Zad
First Post
A Family Affair - Chapter 4
A Family Affair - Chapter 4
OOC Notes:
Experience is 1500 each. Found 2 potions on the wererats, enlarge and reduce at 5th level, as well as a magic bracer of protection (+1 resistance bonus to all saves) and a cloak of armor (+1 armor bonus).
I had hoped that Thorkeld and Thora would be able to provide some information and perhaps insight on a good next step. We haven’t had a conversation with Thora yet but so far I’m not convinced. Last week we had little to go on but hope that something at the manor house would help. This week we just have little to go on.
Obvious next step is to rest the night. Our tanks need the time to recover. I’m not sure if the manor is a good place or not – they may look for us here if they find out we took it back. After we rest, we need to look at how we’re going to take the keep and/or rescue Dravot. (I lean towards the latter.)
Our rat friend had a good deal of information. I was surprised – I mostly charmed him out of spite. Not sure what it means or how we can act on it though. Look for a re-cap at the end after I write this up.
This Week’s Adventure:
Evil to the left of me, evil to the right. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss orcs. They were dumb in a reliable, familiar kind of way.
We holed up in the basement of a tavern for the night – hiding in plain sight as it were. It was too dangerous to move with the watch scouring the city, and some of their forces certainly had the advantage at night.
I talked further with Euphamis – he told me that The Brazen is headquartered in Hexpools. I’m surprised he didn’t contact us personally when we were there but then we didn’t give him much chance. They can get a message to him in two days, and have already sent dispatches with information in them.
I inquired about the habits of the keep. He told me that he knew little of the habits of most of the key figures, but that each morning the head cook and several bearers would go out to the Chatter Street Market for food and return just before dawn.
And Valanthe returned. She did not mention where she had been, and I didn’t bother to ask. She did however have a brilliant idea – she had several vials of oil of slipperiness with her. These were something that would help us against the webbing of that demon. It was a fine idea and I was impressed. More stunningly, Scorch even expressed his approval. First time I can recall him approving of anything as more than “marginally adequate”.
While we were there, Bellamy also became conscious. He told us he had gone to the estate at the prompting of a letter from Thora. (It was vague like the one Dravot received but he caught the meaning.) Bellamy realized that Anton and Kaltin were both under the influence of some combination of divine and arcane magic which he had never seen. Each afflicted person bears a mark – Kaltin’s is on his chest rather than arm. He did suspect Roget had something to do with it. Anton and Kaltin are both completely undead. They died at least three months ago, the father perhaps five or six months ago. They are completely afflicted and already dead. Bellamy tried to kill them to end their suffering and that is apparently when al hell broke loose. The “thing” in the crypt is something that he had bound once before, only with an artifact and significant help. It is Dravot’s grandfather, Chavram, who was made an Animus in service to Ivid. The only reason they could bind it is because they caught it when it came back for reasons of its own. He and his were attempting to summon more powerful members of his order to cleanse the place. His order can lend some aid to us hopefully. The symbol on his arm however has taken some of his power, as it is a binding of some sort. He also indicates there are others in the city who may be of some help but is vague about it. (We surmise that there are followers of Wee-Jas in a temple in town who might be enlisted to aid us, if approached by Thorkeld.)
As for Chavram, he was a powerful wizard before Ivid made him an animus. Bellamy suggested we not engage him if we had a choice. However Chavram is bound in the crypt. Bellamy believes Chavram came seeking something but he knows not what. Apparently the animus are vulnerable to disease but have few other weaknesses. Overall they are a very diverse group and one is very little like the next but they can all command the undead.
An hour before dawn we slip out of town. Most of the group takes a secret tunnel that leads from another tavern out under the wall. I ride alone with the horses and leave through the gate, trying my best to look like part of the caravan in front of me. At that light, there was no telling who I was, but I still cannot be sure if I was observed.
Our goal was to head to the estates outside town and reach Thora and Thorkeld. Of course it was possible that there would be Roget’s guards in our way but we were prepared for that.
