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The Scourge of the Ratmen [Scarred Lands] - Updated 1/26
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<blockquote data-quote="Amaroq" data-source="post: 1871419" data-attributes="member: 15470"><p><strong>Issue #17 - Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 2 of 13</strong></p><p></p><p>Dawn breaks on the morning of Vanday. It is the eighth day of Madrer, Madriel’s month.</p><p></p><p>Miriel wakes first, and slips quietly out of camp to conduct her dawn rites. When she returns, she finds that Chuck has fallen asleep, but Novalia is starting a fire for breakfast.</p><p></p><p>Letting Chuck sleep, Miriel wakes Paks and Telryn to check over their injuries. They were the last ones to escape the shrine, with Paks literally carrying Telryn the final four hundred feet, as rocks fell from the ceiling, battering them both. Paks has two cracked ribs, and Telryn’s left wrist is broken. </p><p></p><p>Miriel prays Madriel’s healing for both of them, and although she cannot heal everything, she can feel that the broken bones have knit, and the worst of the bruises have lessened.</p><p></p><p>Miriel then turns to the cooking fire, and works on breakfast. Chuck wakes at the smell of fresh-cooked food, and just as she passes out the meal, Goldpetal walks into the camp.</p><p></p><p>“Food?” the priestess asks the druid.</p><p></p><p>“Thank you,” he responds, taking a plate and sitting down to eat.</p><p></p><p>We all wait in respectful silence, eating our own meal, but we are all wondering what he has learned. Finally, Chuck’s curiosity gets the better of him. “Well?” he asks.</p><p></p><p>Goldpetal calmly finishes his plate, saying nothing. Chuck looks exasperated, while Novalia and Paks attempt to look respectful. Only Miriel appears patient. Finally, when he has finished the meal, the elf speaks.</p><p></p><p>“I meditated through the dawn,” he tells us. “And when the light of the sun reached me, a plan was planted in my head by Denev. It is a ritual I have never attempted. It may take all day. I suggest you return to the Freehold, and I will meet you there.”</p><p></p><p>“I will stay,” Paks says. “My sword will protect you from impolite interruptions.”</p><p></p><p>“Thank you,” the elf says, gravely.</p><p></p><p>“May I offer a blessing?” she asks.</p><p></p><p>“I appreciate the offer,” the elf answers as he stands up, “But I must decline. In this, Denev must act alone.”</p><p></p><p>Paks and the elf begin walking back towards the hill. The rest of us quickly discuss whether to stay, or to go.</p><p></p><p>Telryn doesn’t look well at all. “I need to sleep,” he says.</p><p></p><p>“And I,” says Miriel. “I’m too exhausted to concentrate on a spell. I’ll go back to Kratys Freehold with you.”</p><p></p><p>Chuck says, “I’ll stay here, and protect Goldpetal.”</p><p></p><p>Novalia decides, “Then I’ll go with Miriel and Telryn, to protect them.”</p><p></p><p>They split up the horses: Miriel, Telryn, and Novalia ride back towards Kratys Freehold, while Chuck leads the other three horses after Paks and Goldpetal.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>As she rides with them, Novalia notices that both Miriel and Telryn are extremely cold to her, as though she has committed a grievous sin. Though they speak to each other, neither speaks to her, conversationally or otherwise. She rides with them in an uncomfortable silence, keeping her bow out and watching for trouble.</p><p></p><p>The trip would normally take about five hours of riding, but Telryn needs to stop frequently to rest along the way. Despite Madriel’s healing, he is still battered and bruised. Consequently, the small group doesn’t arrive until the early afternoon.</p><p></p><p>When the three riders arrive at Kratys Freehold, they are greeted at the walls by the guard, and escorted inside. In the main hall, they find Myrs tending Stone’s injuries. The half-orc has a black eye, a number of other bruises, and one lip is puffed and swollen. It makes his already pugnacious appearance even more frightening.</p><p></p><p>He looks up. “Where are Goldpetal, Paks, Chuck, and Hands of Fire?” he asks, when it becomes clear that nobody else is following them into the hall.