Session 2: Rell's Log
General Summary
We pushed onwards, the Deep to our left as we made our way east. I certainly agreed with the others that we should put ourselves at a safe distance from the chasm and use it only as a marker to guide us in the right direction. I’ve looked over that edge many times and I didn’t fancy another stomach turn.
Trudging along at the ponies frustrating pace, I finally made out the Dead City in the distance and felt myself subconsciously grip my glaive a little tighter. Springing up from the dust before it lay what must be our destination, a new building or at least the beginning of one. No more than two walls from this angle and clearly the new base. It felt odd to actively approach one of their camps when normally I’d have been heading the opposite direction at the sight of Skirmishers out here.
The Dead City itself maintained the weathered and abandoned look it always did. It was an old place, probably human in origin, though its history was lost to anything Bastion documented. The Deep was a wound severing the settlement in two, ensuring buildings were in varying states of collapse as they neared its edge, with a few halves hanging into the rift. Domed columns still rose here and there over the squat flat buildings and although splashes of colour flashed, mostly everything was covered in the same dirt and sand as the Wastelands around us. Memories pushed forward at the horrid sights I’d witnessed within those narrow streets and gutted buildings. It was almost always lucrative but dangerous and I certainly didn’t feel ready to face anything there quite yet, either alone or with my current companions.
As I was lost in my thoughts I realised we were almost upon the newly built walls and I cursed myself for losing concentration out here. What was I thinking, no wonder I still needed her if I acted like this. I strode forward to Robyn who was whistling in the way the Skirmishers always did. I knew one Diplomat that loved imitating it and I chuckled before Robyn’s look of horror made it die on my lips.
I caught the smell as she voiced it. The putrid stink of rotting flesh seemed to invade my nostrils as I immediately pulled material from my bag to cover the lower half of my face. That stench only meant one thing and we all knew it; moving to ready ourselves for a fight without much hesitation. Leaving the ponies and cart behind, I took the lead with Saman to move around the walls to see inside the unfinished stronghold. He had his heavy shield and warhammer ready and I certainly didn’t blame him as I shifted my own weapon for an attack. Robyn lurked back with her longbow ready, I knew she’d be furious at what we all expected to see inside.
Rounding the corner of the wall we instantly saw the source of the dreadful smell, a stacked pile of bodies. While ripped almost to pieces, the typical blue uniform identified them as Skirmishers and hunched over them were two bat-like creatures. I’d not seen anything like them before, but with their razor-sharp claws and long snouts still covered in gore, they’d clearly just been feasting on those who’d once manned this fort.
I felt rather than saw Robyn’s fury as she rushed around me in a wide arch, reading her bow as she moved into my eyeline. The air seemed to grow a little cooler as an icy spell that could only be Elirith worked its way up the nearest monsters’ arms and I was glad of any assistance to stop the thing mauling at my insides. It seems uninterested in me however, heading straight for Robyn. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as it lashed out and I sprinted towards them to intervene. It injured her, but only marginally and as I was a pace away she leaned back and somehow managed to release an arrow straight into the snarling beast. Grinning at my stupid fear that this woman could be vulnerable, I found a burst of strength to pierce my glaive straight through the brute’s chest. A sharp twist and my blade swept out the side, ending its life as it collapsed between us. I wondered if Robyn was impressed with my skill and I briefly glanced to her to check for shock or admiration, finding neither obvious on her composed features.
There was no time for disappointment as I realised the other monster had attacked Saman, wrenching so deeply that I could see tears in his chest armour. There was the familiar glow around Liv as she cast something on Elirith, the elf looking quite radiant in the spell remnants as she cast her gaze around for more threats. Saman tried to attack but missed the target as if was too swift for him. Robyn continued to circle me, firing another shot that hit home but the beast was undeterred, striking again for Saman and this time succeeded in knocking him to the floor. I’d thought Warforged far tougher, but it was good to know he could be beaten should it ever come to that.
Pushing aside my ingrained prejudice, I couldn’t believe my luck as the beast left Saman and charged straight past me. The opportunity was too good to ignore, and I span my glaive up to decapitated it mid step. Green blood oozed out, splattering the ground around us and pride surged again. Maybe I didn’t anyone’s assistance out here after all. Too bold Rell. Check yourself. Her voice was in my head again as though she was right beside me. I almost scoffed aloud, I could handle myself just fine. I’d proven just as much.
I glanced towards Liv to make sure she was unharmed and behind her, only just visible along the outside of the base was a leg that could only belong to another of the creatures. Yelling out a warning I leapt over the remains in front of me, rushing to put myself between my friend and the skulking danger.
