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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1304781" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p><strong>A Greater Cause</strong></p><p></p><p>When we last left our fearless hero (who happens to be slightly clutzy, it appears), Shaun had stumbled up to bed after a night of battle and being double crossed.</p><p></p><p>When he awoke the next morning, he found something unusual sitting on the dresser in his bedroom; a small breakfast of bacon and eggs, two of the large steins of dwarven ale, three vials of liquid, several copper coins… and a note:</p><p></p><p></p><p>“My Dearest Shaun,</p><p></p><p>The other barmaids told me what happened last night. I’m so sorry! I know you are probably leaving soon to fall that dog of a woman (oh, how could she hurt you like that?), and I wish I could go too, but I cannot. I will worry so much about you!</p><p>I still can help though! People tend to tell many secrets while drunk… any information myself or any of my co-workers discover that might help you, we will be happy to send you word of! You must let us know where to send word, though, and please, PLEASE write me, so I know you’re safe! Otherwise, I will worry so much... so many adventurers never return!</p><p>I’ve left on yoru dresser what I could find that might help you. The three potions are healing potions I stole from my father’s store (don’t let him know!). I also set some extra trail rations, the 5 copper coins I managed to find, and two big steins of my uncle’s dwarven ale (so you can build up some tolerance!).</p><p>PLEASE please write to me once you reach Mephys, so I know you’re safe! And once this is over, I would love for you to come back to Kulloden for a nice, long… rest!</p><p></p><p>Yours always and forever, Elenya”</p><p></p><p>Shaun was deeply moved by the letter, and after dressing, went downstairs to talk to the barkeep. As the man had recommended that Ilia was offering work, he wanted to know if the barkeep knew anything about her tendencies for betrayal.</p><p></p><p>The barkeep was busy cleaning tables when Shaun found him. He stated that Ilia hadn’t been in town long before… maybe only three weeks total. When asked if who she worked for, the barkeep said that he didn’t know for sure, but rumor had it she did some jobs for various people “on the side” of whatever her major work in the city was… “side jobs” for such organizations as the Thieves and Mages’ Guilds, and also the cousin of the Baron.</p><p></p><p>He also mentioned that when she first showed up, she was with a “man dressed in black from head to toe… kinda unusual, to see humans here in the first place, and to see one dressed in all black.” The barkeep couldn’t remember his face that well, and apologized for not having a better description. He also stated he would never advise anyone to work for Ilia again, should she return. </p><p></p><p>Shaun, changing the subject to something happier, comments on what he finds and tells the barkeep he has a very kindhearted daughter. The barkeep laughs, and says that Elenya is his niece by marriage, not his daughter, though he agrees she is a very upstanding and kind girl. Shaun doesn’t mention what other things he finds attractive on her, as he’d prefer to keep the barkeep on his good side.</p><p></p><p>He had been scheduled to meet Geoffrey in the bar around late morning (11ish, by the town bell), and he saw that he still had an hour left to kill. He decides to make a quick trip to the Thieves’ Guild… if he can find it.</p><p></p><p>After many discreet questions, he is able to determine not only the location of the Thieves’ Guild (a small, unremarkable house in one of the poorer quarters of the city), but also the secret knock to get in as well. HE heads there, does the proper knock, and is quickly ushered in by a small halfling who asks him his name and how he can be helped. Shaun gives his name, and of course the halfling cannot find him among the “official” thieves in Kulloden (Shaun had never ‘registered’ or any such activity with any Thieves’ Guild before.</p><p></p><p>Shaun volunteers to ‘register’ and pay his dues (20 gp upfront), and then immediately asks if the halfling has ever heard of Ilia. The halfling smiles and simply replies that she, “did some work for them in the past,” but he wouldn’t say what or when… it was policy to not divulge certain information even to other thieves, to reduce the Guild’s chances of being put under pressure by the authorities.</p><p></p><p>Shaun then brings up the fact that she backstabbed him out of over 13,000 gp worth of items, none of which ever saw the Thieving Guild’s hands for its cut. This immediately raised the halfing’s eyebrows… the money strapped Guild had been swindled out of over 2,500 gold pieces in cash and items. He immediately called over a rider, and sent a message to the Guild in Mephys (should told them her likely destination) that Ilia was past payment in her “tithes.” Should she be found pickpocketing there and not have the cash ready, “retributive action,” was to be taken.</p><p></p><p>The halfling then smiled, and stopped the messenger. He then asked Shaun if he wanted first dibs on “removing” Ilia should the Guild find where she was. Shaun readily agreed, and the two made the bargain. Satisfied, Shaun took his leave and returned to the Drunken Pony.</p><p></p><p>He found Geoffrey there, and the halfling had remembered the name of another one of her former employees, a certain Andre in the hamlet of Ephisia, halfway between Kulloden and Mephys. He also says that according to Elenya, whose in the backroom, something fishy was going on out east, “something about ice monsters and the like.” Geoffrey tells Shaun to go back and ask her if he wants more specific details, as the halfling is going to order some wine.</p><p></p><p>Shaun heads into the kitchen, where he finds Elenya washing a few dishes. Upon seeing him, she almost drops the dish in her hands, runs over, and gives him a warm hug. Almost crying, she asks him not to go, saying that, “Something bad is happening there! A captain of the Baron’s guard was here this morning, and he said that the Baron was sending <em>50 cavalry</em> to Mephys because of trouble! He said there were ice demons, ice goblins and the like about, burning the villages!” Shaun holds her close, and tells her he must go. She replied that adventuring was in his blood, and somehow she knew he would say something like that.