"F@$+..."
Awful was mesmerized by the grotesque display before him, but only for a moment. He quickly gathered his wits, steps around the writhing Adelmar, and quickly moves to the nearest beast-man. He swings his wrench at its head wildly, with an untrained stance.
Both Hokey and Bertram flee, trying to get as far away as they can from their individual threats. Their intent pushes them far beyond what they each had hoped - Hokey found herself in the treeline beyond the standing stones, and Bertram found himself on the otherside of the earthen wall Hydrand had somehow erupted like some kind of earth bender.
Awful stepped forward, slamming his club into one of the fomor.
Yulen pulls on Adelmar, dragging the young man away from the Fomor. He seems to be putting in a lot more effort than a man of his size should have to exert.
The two remaining plant people continue to attack the fomor and the fomor attack back. At the very least, these plant things have kept several fomor busy!
The strange firey smelly golem that Awful summoned seems to be doing its part! With two flaming fists, it slammed two of the fomor next to it, injuring one and killing the other (same one that Awful hit). Meanwhile, all three remaining piled on it, landing hits and slowly but surely carving away at it.
Erik cuts down another fomor, the axe lodging into its neck and bringing it to its knees. Goat eyes stare up in horror as the axe comes down again hard, nearly severing the head from the neck before the body falls over twitching. Balancing the axe in his hand, his attention turns to the next goatman. A moment later though, a massive stone came soaring out from the darkness and crushed it on the ground, killing it quickly and mercilessly.
"Always keep your tools sharp." His father's words ring in his head and he thanks him silently. That was when he heard his voice through the camp. Even over the roar of the fire, the screams of the goatmen, and the cacophony of chaos that was all around them, he couldn't mishear that voice.
"Pa..." Erik says, his grip tightening so hard on the haft of his bloody axe that he could feel blisters forming. He looked at the others and that rage was still so clearly there upon Erik's face. "We have to help the others." He would mutter quickly, moving around the wall to see what he could see. There was the terrible sight of that fiery golem there, made of blood and s%$* that was destroying the fomor alongside Awful. His first instinct was to go and help his friend, to get him out of there. Then he saw him nearby, that false form that mocked his dead father's image. It was helping Adelmar even as something strange and unnatural began to occur to him. He should go and help Awful. He should. He didn't.
He took those steps closer towards where the wounded Yulen was pulling Adelmar closer to the treeline, to the safety of escape and darkness. For a moment, their eyes would meet and maybe in the glimmer of that brightly burning fire, the thing could see the absolute fury that was there in Erik's eyes. He would move closer, each step determined, until he could lift the axe up on high.
"For my father." Erik said, wanting nothing more in the world than to kill this creature before him. Never had he felt such hatred, such anger, such a pure malice for some other living creature. Amidst this terrible night, nothing was in more danger than this imposter from the woodcutter's son.
Not to keen to get in range of a sharp stabbing spear again, but also unwilling to let his compatriots get into too much trouble without him helping, Andras draws one of his two knives from his belt.
Here goes nothing...
He steps forward, out of the treeline, and takes aim at the Fomor closest to him
He lets the dagger fly at it, hoping to maim or kill it.
He then takes the time to carefully retreat backwards into the trees where he came from, beckoning everyone to hurry.
Quickly! They're distracted, we can get away. Come on Awful! Stay alive and get that silver coin!
The immediate area clear, Hydrand sees Andras duck out of the brush for a moment before returning.
There must be someone out there who needs our help, if Andras's injured self is risking exposure.
Hydrand stepped past Andras to duck out of the brush and glances around the clearing. He sees the melee between plants and goats and decides there's no allies there he cares to assist. He sees Erik as he marches to...
Yulen?! Right, a changeling was mentioned...
Deciding that situation was too complicated to judge at a glance, he continues to track across the clearing where he sees Awful in close with a couple of the beasts and... Some sort of thing. It was disturbing to lay eyes on, but the danger there was clear and the ally easy to identify.
Well, here goes nothing.
Hydrand shifts his mace to his off hand and raises his dominant right towards Awful. In his mind, he brings himself back to Erik, who came to his defence, and how he took that defence and brought it to flow through him to Andras, communicating it into a shield of protection around him. He draws on that moment, seizing, almost physically, on the sensations and emotions that coalesced into a shield around Andras and on the thrumming presence in the air; he brought together all these pieces in his mind and crystallized them on the man in his sights. An Ally in danger, an Ally he wanted to Defend.
"Shield him! Shield Awful!"
Less a shout and more a grunt from the effort Hydrand was pouring through his mind, he thrusts his outstretched hand toward Awful, his entire body surging into the motion.
Erik charges at what looks like his father, confident that it is not. He swings his axe, hitting his father solidly. The visage of the human woodsman melts away as the iron axe head strikes the changeling. What is left behind is a human-shaped creature of green skin with hair made of sticks and leaves. A surprisingly human-like face looks back in horror at Erik, glowing yellow eyes wide in shock. Wha-? a girlish voice squeaks out. Why?
Meanwhile, Andras comes around the corner of one of the stones, out from behind the wall and the trees, and throws a dagger at the unconscious Fomor lying on the ground. The dagger sticks into the dirt right next to the Fomor, but something black seems to grow from where the blade struck and into the beastman, causing it to writhe in pain before it finally stops dead.
Hydrand moves out from the treeline as well, and focuses on protecting Awful.
The fomor who were fighting the new dwarf both run back to attack the plant people, killing one of them.
The final transformation of Adelmar is complete as his body has become partially clockwork and partially human. Gears stick out of his shoulders and his skin hardens into iron.
The changeling recoils back in horror at what has become of him, not wanting to touch him. The innate fear of iron within her is driving her back.
The changeling girl recoils at the change that is overcoming Adelmar. She is repelled by the iron that is growing out of his insides.
Muck? What's happening to me? Muck? Adelmar asks, reaching out for her.
She recoils back from his touch. No, no, no, no, no. Oh Adelmar! What has become of you, my dear sweet Adelmar?
Muck? What's wrong Muck?
NNOOOOO! she screams, turning to Erik, WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!? YOU A!#&@&#S! YOU MONSTERS! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?!?
Her face is awash with anger and panic. Tears stream from her eyes and she turns to Erik with a visage of pure wrath.
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Erik watches his axe sink into his father's side, the skin melting away to show the creature underneath. Erik didn't really understand what changelings were outside of the tales of caution he had been told about as a child. They could steal your shape, your soul, your mind, if you let them do so. He pulls back the axe, his eyes brimming with tears and rage.
