Ustalav...a poisoned, cursed and haunted land, once ruled by the Whispering Tyrant, a powerful lich-king, and his undead legions for 625 years! Then later the blue dragon Kazavon terrorized the land for 16 years before it was vanquished. The current monarchy is weak and under political upheaval and for the icing on the cake, the country is bordered by two hostile nations: the orc-inhabited Hold of Belkzen to the west and the demon-infested Worldwound to the north! It appears Ustalav is indeed a cursed land and yet, a band of heroes has formed within its borders that may give the highly suspicious and superstitious folk of this land hope yet...
The Grey Knights of Caliphas have come to prominence recently on account of their defeat of a young blue dragon who was threatening the settlers of Canterwall, one of Ustalav's twelve counties, and trying to follow in the footsteps of Kazavon. The band's defeat of the drake and the surrounding publicity was followed by an invitation to Lepidstadt, the largest city in Vieland, by Judge Embreth Daramid. The messenger who delivered the message advised it was of the utmost importance as she is a powerful judge in the region renowned for her fairness, even temper, and judicial acumen.
Piqued by curiosity and the mention of reward, the Grey Knights have traveled to the address on the note. Judge Daramid lives in the center of Lepidstadt, famous throughout Avistan, for its highly acclaimed University, where the late Professor Lorrimor once taught. The Judge lives in a fine townhouse surrounded by art in the center of the city. You knock on the door and are quickly shown inside by her manservant, Durgan, to a study. "Please make yourselves at home, I will fetch her Honor. She's been expecting you." Durgan leaves, politely closing the sliding doors of the study behind him. The study is pleasant and decorated with charming art. A tray containing a kettle and porcelain teacups has been neatly left in the middle of the room.
The road had taken its toll. Tania's feet screamed pain and anger, making her head throb, which brought bad memories of deserved beatings to her mind.
First in the room, as usual, the tall woman grabs the longest couch and lays her dusty legs on it, after asking the judge's manservant for something to drink, something strong.
"Why are we here again?" she asks to no one in particular, looking for a flame to light her thin cigar.
"Because killing that dragon got us noticed...by the elites of Ustalav, apparently." Althamis' eyes scanned the works of art, noticing every fine detail of the paintings. Definitely real...in my former life, this would have been a great house to hit for its treasures. The half-elf shakes his head and smiles, That was another life. One he left behind. He now served justice and Iomedae. He was in the mood for some elven wine. He gracefully moved about the room, continuously checking the bandoliers that criss-crossed his chest for his daggers. Some things about his past he could not change. "We will wait to see what this Judge says. Perhaps, she knew the Professor. After all, he is the common bond that unites us and made us come together. It would be great to hear stories about the man." A sad look comes over Althamis' face as he remembers the man who forever altered the course of his life.
Voyla couldn't look more different than Tania, or herself, for that matter.
Instead of her normal dark outfit, good for sneaking by, she was dressed in a very colorful and elegant noble outfit, magically procured from her Sleeves of many garments, and adorned by a lot of Glitter, jewelry she had bought for the occasion.
The flashy Varisian in her had finally shown up.
"Maybe the professor brought us together in the first place, but our adventures, and the trust we now have in each other, is what bound us together now."
With her eyes tries to make Tania to put the cigar away. She told them she wanted to make a good impression.
Understand Voyla's face, Tania gives her a friendly smile and replies: "I'll put the cigar out when you take off that garish dress..." downs her glass, and reclines against the giant green plush pillow on the couch, her crimson and grey dusty doublet screaming in contrast with the velvety brown green.
Her eyes reach out to the high ceiling, some kinds of angels were wrestling against some kinds of demons. I wonder where She'll put me when I die..? she asks herself as she study the wrestlers' poses. I bet it's those fools from Ardis who posed from the artist... Should have taken others, the angels will definitely lose that match...
Truth be told, judge made her nervous. Very nervous...
"She probably did not know him. It's that dragon, like Althamis said." she comments with a bitter tone.
