"You know the raven thing freaks you out even more than the mist thing." Carella calls through the bars as she looks for the way to open the gate.
Carella exits the jail to the outside as there are several more portcullis' in the hallway where her allies are trapped thus going outside is the most expedient way for her to escape.
As she exits into the alleyway the sun rapidly descends. Carella heads towards the front of the building to enter and seek the controls to open the gates.
However, another sound from the other side of the alleyway catches your attention.
You can hear a soft conversation between a man and woman. You cannot see either of them or make out what they are saying, but the woman's voice nearly charms you with its beauty. Soon the conversation ends as mysteriously as it began. From across the alley a slender young woman steps from a gap between two buildings and begins cautiously walking down the alley towards the front of the building, the side that Carella just walked towards.
She wears a hooded cloak that she keeps pulled up to hide her face. She seems frightened, for she constantly looks behind her. There is no sign of the other individual.
Before any of you can call out to her, suddenly, from out of the darkness, a harsh voice breaks the silence of the night.
"You have defied me for the last time, Akriel!" it snaps. The tone is so ominous and the voice so cruel that the hair on the back of your necks stands up. Evil seems to drift like mist into the alley and
wash against you like the stagnant water of a forgotten swamp.
Slowly, from the front of the building, a man flanked by two pony-sized wolves steps into view. There is a gleam in his eye akin to hunger and the wolves begin to leer at the beautiful young woman. As he steps between your vantage point and the girl, you see him raise a cruel looking whip over his head.
Carella sighs in frustration at the locked door. I really didn't think it would be this hard to open a door. She casts Misty Step again, and slips inside the main building. She continues looking for the mechanism to control the portcullis.
Elaris watches with the others as the scene in the alley unfolds, until the whip comesout, "Oh, that will not do..." she mutters under her breath.
She makes a low whistle, running a descending scale as she points at the whip-wielding man...
Lucifer watches the alley scene with simmering anger, but he isn't sure if he can do anything to stop it. He could fire his crossbow, but there's no guarantee that alone would stop the man... but if any of his allies attack, he might do the same.
Elaris points at the whip wielding man but he must not hear her whistle as he does not pause in the slightest as his whip blows begin to rain down upon her! She cries out in anguish, "No, please no more. I promise I will marry you!"
At the whistle, the two giant wolves look up at the window where the rest of you gather to watch the scene below.
The man with the whip pauses for a moment.
Marco fires his hand crossbow at the man with the whip.
Carella hums to herself as she grabs the key ring. She looks around to make sure she's alone, and then she studies the lock on the door and the keys trying to narrow down which one to try first. Once she does that she tries to unlock the door, and will take the key ring with her.
"Stay your hand you fiend!"
Khalid unleashes a Ray of Frost at the man wielding the whip.
Carella locates the correct keys and opens the door.
A set of stairs leads down into the darkness. An unlit lantern sits on a nail at the top of the stairs. Next to it on a shelf are the tools to light it. It is warm to the touch so the Jailer must have used it earlier to close you all in.
As you head down the stairs, the lantern guiding your way, you find a rather complex set of controls that appear to operate the portcullis' above.
As the man pauses the group begins to attack him with all available ranged weapons. While the attacks of Marco and Nezter miss Khalid's attack strikes true.
His wolves growl a challenge. He himself narrows his eyes and stares up at the small window from which you peer down upon him, "Be thankful that I have further busines to attenbd to this night fools!" He turns back to the woman, "Do not forget the lesson I have taught you this night".
With that, he turns on his heel and heads out of alleyway, his humongous hounds turn back to your windows, sniff and growl, before following their Master.
The woman slumps to the ground and sobs.
Elaris looks down at the woman in a heap, "Poor thing, that I could comfort her...Hold on ,dear!" she call out.
She looks towards the closed prison door, "Where is that Carella?"
The girl stands and looks up at those assembled in the high window, "That was very brave but very foolish of you to do, who are you people? Criminals?"