</p><p></p><p>Hoping to cheer her up a little before he leaves, he reaches over to an almost ready plate of bacon, pulls out a piece, and hands it to her, telling her to keep the confusing meat and remember him by it. That provokes a sad grin from her, she laughs rather distantly, and pulls off the scarf (more of a rag) she was wearing on her head, handing it to him, saying, “you do the same, you silly man.” The two share a hug and a kiss before Shaun reluctantly says goodbye.</p><p></p><p>After leaving the kitchen, Shaun finds his erstwhile halfling companion is rather tipsy. HE angrily drags Geoffrey outside, threatening to take his now half empty wine bottle from him. The halfling replies that he’ll remember more tipsy, and spits out that Andre’s wife also worked for Ilia at one point, and that the two are still in Ephisia he thinks. HE remembers other workers vaguely, but he needs more wine to refill his memory. Shaun takes the wine from him.</p><p></p><p>Before leaving, Shaun also decides to visit the Mage’s Guild, hoping to find information there. Instead, he finds a pompous doormaster who literally looks down on him and says he does not know Ilia’s name. Disgruntled, Shaun goes outside only to find Geoffrey has drunk another quarter of the bottle. Shaun takes it away again, and the two set out eastwards.</p><p></p><p>The tipsy Geoffrey hums horribly out of tune part of the way, which prompts the musically inclined Shaun to anger. Growing fed up, he finally tells Geoffrey that if he sings and dances, the rest of the bottle will be before him. Geoffrey eagerly climbs off his small pony (imagine a halfling sized horse), and begins a loud, off key song and dance routine, which scares other travelers. Shaun then throws the wine bottle to the ground at Geoffrey’s feet, telling the now crying halfling, “the wine is now before you. I hold up to my promises. If I want to hear musical talent, I’ll listen to myself!”</p><p></p><p>As they approach late afternoon, the two see a pall of smoke up ahead. Alarmed, they advance slowly, until Geoffrey, to his horror, recognizes the skeletal forms of burnt out houses.</p><p></p><p>A heavy pall of death hands in the air as the two travelers ride through the remains of the hamet of Ephisia. Horrors abound everywhere… burnt bones, skulls, children’s toys lay strewn about. At one point the two see a sharp timber that has a ribcage surrounding it with a skull on top, as if someone had been impaled and their flesh burned away. The stench was overpowering. Both Shaun and Geoffrey barely overcame the urge to begin retching.</p><p></p><p>And then Shaun hears the cries.</p><p></p><p>It sounded like children, calling or crying. The two follow the noise, until they reach a house near the edge of the town, whose timbers have not completely collapsed. A large table remains inside the doorway, its frame somehow unburnt. Beneath it are the huddled forms of a young boy and girl. The boy cries out, “Are you the ones sent by mummy to take us to her?” The girl, younger than the boy by several years, begins to cry and waddles out to meet Shaun and Geoffrey, her arms outstretched.</p><p></p><p>Shaun picks her up, confused, his mind still reeling from the horror around him. He looks at the boy, and without thinking, says yes. The boy smiles, and begins to talk. </p><p></p><p>“Mummy and Papa said we should hide while they went to get help. The others wouldn’t go. Mummy said we should meet her in Mephys… Mephys is east of here. I know my directions!”</p><p></p><p>Shaun nodded, rocking the little girl till her tired frame fell asleep on his shoulder. HE asked the boy (obvious closer to 7 or 8) who did this to the town.</p><p></p><p>“The monsters did.”</p><p></p><p>“What monsters?”</p><p></p><p>“The monsters… but they’re not normal monsters.”</p><p></p><p>Shaun’s mind immediately flashed to Elenya’s warnings.</p><p></p><p>“Were these monsters white… or blue?”</p><p></p><p>“Blue like,” the boy said, “and they were cold. We hid, like mummy told us to, and they didn’t find us after we ran inside. They burned things. It smelled.” Shaun nodded, and then stooped down to the boy’s level.</p><p></p><p>“Listen… whats your name?”</p><p></p><p>“Jospre.”</p><p></p><p>“Ok, Jospre, I’m going to take you to safety.”</p><p></p><p>“Safety… is that a town near Mephys?” he asked. Shaun smiled sadly, and nodded yes, wondering what in the world he’d gotten himself into as he tried to keep the kids’ eyes away from the carnage in the town behind them.</p><p></p><p>The group made camp further up the road, with Geoffrey volunteering to take first watch. Nothing much happened, and the halfling stirred Shaun during the deep of the night for his turn. Shaun watched the halfling curl up, as he argued in his mind what to do. Finally, he walked over, and gently shook Geoffrey awake.</p><p></p><p>“What?” the halfling groaned, rolling over to see Shaun’s rather frightened face looking at him.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I… I don’t really know how to say this,” Shaun said slowly, trying to discover what words to say. Geoffrey’s tired eyes merely narrowed.</p><p></p><p>“I… well… I’m afraid of being alone in the dark, “ Shaun winced. It’d been quite a while since he’d had to take a watch by himself… he’d always tended to join caravans or other travelers when going between cities. </p><p></p><p>Geoffrey gave a wry grin. “So the great musician has a weak spot after all. Tell you what. You sit beside me, and if you get scared, you can wake me. But I need my sleep… I had watch before you, so I’ll rest while you sit.”</p><p></p><p></p><p>Shaun reluctantly nodded, before starting to talk again. It was a way to drive back the fear. “It goes back to my youth… when I had the rare chance to attend a grammar school for those far above my station… our tutor used to lock me in a dark room when I misbehaved, and leave me there…”</p><p></p><p>Geoffrey’s snores interrupt Shaun’s thoughts, and he settles in for a long, frightening night, punctured by the appearance of a badger near the edge of the forest halfway through the watch. Somehow he managed, and the next morning, the group set out again, with high hopes to be within Mephys on the morrow. Geoffrey was rather rested, while Shaun was relieved that his ordeal was over.</p><p></p><p>Around midday, Shaun heard strange noises coming from up ahead along the road. He dismounted, and strode a little further. It became apparent the noises were coming from the other side of a small rise in the road which Shaun couldn’t see over. HE could make out grunts and shouts, with at least one voice shouting in Common, “Back! Away foul beasts!”</p><p></p><p>HE motioned for Geoffrey, and the two listened as noises of battle began to waft over the ridge. Geoffrey takes the children into the woods, drawing his dagger and promising Shaun to defend them. Shaun cuts into the woods and sneaks ahead, coming quickly and quietly over the ridge.