The Dark Forest is aptly named. The boughs of the trees loom overhead like grasping arms, casting long shadows on the road ahead. The woods have a reputation for being cursed, reportedly infested with beastmen and worse monsters. Fortunately, the road you are traveling merely skirts the forest's edge, rather than delving into its benighted depths.
You are on your way to the coastal city of Gateway, the largest and oldest city in the Northern Reach. You are several days into your journey, and still have a long way to go. As evening approaches, dark clouds gather in the sky, and the rumble of thunder presages a stormy night. Luckily, shelter is at hand, as you have arrived at a modest two-story inn. Aside from it and a couple of outbuildings, there are no other structures nearby. A sign above the door gives the inn's name as the Goathorne.
"Come along Melissa," Elizabeth says as she steps up her pace along the rutted road. The rural surroundings do nothing to diminish the regal air she carries with her. "It looks like we won't be sleeping on the ground tonight."
"Yes, Miss," the young woman trailing along behind agrees with a nod. "Thank the gods," she mutters under her breath. Her comment not as quiet as she had hoped, her companion snaps back, "The 'gods' had nothing to do with it. Please, you know how I feel about that."
"Yes, Miss. Sorry, Miss." The younger girl's pixie-like features stand in stark contrast to the taller woman's cold beauty. She can't help but sneak a small smile. "You can't argue against the timing, though. Awful convenient, it is."
"It is convenient. However, that's by no mechanism of the so-called 'gods'," Elizabeth answers back. "It just happened to be where someone decided to build an inn. And probably a man by the name of the place. Please, Melissa, I'm tired and I don't wish to have this discussion again."
"No, Miss. Sorry, Miss. Will you be wanting a bath tonight?" Melissa asks. "I'd love a bath tonight," the woman responds with a sigh. "However, by the looks of this place, we'll be lucky to get some warm water to wash the dirt off our faces."
"I'll arrange that as soon as I can, Miss."
The two figures press in through the door into the front area of the inn.
Elizabeth takes in the state of the business. "Why my sister couldn't have had her baby at the end of summer so we wouldn't have to deal with this bloody storm, I'll never know." Her frustration is evident in her tone.
"That was quite inconsiderate of her, Miss."
Elizabeth turns a rare slight smile towards her servant. "A cheeky comment, Melissa?"
"I would never, Miss," Melissa responds, her face the perfect picture of innocence. Elizabeth turns back to the room. "Definitely inconsiderate," she mutters with a slight chuckle. "Ostler!" she calls out. "A room for the night, if you would be so kind."
Standing in a dark corner of the inn yard Saleh watches the two women arriving. Their horses draw his eye first, a professional gaze evaluating their gait and harness.
Good animals. Not military though - so expensive. Would eat well too.
Clad in a weather-worn cloak, Saleh presents an unkempt figure, that of a man who has clearly been walking a long way with little to eat. The only item he wears of any quality are his boots, made of sturdy leather with thick soles they are the footwear of a man well used to walking or perhaps marching long distances.
"The stable is round the back Miss." He offers, voice gravelly from lack of recent use. "You'll find the ostler there most likely."
The inn’s front door opens into a large hall occupied with tables and chairs in the center, a few booths along the far wall, a large fireplace, a buffet table, and a well-kept bar. A door behind the bar leads to the kitchen. A short corridor in the center of the eastern wall, next to the fireplace, leads to the common room. Opposite the corridor, a staircase climbs up to the noble suites on the second floor.
Two middle-aged female dwarves are behind the bar. One has blonde hair and a long, thin blonde beard. The second has short black hair and thick black muttonchops. The blonde one responds to Elizabeth.
"Of course! Welcome to the 'Go-thorne,' milady. I'm Ananda, and this is my wife, Grelda. You can rent a cot in the common room for 1 copper per night. Or, if you want more private accommodations, you can rent one of our noble suites for 5 coppers."
"A private room would be wonderful, Thank you," Elizabeth answers, ignoring the smirking grin of her handmaiden. "They are certain odd-looking men, Miss," Melissa can't help but needle her Mistress at the mistake regarding the inn's name source.
