Captain Soranna Anitah's page

"Sir Longbrow, I understand and I certainly do not take any offense. I will just be glad when we get back to Brindol safely. Go forth yourself and do whatever it is you need to do." Turning to the entire party, she says, "Farewell everyone! I will see you when you return."

Captain Anitah and brother Derny soon depart on the arcane mounts provided by Tirion and begin making the way back toward the dawnway.

"Where we go is of our concern... the fewer who know the less likely that our actions will be foreseen."

"I understand. If we get captured again, you do not want the enemy finding out your plans. Well, I will be making our way toward Brindol presently. Is there any message you wish for me to convey to the leaders? I am certain that I will see Norro Wiston once I return."

"Captain, perhaps you can make use of one of the falchions from the dragonspawn and a longbow from the hobgoblins. Not that it will fit you well, but the hobgoblins armor might even provide some modicum of defense."

"Agreed. We will take the armor, the bows, and the arrows. The falchion is certainly not the blade that my longsword was, but I will feel better with some blade in my hand. Should I be at all concerned about the fact that it is red?"

"Alright miss, we've got te be goin' off, an' we can't risk tellin' ye where. You get yerself an' tha Brother te safety--an travel safe y'hear? Have ye got arms an' armor?"

"I am afraid that we have no more arms and armor, my dwarven friend, but I can certainly lead Brother Derny back to Brindol. Once we get back to the Dawnway, we will make all haste due east to get back to the city. I certainly will be more careful this time and I will make sure that they do not take us by surprise again."

"So where will you be going yourselves? I hope you are not going to attempt to sneak into the horde and try some daring maneuver again!"

"My dear Captain, if we told you what our current mission is and what we expect to face, I'm sure you'd say what everyone who hears it would--that we're crazy and it's a suicide mission. A few dragonspawn is a light workout!!"

"A light workout?! What is it that you are on a mission to do? Drellin's Ferry has been taken and there is little here that can be done to stop the horde from destroying everything in their sight. I was certain that you folks were long gone and I was not expecting to see you until I returned to Brindol."

At the Captains words Edvard adds "You should take the swords and what armor will not slow you down. Despite being wielded by savages the blades are well made and should be put against the Hand."

"These falchions and short swords of red steel do look strong, but the also look like such vile blades. I have seen the Red Hand use these sorts of weapons before. They look like the sort that Durgin Fortkeep stored in his barn before he was slain. Are you sure that it is wise to use them?"

"I just want to say thanks to all of you. I am very aware that without your help, Brother Derny and I would both be dead. I can honestly say that I have never quite faced fear as I have in the last few days. I was not sure that we were going to make it. I did not think that you would survive the dragonspawn, but seems to be able to handle yourselves well."

It was not your fault, Brother. Nobody was expecting them. You see, I agreed to go with him while the rest of the town continued onward. We knew it was a calculated risk, but I also knew that Brother Derny was correct. These plants will help back in the houses of healing in Brindol when we are there helping with the wounded. We just did not plan on getting into trouble ourselves. Once we were surrounded, I did not expect to live, but for some reason they decided that torturing and using us as bait would be a better plan."

"Don't blame yourself, Brother. It is not your fault."

Turning to the rest of you, she explains. "We were certainly not interested in taking on the horde, but we got ourselves into a position that we could not escape. You see, Brother Derny tends to the sick and he takes advantage of the herbs in the surrounding lands to help with his healing. We were already on the Dawnway traveling east when our beloved priest asked to take a small detour north to pick plants from a patch of healing herbs. He said that they would be invaluable for the healing of the wounded."

Round 5

Once her captor falls, Soranna quickly rushes over and begins cutting the ropes binding her hands with the blade of the fallen bladebearer.

"Good evening, m'lady! We'll have you out of this mess spit-spot!

The wounded Captain of the guard of Drellin's Ferry, Soranna Anitah, cries out in reply before she is hit by her captor, "Careful! It's a trap!"

"Yes, it's the first time it has happened, so I will not let it trouble me too much. Thank you for your concern, Captain. Iomedae gives me strength to ignore being troubled by it. We have more pressing, and real matters to attend to."

"Well, I am sure you do. A knight of your caliber must be needed in nearly all of these communities. You would be a very good, Captain of the Watch, Mantooth. Have you ever considered the job? Well, no matter. I wish you well and hope that we see each other safely behind the walls of Brindol when the time comes. May Iomedae be with you. What is it that you Iomedean knights always say, 'For Victory, For the Heart!' May it ever be so for all of you and the people of this vale!"