The gold colour of Liv’s healing emanated behind me as she revived Saman and I winced at the sound of metal crunching. There were clanks of pieces righting themselves within his body and I tried to remember if she’d ever attended to someone like him before. He was clearly restored either way, Liv’s healing as powerful as ever as the Warforged appeared beside me and swung his warhammer into the one I’d spotted. An arrow whizzes by my ear and I cursed rapidly in both elven and common as it drove a small notch off Saman’s shoulder piece. She was so skillful with that bow, what had made her leave the Skirmishers?
Her mark was true no matter her allegiances and the bat creature were flung backwards from the momentum, falling and not rising again. Ice appeared in the air once again and I knew it was the lovely Elirith weaving spells. A dagger shaped icicle whirled by us, exploding into a cascade of wintry flurries. Snowflake. The nickname sprang into my mind as I thrust my blade forward to strike but aggravatingly I didn’t quite make as much of an impact as my previous attacks. Liv’s attempted her holy magic, but the wiry creature ducked just in time and Saman suffered the same fate as his hammer met brick. Robyn is the one to land the killing blow once again as her arrow forces the beast into the rumble. Perhaps it’s best after all. Revenge for those that died here.
Once we were sure we were alone, Liv whispered words to light up Robyn’s bow and a mirrored glow settled within me at how well she was doing out here. I knew she wasn’t innocent, certainly having seen her fair share of both injury and death, but even still out here was something different. Approaching the Skirmisher bodies with the rest, I kept my thoughts to myself, I didn’t want Liv to feel incompetent or that I felt I had to protect her... that I was somewhat worried for my own neck if anything terrible happened.
From the glow produced by the bow, the gruesome extent of the damaged bodies became clear. Four had been torn apart, probably by the same claws that had ravaged Saman. Worst still, Robyn seemed to know one of the men, the slight sigh and tense sadness a dead giveaway. On the fifth body there was clear, thin lacerations, possibly from a fine blade or a spell but it was difficult to tell. With her extensive healing and anatomy skills, Liv checked the bodies also, seemingly immune to the gaping wounds and gagging smell that still wafted through the air. Her examination yielded a result though as she carefully removed what looked to be a barbed arrowhead from the base of the skull of one of the Skirmishers. I’d never seen one like it before, it was certainly nothing used within the Faithful and as Robyn kept quiet, I assumed it wasn’t a Skirmisher weapon either. Liv decided to keep it stored safely until we knew more.
Elirith was half under a bed as I looked for her, yanking out a small chest that contained a few personal items from those stationed here. She endearingly wanted to return the items alongside the bodies, asking after the Skirmisher rituals for those that died out here. My heart warmed that she cared so much. I wanted to know more about her but now was not the time.
We agreed to return to Bastion with the dead and we wrapped them in any linen we could find, making space on the cart and tying them securely down. Night was now almost upon us and I pushed for a fire to be lit but against the wall as much as possible to shield the light from the Dead City and the Deep. Watches were divided up and although the thought of spending mine alone was intolerable, I knew I was the most capable that had limited vision when it was dark. The group gathered to rest while Saman stood against the wall, the light dimming from his eyes as he seemingly slept in the manner available to Warforged. There was a temptation to test his reflexes, but I managed to resist, leaping up to a high vantage point to watch the distant ruined city.
My stint was surprising uneventful to which I wasn’t quite sure if I was glad or not. I knew I could handle myself, had proved as such today, though those around me unsettled my focus a little with their unfamiliar styles of fighting. Perhaps it was that. It was just new. They seemed nice people and I just needed to adapt to working alongside them. I was too used to guarded schemes and supportive guidance that influenced my brash behaviour even now. As if it were necessary, I then re-braided some of my hair in an odd desire to appease a person that wasn’t even here. Maybe I wished that they were. Finally, I slid back down to the camp, waking Saman with brief words. I urged dear Liv to be careful as I let her out of my sight to finally rest.
On waking the next morning, I was a little annoyed to find out Liv and Saman had seen a flash of green crackling light from the Dead City. Liv was fine though obviously, and I readjusted myself, glad she’d been vigilant in her watch. Elirith and Robyn saw no similar disturbance, only a creature or bird of some kind on the other side of the Deep. I wish I’d seen the flash for myself but there were so many things it could have been that I simply put it out of my mind for now. Liv also let me know that Saman had shown her his healing skills, reading from a small tome or book as he’d healed himself. That would certainly be handy in the future. Finally, as we were heading out, she let me know that I’d been snoring again, and I only laughed. It was a gift to be able to sleep so deeply in the Wastelands, perhaps I trusted those around me more than I realised.
