After the Boar Fight
After we are sure that no more boars are going to make an appearance, Atalaya begins skinning the boars, showing Cirilli how to do so. She will give thanks to each of the boars for their giving their lives to provide food and materials to us. Inman mentions that these are the biggest boars he has ever seen. We skin the 4 boars and harvest the choicest parts and of course the parts that will become bacon. The hides are cleaned as best as we can and the meat is rolled up into them. What we don’t take is left out for the scavengers.
While Atalaya and Cirilli are busy with this Inman and Nevil search the abandoned village. (We never said what Sorrow and Boz were doing. I am going to assume that at least Boz kept guard over the skinning operations. I don’t know what Sorrow did here.) Boz does say while looking over the area that, “This sort of thing makes me nervous.”
They find that the village seems to have been abandoned long ago. There are signs of fire. Many of the cottages have holes in their roofs. Many of them had thatched roofs. There were smashed wagons littering the area and many of the fences were knocked down. They find nothing useful when they search the village.
Nevil has Shep bring the horses back. Cirilli and Sorrow are riding together on Shep.
Traveling
Group departs wishing to travel during the daytime
Once we pass the hand and leg formations we go through some woods. Eventually we reach wooden bridge. The bridge is passable, but we do so carefully, (walking the stable horses) being careful where feet are placed. The bridge looks rough but is not in danger of collapsing.
Red Wyrmling Encounter
We approach the area on the map labeled the Scortch of the Red Worm. The area seems blasted and is covered with fog and mist. We are uncertain of what might have hit the ground, but there seems to be an impact crater.
Sorrow wants us to look at the map. As we do so, we see a raptor of some sort flying above us, but it is actually too big to be a raptor. We try to move past the area he is circling. As it gets closer we can tell that it is red and that it looks as if it will be a dragon one day. As it circles above us we can smell brimstone. Our horses (except for Shep) get unruly.
Nevil sends a message to Shep to run with Cirilli and Sorrow out of the wyrmling’s reach. The rest of us have trouble controlling our horses. Especially Boz and Inman. Boz does manage to stay on his horse, but Inman is unhorsed. He does however, manage to maintain a grip on the horse’s reins.
The creature from the sky dives down at Boz making his horse bolt. Boz fights to control his horse as the wyrmling (young red dragon) follows it.
Cirilli, twisting in the saddle to keep her eye on the wyrmling and her surroundings manages to shoot it, causing 8 points of damage. (Calcifer)
Atalaya casts Aid on Cirilli, Boz and Sorrow (adding 5 hit points to them for 8 hours.)
Boz gets control of his horse.
Nevil tells Shep to run away from the action.
Inman can’t get on his horse.
Sorrow wisely casts Hideous Laughter and the young dragon (Calcifer) fails his save and is lost in laughter.
We hear a noise overhead. There is a second red wyrmling circling above us.
Cirilli is on Shep (with Sorrow) who is running away from Calcifer at Nevil’s command. She tries to turn Shep around but is unable to do so. Shep dashes ahead.
Sorrow continues to concentrate on his Hideous Laughter spell as Shep takes him out of the area.
Atalaya dashes towards Cirilli (on her horse) while watching the sky. There is definitely another wyrmling flying towards them.
Boz (on his horse) also dashes in the direction Shep is headed, although he tries to not be too close so that the wyrmling must make a choice of target.
Harpefax dives at Inman and Nevil but does not get all the way to them. He does not flame them. He is hunting, not angry at the moment.
Nevil “pees in her saddle.” She has control of her horse and uses her action to get control of Inman’s horse, saying, “Honey, you get your ass on your horse.”
Calicifer continues to laugh. He finds the arrival of his friend hilarious.
Inman finally mounts his horse. Nevil smacks it’s rump to get it moving and then follows on her horse.
Sorrow's chivalry pushes him to not leave Nevil behind. He jumps off Shep and begins to run to Nevil.
Atalaya takes two shots at Harpefax. Both hit for a total of 16 points of damage.
Boz moves closer to Cirilli. Harpefax is too far away for him to shoot at it.
Harpefax, now angered after having been hit with arrows, breathes fire on Nevil. Nevil takes 12 points of damage. Her horse also takes 12 points of damage. The horse screams and starts running towards Shep.
Nevil sends a message to Shep to get Sorrow and then yells at Sorrow for having gotten off Shep while letting her horse run as it will. She then places her hands on the horse and heals it, giving it 12 hit points back.
Inman casts Phantasmal Killer on Harpefax while his horse bolts way from the young dragons. Harpefax takes half damage (17 points).
Cirilli takes a shot at Harpefax and misses.
Sorrow gets on Shep and casts Vicious Mockery on Harpefax, but the spell has no effect on him.
Atalaya shoots twice at Harpefax and hits both times for total of 24 points of damage.
Boz moves closer to Atalaya.
Harpefax takes a hop towards Cirilli/Nevil/Sorrow and lands on a rock. He takes a big breath and tries to flame them, but only char comes out of his mouth. He retreats to the sky.
Nevil follows everyone towards Atalaya and Boz, making sure that they all keep on running.