About a mile before we reached the estate, we saw a large group coming up the road. (We had taken to travelling off the road to avoid ambush but could easily see them coming up the road.) It was headed by a mounted, armored man, and there were several guards and servants trailing on foot. Also mounted were two women, one in her early 20s and one but a small girl.
They were clearly fleeing something but it was not immediately behind them. However they were then greeted with a larger problem, as the several creatures burst from the forest.
They were large – easily as large as crescent. Made of wood and oozing with sap, and with vicious teeth and claws.
Bark blights.
Our experiences and research on these twisted gulthias creations let us recognize them, and thanks to Marcus, we had an idea of how to handle them. We knew bludgeoning would be only marginally effective, and Scorch had prepared some special alchemical mix that he thought would be quite effective against them.
The blights attacked the advancing group, tearing into their horses. The armored man was trying to protect his charges but there were too many to oppose them all.
Good thing we happened along. Scorch announced our presence with his usual flair – a fireball dropped squarely on three of the creatures. We were some 200 yards from the scene and most of the group charged forward. Personally I remained where I was – I had little difficulty engaging from this range. My first action was to try a new spell and I was rewarded by a very nice increase in my coordination and aim – more than enough to help with the range.
Of course we had a fair notion of what was before us – Thorkeld, Thora, Dravot’s youngest sister Steffania, and some loyal men. The difficulty of the battle would like in protecting the servants, guards and ladies. Indeed a blight laid open Steffania’s horse and she fell to the ground. It was about to turn on her next, and Thorkeld was being pressed too hard to assist. The blight seemed as good a first target as any. And this is when we learned something more about bark blights. They are pulsing with sap, and it seems because of that anything piercing their wooden flesh causes quite a bit of damage. This would include arrows, two of which I dispensed into the beast.
This made it rather annoyed with me, and it came running towards me. Fortunately this meant it left Steffania alone, and Valanthe subsequently took her up on her horse. By the time the bark charged me, Rackhir had taken several shots at it, and between us we killed it as it reached me. It also quickly became clear that the bark blights could heal very rapidly.
While this was happening, everyone else was in equally tense engagements. Thora was trying to protect the servants by placing herself between them and the blights. Thorkeld was joined by Jozan and Meepo and they were fighting hard. The five guard with Thorkeld were doing their best to hold the blights at bay but lacked any weapons strong enough to be of much use.
As moments past, the tide turned. While we did loose several horses and one guard, we were destroying one blight after the next. Scorch handed his toxin to Valanthe who promptly rained it down upon the nearest blight. Not only did the creature find this extremely painful, but it also prevented it from healing itself for a time, making it much easier to dispose of.
The blights would have easily killed these people, but there were not enough of them, nor were they smart enough, to prevail against our combined forces. Within a few minutes, the beasts (plants?) were destroyed.
These people were indeed those left from the estate. They had fought their way free, leaving about 20 loyal guards behind on a delaying action, and were going to the keep in the city. We convinced them to turn around and return to the manor, as an unprepared assault on the keep was surely a death sentence. Instead we would liberate the estate and work from there. From reports there were anywhere from fifty to eighty men there, but we were willing to try it. While we tended the wounded, Valanthe scouted out the estate to get a first hand view of the situation.
She saw several wererats around – they seemed to be finding survivors and infecting them with their foul affliction and putting them in the pump house. There were no sign of any other troops. In all only eight wererats were around.
Rackhir had prepared several dozen silvered arrows the night before and we were fairly certain we could take this small force if there were no other surprises. We slipped over the low wall in a secluded area near the house and attacked. While Jozan and Thorkeld moved up, I opened fire. I landed two arrows in a wererat’s back before he knew what hit him and he fell over dead with hardly a groan. Before they realized it, we attacked in force and a few more rats died, and Scorch contained two more in a web.
