Negotiations and the Inquisitor Darakus

The Fellowship of RedWater take a rest in the cellar under the Arcanist's mill. Sigmund sits on a table inspecting his wound. " I think its broken from a quick glance, the fangs also tore through nerves. This will take a while to heal." He sighs " I suggest we get what we can from this place to fortify and supply the camp and be on our way. Daylight burns."

“Be very careful in here. I’m not good with magic traps so we have to be extra careful. But we may be able to find some nice magic items or spell books for  Graxus or for Lukaan.” Kantif says.

A number of chests and crates are investigated and treasure gained.

The party investigates crates as well as further down a worked stone passage. Alert party members notice strange inconsistencies and it seems the walls may not be there. After some exploration, the party realizes the passage has no walls into a cavern - an illusion, where Gothi nearly stepped off into the dark and depths.

The party continues to explore, Graxusas using his owl familiar, then misty steps over to one area with a small pool and grassy area. Suddenly a large mass of insectoid creatures attack, slinging out

tendrils to take down the familiar and attack the sorcerer.

Using his versatile sorcerous skills, the lizardman misty steps back and then lightning bolts cracks out from his outstretched fingers to blast the creatures to a smoking ruin.

Gothi uses her boots of spider climbing to walk around the walls to search an alcove where a giant's skeleton lay, taking a sword and helm but leaving a medallion/locket that had a painting of a loved one (?) inside. Some further exploration is done, but Doc Holliday in some pain from his broken arm, wanted to get to the meeting place with his mother. The adventures leave the caverns and decide to return at a later date.
They explore the rest of the Arcanists' mill, finding some treasures but most of the main floor has been already ransacked. A large telescope is found in the tower.. how to install in the party's flying tower at some point is discussed.
Traveling on to the old picnic site, Doc Holliday reminisces on his times as a young lad in the lands.
Then the 1/2 orc talk further of his exploration in the Halls of Heroes. "One of the stories I heard when I was in the crypt was of a band of warriors known as the Bards of Hell. They wielded bows and lead the armies into battle. They would blow into these pipes that sounded like screaming people. I think replicating that for a group of scouts armed with Muskets short bows and short swords would make quite useful for guerrilla warfare.  We would need basic infantry and cavalry as well. Maybe we could slip into the green ward and free some prisoners when we are leaving Waybury."

The party meets up with Nalin - that party's apprentice blacksmith and Doc's mother to a tearful reunion.The Fellowship learn that the Black Runes and Greyskull mercenaries moved into the Duress estate, and commandeered 1/2 of the mansion. The party realized they needed to Meed with Commander Bajin and make amends.
Parting ways, the Fellowship head to the Duress estate meeting BlackRunes and Greyskull mercenaries. Ushered finally in to meet with Commander Bajin and his wife the drow elf, V’larra Giss’ben.

The Commander was no happy to hear nearly 40 of his troopers were dead because of the Fellowship's attack. But they did not have too much time to discuss.. a flash of blue light will be seen outside the manor. Then a goblin will race in and whisper in the commander's ear..

Looking at the party.. He will shake his head and say "Be careful now m'lads."

In strides a massive humanoid 8' tall wearing black platemail - head to toe - no skin visible. The helm is a grill of slits darkness behind no features visible. As the armoured figure moves, small puffs of steam (possibly) come from the various joints. A smell of brimstone and sulfur hits the party's nostrils. On the creature's back is a massive sword, easily 7' long.

Next steps in a tall woman they assume the figure is, but the face is covered in a mask. Wearing a head-to-foot black dress with gold trim. The woman, has 2 pistols holstered at her belt. A tall headdress also black and gold shows wisps of silvery white hair trailing down her back. Her skin looks a translucent white, the veins and bones somewhat visible under her skin.

The woman's mask white With bright red lips in a sad face. She will look at each person carefully, the eyes behind the mask glowing briefly as she does. Perhaps she has a spell in concentration, thinks Graxusas.

After looking at each both figures will stay standing and wait for a moment. And then the party hears a high pitched voice. "Where is everyone? Belial! Sargorn!"

The woman looks at the armoured figure and then as if with a small sigh moves over to the door and opens it wide. In will stride the Inquisitor Darakus is a hobbit - an amusing funny little hobbit barely 3 feet tall.

He will come in to the room last - after his 2 henchmen - seemingly a bumbling absent-minded fellow. Smoking a pipe.

"Interesting place.. A little run down in my opinion, but.. May suit our needs for the short term.."

Now.. Where is dinner!?"

Hmm.. Now whom do we have here.. You.. Commander. Well met. Good work holding that pass for so long!" he says with a sarcastic wink.