</p><p></p><p>He spots four large, ugly creatures, green with a slight bluish tint, swinging enormous axes at one man with shoulder length, red hair, and a fine cape under which peaked greenish half-plate. The man was raising his hands, making strange motions and speaking words Shaun didn’t understand. A fifth monster stood behind the other four, and was doing the same. Even as Shaun watched, one of the monsters hit the man, and he staggered backward. The man calls forth something, forming a white mass in his hand which he launches at the nearest creature, searing a massive burn in its chest. It remains standing, but runs to the rear.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Shaun reacted instantly, pulling out his bow, and aiming for the monster in the back. His shot was slightly off, striking the creature in the lower stomach, but it burst into flames, and to his surprise, began melting, dying a screaming, bloody death. The man, his opponents momentarily distracted, speaks more words and his face contorts into something vile, and horrible. The two creatures that were attacking him begin to run.</p><p></p><p>The fourth, far and away, spots Shaun in the woods, and reacting quickly, draws a javelin and throws it at the human. The javelin impacts hard on his arm, and he is momentarily stunned. The two others, meanwhile, begin to turn around, their fear overcome. One runs towards Shaun, who lifts his voice in song, putting it to sleep as it gets close to him. </p><p></p><p>The spellcaster to Shaun’s turns momentarily, and to Shaun’s shock, it is not the face of a veteran fighter, but a <em>kid</em>, maybe 16 or 17 at most. The young man grins, compliments Shaun’s shooting, before drawing his sword (one of the larger one’s Shaun has ever seen) and chasing after the monster to his right. </p><p></p><p>The left monster sees Shaun, and throws a javelin at him, missing terribly. Shaun replies with an arrow, which immolates the creature. HE readies another arrow to help the boy, only to see that the boy and the monster are in a desperate fight, and he has no clear shot. Instead, he runs into the melee with his rapier drawn, landing several blows before the boy’s sword sends the monster’s head flying. Drawing his bow again, Shaun shoots the still sleeping monster, who burns to death. (the monsters were ice orcs)</p><p></p><p>After the melee, Shaun first gives the boy some of his healing potions. After the young man recovers, he immediately asks the boy what his name is. The reply is weak and nervous… “Luke.” Shaun sees through the ruse immediately, and asks the boy to please tell him his “real name.” The boy sighs, and comments that since Shaun saved his life, he deserves the truth… though, once he sees Geoffrey and the children approaching, he asks that no one else be told.</p><p></p><p>“My name is Lucius Caladron II.”</p><p></p><p>The name immediately rings a bell with Shaun. The Caladrons are well known among the nobility as being among the strongest of the noble houses. According to public rumor, even the Emperor himself lended them an ear. Shaun also knew that the Countess Caladron that ruled further south, in Holstean, had a teenage son. His mind put things together in an instant, and he immediately asked Lucius what he was doing so far north, with no retainers, guards or servants. Lucius replies that he is on his way to Mephys, and if Shaun et al would accompany him, he would explain… under his assumed name, of course.</p><p></p><p>Upon seeing the children, Lucius asked where they came from, and Shaun described the destruction in Ephisia. Lucius let out a curse before remember little ones were present, and commented that he, “didn’t know how they got that far.” It turns out that the rumors Elenya heard were true, and truly terrible things were about. Lucius went on to explain his group’s quest, the battle with the ice monsters, and the fact that there were far more than ice goblins about. Shaun, Geoffrey, and the children repeatedly interrupted with questions, and the tale took several hours to complete. </p><p></p><p>He finally said he was out here, alone and away from his party, because he needed time to think, the weigh things. He was surprised at the power of the magic in his veins, but he was also scared his magic was tainted like his ancestor’s magic was. He was afraid for his mother, afraid for his friends, and for himself… and he needed time to sort things out. His familiar also flew back at this time (his eagle had been trying to find him help when he was attacked), and Lucius explained to Shaun that the eagle was his friend and companion.</p><p></p><p>Lucius then asks why Shaun and the children are on the road to Mephys. The children tell their story of hiding, with Renna, the girl, proudly showing a large burn on her arm where “the cold monster grabbed me, but I got away.” Shaun replies that the children are going for safety, while Shaun was looking for a certain person to “discuss business with.” Lucius pressed, asking what manner of business, to which Shaun replied that a certain “Ilia” had backstabbed him, nearly paralyzed him, and stolen over eight thousand in gold that was rightfully his. Lucius’ eyebrows rise, and upon hearing Shaun’s description, he confirms that she rode into Mephys that morning, “as I was leaving.” Greatly intrigued, Shaun now doubly wants to get to Mephys.</p><p></p><p>The party made camp for the night, with Lucius taking second watch and Shaun taking third. As Lucius woke up Shaun for his watch of the night, the same feeling of dread came over Shaun, and he once again confessed his hidden fear. Lucius smiled, and said that he’d stay up on the condition that Shaun took his horse’s bridle on the morrow while Lucius napped in the saddle. Shaun readily agreed, and the two quickly struck up conversation.</p><p></p><p>Topics ranged widely, till Shaun began reminiscing about Kulloden, and more specifically, about a certain girl living there. Shaun used several phrases Lucius did not understand (Common Slang… such as “stacked”), which Shaun then explained to him. Always eager to learn, Lucius made plans to start incorporating them in his vocabulary around the party.</p><p></p><p> Lucius grinned, and commented that he had a particular lady in his heart, but sadly nothing would come of it. Shaun asked why, and Lucius explained it was mostly due to politics; his family was powerful, and there was a competition among the Emperor’s grandchildren over who would be his successor. The youngest princess, Zoe, was intensely interested in a political marriage with the Caladron family to strengthen her claim… and Lucius was the only male heir left in the family. His mother was pushing the marriage as it gave her son a chance to sit on the Imperial Throne, while such a marriage would bolster Zoe’s support here in the Inerman Valley.