Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Gurnard's Head
Secrets and revelations. You've come out to Gurnard's Head with an agenda. You need to find out what the wererat named Hornauer knows about the wererats that killed Sir Ghal's father, as well as any information he has on the cultists he mentioned to you the first time you visited the rocky isle. You also have task of outing him and his brood from the tower, as decreed by Lady Pendour, as task that goes against the promise you made to him.
The wererat sensed your arrival and came out to frighten you off. He and his brood surrounded you all. That's when everything turned upside down. Two of the veteran guards that were brought, no, sent alongside Sir Ghal are actually retired knights of the Crimson Blades, an order of investigators dedicated to rooting out evil in the Strandlands. This wasn't was Ghal told you when asking for your help. The news incensed Caerth.
Sir Ghal sheepishly apologized for lying to you, as he was ordered to do so by Sir Balorix and Aeron, Caerth's mentor. Sir Balorix swears it was not his intention to mislead you but felt that he needed to keep his identity a secret. He and Sir Ghal both go to their knees and offer their weapons to Caerth in submission while one of Sir Ghal's soldiers, Elijah, looks on in disbelief. (He didn't know either.)
During this standoff, you learn that Hornauer did indeed know Odilos, years ago, but he is very frightened that the Rat Guild of Sandbreak has learned of his presence in the region through the dead wererat and that his mother, the Ash Witch will find him and his brood. The Ash Witch is believed to be a near mythical wererat/vampire that was destroyed over 800 years ago.
"Aye," Sir Balorix says as he rises to his feet and sheaths his silver blade. "I would have sensed that right away."
Sir Ghal stands but keeps his eyes downcast.
"Your mate, she's a ratwere, correct?" Sir Balorix asks.
"Yes, you can tell that just by looking at her?"
"No, I suspected, but I didn't know until you just told me." The knight smirks.
The wererat grins but isn't amused.
"If the Ash Witch is indeed alive and living in Sandbreak, the Strandlands are in great danger," Sir Ghal says sheepishly.
"Yes, but we can't do anything about that right now," Sir Balorix says to the young knight. "Besides, there was something about cultists still being here on Gurnard's Head." He looks at the wererat. Hornauer nods.
"And the note that the other wererat had on him. It mentions the 'bastard son' amd the 'breeder', Aureus adds. She looks at Hornauer. "You and your mate, I think."
"Shhh! Not so loud. If Lycia hears you, she will go crazy," Hornauer whispers. "You are right, of course. This means mother suspects we have come here. Lycia and I have no choice now, we have to leave. When Odilos doesn't return or send word, she will suspect I killed him. Damn, how did he find us? We were so careful."
"And the cultists?" Sir Ghal asks.
"They worship some obscure demonic crow. I had never heard of it before coming here. They control all of the underground passages and rooms adjacent to the tower. There is even a temple to this crow god somewhere in there, but I've never seen it. I had no desire to see it."
"Malotoch." Sir Ghal whispers in fear.
"Yes, I'm definitely coming out of retirement," Sir Balorix adds with a sigh.
Secrets and revelations. You've come out to Gurnard's Head with an agenda. You need to find out what the wererat named Hornauer knows about the wererats that killed Sir Ghal's father, as well as any information he has on the cultists he mentioned to you the first time you visited the rocky isle. You also have task of outing him and his brood from the tower, as decreed by Lady Pendour, as task that goes against the promise you made to him.
The wererat sensed your arrival and came out to frighten you off. He and his brood surrounded you all. That's when everything turned upside down. Two of the veteran guards that were brought, no, sent alongside Sir Ghal are actually retired knights of the Crimson Blades, an order of investigators dedicated to rooting out evil in the Strandlands. This wasn't was Ghal told you when asking for your help. The news incensed Caerth.
Sir Ghal sheepishly apologized for lying to you, as he was ordered to do so by Sir Balorix and Aeron, Caerth's mentor. Sir Balorix swears it was not his intention to mislead you but felt that he needed to keep his identity a secret. He and Sir Ghal both go to their knees and offer their weapons to Caerth in submission while one of Sir Ghal's soldiers, Elijah, looks on in disbelief. (He didn't know either.)