</p><p></p><p>“Yes,” Taryn says, “Tell us your tale.”</p><p></p><p>Miriel draws a sad breath, and asks for privacy. When the company is reduced to Taryn, Myrs, Stone, Telryn, Novalia, and herself, she tells the whole story. Our hosts are shocked, disgusted, and outraged by the depths of evil revealed in the plot.</p><p></p><p>When she has finished, Stone shakes his head. “My tale is not so epic,” he admits, and relates his pursuit of Golthain’s monk. He finishes by describing the ratman’s last words to him. “When I came to, it was dawn. The only tracks in the clearing were mine, entering, as though he were a phantom. So I came back.”</p><p></p><p>Myrs says, “We have had trouble here as well. Miriel, will you help us? Brand has come ill. He has a high fever, and his skin is covered with red dots. We fear it is from working on that cursed blade.”</p><p></p><p>“Scarlet Pox?” asks the priestess. </p><p></p><p>“I fear so. He’s burning up!”</p><p></p><p>Miriel nods. “Keep cold compresses on him,” she advises, “The fever is the worst danger. I am too exhausted by our ordeal to cure his illness immediately. Let me rest, and meditate, and I will see what I can do in the evening.”</p><p></p><p>“Thank you, milady,” Myrs says, bowing her head.</p><p></p><p>“Miriel,” the priestess corrects her automatically. “We’re all friends, here.”</p><p></p><p>Miriel goes upstairs, to a private room, to meditate for a couple of hours. While she meditates, Novalia and Telryn find other rooms, to sleep in. Stone is too beaten up to help around the Freehold, but he goes to stand a vigil from the top of the roof of the dining hall, watching east to see if he can spot his friends returning.</p><p></p><p>Miriel meditates, uninterrupted. When she comes out of the meditative state, she spots a white dove sitting on the windowsill. She watches it quietly, without moving, and it hops on her shoulder. She sees that it has a note attached to its foot. She slowly reaches one hand towards it, and picks it up. She can feel its tiny heart beating rapidly under her fingertips, but it doesn’t struggle. She carefully removes the note, and then releases the dove. With a flutter of wings, the white bird flies out through the open window.</p><p></p><p>She unrolls note and reads it, her eyes betraying no emotion as she considers its words. <em>“The prophecy has been fulfilled. More has been revealed. Come see me. – Verenia.”</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Amaroq, post: 1871419, member: 15470"] [b]Issue #17 - Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 2 of 13[/b] Dawn breaks on the morning of Vanday. It is the eighth day of Madrer, Madriel’s month. Miriel wakes first, and slips quietly out of camp to conduct her dawn rites. When she returns, she finds that Chuck has fallen asleep, but Novalia is starting a fire for breakfast. Letting Chuck sleep, Miriel wakes Paks and Telryn to check over their injuries. They were the last ones to escape the shrine, with Paks literally carrying Telryn the final four hundred feet, as rocks fell from the ceiling, battering them both. Paks has two cracked ribs, and Telryn’s left wrist is broken. Miriel prays Madriel’s healing for both of them, and although she cannot heal everything, she can feel that the broken bones have knit, and the worst of the bruises have lessened. Miriel then turns to the cooking fire, and works on breakfast. Chuck wakes at the smell of fresh-cooked food, and just as she passes out the meal, Goldpetal walks into the camp. “Food?” the priestess asks the druid. “Thank you,” he responds, taking a plate and sitting down to eat. We all wait in respectful silence, eating our own meal, but we are all wondering what he has learned. Finally, Chuck’s curiosity gets the better of him. “Well?” he asks. Goldpetal calmly finishes his plate, saying nothing. Chuck looks exasperated, while Novalia and Paks attempt to look respectful. Only Miriel appears patient. Finally, when he has finished the meal, the elf speaks. “I meditated through the dawn,” he tells us. “And when the light of the sun reached me, a plan was planted in my head by Denev. It is a ritual I have never attempted. It may take all day. I suggest you return to the