</p><p></p><p>Lucius had seen pictures of Zoe… she was more than beautiful, but he did not like the idea of marrying someone he had yet to meet or even write to. His heart was set on another, and he knew sadly there was little he could do about it. Shaun gave him advice, basically saying that he should follow his heart, not his parent’s or political dictates, as “one can never truly be King until one is King of oneself.” Lucius grinned and nodded, saying that, “such obvious logic is sadly lacking in many nobles.”</p><p></p><p>About this time both heard a snapping of a twig near the campfire, and began searching. Lucius reached for sword, but Shaun motioned for him to put it down as he made out a shape… a female, hiding partially behind a tree. A very quiet voice barely reached them asking who was making a fire in her forest. </p><p></p><p>Shaun replied that the firewood had already been there (it had been lying around, he’d gathered it and then shown off his flaming longbow by igniting the blaze with a shot from 250 paces), and that the fire was being well tended. A slim, well proportioned female, her skin a mottle of light and dark brown, stepped out and began looking at the fire. She was fussing, commenting that her work of watching the forest was hard now that “ice devils,” were wandering about, “destroying her small creatures,” and “grotesquely mutiliating others.” It was hard enough to keep humans from cutting down too much of the forest or accidentally burning it all up.</p><p></p><p>Shaun once again showed her the fire, and that it was well tended, commenting they had no intention of making her job harder. She was about to ask them other probing questions when she noticed the two children sleeping off to the side. She saw immediately they had soot on their faces, and put together that they must have come from some of the burnt villages whose soot was harming some of her trees. It was very apparent that her heart almost broke.</p><p></p><p>She then promised to keep an eye on them in the woods, “for the little one’s sake,” and try to give them warning if they were about the run into anything. Out of the corner of his eye, Shaun saw Lucius was not really looking at her, more <em>staring</em>. The creature gave a sigh, and turned and walked into a tree, the dryad vanishing into the night. Shaun sat back down, and explained that that is what “stacked” was.</p><p></p><p>The next morning, and sleepy Lucius was led by Shaun to within site of the fortified village of Mephys. When the party was still an hour or so away from the ever closing village, Shaun heard more twigs snap to his right. He couldn’t see anything, though Lucius said he heard a very unusual owl hooting (yup, the dryad). All eyes trained to the right, where the group saw movement, and heard a faint moaning noise.</p><p></p><p>Shaun then decided to try and old trick, and used <em>ghost sound</em> to try and copy the moaning, placing it twenty feet away and inside the woods. The movement in the woods immediately stopped, and now Shaun saw two figures, one looking towards where his <em>ghost sound</em> originated, the other staring directly at him.</p><p></p><p>Shaun shuttled the kids to the rear, pulled out his bow, and let fire at the creature staring at him, missing. Both of the creatures then lunged out of the woods, and into the light. As they burst out, Shaun heard Lucius shout, “Ice Ghouls? What in Vermillion Hells?”</p><p></p><p>The creatures were clad in scale armor, as a warrior would wear when alive. Their frames were bent, their arms long and ending in bloody claws, their skin purplish blue. Their mouths were filled with sharp fangs, and dried blood coated around their lips. The screeched, and launched, one at Lucius, one at Shaun. The screams of the crying children echoed through the woods.</p><p></p><p>The creature attacking Lucius bit him, hard in the shoulder, and within a few seconds, Lucius’ muscles when rigid, beyond his control. His bastard sword fell from his hand, a look of confused terror struck on his face.</p><p></p><p>Shaun’s assailant slashed him with a claw, and Shaun felt something coursing in his veins, though he was able to resist it. He struck back with his rapier, hitting the creature in the shoulder and causing little harm.</p><p></p><p>Lucius’ assailant continued to rip upon his now helpless target, clawing and rending over Lucius’ muffled screams. Geoffrey valiant charged forward with his dagger, and slashed the creature hitting Shaun. </p><p></p><p>Seeing Lucius being mauled, and desperate to do something, Shaun decides to take a risk, and begins his high lilting song of sleep, despite the fact his friends are near him. Lucius, despite his paralysis, resists the magic, as does his assailant, while Shaun’s attack and Geoffrey both fall into a deep slumber.</p><p></p><p>Lucius’ assailant rips the young noble again, slashing open his shoulder and his belly. Shaun hits the creature hard in the upper chest, but this only attracts its ire. It slashes at Shaun and connects, and this time, a lesser poison successfully courses through his veins (2 Con damage). Shaun stumbles a bit, and the creature slashes Lucius again, before Shaun launches a vicious attack that rips open the creatures stomach. It stumbles backward nearly five feet, just enough for Shaun to grab his longbow, and place an arrow inside its howling lips.</p><p></p><p>As the burning pyre of the first creature reaches its peak, the young Jospre has snuck over to Geoffrey, and has shaken him awake. Shaun meanwhile attempts to finish off the prone ice ghoul, only to have his blow glance off the creatures armor and the creature begin to awake. Shaun calmly steps back, draws his bow, and as the creature begins to shake the cobwebs of sleep from its head, his arrow finds it heart and burns it to a crisp.</p><p></p><p>Shaun is now panicking over Lucius, whose frame is still frozen in paralysis as pieces of rent flesh hang from it. Geoffrey is immediately over by the children’s side, calming them. Desperate, Shaun finds his steins of dwarven ale, soaks Elenya’s scarf in then, and trys to feed the boy the liquor, hoping its strong effects might somehow counteract the poison.