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Everyone
The wintry month of Abadius has dragged on for sometime but as is always the case in Lastwall the people endure, ever watchful of the northern front. Ever mindful of the Gallowspire. This day is no different. Alfrik has had you all training endlessly for the last three months, always telling you the day will come when the lords of Lastwall will be shown the value of his infiltration model. That day has come. You have been on r&r for the last two days and are spread throughout Vigil about your various interests. When to each of you, arrives a missive carried by a military courier. Upon inspection of the missive you see that it has Alfrik's dwarven clan seal stamped on it. It reads as follows:
All,
It is time, the glorious hour of our proving, the operation begins, meet at the barracks at 1900 hours, I will brief you upon your arrival with the mission intel. It would be best if you tie up any loose ends as you might not be coming back anytime soon.
Yours,
Captain Alfrik
"Finally", Keon says softly to himself. "Time to prove to my father that I'm worthy of our family name."
Wandering up here in the massive wildrness areas while not on duty have given him time to reflect and meditate on what his destiny is.
After reading the message from the Nishalerau Al'Blen gazes up at the heavens and wonders if his destiny is here. The dreams have slowed in frequency, but this does not comfort him as much as he thought. Maybe this is to relax him in some way and get him ready for the journey ahead.
Realizing such self-examination is not fruitful now, he heads back to base to see what awaits him.
Decipher 3rd-level scrolls (DC 18).
Halt Undead
Fly
Dispel Magic
Decipher 2nd-level scrolls (DC 17).
Rope Trick
Web
Mirror Image
Blindness/Deafness
Command Undead
Resist Energy
Decipher 1st-level scrolls (DC 16).
Mount
Identify
Reduce Person
Shield
I would like to scribe some scrolls, but I probably don't have time, since we only have 2 days. I guess that will have to wait. :)
I gather my things in preparation for the journey. I am curious as to how long we will be gone, if we will be returning, or if this will be my final journey before I "more closely" serve Torag. As always, I resolve to worry not, but to be a fine example of what it means to be a disciple of Torag.
I have made the most of these last few days, and I am ready. I don't have much in the way of loose ends to resolve, so after prayer, I set out and make my way early, and take the long way so as to have an extended walk among the stones that have when thrown up and collect along the sides of the road.
The missive arrived at a fortress in Vigil, its high walls patrolled by grim-faced archers. The young courier was met very discreetly by a pair of very nondescript men, and was ushered in as quietly as possible. Inside, dozens of heavily armed guards stood watch over a stairway that led deep below ground.
They passed through rows upon rows of steel doors, twisting corridors and deep staircases that were so completely alike that the courier lost track of where he was. And then they stopped in front of one of the doors marked only by the single guard standing watch right next to it. Upon reading the letter, the guard nodded grimly and set about opening the door's many and complex locks.
...
Great metal bars shifted agonizingly slowly, as old but sturdy locks were one by one released. Light streamed in from a growing crack, and glassy eyes blinked, unused to the light after having been in darkness for so many days..
But there was a faint smile playing on his lips. He opened his mouth, and in a raspy voice said, "Already? Where does the time go?"
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Once everyone has gathered in the barracks Alfrik comes in. You gather in a small conference room off the main barracks. He looks you all over before laying out a map of Ustalav on a table that has been set up in the middle of the room.
"This is your objective," He points out a series of mountains 30 miles south of the Gallowspire. "Word has come down from sources in the area that there has been several unusual deaths and reports of strange undead over the last few weeks. One of my other smaller squads lead by a paladin of Iomedae entered the area 2 weeks ago they were to have reported back about this area two days ago via a sending. As yet I have heard nothing and I suspect I never will. I am sending you guys into find out intel on this place. Your mission will be to find out what caused these deaths and to locate Ashlyn, the paladin I mentioned before. She will also be your local contact as she knows the area pretty well. The last sending I got a week ago mentioned that they had a lead and that they were traveling in this region to someplace called" he stops and pulls out some papers that he flips through "Ah yes, Barovia. I looked into our libraries at the War College and there was only vague references to a minor noble family called the Von Zarovich, it didn't mention whether they were vassals of the Whispering Tyrant, however there seems to be reports of evil magics and the like tied to this family. Be cautious and wary. And may the strength of the Brotherhood that stands the Lastwall be with you."
