Ardis, the former capital of the Immortal Principality of Ustalav. "The True Capital of Ustalav". Ruled by the Countess Solismina Venacdahlia, the city fares well, the folk as stubborn as their ruler and her four daughters. Once a (somewhat) haven for the arts, those that had lived here long enough could spin wonderful stories about the personalities that had lived here, the legacies that had been left behind... That was more than three score years ago, however, and things- as they often do- change.
The Countess rules firmly, though many speculate which of offspring will take her position when she departs. Learned others laugh and amend those statements of "when" to "if", given that they all live in a country where an undead warlord had risen and ruled. The rest just do what they can, when they can, to continue their lives peacefully amidst a land that often has more in its shadows that can be seen. To quote Jacob the historian, "..the county is a place of baseless arrogance and fading memories, its splendors living only in memories and the grim half-fictions of aging authors..."
More still lurks in the dark than the histories contain, outside the fortified walls, outside the reach of the well-patrolled roads, and while some hear whispers in the fog that rises with the night, some of the unluckier disappear within it. A few brave souls hunt the dark, dragging the taken back, and ending the threat of loss, if only temporarily.
This is the tale of a pair of those souls, may their light prove enough to keep the shadows at bay.
Ian hopped down off his rented horse and stretched his lower back and legs. Sure he didn't need to be that loud about it, but it felt good and he knew it would annoy his riding partner this day. Win-win really. Their destination was just down the road, a small hamlet a days ride from Ardis. They had sent for someone to help with undead. And that was about all they said. Most avoided such ambiguous bounties. But the money was pretty good and they getting a little light after a recent supply run. "Think its legit or a trap?" he asks.
"I sincerely doubt it's a trap. But there's a decently high chance this is a false alarm. And if it is, we won't be seeing a copper of that reward." Aska metally prepared herself for the worst. A lot of these yokels tended to cry undead at their own shadows. Doesn't mean they were wrong.
Ian rolled his eyes. Again with the money, he thinks. But he says nothing out load. With a grunt he hopes back onto the horse and starts towards the hamlet. Might as well see. We'll know when we get there. His eyes subtly shift to a darker color as he scans ever available cover for evil auras.
Evening has arrived as the pair reach the hamlet of Timeston proper. There were some outlying farms, as was common for a location such as this, with more and more buildings springing up the closer they came to the center of the town. The glow of candles can been seen through some shutters, while others can be seen going about the end of business, headed home after a day of work. Lanterns can be seen hanging in the entryways of some of the buildings, most of them larger. The streets are dirt, hard-packed and dry, as it has not rained for a couple of days. The two of you get curious looks from some of the passer-by, while others head past, paying only cursory attention to you.
If there is an undead problem in this town, they are not roaming the streets, it seems. The center of the town is marked by a large well, and arrayed around the square seem to be the more significant locations of the hamlet, with the large wooden sign of an inn depicting a flagon of some design, black on a hatched background. next to what looked to be a Blacksmith's. A good few stalls were empty currently, leading you to believe that the center of town also served as an open-air market during the day.
What catches your eye is a tiny form, perched atop the sign, more visible because of slight glow that it gives off in the fading light of day.
Aska will get a closer look at the tiny form atop the sign.
"What is that?"
Ian looks over at Aska, again relieved that she shows not black in her aura, and then up to whatever she was looking at.
The inn is a large, single story, timber framed building, and as you approach, the tiny form resolves itself as a Pixie. The tiny magical being is lounging atop the sign jovially, as it rocks under its weight. Some of the other residents are looking at the sign as they pass, but to Ian's eyes, though they're not quite used to it, it is not a new occurrence.
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"Well, I know that's a pixie, but not much else. Speculating out here won't do us much good though." Aska gestures towards the inn. "We should get inside and see what information we can get. If nothing else I don't think this job is a wild goose chase anymore."
"Yeah," Ian says heading for the inn. Once inside he says quietly. "You notice the people outside seemed...accustomed to it, the pixie. Do fey normally hang around human societies? I thought they were more secretive."
