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The voyage south is uneventful, except for the token of appreciation you receive from the people living on your lands. But the more you travel south, just west of the Tors of Levenies in direction of Lake Silverstep, the less farm you find, the more gloom and determined the farmers look, and even the sunlight seems to fade into a mist that can't be observed.
You finally reach the last farm of your lands, owned by a young halfling couple of no nonsense farmers (male both of them) which invite you to eat with them.
"The Nine Hills of Shadow." - Adam, the shorter of them tells you - "That is how we call them. Always covered in mist. You sometimes can see figures moving there. Like floating from one place to the other. We don't get near them. No one does. And when... things... crawl out of there, we make a bonfire outside of the house and we lock ourselves inside. I mean, having your people patrolling is good, and people fell safer. But we think the bonfire works just fine. At least it has worked for us the last 15 years."
She watches the mist warily and nods to the farmers good sense. She was undaunted though, success was paramount and she'd ride through the gates of hell to see their mission succeed. Slobada would not fall while she drew breath. "Well we plan to change that if we can Mr. and Misses...?" She gives them her warmest smile as she tries to coax out a name from the hardened farmers.
"What else have you seen hereabouts? Anyone else of note we should talk to? Any local legends or ruins? Other ways to stave off the strange undead?"
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"Oakbranch, general. At your service. Well, this lands are hard, with all the undead around. Nights are dangerous, but if you are inside, you are safe. But we have noted more "movement" this last month or so... We couldn't tell you, we have never gone south. Not very far, that's it. We leave them alone, and light or fires, and they have leaved us alone. About other people to talk, not that we know off. The other farmers live father away than us. About legends... well, we have heard them all, but we don't believe them! Giant one-eyed ghosts! Nonsense!"
"Well if no one has fought them, I suppose there is little to learn. Might as well just jump on in, eh? Don't you worry, my good men, I've yet to meet a single spooky undead I haven't been able to smack around... If anything, we're qualified! Isn't that right?" He skips over Mulray when seeking affirmations from the group to his claim.
"Giant one-eyed ghosts?" Venetia asks questioningly. "Has anyone claimed to have seen these ghosts?"
"Is this expedition still hereabouts?" Seraph was very curious to speak with these people if she could...
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"We thank you for your hospitality, good sirs. I think the time has come, yes?"
"Karou... fetch my carriage." Karou grins - he loves this game. The creepy little monkey darts outside with Mulray chasing after - shouting warnings of what he'll do if Karou tries to ride off with his carriage.
Seraph nods in agreement with Arv before looking to the Halflings. "Is there a place on your farm or hereabouts we could bed down if needed sirs? We plan a long venture and would be willing to pay for an extended stay. Also I will pay double the trouble it takes to get more wood, up front of course." She discusses the details with them as needed before heading out after Arv.
Seraph takes up a front line position, riding just ahead or beside the carriage with her weapons at the ready. She was prepared to smite the first thing that dared to challenge them...
Seraph takes front line position, riding just ahead with Hiera at the ready and in its Lance form. Seraph was prepared to smite the first thing that dared to challenge them.
Janus has a question for the halflings. "Other than ghosts, would you happen to know what types of undead lurk around here? Any old stories about the root cause of all this undeath?"
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Seraph looks forward to fighting the undead that swarmed over the land. She wanted to protect the citizens of Slobada, it wasn't for Venetia, Tatiana or even Danath. It was for the people that looked to her for protection...
And she wouldn't let them down.
Her armor expanded, the platemail turned into banded mail as a heavy barding slid over Swifts body, making the pair look like a single entity. She raised her lance, allowing the Silver dragonflight banner to fly from it. Hiera shines despite the gloom they rode through. "For Slobada we fight! We will cleanse these lands in her name!" The lances voice was clear and distinct.
"I suppose any of those could be a possibility, but I've never heard of fey associating with undead." Venetia comments, though truth be told she knew very little about fey or undead so it was still a distinct possibility.
Janus feels something land on his head.
"About time you showed up," the Oracle says to the Faerie Dragon curling up on his noggin.
"Sorry, Jay," Noelle yawns. "I was hibernating."
