Friday, March 28th, 603 AR
“A new mystery”
It seems resurrection comes with a price. A caveat if you may. The teachings of Morrow tell us that resurrection is prohibited. We have one chance in this life to make a difference and one chance only. The gods do not allow our souls to travel back to Caen once we have died. It seems the goddess Cyriss has a different opinion on the subject of resurrection. Her teachings that machines that are destroyed can be rebuilt seem to apply to her mechanical servants as well as those of flesh and blood. Yet no religious text explains the phenomena that my companions and I have encountered today.
We awoke this morning to find Cromwell alive and standing over the body of Father Darius. I quick check confirmed that he wasn’t actually alive, he was undead. Our attempts at communication proved futile and we were forced to ‘slay’ the undead Cromwell. I took it upon myself to perform the gruesome task of cutting Cromwell’s body into pieces and placing them in a locked tool chest.
Father Darius spent most of the day in quiet meditation. He has not spoken too Yama Khan or myself at all since leaving the Temple of Cyriss. He obviously must deal with the blow to his faith seeing me brought back from the dead. I wonder has Morrow forsaken the young priest? Never the less I feel more alive than ever before, something is happening to me but I know not, except that it is something for the better.
Later on in the day one of the adult Razor Bats we killed near the two towers flew into the boat seemingly looking for its offspring. I caught the creature with my long coat and realized to my horror that it was undead as well. I quickly dispatched it and tossed its body overboard. Damien came up with an interesting experiment. He caught a large trout with a fishing line then skewed it on his sword, leaving it lying on the deck. Sure enough the fish eventually came back to life or more precisely unlife. The hole through its head had not healed over when it came back to life. The thought of an undead fish was eerie but nothing compared to the revelation that struck us. Have we tampered with the very laws of life and death? Is this bizarre undead creation effect centered on us, on me? What of the undead army that attacked Corvis, will it rise again?
I realized our dilemma and retrieved the chest containing Cromwell’s severed body. I hoisted onto the rim of the boat and paused for a moment. I opened the chest. The severed head of Cromwell looked up at me with lifeless eyes, his mouth opening and closing yet making no sound. Repulsed I tipped his body and the chest overboard. The emptied my guts over the side of the boat. Sorry old friend, I had no choice. I hope it is but your body being animated and not your soul being tortured. I returned to my quarters.
Tomorrow we reach Corvis, we will learn whether our actions have placed this city in peril.
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Saturday, March 29th, 603 AR
“Vinter Raelthorne IV”
We have returned to a city policed by the Cygnaran Inquisition and under the new rule of Vinter Raelthorne IV, the former tyrannical ruler of Caspia. Overthrown by his younger brother Leto Raelthorne, Vinter was imprisoned in the tower dungeon until his escape by certain magical means. Many thought him dead as it has been several years since he was overthrown.
Upon nearing Corvis we noticed a large amount of ships leaving the city. Captain Squint managed to pull alongside Captain Edem’s ship and that is when we learnt the bad news about Vinter’s takeover of the city. Apparently the entire council had been murdered overnight leaving only councilor Borloch who now oversees the Inquisition with the aid of my sworn enemy, the mage Vahn Oberen. We also learnt that the Corvis guards, at the behest of the Inquisition, have been confiscating all swords. Obviously they seek the Witchfire blade. We thanked Captain Edem for the heads up and asked Captain Squint to let us off on the shore, three miles from Corvis. We bid the Captain and his crew farewell and searched for a place to bury the Witchfire blade. We chose a location that we could easily find again and proceeded to bury the blade. Finishing our task we headed off to Corvis.
Upon reaching the front gates Father Darius and Damien’s swords were confiscated as we expected. Father Darius was able to obtain a receipt for his magical blade. I am sure Vinter Raelthorne himself will honor that receipt. We made our way to the church of Morrow to inform Father Dumas of our success in retrieving the Witchfire blade.
We reached the church, entering we found it seemingly empty, uninhabited, until several figures stepped forth from the shadows. It was Captain Helstrom, a pair of guards and an Inquisitor. For a moment Helstrom seemed to be allied with the Inquisitor and was going to give us up to the Inquisition. I thought we would have to fight our old friend when suddenly Helstrom leveled his military pistol at the Inquisitor’s head and fired. The sniveling wretch of a man dropped to the cold stone floor like a sack of potatoes. Helstrom commanded his guards to dispose of the body and approached our group. We soon learnt what had happened to the church of Morrow and to Father Dumas. The aged priest was being kept in the city jail out in the harbor; he was no doubt being tortured for the location of the Witchfire Blade. Helstrom handed us a map of the sewer system under the jail and a whistle to use when approached by Corvis city guards. The whistles peculiar tone would alert guards loyal to Helstrom that we were his friends. Throwing his dark cloak around him, Helstrom left us and disappeared into the fast approaching night.