So, we began our journey home, the atmosphere between us a little more solemn due to our altered cargo. As Liv decided to walk, I took the reins to sit beside Elirith on the cart. When the enormous plateaus came into view, signaling our return through the Broken Span, the pretty elf next to me became noticeably nervous. I understood her worry, moving my glaive across my lap while still holding onto the ponies. Then Robyn halted out ahead as if spotting something and we all saw the imp perched high above us. Making to stand I stopped halfway up in shock as Robyn fired an incredible shot, curving upward at the perfect angle she somehow hit the imp causing it to vanish once more. That was either tremendous skill or sheer luck. Either way, she was impressive to say the least.
We saw no more of the flying terror but as we moved off again, I heard the bizarre sound of cloth splitting and a moaning gurgle emanated from over my shoulder. Cold sweat formed as I turned to see one of the bodies had risen up behind us, staggering against the movement of the cart. It barely looked like the Skirmisher it had once been, putrid growths had taken over the poor man, creating spines and limbs like nothing I’d seen before. It was like it was infested, it’s malicious yellow eyes now wide open and burrowing into my soul.
I was too slow as it lunged for Elirith and fear marred her features before she shifted her form as she’d done yesterday. Only this time it was different, this time I saw what she was. I understood, but it didn’t matter right now, I had to save her from this monstrosity. There was only one option and I forced weight forwards, pushing her firmly but as gently as I could manage from the cart down to the roadside. The monster let out another noise as the rancid smell of it threatened to make me heave. It went for my shoulder, rupturing flesh as it tore into me. It hurt dreadfully but I’d had worse and as it went to wrap one of the extended growths around me, I focused on all my training, everything I’d been taught and managed to withstand whatever mental attack it attempted.
Thanking all my stars I heard Robyn’s arrow fly by my ear again, I’m far more grateful for it this time around. Liv and Eirith are at the side of the cart but struggled to hit the thrashing creature. Saman made the most impact, charging up next to it and shoving the atrocity to the road far more forcefully than I’d done Elirith. It attacked Saman in retaliation, but I’d truly had enough. Finally finding both my blade and a firm stance, I swung the glaive as I leant out from the cart, swirling it up into the tumorous growth on its back.
We gathered around the creature, worried for a time that it might rise again but there was gratefully no movement. Liv tried to inspect the body, but it was too much even for her, the flesh oozing yellow pus and looking even less human in death. The cancerous growth overtook its natural form, merging bones and fusing limbs. I suddenly felt nauseous and urged Liv to check the bite wound I’d suffered. Fear twisted that I might be infected with the same disease or spell, but I trusted her diagnosis that the wound was vicious but clean. Saman healed me afterwards by resting a palm to my shoulder and reading from the book Liv had mentioned. I felt my skin recover, wound knitting back together and I thanked the Warforged for the assistance.
It was decided the best course of action was to burn the body rather than risk taking it back to the city and I sliced the deformed head from its shoulders just in case while a makeshift pyre was built. Leaving the burning flesh behind us we travelled back to Bastion with no incident. Heading to the main gate, it seemed far more imposing from this side as we get close enough to make contact. Robyn whistled again, this time gaining the expected response and we headed back via the double gate system, noticing for the first time the openings above us which I guessed were used to deliver a far less welcoming entrance to the city if necessary.
The courtyard was far emptier than before but as we moved over, Corporal Egwynn appeared from the stables. You could see the gratitude in his eyes that Katherine and Catherine were safe and sound. He’d probably have been less concerned if one of us had perished but then we could be more easily replaced in his eyes. Once we revealed our unfortunate consignment, he busied himself with tending the animals, calling for the Colonel and Major to be fetched. Saman took the four bodies from the cart and laid them out respectfully. I hate the loss of life and it suddenly seemed more prominent now that we were within a safe environment.
Colonel Shatterstar and Major Alora arrived, the dwarven leader clearly angered by the death of those in his care. I was surprised but glad that the callous attitude he’d shown us didn’t extend to his men. He barked at Robyn to report and she clearly must have done so many times before for him to order her like that. I can see how torn she is to act as a Skirmisher under his command and I again found myself pondering her history here. Elirith handed over their personal effects which I felt he appreciated and was perhaps even surprised by. We also informed him of what happened to the fifth body and he expressed regret that we’d not returned that corpse to them also. When presented with the arrow he stated his Quartermaster would inspect it for us as he has vast experience with weaponry. The Major is far more formal that before as if she’d intentionally adjusted to the seriousness of the situation. I didn’t think it suited her. Either way she ordered reinforcements out to the Wastelands.