. The changeling's screams fall on deaf ears as Erik swings his axe again, not caring about Adelmar's horrific change. He was just as guilty but he was nobility. He was untouchable to the kind of justice that existed here in the North. This "Muck" though, she was not immune to it at all. The axe swung again, the heavy blade whistling low in the air.
His own rage and sobbing brings the axe over her head as she ducks, his cries growing louder as he shook. Tears fell from his eyes, mixing with the blood and grime of this awful place. "Why would you take him from me? He had a family! A wife! ME! You're the f&&@ing monster!"
Full of rage and anger, Erik swings his father's axe as hard as he can. The changeling barely moves out of the way; the head of the axe slicing through her clothes.
The changeling screams back at Erik, her fervor nearly.matching his intensity. YOUR FATHER? YOU GIVES A S%*# ABOUT YOUR DEAD DAD? I CAN'T TOUCH MY BOYFRIEND, YOU A$$*@%~! YOU DID THIS! YOU DID THIS TO ME! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
Her screech is almost incoherent.
She then runs, with the intent to get away, to hide. And before anyone can act, she disappears into the night.
--------
The Golem kills another Fomor, but takes heavy wounds back from the two surviving Fomor. The line plant creatures continues to attack the four fomors surrounding it. It is not long for this world.
Hokey quickly scrambles behind a large, sturdy tree as she narrowly gets away from the danger. She gathers her breath for the first time in what feels like an eternity of running.
Safety; I'm alone. I got out. What about Awful?
She turns back to see Awful still by the golem and the interaction between Erik and the changeling.
What are they doing?! They don't have time for this! They need to get out!
Hokey attempts to hide herself and sneak around the edge of the clearing, towards the group and Adelmar.
"Run you idiots! This is the perfect time, while everything is distracted. Adelmar, run to my voice."
Bertram looks on at the chaotic scene in confusion and fear. The Fomor were bad enough and now a human was losing his mind on a changeling.
Insane bastards. he thinks to himself as the two trade hysterics, Fine then, let em have it out. Less attention on the rest of us.
Many of the Fomor lay dead, but the humans looked worse for wear. The wound in Bertram's side burned unpleasantly too. It was time to leave.
"Let them kill each other if they want to. Now's our chance! Grab the boy and run!" He shouts to the humans, rallying them to move faster and flee with him. Bertram grabs a filthy spear from the ground and takes off running. He grimaces at the disgusting filth smearing on his gloves.
The Dwarf glances over his shoulder to ensure the others are keeping pace. At least one of them needed to survive if Bertram was going to find the town. He would stand no chance being lost and tracked by Fomor.
"To me, Humans! Escape this place before they regroup!" He bellows.
Hokey: "Run you idiots! This is the perfect time, while everything is distracted. Adelmar, run to my voice."
Hokey's appeal breaks Hydrand away from his intense, albeit feckless, focus on creating a barrier around Awful.
Well, it's not as if I understand even an iota of magic, but after tonight... it bears investigating, certainly! Can't investigate if I'm dead, though, and it seems the others are retreating. Maybe I'll be able to return here... maybe I'll find the answer to my plinth.
Someone else shouting in the woods nearby once again snaps Hydrand out of his own head.
Right, let's make with the running!
Adelmar, even in his new form, is what we came here for. Who knows if he will follow this strange “Muck” creature, or not...
Andras will prepare to follow Adelmar, whether he flees with the group or follows Muck.
I must make sure Adelmar is safe, both from the Fomors, or from himself...
Awful's eyes glazed over as the girl shouted. He seemed almost to the point of pain. However, his grin didn't falter. As the thing ran away, he declared:
"Alright, that's enough of all that. I'm out!"
Turning on his heel, Awful retreated toward where he last knew Hydrand and Andras were, with the intent of getting the hells out of here.
Everyone turns and runs from the bonfire, leaving the strange magical place and ancient holy site to the desecrating Fomor, so they may do whatever they will of it. But no one cares about that - instead, they care about their own hides and getting themselves to safety. And so, with the plant creatures abdandoned and the golem left to fend with the Fomor, the group runs away.
Adelmar also runs, his movement clunky and slow - it is not something he is used to. He trips several times as he tries to keep up. What has happened to me? he complains as you head back to the town.
The changeling, "Muck" as you soon learn her name, is nowhere to be found.
You make your way back to the campsite. It is near the middle of the night. It is pitch black, except for what rare beams of moonlight can barely make way through the canopy. And for what lanterns may be lit. The campfire is long out. The tents are still erect. The forest is more or less quiet.
Well, you are still the mayor’s son, and hopefully he will recognise you as such... You must convince him that inside you are still the boy that he loves. I would head to his estate at the nearest convenience, he will surely still be awake. He must be sick with worry and unable to sleep.
Andras leans in, and lowers his voice so Awful cannot hear him.
Perhaps it would also be prudent to mention the Fomors and the strange magic there, I would not want Awful blamed when he merely tried to keep you alive, for you would have surely died otherwise.
Andras clears his throat, and begins speaking normally again.
Shall we depart? It is late, and I would not want to linger here.
Awful walks a couple of yards behind the recently mechanized boy, staring at him with eerie caution. Every stumble found Awful stopping and waiting until Adelmar was able to continue. He started to grow irritated, but they arrived at the camp shortly after.
"Hm. Should we break the camp, at least take the tents or something? This one is kinda nice... and I don't have a tent, and no one is using this one now..."
He touches the tent, admiring it while he waits for someone else's input.
Hokey runs into the camp and collapses to her knees. She's visibly worn and exhausted from the short skirmish that happened at the Standing Stones. She's kind of zoned out and sits there for a couple minutes.
We got out. By some miracle, no one died and we all got out.
At the thought of how much danger she was in, and with Adelmar's whining, a splash of anger dyes her face, getting deeper and deeper.
"Stop whining and shut up. Just shut up. Who the hell told you to do this retarded s++! out in the woods like this?! I can't wait to dump you off at your father's and collect the money that's owed to me." Hokey rages at Adelmar. She adds with a hmph, "Your stupid changeling also promised me some money for looking for you, which I guess I'm not getting, since you're worthless to her now."
She then turns to the group. She almost glares at Erik before taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
"Any debts and favors I felt to you, Erik, is paid in full and then some. If any of you do anything stupid like this again, I'm just going to leave next time. Don't ask me to help you ever again if you can't even stick to a basic plan."
Hokey softens a bit and adds, "Except you, Awful, thank you for helping me when I asked for it. I know you almost died to help me, and I appreciate it."
