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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wicht" data-source="post: 256496" data-attributes="member: 221">Servants of the Swift SwordChapter 1 – Foorun    The sun was just breaking over the horizon when Niccolo, Alairic and Tilliana entered Deochoo’s office.  The first thing they noticed was the young man tied to a chair by the desk at which Deochoo did his writing and studying.  Deochoo himself  was staring out the window at a brightly colored parrot which was flying around the street.  The three could hear the sound of a dog barking and children laughing.      “Good morning,” said Deochoo cheerfully as he stared out the window.  Then turning around he immediately got to the point,  “I am afraid that one of our clerics has gone missing, a man named Giovan.  He maintains two shrines on the coast and he has been missing for about two weeks.  And he is not the only one, small villages and families have also been disappearing along the coast.  No one knows if it is sea monsters or pirates or what.”    Deochoo paused for a moment and looked at the three.  Seeing that they had nothing to ask he continued on slowly, “I am sending you three up to try and find out where Giovan has got to, and perhaps where the rest of the missing are.  I received word yesterday from a man named Froima, he acts as a Marshall in the village of Taesoo, a little place in which one of the shrines is located.  He is a devout worshipper and wrote to me.  I will give you a letter to Froima and he can perhaps explain things better than I can.  If you follow the northern path out of the city you will come to the village of Foorun in a couple of hours.  The other shrine Giovan maintained was there.  Teasoo is about ten miles east along the coast from Foorun.  While you are there you might check in on the shrines as well and see if they need any maintenance in Giovan’s absence.”    “Do you got that?”    The three nodded.  Pleased Deochoo turned now to the young man tied to the chair.  “This young man is Heidon.  He tried to burgle the Citadel last night.  He was hired by a man with a large raven.  There seems to be an abundance of ravens at the moment, as I think at least two of you know, both here in Xaarum and elsewhere.  Froima wrote in the letter that at least one of the small villages that went missing had been visited by a man with a raven.  I think there may be a connection so I am sending this young one with you.”    Deochoo closed his eyes and muttered a few words under his breath.  Then looking sternly at Heidon he said, “I hereby charge you with the following quest.  You are to accompany these three or another Servant of the Swift Sword until you identify and help them capture or defeat the man who hired you.  If you cannot find that man you must travel with them for a year and a day.  If, during that time you leave them, within 24 hours you will begin to waste away and die.  If they die and you do not find another Servant, within 24 hours you will begin to waste away and die.  If they leave you behind, you will begin to waste away and die.”    Heidon could feel his stomach tighten.  He found himself believing the stern words of the normally cheerful old man.  “A year and a day,” he whined to no one in particular.    “Oh great, just what we need,” muttered Niccolo, “a thief.”    “He’s workable,” said Deochoo ambivalently.      “He might be useful,” said Alairic.    Tilliana, seeing the distress of the tied up young man, patted him on the shoulder and said, “Be brave.”     Deochoo untied Heidon and told him, “You are now free to do as you will within the terms of the quest, if you need to get anything, do so.  And I think you all should leave as soon as possible.  Be brave.  Do good.  May Naemae bless you.”    It was soon decided that the only thing the group needed to purchase was torches and as soon as Alairic bought some they were off.  The morning sun was about halfway up the sky as they walked through the gate of Xaarum and started north.  “Just remember,” said Niccolo to the silent and brooding Heidon as they walked past the city guards and into the shades of the trees, “We can tie you up and leave you behind at anytime if you don’t watch yourself.”For their part Alairic and Tilliana accepted Heidon’s presence a little more gracefully, though they made no great effort to speak to him either.  Tilliana, as the senior member of the order carried the sealed letter for Froima.  The day was warm and pleasant and soon the group had left the outskirts of the Fautee forest.  They found a clear trail going north and followed it.  They were only about a half-hour from the city when they observed a caravan traveling south along the same path.  As the caravan drew closer they saw it appeared to be a group of merchants riding on horses with four covered wagons following behind them.  