The remaining ones, when they gathered their wits, ran. Each of the runners was chased down and killed, and I smiled only slightly as I saw Jozan charging after a wererat across the grounds. As he was about to run him down, I fired and killed him. Crescent seemed disappointed but not horribly so. I think he just enjoyed the exercise.
In short, the squad of wererats was dealt with quickly and effectively.
While webbed, one of the wererats consumed a potion and proceeded to stand very still. He seemed to be under the impression that he was invisible or something. I couldn’t help but be amused, and he began ranting at the other wererat in the web. “You said that someone couldn’t detect me!” Obviously he bought the potion from his comrade. At that point it became clear to me that this genius of a fellow would need further talking to.
We released the captives, and discussed the need to cure them of the possible lycanthropy. We also examined our captives. I suggested that there was time to cure the captives, but these men were afflicted now and could be of some help if they were unwilling victims. Thorkeld and Jozan each cured one of the disease, and we learned that no, they were indeed evil men and not particularly helpful. Scorch attempted to charm one but failed, and the former wererat seemed to be beaming about some magic item that was protecting him but was unwilling to reveal what it was.
A simple detect magic showed me a magic bracer on his wrist. I removed it and then charmed him myself.
He reveals that Commander Tharsh said they were to stay here and make more ratfolk and they were going to tell someone that they needed more help.
When asked why they were there, he said they were honoring the contract. There was his people – Iuz’s second tier, as well as Chavram, the scarlet brotherhood, and the evil Druids of Vecna. (Iuz's inner circle is called the Greater Boneheart, the outer circle is the Lesser Boneheart, and there is a third tier. The Blackguard leads the wererats, and the Blackguard answers to The Viper, a member of the Lesser Boneheart.
As a whole, they are looking for something – big rings. He said they were seeking some desert type thing – shieks, califs something. Jozan said “Djinn” and he said yeah that was it.
He also seemed clear that they were all expecting to turn on each other sooner or later and they were just waiting for the inevitable in that area. His ambition is rather limited and his only goal in life is to go with the flow and avoid having his skull decorating the road to Dorakaa.
We’ve moved back to the estate house to tend our wounds but I’m uncertain if it’s good that we stay here or not. The estate has nothing useful to us in terms of weapons or magical items, or even wealth that we could turn towards the battle ahead.
He also said that when some of the house guard saw that the wererats were . . . well . . . wererats, they ran off. This tells me that some of the house guard may consider themselves loyal and be unaware of the evil in their midst. If we can reveal the true nature of things, we may be able to turn a significant number of them to our cause.
What is next I cannot say, but we should likely marshal our allies and then attempt to rescue Dravot.
However looking at the larger picture, it seems we have some new pieces to put in. The major factions include:
Vecna, his worshipers and Druids, responsible for the Gulthias Tree, and the associated horrors spawning from it.
Therizdun and the Scarlet Brotherhood
Iuz, and his forces, including the first tier (the powerful wizards and clerics who are closest to him) and the second tier (that this thug is part of.)
Chavram – it is unclear if he is part of one of these groups or independent or in an equal relationship with them.
Hextor, and his cleric Sebastian. This may be part of Chavram and his area of influence.
They are seeking something, Djinn according to the lackey. The mention of “big rings” is also there but unclear. I remember Valanthe’s encounter with the old Sule god, and his warning of the Tripartate, and I wonder if this is somehow related.
Regardless of what they seek, they are clearly working together under some contract. This explains a great deal of the crossing over of resources we have seen. None of them trust the other, which is hardly surprising given their natures. But what each will gain is unclear as well as specifics of their objective and plans to achieve them. One thing that may well be of use is that since they all expect each other to backstab, we can perhaps turn that to our advantage. If we can convince them that the treachery has begun, their wrath might turn on each other, preventing any one from accomplishing what they together sought to do.
If this is in fact some kind of unholy alliance, it could be the most fearsome thing the world has seen since the Rain of Colorless Fire. I can only hope that the forces of good will come together in equal measure to stop them. We must relay this information to The Brazen and Lord Gelban as quickly as possible.
