stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. I [IC]

[stonegod]

When she was done, she raised her eyes to see what kind of reaction Mateusz might have to their less-than-stellar success on the expedition.

Tessa heard some shuffling during her recital. A quick glance saw that some of Mateusz's assistants were brining him things---books, folios, parchments. He seemed to be listening, writing notes in some sort of short hand, and occasionally flipping through pages at the same time. The archivist was many thing, most of them not positive. But his scholarship probably stood out amongst them all.

When Tessa had finished, the Karrn had gathered a collection of materials in front of him. "Interesting. Interesting indeed. I believe your assumption is correct. The Nammes De Diabolique does mention a 'Prince of the Dark Green' as some sort of corrupt spirit of Lammnia, perhaps an exile from the Dragon-Fiend wars. And this note from copied from the Westerfield Fragment in ir'Indari's Silver Folio speaks of one 'Verdant Prince' who was in bargain with the warlocks that were responsible for the town's destruction. The fragment mentions that all the ravens in the town died first---perhaps a link to the Luganda 'Dark Lady' origin. Fascinating. It would indicate that possible connection, and the probable purpose of the 'dark moon' ritual---to call an aspect of this spirit. To bind it. Interesting if dangerous."

Mateusz push away the collected books and turned out a scroll of more recent origin. "Of more particular interest is the Tower itself. Through some interviews with the townfolk, difficult as they wish to be, we have been able to put some information together. It will take more to verify, but if our correlations with the Chronicles of Karnn are correct, that self-same hill is one of the lost monasteries of Ecaterina. Ecaternia was a dedicated warrior in the cause of Karrn the Conquerer, and tried to martyr herself in protection against the goblinoid barbarians. When she survived, she dedicated herself to Dol Arrah, and found many orders in his name. Apparently, that hill was one of those, created over the site of an ancient Dhalkani unholy site---the self-same group Luganda supposedly drove out. Ecaterinia's death was always a mystery. No notes other than her disappearance. But if what we have put together is correct, then it was here she died---perhaps driven to it by the events you and your companions 'experienced.' Regardless, it will make the Journal of Historical Religions."

The archivist put down the scroll. "As for what else you found, that would require a personal visit to the site. This column does sound to be of interest, but the place is still a danger. And I still do not have the Tome." He looked at Tessa to drive the point home. "If there is nothing else, I have work to do. Keep me informed."

 

[DEFCON 1]

Jarrith's mouth is exceedingly dry from the alcohol he imbibed the night before. However, his foul mood and paranoia this morning has not abated, so he wanders over to the barkeep to continue his drinking from where he left off. He wanders over to the table that Sir Urik and Lady Ashlyn now sit at, takes a long drink, then sits down to join them.

"The coven must have a leader, and this Crone must be she. Witches have come and gone in this place, fools hoping a dark power will protect them from the land itself. They always perish for their foolishness. But perhaps this new leader has capability. Alas, I cannot help you further. The Dark Lady was storied to have fought many evils that haunted this land before the fall, but the fracturing of my order has cause most of our lore to be scattered."

"Perish, huh? That's weird. After what happened at the ruined site, I received a flash... almost like a memory of the place... except that I was in it. I was bering chased by Sir Khensu within a great tower, flung myself from it's height... then crashed upon the rocks below. I dunno what might be chasing me, but I would think throwing myself out of a window several stories high to my death could certainly be considered foolish."

Jarrith glances around and finally notices that neither Janis nor Tessa are around. He snorts once, then takes another sip.

"What then are your plans for this day? I can give you no more guidance on the Crone but to say that if Madam Eva stated you will meet her on the hill, then on the hill you shall find her."

"Unless the others have thought of anything better to do... I guess we're heading into the woods to try and find this group before they mess around with the Dark Lady in another day's time. Our captive seemed to indicate they were at their own holy site... or unholy site I guess, depending on how you look at it."

He gives Sir Urik a lopsided smirk and his upcoming comment is twinged with sadness and pity. "You want to come along, Sir Urik? We promise not to get you killed too."

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tessa shook her head, and made a small bow, then headed back to the door. "Hopefully, once we return we'll have more favorable news, sir." Once she had escaped, and closed the door softly behind her, she sighed and took a moment to compose herself before she headed down to join her companions- while the idea of breakfast wasn't terribly alluring, surely the company would be better...

 

[stonegod]

"Perish, huh? That's weird. After what happened at the ruined site, I received a flash... almost like a memory of the place... except that I was in it. I was bering chased by Sir Khensu within a great tower, flung myself from it's height... then crashed upon the rocks below. I dunno what might be chasing me, but I would think throwing myself out of a window several stories high to my death could certainly be considered foolish."

As Tessa comes down the stairs (unnoticed by the Stalker) and catches the tail end of Jarith's statement, the knight responds, "A foul thing, that twist of madness. I would be wary of the visions of the thing, twisted as it be. Did the rest of you suffer similar nightmares? Memories of the dead, perhaps?"

"Unless the others have thought of anything better to do... I guess we're heading into the woods to try and find this group before they mess around with the Dark Lady in another day's time. Our captive seemed to indicate they were at their own holy site... or unholy site I guess, depending on how you look at it."