"I don't think Faerie Dragons hibernate," Janus replies with a sigh. "I don't think it's even winter."
"I do," Noelle counters lazily as she pats her friend on the head.
She watched the fog amd gloom with keen eyes, wary of anything that she couldn't see this night...
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You arrive at the edge of the forest and even at the morning sun it looks gloomy and foggy. You enter it, keeping near the border, and Mulray's great driving skills lets you advance at good pace even without trails. The forest interior is damn and cold, with very low visibility.
Suddenly Noelle jumps frightened, while Destroyerman warns.
"There is a creature some 50' to the left."
Janus tries to pierce the fog to see the creature, and He thinks he sees something there, in the tress.
"What do you all want to do?" asks Neji. "If it's that close, Destroyerman can go check it out."
Venetia draws Rupert's Sword as Noelle jumps and Destroyerman warns of something near by. "If it's that close it has likely already noticed us." Venetia says quietly.
Seraph takes in the situation and nods to Neji. "Send in Destroyerman Neji, we will back him up as necessary. Everyone take up positions and defend the Carriage. Janus, Neji must be protected, as well as the wheels."
She aligns herself with the creature and prepares a straight charging path if able. Hiera was already in lance form and Seraph's armor adjusted around her and Swift, protecting both rider and steed. Nothin will stop us from reclaiming this land.
Mulray sends Karou to warn his riders... Arv nods to acknowledge - already informed by Noelle's report. He sets down his sewing, and steps from the carriage.
Arv looks up at Mulray - who is staring ahead intently while readying his bow from the driver's bench.
"I suppose you have already told him we have no room in the carriage?" He then peers in the direction Mulray is looking.
"Anyone have an inkling as to what we may have here?"
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Arv drops his arms to the sides and starts walking towards the creature, with a blank stare.
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"Arv? What are you doing? Someone stop him!" Seraph yells at Arv but as he walks blank faced towards the creature, she growls in anger. She turns and rummages through her saddlebag, taking hold of her Tengu Drinking Mug and pulling free the cork stopper.
She slams back the drinking drug, imbibing the alcohol within to fortify her spirits against the malign creature they faced. After drinking several gulps she sets it back in her back and doesn't even pay attention to the rivulets of alcohol that had run down the sides of her mouth...
Hiera voiced it's concern for its mistress in a worried tone. "Is it wise to be drinking in front of an enemy mistress?"
Seraph chuckled loudly. "Yes because we're going to run it down Hiera!" At that Hiera's lance form seemed to shiver in anticipation.
"Release my companion creature, or taste defeat!"
Mulray knows something is wrong. Arv walking toward danger... sure. But doing it without blathering in purple prose? He nocks an arrow, and tries to get a clear shot on the mysterious lurker.
"Coward, you stay in the shadows and play ticks with people's minds, show yourself, lest I have to find you myself."
Neji casts Haste on Destroyerman (and probably catching everyone else who would want it). Janus backs him up with a Prayer. Despite his lack of usual protections, the Eidolon quickly draws his blade and rockets into the mist.
"Should I have him stop Arv or attack the creature?" she asks the group at large.
Once the majority tell her to do something, the azure-haired gnome orders her golem to do just that.
"I will get Arv!" Venetia says as she rushes to grapple him
Arv comes to... with Venetia holding him. "Hmm? Venetia what?... He looks back to see how far from the carriage he had walked. "How peculiar..."
"Was I... bewitched? Thank you Venetia... saved by a hug. Ha! I owe you one." He is already on the way back to the safety of the carriage.
He dismisses with a gesture Mulray's look of concern... "Yes yes... I know... carry on."
With Arv safe she sighs in relief but watches as Destroyer man charges ahead. With magic flowing over her Seraph guides Swift forward with her knees and charges into the mist toward the creature that had bewitched her companion. Intent on its swift and utter defeat. Swifts magical horseshoes kept him a few inches above the ground, allowing him to charge over the rough terrain like it was open ground. Heira hummed with battle fury, its unknown power giving strength to it's wielders devastating power...
Destroyerman joins in Seraph's powerful charge. While his swing is not nearly as awesome as that of the General, it is nonetheless highly impressive.