"You hush," Elizabeth snaps back and hands the girl a silver coin from her pouch. Melissa takes the coin and with a few quick steps to the bar hands it over to the blonde dwarf. "Would it be possible to arrange a bath for my mistress?" she whispers conspiratorially, miming holding her nose and grinning.
While her maidservant deals with the room arrangements, Elizabeth removes her cloak, trying not to shake too much dust off to the floor. "Oh, and Melissa, please arrange for a meal for us."
"Yes, Miss," the girl answers, turning back with a smile.
Ananda chuckles and nods at Melissa. "Of course. We'll have your mistress fragrant again in no time."
Grelda gestures to the kitchen behind her. "Bester is working on dinner as we speak. The meal will be ready after sunset, ma'am. You won't be disappointed by our buffet--when it comes to tasty food round these parts, the 'Goat-horne' is second to none!"
Elizabeth frowns a little at the different pronunciations of the inn's name, but doesn't say anything. She takes a seat at one of the booths and waits for her maidservant to finish her business.
Melissa negotiates for an ale and a glass of wine as well before returning to join her Mistress. The two ladies nurse their drinks, waiting for dinner to be served.
Saleh does come inside although he does so cautiously and any observer would notice him wincing at the price of the room.
"Does the food come with the room?" He asks quietly, "If not I would prefer the food. I will sleep in the woods if need be." His eyes slide over the room, judging each and every person in the room swiftly. His posture remains upright the entire time, clearly the bearing of a soldier, or someone else who has spent a lot of time standing to attention.
Elizabeth watches the newcomer with detachment. A simple assessment to determine if he looks like a threat or an equal.
"He's a handsome one," her handmaid leans over and whispers.
"Don't you have a beau back home?" Elizabeth whispers back. "Terrence or Clarence or ... or something like that?"
"That was last week," the young woman says with a dismissive gesture with her hand. "It's Gregory this week. But he ain't here, now is he?"
Elizabeth simply rolls her eyes.
"A plate and a cup cost 1 copper, unless you've paid for a noble suite," Ananda says, sizing Salleh up.
The blonde dwarf hands Melissa a key to Elizabeth's suite, room 1 of 4 upstairs. The suite features private two bunks, a chest of drawers, and a writing desk, oil lamp, and tinderbox. There's also an empty tub for her bath when she is ready for it.
Saleh meanwhile fishes into his pouch, which certainly does not clink in well laden fashion and extracts a single copper coin which he hands over to Ananda. With it received he moves to take a seat by the fire, slowly stretching his weary limbs.
His eyes do follow the two women heading upstairs however.
Grelda chuckles softly as Saleh walks away. "He can sleep in the stables if he wants. Perhaps the donkey will snuggle with him."
Ananda shushes her wife and gives her a little shove.
The door to the inn opens to admit a hulking, heavyset orc. She towers over everybody else in the inn, standing seven feet tall. She pulls down the hood of her fine cloak to reveal facial features less severe than the typical brutish baseline of her race, with only nubs for tusks. Her skin is a dark forest green, but her most distinctive features are her enormous breasts. A modicum of effort has been made in an attempt to restrain them, but still they wobble ponderously, straining at the fabric of her homespun shirt. A sword and shield are strapped to her back, and a wide belt with a fancy buckle circles her waist.
The orc takes in the room through narrowed eyes before stomping up to the bar. Ananda and Grelda stare at her nervously, but the orc simply rumbles, "How much?" Ananda holds up two fingers, and the orc grunts and places two coppers on the counter. "My horse is in the stable," she says before squeezing her bulk into a corner booth. She leans forward with a sigh, massive breasts resting on the table.
Melissa barely conceals a snicker as the orc makes her attempt at getting comfortable in a booth clearly not sized for someone with her assets.
"Melissa!" Elizabeth hisses at her companion. "Sorry, Miss," the girl responds, her eyes dropping to the scarred wood of the table top.
The woman looks over her servant. "You clearly need something to do, " she says sternly. "So why don't you find out how much longer it'll be before the meal is served."
