[Alliance] Chapter One: Session Three
The group found themselves at a small homestead, a farmland. However, the land had been desecrated beyond all belief. All of the corn has fallen off and withered to the ground with the husks and leaves blackened on the ground. Two farmhouses - a decent distance away through the forests - are in disrepair.
The group decides to go around the cornfield. It is hauntingly silent. Something had pushed its way through the cornstalks as several were broken on the ground.
Gilveradin was able to make note of footprints that seemed to have come from boots, but in addition there was evidence of other people there - not humans or elves. There was one footprint in particular that had the trademark two toes of trolls. He had seen trollprints before, and this was obviously one, though they had been concealed.
Gilveradin stops everyone.
Gil used his special senses to see if trolls lurked nearby. His elf senses sense there are four trolls nearby, from a half mile past the farm. Gil stands up.
Vel looks around using her mana wyrm's eyes, though the only thing she can see is that the land tainted. This was beyond anything she had been taught. Uther and Zap knew that land that had seen Necromancy or forbidden magics was often irreversibly changed. This could be some analog of that.
Uther assigned placements to the party members in the riding order: Ashwynn and Arator on his flanks, Gilveradin in the rear, and the rest in the middle.
Elissa looks in fear as she gazes upon the scene.
They follow a desecrated dirt road forward. Through the fog and the mist they see a four foot tall wall. The recognize it as a small guardian wall to a cemetery. But, the wall is broken down and the steel parts are snapped in half.
As they approached it was confirmed that all the graves were dug up. It was not a large cemetery as there were no more than 30 or 40 total.
Vel knew that it would take quite a few of average power level, or only one if someone was exceptionally powerful. She relayed this to the group.
The group was concerned, Uther was pissed. He ordered them forward, dismounting the horses. Gilveradin happened to notice the tracks continued through the cemetery, and they were accompanied by drag marks. They seemed to not be more than a day old.
They look inside the cemetery, and see that all have been opened and unearthed except one crypt.
Gil: “Should we check that crypt? They may still be there.”
Uther: “We might as well. I am loathe to leave enemies to my back”
There are also signs of battle. Possible sign of villagers fighting back, but not enough to stop what had happened. The tracks head directly to the crypt. They were also the freshest.
The tracks seem to head to the grave and stop. Stabbed straight through it’s chest and impaled to the grave with a pitchfork, they see a frost troll. Human and troll blood soak the area.
Zap knew about frost trolls. It’s weird to see one in this area. He appears to be wearing a robe with skulls and fetishes. The group investigate the body, starting with Zap. It smells awful, cause decay.
When Zap took a closer look at the dead body of the troll, it seemed to have a symbol etched on the staff nearby, but it was not one that Zap had previously known of.
Zap: “I don’t know… no, I don’t know this troll tribe.”
Gil hears a strange noise. Uther taps into his divine sense, he senses two undead in the direct vicinity, one coming from the crypt. One is coming from the body Zap is investigating.
The body cracks his eyes open, and a cloud of dust blasts at Zap’s face. Zap starts coughing and had a hard time breathing.
Zap: *coughgought* Bad dust. *cough* bad dust
As his lungs fill with ‘not fun’, leaping out from four of the nearby graves come trolls that join their undead brethren.
Most of the party is surprised, except Uther and Gil.
The zombie troll picks up Zap by the scruff of the neck and heads toward a grave. His eyes glow bright blue without pupils.
Zomtroll: “You’re going to come with me now, little dwarf.”
Gil shoots a jungle troll with an arrow as it heads to Tess. Arator makes an attack at the troll behind him, but the berserker forest troll and batters the weapon away. Another troll goes to attack Vel, hitting her with is axe, though she was able to dodge his next attack. The third troll attacks Arator, bating his sword away and picks him up by the neck. He too starts heading toward a grave. The jungle troll throws dust into Tess’s face and she passes out.
Ashwynn gets beside Uther and Vel, and attacks the troll that attacked Vel with her sword, but she misses.