What they could make out once their eyes adjusted was something that they would likely have to blink and check to make sure that they were seeing correctly. A good many glowing forms were scattered about the common room of the inn, in the rafters and on shelves, seated on tables and chatting with the patrons and children that were brave-- or curious-- enough to venture inside. The innkeep was busy, as well as the servers, hastening to and fro, filling orders. On one or two of the servers' shoulders, a Pixie sat.
The inn itself was well cared for, the surfaces clean and smooth, with a slight glow to the wood itself from years of quality care. A small fire was going in the hearth, next to which a large black dog lay, dozing in the warmth despite the commotion. The door is reinforced wood, and the stone floor is smooth and well-worn from years of travel. A small dragon's skull hangs over the hearth. Accommodations appear consist of several hammocks in the common room, currently un-strung and tied to their respective rafters. The smell of food is in the air, homey and inviting.
Ian's line of thought is abruptly derailed at the sight of the inn. "Uh..." he says stupidly. But seeing as the locals payed no mind to the fey visitors, he guessed everything was fine. He approaches the bar and waits for the barkeep to notice them. For now, he only orders a drink, waiting for the busy man to have a moment of free time before getting down to business. "Barkeep. Me and friend here received a job from a local about clearing out some undead but he wasn't too specific. Can you point us in the right direction?"
"And something to eat if it's not too much trouble. I'm starving." Aska says pulling our her coin pouch. She wanted to ask about all these pixie as much as Ian, but Aska decided it best to wait until the met their contact. He could explain.
The barkeep pauses in his movement to lean against the bar and size the two of them up. He was an older man, human, about the same age as the innkeeper, if they had to guess. Not an overly large man, his frame was that of someone that got his exercise in his day-to-day routine, but it was possible that he had not seen any combat at all. His dark hair was short, and he was going bald. An apron is over the front of his homespun clothing, but his hands deftly handle items with surety. "Huh", came his noncommittal response. "Just the two of you, huntin' undead? That's got to be a pretty dangerous racket." Ian's weapon was drawing some attention from the patrons, as well as Aska's guisarme. A pixie flew by and he leaned out of the way reflexively, though with not much thought.
"Though, I s'pose the two of you wouldn't be carryin' weapons like that if you weren't capable." He shrugged, and answered Ian before looking to Aska. "Any jobs that aren't handled in town, you check with the constable. As for food, that'll run you two copper if you're just peckish, up to ten copper if y'could eat a bit." As he talked, he filled a wooden tankard from a cask and set it in front of Ian.
As near as they could tell, there were three pixies curiously watching them as they talked with the bartender.
"We've fought worse," he says with a confident smile. After his drink he pushes back from the bar. "I'll talk to the constable then. Can you get us a room in case we're here for a while?" he asks Aska. He turns and heads for the door, dodging another flying pixie. Seriously, what is with the fey here? He inquires of passing villagers where to find the constable and goes off to find him.
"Go ahead and give me the 10 copper meal. And a room at least for night if you don't mind. One with separate beds if you don't mind"
Don't need someone making that mistake again, thinks Aska.
She hesitates for a second, unsure whether or not to proceed, but decides to hell with it. "I hate to point out the elephant in the room, but I can't hold it in anymore. What's going on with all of these pixies? I've seen my fair share of things, but I've never anything quite like this." Aska tries to ask as quietly and friendly as she can manage. Aska has a bad feeling that asking about them might somehow make them all try to kill her.
That was followed by a muted echo of "Links and curd, heard!" from the doorway behind the end of the bar which was presumably the kitchen. The barkeep leaned forward, and offered Aska a few words. "It's a bit rude to talk about them like they can't hear us. Y'could try talking t'one of 'em. They might answer y'." The exchange seemed to have bored one of the pixies that had been watching the two when they came in, but two were still watching their exchange, though their intent was difficult to discern.
He went two steps down the bar and pulled up two wooden chits, about the size of a playing card. "'aven't got rooms, only hammocks", he said, gesturing to the support pillars of the inn. "Food 'n a bed'll be sixteen copper."
Currently, an older, bearded man is exiting the building and locking the door with a large ring of keys, in what might have been the colors of the guard, though the breastplate and helmet was absent on him. A lantern was hanging on a hook outside of the door, providing enough illumination to light the porch. He does have a cudgel on his waist, though his body language says that he is tired. Another person is heading away down the road, the light of their lantern marking their position.
