Thorn hoists himself into a tree outside the bordello, overlooking the main street in the village of Dorias. He's not long up there and beginning to drift into the light sleep of the Selandri, when he hears the sound of horsemen approaching.
Six horsemen in the livery of Anghari gallop down the street and dismount in front of the tavern. They're grinning at each other, joking in the way of soldiers, and seem a bit puzzled that their reception isn't warmer.
Rooker, in Sharif's room on the second floor, glances out the window and also sees the horsemen arrive.
The sergeant throws open the door to the tavern. "Sylea! Dake's here! And he's ready for some action." He rubs his hands, laughing as he looks about the tavern. "What's with all the long bloody faces?" he demands.Sharif says, "By the eternal garden...what is that racket downstairs?"
Thorn sees Rooker and decides to join him.
Moving quickly to extinguish the lantern, Rooker gives a terse explanation to Sharif; "Some soldiers, I'm going down to have a look. Keep warm, friend."
Molly, the Tobon innkeeper, tells the cavalry sergeant, "Now, Dake, be quiet. There's been some trouble in town and we're closing early. If you and your men need a bed for the night, I've rooms."
Sharif grabs the nearest nubile form.." I shall try my friend"
Rooker moves to whe window and slips out onto the ledge before dropping to the ground via the drainpipe.The other soldiers, 5 young Reith, cavalrymen by the looks of them, follow Dake into the tavern.
Rooker drops to the ground, startled to find Thorn already waiting for him.
Rooker says, "Fancy a drink in the tavern, Thorn?"
Dake says, "Trouble? No worries, Dake's men are here!" He looks about. "Where's Sylea?"
Molly tells him, "She was injured and needs her rest. Now you and your men sit down and we'll get you a pint."
Thorn whispers "Out for a stroll?"
Thorn says, "Sounds good."
Rooker says, "Unless those Silandri ears can hear through walls, I think we'll have to go in and join them to hear what's going on."
Thorn says, "Shall we?"
As Thorn and Rooker enter, the soldiers all push into the tavern and Molly explains to Dake the events of the evening. As she tells the tale, his temper begins to rise. "What? Good job we happened along, boys!" Dake explains to his men. "We'll have this matter sorted out in no time, Molly. Give us a pint of your best brown ale and a loaf of bread, that's all the King's men need to deal with some ghosties."
As he enters the tavern, Rooker nods to Molly and shakes his head with a warning in his eyes, hoping that she won't tell the soldiers who he is.
Molly ignores Thorn and Rooker as they enter. Two of the soldiers turn to look at the man in black and the hooded fellow.Rooker takes a seat in the corner nearest the door, trying to be invisible.
Thorn joins him.Dake and his men to set to their food and drink, scheming out loud. "We'll need torches. And oil.."
Molly pours mugs for Rooker and Thorn. "And might there be a reason why you're over here and the King's men are over there, gents?" she asks, quietly. Rooker murmurs to Thorn; "And a large trunk full of clues, eh, mate?
Nodding to Molly, Rooker shrugs and whispers; "They look like they're on a mission where there's no room for the likes of us."
Dake explains, "And we'd best use blinders for the horses, no sense scarin' em. Hey, Molly, where are these fellows killed the ghosties? Sounds mighty suspicious, ask me!"
Thorn says, "There are soldiers and then there are soldiers. We wished to make sure these were the helpful kind."
"Asleep, and not to be bothered after their work," Molly tells the Reith.
Rooker smiles and sips his ale.
Thorn notices that the ale this time is not watered down, and takes another swig.
"Maybe the three is Tol Nedran, Sarge!" one of the soldiers says. "Heard tell that they've taken to skulking about. Probably they brought all this down with 'em from the north. Skulking about in hoods and cloaks. Like them two, over there!" He points to Rooker and Thorn.
Dake looks dubious. "Whatever they are, we'll make short work of 'em!"
Sharif comes down the stairs wrapped in a blanket
"Here, and you two would be?" the soldier pointing at Thorn and Rooker persists.
Flipping his hood back and standing quickly, Rooker locks eyes with the pointing soldier; "Are you saying that I look like a Tol Nedran, good sir?"
Sharif coughs
Rooker says, "Perhaps your customs are diffrent, but where I am from, those would be words to fight over."
Thorn stands and says, "Calm my friend, Good evening good gentleman.
The soldier says, rising, "Never know who you might be, with all manner of monsters afoot." He fingers his sword hilt.
Calmly, his sergeant rises to make peace. "Easy on, fellow. We're regulars here, and never seen you before. I'm Sergeant Dake."
Rooker turns to Thorn; "I am not offering to fight him, friend, I am simply asking if it is custom here to insult strangers by mentioning the name of the foul heathens from the far north."
Thorn says, "Calm I say, please friend. My name is Thorn gentlemen.""