Another troll tries to huck a javelin at Uther, which strikes true. Uther rips the javelin out furiously, and swings at the troll in front of him with his sword and attempts to smite him.
Uther was successful in his blow against the necrolyte as he spins around a tombstone and gestures over the head of his warhammer. It started to glow gold.
“For Lordaeron and FOR THE LIGHT!!!!!!”
As his hammer cracks into his chest he releases Zap.
The troll laughs, “That was a good one, mon.”
The troll tells him he has important thing to take care of, and was going to leave his friends to take care of them.
Necrolyte: “I don’ ‘tink I wanna miss te action, ye know. Af’er all, da big event is just right aroun’ da corner. But I think ye understand. Alrigh’ boys, ye know da drill.”
“Oh, but why I’m here, I migth as well provide a bit more entertainment for ya’”
He uses blue shadowy magic, the crypt glows, and he steps backward into a grave and is gone.
A bright blue figure floats it’s way through the door, a Banshee appears, a ghost of an elven woman. She sobs. She buries her face in her hands.
And now the fight begins.
The banshee sees Zap choking and coughing, looking concerned and floated towards him. She reaches a hand and it looks like it's trying to help him. She instead tries to suffocate him. Which wasn’t very helpful.
Zap was unable to move due to being wracked with coughing and choking.
Her ghostly hand brushes his cheek and the dark energy of it’s touch and he is overcome with the pain of death and he falls unconscious.
The troll attacking Tess decides that the other trolls can handle it, and leaps into a grave, and disappears.
The troll attacking Vel hits her once again, which might have downed her. However, seeing his cousin in peril, Arator uses magic to take the damage for her. He goes limp in the Berserker’s hand.
The Berserker holding Arator grins, and take one step backward into the grave, disappearing with him.
Vel is PISSED. F UCK FUCKING FUCKITY FUCK TROLLS
Ashwynn attacks the troll attacking Vel, and hits and hits again! She then shouts “Stay in formation! We can’t let them divide us!” She then heals the party a little bit.
The troll with the javelin hucks another one at Uther, and Uther bats the javelin away.
Gil flings an arrow at the troll that was swing his axe at Vel and Ash, and it bites hard into its shoulder.
Zap successfully struggles for his life, though still unconscious.
Uther decides to go after the banshee, hitting her with a smiting blow of his hammer. It partially goes through her, but it connects. She screams in pain. She looks at him with those sunken eyes.”
Banshee: “Why can’t I be there…..?”
She continues to sob. Uther yells that one of the trolls needs to be taken alive. Both Uther and Vel are PISSEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.
Vel blinks away in a mist, appearing by Ashwynn and Zap, getting away from the troll attacking her. She twinspells a chromatic orb of bright blue fire, one on each hands, aiming it at both the troll and the Banshee. She then thinks on the undead, only able to gleem that they are resistant to cold, poison and necrotic. However, fire is always a good idea.
The troll catches fire and crumbles into dust.
Elissa shouts out Zap’s name. She looks down to her hand, drops to her knees and her hand begins to glow. A refreshing spring breeze fills Zap’s nostrils and she heals him. Zap feels GREAT.
Vel aims arcane missiles at the banshee and as all three hit it, it cries out “Why?” and begins to dissipate.
Gil aims to shoot the banshee, marking it with hunter’s mark. The Arrow *tings* against something physical in the banshee, and sticks into its spectral body. Zap and Uther look to see what that noise was, but Zap is distracted by the pretty girl trying to take care of him.
Uther also was unable to see what the arrow was sticking into, but did see the arrow.
The remaining troll shouts another war cry and charges at Elissa, sticking her with the spear. She teeters at the grave, but is able to hold her balance.
Uther sees the arrow sticking out of the banshee, thinks that’s curious. She hits the arrow out of her. A small metal item clinks down to the ground as she disappears.
The momentum of the strike continued through into the chest of the nearby troll, and it staggered back a bit. “Hahaha, dat was a good one. Da boss was righ’ about you.”
Uther: “Surround him! This one can’t escape.”
Troll: “Who says I wanted to escape, mon?”