</p><p></p><p>Its six minutes after Lucius was hit when the paralysis wears off, and his tired and broken body collapses to the ground. Lucius groans, and then asks if he can try more of whatever drink it was that Shaun put into his mouth. Shaun shakes his head, and helps up the bloody boy, who stumbles to his horse. HE tries to get on, but nearly falls over, promptly Shaun to help heave him onto the animal. Lucius rests his body on the horse’s neck, gives a right grin, and apologizes that Shaun will, “have to lead my horse by the bridle a little longer.” Shaun, still worried, tells him not to worry, and the party heads with haste towards the walls of Mephys, as Lucius comments the situation has gotten much worse, and the rest of his party desperately needs to know…</p><p></p><p>[The next adventure will rejoin the main party, starting with their actions the morning Lucius first left to go evaluate his life… ]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1304781, member: 15043"] [b]A Greater Cause[/b] When we last left our fearless hero (who happens to be slightly clutzy, it appears), Shaun had stumbled up to bed after a night of battle and being double crossed. When he awoke the next morning, he found something unusual sitting on the dresser in his bedroom; a small breakfast of bacon and eggs, two of the large steins of dwarven ale, three vials of liquid, several copper coins… and a note: “My Dearest Shaun, The other barmaids told me what happened last night. I’m so sorry! I know you are probably leaving soon to fall that dog of a woman (oh, how could she hurt you like that?), and I wish I could go too, but I cannot. I will worry so much about you! I still can help though! People tend to tell many secrets while drunk… any information myself or any of my co-workers discover that might help you, we will be happy to send you word of! You must let us know where to send word, though, and please, PLEASE write me, so I know you’re safe! Otherwise, I will worry so much... so many adventurers never return! I’ve left on yoru dresser what I could find that might help you. The three potions are healing potions I stole from my father’s store (don’t let him know!). I also set some extra trail rations, the 5 copper coins I managed to find, and two big steins of my uncle’s dwarven ale (so you can build up some tolerance!). PLEASE please write to me once you reach Mephys, so I know you’re safe! And once this is over, I would love for you to come back to Kulloden for a nice, long… rest! Yours always and forever, Elenya” Shaun was deeply moved by the letter, and after dressing, went downstairs to talk to the barkeep. As the man had recommended that Ilia was offering work, he wanted to know if the barkeep knew anything about her tendencies for betrayal. The barkeep was busy cleaning tables when Shaun found him. He stated that Ilia hadn’t been in town long before… maybe only three weeks total. When asked if who she worked for, the barkeep said that he didn’t know for sure, but rumor had it she did some jobs for various people “on the side” of whatever her major work in the city was… “side jobs” for such organizations as the Thieves and Mages’ Guilds, and also the cousin of the Baron. He also mentioned that when she first showed up, she was with a “man dressed in black from head to toe… kinda unusual, to see humans here in the first place, and to see one dressed in all black.” The barkeep couldn’t remember his face that well, and apologized for not having a better description. He also stated he would never advise anyone to work for Ilia again, should she return. Shaun, changing the subject to something happier, comments on what he finds and tells the barkeep he has a very kindhearted daughter. The barkeep laughs, and says that Elenya is his niece by marriage, not his daughter, though he agrees she is a very upstanding and kind girl. Shaun doesn’t mention what other things he finds attractive on her, as he’d prefer to keep the barkeep on his good side. He had been scheduled to meet Geoffrey in the bar around late morning (11ish, by the town bell), and he saw that he still had an hour left to kill. He decides to make a quick trip to the Thieves’ Guild… if he can find it. After many discreet questions, he is able to determine not only the location of the Thieves’ Guild (a small, unremarkable house in one of the poorer quarters of the city), but also the secret knock to get in as well. HE heads there, does the proper knock, and is quickly ushered in by a small halfling who asks him his name and how he can be helped. Shaun gives his name, and of course the halfling cannot find him among the “official” thieves in Kulloden (Shaun had never ‘registered’ or any such activity with any Thieves’ Guild before. Shaun volunteers to ‘register’ and pay his dues (20 gp upfront), and then immediately asks if the halfling has ever heard of Ilia. The halfling smiles and simply replies that she, “did some work for them in the past,” but he wouldn’t say what or when… it was policy to not divulge certain information even to other thieves, to reduce the Guild’s chances of being put under pressure by the authorities. Shaun then brings up the fact that she backstabbed him out of over 13,000 gp worth of items, none of which ever saw the Thieving Guild’s hands for its cut. This immediately raised the halfing’s eyebrows… the money strapped Guild had been swindled out of over 2,500 gold pieces in cash and items. He immediately called over a rider, and sent a message to the Guild in Mephys (should told them her likely destination) that Ilia was past payment in her “tithes.” Should she be found pickpocketing there and not have the cash ready, “retributive action,” was to be taken. The halfling then smiled, and stopped the messenger. He then asked Shaun if he wanted first dibs on “removing” Ilia should the Guild find where she was. Shaun readily agreed, and the two made the bargain. Satisfied, Shaun took his leave and returned to the Drunken Pony. He found Geoffrey there, and the halfling had remembered the name of another one of her former employees, a certain Andre in the hamlet of Ephisia, halfway between Kulloden and Mephys. He also says that according to Elenya, whose in the backroom, something fishy was going on out east, “something about ice monsters and the like.” Geoffrey tells Shaun to go back and ask her if he wants more specific details, as the halfling is going to order some wine. Shaun heads into the kitchen, where he finds Elenya washing a few dishes. Upon seeing him, she almost drops the dish in her hands, runs over, and gives him a warm hug. Almost crying, she asks him not to go, saying that, “Something bad is happening there! A captain of the Baron’s guard was here this morning, and he said that the Baron was sending [I]50 cavalry[/I] to Mephys because of trouble! He said there were ice demons, ice goblins and the like about, burning the villages!” Shaun holds her close, and tells her he must go. She replied that adventuring was in his blood, and somehow she knew he