Iluna follows the others outside, wishing she could do more to placate the frightened townsfolk, but understanding that likely nothing more can be done for them than to ensure their safety by removing the immediate threat.
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Iluna hugs herself as the cool evening wind tugs at her sleeves. She sees nothing here of note, and begins to doubt whether men can hope to do anything against beasts of myth.
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Stepping inside Iluna can see the signs of a struggle; several claw marks, of two sets of taloned feet: the lack of humanoid footsteps following suggest Mara's daughter was carried by one of the two creatures. She points this out to the others.
"we still have some light, we should explore outside until nightfall. Come, let us make haste."
"Good idea Andaris but we shouldn't all go out and leave these people. Gonan and Mihail, why dodn't you guys stay here and make sure that the villagers are safe. We will investigate then head back."
"Well, I can't find much here. Andaris, do you have any better luck?
Kaid'an closely examines the room and finds the bloody fingernail. "Since Mara didn't awaken this must have been a quick fight. Poor girl but she had the bravery to fight back and either didn't scream or couldn't. These things with talons must move fast. I can't find anything else here. Let's go back and tell the others what we have found and protect the villagers. As much I want to start a grand hunt protect them should be our first priority. If they only attack at night then maybe we can hunt them during the day and caught them in the daylight."
Andaris searches around the site described by the townsfolk as where Rast was attacked.
He notices both the spot where the attack must have happened, and tracks leading back to the town. He says, "Looks like Rast's story checks out, he was clearly stumbling back into town. See here... and here?" Andaris points to patches on the ground. "He stumbled and began crawling on all fours. Poor man, to be so terrified."
Andaris takes time inspecting the door frame, scratches marking the surface. He shares what he sees with them, as they share with him what they have learned.
In their time searching the sites, it has grown sufficiently dark outside to be called night.
Stepping out of Mara's house, Andaris takes a few minutes to listen and watch for signs of the attackers.
The sky deepens to a dark blue as clouds appear on the horizon. There is no sign of anything amiss at this point.
Iluna waits as the sky gradually turns from blue to black. As it does, she experiences a strange new emotion: a mix of peace, born of her familiarity with the stars, and a creeping sense of dread that lurks in the shadows of her mind, growing in strength as the darkness deepens. She looks around at the villagers' vacant houses. "The houses are dark," she says stating the obvious, as a way of introducing her forthcoming thought. "They look empty, and the town is dark with their absence. Whatever creature has beset upon this village, it clearly dwells in darkness, for it only attacks at night. Therefore, shouldn't we light torches? If the houses do not look dark, they may be discouraged from coming near."
Bagheera enjoyed traveling to some place new. The cat just followed her master around and when that got boring she just fallowed Andaris. She just watched birds while they were in the pasture and hunted for mice while everyone was in the house. Once they left the house Andaris was clearly looking for something so she sat beside him and looked around. She saw a bird in the sky and wished it would swoop down so she could eat it.
"Hmmmm... I think i recognize these creatures. From Gonan's information and the information from exploring I believe these things are Nightgaunts. They are winged, tailed and horned. They have sharp claws not their hands and feet fitting the information that we already found. Humanoid in shape but they lack a face. They can see just as easily in the dark so I don't think's Iluna's idea will work. However, we human's can't see in the dark so torches are still helpful. I read that they are usually from the realm of dreams and feed off of negative emotions. That would be why they are causing the village to despair. Also I don't think they breathe. At least we have a better idea what we are up against now."
The night wears on as the heroes keep a lookout for signs of the nightgaunts plaguing Delham.
It is late, around 2 AM when a cow cries out in terror before being abruptly silenced. The heroes are around the manor, and the sound comes from the edge of town. The moonless night shrouds the hamlet in darkness, and the location of the noise is beyond Andaris’s sight.
Andaris' light spell still shines from Mihail's lance, where he had cast it earlier.