Elissa tries to come at him, and he maneuvers around her attacks easily. She almost falls into the grave. Ashwynn attacks the remaining troll, though he evades the attack.
Zap sweeps the leg of the troll with his bayonet and the trolls falls to the ground.
“You look like the troll that sneezed at my face earlier... I don’t like you.”
(That’s racist, because he’s a completely different type of troll)
Vel uses chromatic orb to attack the prone troll, but he’s still fine and he stands up. He goes for Uther, cause Uther is *fun*. He stabs at Uther for a decent amount of damage.
Elissa joins the attack. Gil flings another arrow at the troll, aiming for the knees. He does, in fact, taking an arrow to the knee.
Zap tries to tackle the troll, and is successfully able to grapple him. It’s kind of hilarious.
Ashwynn takes advantage of the situation, putting her spear through his kneecap.
The troll collapsed to the ground. Uther kicked the troll onto his back and then stepped on his chest. “Yo be stronger than ye look, mon.”
“Shut up, monster. You will tell me where your compatriots took my brother or else.”
“You don’ be lookin’ like an elf.”
He blasts him with a firebolt in the dick.
“You’re probably not interested in spending days on fire.”
Zap moves Elissa away from the prince going medieval on the troll.
“To the coronations, mon. Der’s a new king in town.”
“All I can tell ya is there isn’t gonna be much you can do if you get there.”
“Do yer worst, mon. Ye can burn me all ye want. We don’t forgive. We don’ forget. We gonna bury ye ‘ere.”
Uther: “When I’m done with you troll, there won’t be much to bury.”
The troll gives more cryptic warnings.
Uther, Gil and Vel all move to kill the troll, Vel impaling him with the ice spear.
Vel: “We don’t have time for this, I need to find where they took my cousin.”
Zap goes to heal Elissa.
Vel tries to investigate, finding next to nothing, and curses in Vallasian.
Gil investigates the object dropped by the banshee. The object is a small silver ring with a turquoise gemstone, elven in make. It’s his mother’s engagement ring.
They hand brought the banshee here, meaning they had planned for Uther being there. Gil also knew the rings were enchanted with protective magic. He pockets the ring, deciding not to show Vel.
Tess is stabilized. Elissa is traumatized. She thanks Zap with less emotion, watching with horror as Vel and Uther angrily search the area.
Zap: “Listen lass, I know what you’re thinking. But don’t make any conclusions just yet.”
Elissa: “It’s just hard to believe that those are the same people that I saw before. That was just really scary.”
Zap: “Oh, of course it was, but remember, you and me, we’re just people trying to live our lives. These noble folk, the good ones anyway, have a sense of responsibility.”
Elissa swallows hard and nods.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Do you need any help over here?”
Zap: “I think we got it under control more or less. Tess took some of the nasty stuff to the face.”
She looks like she’s just sleeping.
There is some similar sand in the dead troll’s pouch, which Zap takes.
So. Yeah.
Vel shakes with rage. Gil doesn’t sense any trolls or Arator in the area. There are travellers heading north, but nothing substantial.
Uther: “We’re done here. Elissa, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to keep my promise. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to find your father.”
Zap investigates the area, and trips on a small hand-carved shortbow. It looks like it’s sized for a child and carved into it is ‘Property of Bryce.’ Bryce being the missing child.
Zap: “Hey guys, I think I found a clue.”
Uther: “What did you find, Zap?”
Zap: “Well let's just say I found bad news.”
Uther: “Never in short supply.”
Zap presented the child-sized shortbow.
Uther: “Seems our enemies are not above taking children to do their work.”
Vel: “They’re trolls, they’re not above anything.”
Zap: “We know they have taken the townsfolk, but how did they get from point A to point B?”
Vel is pretty sure they’ve made some sort of new spell to transport themselves via graves.
Ashwynn frowns, wondering where it leads them. They think to other graveyards.
Zap: “There needs to be a graveyard close to their homeland. One that people won’t go by and check very often.”
Ashwynn: “I remember reading in the history books that trolls have extensive catacombs of their own.”