Jozan’s Journal
I worry about Dravot. That beast that had taken him was hideous, an abomination that must be cleansed, and soon. Hopefully before Something happens to Dravot. I pray to Her that nothing happens that would mean fighting Dravot. He's been a stalwart companion, if not a bit tight-lipped about a few things that may help us now.
But it is now nightfall, and my companions are holed up in the basement of a bar in the city, knowing the guards are hunting for us as we wait. Our hosts have assured us we won't be found here, and the decision is made to move but an hour before dawn. Poor Crescent, this can't be comfortable for him. Even he can sense a wrongness in the city. Meepo is doing his best to sooth him while I take the time perform the rituals and pray. I wish there was a temple here, or at least the ability to do this outside, but the basement of a tavern will have to do. There is a peace to be found in the rituals, even down here.
In addition to the usual prayers, I also asked for, and received somewhat, a boon. Not really for myself, but we had known for some time now that someone has been sending dreams to Dravot, And since that is Her province, I asked if I could communicate with Dravot in a similar fashion. If nothing else, see if he was alright, and give him some hope. I'm afraid I wasn't wholly successful, or perhaps Dravot never slept that night, but I didn't reach him. I did have a vision, of sorts. As I find myself in a dream, I dream of a shadowed figure with two daggers leap through me, and disappear into the blackness. Another man, in a robe wearing a ring almost painful to look at. And lastly, a crowed of people, in deep shadow. I didn't recognize any of them, but perhaps they are people I should look out for in the future. As soon as it started, it was done. I woke, and reflected. After several hours of trance, I woke and made a second attempt at contact. A lot of what is happening is centered on Dravot, and any information about what has happened would help. Alas, I could not focus my attention that morning, and began making preparations for leaving the city.
We made our exit through a hidden tunnel, with Kayleigh leading the horses alone through the streets. We caught up with her, and made our way to the remote estate.
Dravot’s Journal
GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!
[Dravot's character played his new cohort Thorkeld for this night while Dravot rotted away ]
A Family Affair - Chapter 4
OOC Notes:
Experience is 1500 each. Found 2 potions on the wererats, enlarge and reduce at 5th level, as well as a magic bracer of protection (+1 resistance bonus to all saves) and a cloak of armor (+1 armor bonus).
I had hoped that Thorkeld and Thora would be able to provide some information and perhaps insight on a good next step. We haven’t had a conversation with Thora yet but so far I’m not convinced. Last week we had little to go on but hope that something at the manor house would help. This week we just have little to go on.
Obvious next step is to rest the night. Our tanks need the time to recover. I’m not sure if the manor is a good place or not – they may look for us here if they find out we took it back. After we rest, we need to look at how we’re going to take the keep and/or rescue Dravot. (I lean towards the latter.)
Our rat friend had a good deal of information. I was surprised – I mostly charmed him out of spite. Not sure what it means or how we can act on it though. Look for a re-cap at the end after I write this up.
This Week’s Adventure:
Evil to the left of me, evil to the right. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss orcs. They were dumb in a reliable, familiar kind of way.
We holed up in the basement of a tavern for the night – hiding in plain sight as it were. It was too dangerous to move with the watch scouring the city, and some of their forces certainly had the advantage at night.
I talked further with Euphamis – he told me that The Brazen is headquartered in Hexpools. I’m surprised he didn’t contact us personally when we were there but then we didn’t give him much chance. They can get a message to him in two days, and have already sent dispatches with information in them.
I inquired about the habits of the keep. He told me that he knew little of the habits of most of the key figures, but that each morning the head cook and several bearers would go out to the Chatter Street Market for food and return just before dawn.
And Valanthe returned. She did not mention where she had been, and I didn’t bother to ask. She did however have a brilliant idea – she had several vials of oil of slipperiness with her. These were something that would help us against the webbing of that demon. It was a fine idea and I was impressed. More stunningly, Scorch even expressed his approval. First time I can recall him approving of anything as more than “marginally adequate”.
