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27 Flocktime, 581 CY, Munevar
Cedric was busy in our absence once he recovered from the wounds sustained in the battle of Cherrin. He spent some time talking with Rienne, largely about spiritual matters, but more directly asking about the appearance of Baalzy. He especially wanted to know if Rienne has ever seen any magic out of Orest, and the answer was no.
Questions were raised by the Baalzite about our whereabouts, as we had left him behind in our mad rush to help Adamane. We had promised him a spot in our party next time we went after the raven-men, as he thinks he can be of some assistance to us in our endeavors. Cedric deflected him by saying he was sorely wounded in the battle and left behind as well, how was he supposed to know where we were? He did relent enough to tell him that it was likely a call from the woods to aid the forces of good, and left it at that.
The Baalzite temple has also started a novel new concept: a bank. A ten percent return will be payed yearly on sums deposited in the bank. The bank will likely also assist the commoners in their climb from oppression. The investment is considered relatively stable and dependable due to the growth of the temples in the Great Kingdom.
Orest has also bought a number of serfs from Herrell and hires them out as aides at cut rate prices to local craftsmen. This allows them to gain valuable experience at a trade, while making the Baalzites the number one provider of a skilled labor force in the long term.
Darcius visited his parents in Kleese and then left for Delcouth, hoping to hide out in the Order of the Raven Chapterhouse cellar during the full moon. The workmen of Prince Marrin had finished reclaiming the small keep outside of town and were working on restoring the major buildings in the town. He had to skulk around to avoid notice. This solution may not be available next full moon.
At the border to Munevar, Isaac bid us farewell and went to Delcouth as well. He and Darcius have their hiding place and guard it's secret between the two of them. Galen returned to the manor house and snuck in to his room, briefly running across his father's chamberlain. The rest of us just went to our respective beds.
28 Flocktime, 581 CY, Munevar
Cedric met Oliver bright and early this day to ask him about the happenings in the woods. Oliver told him everything with little embellishment, and said that Isaac would be a good guy to talk to about what happened on the last night. He also told Cedric his theories of the link between Pervost, Tehlei and the Ur-Flan gods, namely that Pervost was liely a flunky for Tehlei and that the slayer was working to raise a new army and free his necromancers from the pits of hell. They were probably using one of the abandoned Ur-Flan outpost/temple left behind from an ancient war:The War of the Fallen Stars. The Deep Forest came to life and swallowed most of them, but some of the outlying shrines may have survived, and Oliver surmised that our enemies probably had reclaimed it. We also thought that Erythnul was involved because he was an Outsider god, that is, one of the Ur-Flan gods, and perhaps the temple was consecrated to him. Oliver skipped over the part of him slaying ten men in the darkness, likely due to his own guilty conscience. No one had believed him earlier when he'd tried to tell them.
After relating the tale of our most current Adri adventure, Oliver got up from the breakfast table and got a small bag from his kit. Asking Cedric if he was comfortable, he dumped out it's contents: nearly a dozen Erythnulian holy symbols (2 metal, the rest wood), a bottle of Profane water (holy/unholy/profane) and the axe that bled upwards. Cedric raised an eyebrow at that and asked if anyone else had some of the Erythnulian artifacts. Oliver said yes, and they went off to gather up Galen.
At the manor house Oliver went to wake up Galen, picking his lock and waking him up. When the castellan saw Galen was up, he mentioned that Herrell REALLY wanted to speak with his son so Galen put on his running boots and high tailed it out of there. We went back to Oliver's house and Cedric cast some detection spells on the goods. He successfully identified that the holy symbols were evil, the water was profane and the axe was evil. Thanks. We told him of the origin of the axe, also known as the Crimson Hatchet.
The Crimson Hatchet
In the greatest battle of the Heroes of the Bloody Dawn, Adamane and his friends, including Ilgrar, faced down an orc and goblin army to the north of the Adri wood. In the battle the leader of the humanoid army, Haagosh Khuul, wielded this axe of goblin design. It was reportedly blessed by Gruumsh and that is where the blood dripping illusion came from. It sheds light like a torch though the red light doesn't wreck night vision. Koryavin was carrying it since this time.After all our explaining we decided to head back up to the manor house to face the music. Herrell brought all of us into his study to listen to our tale and remind us of obligations. Obligations made before 'wild chases' off into the Adri. Wood production needed to be increased to send to Francenn, the ravens in Munevar were still a problem, Lady Ilona needed to be payed back with a service and Galen was needed to help get the principality generally back in order. There was also the small matter of not telling Herrell where Galen had gone after the battle of Cherrin. Galen made up a story of how he told Stewart the Steward to tell the Prince that he'd left. His bluff was so successful that Herrell confided to us that he was becoming quite unsatisfied with the Sheriff's performance. Galen put in a good word for Isaac, but Herrell brushed it off. He asked what had happened in the woods, and Galen didn't go into any detail, merely saying that none of his friends had died. Herrell didn't get upset at the evasion, he merely went on as though he'd expected nothing from Galen to begin with.