"No, lady!" Lucifer smiles down at the woman. "We are simply brave souls who have found ourselves in something of an unfortunate situation. We came here to aid the wardens of this prison, and now find ourselves shut within after slaying a foul monster." He cocks his hat and winks. "Barring circumstances, we'd have walked on our way, happy to lend a hand in keeping the world a safer place."
After a moment he hangs his head and speaks more softly. "I thought it was a clever pun, actually."
Seein' as how we tried t'help ya out, mahap you can get us outta 'ere?
The woman stiffens up with resolve. "I shall speak with the Jailer and let him know of your bravery!"
She rushes around the corner.
---
Carella, you hear footsteps above you as you are ready to begin trying the levers and then a melodic female voice, "Hello. Is there anyone here? Anyone at all!"
Carella studies the mechanism. She smiles in triumph as she just figures out the complicated pulley system and starts to work it as she hears a voice calling out from upstairs.
"I"m down here. Trying to get this blasted door open. What do ya need?" she calls up to the female.
Success! Carella operates the portcullis correctly and all of the cages begin to open at once.
The companions once trapped with the dead are no free once more.
The woman calls down to Carella again, "It sounds like you did it. Are the people trapped in that cell your friends? They tried to aid me which seems odd behavior for criminals..."
---
Marco rushes down, not appreciating being locked up. He approaches the woman, and he makes a half bow, as he gives a leg, so to speak.
Mi'Lady. I am Marco Andrezi. Me and me friends are glad t'be of service. What,
may I be askin', gave that bloke reason t'try and whip ya?
"They are helpful like that. Oh they aren't criminals. At least I don't think they are criminals. I just met a most of them at the inn earlier today. We needed to help the local law with an issue. It's all taken care of. I'm Carella. What's your name?" Carella grins at Elaris. Don't like the creepy mist thing. Shows you. You'd still be stuck in the jail if it weren't for the mist thing.
Bnnock chimes in, "Yes, tell us who that was that I can track down that black hearted soul for laying a hand on you. I'll make him eat that whip..."
She once again trembles at the mere mention of the man!
"He is a wandering bard and druid of these parts who has been seeking my hand in marriage. As you have seen, he has a violent temper and cannot cope with my rejection of him."
For a second, she seems to falter and looks as if she is about to begin crying again. Her thoughts, however, seem to turn in a more pleasant direction and a bit of color returns to her face. With a dreamy, far away look in her eyes she speaks again in the hushed voice of someone sharing a deep secret.
"You see, I love another. My heart is pledged to the good and kind Dr. Dominiani. He lives in a neighboring land known as Gundarak and works day and night to cure others of their ills. I was just speaking to one of his servants before I was discovered and beaten. Oh, if only I had one of those mythical knights in shining armor to come to my rescue. Aye, but fairy tales will do me no good now.
So you see, I appreciate your offer but only the most foolish or brave of heroes can aid me in my troubles". Her eyes tear up a bit again.
Bannock speaks, "You are in luck for you have found the most brave and foolish people I have ever met..."
"There is only one way I can be freed from the cruel hand that fate has dealt me. I must retrieve the secret Crown of Soldiers that was lost by my ancestors. I have consulted with a wandering Vistani who cast the bones on my behalf. I believe that I now know where it is located, but the place is fraught with danger and one so fragile as myself could never survive such perils. With that item of Legend, the good Doctor could face and defeat the Woodsman and we could be together..."
Well then, lady, point us t'the crown, and we'll retrieve it, eh, blokes? And who might the Woodsman be? Sounds like a baddun'.
Carella vies Elaris a look. "I've never tried that particular request before. Might work when we make it home."
She smiles kindly at the girl. "I don't have anything better to do. I'm interested. There might be some fun and profit in it."
"The locals call him the Phantom Woodsman. As you can see, he holds terrible beasts under his sway".