Shatterstar informed us that he’ll endorse our application to Freelancers, but it would ultimately be Stoneshield’s decision. I wished the Colonel my condolences before we left but got no reply. We headed to wash up and rest at the Barracks mess hall and at least I wasn’t the most conspicuous one there for once as we sit at our own bench to eat. Around us we could hear mutterings of what transpired, some already having spiralled to the outlandish. Robyn decided to socialise, quite obviously knowing many people here. I saw her conversing with a dwarven Skirmisher as Liv moved noticeably closer to grab my attention. Hoping she wasn’t uncomfortable amongst these people and environment, I asked once again if she was okay and had enjoyed being out of the city. I was relieved to hear that she was fine and looked forward to heading out again. I would be very glad to join her if I could.
Not long after, an old, slightly stooped man approached us, his scarred features revealing a life of battles and hardship. I guessed this to be Quinn, the Keep’s Quartermaster and I had to choke back a laugh as the seemingly frail man smacked Robyn in a friendly, nonchalant manner. I think it was the first time I’d seen her flustered.
We were led to a small workshop to find Quinn attending to a shoulder-piece. The space was full of weaponry and tools to maintain such and I couldn’t help but be in awe at the sheer vastness of the collection. An unnatural light cast away the shadows in the room, illuminating a huge worktop surface that had seen many years of good use.
Quinn wasn’t able to identify the barbed arrowhead but did provide us with our payment, including extra for bringing the fallen men back here. Robyn refused the extra coin, instead taking a few arrows in exchange. We were informed that Councilmember Owain Stoneshield would be in touch with us and that we needed to provide somewhere that we could be reached. Both me and Liv froze almost in unison, whispering together that it would be best to provide an inn for any correspondence with the Council. We provided the busy Miners Shaft as a location we could be reached, while Robyn gave an address in the Smithy district. Elirith gave the Ale and Hearty within Shepard’s Rest while Saman provided the bizarre location of the Ancestral Archives.
As farewells were given to the Quartermaster, I couldn’t help but think ahead to meeting an actual Councilmember. Butterflies flew in my stomach as I realised I’d clenched my hands into tight fists and my palms were indented with bright pink half-moons as I released the gesture. Puffing out a loud breathe, I swallowed my worries. I would just try not to make a fool of myself, try not to be irresponsible. I’d help noone if I was dead or imprisoned.
Then there was Elirith, she was a Changeling for sure. I should have guessed earlier from those rapid shifts in form, but Changelings were so rare. Snowflake, you certainly have some secrets but then again, I’m hardly one to talk.
Previous: Session 1: Rell's Log
Next: Session 3: Rell's Log
Bastion Date: 44 Acadi
- Reach Dead City outpost, with newly built walls.
- There was a stack of piled Skirmisher bodies being fed on by bat-like creatures.
- Dealt with the bat-creatures.
- Started to get dark; Liv used light on Robyn's bow to highlight the scene.
- Robyn knew at least one of the skirmishers.
- Liv checked the bodies; found thin lacerations from a fine blade and a barbed arrowhead of unknown origin. Kept the barbed arrowhead to investigate later.
- Elirith found a chest of Skirmisher belongings; agreed to return it, along with the bodies.
- Set camp, lighting fire in shadow of the walls.
- Liv and Saman saw a flash of green crackling light from the Dead City.
- Take cart home.
- Elirith is nervous around Broken Span in case of imps; Robyn spots it and shoots it.
- One of the Skirmisher bodies reanimates and breaks from the bonds.
- Rel recognises Elirith as a Changeling when she reacts to an attack.
- Inspecting the bodies; the flesh oozed yellow pus and looked even less human; not clear on cause.
- Get back to Bastion; Shatterstar demands a report. Surprised that we returned the bodies and their effects, and agrees to endorse our Freelancer applications.
- Alora orders reinforcements out to the Wastelands.
- Eat in the mess hall; Robyn speaks to Madoc.
- Quartermaster Quinn takes us to his workshop, gives us our reward, inspects the arrowhead: not any that he recognised.
- Next to await invite from Councilmember Stoneshield.
Report Date
17 Jan 2019
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Original Disclaimer: Written from Rell’s PoV and any opinions on character’s or npcs are her own and may not be a true reflection of a character’s intended actions or intentions. Any missing content is due to Rell’s selective hearing or poor memory. Although I have attempted to keep information on Rell to a minimum, please note that you may read some content/opinions that aren’t common knowledge to your own characters and therefore it should not influence your interactions with her.
Additional Disclaimer: This article is ported frpm old blogspot articles for reference, and pertinent bullets and dates added to timelines.
Comments