Freehold, and I will meet you there.” “I will stay,” Paks says. “My sword will protect you from impolite interruptions.” “Thank you,” the elf says, gravely. “May I offer a blessing?” she asks. “I appreciate the offer,” the elf answers as he stands up, “But I must decline. In this, Denev must act alone.” Paks and the elf begin walking back towards the hill. The rest of us quickly discuss whether to stay, or to go. Telryn doesn’t look well at all. “I need to sleep,” he says. “And I,” says Miriel. “I’m too exhausted to concentrate on a spell. I’ll go back to Kratys Freehold with you.” Chuck says, “I’ll stay here, and protect Goldpetal.” Novalia decides, “Then I’ll go with Miriel and Telryn, to protect them.” They split up the horses: Miriel, Telryn, and Novalia ride back towards Kratys Freehold, while Chuck leads the other three horses after Paks and Goldpetal. As she rides with them, Novalia notices that both Miriel and Telryn are extremely cold to her, as though she has committed a grievous sin. Though they speak to each other, neither speaks to her, conversationally or otherwise. She rides with them in an uncomfortable silence, keeping her bow out and watching for trouble. The trip would normally take about five hours of riding, but Telryn needs to stop frequently to rest along the way. Despite Madriel’s healing, he is still battered and bruised. Consequently, the small group doesn’t arrive until the early afternoon. When the three riders arrive at Kratys Freehold, they are greeted at the walls by the guard, and escorted inside. In the main hall, they find Myrs tending Stone’s injuries. The half-orc has a black eye, a number of other bruises, and one lip is puffed and swollen. It makes his already pugnacious appearance even more frightening. He looks up. “Where are Goldpetal, Paks, Chuck, and Hands of Fire?” he asks, when it becomes clear that nobody else is following them into the hall. “Yes,” Taryn says, “Tell us your tale.” Miriel draws a sad breath, and asks for privacy. When the company is reduced to Taryn, Myrs, Stone, Telryn, Novalia, and herself, she tells the whole story. Our hosts are shocked, disgusted, and outraged by the depths of evil revealed in the plot. When she has finished, Stone shakes his head. “My tale is not so epic,” he admits, and relates his pursuit of Golthain’s monk. He finishes by describing the ratman’s last words to him. “When I came to, it was dawn. The only tracks in the clearing were mine, entering, as though he were a phantom. So I came back.” Myrs says, “We have had trouble here as well. Miriel, will you help us? Brand has come ill. He has a high fever, and his skin is covered with red dots. We fear it is from working on that cursed blade.” “Scarlet Pox?” asks the priestess. “I fear so. He’s burning up!” Miriel nods. “Keep cold compresses on him,” she advises, “The fever is the worst danger. I am too exhausted by our ordeal to cure his illness immediately. Let me rest, and meditate, and I will see what I can do in the evening.” “Thank you, milady,” Myrs says, bowing her head. “Miriel,” the priestess corrects her automatically. “We’re all friends, here.” Miriel goes upstairs, to a private room, to meditate for a couple of hours. While she meditates, Novalia and Telryn find other rooms, to sleep in. Stone is too beaten up to help around the Freehold, but he goes to stand a vigil from the top of the roof of the dining hall, watching east to see if he can spot his friends returning. Miriel meditates, uninterrupted. When she comes out of the meditative state, she spots a white dove sitting on the windowsill. She watches it quietly, without moving, and it hops on her shoulder. She sees that it has a note attached to its foot. She slowly reaches one hand towards it, and picks it up. She can feel its tiny heart beating rapidly under her fingertips, but it doesn’t struggle. She carefully removes the note, and then releases the dove. With a flutter of wings, the white bird flies out through the open window. She unrolls note and reads it, her eyes betraying no emotion as she considers its words. [I]“The prophecy has been fulfilled. More has been revealed. Come see me. – Verenia.”[/I] [/QUOTE]
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