After hearing what Andras and Awful had to say, Hokey responds, "Great suggestion, Andras. Tell me where to go, and I'll catch up with you guys, I want to take a tent, too. It's not like anyone else was putting it to good use, anyway."
Hokey menacingly glares at Adelmar, challenging him to complain again, about anything. She breaks her glare with a snort and turns back to Awful.
"C'mon, Awful, it was your idea first, so I'll help you break one down for yourself."
After everything was settled, and she expressed her distaste for Erik's suicidal behaviors, she finally seems to notice Bertram for the first time. "Wait, who are you? I think you were helping us back there, so thanks for that. My name is Hokey; I work as a guide. Well, I guess I worked as a guide; I'm a deputy of Last Hope now, same with these guys." Hokey points to her badge.
Away from the scene of the battle, Erik feels the fatigue in his limbs. So tired, so very tired, but he still had the strength to stand. Amidst the camp, Erik's eyes can't pull away from the bit of brush that covers his father's corpse. He would have to wait until sunrise to collect the body with the others, maybe Aaron would be kind enough to help them. When Hokey growled at him, his attention was finally pulled away from the hidden, awful sight and he scoffed quietly.
"You wanted us to just run, hoping that things worked out the way you wished? We did the best we could, so keep your comments to yourself. That murderer needed to be cut down, still needs to be." The last words are mumbled out, his eyes closing for a moment before he tries to wipe the blood from his face. His hands and clothes are covered with the bloodspray from the goatmen, a shaky breath escaping him. "I'm sorry...I just...I just need to get home. Mama is waiting."
As the others began to break down the tents, Erik begins to light another torch with the matches from his tinder box.
"This is my last torch. We should begin moving now." He says to the others, giving the dwarf a look over before focusing on the edges of the light around them.
"Hmph. At least one of you has the decency to recognize aid when it arrives." Bertram grumbles at the motley crew before him. He takes the torch, but eyes Erik carefully as he does so. "You lost your mind there, Human."
Bertram finds the camp almost as sparse as his own belongings. He uncorks a waterskin and begins carefully washing his hands with the contents. "Filthy Fomor. Disgusting."
"Name is Bertram of clan Romden." He answers Hokey. "It was luck that I came across you lot. The woodsman is what brought me to you. He... she, I suppose, led me to you searching for the young man."
Bertram eyes the unfortunate Adelmar and is sure to give his warped form a wide berth as though it may spread to his own.
"Deputy eh? I had hoped to earn myself a place to sleep this evening. Sounds to me like the Mayor owes me for helping you save his boy. I intend to collect. Lead the way, Guide."
Erik's eyes narrow at Bertram at the dwarf's comment, handing him the torch as he shoulders the axe once more. The flickering light pushed away the darkness but it was like a beacon to them as well.
"I didn't lose my mind. I lost my father. That woodsman, that monster, killed him and took his clothes. If I could do it all again, I would just lean in a little bit farther that second swing." Erik's eyes look over Adelmar's form and he seethes inside again for a moment but only tightens his grip on the axe's haft. He'd cut him down too if he wasn't a damn nobleman. He'd earn his reward bringing him back and if the mayor rescinded, he would make sure everyone knew what his son did. The North had its own way of getting justice.
Once the group was ready, he would help Hokey as much as he could. He was no guide but the forest wasn't a mystery to him either. She had more experience and he wasn't foolish enough to believe otherwise.
On their way back to the camp, Hydrand was, for the most part, lost in his own thoughts. There was a certain charm to helping people before they were already dead or robbed or cheated... before a detective was required. In the moment of summoning that shield around Andras, Hydrand had realized that was something he could be passionate about.
The situation, as it stood, had a certain closure to it. They were no longer in imminent danger, some mysteries had been solved, and they appeared to have a clear direction. It seemed pretty obvious that rest was next.
Rest sounds good. I'm not familiar with having this much... me... being taken out of me. I don't feel well at all.
"Friends, I'm not sure I feel keen on staying around to break camp. I'm tired and hurt, and so are you. Let's please hurry back to town."
Mmm... Friends...
Hydrand makes his way to the edge of camp that leads towards Last Hope; unwilling to leave his allies behind, however, he waits so that he might be accompanied on the way back to town. Hokey certainly seemed to know the way, and while Hydrand had a good idea of where the town was, getting lost wasn't an impossibility.
Some rest will be nice and do us all some good... It's a shame that the head of the temple has befallen his recent fate, I'd much like to have picked his mind about magic...
His thoughts wandered off once more.
Hokey's kindness had a heavy impact on Awful. For the first time in his life, he understood what it felt like when someone made you uncomfortable. His ever-grinning features faltered into an uneasy grimace. Something that, for the people who knew him, was unheard of. The negative emotion in his face seemed amplified from the stark contrast.
"Wha- What? I don't need the help, it's just a tent. It'll be faster if we just take care of our own things and leave."
Stepping behind his chosen tent, he mutters to himself and gets to work taking it down. He works as fast as he comfortably can, with the clumsy disregard of a novice. After a short time, he has a makeshift rucksack full of the tent's components made from the tent's fabric. He didn't say anything more for the remainder of the journey back to town.
Adelmar just stood there, staring absentmindedly at the camp. When Andras ordered him to go home, he did so, awkwardly walking away into the night to find his father's manor. After a few moments, you can no longer see him. After a few more, you can no longer hear him clanking through the forest.
Everyone else is eager to leave and go back to town, but the guide back to town insists on staying behind to take a tent. It takes another half hour to get the tents down, having to take everything out of it and arguing who gets the tents with the dead bodies inside - the ones dug out from the old graves. One of the four is splattered with the remains of a necromantically revived dead person. One of them just has two dead people lying inside. One of them was obviously the place where Adelmar and Muck shared intimate times together - something they will likely never do again thanks to the changelings inherent and visceral fear of iron. And the last was just filled with boxes.
Hydrand stood by and observed, contemplating the world around him. Erik was eager to go home and wanted to get back to town, but also didn't want to just leave everyone behind. Andras was complaining about waiting around in the middle of the night with Fomor just over there and who could return any minute. Bertram surely wasn't going to leave, as he didn't know where to go.
Finally. Finally they were finished packing up the two tents. Naturally, tends never seem to be able to fold up like they are when you buy them, so they're bulky and take up most of the room inside the packs. But you get two of them packed up with everything inside strewn out messily around the campsite. By the time Awful and Hokey are done, they're both sweating. Why is it still so hot in the middle of the night?!
Hokey and Erik eventually pick the trail back up and head back to town.
