Damien's mouth turns down in a grimace, "So you, and by extension we, are being pursued by a rival mage? So this apprentice, Vortigern, is he a peer of yours or is he a little beyond your skill to handle? Why don't you tell us what happened before you hired the rest of us on?"
"And how much gold" adds the deep gnome picking at his dirty fingers.
Vhillish's moustache twitches at the mention of first at the notion of evil mages, then more markedly at "undead" being mooted;
The gnome serjeant mutters an aside to his officer;
"Undead sah. Rotters of any type are bleeding bad business..."
Damien nods, "Undead and a mage to boot. That doesn't sound horribly fatal at all. But we signed on, nothing for it but to stay sharp and find a way to kill the damn thing a second time."
Astor listened intently, a mixture of excitment and fear bubbling up inside of him. Undead? Evil mages? Gold? He thinks all the way back to his 15 year old dreams. This really is it.
"Well, lady Janna, I'm not one to be scared away. I'll be here through it all." And with that he followed suit with his friend Jerrid, took out his sword to clean and polish. This time not just to dream.
Kevezyat nods at the other's observations, adding "The undead are an offense against the natural order, you shall have my sword and faith in eliminating this evil, should it still persist" she says somewhat formally, then relaxes and says "So this Voligern is the one you've been looking over your shoulder for? "
Janna seems pleased that everyone still wishes to remain on board.
In response to Kevezyat to answer your question, yes. I had an associate back in Reme that was supposed to delay him, hopefully long enough to give us a good head start. which, leads me into your request Damien. she says turnong to him.
a few days before I brought you guys in, there was an assassination attempt on me. I managed to turn the tables on the assassin and soon he was working for me, well sort of, we actually came to an agreement. The one thing Voligern never knew about me was where I came from before the academy. Sometimes it pays to not forget the hardships of your childhood.
Janna does not elaborate much more on this.
In any event, I have discovered, in my research, that Eralion was not a very skilled mage. he relied on others doing his work and magical items to make up for his own failings. I have it on good authority that he did not posess the skill nor the fortitude to coomplete the process of becoming a lich. I can only hope that this proves true.
if you want to read the story of that encounter with the assassin in Janna's provile under the spoiler Assassin's and friends. the vernacular is akin to old school "thieves cant" language
Kevezyat snatches up her crossbow and quickly sends a bolt after the fleeing bird.
Attack
Damage
Damien curses, rising to his feet, "So much for setting a hard pace ma'am, looks like your friend caught up anyway. What resources does this man possess? You said he's down an assassin, who else might he have brought with him?"
Jerrid unravels his sling and aims for the raven's eye.
.....
"What's in it for us? That's the glory but what about the gold?" He waves the notice again. "And Mistress Janna what will you do with his work. Its all necromancy so I'm guessing you don't mind if we burn it, do you?"
Vhillish nods at his fellow veteran's words;
"Indeed we shall have to sir. Rotters tend to be tenacious against dying for a second time... but where there's a will there's a way sah!"
The diminutive serjeant unshoulders his arbalest when the raven is spotted. He watches impassively as it croaks off into the dark afore he loads the weapon and waits.
"Eyes on the treeline. Please do continue Ma'am..."
:
Sam decides to take a shot too.
To answer jerrid, there will be treasure, I am certain. the main thing I am seeking is a staff, I believe it to be taken from the vaults of the magic academy, I have no idea if this is even true, but as a graduate of the Academy I would like to lay claim to it, should it in fact be there. most other treasures will be divided equally among the group.
janna is a bit unease at the presence of Talon. It would seem that you are right, Damn, I was hoping to at least make it to Fairhill before they caught up.
It probably will not take long before Voligern catches up, we should find a position to defend or perhaps prepare an ambush. I am sure that the blasted bird, Talon is already relaying information about us back to his master. as for others helping him? I don't know, he came from a wealthy family, he always resented my attendance at the Academy. so only the gods know what resources he brought with him.
Come on, quick we need to find a place we can prepare. Janna gathers her things to move on.
Sam quietly stands by Leo, whittling on a piece of wood. He seems to be making a spider out of wood after the encounter. He is finishing it off so that there is a hole to put a leather thong through.
"Hopefully this is the last of the withholding of information. Had we known about the threat we faced, we could have easily taken precautions against being overheard. And I am sure the staff can be part of your share if the rest of the treasure is equally valuable."
He points out matter of factly: "When one does not have all the facts, they actually take a larger share of the risk than those that do."