She pauses at Nezter's question, "No, it is not safe in Harmonia, instead meet me seven days hence in the Old Kartakan Inn in Skald when the sun is at its highest.
Tell no one of our arrangement, should he find out, he will direct his resources towards eliminating you and punish me further. I will speak with the Head Jailer and ensure that any troubles you may have here are resolved. Oh and do forgive me, I did not even properly introduce myself, I am Arikel".
She smiles as each of you also introduce yourselves in turn.
A low fog begins to creep even into the Jail Its damp touch penetrates even the mightiest armor and sends a shiver through your bodies. Looking about nervously, Akriel smiles and says "The mists are growing thick
and I had best be off the streets. I bid you farewell and look forward to our meeting in Skald."
With that she turns and leaves, vanishing into the fog like a ship sailing out of a misty harbor. Bannock turns to Lucifer, "Well, we need a place to hold up for the night it seems, know of anywhere? Also, can you lead us to this Skald?"
You indeed know where Skald is.
You also know that the Wolfsbane Inn is the best Inn in town and these fellows seem able to afford it... There are simply too many for you to bring home without half sleeping on the floor.
Lucifer had remained quiet during much of the conversation with the woman. He seems distracted, both by the troubles during the fight with the shapeshifter, as well as something else... But the handsome man quickly shakes things off as Bannock speaks to him, and he turns to the cleric with a smile and a nod. "Indeed. My kin are hospitable if you are familiar, but as strangers you may well must pay for lodging. The Wolfsbane should serve you well. In many ways." He chuckles and shakes his head.
"As far as further business, I know the way to Skald, yes. A fine path we trod there, skirting the edges of myth and truth. And, of course, there's a little of each in the other, I find." He cocks his head and frowns. "But yes, I'd thought the Woodsman a figure of legend. Some claim knowledge of him, but none say they've met him... We may be quite fortunate to have been trapped here, to witness such an event."
The group retires to the Inn and are given shelter. The presence of Lucifer spares them dirty looks from the assembled locals though the mood does become muted somewhat.
As they climb the stairs to their two sets of rooms, his and hers, the music picks back up.
Nadima starts, "While this girls tale is certainly a sad one, should we not be looking for w away home Nezter? No doubt we have not come to the same place that Korgan ended up in..."
Bannock removes his helm and frowns, "After a proper meal and a bath tomorrow we should set out for this Skald. We cannot simply seek a way home if there is one in trouble who needs our help!"
I'm all fer gettin' home, but I fear we may be stuck here for awhile. Mayhap, we can help out a bit while we're here.
Khalid nods at Marco's words. "I don't think we are going to find the way hope by any conventional methods anyway. This place only seems to let you go when it is ready." The wizard plops down on a bed. "In the meantime, let's enjoy some wine and food, then explore our surrounds a bit in the morning. Sound good to everyone?"
"They are helpful like that. Oh they aren't criminals. At least I don't think they are criminals. I just met a most of them at the inn earlier today. We needed to help the local law with an issue. It's all taken care of. I'm Carella. What's your name?" Carella grins at Elaris. Don't like the creepy mist thing. Shows you. You'd still be stuck in the jail if it weren't for the mist thing.
Elaris sticks her tongue out at her friend, then listens to the woman's tale, the watches as she disappears into the fog, turning back to the others , "What is with the fog in this place?"
Later, eating and drinking heartily of Khalid's bounty, she ticks items off on her greasy fingers, "A damsel in distress, a mysterious, nay, legendary adversary, a journey into the unknown...at least for me...never been to this Skald place. A story for the ages begins!" she declares, lifting her goblet for a toast to her and Carella's new-found friends.
Khalid raises his own cup with Elaris. "Here here. Though if I'm being honest, I'm not sure how much of our damsel's story I buy into. We'll see though. If nothing else, I'd love to see what this crown of soldiers is about."