Sharif coughs again. "Let's not fight good sirs....there's already enough dead about" turns towards the madam "Could I have some tea my dear"
Thorn says, "We are pilgrams. That is why we are dressed so."R ooker True enough, quite anough dead and undead alike.
Molly pours Sharif some tea. Dake says, "Ah, pilgrims. Well, my advice for you is to stay indoors tonight while we go handle the trouble. We'll be back before morning.
Thorn says, "As you wish sir. We will leave things in your capable hands." "Have you seen anything suspcious like?" the soldier asks.
Thorn says, "Yes we were here in the tavern when the wights entered town."
"Wights?" Dake says. "What makes you think they were wights?
Thorn says, "As I say we are pilgrams and we have seen many things in our travels. These were definitely wights."
"I'd like to talk to the three that killed them," Dake says. "Molly, think we could wake 'em?" Some of the soldiers are starting to eye you three, interested.
Thorn says, "No need sir, it was us."Sharif coughs again and pulls the blanket closer as he sips his tea
Dake glances at Molly, then back at you three. "I see. So you three just happened into town when the wights attacked? And you killed them all by yourselves?"Thorn lowers his hood and steps into the light, "Yes" he says.
Sharif says, "beginners luck"
Two of the younger troopers, no older than 15, laugh behind their hands.
Rooker chuckles softly; "Well, I do have me gran-dads magical knife."
"He's a Selandri!" one of the soldiers points.
"If you three pilgrims can deal with two wights, then we six will be back in an hour." he tells his men.
Thorn says, "Yes he is. Do you still want us to stay indoors and keep out of your way?" Rooker nods; "We'll wait for you with fresh ale and bread, Sergeant."
Sharif says, "We wish you good luck noble knights"
Thorn says, "I must warn you. Don't let them touch you."
The soldiers glance at each other. "We can handle it," Dake says. he and his men are all pretty young and full of bravado.
Sharif mutters to Rooker.."and will look for your corpses in the morning"
Thorn says, "If one of you is killed. Don't leave the body behind. It must be burned,"
Sharif says, "should we follow them?"
Dake snaps, "Of course not!"
One of the soldiers says, "Let's push off, Sarge. With that bow o'yours, and our lances, we'll make quick work of any wights."
Batting his eyelashes like a crush-ridden schoolgirl, Rooker fawns over the Sergeant; "But it would be such a pleasure to see such fierce wrriors as yourselves at work, sir."
Thorn says, "The bow will do no good."
Dake says, "Right. Thorn, thank you for your advice. Wait for us here and I'll buy the next round. My men would love to hear tales of the mighty Selandri."
Thorn says, "I must warn you you're weapons will have no effect on them."
Thorn says, "You must have your weapons blessed before facing these undead creatures."
Dake tells Rooker, "You just wait and we'll bring back tales for you." He says to Thorn, "We'll manage!" he winks to his men, who drain their mugs and rise, horseplaying and pushing their way out the door.
Sharif pages: If I use protection from evil Enchanted creatures can not harm me -unless I attack them for 6 turns
Rooker shakes his head and mutters; "Fresh meat heading for the grinder there."
Thorn turns to Sharif and says, "They are commiting suicide."
Outside, they saddle up. Dake tells Thorn, raising his bow, "This bow was blessed by the temple in As Sedrai, Thorn! Not as mighty a magic as the Selandri, but it will do."
Thorn says, "We can't let this happen. We must follow them."
Rooker says, "We will, in the morning when it's safe and they're dead."
Thorn says, "Not good enough. We must go now."The lancers discuss a moment. "Xoth's old tower was due north of here on a rocky outcrop," Dake says. "We'll head there and see what's what." The men turn their horses and cheer. "For the King!"
Thorn turns to Molly and says, "Molly are there horses we can use?"
Rooker looks to Sharif with outstretched hands; "Help me out here, Sharif. Tell our good friend that it's no good dying alongside those fools."
Molly says, bewildered, "Old Ferd doesn't open his stable till sunrise, Thorn..."
Thorn says, "We can't just let these men ride off to certain death."
Rooker says, "Who said it's certain death? They seem to be pretty sure of themselves."
Sharif says, "if ther deaths are certain...no...but I believe their fates are not yet written""
Thorn says, "Can we wake him? This is a matter of life and death."
The Anghari lancers gallop up the street, their hooves clatter as they cross a wooden bridge leading out of town, and then they're gone into the night.
Rooker says, "Not MY life it isn't."
"He's usually upstairs in the red light house this time of night," Molly tells Thorn.
Thorn says, "I tell you my friends I can't just sit here and let this happen."
Molly watches Dake go and shakes her head. "He's come through tough scrapes before, Thorn. Maybe he will be ok."
Thorn turns to go then turns back and says, "Thankyou good woman."
Sharif says, "I believe that our path is to follow those fools and do our best to make sure they come back as well"
Thorn heads towards the red light house.