"Yes, Miss," Melissa says, sliding out of the booth and heading off to satisfy her Mistress.
Said Mistress continues to drink her wine and watch the orc newcomer.
Grelda indicates that it will only be another half an hour or so until meal time.
Indeed, soon enough, the door to the kitchen opens and an attractive young man with a mop of blonde hair and an easy smile emerges. "I hope you brought your appetites with you, because dinner is prepared!" Ananda and Grelda help the man set the buffet table with a wide variety of meats, cheeses, and breads. Once that's done, he makes his way around the inn to introduce himself.
"Hello, I'm Bester!" he says, holding his hand out to Salleh. He bows to Elizabeth and Melissa. "Good evening, ladies! I'm Bester!" He turns to the orc. "Hello, I'm Booooobs--- B-bester! I'm Bester! Uh, n-nice to meet you?"
The orc rises up to her full height and glowers down at the blonde man, who swallows audibly. Then she brushes past him without a word to start filling her plate with food.
Elizabeth nods in return to the young man's introduction. Melissa heads off to prepare the lady's plates, selecting a variety of food that she knows her Mistress will appreciate. She returns to the table, but her eyes follow the young man.
"You are incorrigible, Melissa," the stern woman declares. "First that tattooed man and now Bester. Is there anyone in here that you're not looking at like a hungry man looks at bread? Shall it be the ostler and her wife next?"
"I'm still young, Miss. I plan to sow my oats while I'm still pretty. But, no, dwarves and orcs ain't to my taste. And I much prefer the stem to the flower, if you please," Melissa answers with a smile and a slight tinting of her cheeks.
"Well, if you would be so good as to avoid any orgies in my room tonight, I would take it as a kindness. I am quite spent and wish to sleep."
"Yes, Miss."
Elizabeth can't help but notice as Melissa's eyes continue to follow the blonde-haired man as he moves among the guests.
"Oh, for the love of ..." she huffs in annoyance and drops her knife back down to the table. She fixes her eyes on the girl next to her. "Just be back to the room before it gets too late, we leave early in the morning."
"Yes, Miss!" Melissa responds with a wide grin as she slips out from the booth.
Elizabeth shakes her head as she watches the girl casually make her way over to where Bester is now rearranging some of the displayed food.
"So, Mr. Bester, my Mistress has given me the leave of the evening. What could a single, pretty girl like me do for fun around here?" Her smile conveys her intent clearly.
"Oh. Oh!" Bester grins and scratches at his hair. "Well, uh, I'm on duty until dinner's cleaned up, but after that, I'm sure I can come up with a few ways to, uh, 'entertain' you, miss."
"Then I look forward to seeing you after dinner, Mr. Bester. It's been a while since I've been ... 'entertained'," the young woman responds with a wink. "And you may call me Melissa. Until then, I'll see to my Mistress's bath." She then sets out to do just that.
Once the arrangements are made, Melissa makes her way back to the table where Elizabeth still sits with a second glass of wine.
"Once you've finished your dinner, Miss, if you head up to the room, you may find that this place isn't as primitive as you'd feared," the maidservant offers mysteriously.
Elizabeth's eyes narrow suspiciously. "What are you up to, Melissa?" The girl simply grins and shrugs.
Saleh meanwhile watches the various social interactions, not exactly with confusion, but certainly with a degree of incomprehension. He fills his plate even more thoroughly than the orc with the enormous tracts of land and, after hesitating a few moments, heads to her table.
"Greetings warrior." He says quietly, employing the guttural language of orcs and other such creatures. "May I join you? Perhaps the puppy will be less of an annoyance to you then."
The orc quirks an eyebrow when Saleh speaks in the Dark Speech. "You speak our tongue. Were you one of the slave drivers that kept my people in chains?" she rumbles threateningly.
Saleh twists slightly to show his heavily tattooed shoulder. "No. I was a slave also. In the army." His finger traces the slave brand beneath the tattoo's, easy enough to see when its pointed out.
"I bear no love for the Empire. I want to live. That is all."
