Vulūne 13-17, 652 DR: An Ogdar’s favor introduces Tressta to the company. Traveling from the Town of Genter the group visits Kyrm Oryroð and are given a “tour”. A journey to Cænden reunites Dammon with the party and the decision is made to carry Kaithah Argentale’s remains to her hometown of Eldarkar, though none know exactly where it lay.

Continued from The Vullinshrith Cabal.

Virídor, 13 Vulūne 652

One can’t see much of Genter through the chained shutters of Ēgùlðar’s Rest. The few days time for rest dragged numbingly in the barren stone room, it was time to move on. Gathering their items, and the bundled shape of of their dead companion, the group retraced their bloodied footsteps down through the inner courtyard where they were met by an armed escort to lead them from the town. Outside the Rest, Alcèrra was called around the corner by the Ogdar befriended days before. The Ogdar spoke haltingly and with as much secrecy as it could muster, explaining that a friend needed to escape from the town. Egrod led a woman wearing a bright red cloak to the awaiting horsed escort. Mishara offered the beautiful woman a ride with him and the group rode from town.

During their ride to Oð, the woman introduced herself as Tressta and asked to accompany the group in their travels for some time, to further distance herself from Genter. The group agreed and found that the woman’s surpassing knowledge of the Oðic streets, led them unerringly along uneven avenues from the Sulyard to the Temple Ward. At Kyrm Oryroð, Alcèrra and Jak sought audience with Cr. Dalam, who had sent them to reconnoiter Ironhold in early Lanal. Dalam thanked them for their service and permitted them stabling and rooms for the night. At the evening dinner the group was given some small insight into Tressta’s manipulative nature, when she convinced a temple priest to give her and her new friends a “tour” of the temple. The priest, smitten by the Taládan woman, led the group to the Hall of Sentinels and an observation balcony near the temple’s summit dubbed simple, the Lookout. At the lookout the group spoke briefly with an older priest who coughed raggedly and breathed deeply of the oily black soot that was rising from the Iron Temple’s many smokestacks and chimneys.

Palídor, 14 Vulūne 652

In the morning the group rode north and west through the Temple Gate, where Mishara once again was hailed briefly by the swords-woman Citalla Marenzon. Allowed passage through the gate, despite a suspicious parcel on the group’s packhorse, the group exited the city wall and headed north through the city’s borough’s until they reached the marsh town of Cænden from the southwest. Within Cænden they were soon reunited with Dammon Shroudson who spoke little of his interim away from the group. Jak told his fiancee Dadra of plans he’d made at the Temple of Roð for their marriage on the upcoming winter solstice. His homecoming was abbreviated as his bride-to-be rushed off to speak with her mother and sisters about preparations. The group spent the night at Jak’s humble home.

Alídor, 15 Vulūne 652

With the decision made to carry Kaithah’s body back to her home, the group set north from Cænden toward the Nar Drūden. Exiting the marsh they came upon the peasant guards of Wesridge who asked a toll to open the marsh gate. During the ensuing debate one of the guards complained of a pain, and soon stumbled from his gate top perch to stone street below. Tressta scaled the short gate, and unlocked it from the other side allowing the group through. On the other side they found one guard standing over the body of his dead companion. Many stares and comments were thrown at Dammon for the wounds on the guard’s body were from claws. Riding forward, the group traveled through Wesridge and Truden, following a country road toward Woodkeep before turning north into the wood. The evening found the group riding through heavy forest until they came upon a large outcrop of rock that nearly broke from the tree line. Mishara and Tressta climbed the giant stone to find the top covered with strange shamanic carvings. Turning the two faced an Urdar watching them from the tree line. The Urdar explained that the rock was holy and after further pitiful attempts to communicate, the Eylfāe and Tressta climbed back down without incident.

Kændor, 16 Vulūne 652

That night, during Mishara’s watch more Urdar moved forward into the night despite the spell Dammon wove to protect them. These Urdar re-stated the fact that these were Urdari lands and that the group should move on in morning.

The next day the group continued their slow ride through the thick Nar Drūden, making their own paths through the dark and ancient trees, along winding streams, and between hills that covered the upper the woods. Once they passed a rural cabin, to find bird-like creatures with curved swords regarding them as they passed. Deciding not to meet the creatures the group rode around them.

Malídor, 17 Vulūne 652

On the evening of the second day since leaving the Urdari rock, they entered upon a traveled road that cut west and east through the forest. Jak could smell the nearby bay and knew that they’d traveled the depth of the forest. From the east, three horseman approached from around a bend wearing shining steel with red and black vestments. They stopped and spoke in Dekàlari, the tongue of the Old Empire. After a short discussion with Dammon and Alcèrra, the patrol bid the priestess farewell and continued their patrol. Alcèrra explained to the group that the patrol’s leader had warned that the area was dangerous, and to stay clear of the Scarred Wastes, and military actions that were underway. The anachronistic soldiers seemed intent on securing ancient boundaries.

Continued in Wōd’s Embrace.

Characters

• Alcèrra Nàdrelan
• Dammon Shroudson
• Jak of Cænden
• Kaithah Argentale: dead
• Mishara Mythdaras
• Tressta Drynsval
• Citalla Marenzon
• Dadra Rumm
• Familiar
• Ēgùlðar
• Egrod
• Eurala
• Gæl
• Kurth
• Cr. Orad Shildder
• Reine: killed
• Cr. Sarus the Blind
• Cr. Urik Godshammer

Played: 12 Jun 1998