The Story So Far Part ten

Episode XII – Some field rest and recuperation and wyrd stuff happens

Dramatis Personae
Telec - Kalamarian Human Priest of the Wanderer
Aetlred - Half Elf Ranger
Lalia - Halfling Thief
Thans – Dwarf Fighter thief
Heradin- Dwarf Fighter mage
Dvorn the Axe- Fhokki Human Fighter
Sondan – Brandobian, Human Fighter
Fawlit – Half Ork Fighter

Violet – Half Demon Paladin of the Free

Location
In the caves of the goblin raiders, their camp outside and the Ancient Dwarf hold 

Events
(the action starts directly at the end of the last session, with the company just having found the captives in the sink hole in the cavern floor)

It proved to be the work of only a few moments to hack apart the grill work of branches the goblins had built over the large pit in which the captives had been held enough to allow access to the captives.  It took a bit longer for Sondan and Lalia to fashion a crude ladder from the scavenged timber and allow the tired hungry and half naked, all had been taken from their beds by the raiding Goblins and most wore nothing more than their under tunics, captives to escape.

 The captives where it relatively quickly became apparent unhurt, as they had largely recovered form the first days forced march and  the presence of the young Peasor a priest of the Guardian also helped with this as well as in reassuring in fearful companions that rescue was certain they just had to have faith. The captives had however not been fed much since the night of the raid, but had been tormented by the cooking smells from the goblins nightly feasts, had no bedding or much clothing to protect them from the cold and where more than a little apprehensive at the unfamiliarity of their rescuers, it latter transpired that they had hoped for and expected Perkal the leading priest of the community and Violet.

They where much reassured when they discovered Violet amongst the Company but much saddened to hear of Perkal and his fathers deaths, even though they had expected the latter when the old warrior went berserk and broke free of the goblins on the first night of their captivity.

The captives where a mixed group of forty people aged between ten and sixty years old apparently forming several families, most spoke Kalamarian or Merchants tongue’s eastern form with a smattering of Fillokki and Ranaraese. Certainly none spoke Brandobian a testament to them being isolated at the Hidden Dell. The younger ones had apparently mostly been born in the Hidden Dell with the older ones being brought here by the previous champion of the free who had established the village.  Amongst them where the noted and according, to the well travelled Telec deceased, Kalamarian historian Selemar Ku’Ato and the also accordingly to Telec deceased imperial sword smith and armourer Lakaran Tur Esamil. They had both been publically executed many years ago for truly dreadful crimes.

The armourer it seemed had claimed to have found the sword, Rovak Fen’doral from the imperial regalia but was found to be lying having produced a copy of the blade in order to be able to claim credit for the recovery of the weapon and the huge reward that the Emperor had offered for it. The figure which Telec recalls was a million pieces of gold. The historian had written several well thought of histories of ancient Kalamaria, but had come to grief when he was discovered to have had inappropriate relations with several of the imperial nieces, as it happened this was discovered shortly after the publication of a more recent history which some saw as critical of the claim to the throne and lineage of the Bakari dynasty.

The names of other elders and several of the family names where also sort of familiar to Telec, but he could not remember any details to go with his vague recall.

Having been rescued they fell into considerable discussion as to what to do next, it would seem that the population of the Hidden Dell organised itself along the principles of a participatory democracy and every one got a say in what happened, deferring generally to those amongst them who knew most about the topic at hand. Given that the company was with Violet they where more than happy to include them in this practice. Eventually it was decided that a direct escape route from the caves was best, and that they should all return to the Hidden Dell, they where not happy when they where told that this was uninhabitable not to mention indefensible and they would have to take shelter in the old holdfast until the village could be rebuilt and arrangements made for its proper defence. The older ones who had lived in the holdfast before the village was built where the least happy about the prospect of the return to doing so. The younger ones just remembered that the Holdfast was haunted by repute and whilst it was a fine place to sneak into and explore for a dare was no where they would want to live.

Then there where the cattle and other livestock to consider, thought Violet suggested that there was indoor accommodation for some of them and the old paddocks outside the Holdfast could be put back into use.  The elders in particular raised objection to this as there had never been enough space for live stock at the Holdfast in the old days and there was more live stock than they ever had when they had lived there even allowing for the amount the goblins had probably eaten. Several of the Company bought up the miserable night they had spent in the village and that there was only one place with a roof on in the whole of Hidden Dell and that being the chapel in the basement of the large house and that was Thans estimated smaller than the hole the captives had just been rescued from.

