Mayven Bennettio
Nervous, quiet, unassuming. Has a lucky way with people, seems to be watching everywhere all at once.
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Shit's going down, son!
I am just about to head down the stairs when I hear Abe shouting for me. Honestly, stealth doesn’t really come into it with these people.
He runs past up the other stairs and a shambling figure with his eye hanging out lurches towards me – I try to slip past, but it grabs hold of me and headbuts me in the face… with the point of the knife that’s sticking out of its head! This… this is not happening. Not today. I don’t have time for this. I take a deep, slow, breath, and settle myself away from all the darkness. This is not the time for this right now. This is the time for pulling myself together. I can fall apart later, but now I need to move. It seems to work, for now.
Abe hits it with his staff, which I would say gave a resounding ‘thwack!’ but I was too busy being concerned that this hideous creature had ripped off half of my face! I swirl behind him and give a proper kidney gouging set of jabs into its back. It oozes dark mess. Abe hits it again, and manages to dodge its clumsy hands. I jab it in what would have been the heart… but it’s dead. Like, really dead. I continue looking downstairs to see what they’re hiding… I find: Everyone! The medicus, the watch commander, Father Belargo, Mullando, and the dwarves, all locked up in a makeshift set of cells at the back of the basement.
I call out to Abe to come and help, and fill in Illeva on what’s been going on. Mullando and Belargo look like they’re in a really bad way… The medicus tells us to fetch Ardetta to her asap. Between us, we shift the wounded upstairs and get ready to help Illeva take back control of the bell tower.
Illeva and her watch return with Ardetta, and we head to the bell tower. Abe starts scaling the tower walls (holy fucking gods!) and I attempt to persuade the Blue Cloaks to open the door. They’re absolutely not buying it. Le sigh. Today is really not going my way. I could really use a tea. Falling back onto old habits, I see no reason as to why not to give it a go, but not expecting much, I try to pick the lock. Which clicks! Holy shit! I picked the lock! I let the Commander know (once she’s finished punching a merc in the face to the death) and let her know the door is open.
Suddenly... a flaming man plummets from the air and bounces down the steps. Abe’s doing alright then. The door to the tower bursts open and five guys stride out of the door. One of them chases me around the tower, clearly aware that I’m the smallest threat, and I attempt to lob a knife at him. It… does not go well. Ah well. Today’s already gone to the dogs, what’s one more encounter going to hurt? We exchange knife blows, but it’s not going too well… I take a sword swing to the side, the lights go darker, and I fall to the ground.
Everything is going grey… it’s peaceful. It’s not so bad. It’s all going to be okay. I’ve never been much good at anything anyway; I don’t have anything to show for my time here. It’s probably for the best.
I’m cold. It’s very cold. I wonder if it’s going to get warm soon. But… isn’t there something I’m meant to be doing? If I could just remember what I’m supposed to be doing.
Everything is quiet now. I like the quiet. It’s peaceful. Perhaps it’s time now. It’s enough.
(The town watch are super kind and pick me up. They were super lovely. Remind me to get them something nice for Yulemas.)
Temple delving for fun and... NO NOT FUN!!
Leaving the Bell to head into murder alley, I decide to traipse off to the gambling den! Tak and I bimble off to the same place -that’s convenient! Apparently, Ardetta had been seen trading with merchant types from past beyond the Rusty Dragon inn.
I am a bumpkin tour guide in a gambling den. Huzzah! The punters are really mean. Boo.
There's a new place opening in the slums - those new people who've moved in seem to be opening a den in a basement somewhere? These guys are ponying up 20 shillings per round! That's... a whole lot of money. - moving in to one of the basements tucked down an alley on the northern edge. Gambling/fences/merc jobs - and apparently they've got the money to fit it already! They apparently moved in about a week ago - the mover and shaker is Ambrian, but they're running a mixed bag. Clearly a bit brazen to pick something on the edge of the slums rather than in the dingy middle. Did they arrive at the same time as the blue bands? No name as yet. I might have to dig a little deeper.
I leave Tak to go do some investigating of his own and decide to give the Temple a try. I randomly break into the temple through the back and watch three town watch (two in blue) drag Father Belargo away from his sermon to be arrested by order of Mayor Grendol. I finagle my way back into the temple and attempt to scope out the lower level. It's waaaaaaay down. I find a massive iron banded door - there's a man made tunnel plunging into darkness. I head into the tunnel - there's a cross roads of three - left right or straight. I do an explore!
