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<blockquote data-quote="MarauderX" data-source="post: 1935328" data-attributes="member: 9990"><p><strong><u><span style="font-size: 15px">Session 24: Fountain of Anaphia</span></u></strong></p><p></p><p>The Lorleena's Cutter glided along the river slowly as the lookouts on the bow scouted for rock outcroppings, shallows, and newly formed sandbars. They had left Melton in the early morning, before the fog had lifted from the river, and the ship crawled up the river all day. Galadin estimated that they should reach Wilheim, their final stop, by sundown. </p><p></p><p>The group had tied up those passengers that had been thrashing about the night before, and they didn't remember any of it as Varekai told them what had happened. The elven woman introduced herself as Aldyth, and that she and her lover, with their son, were headed towards Elarith and to a legendary fountain that might provide a cure for their condition. Now that her lover was dead after succumbing to the evil of the disease, Aldyth explained that hope for her son was fading. </p><p></p><p>In the waning daylight everyone on the ship was told that Wilheim was close as smoke was visible, wafting upward from cooking fires. The town came into view after rounding a sharp bend, and upstream they could see rolling waterfalls and rapids that would prevent their ship from going further. Wilheim looked to be a large town on the rise, as merchant shops were plentiful and the forest receded to allow new buildings to be constructed. The main street passed through the town straight from the river and disappeared into the distance toward Elarith, from which the town gained the lion's share of its commerce. </p><p></p><p>The ship pulled into the opposite shore north of town, as the south shore was too shallow for the boat. The passengers bustled down the plank from the ship and began loading onto the small ferry so they could find lodging for the night. After several ferry trips Karyssa made her graceful appearance at the bow of the ship so that she could wave to all of the elven passengers as they cheered her beauty. </p><p></p><p>Aldyth and Thovaas met two paladins, Buri and Thorgils, and Saylith, a Red Knight, on the shore as they gave the ship a cursory inspection. After a hearty greeting Aldyth burst into the circle of men and pleaded that they help her son, but would ask that they speak in private. They led her, with her son, to their semi-permanent quarters at the nearby inn and quickly she relayed what had happened on the ship, with Thovaas interjecting pertinent facts. In silence the three looked at one another then said that they knew of the healing fountain that she thought was legend and promised to take them there. Thovaas mentioned there were others and it was decided to keep them tied up on the ship for the night. The knights decided to spend the night guarding the afflicted to be certain they did not escape. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Alex alerted Quentin that all of the other passengers had left the ship and it was time to move their quiet passenger. He crossed the ferry and walked through the town smoothly, headed towards Elarith along the Main street of Wilheim. As he passed out of sight, both Quentin and Alex sighed in relief. Alex then made his way to the large town's sheriff and reported that there was a stow-away on board the Lorleena's Cutter, and that he was likely a man of ill-will and those in Elarith should be wary of the silver mask. The sheriff took a few notes and promised that a runner would be sent in the morning to delivery the message. </p><p></p><p>Alex and Quentin then went about collecting passengers for the return journey and soon he had met Grimnyr, a stout barbarian with a dimpled grin that likely caught the eye of many a lady. He introduced himself and a price for the trip to Kargam was arranged between them. Grimnyr walked with Alex and Quentin, asking about their trip up the river to Wilheim, and before long they found themselves in the overcrowded ale house with many of the ships passengers and crew. </p><p></p><p>Jerrin took flight and joined the birds as an eagle soaring high over the forest canopy below. He pushed himself and arrived there around midnight, deciding to rest at the edge of the nearby druid grove. As dawn broke through the quilted clouds above Jerrin found that he had been joined by a half dozen brothers of the druidic order. They held a quick indoctrination for Jerrin in the same informal style as that near Kargam, and they stayed to discuss matters of the forest. Jerrin brought up the elder races and a possibility of a war between the elves and men. One of the druids, seeming to be comfortable in the form of a mouse, told that he had heard such speculation before. He was not aware of the political dealings of the elves and men and felt the druids had little place with which to try to sway either or both sides of the affair when the immense forest beckoned for care. Such things, he had said, will likely take care of themselves as they usually do. </p><p></p><p>For the night Thovaas took the paladins to the ship to guard those stricken with the disease and explained Varekai's condition. In the morning Thovaas and the other knights found a horse