Picking up Voyla's facial motions, a middle-aged halfling in a formal grey wig under an elaborate hat puts away the pipe he was about to light. The inside of his coat is lined with countless pockets for strange-smelling substances and tiny glass beakers, so he is forced to spend a moment looking for an empty one to store his pipe in.
Once that business is done with, he produces a small chipped ultramarine scale from another pocket and shrugs while twirling it in his fingers with a bored expression.
"Not sure what was the big deal with that dragon, just a common blue one. Granted, they are a bit rarer than the omnipresent reds, but still pretty mundane. There are places in the Great Beyond, my friends, where immortal dragons of hues unfathomable to the human eye dwell for aeons!"
Kerzan's gaze wonders as he says this, and you know he can go on like this for hours if left unchecked.
"A dragon, whatever color it may be, is quite a challenge and a notch on one's belt. Mundane...bah! Besides, it was pursuing an agenda of evil and it had to be put down, end of story." Althamis looks impatient, as he awaits their hostess, his curiosity getting the best of him.
"By the way, what was its name? I didn't quite catch it. It was screaming and roaring and screaming and cursing us. On an' on an' on! Glad we shut it up..." Tania comments, her eyes now closed, pulling on her cigar with obvious delight.
The doors slide open and in walks an elderly human woman in her sixties, her hair pulled tightly in a bun, with icy blue eyes. "I agree, young man, evil dragons should be put down at all costs!" She smiles, "I hope you didn't think I was eavesdropping, my eyes may be going, but ears are still as sharp as always." She motions all who are standing to sit, while she moves to the table to pour herself some tea. The manservant is about to step in, but she motions him away, "Please Durgan, if I let you serve me, my guests will secretly think one of two things: I am too pretentious to serve my own tea or I'm too much of an invalid to take care of myself." She laughs as she grabs a cup and sits in her big lounge chair. She takes a sip of the tea and enjoys its pleasures. She seems to plan and appreciate every second of it. When she finishes, she speaks in a serious voice, "I am Embreth Daramid, one of the justices of Vieland and Magistrate of Lepidstadt. Before you ask, yes, I knew of Professor Lorrimor or Peter, as I called him, never Petros. I was studying law at the University and he was just starting out his teaching career. I know his daughter, Kendra, as well. I sent her my condolences when I heard of his passing. Peter spoke to me of all of you, Althamis, Kerzan, Tania, and Voyla...how he hoped he had made a difference in your lives. Well, he had so many students and he impacted everyone he ever met. That is the sign of a good life lived." She pauses to smile, as she takes another sip of her tea. "In fact, a band of his former students, adventurers by trade, came by here soon, heralding from Ravengro, bringing me some of Peter's possessions. They were at his funeral and here in Lepidstadt, they helped me prove a wretched soul's innocence, while investigating the theft of a demonic statue from the University. Unfortunately, the band of heroes was supposed to report back to me a week ago and have seemingly disappeared. I fear the worse...they were on the trail of the Whispering Way...have you heard of them?" Embreth's face is as serious as can be, as she studies your faces for your reactions.
Voyla bows at the woman, and tries to cause the best possible impression when she talks, showing respect and attention.
"Yes, we have. A group of sycophants and crazymen. They should be unmasked and contained wherever they are found."
Althamis curses himself for not paying attention in Theology class at the Temple of Iomedae and just stares at the rest of the party. He can feel the stern look of disapproval from the Judge, as he shrinks back in his chair.
Cahal rises somewhat from her prone position as the judge walks in, clearly uneasy, eyes darting, but when the judge mentions the Whispering Way, her eyes fill with tears.
She can still their screams. They're asking for vengeance, and she vowed to provide it.
Presently, she rises, her back now straight: "You have a lead?"