Discussion moved on to the best way to get out of the caves and back to the Dell and Violet proposed leading the people back to the Holdfast by a more westerly route, and down the cliff path near it, and sending the Company back by the direct south route as the trail by the watch tree was the only practicable route into the Dell driving large numbers of livestock. The company where not in the least happy at this plan seeing that they would be they felt little more than bait for the goblin dog riders who would no doubt give chase even if they where not already waiting in ambush on that path.

In the end there where no decisions made as to long term planning but the Company did gather up bedding from the slaughter cave as well as the priests clothes from the side complex to clothe them better against the journey and hand out the recovered goblin knives short swords and shields so as to make them look more of a threat to any goblins they might come across. Violet also handed out all of the food she had taken from the ranger’s cache but it was a very meagre amount when divided amongst the company and the released captives.

There was some grumbling from Aetlred hinting that Violet had hidden this food from the company, which was largely ignored as is, much wise or foolish he says. So as prepared as they may be they headed out the company taking point as any goblin attack was probably going to be from the front.

When the company approached the entry to the back of the mouth cave, Lalia and Thans where pressed to scout ahead. It was obvious that the sun had almost set outside the caves and it was growing quite dark outside. Lalia and Thans sneaked forward until they where about level with the entrances from the eye caves but spotted no goblins yet.  Continuing forward with even more caution neither of them saw any thing, until Thans stood on some unseen debris on the floor which crushed under his Dwarvish boot with a loud report, and both Thans and Lalia froze. It was a loud enough report that it attracted the attention of the group of goblins crouched outside the grill across the entrance. They having good enough night sight spotted Thans. The one with a bow carefully knocked an arrow drew and less carefully loosed it at Thans. It missed completely but, Thans saw no wisdom wounded as he still was of braving any more arrows and with as much dignity as he could manage scampered back out of bow shot.

Lalia who had not noticed the goblins till one shot at Thans remained hidden considering her options before deciding the best one was to also return to the company. When they both arrived back with the rest of the company there followed a discussion and it was decided to go and fetch the table fort as it was not known how many goblins they faced. Thans had seen two or perhaps three and one arrow had been loosed but at long range so the others might also have had bows just judged the long shot a waste of an arrow. 

When the Table fort had been fetched the company again split into two groups with the attack group of Thans, Lalia, Telec, Sondan Dvorn and Fawlit lugging the table with Heradin and Aetlred following in the rear with bows at the ready. Violet slipped into the shadows and made her way along the left hand side of the mouth cave an arrow knocked but not drawn.

The Goblins soon noticed the table fort lumbering forward and their one bowman loosed arrows at it as fast as he could with little effect apart form one which bouncing off the structure grazed Lalia. The goblins flighty at best become more spooked as the table fort closes in on them and when Violet who has by now moved into the perfect position loses one arrow which takes the goblin crouched to the left of the archer in the chest with sufficient force to knock him down despite glancing off the grill work on the way in the two remaining goblins decide the game is up and run quickly disappearing out of sight, before the attack team can drop the table fort and catch up with them, leaving their half dead companion to be sent on his way by Thans. With the goblins driven off the company take a breather after lugging the heavy and quite cumbersome table fort from one end of the caves to the other and prepare for the next stage.

Having had a short rest, Sondan and Aetlred are chosen to scout ahead and most particularly discover what is going on with the goblin’s dogs as they are they company believes a worse threat than the goblins themselves. Leaving the gate in the grill the pair head right towards the dogs chorale, Aetlred examines the tracks in the soft ground whilst, Sondan sword drawn holds a torch and ponders if the half ork or one other dwarves might be better at this than him as he scanned the gloom for   goblins. As they approach the chorale it is silent and there seems to be no goblin in the watch post beside it and more importantly Aetlred notices that there are a lot of fairly fresh dog tracks leaving the area heading south. He decides not to investigate this right away but to reconnoitre the dogs’ chorale and the shed at the back of it. Sondan follows warily as Aetlred his ward examines tracks and works out that there were at least fourteen dogs with five of them with riders. Aetlred decides to enter the shed, he lights a second torch form Sondan’s brand and leaving Sondan on guard outside.