Tak goes to the garrison to see the medicus being escorted by Blue Cloaks - they snuck her into the town hall through the back door (also arrested by order of Mayor Grendol.) There is a FREAKY WHISPER AND A GLOW! WHY IS THERE A FREAKY WHISPER? WHY IS IT FOLLOWING ME?! Spectral figure with tattered robes gaping eye sockets and its features run like wax and now it looks like me - what the fuck. I am being eaten by the grave!! It's... gaining on me and the cold is sinking into my brain. I can't move properly. The blood is freezing in my veins. It's going to take my face. It's going to take me. I'm going to be lost again. I'm not going to be myself. I'm not going to make it out of here alive. I can't breathe. An icy, skeletal hand touches my shoulder and the whisper furrows into my mind, like some kind of unholy chorus discordant in my brain. I somehow make it out... I'm a shuddering mess. There's a streak of white in my hair that wasn't there before. I am blue in the face and icy cold to touch. Tak gives me his cloak, takes me to the Bell and Agshela gets hot water for my tea. The tea does its job, and things start to make a little more sense, but I still can't get any words out.
Abe finds me and Tak in the Bell. I am still a little wild around the edges. I pull my jerkin down to find a perfect, hand shaped and finger-shaped, taloned bruise. We head upstairs to talk about what they’ve found. The Commander’s been arrested and taken to the Town Hall! I am still catatonic!
Purgida just came to say Kagliostro just left the town through the north gate with about 20 people with him, all in town watch uniform. Someone said he’s taken the axe from the town hall – it’s been there forever. Part of the bell and the dragon story. There was originally a barbarian town menaced by a dragon and a witch told him that an ancient Symbarian bell – they rang the bell, it weakened the dragon, and they killed it with the axe. Purgida says they were moving really quickly. She takes a look over me and says I have a grave burn! I’ve been grabbed by something dead. (And how!)
I’m being taken downstairs to “be snapped out of it….” Help…?? She puts me in front of the flame servant and says: “Ignis! Look big!” He flares up in a giant balrog of warmth and flame and I feel the icy fingers let go of my mind a little. Purgida follows Tak out of the North gate to follow Kagliostro – they are heading West across country.
Abe and I go into the very empty town hall… I search the administrative offices downstairs and half inch a key oft the hook by the back door. Abe searches the hoity toity rooms upstairs on the mezzanine floor. Mayor Grendol is signing papers… with a knife sticking out of his left eye!! EEEEW!!!
Something was mingin' in the state of Kastor...
Just... why would assassins target the temple? It doesn't make any sense. Unless.... I think I'd best see what that letter was about after all. I ask the Father about Eglio and the other initiates - they were all in the dormitories and the soup kitchen, so made it out okay. I ask if anyone else had suffered in the fire: there are four bodies in the annexe - Sister Darda and Father Karstak, with perhaps two of their assailants? I can think of two possibilities. Either Darda and Karstak made it out alive and left the bodies of their would-be assassins to cover their escape (far-fetched, but one must have hope) OR they were the two targets of this job, and whatever they were looking into got them absolutely killed.
I tell the father that I was particularly grateful to Darda; he said it was such a shame she had never got over the loss of her sister. I'm not sure how much he thinks I know, but the more I hear of Darda, the more I realise how similar we seem to be. I tell him that I would be very glad to share good memories with him and he seemed happy at the prospect. Perhaps I could find out a little more and gauge his character in better detail. Trust is too fragile a thing here.
He says he's waiting for the chief of the watch (Watch Commander Elava) to remove the bodies... where is that wizard when you need him?! I could really, really, so with some help to find out what happened here. I tell him that he can find me at the Chieftain's Bell if he needs me - he looks a little disapproving and I am a little bit embarrassed. But we part amicably enough. There are... lots of guards next to the Bell.... I wonder if Agshela has anything she can add?
The mayor was apparently murdered in the Council House - apparently the Treasurer was murdered in the alley next to the Bell! Stabbed to death! Melando (the fire chief) is apparently MIA! Apparently the Watch has dragged some sorry lot in for questioning, but... ah well. The council have brought in a bunch of Blue Company mercenaries in to double the numbers. The Commander's not too happy about it, she says, but hey - what can you do. Says Ardetta (treasurer) was partial to the gambling den down the way... liked a bit of a drink that one. Seemed to be a solid bet she's be down that alley at some point in the night.
And Abeido appears! Behold! The shiny wizard!
