Lewie & Co

The sun began to rise above the treeline as I opened my eyes to a beautiful blue sky. Sitting up, I stretched my arms above my head and looked around the camp. I could see that my companions were still asleep with exception of Tyrian who was up and making breakfast. Getting up, I walked over to Mal to check on him and could see that he was still sleeping. Sitting down at the dying fire, I grabbed some bacon for myself and Alf while we had a conversation about what we should do with Mal. We could either leave him as is or untie him to see what would happen. We agreed that it could go either way with Mal. Grabbing some more bacon, I went back over to Mal and waved it under his nose to see if it would rouse him but it had no effect. Walking over to the Petros and Struth, I could see that they were about to wake. I shook the bacon at them and asked if they wanted any which they both agreed to. I grabbed the pan for them and handed them some bacon.
 
Sitting back down to finish breakfast, we conversed about what we should do with Mal. It was agreed to wake him and ask some questions to verify whether we should untie him or not. Struth got up, walked over to Mal, shoved him with his foot and got a groan from Mal.
 
"Leave me alone!" Mal tried to roll over but struggled as he was tied. He opened his eyes, "What do you want? Let me go!"
 
Struth shook his head, "We have some questions for you first."
 
"I want breakfast! Untie me!"
 
"I can do one of those things," Struth walked over to the pan and brought some bacon over, he put it into Mal's open mouth. He fed him a few pieces then pulled him up to his knees. He walked back to the fire and looked at Petros, "All yours." Petros got up to question Mal as to how he was feeling and if he remembered anything from the night before. Mal shook his head and let us know that he had some memory but it was hazy as well. He remembered wanting to kill us all with exception of Petros. He then asked where Mary was. I pointed over to the wax figure of Mary. She was melted but her outline was still there. I could see that Mal wanted to react but he bit his lip.
 
"Please untie me.. it is very uncomfortable."
 
Petros looked at the party and we all nodded so he untied Mal. Mal then got up and sat down by the fire. We sat in silence for a while then broke camp. We continued towards the road and made it within the day. We continued until the sun was dipping below the horizon and luckily found a campsite shortly after. By the time we were set up, it was dark. Shortly after, a wagon could be heard rolling up the path and entered the campsite.
 
"Ahh.. hello again. What luck that we should meet again." Looking up, I saw Lewie Thwart steering the wagon and Eijkman sitting next to him. They were the drug dealers we had sold the "Fallen Star" to. They explained that they had sold all the product and made so much money from it. They then proceeded to tell us that the city of Alisar was now in ruins as the burned Library sunk into the ground, opening it up to release these dark creatures who took over along with some back hooded figures. Sounded like the Elder Brotherhood got the upper hand. Lewie asked if they could join our camp for the night as he hopped down from the wagon. No one disagreed as he sat down by the fire. He pulled out some wine and offered it around as happily sipped from it.
 
Mal and Petros got up to talk alone than when they came back, Tyrian asked Lewie where he was headed and we found he was also headed to Morphus. Lewie then suggested that we should travel together for safety. Tyrian questioned Lewie further while Struth went over to inspect under the wagon. This seemed to put Lewie on edge a little but he didn't make any move to stop Struth as Struth told the party he wanted to make sure that the wagon was in good working order. Tyrian got a bit more forceful and wanted to know his intentions while pulling out his dagger. He aimed it at Lewie which Lewie reacted to by grinning and telling him what the exact nature of his business was and pushing the dagger away. He then pulled out a few vials, which I had seen before and offered them to the party which Mal took one and then at my brother's request, took a second vial. Mal then got up to talk to Eijkman. Lewie lifted the vial to his mouth and then took the elixir. His eyes glazed over and he then fell back from the log he was sitting on. His walking staff rolled to the side of him. Tyrian went over to Lewie and put his rapier against Lewie's throat as he looted him. He then looked to the party to see if anyone would stop him from killing Lewie. Eijkman did pipe up but did not stop him as he would benefit from Lewie's death. Tyrian and Eijkman came to an agreement that the wagon would be burnt but not before Eijkman took some of his possessions from the wagon. He was also going to get half of what was on Lewie's body and the other part we keep as payment to keep us quiet. He also whispered to Tyrian. Tyrian looked over to where Eijkman pointed to the staff as Struth had come over to pick it up. Struth seemed to gain some colour and then quickly dropped the staff again. I went over to pick it up to examine it. The gem at the top of the staff was part of the Fallen Star. I did not feel anything but I knew it had affected Struth. Eijkman packed one of the two horses then cut them loose. He then set the wagon on fire as he hopped onto the horse and rode off into the night.
 
Struth had gone to pick up the headless body of Lewie, which Mal had decided to behead to cash in on Lewie's bounty when he could, to throw into the fire. I walked over and touched Struth on the back with the staff. He reacted by jerking and then telling me to get the staff away from him. I asked him what happened and did it hurt. He simply said that the staff changed his nature and that he was happy with the way he was. I deduced that it affected him as he was undead. Curiosity got the better of me and I walked over to Mal, who was holding Lewie's head. I touched the staff to the head and the eyes opened and then a small body began to grow. It was exactly like when Egog was regenerating. I took the staff away and Mal looked mortified that there was now a small body attached to the head.
 
Putting the staff away, I heard a soft nicker nearby and went to get the other horse before it ran off. I suggested that we quickly move on as a wagon on fire in the night was a big beacon. The camp was made to look like it had been ransacked and then we left to find another campsite for the night.