At the noise, he perks up and says, "at the ready, friends!" He sets off toward the sound. On the way, he casts bless and shield of faith centered on himself.
Mihail readies himself to charge past his foes, and then rounding on them to charge again.
Kaid'an cats Light on Baghhera's forehead so she can see the monsters. On their way he also castes Magic Fang on Andaris and his own cat's claws. He will take up a position near the back with his cat next to him. Let Mihail have his charge lane.
Gonan begins lightly tapping each of the party members, casting resistance on each of them in turn.
Iluna conjures a group of floating orbs of light. They float in slow revolutions around her.
You descend the hill, heading towards the sound.
As you come around a building, Andaris sees two horned, winged creatures busy ripping open a cow. They don't seem to be feeding, but are ruthlessly butchering the animal.
Though their backs are turned, they somehow detect the party's approach. Andaris sees them flap away on their bat-like wings before they disappear behind buildings.
The rest of the party hears a gruesome squelching and ripping noise from up ahead, but the darkness hides the source. A brief flap of wings marks an end to the tearing, but nothing enters your light.
Iluna directs her floating lights forward towards the source of the noises.
Andaris takes a step around the corner of the building, maximizing his line of sight .
He then begins summoning a monster . He calls on the depths of the void to bring forth a more primal and deadly creature than is available on the mortal-like planes.
Iluna's lights reveal the dead carcass of a cow, mercilessly torn apart by sharp claws.
"Slowly move up guys and watch around corners. We need to find these monsters and stop them. Did you see where they went Andaris?"
Kaid'an does not see any nightgaunts.
Map.
Mihail edges Lanfarnesse closer to the corpse.
Andaris swiftly adopts a dragon fighting style.
Gonan looks up the hill towards the manor and casts flare trying to use it to see anything on the rooftops, and prepares to cast spells defensively.
Iluna takes a few tentative steps up the road recalling the floating lights to herself. Her spine tingles in anticipation readying her to defend herself.
With a leathery flap, a nightgaunt vaults over the roof of the granary , diving towards Mihail.
At the same time, another silently glides from behind a house where it was hiding and lands next to Iluna, long clawed hands reaching for her throat.
Andaris performs a stunning charge against the nightgaunt in front of him.
An eagle exits the void and sees... a shadow. His master directs it, attack! He smites it with all his otherworldly might!
Bagheera turns and focuses on the monster that is attacking the other female.
Kaid'an steps forward and shoots and arrow at the monster attacking the mages.
Andaris delivers a crushing blow while his summoned eagle tears into the first nightgaunt .
Iluna unleashes the magic tingling at her palms, but the horrible monster in front of her seems unfazed.
The second nightgaunt avoids Bagheera's bite, and Kaid'an's glancing blow is turned away by the creature's tough skin.
Gonan steps around Iluna and fire erupts from his mouth, engulfing the night gaunt in a cloud of flame.
The nightgaunt brings down a wing to cover its head, but the torrent of fire badly scorches the creature.
Using Gonan's attack as cover, Iluna escapes the nightgaunt's reach.
The nightgaunt lunges forwards, clawing at Gonan. It is all the wizard can do to avoid being impaled by the scything talons, which close tight around Gonan's shoulders.
Meanwhile, the other nightgaunt is busy shaking off the effects of Andaris's strike.
The eagle senses his foes is weakening, and attacks again. It's voidwarped talons rend the nightgaunts flesh. I'ts visciously barbed beak tears at the nightgaunt's face!
Andaris attempts to kick the nightgaunt, but very nearly trips over himself as the nightgaunt springs back into action!
Mihail and Lanfarnesse charge the second nightgaunt.
The first nightgaunt weathers the eagle's attacks, dark blood oozing from the many gashes covering its body.
Mihail pierces the other nightgaunt , his lance coming out slick with nightgaunt blood. The monster collapses to the ground, releasing Gonan from its grip.
Seeing the monster attacking the mages has been brought down Kaid'an turns to the one left standing.