While we were there, Bellamy also became conscious. He told us he had gone to the estate at the prompting of a letter from Thora. (It was vague like the one Dravot received but he caught the meaning.) Bellamy realized that Anton and Kaltin were both under the influence of some combination of divine and arcane magic which he had never seen. Each afflicted person bears a mark – Kaltin’s is on his chest rather than arm. He did suspect Roget had something to do with it. Anton and Kaltin are both completely undead. They died at least three months ago, the father perhaps five or six months ago. They are completely afflicted and already dead. Bellamy tried to kill them to end their suffering and that is apparently when al hell broke loose. The “thing” in the crypt is something that he had bound once before, only with an artifact and significant help. It is Dravot’s grandfather, Chavram, who was made an Animus in service to Ivid. The only reason they could bind it is because they caught it when it came back for reasons of its own. He and his were attempting to summon more powerful members of his order to cleanse the place. His order can lend some aid to us hopefully. The symbol on his arm however has taken some of his power, as it is a binding of some sort. He also indicates there are others in the city who may be of some help but is vague about it. (We surmise that there are followers of Wee-Jas in a temple in town who might be enlisted to aid us, if approached by Thorkeld.)
As for Chavram, he was a powerful wizard before Ivid made him an animus. Bellamy suggested we not engage him if we had a choice. However Chavram is bound in the crypt. Bellamy believes Chavram came seeking something but he knows not what. Apparently the animus are vulnerable to disease but have few other weaknesses. Overall they are a very diverse group and one is very little like the next but they can all command the undead.
An hour before dawn we slip out of town. Most of the group takes a secret tunnel that leads from another tavern out under the wall. I ride alone with the horses and leave through the gate, trying my best to look like part of the caravan in front of me. At that light, there was no telling who I was, but I still cannot be sure if I was observed.
Our goal was to head to the estates outside town and reach Thora and Thorkeld. Of course it was possible that there would be Roget’s guards in our way but we were prepared for that.
About a mile before we reached the estate, we saw a large group coming up the road. (We had taken to travelling off the road to avoid ambush but could easily see them coming up the road.) It was headed by a mounted, armored man, and there were several guards and servants trailing on foot. Also mounted were two women, one in her early 20s and one but a small girl.
They were clearly fleeing something but it was not immediately behind them. However they were then greeted with a larger problem, as the several creatures burst from the forest.
They were large – easily as large as crescent. Made of wood and oozing with sap, and with vicious teeth and claws.
Bark blights.
Our experiences and research on these twisted gulthias creations let us recognize them, and thanks to Marcus, we had an idea of how to handle them. We knew bludgeoning would be only marginally effective, and Scorch had prepared some special alchemical mix that he thought would be quite effective against them.
The blights attacked the advancing group, tearing into their horses. The armored man was trying to protect his charges but there were too many to oppose them all.
Good thing we happened along. Scorch announced our presence with his usual flair – a fireball dropped squarely on three of the creatures. We were some 200 yards from the scene and most of the group charged forward. Personally I remained where I was – I had little difficulty engaging from this range. My first action was to try a new spell and I was rewarded by a very nice increase in my coordination and aim – more than enough to help with the range.
Of course we had a fair notion of what was before us – Thorkeld, Thora, Dravot’s youngest sister Steffania, and some loyal men. The difficulty of the battle would like in protecting the servants, guards and ladies. Indeed a blight laid open Steffania’s horse and she fell to the ground. It was about to turn on her next, and Thorkeld was being pressed too hard to assist. The blight seemed as good a first target as any. And this is when we learned something more about bark blights. They are pulsing with sap, and it seems because of that anything piercing their wooden flesh causes quite a bit of damage. This would include arrows, two of which I dispensed into the beast.
This made it rather annoyed with me, and it came running towards me. Fortunately this meant it left Steffania alone, and Valanthe subsequently took her up on her horse. By the time the bark charged me, Rackhir had taken several shots at it, and between us we killed it as it reached me. It also quickly became clear that the bark blights could heal very rapidly.