With that Alfrik salutes you all and in turns shakes each of your hands and wishes you a fond farwell.
Siva's duties among the lower class of citizens in Vigil sometimes makes it hard to pinpoint her location. As she kneels down next to a frail older woman and with a low voice and friendly hand offers to escort her to the inn for a hot meal, Siva realizes she is being approached by a military courier. "Please wait here sir, I will be back in a second." She asks, looking back at the man. When she returns, Siva accepts the letter and hurries back to the barracks, excited about the mission.
After the briefing, Nish waves goodbye to his boss. Thinking to himself, I wonder if this is what I have been waiting for? Waiting for an answer from something, anything that will give him clues as to what lies ahead. he hears nothing forthcoming.
He then turns to the rest of his traveling companions. "Well this should be fun."
Keon briskly walks back to the barracks after the briefing. He packs all of his gear and dons his boots.
He writes a short letter and gives it to his commanding officer asking that it and any of his belongings be forwarded to his family if he doesn't make it back alive.
Keon steps outside the barracks. Waiting for his companions, he looks towards the mountains that are their destination.
Kalgrin is looking forward to helping those in need and hopes that it involves a fair amount of underground. He thinks the trek as described is far from a fetchingly good start, yet it is a start.
He considers and ponders Alfrik's closing words. "I do hope we fair well" he mumbles to himself, but so would have preferred a hope for a fruitful trip rather than a fairwell.
Kratos sits back in the back of the room as the briefing goes on. He really didn't care where he was being scent, he did look around to room to see who he had been stuck with. A ruddy looking dwarf, a blond human, a blond woman with odd gold eyes, a gnome. He signed Gnomes were always trouble he though and a brooding fellow who looks like he could use a drink.
He does peak up at undead, humm he thinks have to see if I can get some holy water then. After they are dismissed, he makes his way to his room. Every thing he owned pretty much fit in his little haver sack. Kratos did not believe in being held down. He dons his armor, and weapons, slings his haversack across his shoulder and makes his way toward the others
GM
Looking through the maps of Ustalav, Ibram couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Alfrik had impressed upon him the dire urgency and secrecy of his mission that was more than enough to get his attention. Granted. escape from the penal legions was enough incentive for him to join, but he was expecting a little more than this.
"That's it?" He wonders aloud. "Months of training, all the secrecy, and that's it?"
Shaking his head, he walks out before anyone could answer his question. Strange undead meant little to him, so long as they died just as easily under his blade.
"Thank you sir." Siva says with a quick bow to Alfrik. Looking around at the group, Siva speaks in a uplifting tone "This ought to prove something of our team if we can come back successful." Seeing Ibram walk out, Siva gives a sigh and goes about preparing for the journey.
Nish sees everyone walk off, leaving him alone. He is used to being overlooked by the Big Folk. Still something troubles him about the cavalier way the other members of his group are treating this. He recalls the talks about the values of teamwork, and while he never bough into all the regimentation Alfrik preaches, the sense of cooperation which he firmly believes in, seemed to be missing as well.
Well, things will work out in the end anyway, so he leaves to gather his possessions for the upcoming journey.
Ibram looked around for any observers before knocking. It was an old house, barely a shack near the slums of Vigil. The door opened a crack, and a bloodshot eye and part of a crooked mouth looked at him for a moment. The door was closed, locks were heard opened, and the door was opened just wide enough for Ibram to step through.
"It's true then?" The man asked, when Ibram was
"Freedom with a price." Ibram replies. "A cheap one at that."
"None of us thought he had enough strings to pull to get you out."
"And apparently he did. Which is far better than what the rest of you could do. Though I have little time for small talk. I hear you have my gear."
"Yes, yes." The man mutters hurriedly. "Stole it away when we heard of your arrest." He pushes the bed to the other side of the wall and throws back a few rags hiding an almost unnoticeable trap door beneath. He pulls it open, and drags two handed a large falchion that he just manages to lift.
"A few of the guys wanted to hold on to it while you were gone. None of them could wield it like you though. The rest is in there, along with a few hundred gold pieces we managed to collect."
"How many remain loyal?"
"Most."