"I agree, Voyla, they should be exposed wherever they are. Adherents of the Whispering Way view the passage into undeath not as a curse or a punishment, but rather the greatest transcendence a living creature can experience. To the Whispering Way, life is a drain on the ecology and a wasteful expense mortals must endure before passing beyond the veil of death. For centuries, many adherents of the Whispering Way have idealized their path’s most infamous member, Tar-Baphon, known as the Whispering Tyrant, and await his triumphant return. As a member of the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye, a secret organization that, among other things, seeks to defend Ustalav from threats both within and without, I cannot allow that." Embreth stands as she continues, "Now that I know the Whispering Way was involved in the theft of the Seasage Effigy, the statue from the University, the Order is greatly concerned with what the Whispering Way might be up to, given its undead ties. I do have a lead, Tania. My contacts have informed me that agents of the Whispering Way were seen heading into the Shudderwood via the Silent Path, an ancient and rarely used hunting trail that is one of the most direct and covert routes through the forest. Why would the Whispering Way be interested in Shudderwood, which is mostly infamous to the citizens of Ustalav for its tribes of werewolves? I know it is highly dangerous to enter that accursed forest but I recommend you visit Ascanor Lodge in its center along the path. The lodge contains an impressive library open to the use of its guests, and its rare collection of pre-Palatinate histories might aid you in discovering just what the Whispering Way is after in the Shudderwood. I can write you letters of introduction to allow you access to the lodge, as well as 6000 gold coins at my disposal to entice you to follow the trail and thwart the cult's plans, by any means necessary. I would never doubt Peter's judgment and he spoke great things about all of you. Your actions in slaying the dragon show that I can trust you. Grey Knights, what say ye?"
After looking around at her friends, Voyla kneels in front of the judge.
"We would be honored to take on this quest, and we thank you for your confidence, guidance and resources. We will do our best to protect the good people is Ustalav. Is there any more advices you can give us?"
Kerzan listens attentively to Judge Daramid, as if she was a lecturer. Once she is done speaking, he stares vacantly for a moment and mutters quietly but distinctly under his breath: "Cucurbitae Sanguisugae... but of course."
As if having just made an important discovery, he addresses Judge Daramid solemnly and with a sense of urgency in his voice. "We must indeed stop the Whispering Way from succeeding in their plans - their machinactions have enacted far too many nefarious consequences in Ustalav already, perhaps even more than any of us may realize at this moment. The hard-working populace of Ustalav must be allowed to live their lives and cultivate their crops in peace, free from the necromantic influences, and if the Whispering Way indeed made some sort of alliance with the Shudderwood lycanthropes - they will learn that it takes more than a few halfbreed curs to stop the Grey Knights."
Althamis listens intently and then follows Voyla and kneels on one knee, "The blade of Iomedae is at your service, your Honor. Undeath is the worse kind of form there is and must be destroyed wherever it is found. You have my services until my dying breath."
Tania lost track of the judge's words after she confessed to being part of a secret society. She trusts us... Or she trusts we'll never make it... she thinks to herself.
Her companions' felt pledges pull her back to the here and now. Still sitting on the couch, her gaze refocuses on the judge and she replies, in truth not knowing what the question was: "Sure."
Kerzan stops in his tracks, then raises his index finger up in the air and takes his pipe back into his mouth, despite Voyla's protests, but leaves it unlit. The familiar sensation eases his mind and the web of guesswork begins growing between the seemingly unconnected facts.
"I have spoken in haste - in fact in my correspondence with the late Professor he has named the Shudderwood werewolf tribes as one of the fiercest enemies of the Whispering Tyrant. Why would his followers return there now of their own volition? Perhaps they have something they did not have before.
The Seasage Effigy - its origins are mysterious and not much is known about it, even in Lepidstadt. The activity of the Whispering Way and its theft cannot be a mere coincidence. What if it is a key to something, perhaps a weapon, that can be unleashed to exact revenge on the lycanthropes? Or worse, to subdue and dominate them? Ah, what a twist of fate would that be - the Grey Knights allied with the Silver Hides!
Whatever is the truth behind those events, it can hardly be uncovered by idle guesses. We must prepare ourselves and follow the necromancers' trail. Ascanor Lodge is known in some circles for its rich collection of rare grimoires; perhaps therein lies a clue that will help us connect the proverbial dots.