would say something like that. Hoping to cheer her up a little before he leaves, he reaches over to an almost ready plate of bacon, pulls out a piece, and hands it to her, telling her to keep the confusing meat and remember him by it. That provokes a sad grin from her, she laughs rather distantly, and pulls off the scarf (more of a rag) she was wearing on her head, handing it to him, saying, “you do the same, you silly man.” The two share a hug and a kiss before Shaun reluctantly says goodbye. After leaving the kitchen, Shaun finds his erstwhile halfling companion is rather tipsy. HE angrily drags Geoffrey outside, threatening to take his now half empty wine bottle from him. The halfling replies that he’ll remember more tipsy, and spits out that Andre’s wife also worked for Ilia at one point, and that the two are still in Ephisia he thinks. HE remembers other workers vaguely, but he needs more wine to refill his memory. Shaun takes the wine from him. Before leaving, Shaun also decides to visit the Mage’s Guild, hoping to find information there. Instead, he finds a pompous doormaster who literally looks down on him and says he does not know Ilia’s name. Disgruntled, Shaun goes outside only to find Geoffrey has drunk another quarter of the bottle. Shaun takes it away again, and the two set out eastwards. The tipsy Geoffrey hums horribly out of tune part of the way, which prompts the musically inclined Shaun to anger. Growing fed up, he finally tells Geoffrey that if he sings and dances, the rest of the bottle will be before him. Geoffrey eagerly climbs off his small pony (imagine a halfling sized horse), and begins a loud, off key song and dance routine, which scares other travelers. Shaun then throws the wine bottle to the ground at Geoffrey’s feet, telling the now crying halfling, “the wine is now before you. I hold up to my promises. If I want to hear musical talent, I’ll listen to myself!” As they approach late afternoon, the two see a pall of smoke up ahead. Alarmed, they advance slowly, until Geoffrey, to his horror, recognizes the skeletal forms of burnt out houses. A heavy pall of death hands in the air as the two travelers ride through the remains of the hamet of Ephisia. Horrors abound everywhere… burnt bones, skulls, children’s toys lay strewn about. At one point the two see a sharp timber that has a ribcage surrounding it with a skull on top, as if someone had been impaled and their flesh burned away. The stench was overpowering. Both Shaun and Geoffrey barely overcame the urge to begin retching. And then Shaun hears the cries. It sounded like children, calling or crying. The two follow the noise, until they reach a house near the edge of the town, whose timbers have not completely collapsed. A large table remains inside the doorway, its frame somehow unburnt. Beneath it are the huddled forms of a young boy and girl. The boy cries out, “Are you the ones sent by mummy to take us to her?” The girl, younger than the boy by several years, begins to cry and waddles out to meet Shaun and Geoffrey, her arms outstretched. Shaun picks her up, confused, his mind still reeling from the horror around him. He looks at the boy, and without thinking, says yes. The boy smiles, and begins to talk. “Mummy and Papa said we should hide while they went to get help. The others wouldn’t go. Mummy said we should meet her in Mephys… Mephys is east of here. I know my directions!” Shaun nodded, rocking the little girl till her tired frame fell asleep on his shoulder. HE asked the boy (obvious closer to 7 or 8) who did this to the town. “The monsters did.” “What monsters?” “The monsters… but they’re not normal monsters.” Shaun’s mind immediately flashed to Elenya’s warnings. “Were these monsters white… or blue?” “Blue like,” the boy said, “and they were cold. We hid, like mummy told us to, and they didn’t find us after we ran inside. They burned things. It smelled.” Shaun nodded, and then stooped down to the boy’s level. “Listen… whats your name?” “Jospre.” “Ok, Jospre, I’m going to take you to safety.” “Safety… is that a town near Mephys?” he asked. Shaun smiled sadly, and nodded yes, wondering what in the world he’d gotten himself into as he tried to keep the kids’ eyes away from the carnage in the town behind them. The group made camp further up the road, with Geoffrey volunteering to take first watch. Nothing much happened, and the halfling stirred Shaun during the deep of the night for his turn. Shaun watched the halfling curl up, as he argued in his mind what to do. Finally, he walked over, and gently shook Geoffrey awake. “What?” the halfling groaned, rolling over to see Shaun’s rather frightened face looking at him. I… I don’t really know how to say this,” Shaun said slowly, trying to discover what words to say. Geoffrey’s tired eyes merely narrowed. “I… well… I’m afraid of being alone in the dark, “ Shaun winced. It’d been quite a while since he’d had to take a watch by himself… he’d always tended to join caravans or other travelers when going between cities. Geoffrey gave a wry grin. “So the great musician has a weak spot after all. Tell you what. You sit beside me, and if you get scared, you can wake me. But I need my sleep… I had watch before you, so I’ll rest while you sit.” Shaun reluctantly nodded, before starting to talk again. It was a way to drive back the fear. “It goes back to my youth… when I had the rare chance to attend a grammar school for those far above my station… our tutor used to lock me in a dark room when I misbehaved, and leave me there…” Geoffrey’s snores interrupt Shaun’s thoughts, and he settles in for a long, frightening night, punctured by the appearance of a badger near the edge of the forest halfway through the watch. Somehow he managed, and the next morning, the group set out again, with high hopes to be within Mephys on the morrow. Geoffrey was rather rested, while Shaun was relieved that his ordeal was over. Around midday, Shaun heard strange noises coming from up ahead along the road. He dismounted, and strode a little further. It became apparent the noises were coming from the other side of a small rise in the road which Shaun couldn’t see over. HE could make out grunts and shouts, with at least one voice shouting in Common, “Back! Away foul beasts!” HE motioned for Geoffrey, and the two listened as noises of battle began to waft over the ridge. Geoffrey takes the children into the woods, drawing his dagger and promising Shaun to defend them. Shaun cuts into the woods and sneaks ahead, coming quickly and quietly over the ridge. He spots four large, ugly creatures, green with a slight bluish tint, swinging enormous axes at one man with shoulder length, red hair, and a fine cape under