"Whoever's hand forced Durgin to take those weapons is going to have justice dealt to them for what I had to do to Durgin. I had the most terrible dream about it.."

"Dreams? Oh dear, that does not sound very good. Do you think that whoever was controlling Durgin is now trying to control your mind as well?"

"I am not sure that there is any love lost between Iormel and Durgin. If you are trying to make the councilman feel any remorse, I don't think you will succeed."

"This little extortion scheme seems absolutely ridiculous when we consider the fact that we have a horde of thousands of villainous, wretched fiends, not to mention dragons and dragonspawn, all making their way here. I am sorry to that you even have to be involved in this matter. I am certain there are far more important tasks to be done than dealing with this greedy merchant guild. I feel for these people, but their lives are far more important than a few silver. Listen, it has been a long day and it is already getting late. Perhaps you should get a good night rest and press onward in the morning. Leave this matter to the Sergeant and me."

"Captain Anitah, I'm *appauled* at what I'm hearing!! Your citizens are being positivley schnookered by this little hamlet. That "deputy" is collecting exhorbitant taxes from your people in their time of travail. I could see a reasonable fee for using the town's resources, but this goes against common decency!! I think your population is rumbling; may I suggest talking to the local community leaders and putting a stop to this tom-foolery before something ugly occurs that everyone will regret?? Neighbors shoud be helping neighbors in crisis, not taking advantage of each other to line their purses while they're running for their lives!!"

"I know what you are saying Bofus1! It sure doesn't seem right to take advantage of people when they are already down and out! Let's just say the people of this town run this place a little differently than we did in Drellin's Ferry."

"Mister Nugutu, you mentioned that you would be willing to help us. I am not sure what to do with the body of Durgin Fortkeep. We need to bury his corpse, but I am not sure about last rites and all of that. Are you a priest who could give him a blessing and say a few kind words to help him on his journey in the afterlife?"

"I will do what is best."

"I'm sure that you will, and I mean no offense when I say this, but you may need to find yourself some armor or at least some training with weapons if you are going to accompany these guys. It is not uncommon right now to meet up with all sorts of hobgoblins and other humanoids. They often like to raid people along the dawnway."

"I think that we have reached the conclusion as a group that while protecting the people of the Vale is important, taking this fight to those who are leading this horde is more important. Without severing its head, these horrible Wyrmlords will simply create another army with more dragons and dragon spawn and simply attack again. Our first target is this Wyrmlord creating an undead army. From there, we will find the base for the next key Wyrmlord. One by one they will fall, by sword, by spell, and by whatever other means are available to us."

"If you are willing to do this, you will garner the thanks of all the people of the vale! So where do you go to find this horrible Wyrmlord? I suspect they will keep their hideout very secret!"

"You are most kind, noble Mwangi. Indeed if you are true to your word, then your gifts will certainly be put to good use before this is all over. In the meantime, kindly pray to Irori and find out if he has any idea how to stop this wave of evil from consuming our entire vale! There must be something that can be done!"

"I am agreeing with Tirion. We do not have the lesiure of waiting any longer. The horde will be upon us soon and we have little time to spare."

"I agree, my Mwangi friend. Although it is a slim hope, I do hope the people of Drellin's Ferry will be able to return here some day. But's let's not delay any longer. I will join the Sergeant and proceed with the wagon until Brindol. With a little luck we will be pulling into Terrelton late tonight, and we will move further onward to Nimon's Gap the following day. Do not feel you have to wait for us, but I certainly would not object to the company if you chose to stay with us all the way to Terrelton. I'm also not sure how active the hobgoblin raiders will be this evening."

"Very well, but we will not be far behind. Take good care of it, and be sure not to drive it off into a ditch or something!"

"This is an important job, Sergeant. Are you sure you are up to it?"

As you climb off of the ferry, Captain Soranna greets all of you. "Hello my friends. Hello Sergeant. Well most of the town has departed. I am here to wrap things up. First of all, I would like to say thank you for all that you have done. Let's just say that I am glad to see the cargo safely on this side of the river. Perhaps we should get it rolling onward to Brindol."

@Bofus

"Bofus, I wish to leave with Speaker Wiston and the last of the residents, but I have not seen the wagonload from the Fortkeep Farm. Has anything happened? We need to get that shipment out of here before it is too late!"