Kaid'an fires true, his shot embedding itself in the nightgaunt's head.
With the monsters eliminated, the rest of the night passes uneventfully.
Andaris takes time to rest and seek out his divine source of power through meditation on the void.
The nightgaunts have been defeated. Baron Wylder will want word as soon as possible so he can send men to raise a levy from Delham.
It has been a long night, and you have not slept in almost 20 hours. Fatigue pulls at your eyelids, weighing down your limbs.
"Friends, as much as we would all like to sleep now we must stay awake till morning breaks. We need to make sure that these people are safe then we can worry about our selves. Sleep once the morning comes and then ride back to the Baron."
Andaris medidates until dawn, then rests.
Upon waking he prepares to journey back on horse, having rested just long enough to assuage his fatigue.
"Friends, as much as we would all like to sleep now we must stay awake till morning breaks. We need to make sure that these people are safe then we can worry about our selves. Sleep once the morning comes and then ride back to the Baron."
Iluna yawns in protest. "But we are so tired..." she says as she stretches, "we don't all have to stay awake do we?"
"As much as I want to sleep, we came here to protect these people. Fine. I'll stay up with you paladin." Gonan shrugs his shoulders as he walks back towards the manor. He takes a seat against the wall, and cringes as his body aches from the fight.
Kaid'an is convincing, and his dutifulness inspires the rest of the group to maintain watch with him.
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Dawn sunlight peeks through the grey clouds after the end of your vigil. The villagers wake and investigate the night's goings-on, impressed at the dead nightgaunts.
"I can't thank you enough," Jobe enthuses. "Please, after you've rested, let us give you a feast before you leave. It is the least we can do."
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As you sleep, each of you has an especially vivid dream that you remember clearly upon waking.
As you sleep, you once again dream of the three figures: the boy, who seems to be around six years old; the man, who is again masked, spreading his arms in an orator’s pose; and the shadow of fate, indistinct as ever.
There seem to be other shadows this time, just at the edge of your vision. When you turn to look, there is nothing there, but the sensation returns when you examine the figures again. Behind the masked figure, you notice a lighthouse topped by a glowing flame-shaped object.
A sudden flapping behind you startles you, and whirling around you see a pair of nightgaunts. Unlike the figures, they seem fully real. They turn their heads towards you, but as if receiving a call, they turn as one and stride over to an opening ring of blackness. You barely have time to register this before your dream fades and you awake.
The lighthouse is Treacherous Jack, situated in Cassomir.
You dream of when you were a child. Your father has come across you squishing ants in the yard, and you straighten at his approach. ”You can kill ants all day, but they will keep coming. You can dig up their nest, and they will but find another. The only way to deal with a nest of monsters…” He draws The Sword, the one he carries, the one you love to see. Your eyes trace its perpetually-sharp edges, noting, as you always do, the gold inlay outlining the Razvercrunin on the blade. Your father mutters a word, setting the sword aflame. He thrusts it into the anthill, cutting through the dirt like butter. He slices a large wedge out of the ground. Looking into the anthill, he makes a precise jab. ”... is to kill the queen.” He moves the point of the sword towards you, on which is impaled a large queen ant. ”Always find the queen, or you will spend every day killing the ants.”
You suddenly notice that there seems to be some sort of shadow at the edge of your vision. You turn to look, but there is nothing there. A leathery flapping echoes in your mind...
In your dream, you are running through a darkened forest, trying to escape the monster chasing you. You cannot see it, but you see shadows at the edges of your vision and can hear the flapping of leathery wings. You run for what feels like days. Your breath comes in ragged gasps and you feel like you are about to drop from exhaustion, yet still you are still pursued. Pushing your way through a thick bush, you find yourself in a moonlit clearing. You abruptly stop, facing a large white stag. It looks into your eyes, and you feel safe. You walk towards it and lie at its feet, allowed to sleep at last. The stag does not speak, but you feel nonetheless that you are protected, loved, and that you have done well. As you drift off, the monsters that chase you flee, heading north. All is peaceful until you awake.