Turning to Sharif, Rooker shakes his head; "If you and Thorn ride out, I will go with you. But I still say that it's a bad idea."Sharif says, "Of course it's a bad idea.....but you know it's right to do so"
Thorn asks in the red light house for the man named old Ferd.
Rooker strokes his chin slowly; "But if we give them a short lead, say, just enough time to get killed, this could work out okay."
Sharif says, "Then there may be more wights to deal with"
Sharif says, "Ferd will not be happy"
Ferd shows up, cranky at being interrupted. "You interrupt my gamboling to buy a bloody horse? I've no time for this. Come back in the morning at a decent hour!" he tells Thorn.
The sweet young thing on his arm tugs at the old man. "Come on, sweetie!" she tells him. Thorn says, "Not buy, borrow. This is a matter of life and death good sir,"
"Borrow? I'm a businessman. And why should I let you?" he blinks in the torchlight. "Isn't collateral the usual arrangement?"
"Aw, Ferd, honey, just give 'em what they want," the young hottie tells Ferd. "They helped Sylea, I'm sure they're ok."
Thorn says, "Listen to me. In another few nights if we don't stop these wights you may have no more use for horses at all."
Sharif says, "except to carry the dead"
Thorn says, "They'll be carrying themselves."
"Wights? Oh, very well, although I don't like the looks of him--" he points to the hooded and cloaked Rooker--"you can borrow some horses. You'll have to bring 'em back, hear?" he tells Thorn.
Sharif says, "Agreed"
Thorn says, "These creatures are like vermin and won't stop until they are all destroyed or until this whole town has been turned."Thorn says, "Thank you good sir! This town is in your debt."
Less than an hour later, old man Ferd's dressed, ambled his way across the street, unlocked his stable and outfitted you with two bay mares and a roan gelding.Thorn leaps onto the back of the gelding.Sharif climbs into the saddle and pats the neck of the horse
Rooker climbs into the saddle of one of the mares.
Sharif says, "Let us go"
You three, skilled riders, gallop across the wooden bridge in pursuit of the lancers. They headed due north into the woods. Both moons are out tonight, and there's enough light to ride safely.
Looking at Thorn, Rooker shakes his head; "I hope you're right about this, Thorn."
Thorn says, "So am I...so am I."
Sharif says, "Lighten up my friends...you only die once..."Rooker Unless the wights get you.
Rooker says, "Unless the wights get you."
Thorn says, "Then you die twice."
Molly and Kallea are there to see you off. "Good luck! Go with the Great Mother!" Molly tells you.
Thorn says, "Thankyou for alll your help good ladies." Sharif says, "May Al-Kadim protect you in our absence"
The woods are dark and deep, a pine forest that slopes uphill into the foothills of the Balagrim Mountains. You leave the village lights behind. The cavalrymen's trail is easy to follow, well shod horses racing fast due northwards.
With Thorn in the lead, you nimbly pick your way through the forest for what seems like an hour. Then, you crest a ridgeline and across the forest, a mile or two away, you see a knob of stone perhaps a hundred feet high projecting above the treeline in the distance. Bare and flat on top, a tower built on its peak would have a commanding view of the whole region. but no tower is visible on its crest.
Sharif says, "I believe that is the site of our pilgramage gentlemen"
Thorn says, "I can smell the evil around this place."
There's a shriek in the distance. And two Anghari cavalry horses without riders gallop past you.
Thorn says, "Damn, we're too late!"
Rooker says, "I'll go get the horses, you guys kill the wights."
Thorn spurs his horse down the crest.
Rooker sighs and urges his horse after Thorn.
Rooker says, "Yah, mule!"
Thorn leads the race down the crest and across a hilly area, then you come upon a desolate scene. A wide area has been cleared, cut of all trees long ago, and what stand where trees once were are now tombstones. Several dozen small markers, mostly, with earthen plots before each...and some of the plots have earth freshly turned. Side by side, on horseback, you regard the scene. There are two soldiers left standing...Dake, and one of the young boys. Back to back, they are surrounded by a ring of shambling creatures.They are about 50 yards off across the graveyard. Dake's bow sings out and takes down one of the creatures. Thorn draws his sword and leaps off the back of the horse.
There are seven...things. Looks like bodies that got up and walked, with rotted faces and long fangs. They move animatedly.
Rooker kicks his horse viciously and races toward the fighting yelling; "Hold on boys, the cavalry's here!"Two savage shrieks and they tear the head off the young man fighting at Dake's side. Dake fires again, taking down one more of the creatures.
There are now six left. You three are galloping up alongside.
Thorn charges up to the nearest creature and attacks him with his sword.
Drawing two daggers from his belt as he drops from his saddle, Rooker attacks the nearest creature with both weapons.
Thorn's sword slices into the undead flesh of the ghoul.