Your Honor, is there anything else you can tell us before we set forth? Do you think it would be prudent to pay a visit to the Antiquities Department of the University to question the Effigy's custodians on the details of the crime? Or have you already relayed to us everything of import?"
Tania turns to Kerzan, wondering at her friend's words. Does he mean to say we're NOT to kill werewolves if we meet some along the way??
She wishes to interrupt, but knows better than to stop the small scholar from his inquiries. How many times did those save their skins?
Actually, not that many... she recalls, thinking of that time where the Halfling had almost got her killed.
Voyla looks at Kerzan and smiles.
She has learned to trust the halfling, and respect his knowledge.
"I am glad he is with us."
Judge Daramid quickly bids Voyla and Althamis to stand, "Please, please, no need for such formalities, young ones. I am but a Judge and a Magistrate, not royalty. A simple yes or no will suffice." Her serious exterior seems to relax for a second, as hints of a smile threaten to appear, but she quickly brushes it away with a sip of tea. "It appears you are all in agreement to travel to Ascanor Lodge. And rumors of your learned ability were not an exaggeration, Kerzan. You know much. Aye, those are some of the Order's same worries. Why would the Whispering Way delve into the territory of their enemies? The possibilities you suggest are frightening. That is exactly why I need you to travel there and learn all you can about the cult's plans. Now they have a head start on you and I have enough experience dealing with them to know that they have spies everywhere, so news of your involvement may be known to them already. After all, it appears my former agents were slaughtered by them, so any association with me implicates you. For that, I apologize so be wary of dangers from the forest as well as the Whispering Way. Regarding the statue, the reason for its theft is unknown, though there was a rather complicated plot to implicate a golem, but that's a tale for another day. So whatever use they may have for the effigy, I can guarantee you it is not good." The Judge motions to Durgan who places six pouches before you, each filled with 200 of the King's finest platinum coins. "The 6000 gp I promised you for supplies and whatever else you many need. I have no other information other than these." She hands you each a letter on fancy stationery paper with her personal seal. "I have drafted you each letters of recommendation to present to the lodge’s warden, Estovion Lozarov. As Kerzan can explain, it is a rather exclusive lodge, but these should be sufficient to get you in the door. I have secured lodgings for you for the night here in Lepidstadt so you can leave at first light. You will recognize the Silent Path the cult agents most likely used by strange bone fetishes placed in obscure locations used to mark the way. And again, please remember the forest has many dangers besides the werewolves."
She sits down, relieved the party has accepted the mission and chats with you for the next hour, relaying stories about the Professor, the law, or other subjects you may want to brooch with her. She then bids godspeed and wishes you luck.
After leaving the judge Voyla asks the others.
"So 6,000 GP? Which should we get to defeat Werewolves, in case, and undead? I guess I should get some more silver and blunt arrows."
Althamis stands and listens to the Judge's words of advice. "We will not let you down, your Honor, and we will watch our backs from dangers from all sides. The Whispering Way is involved in an evil plot, that is obvious and we must prevent it at all costs. We will not fail."
Tania gives the judge a powerful hug: "I had never her of your Order, your honour, but it is something I would be willing to support. If I make it back, perhaps we could discuss membership? And thanks for the whiskey!"
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Later, as they walk back, Tania asks: "I thought werewolves were on our side? Isn't that what you said Kerzan? In any case, do we need to change our identities? Have some kind of story to tell when asked why we're there?"
"Who said that the werewolves were on our side? Me? Oh...
I guess I can see how you could make such a conjecture. I was merely theorizing though - you know the old adage, right? The enemy of my enemy, and so on, and so forth... But I am not sure if the lycanthropes are equally well-versed in the folk wisdom.
And I think you're right, Tania. We may not necessarily want to announce our true goals to the first stable boy at the Ascanor lodge. As Judge Daramid has wisely warned us, the walls there may have ears. The Lodge is famous among the privileged circles both for the comforts and the exotic prey it offers, and for the collection of ancient knowledge and art in its thoroughly curated library. So it would be hardly uncommon, for example, for a man of my position to accompany a wealthy patron on a hunting retreat, while also pursuing own research agenda."