I share some of concerns that there were already extra guards in place before the assassination - did they know it was coming? And if so, were they stopping it or facilitating it? Abe says he noticed some of the watch making hand signals at some of the others - says it wasn't the ones in Blue. Perhaps the standard Watch are less comfortable with their new comrades than they could be...
In the alley, one of them, kneels on the ground and starts pointing at something. The Watch look around and then all but one head off. Watching them from the window of the Bell, we hatch some plans - Abe will look into the ashes, Tak will see if Elava has any bounties on Melando's identity. I go to see if I can blag a favour from Eglio...He said he heard calls of fire in the night - shouted for the fire chief, but no-one could find him. I ask Eglio if there's an out of the way spot that Abe could sit in - he is a bit freaked out and suggests that Elava would want answers more than anything. Perhaps it would be worth talking to her after all? I hope I'm not setting myself up for a whole world of shit.
I leave Abe and Tak to deal with the more scrupulous authorities, and I decide to head into the slums to see if there's anything between the brickwork that might slough out. I tread the corners of the slums for a goodly while, seeing what's there. Lots of different stories are circulating about Melando - absolutely no-one knows what's going on around here. No-one from the slums has been brought in over this, though, or we'd all know. Though that said.... there's some new feeling around the slums today. Someone seems to have taken up turf in one of the older buildings. That's going to be worth keeping an ear out for. I make my way back to the main square and hang around for Abe and Tak and do a lurking in the Bell.
The Bell.... is insane. Agshela is a beauty and manages to scrounge me some food and drinks. I ogle amusedly at the ogre in the corner trying to armwrestle two people at once, then we head upstairs.
I give Abe as accurate a description of Sister Darda as I could. Abe says that the description matched, except that she has a wicked pair curved knives, killed three assassins, and legged it into the catacombs. Says she was talking with Father Karstak about someone who's been killed for being Corrupt, and was complaining that this person wasn't a heretic. (Possibly her sister?) The father said that she's been caught by the black cloaks and convicted - wishes she'd been able to deal with it, especially after her time at Thistlehold, and that she'd spend less time in the catacombs.
Six people dropped in through the windows, wearing weird bestial masks and carrying curved knives - one of them came through the main doors. They said "the girl doesn't matter; make sure the man dies." They skewered Karstak, but Darda seemed to have been habitually badass, caught a knife out of midair, draws her own knives and kills three of the assassins - the remaining three pull incendiary packages and leave her to die in the fire. Darda ran deeper into the temple - perhaps she is still alive in the catacombs? Gods, I really hope so. I can't believe she is so capable. That's just... mindblowing. I hope she's okay.
Abe has said that he's not told anyone outside of this room what's happened. I think we should keep it that way. Abe said that the incendiary devices looked like either water or powder - it looked like some kind of alchemical device. I suggest that the Watch Commander absolutely needs to know about the assassins targeting Karstak and setting the fire, just... leave out mentions of Darda. Tak says that there is an old clan myth of an outcast clan that are a beast clan. Just a recollection, but... our last three weeks have been a series of clan myths made good, so... I'm not ruling anything out at this point.
Abe and Take start to head out for the garrison to check in with the Watch Commander. I decide to head out and see if I can scope out some kind of entrance into the temple or annexe from the back streets of the slums. It's a long shot, but I can't think of anywhere else to start. The only other thing I can think of is trying to sneak in through the Temple proper... but I'd really rather not. I've... had enough of church magic to last me for a long while.
I take some time circling the Temple and look at the priest's housing behind it - there is a smaller entrance in the back of the temple through the priest house's garden, but there is no other way into the building other than the main door. The Town watch are still a lot more prevalent than would normally be spotted... not as much in the slums (who cares about the downtrodden here, at any rate) but definitely in the rest of the city. I can't see anyone home in the priest hole... I let out a troubled sigh. I think I'm going to have to use my excuse to talk to Father Belargo to get into the Temple and scope it out...