The town is not burning to the ground. There's no mass murders. Everything seems to be in order. You make your way back to the Constable's; the Constable is asleep in his chair, how head back against the wall. The prisoners are inside the jail, all asleep. The lock held.
The mayor isn't in town; looks like you'll have to visit him at his manor.
With Adelmar hopefully returned home after he was ordered to go off into the night by himself, right after being kidnapped and nearly roasted alive by Fomor, then forcibly changed into some sort of clockwork amalgamation, and then losing the love of his life - who knows what kind of mental state he was in. Hopefully he made it back. You'll have to find out tomorrow when you seek out the mayor for your reward, and tell him the story of what happened - perhaps also explain why you sent him off on his won by himself in the middle of the night in the middle of a Fomor infested forest. Will he even believe that you saved him? It's a question for tomorrow.
You decide to break up and head home for the night.
Sunrise comes; but you don't notice it. Exhaustion let's you sleep in.
When you finally awake, all seems normal. Well, normal-ish. It's still hot.
Erik waited. He waited for as long as he could bear as the others made the decision of which used tent that they were going to take. Whether it was moving dead bodies or supplies, it all seemed to be taking so long. The woodcutter's son was silent the rest of the time, only responding when he was prodded by the others. The town was not in ruin, the others inside having been locked away and the constable sleeping soundly. The mayor was nowhere to be found and Erik silently thanked himself for that; the blood from the fomor and their stink had lingered on his skin and the sweat from the hot night was only making it worse.
If Hokey accompanied him on the way back to his home, he was silent the whole time. His eyes downcast, his mind just not...really there. He made his way back home onto his property once more and gave her a nod as she made her way to the barn that was hers for the time being. His family home awaited him. Opening the door, he walked in and set his axe down. The blade was stained with gore and absentmindedly, he began to clean at it. He was so focused that he didn't even hear the bedroom door open, his mother's soft voice speaking out.
"Yulen? Erik? What happened that kept you out so...w-why are you covered in..." The dim candlelight shined on the young man whose eyes flickered up to his mother's and the weight of the night finally began to crash down upon him. His eyes stung as tears began to well within them, his limbs beginning to shake uncontrollably. Why couldn't he stop them? He needed to tell her what happened? His father would've been stronger than this, he would've been able to tell her what happened.
"Momma, I...I couldn't...I couldn't save him...I-" Before he is able to continue to speak, the woodcutter's wife places the candle down and wraps her arms around him. Everything breaks. If the night was quiet enough for it, Hokey could almost hear the sobbing wails of a boy who lost his hero muffled only by well-crafted walls made by loving hands. The rest of the night was a blur; Erik couldn't remember whether he washed himself or if he was helped. The tears just kept flowing until sheer exhaustion granted him mercy and sent him into the comforting darkness of sleep. It was only in dreams where his father still lived but each one ended in a nightmare. Each one ended with him wearing her face.
The nightmare woke him with a start, his body soaked with sweat from the oppressive heat that still lingered. The house was silent, so very silent. His younger siblings knew something was wrong and were quietly minding their chores when Erik came downstairs. He forced a smile at them before grabbing his axe and hefting it onto his shoulders once more. His mother laid in bed, clutching one of his father's nicer pairs of clothing. He couldn't force himself to wake her. Breakfast would have to wait.
Approaching the barn, Erik would check to see if Hokey was still asleep or even there still. If she was, he'd wake her and offer her one of the two apples he had brought with him and then begin making their way back into town. He still needed to be paid for finding Adelmar and then he needed to find Aaron and the Constable. There were bodies that needed to be buried.
The latter was more important to him than the later and he would say that he would meet Hokey at the tavern before making his way to the mayor's estate. Finding Aaron wouldn't be too hard and he would knock on the town's favorite woodcutter's door loudly, waiting for the man to wake up and answer the door.
"Aaron, I know you and Pa were good friends. He never came home last night so I looked for him. I found him. Him and others in the woods. Can you help me bring them back?" If Aaron was so inclined, Erik would make his way to the constable's place and inform him of what he found and encountered the night before; the bodies, his father stripped naked, a gathering of fomor, a changeling wearing his father's face. He did not explain the connection between Adelmar and that changeling yet, not yet anyways. With an assembled team of men, he would head off into the forest once more to bring the dead home.
Seeing Adelmar begin to wander off, Andras stood up and chased after him, deciding to stick with the boy.
He waved a hasty goodbye to his companions, new and old friends alike.
Wild night. Let us hope that we never have to experience anything like this again. I better follow the mayor's son, help corroborate the story.
Andras called to Adelmar as he ran to catch up."Hey! Hey! Adelmar. Didn't mean to send you off by yourself. How are you feeling?"
Adelmar looked up at Andras, despondent. "I... I don't know. Everything happened so fast. What.. what happened to me? Where is Muck?"
Andras tries his best to look sympathetic, though outward displays of emotion come hard to him. "Never seen anything like it before, in truth. You studied magic right? At the university? Something was in the air there, around those stones. I don't know what happened, but when trying to heal you it turned you into..." Andras contemplates for just the briefest of seconds, trying to put it diplomatically. "Something more than yourself. It is not a curse, nor is it a gift I would say. It is certainly better than being dead."
"Yeah. Father sent me to Lij." Adelmar speaks slowly, with pauses between each word, as if he's struggling to find what to say - or his ability to process language has slowed. I.. I failed, Andras. I couldn't handle it. I couldn't take it. It was all just so overwhelming. Muck was the only one to help me through it.
"Together, we found that book of magic. I was trying to find a way to heal people. I thought that if I could bring someone back to life, bring joy back to people's lives through it - it would make up for Lij.
"But... But it didn't work. Not the way I thought it would."
Andras nods. "That is a noble aim indeed. Magic is a fickle mistress, or so I have heard. Your Muck, I must say I do not know where she went. Yet I know she lives, I saw her escape with my own eyes. I am sure she will come and find you, when she is ready." He decides it is better to not mention the reason WHY she ran away.
The two of them made their way to the main road out of town and walk the few miles to the mayor's manor. Along the way, Adelmar discussed his time at Lij - the City of Wonders. The name holds true - it truly was a place of wonders. Clockworks were everywhere, huge towers of mages studying all sorts of powerful magics, and so much more. But even with all the wonders, it was too much for someone like Adelmar who grew up in a sheltered manor on the outskirts of civilization. Too much visual input, too much noise, to many things happening at once and if you didn't pay attention to them all, you'd get swindled or mugged or even killed. The pressure to succeed was intense; with such a large population everyone was competing against everyone else, and if you couldn't get ahead by your merits, then you got ahead by sabotaging your opponents. It was constant. Relentless. You always had to watch your back and you could never trust anyone. Only Muck - she was the only one he could trust. She helped him escape, helped him get back home where they set up camp in te woods. She would go into town and dig up the graves to steal bodies from him to practice on.
