The Cathedral, Allies and an Old Advesary

When we rejoin our adventurers it is nearing 10 bells in the evening as Isen leads the Fellowship and points to Seen - San - Sawn's Bathhouse.

Doc Holliday shakes his head. "You all go ahead, I'm gonna speak to some sailor's, perhaps find a small boat with some tight lipped fellows who will smuggle us down river a touch. From there we can slip back into the camp. Best to do it when we have no heat on us." Sigmund says as he slides the last of his weapons into the bag of holding. 

“Why were you so impatient to go to the docks, Doc? It’d be dangerous to go off alone, especially with that commander being here.” Kantif asks, not upset, just curious.

Cedric muses, ""I concur with Kantiff. Going off so swiftly is odd to me, I had thought you might want to take things a little more cautiously. Just an observation" He comments, keeping his tone neutral.

Doc, relents, but does not go in. Kantif, Cedric, Declan and Isen enter the house and enjoy a very refreshing bath and more. Their clothes are cleaned - some not having been this clean since purchase. Cedric makes note of an older woman whom sees to be paying extra attention - covertly - to the group. Then disappears before the adventurers leave. Feeling MUCH refreshed, the clean adventurers rejoin Doc, Gothi, Thogra and Graxusas.

The adventurers split up again into 2 groups and covertly as possible head down to the docks. While on the way, Gothi hears a familiar bark and howl and with a joy rarely seen is rejoined by her pet and mount, JawBone! A group of guards follow but with skillful stealth the group evade the grumpy guards.

Near the docks, the party makes note of a number - fifteen - massive war galleys. All have flags or banners similar of a fanged skull or similar. The impressive war galleys are well-guarded and have a
large number of crew doing repairs and maintenance. The two paladins feel an oppressive force coming from one of the great ships. A giant demon, winged perches on one of the mast's yardarms. The party are able to stay hidden and avoid a number of patrols and groups of Black Runes. Crossing over a massive canal using the Two Towers, the party makes its way to the Cathedral. The party move up and see some familiar faces and some not in the mercenary company of the GreySkulls. A guard at the broken down gate, ushers them through, pleased to see some familiar and powerful allies. The Cathedral was once a magnificent building but now has been heavily damaged from aerial bombardment most likely from OverLord Romack's flying fortress. Cedric has an epiphany and realizes

the building was once a great cathedral to his goddess - Istus. The party realizes that the GreySkull unit has been taken heavy losses, nearly every soldier is wounded in some way. The party is told to wait, and then make a temporary camp for a while because Commander Bajin is busy. While the party waits (DM: @ #1) Gothi hears something.. and a familiar voice inside.. Kantiff using his stealth and monk abilities to go unseen scuttles inside (DM: #2) and sees some familiar faces. Kantif sees a wounded giant, and a number of GreySkulls. Then he hears the voices as well. The Inquisitor!

Commander Bajin (DM: #3) is having a full on conversation with the Inquisitor Darakus as well as his underling - Balial. The hobbit is very animated and seemingly frustrated with commander (?) and gives very specific instructions to be ready to leave the city as soon as possible. The Inquisitor seems to under a great deal of pressure.. something is happening.. the hobbit is perspiring heavily as well.

Kantif realizes that in the conversation that it seems the Black Runes are planning something for BEFORE the end of the truce.. four days hence. Kantif - in the zone - stays extremely well hidden, Balial at one moment seemed to look right at the monk/rogue but she does not see him in the end. The Inquisitor makes it very clear that the Commander needs to lead his forces out the Northeast gate at a signal from the Black Runes.

The party enters the cathedral, seeing many more soldiers wounded and slumped weary and in pain all around. (DM: #4s) Doc and Cedric make off to assist and use the medical and divine skills but then decide to meet with Commander Bajin. The party learns that over half the unit is gone, normally numbering over 200, now below 50. Conversing with the RedWater Fellowship, they learn his wife and 2nd in command has headed to Fax on the Wild Coast to find their son - held by the BlackRunes. Bajin beseeches the party to assist and meet with her and together the party can rescue the boy.

At this point, the party hears the Inquisitor returning. So all scramble down into the crypts and hide.

Listening, they hear Darakus order Commander Bajin.. "Tomorrow Night. Make sure your unit heads Northeast up the road (DM: yellow arrows). Do not stray South of that!" Giggling and seemingly back in a good mood, the hobbit gives Bajin a scroll "Do not lose that!" and then takes his leave.