I meekly go in through the main doors - it's... impressive. Ornate. There are two smaller doors at the back of the temple - one to the left and one to the right. There's another smaller door half way down on the right. There's another outlay over to the left which I can't see yet... I try to position myself so I have a better look. There's a pulpit at the end, but no doors I can see. The stained glass window is pretty though. The statues are somewhat unsettling though. The wall that has the two doors on it is in the direction of the priesthole - there's obviously something else on the other side of the two doors. The door to the right, there must be another space to mirror the pulpit area for the dimensions to fit, and somewhere there's stairs to the first floor. One of the petitioners gets up to leave and looks really upset; they give my shoulder a squeeze on their way out. People can be lovely when they want to be. The little door on the right opens and a novice comes out, makes the sign of Prios, and then goes out through the right door of the two at the back. The other petitioner leaves and I'm alone... a handful of other initiates take the same route as the other novice. I quietly make my way towards the door no-one's used yet - there are voices coming from the right hand door, but nothing from the left - that will be one to check out in the daylight. I check that Tak made it back to the Bell, then go and find myself somewhere to slump until the morning.
I awake in a doorway with a crick in my neck, and rouse myself to go and acquire bacon. Agshela is hilarious and Abe is chancy. But there is bacon <3 Amazingness. Tak and Abe tell me that the they've been employed by the Watch Commander and Abe mentions in less than vague fashion that Adetta is still alive somewhere. A guy overhears and does a runner - and heads towards the bell tower where I can't see him. There are loads of guards around the bell tower - all of whom are wearing blue. I take a surreptitious look around to see... a dozen guards around the base of the tower, and another guard at the very top of the tower. There's some narrow windows inside the tower, and I can see someone wandering around inside as well. This is... very unusual. They really don't look like Baruks.... I wonder what happened to all the dwarves?
I head back and let Abe and Tak know that they might have been compromised... Abe very kindly buys me another bacon sandwich and frustratedly heads off to go and read some books somewhere. Tak and I relish in the prospect of bacon and finish our breakfast. We decide to go our separate ways for the day and pursue the avenues we need to go.
Holy burning gods! (Oh... Too soon?)
Holy burning gods.... That was. Awful. Appalling. Abhorrent. Abominable. Every horrible word beginning with A and all the way through to Z.
I listen to the forest and the claims and try to see if anything's different.
I can hear the sounds of lots of things moving, lots of things thudding moving further away from the Hope into the woods.
At the hill, I can hear the faintest of picks coming from outside the palisade. I need to go and see... This is possibly the most stupid idea I've had in my life. Tak, gods love him, tries to stop me. I think I need to head out anyway.
I head out of the palisade and see a tiny point of light coming from the eastern side of the hill - it's around Arkali or Handelo's claims. If I'm going out in the dark any further, I should be careful. I'll try to make myself as unobtrusive as possible. It's coming from Handelo's claim... But Handelo's dead? Who's digging? I try to take a look but this cursed dark is too much! I fumble a glass jar and it makes a resounding crunch under my feet! The digging comes to a stop - poor unlicensed digger trying to scrape out a few extra coins. I tell him to stop and he tries not to shit himself. Winner. I would really like some breakfast.
I make my way back to the camp to find a distinctly unimpressed Tak... I need some tea. And screw trying to be quiet about it. How can I tell these guys that being here is a cataclysmically bad idea? Either way, we break camp and start setting out to maybe find some answers.
Silvercheek comes banging out of the 5:2 with her crossbow raised, heading out with a following of Karohar to "go and sort out some business." Abe goes to see what the fuss is about, and I go to see if I can have a quiet chat with Roughneck. She eventually emerges and offers me ham for breakfast. She is clearly a goddess amongst women. She says this is taboo ground and the Karohar cannot step here. We talk, hesitantly, about the best way to clear the Hope if we needed to get everyone out - she suggests she would burn the place down. That said, it's unlikely they'd make it alive in the forest with the clans... We share a rueful smile over the last bits of our breakfast and head out of the 5:2.
There is a huddle of workers outside who say that Old Man Arlkali has gone missing? He left in the night and hasn't been seen since. That is very strange. Turns out the pet barbarians who have been seen with Silvercheek are her "legbreakers" who dissuade people from digging without a claim... and not in a "cake and biscuits way..." Handelo killed, Arkali missing, Gidjabolgo's gold disappearing.
A massive roar comes from the fire and a tower of silvery white flame comes roaring up from the Great Fire. I'm not sure what this colour means, but I'm sure it's not good. I stop to have a chat with old man Semel about his supplies. He seems.... entirely positive about the little community he lives in. I go to check in with Tak and Abe - Gidjabolgo's been shot! Silvercheek apparently thinks he cheated her out of some gold. We try to talk some sense into him, pointing out that he has no evidence about the Tomb being here, and can't remember any of the circumstances around how he learned about it, but he's digging for it anyway. Trying to talk reason into this man is like trying to squeeze cheese out of a stone. I decide to go investigate Arkali's shack. Too much is happening too quickly here.
