Gilhaut stands dumbfounded.
Errr...
"You were cursed when your mother thrust you out of her womb I do not care of your previous employer or the state he left you in. I DO care about the transgression you have committed upon these woods. All that live within these woods fall under my protection. Your choice to recklessly kill and then carry the animal's skin is your own. For that you will make amends."
"Four days south of here a den of spiders has taken root. Their numbers grow too quickly and they have begun to upset the balance within the woods. Find them and cull their numbers. I will give you until the Pale Sister is full again. That will happen eleven nights from now."
"Fail in this and you will find that you will become the hunted and whatever is left of you will be left as a sign to others."
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The woman scoffs at Jawn, "There is a balance in all things. For good as you would call it to exist evil must also be there on the same path. From the greatest of evil the greatest might only be born. This is the true cycle of the land.
Travel south for a day you will find a glade surrounded by copse of red oaks. There will be three paths leading from the glade continue on the south one.
Remain on this path for two days it will you to foothills. Look for the highest point on it you will find several stone cairns. From these cairns continue south for one more day. You will know when you reach the areas infested by the spiders.
You have until the Pale Sister is full again. If you hope to deceive me. I will know."
The woman turns her back on you and immediately turns back into a wolf. She lets out one loud bark and you watch as the pack of wolves runs off into the woods disappearing from sight.
Well isn't this like something out of the grand sagas? What! A great doom, shape changing mysterious sorcerous women, a noble quest... hah!, says Gilhaut, enthusiastic and giddy as a child.
What ho! And all that... last one to kill a spider is a wet Nancy!
"Guess I'm effed. Death by the black hand curse, by spider, or by wolf. Let's go get this done quickly. Gilhaut, it's your watch now." Jak lays down and fails to go to sleep thinking about his fate.
Sleep well. I'll pray to Acheillus for you... It will work out, never fear!, he says all optimism. I think we should still stop by the Town first and get that hand seen to. We've 11 days after all, and we're probably only a day away from it
With that he puts on his armour but feels confident with a massive wolf pack around the area that the camp will be safe from random monsters. He even adds another log to the small fire.
"Witches of the Wild are not to be trifled with " Nesserin remarks grimly in contrast to Gilhaut's enthusiasm.
"These spiders have plagued us as well as The Lady. Curios perhaps if there are people at Zelkor's they may know more about her or the situation in the woods"
Jak thinks it over and given the speed you have been able to travel at he figures you have no more than half day to reach there.
Herrick agrees that traveling to the Ferry to try and find a cure for Jak takes precedent.
"We can also just bugger off somewhere else where this lady can't find us. I have no need to be absolved of whatever imaginary wrong she believes we have done. She's not my commander or my lord, so she can just stuff it."
Archeillus approves of your words friend Herrick. That's almost doctrine... that said I'm in favour of the adventure itself after Jak gets his health back.
Herrick turns to Gilhaut. "Now be sensible for once in your life, Gilhaut. This is your life that you're talking about. Why risk it just to make some wolf-wench happy? Who is she and who made her your boss?"
Struggling to sleep, Jak replies to Jawn without opening his eyes, "We've no more than half day to reach town from here."
Herrick is too upset by the latest happenings and volunteers to take the next shift of the watch and let the others sleep.
I'm already in mail already but I'll watch with you.
"Ah, of course we'll help, m'lady, and perhaps you and I may sit down to a lovely meal, afterwa -" No sooner had Malthus made the offer when the woman transformed and ran off into the woods.
The bard sighs, but takes out his lute and plays a hopeful tune despite himself. "I call this one The Wolf-Wench."
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Herrick nods to Gilhaut. "If you must, priest."
Despite his gruff demeanor, the taciturn soldier seems happy to have some companionship after the strange encounter with the wolves.
When Malthus begins playing, however, his regular personality comes back in droves.
"Hey, Beardson, shut your strings. People are trying to sleep."
Also, don't wolves have good hearing?, The priest says in a puzzled tone.
Not heeding the threats from the druid you all push on hoping that Jak is correct about only being several hours from Zelkor's Ferry. The young scout does his best to lead you under the cover of the trees but eventually this proves to be futile as the dense treeline pushes too far back from the river.