The commander grimaces at this and just nods to the hobbit. "Hail and well met Inquisitor Darakus. All mine is yours." The dwarf rumbles. 

"Ahh my dear," he says to Commander Bajin's wife, "you are looking as beautiful as ever. Not a day over 100 years old!" As he saunters by she fingers a wand at her belt but moves it away the masked woman puts a hand to one of the pistols.   

Nearing the large table, the Inquisitor hops up onto a chair. "Now where.. is my flying tower?" The hobbit asks.

The commander huffs.. " Rmmm.. We were not able to bring it down.. We have patrols out searching." 

The hobbit meantime has taken up an apple and bit a large chunk out of it. Screwing up his face.. "By Iuz's tail.. The fruit here is disgusting!" He tosses it over his shoulder it is about to hit the large armoured figure with a flash catches the fruit and crushes it in one hand. "So you failed me again, Commander. You were unable to take the mountain pass at Enstad.. Now this." The hobbit sighs.

Many of the perceptive party note the commander's wife slowly putting one hand on the gruff and fuming dwarf. Visibly calming down at her touch, With a quick glance at the party, the commander continues.. "Perhaps we should continue this in private, Inquisitor.."

The Inquisitor had taken up a bowl of grapes and was popping one in after an other. "Mmm..mmm these are good.. I see why they make wine here." Looking up as if for the first time seeing the group. "Hah.. I thought these were your lieutenants.. A strange bunch.." Looking at each of the Fellowship as he continues to pop grapes into his mouth. "Now who these fine folks..?" As he finishes saying this, the face covered woman moves to the inquisitors side and you hear a whisper.

The Inquisitor's eyes narrow. "Really…"

Commander Bajin stands and starts to talk, the Inquisitor holds up a finger and looks at the party.. "Now who are you?"

Further discussion, deception (DM: and good dice rolls!) look to appease the hobbit, whom then dismisses the heroes. The party make plans and then decide to head to Wayberry. A few hours later, it is dark and the large city appears ahead.

While riding, Cedric starts to doze and he dreams of a room deep under the ground.. of statues many statues.. The paladin starts to walk amongst the figures, many broken and destroyed or crumbling to dust. Some still fully whole. Warriors all. Orcs. All carry bows and a strange flute perhaps made of some large animal or monster bone. As Cedric continues to walk passing many 7' tall orcs carrying longbows or the strange flutes in hand, he begins to hear a sad wailing melody that takes him back to his previous life.
These are the Bards of Hell. Once an elite unit of the now fallen orc empire, that Doc Holliday mentioned. Cedric wakes in his dream near the fork in the tunnels to the tombs of the orc warlords. Cedric recalls this place in the Macgrah Chambers under the orcish camp. 

They need to find the leader of these soldiers.. then perhaps they can return to fulfill a destiny wrought in a forgotten age..

Towering spires of the guild merchant halls stab through the smoky clouds that fill the night sky, while the stone and wooden homes of the commoners huddle together on the streets. The light of the dual full moons
Familiar smells and tastes of the city fill the night air. The alchemists’ labs spew thick fumes into the night.
I f you were to climb one of the two rival wine merchant’s - Duress or Crakin -  you’d only see city. And more city beyond that. The city has become a womb of corruption, reaching out and holding you. Never yielding, but ready now to take one's wealth or life without remorse..

ugh an assortment of oddly shaped chimneys, the smoke suffused with sulfur and sea salts. The city markets, normally a cacophony of bartering voices and animal sounds, are hushed. The scents of the sweat meats, fruits, stale wine, and horse dung linger along the thoroughfares to create an atmosphere thick enough to taste.
creep their way through the mist and smog, creating small patches of illumination, some red and other patches in silvery white that amplify the shadows, making them longer and deeper than during the haze of daylight.

 But even worse.. the once great city has - or had - a dark and vile secret.. no longer: 

 The "Green Ward" or many now just call the "The Green" area once was the upper class area of Wayberry. Was overrun by undead a year and 1/2 ago. Now is walled off, all bridges blocked. A canal of water with holy protections continually invoked keeps the variety of undead back, as well. Criminals from all over are brought here, and loosed into the area to try and kill off the undead. The few that have survived and returned seem to
At night, green lights can be seen on occasion throughout the city, does not look to be at the same spot. This is where the area got its name.

think this is NOT working.. prisoners are given basic weapons and sent over the main west road into the Green. With a large influx of Duchy troopers whom did not surrender, The Green is a busy place..

Welcome to the city of Wayberry.