"Be wary of the wolves. I have not penetrated deep into it, and the wolves I have seen have been a difficult fight for Hurrn and I. Less of the dead that walk hunt there, so I hunt elsewhere."

He gives Sir Urik a lopsided smirk and his upcoming comment is twinged with sadness and pity. "You want to come along, Sir Urik? We promise not to get you killed too."

Urik smiles, but shakes his head. "Ah, but I have my fight was well. I saw your wolf-touched and strange friend. They spoke of the 'Vol' walkers with the dead. I will seek them out. They are as much a threat as any nonliving in this fair valley."

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Ah, but I have my fight was well. I saw your wolf-touched and strange friend. They spoke of the 'Vol' walkers with the dead. I will seek them out. They are as much a threat as any nonliving in this fair valley."

Jarrith's brow furrows as he hears this comment about Sir Khensu and Maraat. He hasn't spoken to his two Lumin Brothers in over a day, and a twinge of regret and loneliness flashes through him. Not to mention a bit of tension from what it appears they have faced. "Do you mean that Sir Khensu and Marot saw some of the Order of the Emerald Claw? Are those the Vol walkers you speak of? Or do you mean that more corpses have been shambling up in the mountains?"

 

[stonegod]

"Do you mean that Sir Khensu and Marot saw some of the Order of the Emerald Claw? Are those the Vol walkers you speak of? Or do you mean that more corpses have been shambling up in the mountains?"

"Nay. But they did speak of the confrontation you had in the Inn. They watch the road to the Castle still, but I search for them elsewhere."

If anyone else wants to share their 'memories', fill free to do so. But I'm going to move things forward here as well

The front door to the Inn opens, and Janis enters almost dragging a pale Ireena into the room. She does not look particularly well, and does not appear to enjoy Janis' bony hands around her wrist.

 

[James Heard]

Janis storms through the inn door dragging the hapless Ireena behind her.

" The girl wishes to talk to us," Janis announces without breaking stride.

" I think there is something wrong with her as well, whether she admits it or not," Janis continues, sending a glance full of daggers at the girl to silence any denial. " I have sent for a Jorascans, and while she tells us her story we shall discover what darknesses haunt her sleep." Janis is matter-of-fact as always, not letting the girl's wrist go - her expression somewhere between serenity and a snarl.

It's related. It has to be. The priest, her father, Ismark - every figure of authority dead or missing? No, Janis thinks, her eyes flashing with the thought, suddenly it makes a sort of twisted sense. Not simply evil...Politics.

Someone thinks to loose this valley with assassination, and once the peoples' loyalties shattered to scoop them up like pieces of silver, Janis thinks, frowning.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Jarrith's brow furrows as Janis and the girl enter the tavern. He glances back and forth at the others here, then shrugs. "All right then, Ireena. Talk."

 

[stonegod]

Ireena tries once to get Janis to let her go, but stops when the mage refuses. Putting her head up defiantly, she chooses to ignore the inconvenience.

"I was trying to tell this woman that my brother has gone missing. I came to ask you to keep an eye for him. I do not think anything untoward has happened. He's... quite upset."

The woman stares at the ground a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "Ismark and I were visited by Lord ir'Zarovich last evening. The Lord said he had heard of my father's death, said it was a sad blow to the community. He... he also knew about the plague, and how we dealt with it. He was quite upset with my brother. There were words... things were said. In any event, my brother stormed out after the Lord had left. I suspect he is out venting his frustrations, but I worry nevertheless."

 

[s@squ@tch]

Marot the Deadly

Earlier in the day:

"Sir Khensu, I feel that I must report what we witnessed last night to the others in town. Be safe, and may the Flame keep you."

With that, the tortured soul strides off towards town with a small white-furred head poking out of his chest pocket.

---------------

Along the way:

"Anuine, how did I allow myself to be corrupted and succumb to the taint of Vol???" Marot asks his companion. Over the past few days, this has been a most popular topic of conversation. The mental anguish has been overbearing, and he has struggled to come up with alternative purification rituals to keep him on the path. "The Flame would not have me fall to temptation without a higher purpose, there HAS to be a hidden meaning behind it -- but....what? what? WHAT?"

"Anuine, I seek and require your counsel." He says, as he holds his dear friend in his palm, facing him. The small rodent looks him over with a quizzical eye, but is unable to offer any solace, nor understanding. The pure white rodent has always been the man's anchor, if only in a symbolic way, from the pitfalls and temptations that constantly claw at his psyche.

[D]---[/D]

He arrives in the townsquare and catches a glimpse of Janis leading a local woman into the Inn.

Making his way towards the Inn, he quietly enters the building, not trying to attract any attention to himself.

He catches the tail end of the woman's comments to the assembled group.

Marot looks over the remnants of the Thaolist Six, along with the newcomers, Tessa, Ashlyn, and the caravan staff, trying to determine if they have noticed him, and if they have, trying to read in their expressions whether they still distrust him for his failure. "Even if they hide it, I know in their hearts that they could not, should not, trust me again. But I can work towards earning their forgiveness."

He waits for the woman to finish, and meekly waits for a pause in the conversation, before beginning,"There is something I must tell you -- last night, on the road to the castle, Sir Khensu and I intercepted a drunken Ismark trying to make his way to the castle itself!"