Arkali's shack is empty. His pipe and tobacco is still on the side, and it looks as if his bed hasn't been slept in. I decide to climb down the shaft and see if there are any signs of the old man, just in case. It is absolutely full of mud here. This place is nasty. Still... best take a quick look. I head down into the shaft and - wait. Is that? Is that a foot? Uh... that's definitely a foot! There's a boot sticking out of the shaft heading into the hill... There's a leg attached to the boot. I try to see if it's Arkali, but it looks like one of the workers. Maybe within the last couple of days - looks like a collapsed wall. Abe decides to go and poke into more potentially dead people. I go to check out Handelo's shaft (hur hur...) but it's much of a muchness. After rummaging around in some really hideous clayish slop, I head back to check on the wizard. Rituals. Ugh.
Waiting outside for the wizard to finish up his magic, I can't help but think that things are progressing too quickly. Remnants of last night's dream come back to me, and I feel that the top of the hill is a great warning bell for what's about to happen. I think that perhaps a chat with the wizard is in order. Could we potentially remove the renegade from the equation to make this stop? I try to be vague about the feelings left from me dream... curse that the idiot just won't take my word for it. But I can understand why he wouldn't. Too many vagaries and half-whispered notions. This... is so far over my head I feel like I'm drowning in it. Drowning in clay.
We find Tak in the 5:2 ingratiating himself with the barbarians - chap actually looks like he's having a good time! Turns out I have a delivery behind the bar? Who on earth would know that I'm here? I mean I mentioned it to Sister Darda in passing, but I can't imagine she would have sent me something here. Still, at any rate it gives me a chance to talk to Silvercheek. I try to plant a seed of concern over Sikander's actions, but since it's not happened in the walls of the Palisade, she's taking it as a problem that's not on her watch. Still - nothing ventured. Nothing lost. I wonder who's left me this package...
This is not a standard package. This is trouble with a capital T. It's definitely a tamper trap - I'm going to have to take a closer look. Badly carved in the lead on the side, there's a crescent moon with smaller moons around it. It kind of reminds me of a story that Sister Darda used to tell me about her favourite place in the temple at Kastor. It could be from her. I find a small pinhole at one end - that's the badger! No vial breaks, so that's good news. I hang on to the casing to keep it for later. It's.... troubling.
We decide that going to talk to Sikander - or at the very least go and examine the top of the hill. There are.... so many buckets. So many. Organised in a line ferrying clay out and spare buckets back in. There is a very tatty looking wizard type at the top of this hill. And there, I'm sure I'm not dreaming, right next to him is a giant hulk of a figure made of flame and smoke underneath his armour. Wow.... this guy is absolutely fucknuts. Utterly, utterly bonkers.
A chap dashes out and exclaims that they've found stone! Sikander orders everyone out and goes to look at what they've found. I try my absolute best to try to get everyone to leave for the night - some of them are convinced to get to the 5:2, the rest are too taken with the promise of gold to follow. A throb thrums up through the ground and my head starts to spin... once again that horrible dream returns. Worse this time. There is so much blood. So, so very much. We leave and head down the hill.
Totally rat out Silvercheek - leaves with all her goods and the legbreakers
Patrons go fucknuts. Tak gets possessed. Roughneck is awesome.
Beating is constant now. The rain stops and an ethereal light comes from the top of the hill. Roughneck throws us all into the boat and shoves us downriver.
The hunter rips itself form the earth and it's the most horrifying thing I've ever seen. The fist fight on the shore goes absolutely fucknuts. Roughneck waves us goodbye as the light floods the shoreline, and then a massive roar comes from the forest and the tearing of wood echoes through the trees.
We are back in Kastor. We’ve been gone for about two weeks. There is pillar of black smoke emerging from behind the wall. Something has definitely been on fire. There are at least twice as many guards as there were when we left. The belltower has a cordon of townguard around it – but they’re not all the same. Some have a kind of blue marking on them – a sash or a patch, a wristband. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it – just some of them have blue markings and some don’t.
The annexe of the Sun Temple has burned to the ground….. Happened last night! The town council was attacked, the mayor’s been killed, the treasurer, the fire chief, and father karstak has been killed. Half the town council are dead! Grendol’s been elected as the stand in mayor – he’s the councillor representing the merchants.
