The Westgate Campaign Chronicles - serial

[Carlo-One]

As the afternoon sun began to wane, the adventurers debated what exactly to do with their new kitten, which hissed a lot and appeared to have outsized claws. Dermot argued for healing Old Scratch, leaving his kitten form in the area and taking away the cat magic after they got a headstart. Rosten was dubious at the prospect of outrunning an angry bear, while Aerikoth noted that he did not have a spell prepared to counter the polymorph one he had just cast. Darrow instead volunteered to keep what he called a cute kitten, reaching down to pet it with an armored glove that resisted Old Scratch’s best efforts to claw him. The dwarf then poured out a tin of Ironhelm ale, which the kitten enjoyed more and more after a frenzy of clawing at the mailed gauntlet.

When Lloria pointed out that it would be a bad idea to have an angry bear in their midst after a stray spell undid the polymorph in a fight, the others – Darrow reluctantly – agreed to the re-transformation plan, which they would execute after Aerikoth prepared another spell. The wizard suggested that his companions return to Old Hamish’s cabin with the kitten for the night, promising to meet them there the following morning at the latest. They could then return to the forest and release the beast. Darrow grumbled that Dermot got a wolf companion, while all he wanted was a kitten. Old Scratch, woozy by this point from the ale, allowed the dwarf to lure him into a box where the tin with the alcohol was placed. Aerikoth then stood still a moment, eyes growing distant before he quickly spoke a word of arcane power and disappeared.

 

[Carlo-One]

The wizard returned to the cabin via his magic the morning of Tarsakh 13 and was greeted outside by the barks of Old Hamish’s dog Runner. The hermit welcomed him inside with a smile and mentioned there might be a bit of rabbit stew left for him; the others had evidently been breaking their fast. Darrow gestured at five empty Ironhelm ale bottles and apologized that he had not saved an ale for Aerikoth. Rosten then gave a meaningful glance to Darrow and prompted the dwarf to speak; in his usual blunt manner, he stated that Hamish wanted the whole story on Belle, his daughter, who had previously been one of Aerikoth’s adventuring companions.

Aerikoth in response said he would tell Hamish what he recalled from her company, although he had not interacted much with his daughter. Dermot, some sympathy in his voice, thanked him while Rosten, Darrow and Lloria silently watched the scene while finishing their meal. The wizard related that he first met Belle when she delivered information from the Oghma temple in Reddansyr to a monastic named Veran at the Gatrereach in Westgate, where Aerikoth’s group was residing. At the time the company he was with included Lady Rahnee Roaringhorn, Brok-Tul, Veran, and Jokull. Belle, for reasons unknown to Aerikoth, decided to join them in their endeavor against an ancient Netherese lich desiring to return to his full power. Old Hamish nodded, confirming he had heard this part, and made a pointed observation that all of Aerikoth’s former companions were now gone.

The wizard continued, sharing that shortly afterwards they found themselves in Reddansyr, eliminating a troll threat by the Reddan River bridge. Their reason for being in the area was not just to deal with the trolls, which Ian Gryphonhawk had mentioned to them, but to discover an outpost used by the lich and the minions of the creature. A captive they had taken, a woman named Melissa, informed them of the location. Belle assisted in gaining access to the structure. Old Hamish slowly nodded, interrupting to state that was where Belle said Aerikoth used the blood magic.

Imperturbable, the wizard continued the tale, describing how once within the grim place they battled many undead creatures, including a construct created from the graves of others, a formidable foe. The creature broke through their ranks and unfortunately for Belle she could not avoid its path, but was returned to life afterwards. Aerikoth then acknowledged that was where the blood magic, a signature form of the Art the lich used, was needed. In his flat voice and with unblinking eyes, the wizard declared that the story for Belle from that point was not something Hamish should concern himself with. That said, Aerikoth mentioned she assisted in the defeat of the lich and also journeyed with his group to the lands of Tallwell where she helped put down a local tyrant. Within a tenday afterwards, she left the company.