The half-elf shrugs at Samduc, "Welcome to life as a hired sword, kid. More like the f@!+ing army every day..."
Damien looks to make certain the raven is well out of sight, "The one place we can guarantee he's like to check is here. An ambush is like to be our best bet. I doubt a few additional trees will seem amiss. Gather your weapons but leave the other gear as is."
Damien points to the treeline about 40-50ft down from their camp, "We'll set up just over there. I should be able to disguise our presence well enough. We'll get the drop on this mage and whoever he brought with him."
Damien slings his hammer and collects his crossbow, looking to the others to do the same or offer alternatives.
After noon passes, Damien pulls out of their hiding spot, shooting a look at Janna, "Doesn't look like your friend is willing to risk a direct confrontation yet. With a little luck, that weariness will keep him at a distance for the time being. I suppose we'd best get on to Fairhill, yes?"
Stepping out from the bush, Kevezyat wipes sweat from her brow "Indeed, it would seem he may be wary after seeing Janna has recruited help."
As the party march on towards Fairhill, Jerrid casts an eye back to the skyline, watching for signs of Vortigen or Talon.
*****
Jerrid hands it over to Janna and waits to hear what everyone thinks of the magical and wondrous item.
"Why hide it in a rock? It doesn't make sense. Is it someone's treasure left years ago in a hidey hole. I doan get it."
Janna takes a look at the pearl. analyzing its magical properties.
Janna continues to keep an eye out for Talon, the raven.
Look I am sorry I dragged all of you into my petty issues. if you want to bail out when we reach Fairhill, I'll understand. I find the keep on my own if that's what it comes to. But I would much rather have you all come along. If only for the adventure.
Janna hands the pearl back to Jerrid.
it appears to be a magical pearl of power, it aids those ethat practice magic through study or prayer. but I can sense there is a deeper magic hidden within, that will take more time to uncover.
Damien looks to Janna, "I've seen enough adventure...but we said we'd see this through. I doubt you're able to pay if we back out before this is done. With your friend hot on our heels I'd suggest we push on to Fairhill tonight. Not give him the chance to catch us at night."
Samduc says without a hint of irony in a straight-faced manner: "Just be honest and forthright in the future. It will avoid problems."
Damien considers the farmhouse for a moment but shakes his head as he catches Janna's eye, "The last thing you want is to be involving a simple family of farmers in all this, yes?"
Jerrid closes Janna's fist, not taking the pearl. He shakes his head at her, "someone good at spells should have this. No thanks."
He nods at the words of Samduc. And nods at them again in the walk towards the farmhouse. Jerrid stares at the barn as everyone approaches and unlimbers his sling behind his back and it soon swings with a bullet. There may be trouble ahead. So where is the cover? Where is the shade and best places to hide?
The deep gnome begins to plan a route to the rear and then slopes off quickly and quietly at a bushy fencepost. His last words to Astor are murmured softly, "I'm going around."
"Kev, can you sweep for evil?"
[b] I,...I would like to accompany you to your quest, coincidentially I am in the search of a srhine that was corrupted, it is in the same place you are tralevin to.
: Holy thyr, what a terrible fate!. say Leoven shocked by the scene.
Kevezyat's face is pinched , her eyes slits as she slowly survey's the massacre.
Janna smiles at Leo's willingness to continue. And if you will have me join you, I would like to assist you in your quest as well
Here take this, It is of no power for me, but you could make good use if it Janna hands him the pearl that Jerrid had found.
She amiles a bit shyly wondering what he might be thinking.
At the farmhouse Janna is shocked at the scene, what kinfd of beast could have done this? she asks with a touch of fear in her voice.
quickly she looks around for signs of trouble weather animals or rival wizards.
Jerrid gives the bodies a cursory look and then keeps heading round behind the farm. Looking for the ambush and the hidden killers. His senses are alive with anticipation.
Arbalest loaded and ready, Vhillish takes in the scene before the group, looking high for any sighs of the fell crow,, then to the farmstead itself should threats still linger;
:
He shoots a grim look toward Damien then creeps slowly toward the bodies, casting a veteran's eye over the carnage as he kneels by the bodies;
:
"These folk were hacked down with heavy blades sah! Axes and sword wounds here, here and here..."
The veteran grimaces at the downed children;
"Little uns pierced with something... likely bore poison poor wee toots..."
He touches the head of a disembowelled lad tenderly, then his 'tache twitches and a hard set fixes upon his jaw;
"Killing civilians is bad bloody business..."