With no other option you continue following the river albeit Jak no longer has the strength to lead you and he is placed atop the mule where you do your best to cover him from the painful rays of the sun.
Throughout the day you check on Jak who seems to go in and out of a deep slumber while traveling. Opting not to stop for lunch you eat your rations while traveling and finally come to an old rickety dock. At the end dock you see hanging from a wooden post a small horn hollowed from bone. Near the horn a crooked sign reads in faded red paint 1 silver each.
Herrick seems annoyed that they can't seem to find their way through the forest any better, but is glad when they arrive at the ferry. He steps forward sounds the horn to call the ferryman.
Brilliant!, he says blowing the horn after shaking it out and wiping off the mouthpiece.
"A small fee for a grand task, hmm? I say it's quite worth it, chaps," Malthus runs a silver coin between his knuckles.
Uhhhh. Ahhh.
Herrick turns when he hears Jak mumble and points at him. "Hey, someone check on Field and make sure he's not swallowing his tongue or something."
Nesserin does his best to make Jak comfortable. Despite his lingering concerns about the Witch of the Wild that they encountered it's clear Jak's state would not last out her quest.
A horn answers back less than a minute later, but from where you cannot see. As you wait out in the open you can see the sun is making Jak uncomfortable. Even under the canopy you have made Jak turns about clearly agitated. It takes about an hour before you see a wide raft manned by one rower come into view.
He sets his boat at the dock and throws you the rope to pull him in. You catch a better look of the rower. He is a man nearing his late thirties. Skinny but you can see his skin has been tanned by the years being spent outside. His shaggy beard and slightly balding head are blond with some streaks of white. His clothes while not necessarily rags have been mended quite a few times and he wears a faded blue scarf about his neck.
"Tie me up good. So many of you that your bound to make the boat keel." Grabbing the rope a couple of you pull the boat close to the dock and secure it. The man points a finger at each of you seemingly counting in his head. "Off to ol' Zelk's Ferry? Seem to be getting more of your type. The sign reads wrong it's to be 2 gold crowns for each of you. And the mule will cost 1 gold crown. It ain't my writing so I'm not to honour one of you types undercutting my work." He casts a look in the direction of Jak. "And your friend there don't seem quite right. I ain't no time for haggling and neither do you. We have no temples in the Ferry but the Dark might be able to fix him up if he needs it."
Herrick grimaces at the price gouging, but seems to indicate that the group doesn't have much of a choice (unless they want to just kill the ferryman).
"What's the Dark?" he says when the man drops the term.
"The Dark. Well he is a who. Not a friendly man but is reliable. Heard he even brought someone back from the dead. Anyhow I didn't see it with my own eyes but seen enough from him that it's likely true. Can't imagine what it would cost but you types always seem to have more to spend than you know what to do with. You got the crowns to pay or should I be getting back to my fishing?"
"We got your crowns" Nesserin will place 13 crowns in the ferryman's palm.
"I didn't think we had much of a type. Who's been coming this way sir...?"
The man takes the coins choosing not to count them but pocketing them right away. "Don't be coy with me. You aren't traveling journeyman on your way to the Ferry to fix the destroyed gate. You come for the same reason as most seeking coins and fame. Probably both. Bandits you are not. Yup fortune hunters. Been several of you types coming in more frequently. Last one held off an attack by some tall looking dog headed creatures. The gate was destroyed but they killed them off and we piked a few heads to ward off any more reason to attack us. Been working so far." The man loosens the rope holding the raft to the dock, climbs back on and pushes off with the oar. "Keep your friend secure wouldn't want him to roll over into the water. Will take over an hour to reach the Ferry. Name's Gutmark."
Well met Master Gutmark... anything you could tell us about The Ferry would be appreciated
"Coins and fame, you say?" Malthus plops himself down in the raft. "And to that I say nay, I am on a personal quest of sorts. A growth journey, if you will."
Herrick is glad that the impasse with the ferryman has been resolved. Before they board the raft, he takes a bag and creates in improvised hood for the mule. He takes out a few bites of his pemmican and feeds it to the animal as he leads it off of dry land.