During this standoff, you learn that Hornauer did indeed know Odilos, years ago, but he is very frightened that the Rat Guild of Sandbreak has learned of his presence in the region through the dead wererat and that his mother, the Ash Witch will find him and his brood. The Ash Witch is believed to be a near mythical wererat/vampire that was destroyed over 800 years ago.
"I think we now have more dangerous concerns," Aureus adds. "Still, no more lies. Truths only from them," she points to the two knights before stepping up to look Hornauer in the eyes. "And from the ratman."Caerth hesitates. Yes, he is angry at the paladin for not telling the truth — which is the same as lying, isn’t it? — but he doesn’t want to kill him for it. Injuring, perhaps.
Barely hearing Hornauers words, what the wererat says does influence the half-orc’s thinking. Those so-called civilized folk are a plague upon the world!
Caerth growls, a deep guttural sound only one with orcish blood can make.
”I should punish you,” he says with feeling. Nevertheless, he makes no move yet, unable to decide on a course of action.
Then he takes a few deep breaths, closes his eyes, and upon opening them again the druid seems somewhat less tense.
”Friends,” he says to his companions, the only ones he still trusts, ”What should I do?”
"A v- vampiric wererat," Elijah steps back from Hornauer.Phar takes a moment to get his own thoughts in order and take a calming breath. He looks first to Caerth, "Yes these men have wronged us, but look at their penitence", he says gesturing to the men on their knees. "Is not their willingness to make such a sacrifice enough to show their value. I have more questions now, than I did when I left my bed this morning. I do not think anyone should be killed here until we have some answers." He turns to the others. "In the interest of getting some answers I will share what I know. The Ash Queen is legendary enough that I have heard tales of her in the distant Great Forest of Harqual. She was a powerful Wererat Queen that would be akin to some of the Werewolf Lords that are infamous to history. However, the legend also said she was a vampire and that her broods were touched by both curses. Perhaps she could survive if that is true."
Hornauer steps away from Caerth as Aureus eyes him carefully. "I am not a vampire. I swear it."Caerth nods as he considers Phar's words.
"I do not wish to kill anyone," the half-orc says slowly, softly. Then louder, he continues, "But I cannot trust either of you again, and if you lie to me again, I will unleash nature's full wrath upon you!"
He takes a few steps back, not accepting the offered weapons, to let Ghal and Balorix get up from their kneeling position. With one hand he releases his greatspear, then places the weapon with one end on the ground in a non-hostile position.
"Aye," Sir Balorix says as he rises to his feet and sheaths his silver blade. "I would have sensed that right away."
Sir Ghal stands but keeps his eyes downcast.
Scotley said:Phar looks at Hornauer, "Would you care to comment?"
"The, the Ash Queen is mother to all those in the guild but that doesn't mean all the ratkin share her bloodline. I am not her true son, which is one of the reasons I left, well, ran away really. Lycia and I wanted to live together and raise our own brood without mother's interferance."JustinCase said:Then Caerth looks at Hornauer with an almost apologetic look, as if he is starting to trust the wererat somewhat...
"Your mate, she's a ratwere, correct?" Sir Balorix asks.
"Yes, you can tell that just by looking at her?"
"No, I suspected, but I didn't know until you just told me." The knight smirks.
The wererat grins but isn't amused.
"If the Ash Witch is indeed alive and living in Sandbreak, the Strandlands are in great danger," Sir Ghal says sheepishly.
"Yes, but we can't do anything about that right now," Sir Balorix says to the young knight. "Besides, there was something about cultists still being here on Gurnard's Head." He looks at the wererat. Hornauer nods.
"And the note that the other wererat had on him. It mentions the 'bastard son' amd the 'breeder', Aureus adds. She looks at Hornauer. "You and your mate, I think."
"Shhh! Not so loud. If Lycia hears you, she will go crazy," Hornauer whispers. "You are right, of course. This means mother suspects we have come here. Lycia and I have no choice now, we have to leave. When Odilos doesn't return or send word, she will suspect I killed him. Damn, how did he find us? We were so careful."
"And the cultists?" Sir Ghal asks.
"They worship some obscure demonic crow. I had never heard of it before coming here. They control all of the underground passages and rooms adjacent to the tower. There is even a temple to this crow god somewhere in there, but I've never seen it. I had no desire to see it."
"Malotoch." Sir Ghal whispers in fear.
"Yes, I'm definitely coming out of retirement," Sir Balorix adds with a sigh.
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