"Okay, we can discuss our strategies in dealing with the werewolves later. Let us leave the Judge to rest." Althamis gives the Judge an apologetic look, "Yeah, if you get Kerzan going, he'll talk your ear off...trust us, we know." Althamis smiles, bows before the Judge, and heads out, thanking her for the blessing. If we have time to shop now, we do so. Then we rest in the inn and head toward the Shudderwood in the morning.
Tania listens to her friend, but the Halfling always seems to bring more questions than answers: "Wealthy patron, right... And who would that be? If you're thinking Voyla, let me stop you right there. I mean, she'll need a real dress; not that frok she's wearing..." and she winks at her friend and smiles.
Voyla playfully show her tongue to Tania.
The halfling puts on his monocle and scans Tania and Voyla with his gaze.
"Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder, though I have not yet been able to get hold of one to verify this claim. But certainly we have enough gold on our hands to acquire an attire worthy of the upper class?
If you would prefer to keep your current outfits - not that there is anything wrong with them - then we could reverse the game and I would be happy to present you as my assistants on a field expedition."
"I was just teasing. I think Voyla would be perfect in the role of the clueless dandy, with us as her entourage, tasked by her family to keep her from harm. But where would we be from..? I'm starting to wonder if the lie shouldn't be kept simpler, closer to the truth, hmm?"
With the last sentence she tilts her head at Althamis. Their companion had at times questioned such schemes and suggested proper alternatives.
"From a remote state in coastal Varisia would work fine."
"I do not understand the need for deception. We have letters of introduction from a prominent Judge and magistrate in the region. I am sure her words will carry significant weight in securing admission to this high class hunting lodge. If not, I am sure Voyla's significant charm, with a little aid from me, will be sufficient to deal with any issues without resorting to lying."
Tania beams to Althamis, turns to the others, her face obviously saying: See! I called it!
Kerzan's monocle was now staring at the lowlife-turned-holier-than-thou paladin.
"Look, I understand that concealing the truth may rub you the wrong way, but we're not writing an academic paper here - we're trying to track a secretive cult of undeath. Do you really think that if we barge in waving the Judge's orders, they will just step out and surrender or challenge us to a duel? If you are hunting an owlbear in the woods, you don't march in an army formation, right? You track it's lair, lay the bait and wait in ambush. This is the same thing.
Besides, it's not like we're going to be hiding from them. When we can establish that the area is safe from the Whispering Way agents, we can drop the pretense. And if we manage to track one down, we can reveal ourselves and enact the capture. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Althamis smiles, "Don't be so dramatic, K...you make it sound like the lodge is crawling with WW spies. I am sure they are looking for something in the woods and sought the lodge's historical records for said purpose. We have to get to the woods, investigate the records, and see what's so damn important. Besides, with my holy aura which I cannot and will not mask, there is no way I can hide who or what I am. I will be presenting the letter. We can arrive at different times. The rest of you can go ahead with Kerzan's charade...you're right, no one is being harmed...but I do not see its wisdom."
After enjoying the Judge's company, you spend the night at the Horned Bison inn and awake the next day eager to have purpose again in your journey. Leaving behind the Dippelmere Swamp and Vieland, you cross the Troll’s Tail River into the neighboring Palatinate of Lozeri. Ahead, a dark shadow rises on the horizon, which soon grows into a massive forest of towering conifers known as the Shudderwood. By the end of the day, you reach its borders and decide it would be wiser to delay your entry until the morning given the imposing nature of the forest before you, one of the largest and most dangerous on the continent.
18th day of Sarenith 4717
Standing at the edge of the Shudderwood is almost like staring into another world. Ominous, towering pine trees blot out the sunlight, allowing only occasional splinters of light to pierce through. Within this dimness, broken branches and occasional shrubs growing up through fallen trees create shadowy illusions both wondrous and haunting. Apart from pallid lichens, colorful fungi, feathermoss, and wintergreen, little else grows in the forest. The Shudderwood possesses an eerie stillness only occasionally lifted by the sounds of passing birds and small animals scurrying across the dry pine needles littering the forest floor.