At this point we do not seem to be pursued by either of the wyrmlings. Nevil gives Sorrow the “stink eye” and the two of them argue about whether or not Sorrow should have gotten off Shep and headed back towards Nevil and Inman. Nevil states that “Your action made Cirilli turn around.” Sorrow responded by saying that “I just can’t ride off and leave someone behind.” Sorrow also remarks that he “thought that horse was toast.”
We follow the road and lick our wounds. Cirilli says that she was scared when that dragon breathed fire (on Nevil).
Sorrow and Nevil’s bickering ends with Nevil declaring that Sorrow “Owes me a beer.” Sorrow replies that he will buy her two beers.
Tempers calm as we continue to ride.
The Ruined Mansion…Meeting the Gurs
It is dusk as the group approaches the manor through a family graveyard. The graveyard is in a fenced square area. They read the four gravestones present. There are several references to hounds and hunting. [Gravestones say:
Baron Brartifax: Husband, father, hunter. “Let no man stand above another.
Brorn: Hound of Brantifax. Faithful to the end.
Heluthe: Our Pride and Joy. Lost too soon.
Sylphene: Beloved Daughter
As the group looks for a way in, Shep leads the rented horses away and watches over them. Hounds or wolves are heard in the distance.
Atalaya and Boz search for a doorway into the manor. Finding one, Boz checks for traps. None found. He is unable to open it with his lockpicks and says that it has been barred from within.
Nevil goes up to the windows near the door and looks in. She sees that the room is unoccupied. It is dusty, furniture covered in sheets, and full of taxidermy. A picture or perhaps a mirror is missing from above the large cold fireplace. The howling from outside seems to be coming closer, from the woods to the north. We ease one of the windows open and the group enters a parlor. Vasilya slides through with Nevil assisting him. Atalaya and then Cirilli follow him. Next Sorrow, Inman and Nevil. Once we are all inside we close the window. Atalaya looks around, scanning the room for books, but not finding any. There are some cobwebs in the room, but not as many as might be expected for the period of time the manor is supposed to have been unused.
Sounds of creaking floor boards above are heard as the group explores and clears the first floor. The ravens that we had been hearing outside have gotten very quiet.
There is a very beautiful staircase heading upstairs which is next to a partially open door. We hear more soft sounds above us. Cirilli says that there is somebody up there. Nevil calls out “Hello” but gets no response. We are all very certain that there is something or someone upstairs.
Atalaya makes her way through the open door and finds the kitchen. It smells of food. There are old pots on the sideboard. Dishes fill the cupboard. Mice run across the floor. Atalaya investigates the stove. There are fresh ashes in it and perhaps there is still a bit of heat to them.
Boz goes to the door on the far side of the kitchen. It is locked and he unlocks it. It goes to a short hallway that leads to the dining room. It is a circular room. It has a dining table, chairs, a chandelier. The room has three narrow broken windows. The fireplace is blackened with soot. It seems like no one has been here. We hear what sounds like a child laughing somewhere upstairs.
The group inspects the cloak room. Nevil ritually casts Detect Magic. In this room we find a rake, shovel and also a dusty cloak. There is also the door to outside which is barred. There is another door heading to the basement. Boz investigates this door. It cannot be barred. We choose to head upstairs rather than into the basement.
The door at the top of the half-stairs leads into a study. It actually seems pretty clean. There is a roll-top desk, glass decanter, a gilded harp. There are folded dusty sheets placed in one corner. Another staircase ascends to the 2nd floor. We hear shuffling feet above us. Nevil calls out again asking for the person to show himself.
The Sorrow and Inman begin to peruse the book pickings.
A field Guide to Abberations
Coastal Foraging
The Exciting History of the Sea Princes
Illithids and Their Kin
Alchemical Formulas and Recipes
Boz investigates the desk. Of interest, he finds a journal with wolves' heads on the cover. [The journal might have belonged to a lady and was used as a diary.] There are also calligraphy supplies. We take both the journal and the calligraphy supplies as well as the 5 books. [C12]
Cirilli guards the stairs. They hear more wolves howling. While Sorrow, Inman, and Cirilli remain, Nevil, Atalaya, and Boz begin to clear the rest of the second floor. Vaz tries the door to the west. It is not locked.
Nevil hears whispering. Two women are heard whispering about hiding something from the strangers. Nevil pushes into the room to surprise the two women: one younger and one quite old. She immediately casts Divine Sense. No evil is detected from the women. The women look quite frightened and ask why Nevil, Atalaya and Boz have come. Nevil tells the truth and explains that they assumed the house was abandoned and came in search of rare books.
The old woman asks, who told you to come here? Nevil explained that the Countess of Blue Haven said we might get lucky here.
The old woman says in Gurrish, "Oh, now she is interested in us…”
Boz asks them in Gurrish, “You are Children of the Highway, yes?”
They nod.
Boz continues in common, “We really didn’t know anyone was here. We take the books, yes. Maybe pay for them?”
The older woman says, “take what you need and go. But it’s getting late. Are you staying here tonight?”