Armed hobgoblins, apparently guards, rode in each wagon and at either side of those that rode on horses.  Noticing the hobgoblins they grew more weary and their hands went unconsciously to the hilts of their swords.  The caravan drew closer and the man in the lead, riding an expensive mare, waved and hollered out a greeting.“Hello, and are we on the right road to Xaarum.”“You are,” said Niccolo, her eyes drifting to the figure of the hobgoblin next to the man.   “Good, good.  We have been traveling from Geanavue and on our way to Zoa.  We thought we might stop in Xaarum and catch some of the, uh , culture.”  They could not help but notice the sarcasm in his voice as he chose the word ‘culture.’  “You are almost there.”    “Good travels then to you,” said the merchant smiling benevolently as he rode past them.  They watched him and his company go and then continued on their way north.  It was only fifteen minutes later when they found blood on the trail.      “Something was killed here and dragged away.” Said Niccolo, “Something heavy, dragged by a man in boots.”  Niccolo followed the tracks through the grass and the rest of them, curious, followed behind.  What they found startled them.  A hundred yards off of the path, hidden in the tall spring growth was a dead horse.  Its belly had been ripped open and its stomach and intestines had been apparently eaten.  Flies buzzed around the wound and the eyes.      “Interesting,” said Niccolo examining the wounds and sending a cloud of flies into the air, “This looks like a bird tore it open.”    “Really?” said Alairic.    “Look here.” Said Heidon.  It was the first thing he had said since leaving Xaarum.  They looked.  He held up a feather he had found in the grass.  It was over a foot long and gray in color.      Niccolo took the feather, but he had never seen anything like it.    “There’s a house over there,” said Tilliana pointing east to a farmhouse perhaps less then a quarter of a mile away.  There were fences around it and somewhere close they could hear the sound of cattle bleating.    “Let’s check it out,” said Alairic.    A farmer came out to meet him before they made it all the way to the house.  He was a gnome and he carried a loaded crossbow.  But he did not appear to be threatening them.    “Hello,” he called out as he approached.    They returned the greeting and waited for him.    “Do you know there’s a dead horse down the way,” asked Tilliana.    “Aye, I heard it scream earlier this morning.  A little later a man stopped by and said a tiger had killed a horse and to be on the lookout for it.  I been carrying the crossbow ever since today, but my animals have been fine.”    He looked them over a bit.    “You folks from the temple to Naemae in Xaarum.”    “Yes,” said Alairic.    “Well good, if you see that tiger you guys are probably the ones to take care of it.”    “Are there really tigers around here?” asked Alairic    “Well, we haven’t seen one in a couple of years, but yeah they mostly keep to themselves but they are out there.”    “What did this man look like who told you about the tiger?” asked Tilliana    “He was blond, spoke with an accent, had a bird with him.”    “What kind of bird,”    “Some big black thing.”    “A Raven?” asked Alairic    “Coulda been.”    “Well thanks,” said Tilliana “Keep your eyes open and good travels,” said the gnome.    “Thanks,” they said.    “That was no tiger that killed that horse,” mumbled Niccolo as they started north again.    “Interesting,” said Alairic.    It was about noon when they heard and smelt the ocean.  The path cleared a rise and then they saw the village.  It was a group of perhaps two hundred houses and some larger buildings built along the beach.  There were docks with small fishing boats and out in the water some larger ships were anchored.      “Who are we supposed to find?” asked Alairic.    “Froima,” said Niccolo, “Pay better attention.  Dumb Paladin.”    Alairic stoically said nothing, choosing to ignore the half-elf’s gruffness.    “Let’s go find Froima,” said Tilliana diplomatically.    They asked a woman as they entered the small village but she had never heard of Froima.  Asking after the local law, she directed them to an Inn called the Sea Dragon, telling them to look for the sheriff who would be eating lunch.  His name was Groi.    The inn was not hard to find, a sign over the door displayed a green dragon head rising out of blue waves.  The Sea Dragon.    Inside the inn, a number of people were eating.  The sherriff stuck out due to the fact he was the only one armed and in armor.  When he saw them, he looked closer and then, his face breaking into a smile, he waved at them to come over.    “You folks from the temple in Xaarum?” he asked, his eyes looking at the divine focus hanging from Tilliana’s waist, “I knew they would send someone around sooner or later.  