"Tonight was the first night I succeeded. And what I created - it was horrible, Andras. Absolutely terrifying. It wasn't what I wanted to make. I tried to bring that woman back to life, but instead of healing and being normal, she was still dead, just moving around. She tried to kill me. I ran into the forest, and before I knew it I was caught by the beastmen. They set up the bonfire at the Standing Stones. They must have enacted some ritual to unlock that power. No one has ever told of such power before.
"Thank you, Andras, for saving me. Even if I did end up like this, at least I'm still alive. Or maybe not, when Father finds out."
The two of them approached the manor. Andras looked at the manor, the gravel path and perfectly trimmed topiaries reminding him of his own family estate, now just a distant memory. "I think leading the story with the beastmen attack would be sensible. That the alternative was death. That may help your father accept you."
They made their way up to the manor house; the mayor's white horse he was riding when me met Andras and the rest of the deputies is here. Candles are flickering inside. Andras stepped up to the door, and rapped sharply upon it. Adelmar moved into a position where he could not be immediately seen from the inside. From the inside, shuffling could be heard, and someone moved rapidly towards the door. The door swung open and the mayor was right there.
"Mr. Cousland! Is everything ok? Did you find my boy?"
"We did, sir. He is safe. He is alive. He was kidnapped by beastmen. We all fought them off."
Andras does his best to look solemn, "Adelmar nearly died. We saved him. There was a cost. He does not look the same as he did, but he is still the same man, the same son."
"You fought off the Beastmen? How noble of you, Mr. Cousland. How very noble. Is it just you here? Where's my boy? Did everyone else make it out ok?" His eyes scanned around looking for anyone else. He did not see Adelmar, and Adelmar seemed reluctant to step forward.
"The others went home. It has been a long night. A few of us nearly died as well. Including me. No casualties though, thank Astrid."
Andras gestures to the dried blood caking the side of his tunic, "Beastman spear. Wasn't fast enough." He looked around at Adelmar, and smiled reassuringly. "Please sir, do not think any less of your son. We have risked our lives to bring him here to you today, and I would ask this in return." Andras snorted slightly, "Though I am sure Awful would ask for his silver shilling... Come Adelmar. Your father shall be relieved to see you alive."
Adelmar stepped forward, and the mayor screamed in terror at the sight of this monstrosity that was his son. "No! What have they done to you, my boy! What have they done?" Tears formed on the mayor's face as a mix of sadness and fear interweaved.
Adelmar immediately recoiled back, shying away from his father. "Father.. I... I..." Adelmar backed away, and then turns to flee his father's home.
Doing his best to sound commanding, Andras yelled out, "Adelmar! Stay! I did not bleed like a stuck pig to have you flee into the night.
To the mayor, Andras said, "Sir. With the utmost respect. I took a spear for your son, as did many of my companions. There were twenty beastmen there, not a mile from the town. It is YOUR land to protect, and we did the job for you, killing and routing the debased troupe. Your son would have died, his flesh eaten by these monsters had we not intervened. Surely your son being flayed, cooked and eaten alive, and not even having a body to bury would have been a worse fate? I beg of you, recognise your son. You are a noble. You are meant to be the best of us. You are meant to rule by example. Show forgiveness, and mercy, like our lady Astrid showed the heathens forgiveness."
The mayor looked at Andras with disdain for just a moment. Then his look softened and he sighed, expelling the anger and disgust with his breath. "You're right, Mr. Cousland. Despite what the church says about these damnations, he is still my son.
"Adelmar! Adelmar, come back. I'm sorry. Please, come home. We will find a way to fix this. I promise."
The strange half mechanical young man stopped in his tracks and turned back around. He looked like he was crying, but no tears fell from his geometrically shaped eyes. His shoulders slumped as he made his way back to the house.
As the two started to retreat into the manor, the mayor looked back at Andras and said, "Thank you, Mr. Cousland. Please, return here tomorrow with your friends and you will be given the reward I promised. For now, my son and I have a lot to talk about."
Hokey packs up her tent and wipes the sweat off her brow. She just knew it was going to be such a chore when she got ready for bed.
But at least I have a tent now! How come they never seem to fold right?
Satisfied, she says to the group, "Thanks for waiting. Let's get going."
As the group returns back to town and finishes up the rounds, Hokey offers to guide Bertram to the only "inn" in town, as it's on the way back to Yulen's, or rather, Erik's, place.
On the way back, guessing Erik felt as blank as he looked, Hokey tries to strike up some conversation with Bertram. She asks him the usual questions: "So, Bertram, whereabouts are you from? And what brings you into town?"
After dropping Bertram off, Hokey and Erik walk back, in silence. Just before entering the barn, Hokey turned to watch Erik wearily plod towards his home, in silence. And she watched wistfully for a bit longer as she heard the muffled sounds of a family that was no longer whole, in silence.
At least you had him to love, Erik.
Finally making their way back to town, Awful's grinning expression surveyed the trail from the opposite side of where Hokey stood this time. The struggle of the entire night was finally wearing on him, though he tried to hide it, tried to steady his ragged breath and life his sagging shoulders.
He remained silent, not quite knowing anyone now that Andras had left. The most strange thing about him other than his permanent grin and the distance he kept from the light, was how dry he was when everyone else seemed to be drenched in sweat.
When they reached town, Awful made a B-line to his home without saying a word to his companions.
After washing up and settling down for the night, Awful sat alone in the darkness and pondered everything that transpired this evening.
Who had made the tools he used today?
Could he learn to make tools like that?
What magic had empowered them against the goatmen?
Where did Adelmar learn necromancy? That was awesomely wicked!
Who was that girl, and how was she involved with Adelmar?
Did she kill Erik's dad?
Who the hell did she think she was to be so ungrateful!?
and then... Why did he feel a sort of kinship with the Changling?
A ceremony was held for Alric and Yulen that night. Erik lead a group of men out into the forest to collect Yulen's body. The mayor had discovered Alric's body last night and took it to his family's home for preparations of the funeral. Father Solomon was never found, and it was assumed that he had died. The ceremony was also head for him, in absentia.
With the absence of a priest, the Mayor oversaw the ceremony.
For those inquiring about the Holy Finger of Astrid, the Mayor had found it along with the two vellum scrolls on Alric's body. He had sent a messenger to the church to request they send a new priest to the town and to retrieve these items.