"Done." Aska will pay the barkeep, then turn to the pixies still watching them. "Sorry, didn't mean to talk behind your back, but I didn't know if you spoke Common." Vera apologizes sincerely. She waits after apologizing, hoping one of the pixies would reply and she could initiate a conversation.
"Excuse me," Ian says, keeping a respectful distance from the man and keeping both hands in view. Lawmen usually came in two flavors, "I don't care" and "Who the hell are you". Best to stay out of reach until he knew which one. "Are you the Constable? Someone from this village sent for aid against some undead but didn't say much else." He hoped he didn't sound as tired as he felt...and that they could start tomorrow.
Looking up she saw a small humanoid, with a vague blue glow about them, come hovering down on wings that traced patterns in the air as it moved. It was like a small stained glass window was behind the tiny form, as it lowered itself down to her eye level. A small sword was on its hip, and a bow and quiver was on its back. The clothing that it did wear was little more than a multicolored sock on one leg, up to its thigh, and a matching one on the opposite arm. Its hair was a dandelion puff of silver, and its expression was neutral, if slightly annoyed, judging by the tones that carried with its voice
"To be fair, Ian and I are used to pretty much anything out of the ordinary trying to kill us. Regardless, the fault lies with me. I'll apologize again for my impoliteness." Aska will bow slightly to the fairy. "Then, if I may start again and ask you directly, what's going on in this town? I've never even heard of something like this happening before." Aska wonders if these pixies had been driven from their homes by whatever undead Aska and Ian were called here to hunt. She doesn't say this out loud for fear of somehow insulting the pixie further.
As he speaks, heads turn towards the bar in surprise, and some people are reddening, though whether in anger or embarrassment is uncertain. One server almost drops her tray, but the rest of the pixies in the bar look amused at the sight of the consternation that was being caused.
"Hahahahaha!!" rather than being bothered, Aska finds herself wildly amused. "It seems I must apologize again. I wasn't specific enough. I meant to ask...You know what? I seem to have been rather impolite again and missed introductions. My name is Aska. May I ask your name?" Aska wonders how she could ever have been worried about such creatures. Aska had never been one for gossip, but somehow the way the little pixie aired it for everyone to hear was almost heartwarming.
"It is a genuine pleasure to meet you. The question I meant to ask was why are so many pixies are staying in this village. I am now also very curious if that waitress's name is Rhoda, but we'll put that aside for the moment if that's alright."
"Half of it," Ian says. Oh good, the rare calm ones. "My associate, Aska, is also here. I assume you are the one who sent for help. Can you tell me more than its just an undead problem?" Ian moves to follow the constable.
At Aska's question about the waitress, he shook his head after he looked over his shoulder at the server that had somewhat recovered, he shook his head back at her. "No, that's Emmy, and she does a good job."
Emmy, by now, was blushing red enough to pass as a tomato.
"I moved, because I heard of the bunch of others were coming to this town, and I wanted to see what was going on. There might have been something I can do about what was causing us to detour like we always do, but we're fae. We're supposed to be mostly incomprehensible to you non-magic types!" Askew finished that statement with a bit of a smile and a silly face.
"There's been reports of undead infrequently for the past couple of months. A zombie here and there, mostly, but not with any sort of cohesion, just that they'd been seen, and not in the same area." He shrugged, the lantern squeaking slightly as swung on the handle a little. His gait was even, familiar with the nuances of his town. "So when a ghoul was spotted, we sent out word immediately. Zombies aren't much of a threat, and if they were a ways away, no real cause for concern. Ghouls, though..." He grimaced slightly. "You know the saying: 'If there's one, there's probably three'."
"Fair enough. Well Ask You," Aska's not sure if he's playing with her if if that's his actual name, but she plays along. "I'm just going to eat while I wait for my partner to come back. Care to join me?" Aska will gesture towards an empty table.
Indeed, on both counts. The disease they inflict can turn a healthy person into one of them," he says, walking with the elder man. "Ghouls actually eat corpses though. The undead could be riled up because of the ghoul. We'll find their lair. If you can handle the odd undead we'll take care of more dangerous ones. Can you tell me where it was spotted and do you have maps of the surrounding area?"
