanon hastily flies back to the library to tell the others!

As Rheanon swings around the corner into the sitting room before the library, she spots 3 figures listening intently at the door, dressed in cloaks similar to the ones found in the workroom above the library. Rheanon quickly flies back downstairs searching for a glass vase or something that will make alot of noise when it is broken. She succeeds in breaking a crystal rose vase, the echoes of its shattering form resonate nicely in the front hallway, but the warning comes too late for her companions.

The 3 figures burst into the library, taking Max, Charlis and Telovien completely by surprise. Max is knocked unconscious by one of the attackers spells, and Charlis flees to the adjoining study while Telovien puts up a valiant fight. Charlis manages to enter the study and secure the door before one of the attackers could reach, and sets about opening a window to summon help.

With two against one, Telovien is overcome by the attackers powerful magic and falls unconscious to the floor. As Charlis desperately strains to open a window in the study, he sees the shimmering form of one of the attackers appear behind him, and soon he too is unconscious.

Though Rheanon makes a courageous attempt to subdue one of the attackers with a poison dart, it fails to break the skin and she is forced to retreat or be captured with the others. Using her stealth and cunning, she follows the 3 figures undetected as they hastily carry Max, Telovien and Charlis through the hatch in the closet and into the underground. She follows them for many hundreds of winding yards, deeper and deeper into the network of passages. Finally, they duck into a room that has been hollowed out of the surrounding earth, and the three are searched, bound and gagged against a wall. The three figures leave, and Rheanon tries to rouse her friends.

The three awaken slowly as Rheanon flies between them, slapping and pinching their faces as quietly as possible, constantly watching the door for the others return. As they wake, at first it is too dark to see, and only the sound of dripping can be heard. Like drops of water into a bucket nearly full. Drip, Drip, Drip.

As their eyes adjust and their senses return, the group looks around in the dim light of a few tallow candles on a worktable against the adjacent wall. As their eyes pan up, they can see where the dripping is coming from. It is some dark liquid dripping off the toe of an elf that has been tacked to the wall, its chest splayed open to reveal a few remaining organs. The drops of blood fall into a basin positioned strategically on the worktable.

Drip, Drip, Drip.

---

Previously: Tyr Ektania Specularis

Followed by: Payback
Campaign 1 Index