trader and talked the price of the horses down. They were also asked to deliver a message to Elarith, if they were going that way, about a man with a silver mask. Ignoring the request as they were not headed to Elarith, Thovaas, the knights, Varekai and their new companion Grimnyr mounted their horses and headed to the ruins of the fountain of Anaphia. </p><p></p><p>Lastly Jerrin learned about the Fountain of Anaphia, a deep pool of water that had been a sacred place of healing for the elves long ago. A disaster had scattered the sturdy rocks that had formed a domed structure over the well, and now it was as likely to harm those seeking help as it was to heal. Jerrin took flight again to make his way quickly back to the Lorleena's Cutter at Wilheim to meet with Alex and Quentin. Once there he told the two that he would try to be back within a day or two and not to leave on the Lorleena's cutter without him. The two rogues looked sidelong at one another and nodded. Jerrin transformed again into an eagle and rolled his eyes at the two before launching into the air to catch up with Thovaas and the troupe of lycanthropes. </p><p></p><p>They weren't hard to find, as the Red Knight Saylith led them through tall stands of birch trees. Before Jerrin landed he spotted the ruins and noted how far they were away. They would reach them before nightfall, but not by much, and he knew that tonight would be the last of three nights of a full moon. </p><p></p><p>At the ruins the group noticed two concentric circles of weather worn rock ruins in various heights and stages of decay. Moss grew over much of the site where a deep pink light pulsed slowly away from a pool of water at the center. The pool itself was ordinary, a solid rock ring a foot high which held in the moving waters in the bowl-like pool. Four metal statues of strange beasts, perhaps a cross between a mountain lion and a hound dog, stood surrounding the fountain with their mouths open. An old man sat cross-legged on a pile of stacked rocks watching the party approach. The group dismounted from the skittish horses and tenuously stepped into the outer circle near the fountain. </p><p></p><p>The old man stood and gathered his robes and his pet, a wolf mix breed, stood to stand at his side. The knights explained that when they had done this before the old man helped them to deal with any of those who were not cured. Aldyth ventured forth with her son and the old man covered both of their faces in a salve before crushing herbal leaves and rubbing them on their cheeks. The man looked ancient and spoke tersely, explaining that each of the stricken was to enter the pool and let the waters take them. </p><p></p><p>Aldyth volunteered to be the first to be brave for her son. She stepped in and within moments the waters stirred. The four statues suddenly spat forth jets of water that streamed steadily into the pool and slowly the water swirled downward into a whirlpool. Resisting Aldyth clutched the stone lip of the fountain as the water pulled at her. The old man struggled to kick Aldyth's fingers on the side where she clung as he muttered a few derisions before she willingly let go. Down she went, and soon she was sucked out of sight into the darkness of the water below. Just as quickly as it had started the fountain stopped and the water resumed its gentle rippling at the surface. The old man asked who would be next and the others with the disease stepped back nervously. Thovaas inquired as to how successful they were the last time, and the knights looked at one another before replying that as of yet they weren't.</p><p></p><p>Aldyth's son went next, and he was very brave for a so young an elf. Again the statues spat water forth and the waters churned downward as the boy was sucked down. The others cowered and a few gave excuses or denied being a lycanthrope. Thovaas gathered them and said a prayer before blessing them to provide them the courage they seemed to need. One by one they entered the fountain. </p><p></p><p>After half had gone down to the watery void below, one of them entered the water when the disease took over. Dark fur sprang forth and the werewolf spun around and slashed at the old bald man, digging deep gashes into his wrinkled flesh. All of the party responded and went into motion to defeat the bestial creature. Grimnyr spun a tale of poetical limericks with his powerful voice before he struck several pounding blows. Thovaas slashed deeply into the thing as the knights also closed to kill the beast. Soon the battle was over and the body of the elf floated face down in the pool, blood sullying the otherwise pristine waters. </p><p></p><p>The last two with the disease tried to saunter away quietly when they were met by Thorgils single good eye. He and Buri explained that they had lost one of their paladin friends to this disease, and had been forced to kill him themselves. Thorgils received his wicked scare as he had refused to fight at first, instead trying to placate his werewolf friend. His old friend had nearly taken his life because of it. The two were coaxed into entering the fountain, and they too were flushed downward. </p><p></p><p>Varekai asked what was next. The old man turned to him and said there was one more - him. The salve and herbs were applied before Varekai