Chapter 1, The Whispering Cairn - Session 1 (5/12/07)
The cold, mid-winter rain had been falling in sheets ever since the coach left Galethspyre one week ago. The Orien Trade Road resembled a wide trench of soupy mud, slowing the horses as they plodded along and causing the chest- and sack-loaded carriage to lurch and heave every now and then.
Eliaon and Kazoroth had met when they signed onto the coach back in Graywall, hired by the driver, Arzt, to serve as hired hands. Though they had been offered no gold for their troubles, the pair was promised a free ride all the way to Sharn as well as free meals and board along the way. The coachman had so far made good on his word, and in exchange the two younger men helped to load and unload cargo, groom and feed the horses, and perform other necessary tasks for the aging merchant.
The three travelers hadn't spent much time getting acquainted, often traveling in silence. The portly Arzt was friendly enough once the trio had set up camp each night, however, quick to laugh or offer a smile.
The wind howled and thunder rumbled angrily, the sky darkening as a storm rolled in. The mid-day darkness was illuminated briefly by a streak of lightning that sliced across the cloud-filled sky. The rain pounded down harder upon the top of the coach, and Arzt grumbled from his place at the front of the wagon, angrily cursing his luck and begging Olladra and Kol Korran to ease their fury.
The coach groaned as it tumbled over another hole in the mud, nearly tipping to one side. As it righted itself upon the ground a sharp CRACK resonated through the air - the telltale sound of an axle breaking in half as the vehicle came to a grinding halt.
Several minutes of investigation revealed that the broken axle would take a full day to repair, and Arzt was unwilling to begin the work under the assault of a thunderstorm. "I can see the lights of a farmhouse just a quarter-mile ahead. You two take the horses, see if the owner'll let us stay the night. I'll stay here and start unloading some of the cargo."
Despite arguments against the coachman's plan, he waved off any notion that he would be unsafe if left unguarded. "What sort of damn fool brigand's going to be out and about in this weather? I'll be fine."
Eliaon and Kazoroth followed the treeline southward, making their way toward the faint lights of the distant farmhouse. As the storm picked up around them and thunder followed flashes of lightning by mere moments, the pair pulled their cloaks tighter, deciding to walk their resistant horses.
The ear-shattering sound of thunder rocked the earth, and a few hundred yards ahead a great tree split and burst into flame. When the ringing in their ears dulled, the companions heard the frantic barking of a large dog ahead.
The huge, black saint bernard stood at the edge of a shallow crater of blasted earth, the ground scorched and still smoking. The smoldering remains of the shattered tree lay flaming in the depression, scattered around the naked form of an elven man. Next to him lay a masterfully-crafted staff of livewood, with much of its surface blackened and scorched. Keeping a watchful eye on the large canine, Eliaon and Kazoroth cautiously wrapped the elf in a cloak and carried him with them on their way to the farmhouse.
An elderly farmer by the name of Thomas Gray answered the door. He seemed pleased with the offer of gold, and hospitably brought blankets and soup to his guests. After the horses were stabled, Kazoroth set out for the coach to fetch Arzt.
While they waited, Eliaon laid his hands upon the elf and channeled faint, white light into his body. The stranger awoke, though he did so with no memory. He called himself Ember, for the smoldering embers of the destroyed tree that must have rained down around him during the storm. He called to his dog, which he dubbed Ebony, slipping a leather pouch from around its neck and pulling forth a handful of small dragonshards.
Kazoroth returned after a few hours, regretfully explaining that Arzt was gone and that the coach had been looted. Introductions were made and Thomas was questioned. The farmer assured the three men that there had been no bandits active in this area in his lifetime, though it was possible that gnolls had come down from the Droaam border and attacked. After a while longer, all decided to investigate in the morning and get some sleep.
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Gabriel Moragan arrived at the docks of Diamond Lake late in the afternoon, leaving the Dagger River behind him and heading into the heart of the town. Built among rocky, uneven hills, the mining town was quite possibly muddier than the riverbank. Narrow side streets meandered between dilapidated buildings, meeting up with the Orien Trade Road that had been dubbed "The Vein" by locals.
Through the torrent of rain that obscured his vision, the ex-soldier could make out a number of businesses that encroached upon the town square. Most notable was the Emporium - a three-storied building of gray brick, from which emananted boisterous songs, raucous laughter, and not a few carnal sounds from behind closed upper-level shutters. The Captain's Blade arms dealer, a seedy-looking saloon known as the Feral Dog, and a general store called Taggin's also occupied the center of the Vein.
An hour or so of exploration brought Gabriel to his destination near the northern end of the Vein: a two-story tavern of plastered stone, designated "The Spinning Giant" by it's faded placard. A circular stage dominated the center of the first floor, while the second floor served as a balcony of sorts where patrons could watch the performance below. Barrels and crates stacked upon the stage were a testament to its lack of use.
Every man in the Spinning Giant was armed, and most bore visible scars that had been inflicted during battle. Even the bartender, Thorik, walked with a severe limp. As Gabriel entered, the soldiers paused in the middle of a song they had been singing. All eyes feel upon the lieutenant for several long, tense moments. A few men smiled, then, and others lifted their tankards in a salute. The song resumed.
Several mugs of ale and a few drinking songs later, Gabriel Moragan had befriended a few of the tavern patrons - all of whom, it seemed, were members of the local militia. Unfortunately, there was no sign of his friend Alexander Stark, whom he had traveled from Sharn to meet with.
"Aye, I know Stark. A fine soldier!" As evening turned into night, Gabriel found himself sitting with Chief Scout Merris Sandovar - a somewhat dirty, unshaven ranger with a crooked-toothed smile. "I haven't seen him at the garrison in a few days, truth be told. Must've found himself a lady friend."