Old Hamish’s face contorted at Aerikoth’s words, and with an epithet he described how he could see Belle came back with the light snuffed out of her eyes. The hermit took a step forward towards the wizard then halted, hands shaking, as he made another pointed comment about how none of the wizard’s former companions seemed to be around. Aerikoth in response asked Hamish to speak plainly, if the wizard was being accused of something, as he had seen many come and go in his company, not just Hamish’s daughter.

The hermit declared that Belle hadn’t trusted Aerikoth, and didn’t like him. She wouldn’t talk much about what happened in the tower, or facing the lich, but that was what Old Hamish could tell had made her stop caring about life. Angrily stating he was wasting his time, the hermit stormed out of the cabin, although Darrow and Lloria attempted to make helpful observations to calm the situation.

 

[Carlo-One]

Aerikoth believed Hamish’s grief and anger were misplaced, which his companions agreed with, although Darrow and Lloria observed it was understandable. The companions finished up their meal and decided it was best to go complete their task of re-homing Old Scratch. Outside the cabin, they found the hermit kneeling and petting his dog fiercely. Old Hamish stood up as they came over and, appearing to make a decision, he motioned for Dermot to accompany him away from the cabin, saying he had something for the ranger.

The two were gone for a little while, and upon their return Hamish bid his visitors farewell, observing their ranger knew the way to Old Scratch’s territory. The hermit said he would be fine, now that the forest was quieter and the trolls gone, although he would leave the traps out just in case. He also asked the group to give Ian Gryphonhawk his regards, if they passed through the Giant’s Folly in Reddansyr. Brief goodbyes and well-wishes were exchanged, as Old Hamish went back into his cabin. (It seems that whatever was provided to Dermot was not discussed further at the time, although it apparently was important to the hermit. Perhaps some useful token of the wilderness, that would help the ranger's future endeavors? --C)

After about an hour of travel, the group reached a point close to the polymorphed bear’s home. As they surveyed the terrain, Aerikoth explained that the spell to return the beast to its original form had a significant range, so they did not have to be close. Dermot agreed wholeheartedly with this idea, while Darrow opened the kitten’s box and slid a ration tin with some beer in, closing the lid afterwards and placing it on the ground. Purring could be heard from inside the box as the dwarf patted the lid affectionately, wiping a tear as he said goodbye to his animal companion.

As his four companions started backing away - Rosten wagering twenty gold with Dermot that things would go wrong - Aerikoth went over to the box and stared down at it, evidently contemplating the casting of the spell. The wizard the bent down to open the box, revealing the hissing black kitten inside. It started following the wizard as he retreated, but it stopped at the bank of a shallow stream, while Aerikoth continued across. He explained to the others that he had to be able to see the feline to cast the spell, so it could not remain inside the box. This made Rosten even more pessimistic, although he hin chuckled darkly as he stretched his legs, and Dermot advised them to get ready to run as the wizard advised them to back up. Lloria helpfully observed that she was sure she could patch up anyone who got caught by the bear.

Narrowing his eyes at the kitten, Aerikoth began casting. Separated from them, it began mewing in a plaintive manner, drawing sympathy from Darrow. The wizard then finished the spell, holding up what appeared to be a cocoon as he spoke the final word. Instantly the black kitten was replaced by a large, angry bear with outsized claws that had no trouble immediately crossing the stream and charging the group, who immediately turned tail and ran through the dense forest, Rosten sprinting desperately to keep up with his bigger companions. They ran for perhaps several hundred yards until apparently reaching a point outside of Old Scratch's territory, where the bear stopped chasing them and then headed back to its normal range.

The party was exhausted but relieved, Darrow wheezing that he should have saved some beer with which to distract the bear. Rosten brought up the rear, bursting out of the forest to join the others, his face covered in sweat as he doubled over and leaned on his knees, coughing horribly. Dermot politely offered a waterskin to the alcoholic hin, which was taken gratefully and drank from. Aerikoth, after catching his breath, observed that it could have gone better, but the beast was returned to his form, and they now had the tactics to do so against a more appropriate creature, if that was desired. Lloria ended their discussion by helpfully observing that nobody got chomped up.