Talk to Father Belargo – they say he’s the only priest left. I go to offer my condolences and ask for his blessing. Some of the initiates who were in the soup kitchens made it out. Those who were sleeping in the dormitories Darda just returned. The witchburnings sister Garada. Stayed in thistlehold.
If it looks like mud & smells like mud, it probably tastes like mud... don't lick it.
I follow unobtrusively as Gaia Bolgo wafts into the 5:2 and trades in his gold piece for supplies - does this man ever have a bad day? He is one of those immensely annoying, perpetually positive people. I'm not sure if I find that thought wistful or just stupid. Who am I kidding - it's stupid.
They are really selling the idea of the claims here - I know it's her job, but wow are they pushing it hard. I wonder how much they actually find...? Silvercheek mentions to the wizkid that Gaia Bolgo reckons the Tomb of the Emperor of Simbar is somewhere under his claim ,and appears to be on a mission to dig it up. Apparently he's found quite a stash of treasure over the last while.
Whatever Abeido and the proprietress are discussing, it's not something they want the rest of the tavern to know. I try to hear what they're speaking, but I can't for the life of me make it out. I'm starting to wonder if this mystic is paying us enough. He's certainly not telling us enough. Also, these people need to learn to be shifty better. Truly. As an aside, I can't see anyone other than me paying him any kind of attention. Perhaps he's paranoid - it would be in keeping.
I spy.... a dice game! I decide that going to check out their ability and garner a little bit of intel couldn't hurt. Especially if we need to make a little money on the way out. There are four very muddy gents having dice game. They let me have a natter with them - the city folk let me know that they dig for others for coin. There's a few with the coin to fund a claim. One of the dice players tell me that the camp is way safer than the woods - with apparently a witch. Or a monster. Or a mushroom? I have no idea what they're talking about. "Morello" went looking for mushrooms but didn't come back. There are *definitely* bears. It seems that with nothing to do but dig for someone else, they are going a little stir crazy. Shiny gold coins, for all of the Effervescent Optimist's assertions, are not common finds. But he is one of the good ones. "Mr Sakanda", however, is not one of the good employers - though he did pay someone really well for finding a swirly silver necklace. He has a big, flaming monster with a massive sword following him around. Apparently "where there should be man bits, there's fire." I am beginning to wonder what on earth it is that they put in that ale. Ah well. I've let them "teach" me how to play knucklebones. Maybe I can make a spot of money before we leave, though, it will probably be covered in mud.
I win 5 Ortegs. It seems a bit cruel, really... I buy them a jug of mud to say thanks. I'm still 3 Ortegs up. The ogre comes in - apparently her name is Roughneck. Roughneck?!? - walks to Silvercheek and hefts a massive pig from over the bar, taking it out again to roast on the fire. Everyone is *stoked*; they are very excited about Pig on the House. This is how I imagine the street parties back home that my sister used to tell me about used to go. It's nice. They all seem in better spirits. I'm finding myself smile a little around the edges.
I see Tak and our employer in the revelry and ask if we're supposed to be looking for a wizard. Yup, it's the same guy. And that flaming monster - definitely not a product of their ale-swilled minds. (Which makes me wonder about the mushroom-dependent witch-bear.) Tak should absolutely have charged this guy double. Also - that massive pig... it's a piglet. A pig-LET. Which means that mummy pig and daddy pig are missing a small swinechild. And I just ate some. I'm doomed.
We take our turns to watch over the camp during the night. The sounds from the fire eventually die down and the forest looms over us again. Whilst the quiet is a welcome change from the noises of the city, it is quickly broken by one of my dice players running into the Hope shouting "Handelo's dead! Handelo's been murdered!" Apparently someone's stabbed him multiple times in the back and left him in the dirt. Poor bastard. Silvercheek grabs a very sexy crossbow and strides out of the palisade. I'm really hoping this isn't the place the wizard wanted us to go.
A horrific roaring noise starts coming from the fire - it. WHAT. The great fire is a raging pillar of dark red flame. Some local helpfully shouts: "it's 'cause there's been a murder!" Honestly. Still... little bit of a coincidence in timing.
Following Silvercheek around the base of the hill - Handelo (the alchemist, apparently) is very dead. The telling point would be the knife sticking out of his back. Definitely quite dead. To the tune of at least a dozen stabs. But... no blood. That's strange. And his tunic is a little burned. Apparently Handelo was convinced there was a temple underneath his claim that was going to answer all of his questions. It's also strange that all of the owners of the claims think that they're going to discover the secret of a long lost tomb/temple/relic that will change their fortune. I mean, that's quite a coincidence.