"Good. Once this mission is done, be ready."
"Of course sir."
...
Ibram runs a few of the gold pieces in his hand, and decides that a few vials of holy water would do well for this trip. And realizes that no one had said where and when to meet. Must have come up after he left. No matter, he'll wait for them by the gates.
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After several last minutes preparations, the group finally sets out for Ustalav. It takes a week of hard riding before you begin to come across the villages that Ashlynn had been to. When you get there it is immediately obvious that these villages have become virtual ghost towns. What little signs of life there are, are only stray dogs and various farm animals. The one or two people you meet along the road point further into the mountains when asked about Ashlynn. The last village is the most telling several bodies are found scattered in the streets. They look ravaged at first glance. The stink of this village is overwhelming and your mounts seems to have become nervous about something. As if salt needed to be rubbed in to the wounds rain begins to fall from a heavily overcast sky. If your not quick enough any leads you might have could be washed away....
Nish gets off his pony, noting the animals skittishness, and grimaces at the rain falling from the sky. Normally, rain doesn't bother him, what with his celestial blood, but this chill rain, coupled with the biting wind, has been anything but pleasant to deal with. Maybe his mounts (he called the diminutive horse HighSaddle as a sort of joke) nerves were transferring to his own nerves. certainly he felt uneasy.
Seeing the corpses strewn out in the open did nothing to calm his nerves. Soon he felt something would snap...
He waves his fellow companions back for a moment, saying: "Let me check this out" then approaches the first rotting corpse, figuring to examine for clues as to how he or she met its grisly end...and also how long ago this happened.
Heal
Ibram kicked a corpse idly, while waiting for Nish to finish. Noticing his horse visibly spooked, he draws his falchion and walks toward the nearest house.
"Check the houses for survivors. Or worse." He calls out to the others.
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Nish:
You examine the bodies and notice that they show signs of having been gnawed on by some sort of creature, You can see where some of the exposed bones have teeth marks on them but as to what kind of creature you haven't the foggiest. Some of the fingers and eyes have been chewed on or out which you are sure are the work of rats which you see scrurrying about the corpses. But the other wounds were made by bigger creatures.
Ibram:
You look over the structures in the main plaza of the town near where the corpses are and you notice most of the wear and tear of these building being exposed to the elements (ie paint chipped off, rotting board and the like). One of the last ones though is the most eye opening though as you come across a door that has been battered off its hinges. You look around the ground and caught on one of the exposed hinges is what looks like a ragged piece of clothing attached to a piece of extremely dried and paper-like piece of bloody skin. You find no surviors, it looks like if any of them had been alive after what happened they up and left in the middle of what they were doings, you finds signs of meal preparations in several of the homes that would lead you to believe whatever happened, occurred around supper time. The food itself looks a few days rotten and covered in flies and rats.
Nish steps away from the corpse and looks back at Ibram and the rest of his troops, a look of confusion mixed with unease. Walking back to his pony, who he noted hasn't calmed down at all, says:
"I don't know what killed them, but I'm sure it wasn't pleasant. Something has been eating at these corpses."
Recalling during the briefing about stories of undead, he adds "This could be the work of undead."
Keon dismounts and glances about as he approaches one of the corpses. He pulls his cloak closer around him as a chill breeze arises. He kneels down beside one of the corpses to examine is closer.
Keon dismounts and glances about as he approaches one of the corpses. He pulls his cloak closer around him as a chill breeze arises. He kneels down beside one of the corpses to examine is closer.
Ibram takes the ragged piece of clothing attached to a piece of extremely dried and paper-like piece of bloody skin and passes it along to the others for their inspection.
"Whatever happened here happened days ago." He tells them. "Found this in one of the houses. See if any of you can find heads or tails of that." He nudges a corpse away with his foot in distaste, and sheathes his falchion.
"I may be making an assumption, but this does look like the work of undead. Not many creatures cause this kind of destruction and gnaw on human corpse." Siva suggests, a look of pity for the fallen radiating from her face.
Nish takes the proffered piece of human skin attached to the clothing and examines it further.
After doing so, he hands it to the next member, and then turns to Siva, "Yeah, I think you're right. Wonder if that village where Ashleyn holds the answers."