Merris shared what he knew of Diamond Lake with the newcomer, offering a bit of knowledge regarding the mine managers, the governor-mayor, and the crooked Sheriff Cubbin. Together they pondered what might have become of Stark.
"Don't worry yourself too much, friend. I'll tell you what: share a drink or two with me now, and in the morning you can start your search for Stark."
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Eliaon, Kazoroth, and Ember had encountered little luck in their search of the broken-down coach, which by morning had sunken firmly into the mud. The rain was a light drizzle now, and the elven druid had found an article of Arzt's clothing and offered it to his dog Ebony's sensitive nose.
The massive dog was able to pick up Arzt's trail despite the rain, and within the hour the three men found themselves upon the banks of the Dagger River. Beneath a willow tree they discovered signs of a rowboat being dragged ashore and later launched.
With no further leads, the companions determined that Arzt's attackers must be from the nearby town of Diamond Lake - a seedy mining town half-a-day's journey to the south. Though the rain poured down harder during points of their short journey, the group arrived in the ramshackle town several hours later.
Stepping into the first tavern they came across, the trio was welcomed by sneers and harsh questions from the soldiers at the Spinning Giant. With a bit of diplomacy and a willingness to buy a round of drinks for a few of the militia men, the travelers were invited to sit down and chat. After learning a bit about Diamond Lake and its inhabitants, the party set out for the general store to purchase some clothes, supplies, and weapons for Ember, and then to the Shady Dragon Inn for dinner and some well-deserved sleep.
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Both Gabriel Moragan and the group of Eliaon, Kazoroth, and Ember spent much of the next day out and about in Diamond Lake, speaking to locals, gathering information, and following leads regarding their respective missing persons.
While Gabriel visited the garrison and the sheriff's office, the other companions investigated the local docks hoping to find a trace of Arzt. The river had flooded to a point where the surface of the wooden docks was covered in an inch of water, however, and tracking proved impossible even for Ebony. The master of the docks - a scrawny weasel of a man who was quick with threats and uncooperative when questioned - was of little help, though his demeanor suggested that he knew more than he'd let on.
No matter where they went, the four men found that signs seemed to point to a man named Auric and his companions. Auric was a massive warrior from the distant city of Stormreach, and had gained great reknown as a champion in the gladitorial arena of that city. He, along with the wizard Khellek and the elfmaiden Tirra, had come to Diamond Lake in search of an artifact that they believed was hidden in the ancient, abandoned cairns south of town.
Of course, everyone in town knew that the tombs had been plundered and cleaned out many years ago. Children often explored the crumbling chambers on a dare, and adolescent lovers used the cairns for secret rendezvouses.
It was common knowledge in Diamond Lake that Auric and his band spent a great deal of coin at the Emporium. Having discovered that Alexander Stark had taken great interest in the adventurers and their affairs, Gabriel set out for the Emporium to find them. He quickly learned that Auric was quite arrogant and rude, as was his drinking companion Khellek. Both men offered no help to either the ex-soldier, or to Kazoroth and Eliaon who soon arrived on the scene.
Kazoroth and Eliaon took an interest in Gabriel's plight, however, and both parties offered to help each other, sharing what information they could.
While his friends had gone up to the lounge in search of Auric, the elven druid known as Ember took an interest in the Emporium's "Hall of Science." Within he discovered a dragon's egg clearly chiseled from stone and painted red, a "unicorn" skeleton with a wax horn, and other oddities. The exhibit's main attraction was a two-headed calf - a sickly creature born blind in three of its four eyes. The druid was angered by the treatment of the animal, and began seeking answers from the Emporium employees.
During his tirade, the elf was approached by a woman in blue silks. She approached cautiously, identifying herself as Chezabet the fortune teller. She had sensed an unusual aura emanating from Ember, and invited him into her chambers for a reading.
As she focused on ivory plates before her, each carved with symbols of her trade, the human woman fell into a trance. Writhing darkness. Unfathomable evil from deep below. You and your companions have brought forth great darkness -- or, has the darkness brought you? With a horrified scream, the fortune teller begged the druid to leave her. She had, however, given him some clues that stirred his memory.
"My name is Leamshi Greybreeze."
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The next day brought more investigation. The companions, who now numbered four, were able to learn the location of an abandoned mine manager's office where Alexander Stark had found a missing child only a week ago. Gathering their gear, the quartet set out for the hills along the lake's western shore.
None of the travelers paused to ask Eliaon where he had been the night before. The Karrnathi battle priest had returned to the local dockmaster's office, smashing through a window and coaxing information out of the shady man with the power of the hellishly-glowing red and black mark on his face.
It was still raining, and the lake was flooding. Two hours south of town, the band spied a building perched atop a nearby hill. The two-story wooden building's second floor had collapsed, and the low stone wall surrounding the place lay in ruins. Taking shelter from the weather, Eliaon, Kazoroth and Moragan searched the place while Greybreeze went out with his dog to hunt.
Beneath a sagging wooden porch, the ex-lieutenant found a brand new backpack stuffed with rope, sunrods, and rations. He stared at the letter he had received from Stark, and left the crumbling building. He searched the nearby hills for a while hoping to find a sign of the cave his friend had written about. His survival and geography skills were lacking, and he finally returned to the abandoned office when the druid found him a few hours later.
As they ate a dinner of rabbit and berries, the four men discussed their plans. Moragan revealed that Stark may have returned to the nearby cairn and, after a short debate, the group set out into the hills immediately. With Greybreeze's natural wilderness skills, the party quickly located a wide cave mouth hidden behind a patch of thin, leafy trees. An ornate archway framed the passage, and within the walls were painted with ochre and violet lines that formed abstract shapes. Low moans and hissing whispers could be heard from within.
Striking a sunrod against the wall, Kazoroth stepped into the musty tunnel...