@Tirion, Mutamba, and Mantooth
•Sunday, Rova 30, 4710; about 3 hours after noon •

"Of course you are welcome to stay here in the guard post." Soranna pulls out her keys and unlocks the door. "Please make yourselves at home. These are pretty simple buildings, but whatever we have you are welcome to use. Do you think there is any reason to be concerned? My men will soon be finished up loading the wagon and the rest of the town will soon be ready and we can begin the exodus to Brindol. Durgin himself seems quite normal at the moment. Well, aside from his love of that ring. But I suppose that is in character too. Well, if you need me, I will be back at the Old Toll House. I will see you soon. Fare well."

"Well, my friends, you have done much to help this town and this vale, but alas, we must finish the evacuation. We will send the cursed weapons of red steel on a horse drawn wagon and send them to Brindol. Hopefully Lord Jarmaath will know what to do with them. In the meantime, we will get the people of Drellin's Ferry on the road and see if we can keep them moving ahead of the horde. I will leave two guards here for the moment. All I ask is that you keep the knowledge of these weapons very quiet. We certainly do not want to let any people know what we are transporting here. Nothing could be worse than losing these weapons to a group of bandits or something. I will leave you to decide how you want to leave things with Durgin Fortkeep. Good luck, my friends. I will see you before you leave town. Farewell for now."

"Interesting. You think there might be any ties to the Brindol Lions?"

"I have never seen a ring like this upon the finger of a Brindol Lion before, but you could be right. The Lion certainly is the symbol of Brindol's elite guards to the High Lord. It is interesting, Durgin has always aspired to be courageous and brave like a Brindol Lion. Perhaps that was part of the lure for Durgin. With a phrase like Heart of a Lion on the ring, I could see why he would be so attached to it. Do you think that is part of the curse, or do you think he is just very fond of it? I have never seen him quite so attached to an item."

"Well, we are certainly not very far from the border, but I prefer to keep the hellknights out of Isger! Do you think a devil could be at work here?"

"This evidence does look very incriminating. If time was not such an issue, I would bring him in for questioning with the magistrate. Well, I suppose with Brother Derny using his divine skills, we can trust to the fact that he is telling the truth. However, I have never heard of magic of the sort you are describing."

"Ah, the beautiful and dangerous Captain Anitah! Always a pleasure. Well, it seems that we've stopped yet another dire threat! A combination of tenacity, uncanny skill, great martial prowess, and Desna's luck uncovered a plot most vile. "

Soranna smiles at your compliment and replies, "You are most kind, Bofus Beerswizzler. I admit, Desna does seem to smile down upon you. Do all halflings have the same luck that you do?"

"Behold!! Fine red steel weapons, meant for the Red Hand to resupply once they overrun Drellin's Ferry!!"

"Impressive find, Bofus! They look like they will serve us well. We can supply many of the people of the Elsir Vale with these weapons and let them use these to defend their homeland!"

We must destroy all these blades. They are cursed to cause their wielders to slowly transform into some type of dragon spawn, or possible even a dragon. With each death caused by one of these blades, the creature wielding it will grow in draconic power.

"By the Inheritor's justice, are you sure? When did you figure this out? I would never have guessed that a huge stash of draconic weapons would ever simply be stored here in Durgin's barn. Who could do such a thing? How do we know there are not stashes of these cursed blades in every barn?! So, what do we do with Durgin? He appears to be in the thick of this, yet he does not seem to have a clue as to any of this wickedness!"

"These must be destroyed. If we cannot destroy them, then Captain, you will have to see that they are transported directly to Brindol to be destroyed."

"Well, I agree that the Red Hand cannot get their hands on these blades! Just imagine what the soldiers would end of facing in Brindol by the time the horde hacked and slashed their way across the Elsir Vale!"

"I fear that we have not been vigilant with regards to searching shipments that have come along the Dawn Way. I never saw a reason to search them. However, in all truth, I would never have expected an angry horde numbering in the thousands to be approaching Drellin's Ferry either! In terms of removing the curse, well I am not the person to be asking that question. Mind you, I doubt that whoever planted these blades here would consider these items cursed. Whoever, left them here, knew very well that these would turn an army into an unstoppable force of dragon kin that would easily rule the country! There is evil at every turn, and once again, you have just foiled another thread in that plot. We cannot thank you folks enough!"

"The bigger question now is, who put them here. Captain, is there anyone in the village capable of removing a curse?"

"Well, we have never faced anyone or thing evil enough to craft such wicked weapons. Perhaps Brother Derny would be able to remove their curses."

"Also, Captain, were you aware of Durgin receiving any shipments recently? These assuredly did not just appear in his barn."

"We can certainly make some inquiries around town, but I cannot personally report any findings. To be honest, Durgin's farmhouse is a key location, because it is west of the guard post and anything shipped in from the west and north would not have had to pass by the guard's ever watchful eye! Mind you, I have no idea where these weapons originated from."