The barkeep raised an eyebrow, but went with it easily. "Coming right up."
The conversation did not go unnoticed in the inn, but given that this fae had spilled some of the town's secrets, they were given more attention than the others. Almost right after Aska took her seat, she was joined by the pixie, and her food arrived right afterwards. There was also a thimble of milk that the pixie took to drinking from, though not too fast.
"So", came the small voice of the pixie, "You are not a resident of this town, Aska. Are you travelling?"
"Sort of. We largely live in Ardis, but we travel around taking care of various jobs. We got a request from this town about some undead. We specialize in dealing with things like that." Aska gestures to her weapons. "The request was rather vague though, so my partner is currently trying to figure out exactly what it is we're here to do." Aska starts eating her food and she gesture for Ask You to help himself if he likes.
"Not likely. We come pretty well prepared," he says quickly to assuage the mans fears. "If we do, I am sure we can negotiate something. Do you have a cleric? Someone we can get holy water or silver from? And where was the ghoul spotted?"
Quick but neat, the Pixie set to helping Aska devour her cheese curd, any questions it might have had, forgotten.
The inn was noticeable by the sign and the glow above the sign that was likely the same pixie lounging above it that was there when they came in. As that came into view, the constable gave a sigh that was somewhat long-suffering, but had a tone of resignation to it. Night was not here yet, but its coming could be felt in the cooling of the air and the tendrils of faint fog that tended to creep in around the edges. Some said it was because of the water, others said lingering magics, and there was still no definite consensus. Still, the constable's gait hastened somewhat.
"The ghoul was last spotted near one of the outlying farmsteads by a hunter that was on his way back in. His guess was that it was tracking his fresh kill, and had found where he had dressed it. Said it had turned around before he reached the farmstead, though." At the door to the inn, he seemed to steel himself before pushing through the door.
Inside the inn, things had not significantly changed, the only difference was that Aska had her own table, and some of the patrons had left, leaving idle pixies in the rafters. The dog sleeping by the hearth had a couple of pixies leaning against it, seemingly dozing as it was, though it did raise its head slightly at the two entering.
"Ah, Ian, you're back." Aksa waves him over. "Let me introduce you to Ask You. He and I have just been getting acquainted." Aksa's mood shifts a bit as she asks about the upcoming job. "So, what are we hunting?"
Ian takes note of the mans odd reluctance to enter the inn but makes not comment. He enters and finds Aska, who has apparently made friends.
"Ask Who?" he started then decided better. She was either pulling his leg or that was it's actual name. Either way, best not to comment on it. "Nevermind. It's a ghoul or ghouls depending on how long its been here. We have a starting point and a target. Doesn't get much simpler than that."
He then turns to the constable. "Thank you for your time and help. If we can, tomorrow, I'd like to see what maps you have of the farm the ghoul was spotted. We'll plot a search and go have a look. If we're lucky it will be a dead again before the night. If not, you don't have to pay us." He smiles and shrugs. There didn't seem to be an immediate need to handle this now so they'd get to work tomorrow.
The pixie swept a cordial bow when introduced to Ian, "The dark and onionous partner returns!"
The constable's closed and carefully neutral expression almost became something near bemused at the pixie's greeting before he nodded at Ian. "I'll expect you tomorrow, then." Giving a polite nod to Aska, "Missus", and the pixie, "and company", he headed out directly.
With no significant conversation passing between them, the pixie looked curiously at Ian, almost finished with the thimble of milk and honey, having already eaten its (tiny) fill of what Aska was sharing. "You're different. Have you seen many monsters?"
With no significant conversation passing between them, the pixie looked curiously at Ian, almost finished with the thimble of milk and honey, having already eaten its (tiny) fill of what Aska was sharing. "You're different. Have you seen many monsters?"
There is a brief moment where a thousand horrifying images pass before Ian's mental eye. They threaten to send him whirling into a panic attack but he focuses on a bright light, Sarenrae's, and pushes them away. The internal struggle takes barely a heart beat with no outward signs. "We both have," he says looking over at Aska, both regretful and apologetic. "Enough to last a few lifetimes. So we fight to make sure no one else has to." Crap, I am dark and ominous. And now I hate fey. He gets up and nods to the pixie, then turns to Aska. "Best turn in soon. Don't want to burn daylight. Ghouls aren't as active then."
