Vulūne 5-8, 652 DR: Returned to Ōddon group meets with Lord Yurander. Jak is confronted at dinner. Alcèrra performs services in the family crypt for Lisilla’s children. Evidence of Danokite activity is found alive and well in Ōddon. Foulstern arrives, makes a temporary peace, and suggests the company leave. In the Ghûlwood the group is ambushed by thieves and a manticore. A thieves’ den is found and emptied.
Continued from Four From Ironhold.
Wōdìndor, 5 Vulūne 652
Arriving at Kry Ōddon the welcomed group dismounted and met with different people. Jak the Red and Kaithah walked to the main tower to talk with Ðr. Enthor, Alcèrra was pulled aside by the Chamberlain Felze and given a long note, and Mishara went in search of the wizard Idus. Idus, Mishara was told that he had left days before, but left the Eylfāe the items he’d lent to look over.
Iyldor, 6 Vulūne 652
On the morning of the 6th, Mishara was summoned to the throne of Lord Orun Yurander who related to the Eylfāe a story about an Eylfāe “spy” found dead in the gutters of Oð some forty years prior. The old Lord asked whether Mishara had anything to do with this, and Mishara assured him that he did not. Sometime during this meeting, Kaithah ingratiated herself to the Lord and offered to play music at some upcoming event. The Lord, losing his chain of thought, felt this was a wonderful idea, and dismissed the group.
Mishara spent the day wandering the streets of Ōddon. He was harassed briefly in the street by a few of the Lords’ Men whose armies were camped outside town. Following that nuisance he found a cutlery and ordered a scabbard to be made by the proprietor Acharal who gave the Eylfāe a hard time about buying for a woman. Afterward, Mishara wandered toward the docks and met a young boy fishing. Mishara and the boy walked to a nearby wood where the Eylfāe created a crude bow and set of arrows for the orphan. The Eylfāe did not fully concentrate on his art as he was observing the nearby encampment while carving.
That night, at the Lord’s Dinner, Kaithah played some delightful tunes for Old Yurander while arguments elevated around the dining table. Jak, having worn his ancient armor to the dinner, piqued the curiosity of one of the invited guest, a Ðard of the Iron Order, Ðr. Geran, leader of the army camped outside Portage. After some questions the ðard accused Jak with the invasion of Kryr Shùrulm and possible collusion with the Eylfāe, Mishara. Ðr. Enthor stood in the defense of Jak’s character, explaining that they he’d helped defend Kry Ōddon during the recent siege. Ðr. Geran was unconvinced and agreed to summon Foulstern, the Lord’s adviser, to settle the matter. With the argument at an end Ðr. Geran asked permission of the Lord to excuse himself, and departed. Across the table, Ðr. D’Çirr chuckled bemusedly while the Lord’s first son silently slid from the room. Kaithah resumed playing her tunes.
Irídor, 7 Vulūne 652
Map
Roydor, 8 Vulūne 652
The next morning, Jak was summoned to the keep courtyard where he found a lonely figure standing in a rain-drenched cloak. Drawing nearer, he recognized Foulstern who had arrived during the early morning hours. Foulstern explained that Ðr. Geran wouldn’t cause more problems for the next couple days, but that the group should leave Ōddon before the ðard learned the truth. Jak did not question Foulstern’s actions but instead gathered his friends and set out north, into the Ghûlwood. In the wooded and rocky woods they were ambushed by the arrows of several bandits’ hiding to either side of the road. Alcèrra wheeled her horse around leaving the battle for the others. The bandits were swiftly routed. Mishara fired an arrow deep into the woods felling one fleeing bandit at the limits of his sight. After looting the ambushers, Jak and Mishara raced into the woods after the final bandit.
In a half-hour’s time, the two lost the bandit’s tracks amiss a jumble of stones. Searching among the rocky outcroppings they were soon attacked by barbs, whistling through the air. The barbs were followed by a massive winged monster leaping into the air. Mishara began firing at the roaring creature, but he pulled one back too far, and it splintered on his bow. In a hail of the tail barbs, the creature dove through the charred trees and rain. The Eylfāe tried to find cover behind some of the low foliage but the creature plowed into him, savagely tearing at the archer with its large teeth. Jak rushed the creature and soon impaled the thing to the muddy forest floor. After searching the creature’s cave they continued deeper into the Ghûlwood.
Finding a cabin, Jak and Mishara carefully followed the disappearing footprints to the front door. Kicking and knocking in the boarded window they unlocked the door and enter the bandit’s lair. Jak opened a side door and a small smoking pouch bounced out the darkness. Jak lunged forward into the darkness with his spear. A sword from the shadows found his back, but Mishara cut at the arm and it withdrew. With the Eylfāe’s help Jak found one resident and throated him. Turning into the darkness he talked a moment with the remaining bandit, who accepting his fate, told Jak that his life was done for the sword that had cut into his back was poisoned. Jak asked for an anecdote but learned that the bandits of the Ghûlwood don’t believe in such things. Mishara watched as Jak the Red ripped his spear out of one man, and planted it into the second. The two found a small strongbox under the floor and returned an hour through the rain toward their waiting friends. When Alcèrra finished praying over the dead, the group continued north into the darkening evening. With night almost upon them, they turned East toward Genter for the night.
Continued in Ēgùlðar’s Rest.
Characters
- Alcèrra Nàdrelan
- Jak of Cænden
- Kaithah Argentale
- Mishara Mythdaras
- Acharal
- Ðr. Algamar Geran
- Idus
- Lisilla Yurander
- Ogimir Foulstern
- Orun Yurander
- Orun Yurander II
- Ðr. Reger D’Çirr
Played: 10 Apr 1998