Vulūne 8-12, 652 DR: The group finds a “safe” inn near the heart of Genter. Alcèrra makes a large friend. Greetings lead to meetings which lead to tragedy at the hands of a Saránði contingent. Kaithah Argentale dies.

Continued from Allies and Ambushes.

Roydor, 8 Vulūne 652

Lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating the high black walls of the distant city. The soaked and tired travelers turned their slowing horses east toward Genter, passed the gathering onlookers. The weary riders could not have noticed the scout running away through the streets, but did hear the hoof beats of the soldiers riding to meet and escort them forward. The group rode through the uninviting streets, peering out from beneath their hoods at the shadowy figures stepping from the darkness of alleys and doorways, to watch them pass. One of the guards explained that these were “scavengers” in a tongue similar to Old Oðic. Inside the small city, the group arrived at a stone building lined with arrow slits. The front passageway was guarded by a smiling and beaten Ogdar who the priestess Alcèrra saw fit to heal. The Ogdar smiled wider and said his named was “Ēgrod, a friend.” The group turned and rode through the tight passage into the building.

Eurala, a young blinded woman welcomed the visitors and saw to their tired and wet horses. One of the soldiers pointed them toward a door on the lower level of the fortress, explaining that it was the tavern and that arrangements could be made there. The group settled in the tavern, near a large stone fireplace to warm and dry themselves. Jak, Kaithah, and Mishara ordered expensive Anàhlāen wine, the taste of filled Jak with good cheer for hours. A narrow scarred man approached the table and spoke with Mishara and Alcèrra for a moment, concerning their order of the Eylfāe-wine. After a moment, the man offered a greeting from the Fat Man to Mishara before turning away and settling in the far corner with his thug. After eating, the group retired to their second story rooms, pulling the smiling Jak behind them. While situating themselves in the room it was noticed that an armored contingent had arrived in the courtyard below. Kaithah wandered down to the next balcony to meet the soldiers but their language was strange and they didn’t speak much.

Sūdìdor, 9 Vulūne 652

In the morning the group gathered their things and started down toward the tavern for their breakfast. On the next balcony they encountered the armored contingent gathering themselves. Alcèrra stepped forward and spoke to the group in Dekàlic. An older man pushed his way forward and introduced himself as Olwiryn, Priest of Orynder. The groups decided to meet together for breakfast, and did so minutes later in the tavern. During the ensuing conversation, Alcèrra learned that Olwiryn considered Oð to be a “conquered city” and insisted that she was speaking Dekàlic incorrectly. Another conversation down the table turned toward Mishara, as Ticia, a servant of the armored Saránðyr, asked what Mishara was. Mishara did not understand the language and so Kaithah tried to answer, realizing that in the older human languages there was no nice way to say Eylfāe. After a couple attempts she got the message across however. The Saránðyr looked momentarily startled, and then Olwiryn called his followers to kill the enemy.

Mishara dodged across the room and began firing arrows at each opponent that distinguished themselves from the melee. Kaithah played a song which flashed across the gathered tables in a rainbow of blinding colors, causing one soldier to topple from the tabletop. Jak charged Olwiryn and set to occupying the robed man, who fought back ably with a broadsword. Alcèrra turned and stabbed with her trident, the head having been affixed for her meeting with the Saránðyn priest. Two of the soldiers converged swiftly on Kaithah, cutting her to the ground.

One, which had leaped to a tabletop was cut short with Eylfāe arrows sunk deep into his helmet. The room was filled with arrows and flashing blades. Colain the ðard, cut through Kaithah and stepped across her body to the begin hacking at Alcèrra. Alcèrra called for Ēgrod, who had poked his head through the door only minutes before. The door burst open and the misshapen Ogdar charged to Alcèrra’s defense, turning the ðard’s attention from the priestess to itself. Alcèrra took the opportunity to heal Jak who had fallen while fending off the priest and two soldiers. Alcèrra cast a “choking spell” on the priest of Orynder, summoning ghostly hands to throttle the swordsman priest. The priest crawled toward Jak as he pulled himself to his feet and ran a sword blade into his side, dropping the spearman into the gathering pool of his own blood. Soldiers turned and charged Mishara but his arrows proved too lethal. Ēgrod slashed at the knight with his inhuman strength, cutting deep into the man’s leg, crippling him. The ðard returned the favor with a swift stab to the Ogdar’s chest. Ēgrod crumpled to the floor with low, resonant groan. Mishara fired arrow after arrow at the priest, preventing the murderous priest from closing on Alcèrra and Jak’s body, while the priestess, her head swimming from the spells she’d cast, laid one last healing on Jak’s dying form. Badly injured, Olwiryn asked Orynder for forgiveness for this loss mission, before two more arrows silenced his prayer. The crippled ðard, muttering something about preventing the Eylfāe from stealing his soul, turned his sword tip and impaled himself against the tabletop.

The battle done, the group gathered what things they could. Alcèrra cast an “embalming” spell over Kaithah’s carved body, ceasing the seeping from the deep fissure in her flesh. Kaithah’s body was carried to the Saránði rooms where the party barricaded themselves for a long rest. Ēgùlðar the keeper arrived within the hour to learn the events that had transpired and explain that the room they had moved to was “paid” for the week’s remainder.

Talídor, 10 Vulūne 652

The next few days were spent recovering from wounds, and the loss of the bard.

Padídor, 11 Vulūne 652

Convalescing at Ēgùlðar’s Rest.

Bærídor, 12 Vulūne 652

Healed, the group decided to move toward Cænden, where Kaithah’s body could be interred.

Continued in The Vullinshrith Cabal.

Characters

• Alcèrra Nàdrelan
• Jak of Cænden
• Kaithah Argentale: killed
• Mishara Mythdaras
• Artus
• Balius
• Bolant
• Caloch: killed
• Colain: suicide
• Darain
• Ēgùlðar
• Ēgrod
• Ercian
• Escilvel
• Eurala
• Flartan: killed
• Garalon
• Gegdan: killed
• Godain
• Helagan
• Iralan
• Irrion
• Kan
• Marnigan
• Mesius
• Lene
• Lenger
• Nennias
• Olwiryn: killed
• Orveron
• Pellence
• Perlon: killed
• Ralkmon
• Rolienan
• Ticia
• Toria
• Urius
• Valion

Played: 02 May 1998