The pixie looks between the two of you, and you can see a slight look of realization from it. "Oh! Apologies! I am keeping you up!" With a look towards Aska and a polite bow, the pixie was appreciative. "Thank you for your company and your courtesy." With the pleasantries exchanged, he flits over to the shelves above the bar.
Your lodgings for the night are in the same common room, and it is not hard to deduce from the chits that you have, that each chit counts for a hammock in the room. At the hour that you are turning in, there are some spaces to be had, and closer to the hearth, if you were so inclined.
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The good mood Aska had gain from the pixie was thoroughly gone now. With little else to do she turned in. She actually specifically chose a hammock away from the hearth, preferring the dark to the warmth. She had trouble getting to sleep though. Separate from her mood, the whole situation bothered her. A couple of ghouls doesn't explain a town full of pixies. The pixies themselves seemed harmless enough, but Aska couldn't shake the feeling there was SOMETHING else going on here.
Eventually, she did get to sleep though her sleep was fitful. It often was, though she could rarely remember the dreams that troubled her during the night.
In the morning, she geared up in silence, crafted a couple extracts and ordered a light breakfast.
"Ready?" she aks Ian.
Ian didn't fret as Aska did over the mission or the strangeness of town. He was a simple, straightforward kind of person. Find the evil creature, kill it, go home. He didn't concern himself with the extra stuff. They was just distractions. He had learned to trust his instincts. Instincts drilled into him by some of the best hunters in the area. The same hunters taught him of Sarenrae, the guiding light that drove away the darkness in his memories. He stared at the ceiling for only few minutes before rolling over and falling asleep, content with the plan they had.
In the morning he goes through the usual rituals of praying, dressing and sharpening his axe. He gives the ancient blade one last stroke before popping the whetstone back in its pouch and strapping the weapon to his back. "Yep".
Ian pays for his meal and room and thanks the owner for the stay. Together they head over to the constables' fully focused on the hunt now.
The pixies are noticed but given little attention by the inn's residents as they break their fast and depart, their thoughts set towards the reason that brought them here. The weather is clear and looks to be good for today, with a slight breeze moving the cool air infrequently. They do get a couple of lingering looks from a couple of the inhabitants that do not recognize them, but are not accosted or delayed as they travel the couple of streets over to the constable's office.
As they arrive, the two lanterns are hung outside the door, and a knock gains them entry, where the constable has a couple of the maps that he thought that they would need the most laid out on his table. A good look at the maps show that they were drawn by a sound hand and appear to have a good sense of distance and scale. Immediately, you notice that these maps are not maps of the town, but more maps of the areas surrounding the town, and in the case of the second map, a more detailed map of a particular quarter of the area outside of the town.
One of the deputies of the town looks up as the two of you approach, taking yourselves in and your equipment, though his eyes linger a little longer on Aska than Ian.
"Right on time", the constable said from behind his desk. The ledger that he was writing in was set to the side, and he rose to greet the both of you, offering a hand. "Andovert Ellison, Constable of this section of town. These two are the maps that you'll likely be needing, to get a sense of where you'll be going." Pointing a finger at a particular area just beyond the edge of town, he started into their briefing.
"Vernon was coming in from that way when he said that he had seen the ghoul, so that's likely where you'll want to start with things, that's all regular forest out that way, and likely nothing that you can't handle. I can't speak much towards the tracking, though I suspect that you're pretty good on that front. Going by his story, you're looking at a walk of a couple hours, at least- or less if you rode. There haven't been any odd reports from that area lately, and we sent in the request around a week and a half ago. There, he pauses for any questions from them.
"From what I know, ghouls tend to stick around graveyards and such. Are there any graveyards or old battlefields near this area?" Aska points to the place Vernon supposedly spotted the ghoul.
"Not as good as I like," Ian says referring to their tracking ability. "If this Vernon is still in town and willing, we could use his help." When Aska brings up graveyards and battlefields, he nods in agreement. Those would be the best places to start. "Or a sufficiently dark place if not."