Rooker cuts into the second creature with his first dagger, but his second blow misses. Sharif guides his horse towards the fray all the while weaving mystical threads unseen to the eyes of the untrained.
Sharif casts the Shield spell.
There's a horrific smell and a high-pitched shriek as the creatures are cut down under the onslaught.
Thorn swings around to attack the next nearest creature.
The ghouls fall back under the press of Thorn and Rooker's attacks.
Dake drops his bow and draws his sword and attacks one of the creatures.Four ghouls remain, and you strike first.
Thorn attacks the nearest ghoul.
As his first target drops to the ground in a foul-smelling cloud, Rooker wheels away to find another enemy.
Thorn's black blade slices his foe.
Rooker's strikes fail to land home as his opponent topples backwards onto a freshly turned grave.
Thorn's foe is sliced in half, in a horrid cloud reeking of decay.
Sharif spins the staff in his grip and smashes down on the approaching fiend
Thorn looks around for more ghouls to attack.
Sharif also misses.
Dake has similar luck.
Then it's the ghouls' turn. One strikes at Thorn, the other at Rooker, and the third at Dake.
The two Reith manage to fend off their attackers completely. Thorn is scratched but the ghoul poison cannot affect his kind.
The ghouls' dim undead minds sense weakness and press their attacks.Thorn is under pressure from his foe, and he takes a step back.
Rooker and Dake are unharmed.
And now it's your turn.Ducking under the foul claws of his opponent, Rooker stabs wildly at the ghoul.Thorn screams out and attacks the nearest ghoul.
Both of Rooker's attacks strike home.
Thorn stabs the ghoul through its rotten eyes.
Rooker's daggers plunge deep into the ghouls chest and the creature slumps to the ground. Thorn's blade emerges from the creature's skull but it's still flailing wildly.
Sharif spins the staff again and prays
Dake's blow misses.
Sharif's staff smacks Thorn's ghoul upside the head.There's a crunch and Sharif's blow knocks the ghoul's skull clean off, completing the job Thorn began.
There's just one left, opposing Dake.
Thorn heads over to help Dake.
Rooker whirls and throws both of his daggers at the ghoul fighting Dake.
Thorn slashes his sword at the remaining ghoul.
Who'd have thought you could slice a ghoul so -thin-! The creature goes down under your blows, collapsing and putrefying atop a tombstone.
Dake is panting with exhaustion. He looks around, turns and shakes his head. "All dead." he moans. "Can't be!"
Casually catching his returning dagger, Rooker walks over to collect the one covered in ghoul slime from the dead creature.
Sharif slides off of his horse
Thorn turns to Dake, "I am sorry friend"
Rooker says, "Sorry we couldn't have gotten here sooner, we had some trouble convincing Old Ferd that we would bring his horses back safe."
Sharif says a small prayer over the fallen
"Kilian had just found an opening in those rocks there--" he points to an opening in the stony cliff face fronting the graveyard--"when they were all over us. Came up out of the graves." He tells Thorn, "I led them to this."
Sharif says, "You could not have known"
Thorn says, "Don't blame yourself. They died bravely."
Rooker moves away from the group; "We will have to burn the bodies. All of them, I am afraid. And keep a fire until dawn against any other foul undead creatures.
Sharif approaches the rocks cautiously to have a lookDake nods, numb with disbelief. He scoops up his bow. "I should go and tell the Baron what has happened." He holds out the bow to Thorn. "I want you to have it."
Thorn heads off to start gathering wood.
Rooker kneels and begins to work with flint and steel to start a fire; "Don't go too far, Thorn."
Thorn hearing Dake turns back, "I will use it with pride."
Sharif creeps towards the opening in the cliff face, at the base of the rocky outcropping that once held Xoth's tower. The opening is shrouded in rubble and overgrowth, but it's about man-sized and seems to lead deeper into the rock face.
Sharif says, "Here is the entrance"
You paged Sharif with 'There's a jagged tunnel floored with rubble, and then what looks like a finished room beyond the tunnel.'.
The fire started, Rooker begins to gather the bodies round what promises to be a large funeral pyre. Too large.
There are five bodies to gather from the ghouls, and the ghouls themselves. A fire at night this large may draw attention of who knows what?
Rooker says, "Don't go looking to deep inside, Sharif. Wait for daylight."
Dake mounts his horse and turns. "I will bring reinforcements!" he calls.
Thorn says, "Perhaps we should return to the tavern and return when it is light out."
As he gathers the bodies, Rooker strips weapons, armor, and any personal effects the soldiers might have. For the next-of-kin, of course.
Sharif approaches the glint looking around cautiously. Staff at the ready
Rooker says, "Hey, Sharif, give me a hand here, would you?"
Sharif ducks into an opening in the rocks and disappears.
Thorn heads to the opening to call Sharif back.