Aetlred enters first forcing his torch into the soft ground just inside the door he begins to rake thought the mess of bedding and debris inside the shed, with the point of his heavy spear. Shortly metal catches metal and Aetlred spotting the cause a small disk of yellow metal bends down to investigate. He finds it’s a bronze disk broach in good condition if a bit dirty rubbing it to remove the muck he sees that there is a design on it of a radiant flame on it, in which with a little more rubbing is revealed an open gate and then fleetingly a ring of gently glowing dwarven writing and Aetlred is some where else and its very dark.

Outside Sondan hears a loud pop and looks in to find Aeltred’s newly lit torch stuck in the ground and the bedding and debris of the dogs den freshly disturbed but Aetlred gone. Sondan ever the good soldier decides to report back as this is very much beyond his pay grade.

(At this point the narrative splits and the two next sections actually happened at the same time.)

Sondan who is fearful of very little but understands urgency legs it back to where the rest of the company are crouched in the gate of the mouth cave where he relays what he had heard Aetlred mumble about the dogs, which was not all that much and that Aetlred has vanished.  Pushed to explain he says he just cannot, it’s suggested that as he was supposed to be looking after Aetlred this was some how his fault, Sondan bites his tongue at this but it stings what else could he do it was not something he could fight, Aetlred just vanished with a pop he adds and the company better have a look and see if they can work out what happened.

As usual there is some discussion and while the majority of the company head straight to the dog’s chorale to investigate Aeltred’s vanishing. Violet moves forward to determine where the dogs went and quickly discovers that there where fourteen dogs five of which had riders on all of which rode south as a pack at about the same time the fight around the captives prison took place. Mean while the rest of the company inspects the dog shed and finds it as Sondan said, Aeltred’s torch still stuck in the ground near the entrance illuminating the place and a couple of Aeltred’s soft boot prints showing where he stood and raked through the bedding and that he then walked forward a step or two then no more. Perhaps because he vanished at that point or perhaps because no one in the company present is enough of a tracker to pick up any step he might have made onto the disturbed bedding. They stood and starred they had Heradin look for any traces of magic, and he found none not being sufficiently talented at arcane lore even to be aware the sort of magic that had effected Aetlred existed  not to mention having no spells to divine any thing. Expected Telec to discern the actions of some divine power and he was just as much at a los as Heradin. In the end the company called out to Violet who had by this time finished working out where the dogs had gone and asked her opinion but she was equally none the wiser but she did suggest that as it was very late and every one was hurt it might be an idea if the company took shelter some where for the night, especially as she and doubtless the others who had use of their gods power, but it was spent, would find it rejuvenated after a nights sleep. There is some agreement with this but no one wants to try to sleep in a cave full of goblins, even if those goblins are at least for now cowed. Eventually it is decided that the best place to shelter is the dwarf hold and Heradin suggests the abandoned inn. However no one wants to have the captives have to climb up the ropes from the kitchen cave to the sink hole above and thence through the hole in the wall to the entry stairs of the dwarf hold.

Some one points out that the sink hole in which the captives where held appears to have broken into the dwarf hold and that it might be quite possible to break through the crude wall the goblins have built to block it off. So Thans and Heradin work to loosen some stones form the wall and when they have done that Thans leaves Heradin to supervise as every one else able bodied piles in to remove the wall, those who can’t work to gather up as many of the goblins torches as they can and to move the goblin barriers across the two passages which lead further in.

Thans goes and recovers the companies precious rope from the sink hole and by the time he returns with it the wall on the east side of the prison is cleared revealing a worn version of the tribute corridor, one which seems at least to have been partially flooded in the distant past. They step into the corridor and move towards the closed stone gate at the end. Noticing as they do the decaying bodies of a number of goblins and that the globe by the door is down. Some one hisses not Elvish no Brandobian. Despite their age and the long ago ingress of water the door opens smoothly when the word friend is spoken in Dwarvish as the illusory speaker requests and they enter the tribute hall with the company in the lead. Briefly stopping to once again marvel at the wall paintings but soon broken from that reverie by an unfamiliar stench of acrid decay.