Tak is guarding Abeido while he rummages in some dead chap. I don't need to watch a ritual - I'm out of here. I run into the Ogress along the way and congratulate her on hunting the pig. We exchange nods and small talk, and I mention that it seems that there are a lot of legendary treasure troves and missing people. Roughneck says, in her very quiet, melodic voice, that there is something buried here, and there is a story that is true. If you would know it, speak to the witch and she would tell you. Approach with hands open and weapons sheathed, she may meet with you. She is Girind - a witch of the Karohar. If you meet with her as I have said, that should suffice.
I continue to go and see the cranky old man, Arkrarly, in the claim down the road says that he's digging under the ground to find his wife - apparently she's stuck in the caves and he can hear her in the night calling to him from beneath the earth. The next shack I see is the complete opposite of the old man's; it's run with military precision and everyone is adhering to a vastly more efficient standard. Something about this feels very wrongly familiar... an armoured young woman comes out with a heavy black cloak emerges... with a large brass sun on the clasp. I keep on walking. There is no way, no freaking way, that I'm going to wander into a Witch-hunter camp and start asking questions about weird and mysterious coincidences. No way. I'm out. I take a look to clock someone *not* a Black Cloak I can talk to later in the tavern, and discreetly walk back to Handelo's hut. Swiftly.
Abeido says that it was Sakander and he's bonkers - excellent. Another bonkers mage doing bonkers murdering looking for bonkers cloaks made from worms. What on earth is going on in this place. Also, forget double. Triple. Tak should have tried him triple. At the least.
We talk for a little and decide that two days here is already sufficient time enough to have been spent in this bowl of bonkers mud. That in mind, let's go and see and visit a witch in the woods.... Spoke. Wheel.
We head east into the woods with Tak doing a marvellous job of leading us into the trees, when we come across some trampled ground and exceptionally large tracks. Like.... the biggest track I've ever seen. Potholes in the city are nothing compared to these. I think... I think the parents of my sandwich just went by. I think we need to go.
Wow! How on earth did these guys sneak up on us?! These guys are *good*. Five folks with... are those claws? I make the gesture and tell Tak that we should tell them we were hoping to speak to Girind. Ahhhh, they're looking at me, they're looking at me!! They're covered in whorls of black ink and claws. They ask me why I want to see Girind, and ask about the ogre. I'm not dead, so hopefully I said the right things?!
"Roughneck is Karohar - she is my ogre, she does my bidding and is my eyes in the taboo place. Fire burn red because death has happened - Roughneck do this for me so I may see from my tree. There is something wrong. Those that come, they have the fever - they are dreamers. They see what the fever makes them see; there hopes they are not real. Only death waits for them beneath this hill. Salindra is first one to feel the fever and have the dream and fight the earth and hunt for gold and only death wait for her.
The one who does rest here - a great god of the forest grew weary of his hunt and wished to hunt Gilta the elder sow, the great boar that live in the wood. The hunter god tracked down the boar god and drove his spear int other side. The boar drove the hunter off, and he took shelter in a great temple of Symbar - he is still there. The Karohar fear the time the hunter wakes and rises to hunt the boar again. When the hunter wakes the dance of death beings and he will hunt again anew, and he and Gilta will fight again and all will come to ruin."
Girind says the Ambrians are too gone with the fever to have anything to do to fix this.To stop Gilta you must end her rage - put a stop to her thirst for vengeance. To stop the hunter, you must convince him that his prey is dead. Or get rid of all the dreamers.
It is getting really, really dark. I say thank you to Girind and she tells us that we will not speak again. Which is wonderfully ominous. We leg it through the forest and manage to make it back to the palisade as a MASSIVE ROAR thunders through the forest and I fervently hope that it doesn't notice us.
The signs begin...
All is quiet this morning, having a nice quiet drink with Takkamer in the Chieftan's Bell, smiling a wry quirk of my lips at the collapsed goblins snoring in the corner, when a very unlikely figure enters the inn. Tak looks unimpressed. I decide this is likely going to be a cracked spoke in the wheel of my day.
This guy is entertainment! He's clearly made an impression on Agshela... she doesn't even growl at him! He does need to keep a closer eye on his moneypurse though... flashing that amount of silver is going to get him knifed in a hurry around here.