"Better if the mule doesn't see where we're going. Being on the water might spook him and I don't feel like rescuing both it an Jak from drowing. Speaking of which ..."
The soldier then strips off his metal armor and secures it, his shield, and his weapons to the deck before they depart.
"Just Gutmark. Keep the mister for the city. I haven't lived at the Ferry for more than a few years but the Ferry is likely the only safe place you will find in these wilds. Good thing to remember cause I've seen a few of your type who even made it back from the Mouth carrying treasure and mouthing their tales. Then they soon go off to explore deeper into the dungeon and generally never return."
Gutmark shrugs when Malthus mentions his quest for personal growth. "Seems like a dangerous way to find this personal growth. Guess if you live long enough you'll find that too. What's that old saying 'If it don't kill ya. The stronger you'll be'. That the type of growth you out here looking for?"
....................................................................
As the conversation with Gilhaut, Malthus and Gutmark continues Jawn sits with Jak remembering the first time they saved the young lad from the ogre's belly. Jawn's mind drifts back to the the crystal sphere he found in the ogre's den. Once again examining it he holds the sphere in the palm of his hand trying to unlock its secrets. Holding the gem up to the sun he watches as two words faintly appear on each face of the orb. Celaid. Glewair.
Nesserin waits out the trip in quiet contemplation. The journey thus far has been stranger than he could have possibly imagined winding with a new mystery at every turn.
Gutmark lets the conversation peter off and continues to direct the boat across the river. Nearing the other side you see a small cluster of buildings pop up protected by an enclosed wall. Gutmark begins to push the boat towards a wooden dock jutting out of the water behind the dock a simple, single story building with a thatched roof stands.
"Welcome to the Ferry. You can find some lodging at Odo's..." Gutmark's conversation is abruptly interrupted by Jak who screams out in pain and you watch as his body jerks about uncontrollably. Jak begins to tear at his clothes and skin. His eyes open, now completely white, his screams intermingling with a blood-curdling wail! With each scream you watch as a dark shadowy silhouette rises from Jak's body causing the young scout intense pain.
Gutmark jumps from the raft almost tripping as he runs from Jak and the raft. "What...what...is happening?! Get him...Get him off my boat! HELP! HELP! Call the Dark! Call the Dark!" he starts to yell as he runs into the settlement.
Herrick ignores his stowed weapons and grabs Jak, flinging him bodily onto the mule's back. Before Gutmark has a chance to run off, he calls out to him. "Where is the Dark? How do we get there?"
"Oh dear. I do wish I had spent a little more time learning of the occult," Malthus cringes at the weird silhouette, but helps to keep Jak still. "Indeed, we need this 'Dark', and quickly!"
It must be the light... I think...
[edit]Re-read the text...
I'll smite that shade back to the next world!
Herrick yells at Gutmark. Cursing the ferryman stops just long enough to yell back at you, "Keep your distance! I'll show you...but keep your distance. Hurry now get him away from my house!"
Jak cries out in pain once again.
Nesserin follows everyone hurriedly to "The Dark's" house. As he watches the events transpiring trying to comprehend the events of the curse unfolding from their previous now deceased employer to Jak and this shadow-thing. His divine sight hadn't been of much use in identifying any particular entity. What must this all mean?
Gilhaut tries laying a blessing on the boy... He needs all the help he can get!
Gilhaut quickly casts a blessing on Jak hopeful that it will help him and then Herrick and him pick up Jak by the arms and legs. He frantically twists arms flailing and legs kicking. Moving Jak into the light only seems to make him even more crazed.
Gutmark hurries along past his house into the open area of the small village. Several men and women, bearing weapons, can be seen running towards Gutmark who is some ten feet away from you. He turns to point at Jak but he looks past him even more terrified, "What..what is that?"
Turning about you see a nimbus of black shadow rise from the boat. The shadow begins to erratically twist and turn until finally it forms into a tall, emaciated humanoid shape. It bends back and you watch as two wings spring forth from its back. Dropping to all fours it slowly strides toward you. A howl rips from Jak's mouth.