The Lady Ilona situation came up next. Herrell wanted to send a token before he appeared to be welching on his debt to her. We were to do a service for her in repayment for releasing twenty-five of her guardsmen to us for the battle of Cherrin. Swift repayment is the best way to ensure friends.
But before any of that happened, Galen had a job to do. Before all the trouble in the east, Galen had been given the task of increasing wood production for Francenn. This still had not happened, in fact, Galen had gone to Kleese and abandoned Rienne up there, counting trees. There was a lot of eye rolling and sighs at this mundane chore, but a job is a job, and Oliver got a few laughs out of ribbing Galen.
Knowing Rienne to be the man to talk to about efficiency and labor around the principality, Galen went to him to ask how lumber production could be increased. Rienne told him he could either hire twenty five more lumberjacks, or fix the old mill. Reasoning it out, we figured that fixing the mill would yield a better return due to increased production over a long period of time. Besides, anytime we bring new woodsmen into the area, something bad happens.
1 Wealsun, 581 CY, Munevar and Kleese
Finding a millwright was fairly easy, since he ran the mill in Kleese. We asked him about repairs and he told us the old wheel and crossbar needed repairs, in the neighborhood of two hundred and fifty ivids. The wheel couldn't turn at maximum speed because it would tear itself apart due to excessive wear. An inspection by the three of us turned up some flaws that Cedric could repair with the divine grace of St. Cuthbert. The repairs he could make eliminated one hundred ivids worth of materials and labor. Galen took a trip back to Munevar to make a deal with Maxwell Antrim to get the supplies needed to fix the remainder of the waterwheel. He also found Rienne and coaxed a deal out of him to loan him the coin to effect repairs. In exchange, Zilchus would get credit for aiding in repairing the mill and bringing prosperity to the land. St. Cuthbert was also given a lot of credit in the job, maximum visibility for the miracle of repair.
2 to 4 Wealsun, Munevar and Delcouth
Darcius and Isaac hid and raged (raved?) for the days of the full moon, spending their days in the woods around Delcouth.
Galen tried to convince his father that he needed to be in town to protect the peasants from raven-men. Herrell was adamant that Galen would stay at the manor house, forbidding him to go anywhere. This left Cedric and Oliver to try and stem the tide in Munevar. We had planned to try and subdue our opponents and confine them somewhere so they wouldn't be a threat for the next two days.
Oliver and Cedric faced off against three of the raven-men. They were less bestial than what we were used to fighting. And tougher. Our normal weapons bounced off of them as though their feathers were stone. Thankfully, we were equipped to penetrate their armor with holy and unholy weapons. We were both wounded in the battle and we ended up killing the raven-men. There went our plan. We smeared our wounds in holy water, hoping to stop the infection.
At the manor house, Galen and Dedrick were patrolling the grounds hoping for a quiet night. Sadly, they were disturbed by a caw and a black shape hurtling out of the sky. They went on the offensive, Galen trying to put it to sleep with his powerful poems. Dedrick started with measured swings of a two handed sword, degenerating quickly into wild swings as he realized his migty blows were mostly being turned aside. The fight was going poorly, both sons of Herrell wounded sorely, when the creature attempted to flee. It likely figured out there was easier prey elsewhere. Galen tried another sonnet that took effect and put the creature to sleep. Galen and Dedrick stuffed it into a tight leather bag and locked it in the cellar of the manor house.
Oliver and Cedric looked at the three fallen bodies around them, identifying two of them as missing serfs and the thrid as a local townsman. Going to his house, we found a barred door. Repeated knocks brought the woman of the house to the door. She was frightened but opened the door when we promised we weren't there to burn her. Inside the house were signs of a struggle and the woman was scratched across her arm and shoulder. Cedric smeared holy water on her wounds as well, hoping that would stop the infection.
The next day Cedric divined that Galen, Oliver and he were infected with the curse. Dedrick, the luck bastard, was free of the curse.
5 to 6 Wealsun, 581 CY, Munevar
Oliver, Cedric and Galen spent the next few days sweating out the curse, waiting for Isaac and Darcius to return from Delcouth. We decided we would go to Ralsand to beg a cure from Prince Francenn. Our mission to Tarrentch would come second. We knew that Francenn could cure the curse if he caught it before the second stage. We let Isaac know our plan and he told us we were welcome to go but he would wait here, or better yet meet us in Tarrentch. He saw no point in going all the way to Ralsand.
On the night of the sixth, Galen was confronted in the manor house by his sister Kanna. She wanted Galen to take her along with him to Tarrentch as an envoy to Lady Ilona. Galen was taken aback. His sister was not trained to travel the same way as us, being a proper, if backwater, young lady. He hemmed and hawed, saying that he'd have to check with the rest of the group. She countered saying that Galen was the Prince's son, he ought to be in charge, why couldn't he just tell everyone that this was happening? This stopped him cold, how could he explain the comraderie and equality of a group of friends who have saved each other's lives countless times. Then Kanna said she hadn't told Prince Herrell yet, she would tell him after the fact, much lke Galen always did. Another dropped jaw. Chagrined, Galen asked Kanna if Lady Jenne approved. Kanna took him to ask her right then, and the Lady agreed then and there. Galen really felt he had no choice but to take her along.