While this was happening, everyone else was in equally tense engagements. Thora was trying to protect the servants by placing herself between them and the blights. Thorkeld was joined by Jozan and Meepo and they were fighting hard. The five guard with Thorkeld were doing their best to hold the blights at bay but lacked any weapons strong enough to be of much use.
As moments past, the tide turned. While we did loose several horses and one guard, we were destroying one blight after the next. Scorch handed his toxin to Valanthe who promptly rained it down upon the nearest blight. Not only did the creature find this extremely painful, but it also prevented it from healing itself for a time, making it much easier to dispose of.
The blights would have easily killed these people, but there were not enough of them, nor were they smart enough, to prevail against our combined forces. Within a few minutes, the beasts (plants?) were destroyed.
These people were indeed those left from the estate. They had fought their way free, leaving about 20 loyal guards behind on a delaying action, and were going to the keep in the city. We convinced them to turn around and return to the manor, as an unprepared assault on the keep was surely a death sentence. Instead we would liberate the estate and work from there. From reports there were anywhere from fifty to eighty men there, but we were willing to try it. While we tended the wounded, Valanthe scouted out the estate to get a first hand view of the situation.
She saw several wererats around – they seemed to be finding survivors and infecting them with their foul affliction and putting them in the pump house. There were no sign of any other troops. In all only eight wererats were around.
Rackhir had prepared several dozen silvered arrows the night before and we were fairly certain we could take this small force if there were no other surprises. We slipped over the low wall in a secluded area near the house and attacked. While Jozan and Thorkeld moved up, I opened fire. I landed two arrows in a wererat’s back before he knew what hit him and he fell over dead with hardly a groan. Before they realized it, we attacked in force and a few more rats died, and Scorch contained two more in a web.
The remaining ones, when they gathered their wits, ran. Each of the runners was chased down and killed, and I smiled only slightly as I saw Jozan charging after a wererat across the grounds. As he was about to run him down, I fired and killed him. Crescent seemed disappointed but not horribly so. I think he just enjoyed the exercise.
In short, the squad of wererats was dealt with quickly and effectively.
While webbed, one of the wererats consumed a potion and proceeded to stand very still. He seemed to be under the impression that he was invisible or something. I couldn’t help but be amused, and he began ranting at the other wererat in the web. “You said that someone couldn’t detect me!” Obviously he bought the potion from his comrade. At that point it became clear to me that this genius of a fellow would need further talking to.
We released the captives, and discussed the need to cure them of the possible lycanthropy. We also examined our captives. I suggested that there was time to cure the captives, but these men were afflicted now and could be of some help if they were unwilling victims. Thorkeld and Jozan each cured one of the disease, and we learned that no, they were indeed evil men and not particularly helpful. Scorch attempted to charm one but failed, and the former wererat seemed to be beaming about some magic item that was protecting him but was unwilling to reveal what it was.
A simple detect magic showed me a magic bracer on his wrist. I removed it and then charmed him myself.
He reveals that Commander Tharsh said they were to stay here and make more ratfolk and they were going to tell someone that they needed more help.
When asked why they were there, he said they were honoring the contract. There was his people – Iuz’s second tier, as well as Chavram, the scarlet brotherhood, and the evil Druids of Vecna. (Iuz's inner circle is called the Greater Boneheart, the outer circle is the Lesser Boneheart, and there is a third tier. The Blackguard leads the wererats, and the Blackguard answers to The Viper, a member of the Lesser Boneheart.
As a whole, they are looking for something – big rings. He said they were seeking some desert type thing – shieks, califs something. Jozan said “Djinn” and he said yeah that was it.
He also seemed clear that they were all expecting to turn on each other sooner or later and they were just waiting for the inevitable in that area. His ambition is rather limited and his only goal in life is to go with the flow and avoid having his skull decorating the road to Dorakaa.