Holliday's camp, some rest and the mage's windmill

2nd month of the year - Waterday -  27th day of Readying (for most - Elves it is the month of Yellowillow)

The Fellowship's tower set down in the rocky mount above the Holliday tribal camp. The party takes stock of the tower, looking for damage as well as resting themselves.

Kantif looks troubled. “Hmm. We just killed multiple Greyskulls, that’ll cause problems for our alliance. Not to mention also weaken our possible army. Hopefully they can revive their fallen allies.”

The flying tower had taken a fair amount of damage, the boulders form the Black Rune giants, and even a catapult had impacted heavily. As well, the dual fireballs as well as time had taken a toll.
Doc Holliday advises the party, " I feel a calling to go into the Macgrah chambers, I'll head in there alone. If Darling comes back I'm in trouble. Before I head in we should speak to Grandmother and ask if she has anything to help us." Sigmund looks at Graxxuzaz and nods. Grax tells the party that after studying the wizards spellbook he can now cast identify and find familiar but he needs incense and a pearl before he can use these spells.
“Do you know how to get to your mother, Doc? Is it far? We can’t afford to fly near the Blackrunes again with how much damage the castle’s taken.”Kantif says, concerned
Doc visits his grandmother, seeking wisdom as well as a pearl for Graxus to cast one of his new spells he had been able to research - identify.
Grandmother still strives to find Grandfather - whom Doc advises is now in the Abyss. Using her skills she reads his thoughts. Doc can see the determination in the ancient woman. Doc asks of places that may hold items to help them in their battles against the Black Runes, she mentions there was once a mill-  the Arcanist's Mill - abode of a recluse wizard in the ancient forest to the West. Supposedly the legends say he tapped the power of the flowing river to power some his spells and research.

 
While Doc enters the MacGrah Chambers - tomb of the ancients - looking for guidance as well as the armour of his family, Graxus starts casting multiple spells to determine what a number of items are that the Fellowship had acquired over the past weeks and all.
Graxus summons a new familiar - an owl.
Gothi also heads up into the wild, following a deer or animal path to discover a mountain lion. One of the magic items Gothi chooses allows her to raise a skeletal monster as a servant for a period of time.
Kantiff, heads up into the wilds North of the camp, and finds a waterfall where he meditates and delves deep into the way of the shadow monk to become an assassin like his father. When the monk rogue returns, he seems to have new skills as well.

Meanwhile, Doc Holliday delves further into the MacGrah Chambers, with little gear and his raven, Darling. The ancient warriors and leaders of the once great empire of the orcs look down upon the warrior with Doc sees a lone boatman in one of flowing rivers bisecting the land. Near the skeletal figure sits his grandfather. The scene changes and Doc sees his father is in a cell laying on the ground not moving. A taloned claw reaches for his head and the father wakes up with a groan..


Shadows take the area and then Doc realizes he is in the Shadowfell. He climbs a vast tower and looks down upon the lands, with rivers of red. The scene changes again, a conspiracy of ravens swirls him as he stands at the top of the tower and then they stop midair and form what looks to be a face. Doc Holliday falls to his knees and he feels the approval of the Raven Queen. He realizes he has the full powers of a paladin to the Raven Queen.
Waking up once again, he sees his raven familiar - Darling now has a white stripe. He searched for the armour of his father and ancestors, but was unable to find it. A script on the floor half rubbed away leads him to believe there is a third passage down in the tombs. Perhaps the whole party could delve it.

The party leaves the tower and camp behind, Lukaan the wizard staying with the tower to guard it, research it as well as learn more of the basics of wizardry! Taking their horses - Gothi riding JawBone - they head to the West towards the picnic site Doc's mother mentioned they had been to when he was a boy.
Gothi's excellent tracking skill allows the party to avoid a large contingent of Black Runes. They cross over a river and find the Arcanist's mill. From a distance the building is built into the side of a cliff. Gothi moves ahead and not seeing the floorboards being
rotten falls through into what looks to be a cellar. Not really hurt until a massive snake appears out of nowhere.. The Redwater Fellowship engages in battle. Graxus uses a new spell polymorph other - he turns the giant snake into a chicken! Yelling down to the party to toss the newly formed chicken. They do and he misses catching it! Everyone misses catching and the chicken dies and transforms BACK into a very angry snake. [DM: Battle continues after much laughing]
Graxus - whom had been tossing a coin most of the day - whenever it came up tails, something bad happened. When heads, it was positive. Lady Luck was having a time with the group. Finally defeating the giant snake, it disappears in a puff of greyish black mist. A passage leads off into the dark probably going into the cliff face.

Finding some dwarven merchant crates among the various other items in the cellar. One has a trapped box inside which has a black caustic mist engulfs the party.
What next for the stalwart heroes?