In your dream you are flying, surrounded by a nimbus of flame. You can feel the arcane power surging through you, and with a word you tear a flaming hole in the sky. Drifting through, you arrive in what you know is the Dimension of Dreams. Nightgaunts are everywhere, flapping over the mountains, resting in trees. At your appearance they try to fly for cover, but with spells of incredible power you incinerate them one by one. Through your magical might nobody will be terrorized by these creatures again.
Shadows appear at the edge of your vision, accompanied by leathery flapping. You turn to face the foolish creatures who have sought you out, a smile on your face. The smile turns to terror, though, as your magic suddenly fails you. You fall, your fiery aura fading. Nightgaunts dive towards you, their claws outstretched...
You dream of darkness, the void between stars. The darkness shifts around you, taking strange shapes. It does not frighten you, but calls you. It beckons you, begging for you to take it, shape it, free it. A shadow, somehow visible in the darkness, creeps along the edge of your vision. You turn to look, revealing a pair of nightgaunts. They do not hide, nor do they attack. Instead, they kneel, palms upraised. In their hands are glistening shards of blackest night, offered to you.
Andaris looks upon the nightgaunts, the power they offer him. He reaches out to grasp the shards - confident in his ability to cleanse them or, failing that, destroy them. I will become the most powerful agent of light in this world, no matter the risk!
Andaris reaches for the shards, but the dream fades as he touches them. The last thing he remembers is the feeling of potential, the myriad possibilities that the shards promise to bring to fruition.
You all awake to the sound of a door closing. Fully rested, you discover that the village has indeed prepared a feast in your honour - they have set up a series of tables outside, where the clouds provide shade but do not threaten rain. The food is simple, but honestly prepared and generously portioned. Meat is included, a fairly uncommon occurrence in a poor hamlet like this.
Mihail is deep in thought.
'It has been months since I last saw The Sword. Why did I dream of it now? And that dream... It matches my memory exactly. This must mean something. It has to mean something.'
He sighs quietly. 'Strange dreams of late. And so vivid! Some Greater Power is at work here.'
Mihail covertly examines his companions, trying to see if they are as perturbed as he.
Iluna awakens, bleary-eyed and groggy. Having slept in her clothes she smooths out the crinkles in her dress and runs her hand through the straw-like mop of her hair. Another dream, this one the same as those before, but different. She recalls the nightguants and their marked appearance in her dream at the end. The same three images again, but the boy the age of a young child, and the masked man... he stood atop some sort of tower?
As she washes the night out of her eyes with cold water, she realizes where she has seen that tower before. 'Twas the Treacherous Jack in Cassomir. I remember seeing it once as we traveled by the city. Come to think of it, didn't Casimir say the Brothers had business there? Iluna ponders this as she joins the others for the feast.
Iluna notices Mihail is silent as the feast is served, and seems to be watching the others closely. As she looks around the table she sees that everyone is deep in thought. I wonder if I was not the only one visited by nightly images? Stranger powers I have seen - I would not be entirely surprised if this were so. Already it seems the strands of fate have caught us in a single web. Cautiously hedging her assertion, Iluna asks the party "Did everyone sleep well?"
Gonan keeps his eyes locked on the food lying in front of him. "There is some kind of darkness here. I don't think these people are safe. I don't know if we are safe"
"We might have defeated two of the monsters but more may still around. I was visited by some in my dreams but I was protected by a white stag. The monsters were scared off and feed to the north. Seems Old Dead Eye is keeping me safe, praise the hunter. We have made some progress but... do we stay here or do we go back to report? Like Gonan said, if more are here we need to protect these people but what if instead of haunting villagers they are now haunting us? Should we leave to draw them away?" Kaid'an wonders what is the best answer. What is the right path.