We’ve moved back to the estate house to tend our wounds but I’m uncertain if it’s good that we stay here or not. The estate has nothing useful to us in terms of weapons or magical items, or even wealth that we could turn towards the battle ahead.
He also said that when some of the house guard saw that the wererats were . . . well . . . wererats, they ran off. This tells me that some of the house guard may consider themselves loyal and be unaware of the evil in their midst. If we can reveal the true nature of things, we may be able to turn a significant number of them to our cause.
What is next I cannot say, but we should likely marshal our allies and then attempt to rescue Dravot.
However looking at the larger picture, it seems we have some new pieces to put in. The major factions include:
Vecna, his worshipers and Druids, responsible for the Gulthias Tree, and the associated horrors spawning from it.
Therizdun and the Scarlet Brotherhood
Iuz, and his forces, including the first tier (the powerful wizards and clerics who are closest to him) and the second tier (that this thug is part of.)
Chavram – it is unclear if he is part of one of these groups or independent or in an equal relationship with them.
Hextor, and his cleric Sebastian. This may be part of Chavram and his area of influence.
They are seeking something, Djinn according to the lackey. The mention of “big rings” is also there but unclear. I remember Valanthe’s encounter with the old Sule god, and his warning of the Tripartate, and I wonder if this is somehow related.
Regardless of what they seek, they are clearly working together under some contract. This explains a great deal of the crossing over of resources we have seen. None of them trust the other, which is hardly surprising given their natures. But what each will gain is unclear as well as specifics of their objective and plans to achieve them. One thing that may well be of use is that since they all expect each other to backstab, we can perhaps turn that to our advantage. If we can convince them that the treachery has begun, their wrath might turn on each other, preventing any one from accomplishing what they together sought to do.
If this is in fact some kind of unholy alliance, it could be the most fearsome thing the world has seen since the Rain of Colorless Fire. I can only hope that the forces of good will come together in equal measure to stop them. We must relay this information to The Brazen and Lord Gelban as quickly as possible.
Jozan’s Journal
I worry about Dravot. That beast that had taken him was hideous, an abomination that must be cleansed, and soon. Hopefully before Something happens to Dravot. I pray to Her that nothing happens that would mean fighting Dravot. He's been a stalwart companion, if not a bit tight-lipped about a few things that may help us now.
But it is now nightfall, and my companions are holed up in the basement of a bar in the city, knowing the guards are hunting for us as we wait. Our hosts have assured us we won't be found here, and the decision is made to move but an hour before dawn. Poor Crescent, this can't be comfortable for him. Even he can sense a wrongness in the city. Meepo is doing his best to sooth him while I take the time perform the rituals and pray. I wish there was a temple here, or at least the ability to do this outside, but the basement of a tavern will have to do. There is a peace to be found in the rituals, even down here.
In addition to the usual prayers, I also asked for, and received somewhat, a boon. Not really for myself, but we had known for some time now that someone has been sending dreams to Dravot, And since that is Her province, I asked if I could communicate with Dravot in a similar fashion. If nothing else, see if he was alright, and give him some hope. I'm afraid I wasn't wholly successful, or perhaps Dravot never slept that night, but I didn't reach him. I did have a vision, of sorts. As I find myself in a dream, I dream of a shadowed figure with two daggers leap through me, and disappear into the blackness. Another man, in a robe wearing a ring almost painful to look at. And lastly, a crowed of people, in deep shadow. I didn't recognize any of them, but perhaps they are people I should look out for in the future. As soon as it started, it was done. I woke, and reflected. After several hours of trance, I woke and made a second attempt at contact. A lot of what is happening is centered on Dravot, and any information about what has happened would help. Alas, I could not focus my attention that morning, and began making preparations for leaving the city.
We made our exit through a hidden tunnel, with Kayleigh leading the horses alone through the streets. We caught up with her, and made our way to the remote estate.
Dravot’s Journal
GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!
[Dravot's character played his new cohort Thorkeld for this night while Dravot rotted away ]