As I look out the doors of the church I see several drops of rainfall. A storm is coming and once again the heroes of Corvis will have to weather it.
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Sunday, March 30th, 603 AR
“Times change, people change”
This morning I had the most impressive breakfast I have ever had; eggs, bacon, cheese, sweet bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, jams and spreads, washed down with several cups of Caspian dark umber ground coffee. Last night I also partook in scrumptious dinner and slept in the largest and softest bed I have slept in. All this, I thank my hosts, Lady Solor and Demoiselle Claudia. After all it’s a small token of appreciation for rescuing Lady Solor from the Corvis jailhouse and seeing her to safety through the Inquisition plagued streets of Corvis. I hope my companions have fared well with their rescued prisoners, obviously Father Darius will see to Father Dumas’s safety, though the two fellows we liberated from the jail that Damien and Yama Khan were talking to seemed to be of the undesirable kind. Oh well I will meet up with them later at the Cathedral of the Fallen Saint.
Last night proved to be a real eye opener and may have given us some clues as to whom Vinter Raelthorne IV is in league with and explains why he was easily able to take over the city. We had left the Church of Morrow under cover of darkness and rain. Reaching the eastern docks we procured a small boat and paddled out to the jail. Around one side of the high stone structure of the jailhouse we found a sewage/rainwater outlet and with the aid of Yama Khan’s Spider Climb spell we secured a rope and climbed in. As we traveled along the tunnel, with rainwater rushing past our feet we heard the sound of hundreds of rats coming our way. The rodents scurried past us as we hugged the walls of the tunnel; someone or something had frightened them. We learnt soon enough what that something was. The creature’s huge bulbous body nearly filled the sewer tunnel. Dozens upon dozen of grasping tendrils ringed its body. It eyes glowed with an eerie light and when it opened its maw, it almost split the creature in half and revealed row upon row of needle-like teeth lined up like those of a shark. To this day do not know why but my courage broke at the sight of the thing and I ran passed my companions as fast as my legs could carry me. When Yama Khan found me I was at the edge of the sewer tunnel overlooking the rain swept harbor. He told me the beast was dead and I immediately felt relieved. Together we returned to the others. Damien Wolf had found a grate leading up to an chamber and could hear voice coming from the room. He climbed up to the grate without making a sound and returned several moments later, rather paler than normal, for he had heard the voice of Vinter Raelthorne IV. Damien breathlessly repeated what he had heard; Raelthorne was conversing with another, a man named Oberon, we knew him well. He spoke of torturing Father Dumas further and then hanging his gutted corpse from the spire of the Church of Morrow. As much as each of us wanted to see these two men dead we could do nothing, Raelthorne and Oberon are far beyond our skills to defeat them but I swear one day soon there will be a reckoning.
We continued on and found the secret entrance shown on our map. A ladder of iron rungs lead up to a trapdoor. Volunteering, I climbed up and pushed open the trapdoor with my shoulder and holding my pistol “Law” in my off hand. I had never had expected coming face to face with a guard sitting in a waste closet with his pants around his angles, I almost burst out laughing but I held myself and motioned him to keep silent. I made him dress and forced him down the trapdoor, taking his sword of the door of the waste closet where it hung. Yama Khan was able to weasel some information out of the guard and we all proceeded to climb up as Yama Khan bound and gagged the guard. At that point I passed the sword to Father Darius who was without his trusty blade by his side. He in turn passed me his light mace making me realize I would not be able to rely on my pistols or rifle is we were to make this a stealthy rescue operation.
Soon enough we encountered three guards and with deft use of Yama Khan’s Web spell we were able to stop them from sounding the alarm. We forced them down the trapdoor unarmed and continued our search for Father Dumas. We found several unjustly imprisoned people including the wife of the late Councilor Solor. We explained to them that once we found Father Dumas we would return for them.