Elizabeth takes her time finishing her second glass of wine. Even so, she still feels the slight effects from it as she takes Melissa's advice and retires to her room.
Discovering the bath filled with steaming water, she breaks into a rare smile. "Oh, you are the clever one," she mutters to herself. She carefully divests herself of her travelling dress, setting it neatly on top of the writing desk and then ties her hair up into a bun. Slipping down into the warm water, she can't help but moan. "Oh, Melissa, you are a prize."
~~~
Having difficulty keeping herself occupied while the other guests finish their meal, Melissa wanders back over to Bester. "I think I'll go out to the stables," she says with a smile. "Once you've finished with dealing with these folks, perhaps you can meet me there?" She smiles and then heads outside to lie in the fragrant hay and listen to the storm.
Kragga grunts noncommittally. "Sit then, if it pleases you." She tears a huge chunk out of a loaf of bread, crumbs dribbling down her chin to become lost in her massive valley of cleavage. Saleh notices something else nestled there, a pendant or necklace of some sort.
Bested smiles and watches after Melissa as she goes outside. The handmaid finds the stables spacious, a small barn with stalls enough to accommodate six horses. Hay bales have been piled up in the loft, which can be reached by way of a ladder. Currently, the stables hold two horses and a donkey.
As the meal gets underway, Ananda looks around with a frown. "Hmm, our other guest hasn't come down yet. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since last night." The dwarf looks to Kragga and Saleh. "Would you mind going upstairs to check on him in room 3? He is an old man named Horvath. He may need some help getting roused."
Melissa eyes the ladder and the loft with a grin. It's clear she has many fond memories of haylofts. She wastes no time climbing the ladder and finding a comfortable place to relax and wait.
Saleh nods quietly, hopefully the errand will be worth another plate of food or more since he's made his way through the first one at speed.
As he climbs the stairs he looks back to his companion, making a point of paying attention to her face. "Your name warrior? I am Saleh."
Once upstairs he heads to room 3 and knocks firmly.
"Dinner is served. Innkeepers want to see you."
"Kragga," the orc states simply.
There is no response to Saleh's knocks or shouts. The door is firmly locked.
After a few attempts at knocking achieve nothing Saleh looks at Kragga, shrugs and puts his shoulder to the door.
You hear a commotion across the hall. It sounds like a door was just forced open!
***
The door opens with a clatter. An ancient-looking man with a long white beard lies on the bed with his eyes closed. His chest does not rise or fall with breath, and his skin is cold and clammy. It's obvious that he's dead.
A few personal effects are placed on the table. Outside of four copper pennies, the only thing of note or value is a rough-hewn, bear-pelt satchel covered in strange mystic markings.
The Ability to Read: Saleh can make out the words as being some sort of magical incantation.
"He is dead." Saleh reports calmly, in the dark tongue. "Krigga, will you go downstairs and explain to dwarves what is here?"
Left alone for a moment he hesitates briefly and then sweeps the coins into his own pouch, before examining first the rest of the table and then the old man's body for signs of violence. Finally he stands very still to consider the room as a whole.
The loud sound waking her from a pleasant doze, Elizabeth sits up in the warm water with a start. She slips from the tub and wraps a rough-cloth towel around herself and steps to the door. Once there, she stands for a moment trying to decide if she should ignore it or not. However, her curious nature overcomes her caution and she unlocks the door and opens it just enough to look out into the hall.
They're breaking into that room! Is that ...? Is that a body?!
She shuts the door firmly and locks it again, making more noise than she had intended.
What do I do?
She looks about the room and hopes they didn't hear her slam her door.
Dressed! I have to get dressed!
She drops the towel and pulls on her travelling dress, ignoring how it sticks to her still-wet body. Stepping over to her bag, she pulls the single scroll from within and looks it over before turning back to the door.
Taking a breath, she attempts to calm herself in preparation for intruders.
You suddenly hear noises coming from outside the barn. Looking out the window of the hayloft, you can see dozens of human-shaped shadows shambling out from the trees and gathering on the road to block it! The horses and donkey begin to whicker and bray nervously.