Ah... he's after going into the Forest. Salindra's Hope... I hope Takkamer charges this flashboy double. If nothing else, those robes will fetch a pretty price is some of the shadier back streets around here. He seems entirely unprepared and about to be so, so fleeced. Didn't even bring a bedroll.
Ugh. Tak dropped it down to two Thaler. This hunter needs more business acumen. Oh.. I see where this is going. A definite spoke in the wheel of the day. Hopefully this will be worth our time. Wait, wait, wait wait... Bacon! There's going to be bacon! Okay, this could absolutely be worth my while. Perhaps that wheel will turn a little more smoothly instead...
The day is bright, the clouds aren't heavy, and Tak seems pretty enthused about the whole venture. I suppose this could be a nice break from the city for a little while. I'll go and get the prettyboy his supplies and then we can leave Kastor behind for a few days.
Hmmm... there are a lot of City Watch around the square today. I can't really see a reason for them; they don't seem to be after anything in particular. I'll make sure that my acquisition mission is entirely above board today. It's going far too well for me to have unnecessary tangles with the Watch today. It's strange that there are so many just being a presence. I pick up some rope, tinder boxes, lanterns, climbing gear and jerky.
Sister Darda looks more sad and tired than usual today. I had my breakfast bought for me today.. perhaps I can lighten her stresses a little. She is a good soul. Says there is supposedly work to be had there if people are brave enough to venture there. She warns that Prios' light doesn't enter the Forest and I should take special care against the Darkness. I wish that I could.
There really is a large number of Watch here. They seem to be all gathered at the base of the tower - the bell's still quiet, so we're alright there. Still... it's making me a little nervous. I share a glance with Tak; he's definitely on the same page. It's time to leave.
Tak finds a dowdy ferryman, Bartello, who has agreed to take us on his boat - as long as we don't break it! What an absolute wonder this thing is! The bobbing of the boat on the river is strangely soporific - and we're going so fast! I feel a little flutter of happiness in my chest and realise I'm very enamoured with this means of travelling. Maybe if things go well, I should look to start my own goods movement by river. I could get used to this.
Then there are the trees. The Forest is looming ahead of us. It is beautiful, but menacing. These trees - they don't like strangers. And under the canopy! The light just seems to have gone out - it is snuffing the light out from around us. This is where I need to start paying attention. The darkness is growing. But at least the silence has gone - creatures and birds seem to be alive again. For what little comfort that brings.
Bartello shores up the boat and suggests we camp for the night. We've made way into Clan territory - we'll need to keep ourselves close and not venture where we're not welcome. Until I can get accustomed to this pitch darkness, I think sleep will be a long time coming. I'm very glad I bought some tea for when I eventually manage some.
The noises... there are things moving all around us. Small chitters, scrabbles louder than they should be. Roots and branches have been poking into my shoulders all night and I am stiff and aching. The light is a welcome relief, though. As is being back on the boat - the gentle rocking is a balm to the crick in my spine and the throb in my skull.
With a scent of woodsmoke cutting through the mossy smells of the forest, we finally reach Salindra's Hope. It's an odd break in the ominous swathe of the forest. Bartello sets us ashore and leaves us to our fortune. I miss the boat already.
The mage looks around with a sense of purpose; thankfully, he seems to know what he's doing. I'll stick with Tak though. That's a chap who is absolutely prepared for everything.
This place is mud central. There is mud on the bank, mud at the door, mud in the palisades. Muddy workers are carrying muddy buckets through muddy huts, with a glade of mud. Still... at least it's not shit. At least it's fresher than Kastor. A very impressive ogre is standing by - she's even taller than Tak! We're heading towards a sturdier looking building when some barbarians burst out the door in front of us - we seem to be in for an interesting afternoon. At least there isn't any goblin vomit to step in.
The proprietress, Silvercheek, seems to own the main share of Salindra's Hope - chirpy lass, seems to be running a good shop. The mage asks for a man called Sykander - and she suddenly isn't very welcoming any more. Fire worship? What in the worlds is that about? Either way, it looks like our venture is about to turn. Maybe I should see what kind of things they're digging up. Perhaps they'd like a hand shifting some mud somewhere.
I hang back with Tak, who thankfully also has no desire to imbibe what is probably a mud-based beverage. A strangely smiling man - Gaia Bolgo comes our way, flashing a shiny gold piece. A swift way of getting you shivved. Somehow I'm slightly dubious about his claims of "a new treasure every week!" I shall need to keep a close eye on my wallet whilst I'm here.