We had split up at this point and eventually we found the torture chamber. Within we confronted an Inquisitor and something else. The very tall, very strange looking being looked like it was at home in a torture chamber, its pale white skin was pierced by many rings, chains and spikes. It wore strange-looking dark armor of unknown make and wielded a chain of spikes. We attacked the sadistic duo from both sides and I felt the sting of the alien beings’ chain weapon, which had been heated up in the coal fire near the torture rack. We defeated them both and examined the humanoid’s corpse. It’s skin was pale almost white as were its pupil-less eyes. It had pointed ears and teeth sharpened into points or maybe its teeth were supposed to be like that. Never the less none of us had ever seen or heard of such a creature but if Raelthorne had an army of these beings, Corvis, nay the whole of Cygnar was in danger.
Hurrying we found Father Dumas and helped the tortured priest down the ladder. We also released the other three prisoners and made our way to our boat. Eventually, cold, drenched and tired we reached a secluded dock and disembarked. We agreed to meet at the Church of the Fallen Saint in the morning and Father Darius headed off with Father Dumas to retrieve some tome form the Church of Morrow. Lady Solor demanded that she be escorted to a friends house, and both Yama Khan and Damien were quiet rude to her so I stepped in and offered to see her to safety. I left those two talking with the remaining two prisoners about money and rewards. Had they known how influential the Lady Solor was they would have enjoyed the lavish meal and steaming hot both that I was offered as reward for my heroism. The Lady Solor, her friend Demoiselle Claudia and I spent most of the night talking, actually I did most of the talking, recounting our my adventures since arriving in Corvis and my encounter with the Bridge Troll. This seemed to keep Lady Solor’s thoughts off her late husband, though I sense that maybe their marital bound was not so strong there.
I hear the Demoiselle Claudia’s butler calling for me. Must be time to take my leave. I shall thank my hosts for the gracious hospitality and rendezvous with my companions. Hopefully an answer to many of our new questions will be forth coming.
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Monday, March 31st, 603 AR
“Professor Viktor Pendrake”
Though today has been a very uneventful day it has also proven to be a very insightful one. It began this morning when I left the gracious company of Lady Solor and Demoiselle Claudia The grateful Lady Solor handed me a pouch of gold crowns, I tried to knock back the reward but she insisted. I thanked her and told her should she or her associates ever require my aid on any matter to contact me through the Church of Morrow. Stepping outside I suddenly felt as if a new chapter of my life was starting. The feeling of being invigorated and refreshed that I had been feeling since being resurrected still lingered in me but that could have been from the good nights rest and hearty breakfast I had consumed. I opened the pouch and counted the gold. 500 crowns! If only Cromwell was here with me now, he would have fainted dead away. Even more so if he knew what I decided to do with the money. I stopped a passing pedestrian and asked for the location of the Corvis Orphanage. With directions in hand I quickened my step and headed off, I could not afford to be late to the meeting with my companions.
I arrived at the unnamed orphanage and knocked heavily on the door. One of the attending Sisters of Morrow opened and asked my business. I asked if the orphanage was in need of donations, she replied yes. I told her my name and handed her the pouch. She stumbled back in shock upon opening the weighty pouch of gold crowns. I wished her a good day between her constant thank yous and bless yous and headed of toward the Cathedral of the Fallen Saint, I could he the Sister calling out to her brethren about the outrageous good fortune they had just received. And I felt good about it.
Eventually I was in sight of the Cathedral when suddenly a white owl swooped onto my shoulder. I recognized Shayliss and noticed the note tied to her foot. It was from Damien, he wrote that the Cathedral was being watched by Inquisitors and that I should meet him and Yama Khan at The Cracked Cup Coffee Shop.
Arriving at The Cracked Cup Coffee Shop I spotted Yama Khan and Damien and joined them. Damien pointed out the suspicious looking individuals following us by turning the handle of his coffee cup in their direction. I very clever trick I must say. At that point both Yama Khan and Damien asked me about my accent. I thought they were joking, I have never had an accent. Yama Khan insisted I had been speaking with a peculiar accent since meeting him. I must ponder this mystery more for after Father Darius joined us and made the same peculiar comment regarding my speech, I realized that my companions were playing no joke.
Anyway Father Darius told us what he had learnt about the Witchfire Blade. Apparently it was the sword that was animating the dead and drawing them to it. The strange goings-on aboard the Fortune were not the result of my resurrection after all. I was much relieved to learn that. He told us that the sword must be buried or hidden deep underground or within an dungeon so that its undead raising power could not function. From there the sword could not be found by any magical means including scrying. We had two choice The old Orgoth Barracks where the witches had been interred or Fort Rhyker. Father Darius also mentioned one Professor Viktor Pendrake, a renown scholar at the University of Corvis. We decided to go see him.