About time too, that evil spirit in the shrine is really bothering folks and some were suggesting that I oughta get rid of it, but I told them, evil spirits is not my job.  Holy folks should deal with them.  Someone will be sent and here you are.  You are here to get rid of the evil spirit right?”    “Uh, yes,” said Alairic, trying to look like he knew what the sheriff was going on about.    “Well good, ever since Giovan stopped coming around about a month ago, nobodies been really caring for the shrine.”    That’s the other reason we are here,” said Tilliana, “We are supposed to find Giovan.  We need to see a man named Froima.”    “Marshall Froima!  He lives in Taesoo, about two hours up the coast.  Giovan lived there too most of the time, except he would stop by about one week a month and take care of the shrine here in Foorun.  He was a good man, Giovan was, when he was here he would help keep the peace, fight monsters out of the bay…”    “Monsters out of the bay?”     “You know, sea serpents, giant octopuses, fish men…”    For some reason this was going over Tilliana’s head.     “Where is this bay?”    The sheriff looked at Tilliana incredulously, “Surely you saw the water on your way into town.”    It dawned on Tilliana that she was by the ocean. “Oh, now I feel silly.”    “That’s, alright, I am just glad you guys are here to fight that evil spirit.  Some folks starting to get the idea I should do it, but now that you are here, I expect you will take right care of it.  The shrine is just out of the village on the west side, can’t miss it, big wall.  The gates not locked but no one is going in there, I promise you.”    Alairic’s stomach rumbled and he mentioned lunch to the rest of them.  After assuring the sheriff that they would go fight the evil spirit once they ate, they sat down.    The food was decent, though not spectacular.  Fish and bread.  As they ate the sheriff walked by their table on his way out.  “Sure is glad you folks are here.  Makes my life easier.”  Then he was gone, out the door.    They finished their food and paid for it.  At the door, one of the villagers stopped them.  “I hear you guys are looking for Giovan.  A man came through town this morning, and said he saw a group of people in chains being dragged into Hooberan’s.  He thought one of them was Giovan.”    “Hooberans?”    “Yeah, Hooberan grows berries.  You go about three miles south and ten miles east and you will see it, a big wood stockade surrounded by berry bushes.”    “And a guy just came through town this morning saying this?” asked Alairic suspicously.    “Yeah some blond guy.”    “Was there anything unusual about this man that you noticed?” asked Niccolo.    “Well, there was something funny about him but nothing I could put my finger on.  Just thought I would share with you what I heard.”    The villager walked away.  Alairic looked thoughtful as he watched him walk away.  “Now how did he know we were looking for Giovan.  That seems weird him just volunteering the information like that.  I don’t know if I trust him.”    “True,” said Niccolo, “The only one we have talked to is the sheriff.”    A moment later as they walked out of the inn, a woman hollered at them, “You folks going to fight that evil spirit?  Good luck.”    “Ah,” said Niccolo, suddenly understanding, “the sheriffs been blabbing.”    As they walked west through the village they noticed they were picking up a following.  First it was children and then women and then some men, many of them old.  The tag-alongs followed about thirty feet behind the four companions, all talking excitedly.  There were probably about forty to fifty onlookers when they reached the shrine.      “Groupies,” mumbled Alairic with unusual wit.    The shrine was surrounded by a ten foot plastered and whitewashed wall.  The wall was topped with broken glass and had a gate of wrought iron bars.  The gate hung slightly open.  Looking cautiously through the bars of the gate they saw that there were two small buildings side by side within the yard.  The one on the left was apparently a hut.  The one on the right was a wooden building with three walls and an open front.  Over the open front of the second building was the golden eye of Naemae set on a field of blue and white diamonds.      “The shrine is evil.”  Said Alairic.    “What?  It’s a holy shrine to Naemae,” Tilliana exclaimed.    “Well it is now an evil place.”    “How can you tell,” asked Niccolo.    “I can sense it.”    “You mean you can tell when something is evil or not?”    “Yes, if I concentrate, I can do it any time.”    “And you didn’t think to check out the guy you were suspicious of at the inn?”    “I forgot.”    “Dumb Paladin.”    “What shall we do?” asked Tilliana.    “I say we have the thief check it out,” said Niccolo, opening the gate and pushing Heidon through.  Alairic and Tilliana looked at each other, shrugged and followed the Heidon in.  it was apparent that the grass around the two buildings had not been trimmed in a while.    “Let’s check out the hut first,” said Alairic.  The others followed him to the door of the hut.  It was locked.      “Can you open it?” Niccolo asked Heidon.  Heidon looked at the lock and pulled out a set of lockpicks.  He inserted one and a twist of the wrist later, the lock was open.      “At least your good for something,” muttered Niccolo.    The hut however provided no answers, not even any questions.  It was sparsely furnished, with a stove, table and chairs in an outer room and a bed and a chest in a second room.  The floor was a dirt floor and the chest held only spare sheets and blankets for the bed.  Even checking under the mattress provided nothing.    “It needs dusted in here,” commented Niccolo.    They approached the shrine.  There was an altar in the middle of the building.  There was a rotting head on the altar.  Flies buzzed around the head.  Graffiti in the form of evil signs covered the walls.      “Uh-oh,” commented Heidon.    “Ooo,” said Tilliana.    Alairic scanned for evil and noticed what they had seen. “Hmm.”    “Does someone want to clue me in here?” asked Niccolo.    “There’s a big evil snake wrapped around the base of the altar unmoving,” provided Alairic helpfully.  And then Niccolo saw it as well.  It was not moving and though it was not truly hiding it almost blended in with the altar.  It was a full four inches across and it was wrapped twice around the base of the stone altar.    “Why don’t we just shoot it,” asked Niccolo drawing his bow out.    “Where is the valor in that?” asked Alairic drawing his greatsword.    Niccolo did not answer but let off an arrow.  It missed the snake and hit the stone altar instead, the arrow ricocheting away.  “Rats,” muttered Niccolo.“Good job,” said Alairic.In an instant the snake was moving, unwrapping from the altar and flying at Niccolo, fangs bared.  It snapped at him but the half elf knocked aside the snake’s head with one hand as he drew his sword with the other.  Alairic swung his sword even as Heidon and Tilliana were drawing theirs.  The snake dodged aside, its large body moving unbelievably fast.  Heidon, panicking swung wild but Tilliana’s swing was truer and she sliced into the snake with her over-sized sword.  The snake was still trying to bite the half-elf.  But even as Niccolo fought to keep the fangs away, Alairic swung and the snakes head fell to the floor, severed.      They surveyed the carnage.  Even with the snake dead the place was unnerving with a rotting head staring at them.    “The rotting head on the altar is the sign of the Rot Lord,” said Tilliana knowledgeably, “god of disease and plague.”    “Yep,” said Alairic.    They surveyed the graffitti.  One spot in particular stood, out.  There was written the word, “Hooberan.”    “Is that blood?” asked Heidon.    “Yesp,” said Niccolo, “same as the rest of the writing on the walls.”    “It means nothing to me,” said Tilliana looking at the evil scrawls.    “Me neither,” said Alairic.    “I think we should go to Hooberan’s” said Niccolo.    “Do you notice,” said Tilliana, “That the word ‘Hooberan’ seems to be fresher then the rest of the writing on the walls.”     “Someone has been doing some very evil things in this shrine,” said Niccolo.    They spent an hour cleaning the blood from the walls.  One of the villagers had gone to get some buckets and water for them.  Another went to fetch Silas, the gravedigger, who upon being informed that they needed to bury a head, agreed to do it for half price seeing as how it wasn’t a whole body.      “But,” the toothless gravedigger informed them, “someone’s got to do a funeral service over it cuz we don’t bury no unblessed corpses around here.”    When Tilliana told him she would do the service and pay for a casket and a hole, Silas told them to be at the graveyard in an hour and then proceeded to cart the rotting head of in a wheelbarrow.   When the blood was cleaned and the head was gone, Alairic and Tilliana offered the body of the snake upon the altar to Naemae as a sign of their triumph.  As the snake burned, some of the feeling of evil left the shrine.  However Tilliana knew it still needed to be consecrated again, something she did not feel quite capable of doing.    As they were finishing up, Heidon showed them something he had seen.  It was the feather of a bird, about a foot long and gray.  It was almost identical to the one that Heidon had found by the horse.  This one however had been found in the grass outside the shrine.    They buried the head in the graveyard with Tilliana holding a short funeral service.  About a hundred people of the village showed up to see this unusual event.  It was almost festive.  Afterwards, they set out for Hooberan’s.   It was about four hours after noon.</blockquote>

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