***
As Saleh looks around the room, Horvath's body suddenly sits up in the bed! His eyes snap open, shining with green light, and the corpse speaks.
"I... hunger. I smell your blood, taste your flesh. Death comes for you, carried by my children that I have sent to end you. They come for you, come to end your miserable mortal lives."
Horvath's body stands up and begins to shamble towards Saleh!
With shaking hands, Elizabeth holds up the parchment. The magical runes swim and dance in front of her eyes and she struggles to remember her lessons.
She reads through the incantation, the words stumbling a bit at places. But she's rewarded with a tingle as the protective magic surrounds her. The spell in place, she steps to the door and opens it to confront the intruders.
The beginnings of fear settle in as Melissa sees the shadowy figures. She jumps up from the hay and drops quickly down the ladder - the rough wood tearing at her hands. Gathering her skirts about her, she dashes back to the common room of the inn.
"There's people out there on the road!" she yells out as she enters the room. "And they don't feel right! I think they's unnatural."
Saleh roars, his battle voice appearing almost upon command. He whips his dagger from its sheath, holding it in a backhand grip and waits for the creature to approach.
Saleh slices Horvath as the naked corpse lunges at him. The blade leaves a light cut as the zombie roughly grabs Saleh, holding him tightly!
Kragga comes thundering and wobbling up the stairs, her eyes widening in fear at the sigh of he dead man. "Goddess preserve us!" she breathes as she swings her sword wildly.
Across the hall, Elizabeth wards herself and opens the door on the horror show.
Downstairs, Melissa rushes back to the inn.
Elizabeth's first instinct is to defend the poor old man until she gets a better look at him. Ice cold fear drips through her veins as she staggers back.
With stumbling steps, she makes for her backpack and pulls a dagger from it.
After warning the people in the main room, Melissa's first thought is to her mistress and she races towards the stairs to warn Lady Adamell.
Saleh continues to attack, swinging his knife to try and cut the arm holding him.
Regaining her wits, Kragga hacks at the zombie with her sword!
Saleh slices at Horvath's arm to no avail. The zombie's teeth clack inches from his face, but the man barely manages to keep it at bay!
Elizabeth grabs her dagger as Melissa rushes upstairs. Below, Bester and the dwarves gather at the windows to gawk at the milling horde.
"Miss! Miss!" Melissa calls out as she sees the open door to the ladies' room. She steps inside quickly, not paying any attention to what's happening across the hall. "There are unnatural-type folk outside! We need to ... " She trails off as she sees her mistress dressed but still dripping wet and holding a dagger. "What's going ...?" she manages before she's pulled further into the room.
"Get behind me and stay in the room," Elizabeth commands her maidservant as she pulls the girl behind her. She edges closer to the door to see if the two figures need any assistance in dealing with the abomination assaulting them. She hopes no one notices the dagger trembling in her hand.
Saleh hacks again, this time landing a blow with some degree of force.
Saleh severs some tendons in the zombie's arm. Both Kragga and Horvath miss!
Braving the undead horror, Elizabeth approaches and attempts to stab and the grotesque figure.
The tall woman attempts to stab at the old man again.
Saleh continues to saw at the creature's arm. His very life depends on it!
Liz rushes over to stab the zombie twice. Kragga hacks at its arm, and Saleh finally severs it with a powerful slice of his blade! The arm falls one way and Horvath's body falls the other, the light in his eyes fading away...
"You, girl!" Saleh snaps, pointing through the rooms to Melissa. "What did you say? There are others?"
He glances around the room once more, trying to weight up the situation. "Krigga! Downstairs now! You, girls! Stay here, throw things from windows if you must. There is magic on table if you use it."
With that he bolts from the room, heading for the front door!
Elizabeth moves defensively to stand between the tattooed stranger and Melissa. She hasn't loosed the grip on her dagger. At the man's question, she turns back to look at her maidservent.
Melissa moves her hand to her mouth and nods wordlessly, fear visible on her face.
Once Saleh heads downstairs, the tall woman calls Melissa to her side. "He said something about magic on the table," she says, her eyes searching the room and ignoring the orcish warrior.