Aetlred became aware that he was all alone some where dark and quite empty judging by the echo, briefly he wondered where his torch was then remembered leaving it stuck in the ground in the dog shed. Aetlred cursed, where was he then as his eyes adapted to the dark he became aware he was not alone nor was it totally dark. There are others and a faint light coming from one of them who is standing half crouched presenting something which is emitting a weak but comforting light and softly incanting a prayer. At Aeltred’s feet is an elf of exceptionally powerful build that appears to be dying slowly bleeding out from half a dozen wounds. Other less recognisable items litter the floor all around most seem to be body parts of beasts the whole of Aetlred devoutly hopes never to meet. Broken gear, crushed masonry and the lower leg and foot of what Aetlred believes to be a dwarf still wearing a heavy nailed ankle boot and bloodied striped trews. Beyond the comforting light is Aetlred can see a deeper soul eating darkness.  The Darkness is closing in as the praying figure’s light very slowly fades. Aetlred wonders what to do and feeling his spear would be useless falls to trying to stop the unknown elf dying, futile as that might be with the soul eating darkness closing in and resolving into hellish geometries. 

A powerful voice speaks a single word of power and the darkness is gone as if it never was and the light flares as bright as day for an instant. Even crouched attending to the wounded elf Aetlred notices there is a new arrival in the tribute chamber of the ancient dwarf hold a tall powerfully built Dwarf in a blue tunic with yellow and crimson edging red trousers and riding boots of a similar sort to the ones Heradin wears toped off by a mustard coloured cap of the sort Alerted had only ever seen in the speaking illusionary images here and in the hold under the Meliac’s farm. The Dwarf spoke, in low Elvish thought Aetlred, very strange as he was sure he heard after echoes in another harsher tongue. The wounded elf at Aeltred’s feet groans and begins to come around and the crouching man wielding the light like a weapon turns to face the new comer.  They exchange introductions and Aetlred learns the names of those present. The Dwarf is Zildor, nothing more, no surname no title no elaborate recitation of lineage as if none of that where really needed. The Man was apparently Americ Estvaran chaplain to the Company of the Liberators of the Blight Scar and the wounded elf was Nyssarr a warrior from that company. The priest speaks as Nyssarr was too wounded saying did not know how they had come to be here as they had last been trapped in some sort of under ground cavern beset on all sides by demons. Some they had fought off but the ones made of nothing more than malevolent darkness where beyond them. He then thanks Zildor for dealing with them and asks where they are, leaving the question as to how they got there mute. Zildor nods and answers both you are a very long way from home and there is no need to thank him for dealing with a few vermin, the nonchalant way the dwarf dismissed the easy destruction of the likely end of all of them was rather alarming. All of this conversation to Aetlred seems to have been conducted in the low Elvish of his mother tongue. Aetlred decided to make a contribution and asks Zildor what the broach he found is reasoning that it was the cause of his being down here so suddenly and in the first place answers politely but some what abruptly in the typical manner of a blasted dwarf Aetlred can’t help thinking.

The broach Zildor explains is one of several that he made long ago and has only one magic to it and that it to transport the person handling it   to the nearest working gate on the king’s road. The magic is quite powerful and will do this over considerable distances regardless of any barrier, Aetlred begins to see and it crosses his mind that the broach is a perfect escape form any difficult situation. Zildor corrects him as he says there is no way of choosing which gate you go to, nor is there any guarantee that the location of the kings gate is any more safe than where he is already the broach just seeks the nearest regardless of all other considerations. Aetlred asks why every one can understand each other and seems to be specking Aeltred’s native tongue; Zildor replies that this is a function of the gate which will for a while after its use do that its part of the magic built into them

After answering that question Zildor wishes them good day as he is rather busy and came here himself for some peace and quiet to get some work done and he is gone as abruptly as he arrived

Leaving Aetlred and the two strangers together in the light of Americ’s flickering magical light. Aetlred takes charge and the strangers do not intervene to prevent him he attends to Nyassers’s wounds which are several and quite deep despite his mail and Americ who is unhurt but proves to have quite a bit of magical healing helps healing his comrade and Aetlred  who is himself quite wounded from his pervious adventures. He also offers to lead the pair of them out of the cavern but warns them that none of them will be able to understand each other after they leave the circle of the gate and its translating magic. The two strangers also having heard what Zildor said are already aware of this but have not yet grown weary of this habit of Aeltred’s. The strangers agree and follow Aetlred south down the tribute corridor to the entrance hall and begin to ascend the stairs towards the hole in the wall which leads to the sink hole and thence to the surface.