"It's a story. One that's guaranteed to make people feel sorry and want to help. I'm good a stories like that. Hopefully there's some gold in it, and a step closer to getting home. Not that I have anything to go back to." She raises her glass. "To new friends and adventures."
Bannock raises a glass and proclaims, "May the God Emperor protect us all!"
---
Morning comes and you all find yourselves in the common room of the Inn. While the locals are still not friendly, awkward stares of the previous day are absent. No doubt Lucifer's presence is aiding in that respect.
The road to Skald is one that appears relatively easy to follow. However, unlike most countries you are all familiar with there are not merchant caravans that head to and fro. Most goods are produced and consumed locally. Whatever goes to market in other regional states go with less frequency.
The journey to Skald it seems will be on foot. The trip is rather direct, north up a nameless road and across the Minstrel River. It will take 5 or 6 days to arrive there on foot, leaving you all at lest a day if not two before the scheduled rendezvous with Arikel.
"Good morning all." Carella sits down for breakfast. She gives the inn a look trying to see if anyone would be interested in a game of chance this early in the day.
She eats her breakfast, and then asks where she might find some traveling provisions for the trip to Skald.
Elaris stumbles down the stairs, hair rumpled, eyes bleary. She'd stayed up a bit too long last night, learning some of the local songs...and the local vintages.
Slumping into a chair, next to Carella, the bard leans forward and places her forehead on the cool wood of the table, "What's so good about it?" she moans.
Then a trencher of food arrived with a thunk, and Elaris' head rose a little, her bloodshot eyes peering at the food from behind her unruly tresses.
"Ah...victuals!" she exclaims, then sets upon the food with considerable savagery.
Leaning back, she burps prettily, then sighs, looking much better, "Ooof. That was quite good, set me right it did!" she says, smiling at Carella and whomever else was present.
Marco joins the ladies.
Aye, bring me some breakfast, please, lass.
He deftly takes out his gaming set of playing cards.he cuts them and shuffles them, demonstrating years of practice and familiarity.
So, what's yer poison, Carella?
The next morning, Lucifer is up early, sitting in the dining room of the inn. He's much as when the party found him: leaning back in his seat, his feet propped on another chair, the birdcage beside him with the birds giving the occasional call. He looks less relaxed, however, and more thoughtful. Holding a mug in both hands, his gaze ending far beyond the walls of the building, he seems the very image of the phrase 'lost in thought.'
The arrival of the others quickly snaps him out of it, however, and he smiles and nods to his new companions. "Good morning, indeed. Any morning that follows a night of revelry is a good one, I find... even if we don't think so ourselves in the moment." He winks at Elaris and sips from his mug.
"As far as provisions, I think I know where we could purchase them. And doing so would be very much for the best. The road to Skald itself is safe enough, but to stray off the path invites danger. Wild beasts are the least of our worries, should we lose our trail, and those who would hunt the forests often find themselves the prey."
|
Netzer stumbles down with a grunt never up this early unless gold or promises are involved looking like he might either pass out or go on a killing spree eating breakfast in a haze and then speaking up finally thanking the serving wench and tossing a silver her way only to accidently smack Bannock straight in the middle of the forehead.
Bannock grins at the whacking, "It seems the Emperor was asleep at the reigns for that mighty blow Nezter". He chuckels from behind his helm.
Lucifer sees that some of the locals are more well disposed towards Elaris then the rest, her efforts have already given her some semblance of acceptance by the closed minded Kartakans.
Nadima listens to what Lucifer states and asks, "I've seen no horses at all since we arrived. Do they exist in this land Lucifer?"
"They do, fair lady, but not for riding. When we have need of travel, we mostly do it by walking." Lucifer smiles and shrugs. "Horses are for pulling heavy weights, when they are used at all. And nearby Gundarak is famed for its horse thieves. There are few of the animals still here, and not enough to seat our party. Perhaps we might find one or two..." He shrugs again and looks at the birds. "Mayhap we'd be better suited to simply put forth by our own two feet."