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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Old One" data-source="post: 1935415" data-attributes="member: 83">Session 25 (Part Three)Two updates in one week!  What is the world coming too?Partings and PursuitRowan chafed at the delay, but there was nothing for it.  Without Quintus’s steady hand, the small band of companions seemed a bit rudderless.  The ranger was used to acting alone or following the sorcerer’s lead, but he doubted his own ability to take charge.  A fleeting hope that Kyndaylyn – the Constable of Glynden – would take charge, but the apparent horrors the Caeldyn had witnessed left him with a haunted look and few words.  Rowan knew that every turn of the hourglass took the Necromancers further from vengeance, but he could not prod the others to swift action.  Unable to sit for longer than a few minutes, he jumped to his feet, unslung his bow and started off on another patrol of the camp perimeter.He returned to raised voices and red faces.  Sextus was pleading with the Emorians.“But we need your blades and your strength of arms if we are to prevail.  My brother and Drusilla are missing and there are yet some children still in the hands of those foul bitches.  Kyndalyn and Rusik can see the children home safely…please don’t leave us in our hour of need!”(DM’s Note: Rusik is the sole surviving militiaman from the ill-fated rescue mission besides Kyndalyn)Rowan’s gaze darted from the bard to the legionnaires and back again.  Bato stood slightly behind and to the left of his officer, a somewhat pained expression on his usually passive face.  The Junior Tribune’s lips were pursed in their usual irritating half-sneer.  The nasally reply grated.“We are already too long from our original mission and the Legate is likely to be displeased.  I sympathize with your plight, but I must fulfill my duty and I feel it is more prudent to escort these living souls back than to continue on a fool’s errand after the others.”Sextus pulled the black tome from beneath his cloak.  “This volume says otherwise…great evil will befall us if the Necromancers escape.  This journal tells of dark rituals and the awakening of ancient evils!”A momentary look of concern and doubt flitted across the young officer’s face.  Rosë and Cragen nodded their support for Sextus, who sought to press his seeming advantage.“You must come with us!”Doubt fled before knitted eyebrows of irritation.  Junior Tribune Metallus drew himself up to his full height and snapped stiffly to attention.“I must do nothing,” the Emorian replied tersely.  “I am an officer in the Imperial Legions, not some provincial roustabout.  If you do not see the wisdom of my plan, then there is nothing more than I can do for you.  Continuing to follow them is certain doom and is foolish!  This discussion is at an end.”The Junior Tribune spun on his heel and stalked off, bellowing for Bato to make ready their few remaining possessions for travel at first light.  To Rowan, he seemed little more than a petulant, over-grown child.As night fell, the four remaining companions – Rowan, Rosë, Cragen and Sextus – huddled together apart from the Emorians, Kyndalyn, Rusik and the remaining children.  Sextus shared what knowledge he had gleaned from the black tome and the quartet debated the various possible meanings of the cryptic passages.The book was the journal of middling priest from the Jewel Cities.  Early entries were mundane and akin to the daily duties of Father Thomas or their old friend Brother Lew.  As the journal progressed, however, the writer clearly descended into madness, darkness and despair.  The writer raved about the coming of Shadow, the rise of the daughter of darkness in a grim ritual that required the “light” of six and thirty innocents.  They quickly surmised that the necromancers had stolen the children to complete the resurrection of Ashai.  Even more chilling, it seemed to indicate that the return of Ashai would herald the coming of even greater evils…perhaps even the Shadowlord himself.They argued and debated into the early dawn.  The consensus was that their foes had escaped with far fewer than thirty-six children…perhaps fewer than a dozen.  Even so, Rowan and Sextus refused to consign the remaining children to whatever horrible fate awaited them.  Despite serious misgivings, Cragen agreed.  Rosë’s comment was typical.“They still have my stuff.”Rowan chuckled grimly, “So it is to be the four of us against forty or even four hundred?”Sextus shook his headed and nodded towards the edge of their encampment.  The silent form of the undead halfling Garrick regarded them with burning eyes from atop a small rock.  The bard looked at the others a spoke in a low, almost imperceptible voice, “Methinks we are not the only ones that thirst for revenge…there will be five of us…and I believe in my heart that Garrick has a part to play in all of this.”Below the folds of his rotting cloak, Garrick’s hand, stiff with rictus, caressed the hilt of his dagger, the one with a softly glowing, smoky red jewel.Morning brought a spattering of rain, terse goodbyes and battered parties heading in two directions.  The Emorians headed south with the broken Kyndalyn, Rusik and the few surviving children.  The four remaining companions headed north, following the plain trail of the undead army, with a rat-gnawed undead halfling in tow.To Be Continued…NEXT: Session 26 (Part One) - Crypt of HorrorEnjoy!~ Old One</blockquote>

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