Ellison looked like he had not considered something when Aska asked her question, and one hand went up to scratch at the chin of his beard with a grunt. "There's the city graveyard, just off of the adjacent section", he pointed to an area of the city map that was connected, and marked with the symbol for Pharasma. "The ground is supposed to be consecrated, would that make a difference?" Turning to Ian, he shook his head uncertainly. "We're mostly plains here, with the very rare hillock or two... You might be able to catch Vernon before he goes out again. He tends to like being out in nature, but he likes his wife and child just as much."
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"The ground is supposed to be consecrated, would that make a difference?"
"Things change," is his response. He couldn't really say yes or no about something like that. That would be a good place to start though and that was the point of this meeting. "I don't have anymore questions. Do you?" he asks his partner. If not he bids the constable farewell, "Thank you for your time and the information."
Outside, as they head for the witnesses house he speaks softly to Aska. "You think the graveyard might be corrupt now? Would explain the extra undead."
If they manage to find Vernon: "Good day. We're here to help with the recent problem with undead. The constable says you were the one that say the ghoul a week ago. Could we bother you to help find it or at least show us where you saw it?"
Aska nods her consent, ready to get started.
"I'm not sure. Something feels off, so I'm trying to keep an open mind. It's as good a place as any to start though." Aska shrugs. "It'd be a lot easier if I had learned how to make a detect undead extract. Hindsight."
Aksa chimes in, "And, if possible, tell us in a bit more detail what you saw. You never know what detail may help us find these things."
Vernon was an older man, perhaps in his forties, with large parts of his wild hair and beard going gray, while the rest of him remained admirably in shape, dressed in a tunic that had seen better days, undoubtedly. A simple dagger was at his hip, while his pack was a little better prepared, with a bow and arrows, as well as a coil of rope. The two of them had just managed to catch him before he was departing back into the forest again. They received a wary greeting, and after hearing that they had been directed to him by the constable, he relaxed enough to look size them up before hearing their inquiries.
When he speaks, Ian cannot help the sense of nature that comes with his words and mannerisms. It was like speaking to a bear that had decided to become a human for a while. "Was carrying a deer home. Had dressed it already, but the scent lingered. Something shuffling on two legs and sometimes four was stalking me for a bit before it broke off once I reached the edge of town." Terse. Gruff. "You are the hunters." It was said without any inflection if it were a question.
"Shift of the wind brought the smell of rot. Smelled worse, but not by much." Shaking his head as if recalling it, he started walking, the pack slung easily on his back. "I can show you where."
"Thank you." An unusual man to be sure, but little was to be gained from trying to converse at length with him. "Lead the way."
Ian avoided the obvious question of whether he actually saw a ghoul. More often then not that got them no where. Most people over embellished horrible tales to be more horrible or remembered things in ways they didn't really see. This man didn't seem like one to do that but either way it would get him nowhere and annoy their guide. He stays quite and lets the man lead the way. Once they are beyond the town, Ian periodically focuses on his sight to peer beyond the material. To look at the shadows of evil that cling to all creatures.
It is a good distance to the location where he had said that he had seen whatever it was, but an immediate search of the area turns up no immediate clues. Too much time had passed since the incident, it seems.
"Was hunting that way. Half-day's hike." He says as he indicates a direction deeper into the sparse trees does appear to be a bit more relaxed now that they had reached the waving grass and low hills.
Above you, the sky is blue, the few trees seeming to be younger than the others that you could see from one of the hills in town. The air is cooler as well, bringing the green scents of the plants and the faint scent of baking bread, likely someone from the edge of town. That cool air will turn to chill when evening sets. The sun is overhead as the normal sounds of the forest can be heard, the birds especially prominent at the moment as they fly low over the waving grasses.
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"Hmmm, I guess from here our best option is to check out likely places..." Aska pauses as she realizes something. "Actually Vernon, you're particularly familiar with the area around here right? Given the nature of what we're hunting, we were looking for any place around here where such a creature might stay. An old battlefield or someplace dark like a cave? We've heard about the graveyard, but I was hoping someone with your experience might know of another place nearby for us to look. Any direction you might be able to give would be appreciated."
"Right. Trails too cold to find it directly. Best to just check the usual hiding places. If that turns up nothing, we could recreate the conditions in which you saw it," Ian suggests. He looks at Vernon, hopeful that the man will continue to aid them.