After the ceremony, the Mayor came by to each of you to personally thank you for what you did during the night. He hands each of you a letter of commendation and a silver shilling as your reward.
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Your Letter of Commendation grants you one favor from someone important. You can use the favor now or save it for later. Details for how to use it now will be in this post.
This post will also detail what novice paths you may choose from and what traditions are available for you to choose from. We'll also be going over your Downtime event, a new Interesting Thing, and what things you must purchase before we start Chapter 1.
Right! Let's get to the good stuff.
The time has come for you to choose your novice path. You can pick from one of the four novice paths from the core book. Please select a path that is fitting to your story in the game. However! There's a bonus:
If you choose to use the favor from your Letter of Commendation right now, you may select an appropriate novice path from outside the core book. This letter will grant you training from someone and will introduce a new NPC in the story. Please discuss with me about your choice of a novice path (Spellguard and Adept will be replaced with Spell Striker).
Lastly, your Downtime Event (detailed below) may have an impact on which paths you select. Please consider it as you make your decision.
Available traditions will be associated with a location. You can study at up to two locations to learn traditions. If a location has more than one tradition associated with it, you can select one or more - but remember that you're still limited to your Novice Path. Some traditions are Personal to you only, and can be studied with personal contemplation - this will count as a "Personal Location." These came from your actions during the Battle at the Standing Stones.
If you choose the Priest Novice path, you may only select the traditions associated with the religion, unless you spend the favor from your Letter of Commendation. This can come in the form of selecting a priest path outside of the core book, or selecting the core priest and simply picking different traditions (this option comes with the possibility of being labeled a heretic amongst the traditional worshippers).
Locations:
Temple of the Holy Finger. Life, Theurgy, and Celestial
Abandoned Workshop. Alchemy, Rune, and Technomancy
Necromancer's Grimoire. Necromancy and Blood* (ask about blood if desired)
Standing Stones. Nature, Fey, Storm, Earth, Air, Fire, Water.
Personal:
Andras. Nature, Protection, Life, Curse
Awful. Shadow, Teleport
Bertram. Earth
Erik. Battle, Curse
Hokey. Air, Arcana
Hydrand. Protection, Earth, Battle
Special:
Studying the Beastmen Remains. Forbidden
Letter of Commendation. One Tradition not mentioned here.
If you nearly died. Soul, Death, Spiritualism
Your clothing is ruined after this night. You must purchase new clothing.
Over the course of your downtime, you will earn 2d6 copper pennies in addition to anything else you may earn. You may roll for this. Spending Fortune will make both of these rolls a 6. Spending your Letter of Commendation will turn this roll into 2d6 silver shillings.
Lifestyle: You must purchase a Lifestyle, found on Page 100 of the core book. Please read the associated text with the lifestyle, as you may be required to make some rolls. Higher lifestyles may also grant you some extra coin! Note that your Downtime Event may grant you a free lifestyle.
If you do not or cannot purchase a lifestyle, then you automatically gain the Destitute lifestyle.
One year has passed. Age your character by one year.
The following is something that has happened to you over the course of the next year. You may spend your Letter of Commendation and/or Fortune to improve your downtime category by one and reroll on the table. The categories are in order: You Died, Major Setback, Minor Setback, Work, Minor Windfall, Major Windfall, Strange Event.
Andras: Minor Windfall. You escaped nearly certain death. Start the next adventure with Fortune. (Speak to me about this, because I have specific ideas with it tied to your Story Complication)
Awful: Minor Windfall. You won some money gambling. Gain 1d6 Gold Crowns.
Bertram: You worked! You earned enough to gain the Comfortable Lifestyle. You may purchase a higher lifestyle, deduct the value of this lifestyle from the cost of a higher lifestyle.
Erik: Minor Windfall. You obtained a Horse! You may keep it or sell it.
Hokey: You worked! You earned only a little and you gain the Poor Lifestyle. You may purchase a higher lifestyle, deduct the value of this lifestyle from the cost of a higher lifestyle.
Hydrand: Minor Setback. You suffered significant financial trouble. Lose 1d6 gold crowns. If you cannot afford this, you must sell gear until you make up for the loss. If you cannot make up the full loss, you will be in debt to an NPC. Selling a single enchanted item will completely clear your debt.
You have obtained a new Interesting Thing! There are two choices for each character. You may choose which of the two you gain.
Andras: You have... a criminal record OR A skill made from clear crystal (I have ideas about the criminal record if you so choose to select it)
Awful: You have... a barrel filled with well-preserved eyeballs OR a pair of heavy goggles
Bertram: You have... an erotic book with many of its pages glued together OR a glass globe filled with swirling mist
Erik: You have... a vestigial twin OR a glass jar holding a beetle covered in glowing spots (sheds light as a candle)
Hokey: You have... a weapon of unknown origins that refuses to draw blood OR a snuffbox filled with snuff
Hydrand: You have... the admiration of all your friends except for one OR the true name of a very minor devil
After you have settled on your Novice Path, your Downtime Event, and your Interesting Thing, you must write up a story combining/explaining all this for your character. If you gain a new language or profession, include how you acquired it. What has happened to you during the past year?
And lastly, please post all your level up decisions in the Discussion Tab, including any changes to your character's numbers and abilities. When you write up your story, post it in the discussion thread, and then we'll link to it here in the Gameplay thread before the start of the next adventure.
Congrats!
Level 1
A year has passed. The heat did not dissipate. The next fall was unseasonably warm and it did not snow in the winter except for in the mountains. Even there the snowfall was minimal. The spring, fortunately, brought enough rain to keep the rivers flowing and the lakes full; but the lack of snowmelt concerned those educated enough to know.
Summer was here, and each of you received a letter of invitation for a feast back at Last Hope, bringing you home for a celebration of the Battle at the Standing Stones. The mayor felt a feast was needed to help lift the spirits of the town. Adelmar was there, dressed impeccably; his shiny metal-like skin reflecting in the afternoon sun. It was hoped that the evening would bring the westerly winds to keep everyone cool. It did, and it helped make the feast pleasant in the heat. Or rather, marginally less miserable.
The whole town was there, laughing and enjoying the food. Music was playing - a fiddle and a flute accompanied by the voice of two boys - and people danced around.
And that's when the first explosion occurred.
A large blast of fire erupted from the main table where the mayor was seated. Shards of wood sprayed out in every direction, piercing flesh. Blood sprayed out and people screamed.