stepped into the fountain, where he first fought the whirlpool before relaxing to let the water cleanse him. </p><p></p><p>Afterward Thovaas asked the old man how long it took to realize a cure. The old man's beady eyes revealed nothing as he sat down and said that now they must wait for the results. He slipped into meditation as the others made a camp outside the ruins and took watch. </p><p></p><p>The morning light crept in slowly and still the pool was silent. Breakfast was dolled out to each as the old monk crept around the stone ruins gathering nuts and sweeping away leaves and dirt to reveal stone beneath. As they ate they heard water flowing over the lip of the fountain. The water began to froth and the group surrounded the fountain in expectation but keeping a safe distance away. The old monk sat stoicly on his pile of rocks as the party looked to him for any indication of what may happen. </p><p></p><p>The elven boy spilled over the side, naked and shivering. He was taken to the small campfire by Thorgils, wrapped in a blanket and given a warm meal before falling asleep. The boy looked to be alright, and Thovaas questioned him about what had happened, drilling him five times and getting five different stories about blacking out each time. </p><p></p><p>An hour later, water again washed over the lip of the fountain and they took the same positions. Then the water exploded from the fountain, showering them all as a figure leapt up from the middle depths. It stood in the shallow waters, a grotesque version of a werewolf with fiendish red scales, distorted fangs and dire claws larger than Buri's head. The knights and Thovaas strode forward to engage it, trying to flank it from the sides as it raged forth. Grimnyr shouted forth a song over the raspy barks it gurgled out. Jerrin summoned forth an ape that slammed down on the beast before bringing forth a crocodile to tear at its legs in the water. </p><p></p><p>Blow after blow was traded, and the ape was defeated as the screaming beast raged forth without halting. Jerrin brought forth a wolf to assist as Buri had his sheild rended from his arm before it bit deeply into his shoulder. Buri fell after several more ferocious blows came from it as its innards were spilled from a slashing blow by Grimnyr. Thovaas smote the beast time and again, and eventually it fell from their repeated blows as the pool filled with its blood, guts, sinew and other matter that had been cleaved from it after a long assault. </p><p></p><p>The party reeled back from the devastation wrought by the beast and surveyed the damage. The old man had helped seal Buri's wounds earlier, and Jerrin and Thovaas helped to heal him remove all of his wounds. It dawned on Jerrin and the others that if there were more of these they would have to change their tactics or fall to the next one.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MarauderX, post: 1935328, member: 9990"] [B][U][SIZE=4]Session 24: Fountain of Anaphia[/SIZE][/U][/B] The Lorleena's Cutter glided along the river slowly as the lookouts on the bow scouted for rock outcroppings, shallows, and newly formed sandbars. They had left Melton in the early morning, before the fog had lifted from the river, and the ship crawled up the river all day. Galadin estimated that they should reach Wilheim, their final stop, by sundown. The group had tied up those passengers that had been thrashing about the night before, and they didn't remember any of it as Varekai told them what had happened. The elven woman introduced herself as Aldyth, and that she and her lover, with their son, were headed towards Elarith and to a legendary fountain that might provide a cure for their condition. Now that her lover was dead after succumbing to the evil of the disease, Aldyth explained that hope for her son was fading. In the waning daylight everyone on the ship was told that Wilheim was close as smoke was visible, wafting upward from cooking fires. The town came into view after rounding a sharp bend, and upstream they could see rolling waterfalls and rapids that would prevent their ship from going further. Wilheim looked to be a large town on the rise, as merchant shops were plentiful and the forest receded to allow new buildings to be constructed. The main street passed through the town straight from the river and disappeared into the distance toward Elarith, from which the town gained the lion's share of its commerce. The ship pulled into the opposite shore north of town, as the south shore was too shallow for the boat. The passengers bustled down the plank from the ship and began loading onto the small ferry so they could find lodging for the night. After several ferry trips Karyssa made her graceful appearance at the bow of the ship so that she could wave to all of the elven passengers as they cheered her beauty. Aldyth and Thovaas met two paladins, Buri and Thorgils, and Saylith, a Red Knight, on the shore as they gave the ship a cursory inspection. After a hearty greeting Aldyth burst into the circle of men and pleaded that they help her son, but would ask that they speak in private. They led her, with her son, to their semi-permanent quarters at the nearby inn and quickly she relayed what had happened on the ship, with Thovaas interjecting pertinent facts. In