which peaked greenish half-plate. The man was raising his hands, making strange motions and speaking words Shaun didn’t understand. A fifth monster stood behind the other four, and was doing the same. Even as Shaun watched, one of the monsters hit the man, and he staggered backward. The man calls forth something, forming a white mass in his hand which he launches at the nearest creature, searing a massive burn in its chest. It remains standing, but runs to the rear. Shaun reacted instantly, pulling out his bow, and aiming for the monster in the back. His shot was slightly off, striking the creature in the lower stomach, but it burst into flames, and to his surprise, began melting, dying a screaming, bloody death. The man, his opponents momentarily distracted, speaks more words and his face contorts into something vile, and horrible. The two creatures that were attacking him begin to run. The fourth, far and away, spots Shaun in the woods, and reacting quickly, draws a javelin and throws it at the human. The javelin impacts hard on his arm, and he is momentarily stunned. The two others, meanwhile, begin to turn around, their fear overcome. One runs towards Shaun, who lifts his voice in song, putting it to sleep as it gets close to him. The spellcaster to Shaun’s turns momentarily, and to Shaun’s shock, it is not the face of a veteran fighter, but a [I]kid[/I], maybe 16 or 17 at most. The young man grins, compliments Shaun’s shooting, before drawing his sword (one of the larger one’s Shaun has ever seen) and chasing after the monster to his right. The left monster sees Shaun, and throws a javelin at him, missing terribly. Shaun replies with an arrow, which immolates the creature. HE readies another arrow to help the boy, only to see that the boy and the monster are in a desperate fight, and he has no clear shot. Instead, he runs into the melee with his rapier drawn, landing several blows before the boy’s sword sends the monster’s head flying. Drawing his bow again, Shaun shoots the still sleeping monster, who burns to death. (the monsters were ice orcs) After the melee, Shaun first gives the boy some of his healing potions. After the young man recovers, he immediately asks the boy what his name is. The reply is weak and nervous… “Luke.” Shaun sees through the ruse immediately, and asks the boy to please tell him his “real name.” The boy sighs, and comments that since Shaun saved his life, he deserves the truth… though, once he sees Geoffrey and the children approaching, he asks that no one else be told. “My name is Lucius Caladron II.” The name immediately rings a bell with Shaun. The Caladrons are well known among the nobility as being among the strongest of the noble houses. According to public rumor, even the Emperor himself lended them an ear. Shaun also knew that the Countess Caladron that ruled further south, in Holstean, had a teenage son. His mind put things together in an instant, and he immediately asked Lucius what he was doing so far north, with no retainers, guards or servants. Lucius replies that he is on his way to Mephys, and if Shaun et al would accompany him, he would explain… under his assumed name, of course. Upon seeing the children, Lucius asked where they came from, and Shaun described the destruction in Ephisia. Lucius let out a curse before remember little ones were present, and commented that he, “didn’t know how they got that far.” It turns out that the rumors Elenya heard were true, and truly terrible things were about. Lucius went on to explain his group’s quest, the battle with the ice monsters, and the fact that there were far more than ice goblins about. Shaun, Geoffrey, and the children repeatedly interrupted with questions, and the tale took several hours to complete. He finally said he was out here, alone and away from his party, because he needed time to think, the weigh things. He was surprised at the power of the magic in his veins, but he was also scared his magic was tainted like his ancestor’s magic was. He was afraid for his mother, afraid for his friends, and for himself… and he needed time to sort things out. His familiar also flew back at this time (his eagle had been trying to find him help when he was attacked), and Lucius explained to Shaun that the eagle was his friend and companion. Lucius then asks why Shaun and the children are on the road to Mephys. The children tell their story of hiding, with Renna, the girl, proudly showing a large burn on her arm where “the cold monster grabbed me, but I got away.” Shaun replies that the children are going for safety, while Shaun was looking for a certain person to “discuss business with.” Lucius pressed, asking what manner of business, to which Shaun replied that a certain “Ilia” had backstabbed him, nearly paralyzed him, and stolen over eight thousand in gold that was rightfully his. Lucius’ eyebrows rise, and upon hearing Shaun’s description, he confirms that she rode into Mephys that morning, “as I was leaving.” Greatly intrigued, Shaun now doubly wants to get to Mephys. The party made camp for the night, with Lucius taking second watch and Shaun taking third. As Lucius woke up Shaun for his watch of the night, the same feeling of dread came over Shaun, and he once again confessed his hidden fear. Lucius smiled, and said that he’d stay up on the condition that Shaun took his horse’s bridle on the morrow while Lucius napped in the saddle. Shaun readily agreed, and the two quickly struck up conversation. Topics ranged widely, till Shaun began reminiscing about Kulloden, and more specifically, about a certain girl living there. Shaun used several phrases Lucius did not understand (Common Slang… such as “stacked”), which Shaun then explained to him. Always eager to learn, Lucius made plans to start incorporating them in his vocabulary around the party. Lucius grinned, and commented that he had a particular lady in his heart, but sadly nothing would come of it. Shaun asked why, and Lucius explained it was mostly due to politics; his family was powerful, and there was a competition among the Emperor’s grandchildren over who would be his successor. The youngest princess, Zoe, was intensely interested in a political marriage with the Caladron family to strengthen her claim… and Lucius was the only male heir left in the family. His mother was pushing the marriage as it gave her son a chance to sit on the Imperial Throne, while such a marriage would bolster Zoe’s support here in the Inerman Valley. Lucius had seen pictures of Zoe… she was more than beautiful, but he did not like the idea of marrying someone he had yet to meet or even write to. His heart was set on another, and he knew sadly there was little he could do about it. Shaun