Looking around, he says to the group "Night is falling, we should press on, I don't think I like spending the night here."
"I agree Nish, this is not a good place to rest."
Kratos keeps quite for the most part until it come to talking about pressing on
"Can we make it to the next village before night fall?" He nods toward the bodies "Something did this and it's out there. Now I know this place is unpleasant but we could hold up in one of the houses and a good chance of making it very defensible in two hours. I do not like the odds of a camp with not much in the way of defense "
Keon looks towards the sky. "It will be night in just a few hours" he says, "I'm trying to remember how far to the next village..."
"Kratos is right." Ibram states gruffly. "Even if we make it to the next village before night, who's to say it hadn't met the same fate as this one? We can clear out much of the dead in an hour and hold out in the most defensible building until the next day."
"I agree. We should make haste, it grows dark quickly." At that, Siva move to the nearest house to inspect the inside.
"Kratos is right." Ibram states gruffly. "Even if we make it to the next village before night, who's to say it hadn't met the same fate as this one? We can clear out much of the dead in an hour and hold out in the most defensible building until the next day."
Kalgrin adds "Clearly there is something afoot that is going to require our utmost attention and preparedness. Now, a lack of sun light has never slowed this dwarf, but wiser words may have never been spoken - we need to hold out here. Should day break find us well rested, I suggest we set out on foot."
Nish hears the talking of his fellow members and says nothing, the only sign of his disapproval is the furrowing of his brow. He really did not want to stay here any longer than necessary. All this talk of defense and lets stick around the scene of the carnage comes as no suprise as they were trained to think that way. Those thoughts can turn into a prison, and the thinker into a golem, programmed to always to the same thing over and over again, he discovered long ago.
Still the value of teamwork is not lost on him. He turns to the rest of the group and says, with just a hint of aspersion:
"Well, let's get this over with."
Kratos nods "We should hit some houses for supply's, it might be good to burn the bodies but might be best to see to that in the morning as it will be seen"
Kratos starts helping the others fortify the chosen building
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Keon:
what you know of the area and the maps you studied before you left reminds you that you are about a days ride to the Weary Horse Inn.
Ibram:
The most defensible building you see is what looks to be a townhall that isn't much more than a mead hall that looks to have been converted recently into town meeting hall. The door look sturdy and looks the least likely to give you trouble defending.
Kratos:
If you are going to look for supplies you will need to give me a search check or just take a 10 as you have enough time to do it with out fear of attack just lots of rain.
Everyone:
You are fairly sure it won't take more than an hour to get a defensible position prepared for the evening.
Nish turns to Kratos and says:
"Do ya need some help searching for supplies? I figure two sets of eyes are better than one, and..." (glancing nervously around him)..."I don't think it's a good idea to go anywhere by yerself."
Looking at the Gnome he shrugs "Sure, two are better to carry things back as well. And your right in a fight getting caught alone often gets one dead"
Perception:
Keon pitches in to help fortify the townhall.
He stops to examine another of the corpses to see if he can find any more clues about what kind of undead killed the people.
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Nish and Kratos:
After about 30 minutes of searching the house you are able to find enough unspoiled food from all the near by homes and quite a bit of logs to keep the party warm over night. You also come across a barrel of ale that has yet to be tapped for use.
Keon:
You pitch in and help the fortifying of the town hall and take a glance at some of the corpses. Your not able to figure anymore than is already been discovered. You know it undead but not sure exactly what kind.
Everyone:
You work for about an hour fortifying the town hall. Around dusk you finish up just as the rain begins to fall a lot harder. You settle down for a long night by a warm fire, with ale and mutton.
Nish settled back after the fine meal, and soon the ale starts to spread its customary warmth through his bones. Ahhhh, this is nice. Good mutton and ale makes a great combo he discovered. Now if he only had some companionship...Well maybe staying here wasn't such a bad idea after all
Great idea, Kratos. this'll make the night pass quickly, winking at the standoffish man. Kratos hadn't said much to him during the searching, but he knew what effects drink had on some men.
Relaxing back in his spot on the floor in the corner, he awaits for someone to mention a watch order...
After his meal, Keon makes his way to a place near Nish.
"We don't want to drink too much ale....the undead prefer the night.", he says.