Session 140 - "On the Road Again"

General Summary

20 Gozran 4711 AR

Their business finally done in Carrion Hill, the Fellowship sets Thrushmoor in its sights and begins the long journey on the trail of the Dark Riders. Mayor Heggry suggested they avoid the Watching Wood, so a circuitous route was planned to go around the Wood to Dunhob, to Hyannis, to Rozenport, finally arriving at Thrushmoor. Because of Drago's vampiric nature, the long trek would be by foot.  

23 Gozran 4711 AR (Now)

A day after camping at a Varisian caravan and three days after they started out, the Fellowship is travelling down a long empty road. Now in Versex, they find it to not be the most hospitable place. The land here is dark and ominous and unsuited to farming and most of the communities of Versex are small, insular settlements whose people are none too fond of outside interference. This attitude has been fostered by Count Haserton Lowls IV who has little interest in ruling the land and has disseminated power locally to mayors and magistrates.   Suddenly a shockwave, that is felt in the ground as much as it is heard, rolls through the forest. Right after it is a gale of wind that washes over them, throwing around loose debris. Close behind this is the steady beat of approaching hooves...  

21 Gozran 4711 AR (Then)

Seeing a Varisian caravan in the distance, Kelath approaches and gains hospitality for the group. The camp consists of a large central tent with the caravans encircling it. Further out are a ring of hovels where sentinels keep watch for the night. The atmosphere is loud and raucous, with the Varisian and the caravans being bedecked with bright colorful scarves, drapery, and other fabrics. The Fellowship is immediately welcomed by Anatonie, a member of the Vistanis, and immediately draws Kyrrn in. Drago wanders into the main tent where he finds a man tied to a post being harshly interrogated and whipped while being asked "Where is she?"   Anatonie, who appears quite inebriated, asks Kyrrn if she knows of the dordi doosta dance, and she is able to recall the begining of the song. He also speaks of sensitives that can speak with the land and sense arcane ley lines, of how this area's "fabric of planar lucidity" has worn thin, and that the living had been scoured from the land during the Whispering Tyrant's rule.  

23 Gozran 4711 AR (Now)

Herds of elk being rampaging and charging the Fellowship. They appear to have been driven on by the shockwave, but the red-tinged glint in their eyes hints to more going on with the animals. As Neferu and Kelath are able find cover, the herd focuses its intent on Drago and Kyrrn. Drago immediately takes to a tree while Kyrrn tries her luck on the ground. However, Drago displays the more strategic mind and pulls Kyrrn up with him. Drago quickly scales up and down the tree delivering blitz attacks to the raging animals while Kyrrn uses her brute telekinetic ability. The tactics appears to be working, but lacking a target the herd focuses on downing the tree itself. Seeing the tree's imminent destruction, Drago leaps to a new trunk and Nyrrk comes forward much in the way he used to through Kyrrn, dealing even more devastating attacks as they take to the air.   Soon the crazed herd is dealt with and it is once again safe to stand on the ground.  

21 Gozran 4711 AR (Then)

Anatonie speaks of the Phage, a kind of sickness that can infect both livestock and wild alike. It turns normally timid creatures into violent carnivorous beasts. Another symptom of this disease is the infected's red glinting eyes.   But the festive mood spurs Kyrrn on and she pulls the Varisian into the dordi doosta dance. Everyone sings along with its traditional song, "Dance of the Moonlight" as a couple engages in an improvisational dance, playing off each others moves. It starts out slow as the dancers use a dagger in the ground as the anchor point. The dancing and singing gets faster and faster as the two dancers go from what is essentially is a competitive dance to a energetic and engaged duet. The frenetic twirling and whirling comes to an abrupt end, but every one cheers the couple. With her blood still high, Kyrrn accepts a sparkling gem-incrusted chain as a sign of friendship with the Vistanis as Anatonie regains his previously tipsy demeanor.  

23 Gozran 4711 AR (Now)

Examining the down elk it is found that the creatures have large strange tumors growing from their stomachs, possibly hinting at the contagion was consumed. The Fellowship starts to walk out to investigate the source of the shockwave with Drago moving out alone to scout ahead. Soon he comes to an area in the forest that is overcome with the murmur and babble of what sounds like scores of people talking at once. Finding that despite his proximity to the sound he sees no source for it, Drago hurriedly makes his way back to the rest of the waiting party...   ...just as a wave of reality altering magic washes over them and the Fellowship finds themselves somewhere else.