The party agrees to help the Greyskulls. Doc promises to speak to Overlord Romack's forces and allow them to surrender. Bajin at first does not like this but relents and agrees. As proof of his bond, Bajin gives them the scroll, seemingly written in infernal or abyssal. The party decides to study this further at a later time in a safer place.

The party assists a number of the soldiers, Cedric using his divine power, Doc using his medical skills and divine powers as well. Others in the group assist as well. Notably, Thogra does not assist the wounded. Traveling North in the city, the party sees the destruction wrought by the Overlord's forces and spells.

Making it to the Irownworks smithy - a potential ally - but the building is destroyed. Further on, the party makes it to the inn they stayed at some days ago, but seems longer.. The Broken Crown Inn. Entering they make note of some Black Rune guards and a cloaked and hooded figure in the corner. Learning some news of the Ironworks, that possibly the owner and Master Smith had survived. Taking their leave, they realize the hooded figure is one of the Maskers - Guild of Arcane Lore (DM: Previous post) Without incident the party is able to leave. The party decides to find the Scarlet Spider Syndicate - led by the rogue, Noose.

Gothi feels a buzz in the back of brain.. his trident - with the demonic sentience - offers again to read the scroll..

The Fellowship travels stealthily to the entrance to the guild hall - a well - in a little used and rundown plaza to the South with some houses. As the party enters the plaza, they look about.. nothing. Then as the party moves over to the well, Kantif drops a rock into the well, listening. Hearing a sploosh, they start to make ready..

Then a raspy chuckle and voice from back and above. "Well.. well, well RedWater Fellowship. You don't think I had forgotten about you.. after what you did to me?" On a nearby roof, stands the dwarf mage - Commander Taeryn
Ic Zuln - one hand holding a stave, the other under his cloak - from previously the DeathGrounds and before that from Enstad. (DM: Blog Post ) One side of his face is heavily scarred, much of his hair is gone, his face, neck and skull's skin ravaged by what looks to be many teeth marks..

 

Escape from the Green

Date: Month: Coldeven (Common | Snowflowers: Elvish) GodsDay,11th

 The RedWater Fellowship have a decision to make. 3 humanoids - a human, dwarf and orc - are to be sent over in a cage to the waiting undead that are milling around in the Deathgrounds. Doc Holliday hopes to save them, amongst the party whom don't want to alert the BlackRunes to them. The bleachers and seats are probably 1/2 full of BlackRunes,

Wayberry merchants and aristocrats. With a start, they also see the Inquisitor Darakus (DM: blogpost) in the seats conversing with a dwarf. His two 'servants' with him.

 After some debate, the party decides to do it. Graxusas sends his owl familiar up to the rooftops to watch, and the lizardman sorcerer watches the action. Going to the 2nd floor in the end, as the 1st floor is filled with debris and broken timbers and refuse. A group of robed figures - skeletal features visible for a moment and the chant or tone they call out and the Green shield opens for a moment. The crane swings over the cage, and the 3 humanoids tumble out into a swarm of undead. Doc takes out some planks over a window, and tosses a rope and calls out - with a thaumaturgy enhancement from Graxusas - "Run for it!" The 3 figures nearly surrounded start running towards the safety.

 Gothi fires her longbow, expertly taking out a zombie and a skeleton that were advancing on the trio of prisoners. Kantif fires his shortbow to great effect, his sneak attack taking out a zombie. Graxusas notes THE dwarf wizard (was speaking to the inquisitor) they had met in Enstad in the stands and realizes he is about to cast a fireball. Using his sorcery skills he counters the spell. The BlackRune wizard smiles.. the party realizes he could have countered the counter.. but did not. With a crack of a musket shot, Doc Holliday, takes aim and shoots one of the robed figures chanting to hold open the shield. The dead-eye shot knocks the robed creature over and the shield opening starts to close. Meanwhile just before it closed, 4 ballista bolts flew through the hold and hit some of the party. Kantiff is able to deflect some of the damage from one.

 The party sees the dwarf wizard jumps down and stands with the other 3 robed figures, each are an underdark lizard folk with facepaint of a skull. They look to be raising hands and chanting once again to re-open the shield. Meanwhile the party continues to blast with magic - fireball and more, arrows, the undead advancing on the prisoners. The party is able to recover one human, the 1/2 orc is overwhelmed by undead, but they are able to save the dwarf as well, Cedric reaching down to easily pull the battered man to safety.

 Making their retreat, the Fellowship realize that the BlackRune dwarf wizard may have recognized some of them. Parts of the building collapse around them as it seems multiple spells blast the apartment building, coming down in a huge cloud of dust and debris. Dusting themselves off and bandaging minor wounds the heroes vacate the area, looking for a safe haven in the undead infested city streets of the Green. 