The Company soon notice the cause of the stink of rotting the platform in the middle of the room is no longer empty. Instead it is littered with rotting body parts form hideous creatures, wings and clawed legs and arms as well as a great deal of thick black blood. The only sane thing found is the left foot and calf of what was probably a dwarf also well decayed. Despite the stink several of the company stopped to investigate the remains Heradin could make little of them and his best opinion was that the wyrd magic he and Aetlred had believed the raised platform and its now slightly sparkling gems involved in when they had examined it before but beyond that his grasp of the theory of magic gave him no guide. Telec was sure that the body parts where from some sort of demon, Violet was sure he was right especially after she found a small token with some abyssal script scratched on it a name Herkarat and Lalia found a single gold coin which had been sewn in between the layers of leather of the sole of the dwarfs boot it was old and worn but very defiantly gold so she slipped it into her pouch. Eventually however the cloying stink of the rapidly rotting flesh overcame their curiosity and the investigators decided to get on with their original plan. To move to the ancient Dwarf inn and spend the night there.  Though Violet who had seen none of the dwarf hold at all before this had to suppress her with to go and explore further. The group lead by the company therefore moved on and noticing that the south door was open and for some reason they decided to go that way rather than east as they had planed.

The south corridor was as they had discovered in the Companies visit thought the ball had apparently retracted into the ceiling again, but the whispered call went round no Elvish no Brandobian. After which the company proceeded into the entry hall, and paused to look at the wall paintings there, by chance looking up Violet noticed a light flickering at the top of the stairs not a natural light to white, magic. Jumpy because of finding the evidence of the enemy in the goblin caves Violet drew an arrow knocked it and loosed it almost before any one else was aware she had seen any thing much less what. The arrow shot form her bow speeding up into the darkness towards the light bearer who it missed being aimed a little too far to the right of them striking Aetlred a glancing blow fortunately, but it still staggered the frail half elf. Nyassor ever suspicious unslung his crossbow as Americ raised his light and brightened it. Then Violet realised he mistake and lowered he bow calling up profuse apologies in broken Brandobian. Aetlred recovered enough to signal to Nyassor to lower his aim and indicate that the shot was a mistake amongst friends all be it a damniably painful one. Aetlred and his two companions descended the stairs slowly and the rest of the company waited for them arms lowered wondering who Aeltred’s new friends where.

Aeltred’s new friends put up their weapons and relaxed and looked at those they approached a score of scruffy ill armed militia types save the one in knightly mail who oddly lacked ether a helm or a shield or a weapon beyond a common walking staff, only the Tiefling ranger looked like one who truly knew her business. That said Aetlred who they some how trusted looked to be little more than an elfin child, playing at being a hero. Those behind them dressed in dirty linen tunics and rags of cloth and ill cured fur armed with long knives and humanoid bucklers had even less about them to impress. On the Other hand the company saw Aeltred’s new friends and they looked rather as if they knew the trade of adventuring and where properly equipped for it. The Human wore a simple steel helmet and a sleeveless steel scaled tunic metal over a quilted long sleeved gambeson, reinforced leather bracers and had a nasty looking mace type weapon hanging at his belt. He was booted and hung about with satchels and haversacks doubtless full of the sort of gear the company would like to have. The massively built elfish looking figure still holding a very nasty steel spanned cross bow though now not pointing it at any one looked even more warlike in his mail coat and nazeled helm with a long curved sword at his hip was also hung about with adventuring gear. He squinted grimly his outlandish eyes little more than red slits in the cold pure white light of his companions magical light. This was no doubt a cold killer and one it was to be hoped was on your side.

As the three reached the base of the stairs Violet came forward and profusely apologised to Aetlred for shooting him and offered to see to his wound but Aetlred never the most socially adept rather snubbed the apology and  said he wasn’t hurt that badly and would sort it out after he had introduced his new friends.  He did just that, relaying the whole tale of what had happened since he vanished in the dog shed and pointing out that neither of his companions spoke a language any of the company was going to understand, but the situation felt more than a little awkward even so.

In the end Telec suggested that they should carry on to the inn and in addition some one should go back and get a pig form the animal enclosure above and as no one had eaten much or properly they should organise a hog roast to cheer themselves all up. This was done and the evening ended in some festivity for all concerned even given the lack of ale or in many cases a common language eventually most of the company drifted away to sleep but not before Telec and Sondan had organised a watch to be kept in the passage near the entrance they had made form the goblin caves.

Whilst the Company and the released captives slept replete and happier than they had been for several days in the relative safety of the inn in the ancient dwarf hold Aetlred fell to dreaming.