Alhamis' keen eyes discover the Silent Path, as it is marked with strange bone fetishes, as the Judge advised you. It has been traveled recently, as evidenced by the broken twigs or branches, but oddly, no footprints. You begin your trek through the dark forest. An hour later, the party finds a horrifying sight. Four corpses (3 male and one female - all humans around 19-20 years of age), stripped naked, hang swinging from low level branches. Flies and maggots have started to crawl on them, as some pieces of limbs missing, perhaps from some hungry predator. After detecting no evil, you come closer to the corpses and discover that each of the corpses has had its tongue and eyes ripped out. Even more curious, there is writing on the corpses across their foreheads and chest that reads: Your Honor, your charges have been found guilty of heresy against our ways! This fate is the only thing what awaits the enemies of the Tyrant! This is your only warning...
Voyla tries to prevent herself from being sick.
"This is horrible!"
She helps lower the bodies.
"We will have to cremate them... I guess."
She examines them.
She also looks for clues or tracks of who could have done this.
Althamis feels a sense of disgust and bile when he sees the corpses. After confirming that it is a not a trap, he cuts the corpses down with a stoic look on his face. "Poor souls, so young and to have met such an end! The Way will pay for their vileness, I swear it." He looks to the heavens for guidance and the wisdom to understand that he cannot prevent every evil act, as much as he would want to. He breathes deeply, kneels, and says a prayer for the departed souls.
Kerzan harrumphed but remained stoically silent, allowing the half-elf to have it his way as they went about preparing for the voyage.
Don't be dramatic... Where's the fun in that? Sometimes having a paladin around can be the necessary evil.
During the trip, Kerzan was in a good mood again and as chatty as always, but at the grim sight of the cult victims he has abruptly stopped talking and his face became dour. Wanting to help but feeling useless, he paced about from one of his companions to the next, trying to assist them in what they were doing but eventually settled for the role of a lookout for ambush.
"Those faces - the necromancers do that to their victims to prevent attempts to speak to them posthumously via magic... Somehow I think even the victims of that blue dragon had it easier."
Tania swallows hard at the gruesome sight and takes a deep breath, whispering under her breath: "Poor bastards..."
With grim eyes, she climbs up the tree and cuts them free, trying as best she can to lay softly down.
They'll pay for this...
Voyla can tell the four bodies were beaten by the hematomas appearing on the corpses post-mortem. She also finds signs of torture, as the digits on the corpses' fingers were brutally bent backwards. The cause of death, however, was exsanguination as the band of adventurers had their throats slit. She believes they were killed within the last 2-3 days. Voyla also sees the movement of at least 2-3 individuals by the telltale signs of broken branches, shifted blades of grass, and disturbed earth in the area, but again no tracks. The movement continues in the direction you are heading. Tania and Althamis cut the bodies down, while the paladin says a prayer for them. Kerzan checks the bodies and does not see any signs of rituals performed on the corpses to have them reanimated as undead. You can burn the corpses, bury them, or let the forest's natural predators clean up the mess.
Althamis agreed that the corpses should be burned. After all, he did not carry digging supplies with which to bury the corpses. Besides, he could do nothing for the dead band of friends...other than avenge them! After the deed is done, "Let's keep moving, the cult has way too much of a head start on us to begin with!"
Tania manages not to shed a tear, but her guts were wrenched tight. She had found a lead. At last, the Whispering Way felt tangible. But watching the tortured corpses burn, it felt too real. She had fought the drake as a reflex, without a thought. Now she could just back away...
In her head rose the cries of anguish of a hundred children now dead. She could never walk away from them, she knew.
She bit her tear, pushed the tears back, and took her position a few feet behind Althamis, longspear in hand.
"That's right Althamis, let's see to it that no one else has to suffer the same fate as those poor guys."
After the grim duty is done with, Kerzan takes his position behind Tanya, sobbing frequently - some of the acrid smoke from the funeral pyre must have gotten into his eyes and nose.