4. Shadows at Darryn's Crossing
General Summary
Written by Aldan Brokkr.
Following a hard fought battle and a heroic rescue, the Company of the Broken Banner continued their journey beyond the Rosewall into the Vale of Cwydd. Though the Company was no longer alone, as it travelled under the protection of their new acquaintance and host Manannán, the leader and greatest of Clan Scáthach.
Before the roaring hearths of Clan Scáthach, Manannán spoke of the many disappearances occurring in the small towns and hamlets of the Unbound Lands, particularly those straddling the Rhakhis mountains. Believing these to be the work of Clan Fury, Manannán called on the Company to investigate the disappearances.
To this, a party of six answered - Ellri Brooir, Aldan Brokkr, Elara Windwalker, Orvasa Inkeelah, Oruwin Fiddlecheek and Toffonir. The party soon set off to the small town of Darryn's Crossing, deducing that it will be the next target of whatever force is dwindling the Freemen of the North. The remainder of the Company elected to stay in the Vale, which saw two of the Company’s most bitter rivals bond over a shared love and pastime.
After a few days' travel the party arrived at the settlement, and after a baffling interaction with the town's sentry was surprisingly permitted to enter Darryn’s Crossing. Appearing before the town’s elder, Elder Hawthorne, the party heard more of the disappearances plaguing the Freemen and were directed towards Kace, a researcher of the Empire who has been investigating the disappearances.
Despite her vocal dislike of Elara’s manner and Orvasa’s garb, Kace shared with the party her breakthroughs. It seemed that those who have been taken from their homes have not been taken at all, but rather left of their own accord and taken only consumables and the clothes on their back. The only clue as to why is occurring was a letter hidden in one of the abandoned shacks, speaking of a monument in the north.
Provided with a wayfinder directing towards this monument, the party returned to Elder Hawthorne. At the behest of the party, Hawthorne solemnly accepted the findings and stated his intention to prepare the evacuation of Darren’s Crossing. He soon brought before the party their potential reward for heeding his call, an ancient yet ornate greataxe imbued with runic power. Either by virtue of his wisdom or his gnomish love for schemes, Oruwin convinced the Elder to “loan” the axe to Aldan, the party’s most physically (and perhaps intellectually) dense member.
With the wayfinder and their down payment secured, the party ventured north in search of the monument. On the three day journey the party passed abandoned homestead after abandoned homestead, seeing with their own eyes the strangeness of the disappearances. Oruwin, feeling sorry for the many trinkets abandoned by their owners, took it upon himself to provide a new home for the valuables left at the homesteads. Whether these were also held on loan was not clear.
Despite the bone chilling wind and the feeling they were being watched, the party pressed on and soon came before an expansive cliffside containing the great monument of the north. Though the monument was not the only thing that caught their eye, as beyond the cliff on which it sat was an expansive sea of 'darkness'. The darkness seemed to slowly creep and devour all before it, and emanated a strong sense of dread which caused the wayfinder to lose all direction. This sense of dread also struck Ellri, leaving him feeling the cold in his very soul. It was before the monument the party’s lack of concern finally caught up with them, as they were soon encircled by what seemed like hundreds of torch-bearing raiders, calling themselves the ‘Free People’. The party quickly realised they had come before Clan Fury.
It was at this moment their leader, the near-mythical figure known as The Twin's Chosen, came forward and took a seat on the stone throne before the monument. Questioned by the party, the Twin’s Chosen stated her and her clan were not the cause of the disappearances, but did not elaborate as to why Clan Fury remained unaffected. She stated instead that the disappearances are instead the work of the hooded men the Company faced previously, known as the Sons of Avlar. She also spoke of the darkness before the party, stating it was why she led the Free Men as they descended south and waged war against the Empire years ago. The Twin’s Chosen also provided one final revelation, as she turned to Ellri and spoke of his father, Riognach.
Tired of conversation, the Twin’s Chosen summoned a previous foe of the party, the ogre Ulm, champion of Clan Fury. She directed the monstrosity to deal with the band of adventurers and to spare only the son of Riognach. Despite the towering frame and frightening appearance of the great Ogre, he departed this world as quickly as he came before the party. After striking Toffonir and nearly devouring Oruwin, Aldan came forth and with a mighty swing cleaved the Ogre’s knee in two with his greataxe. Seizing his chance while in the jaws of the beast, Oruwin stabbed his gun blade into the eye of the creature and pulled the trigger, slaying Ulm. After a not so intimidating victory cry from Aldan, the Twins Chosen congratulated the party on their swift battle, and with a final warning of the Darkness departed with Clan Fury.
The party was left in the moonlight, taking in all in which they had heard and realising that they perhaps did not ask the right questions while they had the chance. They soon departed the monument and returned to Darryn's Crossing, informing Elder Hawthorne of all they heard and saw before the monument. The party was also joined by Kace, who decided to join the Company following Orvasa’s convincing pitch about the non-politically aligned band of adventurers.
But as soon as they arrived the party hastily departed along with the evacuating populace of Darryn's Crossing, travelling back south to the Vale of Cwydd to inform Manannán of their northern expedition.
Report Date
16 Aug 2024
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