gave him advice, basically saying that he should follow his heart, not his parent’s or political dictates, as “one can never truly be King until one is King of oneself.” Lucius grinned and nodded, saying that, “such obvious logic is sadly lacking in many nobles.” About this time both heard a snapping of a twig near the campfire, and began searching. Lucius reached for sword, but Shaun motioned for him to put it down as he made out a shape… a female, hiding partially behind a tree. A very quiet voice barely reached them asking who was making a fire in her forest. Shaun replied that the firewood had already been there (it had been lying around, he’d gathered it and then shown off his flaming longbow by igniting the blaze with a shot from 250 paces), and that the fire was being well tended. A slim, well proportioned female, her skin a mottle of light and dark brown, stepped out and began looking at the fire. She was fussing, commenting that her work of watching the forest was hard now that “ice devils,” were wandering about, “destroying her small creatures,” and “grotesquely mutiliating others.” It was hard enough to keep humans from cutting down too much of the forest or accidentally burning it all up. Shaun once again showed her the fire, and that it was well tended, commenting they had no intention of making her job harder. She was about to ask them other probing questions when she noticed the two children sleeping off to the side. She saw immediately they had soot on their faces, and put together that they must have come from some of the burnt villages whose soot was harming some of her trees. It was very apparent that her heart almost broke. She then promised to keep an eye on them in the woods, “for the little one’s sake,” and try to give them warning if they were about the run into anything. Out of the corner of his eye, Shaun saw Lucius was not really looking at her, more [I]staring[/I]. The creature gave a sigh, and turned and walked into a tree, the dryad vanishing into the night. Shaun sat back down, and explained that that is what “stacked” was. The next morning, and sleepy Lucius was led by Shaun to within site of the fortified village of Mephys. When the party was still an hour or so away from the ever closing village, Shaun heard more twigs snap to his right. He couldn’t see anything, though Lucius said he heard a very unusual owl hooting (yup, the dryad). All eyes trained to the right, where the group saw movement, and heard a faint moaning noise. Shaun then decided to try and old trick, and used [I]ghost sound[/I] to try and copy the moaning, placing it twenty feet away and inside the woods. The movement in the woods immediately stopped, and now Shaun saw two figures, one looking towards where his [I]ghost sound[/I] originated, the other staring directly at him. Shaun shuttled the kids to the rear, pulled out his bow, and let fire at the creature staring at him, missing. Both of the creatures then lunged out of the woods, and into the light. As they burst out, Shaun heard Lucius shout, “Ice Ghouls? What in Vermillion Hells?” The creatures were clad in scale armor, as a warrior would wear when alive. Their frames were bent, their arms long and ending in bloody claws, their skin purplish blue. Their mouths were filled with sharp fangs, and dried blood coated around their lips. The screeched, and launched, one at Lucius, one at Shaun. The screams of the crying children echoed through the woods. The creature attacking Lucius bit him, hard in the shoulder, and within a few seconds, Lucius’ muscles when rigid, beyond his control. His bastard sword fell from his hand, a look of confused terror struck on his face. Shaun’s assailant slashed him with a claw, and Shaun felt something coursing in his veins, though he was able to resist it. He struck back with his rapier, hitting the creature in the shoulder and causing little harm. Lucius’ assailant continued to rip upon his now helpless target, clawing and rending over Lucius’ muffled screams. Geoffrey valiant charged forward with his dagger, and slashed the creature hitting Shaun. Seeing Lucius being mauled, and desperate to do something, Shaun decides to take a risk, and begins his high lilting song of sleep, despite the fact his friends are near him. Lucius, despite his paralysis, resists the magic, as does his assailant, while Shaun’s attack and Geoffrey both fall into a deep slumber. Lucius’ assailant rips the young noble again, slashing open his shoulder and his belly. Shaun hits the creature hard in the upper chest, but this only attracts its ire. It slashes at Shaun and connects, and this time, a lesser poison successfully courses through his veins (2 Con damage). Shaun stumbles a bit, and the creature slashes Lucius again, before Shaun launches a vicious attack that rips open the creatures stomach. It stumbles backward nearly five feet, just enough for Shaun to grab his longbow, and place an arrow inside its howling lips. As the burning pyre of the first creature reaches its peak, the young Jospre has snuck over to Geoffrey, and has shaken him awake. Shaun meanwhile attempts to finish off the prone ice ghoul, only to have his blow glance off the creatures armor and the creature begin to awake. Shaun calmly steps back, draws his bow, and as the creature begins to shake the cobwebs of sleep from its head, his arrow finds it heart and burns it to a crisp. Shaun is now panicking over Lucius, whose frame is still frozen in paralysis as pieces of rent flesh hang from it. Geoffrey is immediately over by the children’s side, calming them. Desperate, Shaun finds his steins of dwarven ale, soaks Elenya’s scarf in then, and trys to feed the boy the liquor, hoping its strong effects might somehow counteract the poison. Its six minutes after Lucius was hit when the paralysis wears off, and his tired and broken body collapses to the ground. Lucius groans, and then asks if he can try more of whatever drink it was that Shaun put into his mouth. Shaun shakes his head, and helps up the bloody boy, who stumbles to his horse. HE tries to get on, but nearly falls over, promptly Shaun to help heave him onto the animal. Lucius rests his body on the horse’s neck, gives a right grin, and apologizes that Shaun will, “have to lead my horse by the bridle a little longer.” Shaun, still worried, tells him not to worry, and the party heads with haste towards the walls of Mephys, as Lucius comments the situation has gotten much worse, and the rest of his party desperately needs to know… [The next adventure will rejoin the main party, starting with their actions the morning Lucius first left to go evaluate his life… ] [/QUOTE]
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