7 to 9 Wealsun, 581 CY, Munevar and the road to Ralsand
We travelled to the major city of Ralsand on the confluence of the Harp rivers (again). Our mission: Cure ourselves of the curse. It was still too late to help Darcius and Isaac, but we were still in the first stage. Our trip was totally uneventful, we even bypassed Tarrentch. A few of our nights were spent in farmhouses along the way. Most of these nights were unremarkable, but there was one that should be noted.
Between Tarrentch and Ralsand, there was a prosperous sheep farm. On our approach the man of the house hailed us from the porch. He was portly and seemed very content with his life. Asking us if we were looking for lodging for the night, he invitied us in and introduced us to his wife. She was a motherly sort and before long we were getting along like old friends. At our ease, conversation changed trends when Oliver noticed a symbol of Baalzy over the hearth. We inquired, of course, and the couple were more than happy to tell us of the travelling priest of Baalzy who came to them and changed their life. Their entire outlook was changed because of the young man who told them of Baalzy. Cedric was chagrined, but could find no fault, and Galen and Oliver told of the blessing they had received in the river near Rel Deven. The children of the sheep farmers arrived about this time, introductions were made and small talk commenced. Everyone slept very well that night, in comfortable beds.
10 Wealsun, 581 CY, Ralsand
Getting into Ralsand was no problem, the city being fairly busy with the summer trade. We went directly to the tower of Francenn, hoping for an immediate audience. We were somewhat surprised to find no one home, not even a dwarf standing out front. Clucking our tongues, we headed to the Twin Harps to get a room for the night. And boy were we happy to see a dwarf standing outside a door to a private room. The sounds of merrymaking were quite loud and Galen tried to get through the dwarf standing there. He talked, he cajoled and finally gave up, calling the dwarf a "little guy".
Heh, this set the dwarf's teeth to grinding, a noise we heard over the ruckus in the inn. Later that night, three dwarves carried Francenn's supine form out of the room and up to his tower.
We went to bed, planning to get an audience the next day.
11 Wealsun, 581 CY, Ralsand
First thing in the morning, Oliver marched right up to the tower and proclaim our intention to visit the Prince. The dwarf at the door didn't even bat an eye, but Oliver assumed the message would reach the right ears. He wasn't disappointed, because around lunchtime, a message came to the inn for us to make our way to the Prince's tower.
We headed up the hill, and were stopped by a dwarf at the door. We introduced ourselves and Galen tried to figure out if this was the dwarf he'd insulted. Whether he got it right or not, he apologized to him about the short crack. More grinding teeth. We were ushered in and waited in the meeting room for Francenn. He stumbled down the stairs looking like something that had been dragged through wagon ruts for a few hours. Ah, the evils of drinking. His first act was to greet us effusively, his second was to drink a large glass of liquor. The "Hair of the Dog" cure. He then offered us a glass of his drink, third generation North Province brandy. Galen asked if he got it by the cask, and the Prince snorted. "Only ale comes by the cask, you fool." Galen corrected him and asked about the brandy. Apparently third generation brandy was quite valuable, so Galen asked if he'd tried fourth generation brandy. Oliver shot him a look that said, "We need a favor, he'll have us get this thing that may or may not exist to pay him back." Of course this started a whole bunch of conversation and Francenn was all too happy to continue drinking while we talked. Cedric finally got to the point, we needed a cure for the raven-man curse, and Francenn could do it. The wizard was starting to feel pretty drunk by this time and was rocking as he agrred to help. But the price was a cask of fourth generation North Province brandy. Oliver's look could have killed but he was the first to agree, shaking Francenn's hand. His only explanation was that he knew someone who might have it.
We were taken down to the laboratory one at a time. Once there the visibly wobbling Francenn began casting a spell, but stopped when he started slurring. He cast a quick cantrip and looked ready to start again. Chanting, he picked up a holy symbol of Olidammara and cast his spell through it. The demonic spirit feld at the first rays of the spell. He got some scrolls out and repeated the process for all of us.
Once all the dirty work was finished we retired to the study. Once there, Galen told the story of his gaffe with the dwarf. Francenn laughed at that and said that they weren't small at all, if you only knew. He invited us outside and brought a dwarf with us. Outside he muttered a quick incantation and it was as though the dwarf was sloughing his skin. A gigantic creature seemed to sprout from the dwarf's body. Cedric was mightily impressed, muttering something about an illusion to hide the giant and control him. The giant picked up Galen at this point, and then looked for a rock, which it picked up. It was about to smash the two together when Francenn recovered enough to cast another spell which brought the behemoth under control. We went back inside after he restored the illusion and drank for a while more.
Discussion turned to the spiritual as it usually does after a few drinks. Galen mentioned he'd lost faith in Olidammara. Francenn, being a worshipper of the laughing rogue, asked why. Galen made some evasive comments, promising to look into rejoining the 'flock'. Francenn attempted to probe Galen's mind but was foiled by Galen's strong will and thoughts of the wenches of Tarrentch. We made our excuses after this not so social exchange and headed back to the Twin Harps to pack.