Gilveradin: “There are a lot of troll catacombs. Very few are anywhere we can get to.”
Uther: “Our first step is to get to the Farstrider enclave. We have knowledge that needs to get to people more powerful than us. If we get ambushed and die, the news of of the coronation dies with us.”
Ashwynn: “That’s true, that’s troubling information.”
Zap: “Do trolls have royalty.”
Vel: “Do rats?”
“Vel, if you’re not going add anything constructive, shutup.”
Ashwynn: “From history lessons, there was one troll that claimed to the king of the trolls. Rastakhan.”
The group realizes that given the different types of trolls were fighting together, the new King, Zalzane, might have united them.
Gilveradin: “They only united through what, Loa before? Through the dark trolls?”
Zap sarcastically mentions that they could be trying to revive their old dead king to lead a crusade.
The group continues to be sarcastic, and it goes over Ashwynn’s head.
The group says all of this on the road, and after awhile they make camp and heal each other.
Zap questions if Gil and Vel are actually related.
Gil: “Yup. Same womb and everything.”
Zap touches Uther (for healing).
While Zap switches watch with Uther.
Zap: “You really care for your people, doncha.”
Uther: “Not enough it would seem.”
Zap: “Actually I was gonna say the opposite.”
Uther: “You believe I care too much?”
Zap: “Listen I’m no noble. I’m not a king. I’ve just been around a bunch of places. Heck I’ve even been married and divorced, married and divorced again to the same woman. I don’t really know about treating people with respect and dignity. Part of being a responsible leader whether its for a family or a clan or kingdom of unruly dwarves that you cannot take every tragedy personally. Not every bad thing is your fault.”
Uther: “A King is nothing without his people. Just a person wearing a crown.”
Zap: “Of course, I’ve only been here a short while. I didn’t even know your face, but there was excitement abuzz because your people knew you were coming through and they knew ye and loved ye.
Uther: “At the risk of sounding arrogant, I knew that. But what have I done to earn that? Love and respect is something that has to be earned.”
Zap: “What of your training, lad? What of all the time you spent working hard? Aren’t you one of them paladins of the Silver Hand.?”
Uther: “I am, as was Arator. This was more than that. Arator was my brother. We came from different families. But I made him my family, and I couldn’t keep him from being taken by monsters.”
Zap: “Ye didn’t let anything happen. Your hammer was the only thing that kept everyone else be taken to graves. I’m not saying you have to be totally satisfied with every outcome. Heck, if everyone was there wouldn’t be anymore tavern brawls. But listen lad, you can’t let this sense of failure drive ye and make ye do stuff that will make those young peasant girls cry. It’ll take you down a dark road, one where your citizens won’t forsake ye, but you’ll forsake them by going against your code.”
Uther: “I’m very glad you decided to join us, Zap”
;3;
“Well, it’s mostly selfish, but, I have to say getting to ride a pony alongside a princely type that’ll make an awfully good story when I go back to the league.”
Despite himself, Uther gave Zap a small smile.
Uther: “Can I ask you something Zap?” “Of course, your liege-lad majesty sir.”
Uther: “Out here in the field, Uther is fine, but I took a step down a path I do not want to follow today. I didn’t even realize the path until I already stepped forward. If you see me take another step, what was that Muradin used to say, will you tell me to get my crown out of my ass?”
Zap chuckled heartily, “That's some classy humor if I ever did hear it. Hey, it’s not every day a ruler sees his people being attacked by boney trolls, and skeletons, so it’s alright to get a bit riled up. But I’ll look out for ya.”
Uther: “Thank you, Zap, thank you very much. Now get some sleep, before we set off.”
Zap: “Oh, I got my sleep fine. You may not have noticed it, your watch ended 30 minutes ago.”
Uther thanked him again, and headed to his bedroll.
Elissa stares at the fire. She has learned that grand adventure is not fun. Gil plays his guitar
Elissa: “How are we gonna find them?”
Gil: “Hm?”
Elissa: “The people from my village. How are we gonna find them?”
