Session 22 Report

General Summary

The party, on the road settled into camp for the night. In the night a woman approached the camp. Grim Eye went out to meet her. Several castings of Charm Person later she explains that she was out hunting herbs and got lost and needs to find her way back to silvercrest. She sleeps, and awakens with Grim Eye and Zeno around her – frightened she started to run away. Grim Eye cast Friends again charming her. . Zita made trail pancakes in the morning. The next few days of rain lead the party to their next night. Plus three more days of easy travel when they reach the first gatehouse on the High Road. They acquire a “Bante Stamp” that allows them to stay at the Hostels on the High Road. A sdimpel pressed stamp with a series of runes carved along the exterior (non discernable language). Yemi Sings a song at the bar. Zita gets drunk, Yemi alienates the crowd with his song. Grim Eye decides to try and sing a lute and play a song. It also doesn’t go well. The drunk party members then get carried up the stairs. The next morning, on the road they start to see the Bante guards are stopping and searching the wagons of anyone traveling north. Early into their travel they are stopped by the guard. The hungover members of the party claim to be traveling on a mission for the king. Huugar and Grim Eye work to clear up the situation. They learn that the guards are searching for small groups heading up north of the Silverquill. Small groups seem to be traveling north and not returning, and the town guard is worried. Every time they try to bring people in for questioning they do not survive the return trip. Grim Eye pulls out the cultist amulet. This caught the attention of the guards. The group indicates that they are investigating the same people, but want to speak to someone higher up. The guards tell the party their commander Highsword Lysandra Sunstrike is stationed two way-stations ahead, and will want to hear from them. They are handed a note to get them past any other guards, and to give to their commander. The party announces themselves as “The Indiscretes”. Arriving at the waystation, they find a cluster of guards, and meet Highsword Lysandra Sunstrike – a burly dwarven woman, muscular build, firery red hair in an intricate braid down the back. The party surp[rises her with the information that the people the guards have been looking for may be associated with the Cult of Orcus. Asking them to move to a more private area she leads them back to the stables. Yemi tries to slip away, but is caught by another guard. It appears that the stables have been converted into a temporary war-room of sorts. The party reveals that the cult want to bring Orcus to the mortal plane. Letting her know that the cult is expanded across the peninsula. When the Highsword asks for proof, they pull out the various letters and notes they have acquired. They explain that children have been being taken and indoctrinated. They make it a point to indicate that the high ranking people, and reaches as far as Tarim. The Highsword bristles at the mention of Tarim. Grim Eye recalls that the nation of Azer (capitol of which is tarim) to the south is a desert nation in the war before the veil they were one of the two aggressors that unified the three nations of the peninsula in their fight. The “creatures” she refers to are Draconians who run the entire nation of Azer. Lysandra explains that there is an increased presence on the roads because groups have been going missing. Initially they though it was random adventurers losing their way. There has been an increase in the number of people who leave through the northern gate has increased, but the guard can’t find anything to the north. Guards sent to the north never find anyone or anything. The lumber shipments from the forests have slowed in the recent months. Lysandra suspected that it was initially the weather or lack of workers, though with this new revalation, she suggest they start in the lumber yards (about two days ride north of the gate). The lumber is controlled by one of the ruling guild masters, Durin Stoneax, a Dwarf. The Stoneax family has seen to the care of the forest for generations. They have a fairly strong control over the flow of wood. They learn that Elra Mossbeard sees to the domestic issues in Silverquill, reporting directly to the ruling council. The party reminds her that they are called the “Indiscretes”. Lysandra lets them know that for the foreseeable future she will be at this waystation, but following that she also has a residence in Silverquill. That evening, Yemtoc spends the night befriending the patrons. He learns a few thigs from folks. A few people mention they had been hired to help evacuate some of the lumber camps, bringing them south quietly because the Stoneax family did not want ti getting out that their supply of lumber was dwindling. They tell stories about things they saw when traveling to the north of town. Large roaming shadows, bump in the night stories. There are some rumors in the underground that an upstart group has stepped in and doesn’t play by the rules of everyone else. Alliances are stained in the criminal underground. After a few more days travel, the party arrives on the outskirt of Silverquill.