As the party sneaks through the streets of the Green, Kantif strikes up a conversation with Thogra. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. What kind of rogue are you? I’m a bit of a swashbuckler.”
Thogra grins toothily at Kantif. "My skills are pretty standard, 2nd storey stuff, I never had the chance to specialize too much. Know a bit about poisons, and of course my skills to my god take up a lot of my time."
He pats the large bag at his side that holds the bones of "Fluffy". [Once the party went stealth, the 1/2 orc told Fluffy to sleep and turned into the pile of bones]
He turns back to Kantif, "you seem to have more talents than just a swashbuckler.." Nodding to the blood stained wraps on Kantif's hands.
Kantif inspects his blood stained wraps, flexing his hands as he nods to Thogra. “Indeed. I’ve been training to become a ninja and use my fists and my body’s ki in combat. In fact, you should feel more quiet than usual since I imbued everyone here with some of my ki. There’s quite a few innate abilities in one’s body that most people have yet to gain control over. I plan to gain more control over these innate abilities as we continue adventuring.”

 Carefully picking a way through the ruins, the party notes an ancient man working in a cemetary. Approaching the elder, they have a dialogue, it seems the cemetary is a garden where he grows a number of different vegetables, herbs, spices and fruits. The party notes the old man's eyes are full black no white. At first there is some concern there was this was the figure from the nightmares.. but then the heroes realize, not. The party barters, wine for the delectable tea, spice, and sugary berries. Kantif looking for poison, is advised on a process for this, the elder calling him an "assassin". The old man seems to be able to see into people's souls or spirits.. and have great insight into each of the group.

 Using a variety of skills, the party is able to find a secluded building - a broken down house - to rest in, after dodging and skillfully avoiding roving packs of zombies and other undead. Taking a short rest, near six bells. They are near the one exit that Declan and others in the Green have advised may be a way to exit. A well, that connects to the river and then to the sewers in the main part of Wayberry. Thogra uses his clerical powers to heal the party, the heroes still unsure on whom the 1/2 orc rogue/cleric worships. the 2 paladins determine it seems possibly the jovial 1/2 orc is a worshiper of some god who's realm is guardian of.. unknown, scorpions and snakes seem to be relevant to him as well. The dwarf and human, are thankful, but decide to head towards Skully town and don't want to try and break out of the Green.

The party then strikes out and heads to this well. The local rumours are that no undead enter the area.. is there something in the well? Reaching the plaza, they tie a rope and climb down into the well. Gothi doing a backflip, slips and falls into the water. Graxusas, able to breathe underwater, confirms there are a few air pockets to the zone of where the green shield is, and letting the party use his ring of water breathing, as well as holding breath, are able to pass it back and forth and finally cross through the holy shield, and are once again in the city of Wayberry in the sewers.

The Fellowship make it through the sewers, and finally exit into a narrow street. The party meets a group of 3 soldiers, drunk. At first they seem to be a patrol, but then the party realize these may be not on duty. With some careful deception, and a few bottles of wine, they are able to pass on. The party then note a shadowy figure going into a shop a Rankin's Meat and Cheese shop. Using magic, and then thieve's cant they try to make contact with the figure but there is no reply. Breaking into the building, Kantif and Doc search. Then a blade appears at Doc's throat. A man behind him seems upset at the intrusion. After a scuffle, and then some very well timed sorcery command spells by Graxusas, they turn the table on this rogue and take him prisoner. It seems after some interrogation, that his name is Isen. He is a member of the Scarlet Spider Syndicate (which seems to owe a favour to the group)! As well, he has heard of this group. They are called The Rat Catchers in Wayberry. Doc leaves some gold for the damage to the Meat and Cheese shop.

Isen agrees to guide the party to the headquarters of the GreySkulls - a destroyed cathedral in the dock district. Some of the party those that don't have a 2nd set of clothes, decide to go to a bath house - suggested by Isen as he holds his nose. A tailors was put up as an option for those that need clothes, but of course this would be a break-in and the two paladins - Cedric and Doc - are against this. 

There are now about 4 days left in the Peace treaty.

As some of the party waits while others go to the bathhouse, Gothi hears a familiar bark & howl from towards the dock.. JawBone!?