Gil: “Well, this group has a lot of connections. And we’re gonna be using all of them”
Elissa: “I… this is gonna sound pretty stupid but I think I understand why my father retired.”
Gil: “I don’t think that sounds stupid at all. It’s hard.”
Eli: “He hurt his leg during the troll wars, but if that’s what happens to people in war.”
Gil: “Getting hurt?”
Elissa shook her head.
Eli: “The way that his Highness acted. It’s one thing to fight and defend yourself, but that was….” She hugs herself. “I know that he has a lot on his mind and a lot at stake, Zap spelled that out to me, but I never looked at the world like that. I barely left my town until what, a day ago?”
Gil: “The world’s a big, messy place. Nothing seems to fit into what we think it should be.”
Eli: “How do you keep going?”
Gil: “There are things I want to do and people I want to keep safe. Plus you find joy in the little things. You can’t let anything consume you. Have you seen Vel play with Arkha’din yet?”
She shook her head.
Gil: “You’ll see.”
Eli: “So far I haven’t seen Vel do anything but… well….” Thinks back to Vel roasting the troll and stabbing another one.
Gil: “Vel has very strong feelings about trolls.”
Eli: “Can I ask what happened? I don’t want to pry, but…”
Gil fidgets with the ring. “When me and her were little during the Second Troll Wars our mother was cursed by a witch doctor. It wasn’t fast.”
Eli: “I’m sorry.”
Gil: “It’s… in the past. There’s nothing we can do to change it now. Best we can do is to make her proud.”
Eli: “I’m sure she would be. You guys are amazing… like….”
Gil: “I mean when you spend most of your life training for something, hopefully you’re a little good at it.”
Eli: “I just hope I’m not being too much dead weight. I did it again though. I was able to heal Zap. I still don’t know how, but I did.”
Gil: “Seeing how your magic is more like mine than, especially, Vel’s, I can help you if you want.”
Eli: “If I can help in any other way, I want to. I want to help you. I want to find my dad, and Ser Arator.”
Gil: “I think everyone here has something they can teach you.”
Eli: “Yeah, I have a lot to learn”
Gil: “That’s life isn’t it?”
Eli: “I guess you’re right. Um… I was thinking about what you said earlier. About maybe making a standard or something.”
Gil: “Oh yeah?”
Eli: “Well about a quarter mile south of the Last Crossing there’s a field of sunflowers. I used to go there when I was back home when I wanted to get some fresh air. I feel like my mom did too for a little while, but I dunno for sure. But maybe a sunflower? Do you think that would be alright, or is that kind of lame?”
Gil: “If it means something to you, then it sounds good to me.”
Elissa looked at her shield. “Maybe I’ll think about that.”
Gil: “Definitely no rush there.”
Eli: “Yeah… I guess I should get some sleep though. Thanks… thanks for being so kind.”
Gil smiled brightly at her. And Elissa smiled back. “Good night.” She turned away and trotted over to the tent she set up.
Gil sat by the fire and started strumming his guitar again.
Ash: “Ser Gilveradin, do you have a moment?”
Gil: “Of course!”
Ash: “I noticed while we were searching, you picked up whatever thing fell from that ghost creature. What was that? Some sort of focus.”
Gil: “Would you mind if we go somewhere quieter to discuss this?”
Gil lead Ashwynn far away.
Gil: “I found a ring. Not just any ring, it was my mother’s.”
Ash: “Oh. How is that possible?”
Gil: “I think the… I think it was part of my mother. Her soul. I don’t know.”
Ash: “Have you told your sister?”
Gil: “No, and I have no intention to.”
Ash: “Correct me if I’m wrong, but if that ring is connected to her in some way, is she not our expert on magic?”
Gil: “You saw her earlier today, right?”
Ashwynn nods.
Gil: “She’s too volatile right now. I don’t know if she’d explode or shut down.”
Ash: “Ultimately it is your decision. But if there is some information she can glean from that, it may be worth looking into sooner rather than later.”
Gil sighed. “You’re probably right.”
Ash: “As you say.”
Gil: “If I get set on fire I’m going to need your help.”