Annual Muster officially began at noon, with the blessing of the festival by Lord Amulun Duke of Ebaran himself, ruler of Ebaran. The crowd gathered in Temple Square quieted as the aged inquisitor took the stage, clad in shining, resplendent armor. He cleared his throat, but just as he was about to speak, a bright light shone from the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction. Amulun Duke of Ebaran’s shadow fell huge and distorted across the Great Temple’s facade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion ripped through the air and earth, along with a violent tremor.

To the west, the fortress known as the Great Bastion the location of Ebaran’s pale stone had vanished. In its place, a brilliant plume of red fire, lightning, and very black smoke which erupted into the heavens. A moment later, a powerful roar rent the air and was followed by a welcome sight rising from the crowd Ebaran’s greatest guardian, the ancient dragon Alakarennassamur, who had until that moment been attending the opening ceremony disguised as a human. Above, another form appeared, as nightmarish as the dragon was breathtaking. A humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightning, gripped a flaming sword and whip. The creature’s identity was immediately obvious: Valaxdev, the Storm King of the Blight Scar, had come to Ebaran!

As the ground continued to shake and disgorge demons into the streets, the dragon and the Demon lord clashed above. The fight was over in a few harrowing moments, as the Demon cut deep into Alakarennassamur’s body, swooping down to strike the dragon and arresting her charge. A few more blows, and the titanic duo spiraled downward toward the crowd.

The sight of the dragon smashing into the facade of the Great Temple of Ebaran one no witness would ever forget. At that moment, a titanic demon erupted at the far end of the plaza, reducing several buildings to ruins as it smashed into this world. The rift it created shot across the square opening up a great chasm, and this time there was no escape it opened below your feet, and every where the shocked attendees of the great annual muster fell  away into darkness.

Even as you fell, cruelly wounded by the Demon lord’s blade the dragon noticed your plight. Though she saw death standing over her, she seized this final chance to save a few more souls. After she uttered a few rasping words of power words and stretched out a blooded talon in your direction, you felt her magic take hold of you, slowing your plummet into the darkness as if you were feathers falling into a pit. Yet the fall remained as inexorable, and as you drifted downward into the depths, the last thing you saw was the Storm King standing before the ancient silver dragon, his sword lashing out and cleaving full through her neck. As her severed head fell, the rift above you slammed shut, and the light of the world above was gone.

At this Aetlred awoke with a mighty start and found himself in a cold sweat, the good sprits conjured by the hog roast quite gone. Around him his companions still slept, this annoyed Aetlred for no good reason and convinced he would not sleep again that night he resolved to get to the bottom of the dream or what he was sure was a dream even though it was as vivid and disturbing as if he had actually lived it.

Aetlred snaffled a couple of scraps from the remains of last nights feast and came to a conclusion that the damned big dwarf knew something more about what was going on than he had told and resolved to beard him in his lair. With this determination in mind Aetlred marched down to the tribute hall, and after glancing almost apprehensively in the direction of the gate thing he turned and hammered on the carved doors to the north. Shortly he had an answer as a postern he had not even seen opened in the door and the same large dwarf told him to come in. Which some what nervously Aetlred did entering a bright clean hall beautifully decorated in the same sort of style as the dwarven houses the company had explored lit by crystal lamps and furnished like some sort of wizards study  from Aeltred’s imagination with the walls lined with shelves of books high chairs and a work table covered with scrolls and wyrd looking maps,  a writing desk and a pair of armchairs .

The Dwarf rather behaved as if he had been expecting Aetlred. Being a hospitable soul for all his apparent grumpiness and not tolerating idiots at all well, Zildor offered Aetlred a mug of good ale and a very comfortable chair and offered to answer any of the questions Aetlred might need answering. Aetlred was a bit shocked as in his mind dwarves came in two sorts the full of themselves sort, Thans, and the miserable and taciturn, Heradin.

Zildor said that the thing outside in the tribute hall was a gate on the king’s road built by his apprentice Aildor who had settled here some thirty thousand local years ago or more. When a prince of Zildor’s people had answered a cry for help from the dwarves of this realm and Aildor had gone with him. The two strangers where not from the same realm but form a place a long way away which was much beset by primal chaotic evils, Zildor believed, how they had come here in particular was not clear but Zildor suspected that some powerful magic they had used had synched in with the kings gate outside causing it to operate as if they had stepped form one active gate to another.