silence the three looked at one another then said that they knew of the healing fountain that she thought was legend and promised to take them there. Thovaas mentioned there were others and it was decided to keep them tied up on the ship for the night. The knights decided to spend the night guarding the afflicted to be certain they did not escape. Meanwhile, Alex alerted Quentin that all of the other passengers had left the ship and it was time to move their quiet passenger. He crossed the ferry and walked through the town smoothly, headed towards Elarith along the Main street of Wilheim. As he passed out of sight, both Quentin and Alex sighed in relief. Alex then made his way to the large town's sheriff and reported that there was a stow-away on board the Lorleena's Cutter, and that he was likely a man of ill-will and those in Elarith should be wary of the silver mask. The sheriff took a few notes and promised that a runner would be sent in the morning to delivery the message. Alex and Quentin then went about collecting passengers for the return journey and soon he had met Grimnyr, a stout barbarian with a dimpled grin that likely caught the eye of many a lady. He introduced himself and a price for the trip to Kargam was arranged between them. Grimnyr walked with Alex and Quentin, asking about their trip up the river to Wilheim, and before long they found themselves in the overcrowded ale house with many of the ships passengers and crew. Jerrin took flight and joined the birds as an eagle soaring high over the forest canopy below. He pushed himself and arrived there around midnight, deciding to rest at the edge of the nearby druid grove. As dawn broke through the quilted clouds above Jerrin found that he had been joined by a half dozen brothers of the druidic order. They held a quick indoctrination for Jerrin in the same informal style as that near Kargam, and they stayed to discuss matters of the forest. Jerrin brought up the elder races and a possibility of a war between the elves and men. One of the druids, seeming to be comfortable in the form of a mouse, told that he had heard such speculation before. He was not aware of the political dealings of the elves and men and felt the druids had little place with which to try to sway either or both sides of the affair when the immense forest beckoned for care. Such things, he had said, will likely take care of themselves as they usually do. For the night Thovaas took the paladins to the ship to guard those stricken with the disease and explained Varekai's condition. In the morning Thovaas and the other knights found a horse trader and talked the price of the horses down. They were also asked to deliver a message to Elarith, if they were going that way, about a man with a silver mask. Ignoring the request as they were not headed to Elarith, Thovaas, the knights, Varekai and their new companion Grimnyr mounted their horses and headed to the ruins of the fountain of Anaphia. Lastly Jerrin learned about the Fountain of Anaphia, a deep pool of water that had been a sacred place of healing for the elves long ago. A disaster had scattered the sturdy rocks that had formed a domed structure over the well, and now it was as likely to harm those seeking help as it was to heal. Jerrin took flight again to make his way quickly back to the Lorleena's Cutter at Wilheim to meet with Alex and Quentin. Once there he told the two that he would try to be back within a day or two and not to leave on the Lorleena's cutter without him. The two rogues looked sidelong at one another and nodded. Jerrin transformed again into an eagle and rolled his eyes at the two before launching into the air to catch up with Thovaas and the troupe of lycanthropes. They weren't hard to find, as the Red Knight Saylith led them through tall stands of birch trees. Before Jerrin landed he spotted the ruins and noted how far they were away. They would reach them before nightfall, but not by much, and he knew that tonight would be the last of three nights of a full moon. At the ruins the group noticed two concentric circles of weather worn rock ruins in various heights and stages of decay. Moss grew over much of the site where a deep pink light pulsed slowly away from a pool of water at the center. The pool itself was ordinary, a solid rock ring a foot high which held in the moving waters in the bowl-like pool. Four metal statues of strange beasts, perhaps a cross between a mountain lion and a hound dog, stood surrounding the fountain with their mouths open. An old man sat cross-legged on a pile of stacked rocks watching the party approach. The group dismounted from the skittish horses and tenuously stepped into the outer circle near the fountain. The old man stood and gathered his robes and his pet, a wolf mix breed, stood to stand at his side. The knights explained that when they had done this before the old man helped them to deal with any of those who were not cured. Aldyth ventured forth with her son and the old man covered both of their faces in a salve before crushing herbal leaves and rubbing them on their cheeks. The man looked ancient and spoke tersely, explaining that each of the stricken was to enter the pool and let the waters take them. Aldyth volunteered to be the first to be brave for her son. She stepped in and