@ Tirion, Bofus, Durgin, and Mutamba

Captain Soranna, soon shows up at the Fortkeep farm with two other guards.

"Well met, gentlemen. What is this I hear about an attack by a shape shifting beast. Does this have to do with that massive bloody corpse of a beast we just passed along the side of the road?"

@Mutamba

"I am happy to have found you so quickly. There was an attack near Durgin's farm by a shape shifting beast. Durgin himself seems to have been controlled by some sort of mind affecting ring. We raise your guard as quickly as possible as there may be major hole in our defenses that need sealing. I understand that is a good deal of information to process, but if there is a priest of power in the area we will be needing his assistance also."

"Thank you, Mutamba Nugutu, I will send for Brother Derny right away. He is near retirement, but I am sure he will be of help. I will get the good priest and meet you out at the Fortkeep farm shortly."

@Mutamba

You cross the ferry and soon arrive at the Old Toll House which serves as the town hall, courtyard, jail, and Town Guard Headquarters. You are met by Captain Soranna.

"Hello, Sir. I remember seeing you at the Old Bridge Inn, but I forget your name. So, who are you again? So tell me, Mister Nugutu, what can I do for you?"

Soranna walks up to each of you and personally thanks each of you. "I wish to also kindly thank you for your acts of bravery! So what will you do now, my friends? I suppose you will be retreating in the large exodus back to Brindol. Perhaps we will meet again behind the walls."

"Captain, I urge you to arrest these rude people and protect your councilman."

"I will not arrest these gentlemen, Iormel. They are heroes and should be thanked. However, Sir," She says addressing Mutamba, "You should not forcibly remove the councilman for that would be breaking the law. Although he has spoken unkindly, by the laws of this town, his presence is required for the decision that must be made."

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I cannot see any reasonable way to fight a horde the size of what is coming. I say we help the woman and children pack and send them on their way as soon as possible. Brindol will be the safest place for them to go. What we do with Drellin's Ferry is still open to discussion in my mind."

"Please don't leave, Tirion! Iormel did not mean what he said! I think he is just a little nervous!"

"Good night, my friends. I wish to kindly thank you for all of your brave deeds and for bringing this vital information. If we were taken by surprise, this would certainly have been the end of us all."

As the conversations wrap up, Soranna escorts you to her door and personally thanks each of you as you leave.

Do you all retire to the Inn? Please let me know what else you wish to do this evening or if you are ready to move the plot forward to the following morning.

"If the council should decide to leave any force behind, those warriors should know they will very well be fighting until their deaths."

"My good Knight, we will do whatever is necessary to do our part and serve the people of the Elsir Vale and the High Lord Brindol, even if we die trying!"

"Here, Captain. This is the breakdown of Koth's forces."

"Wiston, listen to these numbers!"

Soranna begins reading down the list. "Fifty Blackspawn Raiders, One Hundred Doom Hand Clerics, Thirty Doom Fist Monks, One Hundred Blood Ghost Berserkers, One Hundred Twenty Ogres, Two Hundred Goblin Worg Riders . . . One Thousand Six Hundred Hobgoblin Regulars, and Eight Hundred Hobgoblin Warriors!"

"Blessed Iomedae, have mercy on us! We cannot possibly fight this army! This will be the massacre of Drellin's Ferry!"

"You must be exhausted, my friends. Here let me get you a pillow and a blanket. You are all so brave to have faced the horde as you did."

Captain Soranna departs for a moment and when she returns, she wraps a woolen blanket over the dwarf while he rests and waits for the arrival of Norro Wiston.

"Is there anything else that I can do for any of you?"

"It will be the job of the council to decide. I will certainly do whatever is asked of me, but if you want my opinion, I don't think we can stop an army of thousands!"

Soranna sits and listens to the gnome recall the story of the events of the last few days. She does not interrupt, but you can see her face visibly pale as she realizes that her entire life as she knows it is about to change. With worry in her eyes, trying to deal with this crises, she slowly replies in a near whisper.

"My God, what are we to do?"

"Please come in folks. Let's have a seat at the table."

A look of concern crosses her face as Soranna leads you inside her simple house. In the middle of the kitchen, she gestures for you to take seats around a rectangular wooden table. She takes out a block of cheese and a plate of crackers and places it directly in the center of the table.

"Please help yourselves to some food, my friends, but tell me, what do you have to report, that is enough to get my Sergeant out of breath on his night off?!"