Dreams and the Colosseum

[ DM: the RedWater Fellowship go up a level and gain new abilities and spells]

 Date: Month: Coldeven (Common) Moonday,10th [Snowflowers: Elvish]

 The heroes rest and search the warehouse hideout further. Kantif and Graxusas do some investigation and with the sorcerer's detect magic cast search the decrepit and ransacked warehouse rooms. The heroes note a ward around Thogra's room -seemingly divine. the 2 find a flagstone that holds some treasure of worth and then a strange illusion at the base of a pillar in one of the large rooms which defies their attempts to open or dispel.

After this searching, the party then rests. In the Green it seems though that it is difficult for any to rest here, all the fellowship experience nightmares..

Cedric: since in the Green a nagging.. Itch or whisper continues to just be beyond your awareness.  the spirits of the dead haunt your dreams.. As if a procession of everyone hear that has died..  You see a young woman with long blonde hair in a flowing gown. You know her! She smiles at you as she walks amongst the procession of dead that walk thru your mind..

a girlfriend, close friend, a sister..?? You cannot remember!

The scene changes.. She walks with you as you stroll down a lane there are people everywhere.. Live and well. the Spring flowers and trees are in bloom, smiling she looks about and races off into a small park. You chase after laughing.. As you run.. You see the people smile and laughing enjoying the park change.. Skin starts to peel back.. Bone shows, eyeballs wither away into empty sockets.. Flesh is eaten away by maggots and slithering dark creatures you cannot bear to look at. They still seem not to notice as you recoil from them. The girl laughs still racing ahead of you.. There is a bridge over a small stream. She stands on the railing and looks back at you laughing. All around you now the people are either crumbling to dust or walking skeletal or dead flesh walking.. A shadowy creatures stands at the far end of the bridge. Cloaked and hooded.  She does not see it.. She laughs once more and walks the railing teetering left and right with her arms out to balance. With a motion of a long clawed hand, a pulse of force energy hits the bridge.. And the girl slips and falls off the railing.. You run to the railing and look over into an abyss of darkness. The laughter continues for a moment, you look to the far end of the bridge the cloaked figure seems to smile even though you cannot see its features.. The cloaked figure turns to you then and you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know you.. It will have you, even.. your past life.. Don't look into its eyes.. as you awake with a start, covered in sweat.

 

Graxusas - you see a young man - looks to be a 1/2 elf - in the shirt and cloak of the famous circus you ran, he asks you a question, and with a nod and grin he races away. You are not sure, but think this may have been one of the staff to assist with tent setup, packing and unpacking the wagons - a roadie - hmm.. there was a family of 1/2 elves in the troupe.. Yes! the Tormins. You see him and his brother and mother laughing as they setup a tent, working away happily. You look forward to the take in coin tonight, both from the people coming to see the show and the marks unaware they will be fleeced. Your grin widens at the thought..

The scene changes.. You see your circus being attacked by Black Rune forces and all the people being put in slave collars, those that did not die to the blades of the dwarves. As you stand there, they file passed, each one looking at you with pleading eyes and words to save them, free them.. You laugh and a Black rune dwarf standing next to you grins and counts large gold coins into your hand.

As you look towards the file of new slaves, you see your circus wagons burning.. Your friends dying.. And in the background.. A cloaked figure stands. One clawed hand grasping the throat of one of your dear friends.. The cloaked figure turns its head to you then and you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know all.. Don't look into its eyes.. You jerk awaking from the horrible nightmare..

 

Kantif: As you sleep, at first, it is the times with your family, good times, cherished and with your loving mother and brother and sister.

The scene changes. You find yourself back with your old unit in the Black runes in Fax. You enter a small finishing village. The other BR troops lay about killing those whom resist and taking slaves. You try and covertly help a small hobbit boy, hiding him in some hay behind a stack of wood in a barn. But the other BRs are very skilled at finding any hiding from the slave collar. And the boy is taken and joins the slaves, crying.

The scene changes and you see your father.. The shadow assassin. He stands before a tall cloaked figure nodding and then bows. Turning towards you he grins and winks and steps into some shadows and fades away.

The scene changes and you see a prince or duke playing with his family, holding a young girl in his arms. Then a blade appears in the prince's throat. Gagging blood, he stumbles and the child falls from his arms with a cry. There stands your father wiping the long wicked blade on the cloak of the fallen prince. Your father looks to you with another smile and winks again as he turns to the family. Behind, you see the cloaked figure again, then it turns its head towards you and you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know all.. It will be able to control you like it does your father…? Don't look into its eyes..

You jerk awaking from the horrible nightmare.. Breathing heavily..