Another table detonated, and another. Beyond the explosions, you could hear a thumping sound. Over there, about forty yards away, what looked like a gattling gun was firing bolt after bolt after bolt into the crowd. Behind it stood Adelmar, holding on to it, staring blankly at the crowd. Emotionless.
Andras barely registers what happens. His training saves him before he can even process the situation, neatly rolling out of the way of the explosion and taking cover. Seeing Adelmar, he grits his teeth.
I nearly died saving this f$!*er, and this is how he betrays us? I worked myself to the bone, and now I have to deal with this s+@@ on my only day off?
Rage begins to boil up, and he puts one hand on his sword, proudly displayed at his side as a celebration of his training.
A day off was a great idea.
It had been a grueling week leading up to the day of the feast, and Hydrand was looking forward to it. He couldn't eat, of course, but he would be glad to see the townspeople in good spirits, and seeing his friends and allies from the battle now one year gone wouldn't be bad either.
He moved among the folk of the town, mostly staying quiet but offering nods and handshakes as he went. He was sure to greet each member of the original Battle as he went, sharing small talk and catching up on each person's life. As the feast progressed, he settled in near Awful; sharing company with his friend was familiar and comfortable, and was nearly the only thing to draw Hydrand from his plinth in any given week.
Everything changed just then.
At the first explosion, he did what everyone had done. He looked on in horror. No amount of training was a substitute for actually being in combat, and the town had largely been at peace since the events one year prior. This was certainly more foreboding a beginning than a barfight, though.
Once the second table exploded, everyone began to panic and scatter, as they should, but it was too late.
The explosions were coming too fast now, and when his eyes finally laid on the cause, he was stunned. His world was somehow distorted from what he knew it to be before. He didn't consort with Adelmar, but after all he and his friends had gone through to save him, he never thought he would repay them like this.
Spurred to action, he dove out of the way as an explosion ripped through the table he was near. He rolled and took cover, and then turned towards Adelmar's position and began working through how to get to the man without being cut down by his horror-spewing, infernal engine.
Erik had arrived at the feast feeling just the slightest bit anxious. Tomorrow was when he was going to give his resignation to the militia and head out of Last Hope, tonight was when he was going to break the news to his family. The festival was quite the celebration though and despite his worries, he found himself relaxing even. As the others returned, the same that accompanied him that awful night, he would make sure to meet them and shake their hands with a smile and a nod. His anger had subsided from that night and his family wasn't as broken as it was that night. Henry Wallace was a good man, a good woodcutter, and a good husband to his mother. Despite that though, he couldn't replace the fact that the man was not his father. There were no feet large enough to ever fill those shoes.
"We should've killed them both that night..." The thought, strange and intrusive, entered into his mind. Shaking his head, Erik's smile returned as the mayor announced the start of the festivities. Seeing Hokey, Awful, and Bertram, Erik had approached and cleared his throat softly.
"It is good to see you again, friends." The young human had hit a bit of a growth spurt; blonde stubble decorated his face and his shoulders were just a little more broad. His shield laid upon his back with his axe at his side; the best way to become comfortable in armor was to wear it regularly. There was also that sneaking suspicion that something awful was just waiting to happen. "I wasn't sure if everyone was going to make it back. I'm glad you all did though." He gestured to a nearby table where his mother, Brigit, and his younger siblings, Yulen and Tabitha, sat and played. "I don't think I had a chance for my family to really meet you all. For all that you did that awful night, they want to thank you. Please, let m-"
There was a low thump and the table nearest them, the main table, erupted in fire and flame. Wood shards exploded outwards, beautiful tables turned into weaponized shrapnel. Erik's eyes widened at the sight of carnage, his heart and stomach tightening deeply at the sight.
"No. This can't be happening." Another heavy thump fired and another table erupted in bloodshed and death. Erik's eyes turned towards his family's table, his voice shouting over the carnage. His eyes now focused to see what the threat that was targeting them. Adelmar, his metal skin gleaming, stood behind a machine of death and watched coldly as he shot into the crowd.
"Kill him. Kill him! " That hateful voice in his head screamed for the warrior to act and for the first time it spoke, Erik couldn't argue against it. He should've cut his head off that night. He should've let the goatmen peel his f~@#ing flesh off and dance with it. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. The machine pointed in his direction and Erik could feel his instincts kicking in. In his training, he learned that not moving quick enough meant death. You had to keep your feet light or you risked getting an organ pierced, a limb chopped through, or the deadly shrapnel of an explosive.
Dodging out the way with a quick roll, Erik pulled the shield off of his back. His mind looked for cover to try and begin getting closer to Adelmar, something that could potentially protect him as he closed the gap. One direct hit from that machine meant death.
Sigh. This is really it? Maybe I need to move on to a different town...Ugh. Why is it ALWAYS so hot here?!
Hokey reacts slowly to the initial volley as she was distracted by thoughts of the unrelenting heat. The original burst caused a bit of flesh to land in her mouth as she was about to eat another bite of food. Horrified, Hokey immediately spits out whatever the HELL that was.
WHAT THE HELL?! Was that what I thought it was?!
Preoccupied with her momentary disgust and horror, she was caught off-guard yet again when the shrapnel started flying around from the multiple explosions. They fly around, buffeting Hokey and causing some scrapes and bruises.
Luckily, she was able to duck down and find some cover before she got hurt too badly. She stayed down as quickly put on her knuckledusters [ooce]her implement[/ooc] and cast Arcane Armor on herself before putting up her shield above her head and following after Hydrand.
Bertram finds that Last Hope is still as miserably hot as the last stop to hell can be. At least this time he remembered the road. Walking into town is far more comfortable than the hurried run he had first arrived in. The tree line still made the Dwarf uneasy in spite of the bright heat of the afternoon.
The villagers had a humble and kind welcome prepared, and Bertram soon picks out a few recognizable faces in the gathering. The others from the battle must have received letters of their own. The Dwarf ensures he is polite to the warm reception, but avoids Adelmar as much as possible. Occasionally he throws worried glances over at the young man before returning to a conversation or drink. Bertram can't help but wonder with each new conversation if the Changeling woman was among the faces peering back at him. His conversations are courteous and guarded.
Then a table exploded.
Bertram scrambles back at the sudden impact of wooden shrapnel and debris. One arm ached with sharp stabbing pains. Another table explodes and the Dwarf jumps to his feet. Bertram takes in the carnage as his head clears. It isn't long before he spies Adelmar atop the hill.
Ambush! is his first thought, No, that's not right. Adelmar's gone mad.
The Faun puts up a shield and one of the humans is already shouting orders to the crowd.
They haven't lost their edge.