Nevil responds that “we were hoping to; there are wolves outside.”
One of the women stated that “Yes, they are quite a problem and will be here again tonight.”
Nevil tells Shep to take the horses further away…
Nevil suggests we move to the parlor or study to be more comfortable and so the whole group can hear.
The women nod and ask if there are many of us. We say a few more.
We get the rest of our party and head down to the first room we came into (parlor). There is a raven sitting on the back of one of the pieces of furniture.
We ask, “Do you live here?”
The women reply that “We come through occasionally and use the place from time to time. How long were you outside the door?”
Nevil: “Long enough to know you're protecting something you wanted to hide from us. But that's OK, we really only came for the books.
Nevil speaks to the raven assuming it is a familiar of a resident wizard. “Who is your master? Be known or leave. There will be no secrets here.” The raven does not move and in fact seems very inquisitive and strikingly sure of his presence inside and close to people.
Nevil asks, “Is he yours?”
The women reply, “Our what?”
Nevil continues, “Your familiar?”
The women laugh, “No nothing like that. Why would you think that?”
Nevil physically shoos the bird outside. “Well just in case. Let's have no eavesdropping. We had an unusual experience recently with a raven. One dropped a journal at our feet in a bookstore.”
One of the women says, “You are the ones that Renick spoke of then? We hoped that you could help us. The wolves are not good. They are harmful. They try to take this place.”
She turns to Boz, “Surely you understand this.”
Boz nods, looks both contemplative and confused. “You are of a tribe?”
Woman, “Yes. We are the Scarlet Sash.”
The older lady says, “My name is Madrina and this is Vinique. We are traveling from one place to another.”
“Renic is of your tribe?”
Vinique: “Yes, he is young and naive, but well intentioned. He thought you would help us with our problem.
Atalaya: “Why did you send the book?
Madrina: “He left the journal as an example of our good intentions and map to help you find your way. The Gur are often misunderstood and we need help.”
We ask, “What exactly is the problem you are having?”
They reply, “They are werewolves and they have been attacking us regularly. They want this home for themselves.”
Nevil is alarmed and tells Shep to take the horses back to town and return with them in the morning.
Nevil asks with irritation, “So this Renick had a raven drop a book to lure us here. With no warning of the darn youngling dragons, to fight werewolves for you because you refuse to leave this beautiful house for no explicable reason?
They reply, “Well, he watched you and thought you were capable and of a good heart.
We respond, “Watched us?”
We are Gurs. He used the sight to search for appropriate help. And we have used this location as a safe stop for a long time. We camp here. (But not before the death of the baron.)
Nevil laughed, “The map did say danger.”
A new raven impetuously returns and perches near Sorrow showing great interest in him.
Nevil: “What’s up with the ravens?”
Boz: “There was a Gurrish legend that we were once birds.”
Nevil: “That explains so much shit. You love shiny things.”
Boz: “This is unexpected.” He looks like he is deep in thought.
Nevil asks, “This place is special because of the ravens?”
Madrina laughs: “Yes, round about.”
Nevil notes the lack of magic and evil on the strangers. As well as the unusually normal behavior of the Raven with Sorrow.
Nevil says skeptically at the women, “You are not telling us everything. Are you stewarding your people through raven form?”
Then looking straight at the crow, Nevil calmly requests, “Come out.”
The crow shape changes into a man as does a second crow. The old woman, “This is Renic and ???? We are the Scarlett Sash and this place must be protected.”
Boz looks god-smacked.
Renic: “I dropped the book. It was the best testament to our kindness and had the map inside. I’m Renic.”
Everyone looks around processing what is happening.
Atalaya starts questioning them regarding the werewolves they want us to kill. “How many werewolves?” – They answer around six.
“Do they attack often?”-- Almost every night. They are coming soon.
“Men turn into wolves with human brains. The fight with bites and claws and weapons. If they bite you, you become like them. They are evil. They will come tonight. You came too early for them. They come to harass us. They want this place. This is a special place and we need to keep access to it. When the moon comes up, they will be here.”
Madrina: “Yes, you do this thing for us; we will not lie to you.
Nevil looks at Boz, “It's your choice brother.”
Boz looks lost, “they are my people and need help…”
Nevil considers…. “Hear my proposal. We will do this on the condition that when it is over, you teach this man.
Madrina asks, “And what should we teach him?”
Nevil responds, “Whatever he asks.”
Boz explains his history … that his family was killed so long ago. And that he has not had much teaching about the Gur and his psychic skills. He is overcome with emotion.
Madrina: “Oh, I am so sorry. We welcome you here.”
After a moment of silent understanding, the women agree.
With business agreed, the (two) groups decide to take a quick supper of boar and to begin planning a defense.
With meal preparations underway Nevil asks, “We need to search the rest of the house and plan a defense.”
Nevil asks the flighted (those able to become ravens) of the strangers to begin scouting circles around the manor. They agree and fly off, exiting through the dining room.
During preparations…
Vinique: “Sorry. We made noise to scare you.”
Atalaya asks if they can take the books and offers money. They decline the offer of money for the books, saying that they don’t need them.
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