 

Doc Holliday: you sleep, you have not slept this well in many a moon. As you sleep you dream and figures are approaching you.. It is as if you see your self multiple times. Then you realize it is you each one is you. And each one is you at the moment you died. Your eyes blur with tears for a moment and then you see Her. And for a long moment, all the pain washes away as if in a waterfall. It is Her. The Raven Queen. Ravens flitter and fly about her. She seems to be walking away from you towards a shadowy realm, but you can see that mask, that beautiful mask.. All is.. Perfect as she glances back that one time about to look at you?

Then all goes wrong.. The ravens die.. Flesh peeling away, feathers falling to dust, the gentle familiar cawing you enjoy turning to whispers and cackles and gurgles. She turns to face you and it is not Her.. It is a cloaked figure and kneeling before it is your grandfather one large clawed hand comes down to encompass his head. And then the cloaked figure looks up to you.. you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know all.. It will know your whole tribe…it will find them.. None of the Hollidays will ever see the Raven Queen.. Don't look into its eyes..

You jerk awaking from the nightmare.. Looking about wildly for a moment..

 

Gothi: you sleep.. At your feet is Jawbone, keeping you safe. You see your kin.. You feel the connection to them all through the crystal gem. It has been so long.. years, decades.. centuries..? Since you felt this.. Right. You join with your brethren to the link that connects you all and it is.. Right. In your dream you feel the pulse of the gem in your body and breathe a long sigh content..

The scene changes and you see the dragon.. Trapped under the ice at the top of the mountain lake. Why.. Do you feel you have a connection to this dragon?

The scene changes again No.. Something is wrong.. You see one of your kin - a young man - being captured by black Runes in Enstad. No longer burning.. Burnt trees and destruction everywhere. The young man is in a slaves collar and led to a tall cloaked figure. The cloaked figure reaches out to the boy, it's long claws digging in as the boy cries out. You know what it digs for.. The boys slumps to the ground as the cloaked figure's head turns to you, one clawed hand holding a dripping crystal..  you realize you should not meet its eyes.. If you do.. It will know you.. It will be able to find you.. it will find all your kind.. Don't look into its eyes..

You jerk awaking from the horrible nightmare.. Safe.. For now..

 

 All the heroes wake-up at the same time.. each covered in sweat and glancing about. Troubled, most take some

time and move off on their own. Gothi, she needed fresh air - as fresh as it can be in the Green - and headed up top. Creeping carefully amongst the ruins of the mansion, the ranger spies some skeletal figures wandering the grounds of the mansion. Gritting her teeth in anger, she fires off arrows at the undead. At first they are cut down, but then more appear and then more. And then a large lumbering creature starts to push through the group towards the ranger and she realizes it is time to flee. Down into the hideout she runs. The party, meanwhile had time to prepare
for the onslaught. 

The foremost undead looks to be a combination of many humanoids all mashed together. Heads,arms and legs stitched seem to make its massive frame. The party using some of their new abilities and spells are able to defeat the monstrous creature and a horde of smaller skeletons and zombies

Resting a little, Graxusas, decides to smash the giant's hammer on the illusion at the base of the pillar. This does not have the affect that he wanted as the ceiling started to cave-in! Just as he was leaving, he saw the illusion had fallen and a set of stairs going down were visible amongst the falling timbers and blocks of stone..

The party then moves out. Thogra gathers the bones of Fluffy, and puts them in a bag that would not be able to hold that much size and weight. Heading towards the Colosseum, Rigo, the guard of the kobold cleric to Istus - Skrit - is reluctant to come and takes his leave to head to Skully town, with Skrit having decided to join Cedric in the paladin's quest.

Using Graxusas' well as the find the path ability of Kantif's monkish skills, the party is able to skillfully cross a large part of the Green, avoiding wandering undead. 

Coming up to the area of the Colosseum, the Fellowship see what looks to be a large building, three stories high with balconies. Declan advises these used to be apartments, but are now boarded up, the other side of the buildings is the actual amphitheatre.  

Using a variety of skills the party scales the side of the apartment building and breaks in to the rooms overlooking the amphitheatre. A large clear area on this side of the river had a variety of undead milling about.. on the opposite side of the river large sets of seats / bleachers were setup, where it looks like Black Rune dwarves, and other Wayberrians sat in anticipation of the upcoming events. A large crane with a cage that would hold 3 or 4 humanoid sized creatures looks to be able to swing over from the other side of the river to deposit them for battle. Declan shakes his head.. 

"No one usually survives the Deathground" The boys sighs. 

The Fellowship relized they would need to go into Wayberry - perhaps a prison break to find whom they searched for.

Next time.. espionage in Wayberry..