Bertram ducks down for cover and pulls his sling from his pack. He kept his wits among the familiar shouts of surprised, dying people. He had survived the deadliest part of an ambush, now to survive the rest with a fighting chance.
"There's only one man and Adelmar'll have to reload! We can rush him with slings and arrows when he does!" Bertram shouts to the others as he hunkers down.
Awful was excited for the day's event, he'd get to eat well and have a host of people to pester. Adelmar was going to be very present though... He always felt the like the now clockwork being would suddenly turn on him, blaming Awful for all the bad things that happened to him.
Boy did Awful hate being right...
As the Awful's thin fingers reached for Hydrand's turnkey, with the worst intentions, something caught his attention. The table they were adjacent to exploded into thousands of pieces.
Taking the burst of destruction and carnage in stride, Awful elected to focus on the immense sense of inconvenience he felt knowing the rest of his day was just completely cocked up.
Spotting the shiny metal man, Awful went into an over-excited fit.
"I knew it! I f!!%in' knew this freak was gonna turn on mm.... US and do som-"
He was cut off by the impacts of splintered debris that caused quite a bit of pain to his face and side. He tried to duck behind the cover of another table, however, it happened to be Adelmar's next target, exploding in front of him.
Everyone scatters as the tables explode and Adelmar is revealed behind the plot for… something.
The gun continues to fire crossbow bolts into the crowd, killing random people.
Erik calls out to run for the treeline and he starts looking for a path to get to Adelmar. [ooc]Getting to Adelmar will require two successful challenge rolls. You may use any attribute (S, A, I, W), but you must describe how that attribute is relevant to your movement.
The Mayor's scream falls silent as a bolt punctures his skull. Adelmar still stands behind the gun, his face blank, his movements jerky.
Erik reaches down and grabs the end of a table that was shattered with his free hand, bracing his shield against it as he began to push hard and fast upon it. It acted as cover for the majority of the bolts, the heavy thuds crashing into it as Erik used it for cover to get to a copse of trees nearby.
Hokey braces herself behind her small shield as explosions ring and people scream and die around her. The smell of cooked flesh seems nauseously apt for the sweltering evening. As the sight, sounds, smells and even tastes threaten to overwhelm her, something in Hokey snaps.
In a fit of primal rage, Hokey whips her head to glare at Adelmar before bellowing, . Three Arcane sparks suddenly fizzle into existence just above Hokey's head as she dashes forward towards Adelmar, not even noticing the magic she's conjured. The Arcane motes explode into melon-sized, luminescent balls of pure magical power before whizzing towards Adelmar and explodes.
Hokey arrives in front of Adelmar just before the dust from the explosions settle, ready to intercept any bolts he may fire her way.
Adelmar: 3 dmg
Seeing Erik, Hydrand also decides to pull his shield from his back and take cover behind it. He sees Andras nearby and shifts to interpose himself between him and the incoming missiles. He is buffeted by the spray of dirt and table-mulch as the area around him is torn to shreds. Feeling a pang of pride in his friend and peer in arcana, he sees Hokey call up such powerful magic, he decides to wait to see the result before doing more than providing cover for Andras.
Andras dodges out of the way of bullets, trying to strafe forward and get closer to Adelmar. He's not worried about being hit, and more interested in getting close to Adelmar.
In front of Andras, a table is hit and begins to topple over, and he deftly jumps up and slides across it, laden platters of food falling to the ground at his side. Just as the table falls, Andras jumps to his feet again, drawing his sword and shield completely and sprinting full tilt towards the metallic gunner.
I stuck my neck out for you, you ungrateful swine.
His face contorts into a snarl, and around him the noise from the festival fades into nothing, as he focuses singlemindedly on one thing. Stopping Adelmar. Time seems to slow down, and his heartbeat pounds loudly in his ears.
As everyone moves to defend themselves, several advance forward to try and approach Adelmar. Hokey reaches in herself and draws forth menses power normally beyond her means, blasting Adelmar with an explosive dart!
The dart finds its way exactly, exploding right where he is. The gatling gun is immediately destroyed. The image[\i] of Adelmar still there, still emotionless, still moving [I]as if he was holding the gun.
The banquet quiets as the gun stops firing. The only sounds are people in pain - at least those still alive.
Andras looks slightly bewildered at this new development. He fidgets with the strap on his shield while he looks around.
Erik was pushing forward as the cry of anger erupted from Hokey. Power surged through her and those three bolts of arcane power landed at Adelmar. There was an explosion from all three of them and the young man needed to shield his eyes from them for just a moment before looking back where the machine was. The arcane attack had left it devastated yet Adelmar still stood, still shooting at the gathered people. "Something is not right." Erik thought, using his training to look for something strange, something that they had missed. An image like that had to be magic, didn't the caster have to be close by?
The chaos of the battle is just a bit too much and the bodies laying upon the ground, some of them friends, pulls his attention away. Quickly, he moves along the injured and dying to look for his family and someone to help.
Erik screams out for help, but no call is returned. The only person who could have been a healer - the priest who replaced Father Solomon, is lying dead underneath a section of table that impaled him. Looking around, most are dead. The entire town was here today; this ambush, seemingly planned in advance, we designed to entrap both the entire town and the guests of honor.
As Andras looks around, he can hear something. A scream. It’s faint, but it’s there. It is coming from toward the center of the village - towards his previous place of employment.
Hydrand also notices something odd - there, at the top of the roof of the inn, there’s something gleaming. The sunlight is reflecting off of something. Is that Adelmar?
Bertram also hears something - something faint. Someone calling for help amongst the rubble and the debris.
Hartwig...
Andras looks around at the carnage, suddenly realising that he hadn’t seen or heard from the old man since he arrived at the feast. They’d had dinner together last night, catching up - frugal fare, but a good night none the less.
Hartwig had looked old, the last year had not been kind to him. There was a bit more grey in his hair, his eyesight had clearly gotten worse, but worst of all was his memory. The sharp intellect that Andras had grown to love and respect was slightly, but noticeably, dulled.
Andras felt bad for the old man. With no children to call his own, beyond perhaps himself and Awful, he must have been very lonely. Even spending time with Awful must have been preferable to being alone. Hartwig’s wife had died when they were both fairly young, and he’d never remarried.
The scream from town, in that direction, made him suddenly very worried. At least he wasn’t here, at least he hadn’t been mown down by the gun, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t in danger.
Andras calls out to his companions, and anyone else who seems like they’re ready for action.
People in town might be in danger. I heard a scream from town, near Hartwig’s. We need to go. This isn’t over. We must help.