within moments the waters stirred. The four statues suddenly spat forth jets of water that streamed steadily into the pool and slowly the water swirled downward into a whirlpool. Resisting Aldyth clutched the stone lip of the fountain as the water pulled at her. The old man struggled to kick Aldyth's fingers on the side where she clung as he muttered a few derisions before she willingly let go. Down she went, and soon she was sucked out of sight into the darkness of the water below. Just as quickly as it had started the fountain stopped and the water resumed its gentle rippling at the surface. The old man asked who would be next and the others with the disease stepped back nervously. Thovaas inquired as to how successful they were the last time, and the knights looked at one another before replying that as of yet they weren't. Aldyth's son went next, and he was very brave for a so young an elf. Again the statues spat water forth and the waters churned downward as the boy was sucked down. The others cowered and a few gave excuses or denied being a lycanthrope. Thovaas gathered them and said a prayer before blessing them to provide them the courage they seemed to need. One by one they entered the fountain. After half had gone down to the watery void below, one of them entered the water when the disease took over. Dark fur sprang forth and the werewolf spun around and slashed at the old bald man, digging deep gashes into his wrinkled flesh. All of the party responded and went into motion to defeat the bestial creature. Grimnyr spun a tale of poetical limericks with his powerful voice before he struck several pounding blows. Thovaas slashed deeply into the thing as the knights also closed to kill the beast. Soon the battle was over and the body of the elf floated face down in the pool, blood sullying the otherwise pristine waters. The last two with the disease tried to saunter away quietly when they were met by Thorgils single good eye. He and Buri explained that they had lost one of their paladin friends to this disease, and had been forced to kill him themselves. Thorgils received his wicked scare as he had refused to fight at first, instead trying to placate his werewolf friend. His old friend had nearly taken his life because of it. The two were coaxed into entering the fountain, and they too were flushed downward. Varekai asked what was next. The old man turned to him and said there was one more - him. The salve and herbs were applied before Varekai stepped into the fountain, where he first fought the whirlpool before relaxing to let the water cleanse him. Afterward Thovaas asked the old man how long it took to realize a cure. The old man's beady eyes revealed nothing as he sat down and said that now they must wait for the results. He slipped into meditation as the others made a camp outside the ruins and took watch. The morning light crept in slowly and still the pool was silent. Breakfast was dolled out to each as the old monk crept around the stone ruins gathering nuts and sweeping away leaves and dirt to reveal stone beneath. As they ate they heard water flowing over the lip of the fountain. The water began to froth and the group surrounded the fountain in expectation but keeping a safe distance away. The old monk sat stoicly on his pile of rocks as the party looked to him for any indication of what may happen. The elven boy spilled over the side, naked and shivering. He was taken to the small campfire by Thorgils, wrapped in a blanket and given a warm meal before falling asleep. The boy looked to be alright, and Thovaas questioned him about what had happened, drilling him five times and getting five different stories about blacking out each time. An hour later, water again washed over the lip of the fountain and they took the same positions. Then the water exploded from the fountain, showering them all as a figure leapt up from the middle depths. It stood in the shallow waters, a grotesque version of a werewolf with fiendish red scales, distorted fangs and dire claws larger than Buri's head. The knights and Thovaas strode forward to engage it, trying to flank it from the sides as it raged forth. Grimnyr shouted forth a song over the raspy barks it gurgled out. Jerrin summoned forth an ape that slammed down on the beast before bringing forth a crocodile to tear at its legs in the water. Blow after blow was traded, and the ape was defeated as the screaming beast raged forth without halting. Jerrin brought forth a wolf to assist as Buri had his sheild rended from his arm before it bit deeply into his shoulder. Buri fell after several more ferocious blows came from it as its innards were spilled from a slashing blow by Grimnyr. Thovaas smote the beast time and again, and eventually it fell from their repeated blows as the pool filled with its blood, guts, sinew and other matter that had been cleaved from it after a long assault. The party reeled back from the devastation wrought by the beast and surveyed the damage. The old man had helped seal Buri's wounds earlier, and Jerrin and Thovaas helped to heal him remove all of his wounds. It dawned on Jerrin and the others that if there were more of these they would have to change their tactics or fall to the next one. [/QUOTE]
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