The creatures found in parts on the gate where the foot soldiers of that evil slain by the strangers and their missing companions and the vermin he had destroyed where a more elite soldier of that same evil. Zildor added that these elite soldiers these chaotic evil outsiders and something which had no place in this realm and that was why he had destroyed them as he did.

The  strangers where in all likely hood far to far form home ever to return at least not without magic of the power which had brought them hence and that was not something Zildor believed would be found in this realm. Zildor could be wrong as he admitted to not knowing a great deal about the details of this realm after all he said he came here form else where to be able to work in peace and quiet and the guest rooms Aildor had built where convenient for that and rather a home away form home.

The strangers did speak learnable languages, but that in the mean time it was quite possible to translate them using magic. Indeed there was a simple spell which would work in this realm to do just that and it so happened that he had a scroll of it to hand. Zildor told Aetlred that the spell could be cast once from the scroll by any one with the ability to read the language of dwarves but doing so would consume the scroll so that it would be better given to a wizard so that that individual could use it to learn the spell and so have it to hand. There where also some notes on the scroll to help in learning the spell and a couple of other spells an aspiring mage should find useful. Zildor went to the writing desk picked up a beautifully tooled leather scroll case and handed to Aetlred who had the presence of mind to clip it to his belt.

  

Aetlred asked Zildor about the dream and whist he did not understand all that much of the answer he got he did remember it in detail. The dream he had was almost certainly a true memory of the events which lead the strangers to use whatever magic they had used however it was not a memory of Aeltred’s but rather that of one of the strangers missing companions with who Aetlred had some how fused as they had appeared in the same place in the same time. Aetlred being the native here, and perhaps with the other being in the process of dying had provided the majority of the fusion but that fragments of the other would likely rise to the surface from time to time.

The conversation after that touched on several subjects the majority of which Aetlred cant now recall as he  was by this point overcome by the tiredness of the day before having had but a couple of hours sleep before the dream woke him. Aetlred did remember asking Zildor about the overlord and Zildor saying after a discussion the details of which are very vague that he, Zildor could if needed kill it, however there would be consequences and it would be better if the problem was dealt with locally Eventually the fatigue and the ale took hold Aetlred dozed off and had a rather pleasant sleep one he greatly needed, and dreamed romantically of Halflings.

Whilst Aetlred was dreaming in the Wizards very comfortable over stuffed chair the rest of the company awoke arranged itself a breakfast of oat cakes baked form the last of the fruit porridge by one of the villagers and cold cuts form the remains of the hog roast from the precious night. Then whilst the rest arranged to break camp those who where injured received magical healing and first aid from Violet, Telec and Linamar, it was some time during this activity that it became apparent that Aetlred had gone missing yet again and after some moaning the company set about to go and look for him. At around the same time Americ finished his morning prayers and tried to heal his companion Nyassor and discovered to his alarm that the powers granted to him by his Devine lord had not as he would have expected refreshed after a nights sleep and the proper meditation and prayer. He would have liked to ask his new companions about this but seeing as the old dwarf wizard had said he and his friend had no language in common with them   he could not do so. Besides by the time he had discovered the awful truth the Villagers where in the middle of breaking camp and every one of the adventuring company seemed to have gone off about some urgent business or other so all that could be done was to check Nyassor’s wounds where healing and to leave nature to take its course. Not that the grim and often silent elf would complain regardless of the hardship. Americ for the first time, since he arrived in this strange land and possibly since he had met them on the road to Ebaran regretted the absence of the annoying halfling wizard

After the company had sought Aetlred for some time and asked the guard post if he had passed that way and where told he had not. Violets and others attempts to track him failed as his rangers soft soled boots left no track any one could follow on the hard stone floors. It was noticed during the search that all the body parts scattered across the dais in the tribute room had rotted away to nothing and all that remained was a few nails from the dwarven boot.

In the end Aetlred reappeared without being found, be with a tale about going and talking with the wizard he had mentioned in his previous account of what had happened after he had disappeared. He even had a scroll case as evidence. Handing this to Heradin, who quickly opened it and found it contained a solitary spell scroll. As Heradin examined it Aetlred told him rather eagerly that the wizard wanted him to learn that. Heradin returned a rather typical skeptical look and decided that he would take a proper look at it latter.

(Authors note source credit:- Aeltreds dream sequence is adapted form the introduction to the Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous adventure path with sufficient changes to make the  spoilers minimal, I would also like to recommend the whole adventure as a very good one indeed )