Asking around we were directed to Professor Pendrake’s office and feeling he was a trustworthy sort with no love for the Raelthorne IV, we introduced ourselves and spoke of our mission and the Witchfire Blade. He seemed knowledgeable on many monster related facts but the sword eluded him. He only concurred with Father Dumas’ suggestion to bury it in one of the two places I mentioned earlier. Damien had the bizarre idea of sending the Witchfire blade into the upper atmosphere. I tried to convince him that such a feat of magic would be beyond any of the wizards in Corvis or maybe even all of Cygnar. As for using mekanikal means, I reminded him that gravity keeps us firmly planted on the ground. This same natural force would most likely prevent an object from getting to up high in the atmosphere, we were talking higher than any mountains here. He seem extremely irritated by our refusal to even attempt such a task and when he suggested we give the blade to a dragon Professor Pendrake almost fell of the stool he was sitting on. Much to learn this one has about the land, magic and mekanika. We asked Professor Pendrake if he knew of anyone willing to volunteer their services to aid us on our mission. He called over a young student, a young man named Arcturion Freud. He carried a longbow at his side and a full quiver of arrows. It was almost as if he had been expecting us.
We bid Professor Pendrake a good evening and made plans to leave in the morning. I spoke briefly with Arcturion before retiring for the evening. He seems an intelligent enough fellow, eager to prove himself in battle. I sense a kindred spirit in him, I believe he has the same desire to see justice served for the good of all as I do.
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Thursday, April 3rd, 603 AR
“Return to Fort Rhyker”
We have just killed a ravening Gorax! The beast took us by surprise while we explored the second keep at Fort Ryhker. Father Darius received a viscous wound to his throat and he seemed to be concerned for a moment that he would not be able to speak. I calmed his fears and he was able to invoke a healing spell to close the gaping wound at his throat. Odd now that I think of it, Father Darius has not cast any clerical spells save healing ones since we returned from the Temple of Cyriss. I now suspect my resurrection may have played a part in Morrow turning his back on the young priest. I am the first to say that rules and restrictions should not be broken but there are times, few and far between, when one must make an exception to these rules, especially if it involves a loved one or a trusted friend. I must find some time to speak to the priest alone.
During the battle with the Gorax, Arcturion proved either very brave or very suicidal rolling between the hulking beast’s legs and coming up behind it to pierce it with a volley of arrows. Never the less it is dead and we have made sure it will not return as an undead beast. Surely we could not survive another attack.
We have been battle the risen dead since we reached Fort Rhyker. Those Thrall we destroyed the first time around have risen to plague us once more thanks to the influence of the Witchfire Blade which we still carry. We left Corvis early in the morning and were stopped at the front gate because one of the guards spotted Father Darius’ stolen guards’ sword. Luckily we were able to talk our way out of the situation lest we found ourselves battling the entire city guard for at that point we were not in the mood to be harassed while on such an important mission.
We found the place were we had buried the Witchfire Blade. Half a dozen skeletons were attempting to dig the sword up. Naturally we battled them, defeated them, dug up the Witchfire Blade and continued on our way. Arcturion did point out some large claw marks on several trees in vicinity but could not determine the origin of the creature who made them. Damien Wolf had a brief squeezing experience with a tree python. Luckily for him his owl familiar Shayliss, warned us in time. A well placed shot from Arcturion freed our wizardly detective and we ate snake for dinner that evening.
Eventually we reach Fort Rhyker and contemplated tossing the Witchfire Blade into the ravine. We decided to explore the second tower this time and entered through the first one. Once again we battled risen Thralls and once again we triumphed over them. In the second tower we encountered more of the undead and discovered a room that contained notes and several tomes regarding the Thralls. Yama Khan greedily took possession of these much to Father Darius’ objections. It was at this point that the Gorax attacked us by surprise and after a hard fought battle the immense beast lay at our feet.
Now we rest. We have several more chambers to explore and then we must decide what to do with the Witchfire Blade.
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Hey guys. Unfortunately that was the last chapter we played of the WFT due to our DM abandoning the game. We may pick it up some time in the future but I cannot make any promises. In the meantime head over to the AtomicThinkTank boards and check out my Mutants and Masterminds Story Hour: Power and Responsibility - A Teen Hero Campaign.
Thanks for reading
Reebo
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Power and Responsibility: A Teen Superhero Story Hour