Ash: “I would not hesitate to assist you in any way you deem fit.”
Gil went over to Vel, and it’s too late to go back now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlfUcnSbKDA
“Vel, can I talk to you.”
“What is it Gilveradin”
“That spirit we fought.”
“The Banshee?”
“I…” he hands her the ring. “This was at the center.”
Vel watches the movement, and stares at the ring. There is nothing while it’s registering.
“That was at the center?”
“It was what my arrow caught on.”
“That was at the center?”
He nods She slams her book shut and walks away. He watches her go.
Ash: “Sir Gil, would you like me to go speak with her?”
Gil nods. Ashwynn steals herself and follows her into the woods.
“Lady Velameestra.”
“What is it Ashwynn?”
“I am simply ensuring that you remain safe, you are a member of the group.”
“I am well within the confines of this camp.”
“Your brother wanted to ask if you are alright.”
“I am fine.”
“I am not adept at reading people, but I can tell you are not.”
“I haven’t the slightest idea what you are talking about. Frankly this matter is none of your concern.”
Ashwynn apologizes for overstepping her boundaries, but offers her sympathies and support should she need it.
“I have no need for speaking. If it would make you feel better I would return close to camp”
“I will leave that to your discretion.”
Vel’s gaze is piercing. She heads back to camp, as she touches a tree, and there is a frozen spot on it. There is a chill on her. Ashwynn made sure she was safe, and took the third watch after Zap.
The next morning, Zap and Gil struggle to make food.
Gil: “ALRIGHT, WAKE UP EVERYONE WE HAVE STEW!”
Elissa stirs. Uther wakes up to help make the food. Gil: “I’ve heard that too many cooks spoil the broth.”
Uther: “Arator told you I’d spoil the food didn’t he.”
Gil: “He totally did please don’t touch it.”
“Well in that case, what can I do… do we need water?”
“Well, this will be a story to tell the boys at home about! A prince, doing chores.”
“Believe it or not Zap, not all of us princes aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty.”
“And I live to serve.”
“I understand, it’s just funny to us commoners.”
“I don’t think the Sunstriders ever touch anything. They just move it all with magic… I’m not sure if they know how to use their hands.”
Elissa chuckles but immediately covers her mouth.
Elissa looks up to Vel, “How did everybody sleep?”
Vel glares harshly. Elissa (not literally) dives into her stew.
Ashwynn: “I slept well, lady Cross.”
Elissa spits out her stew.
Gil: “Are you okay?”
Eli: “Just not expected to get called lady anything.”
Gil: “You should probably get used to it with this group.
AND THEY HIT THE ROAD RIGHT THERE. (It was very encumbering)
Ashwynn moves large rocks from the road. Gil tells her she doesn’t need to.
Ash: “One can’t be too safe when it comes to steeds.”
Gil blinks. “Okay.”
Gil raises up his waterskin. The others are similarly inspired. Elissa looks up at him, and smiles at the end of it. Ashwynn nods.
There is still an icy chill about Vel. Ashwynn rides next to her.
The group sees something colorful down the road. As they ride closer, they see a bright red and purple creature. It seems to be a strange bipedal reptile. Gil recognizes it as a raptor. It shouldn’t be here. It’s weird. It seems to be an adolescent and Gil goes to heal it. However, it’s already dead by the time he reached it.
There are no trolls within a five mile radius from here. There are elves, though.
Gil takes the dead raptor.
“If I had a copper piece every time I strapped a dead raptor to my pack, I’d have three copper.”
Vel notices it was moving away from troll lands. There are a bunch of wounds, including elven arrows. It makes sense it had been discovered by a farstrider.
Gil is adamant about keeping the raptor body.
Uther smiles, shakes his head and keeps on moving.
As they are heading to the lodge, the farstriders know they are coming. They see the lodge, and a couple of farstriders meet them at the front.
Gil rides right up to them. Gil notices the ranger in charge is Ranger Hawkspear.
Hawkspear hails them.
He greets Gil, and regards the prince.
Renthar raises an eyebrow.
Gil drops the raptor in front of him.
Hawkspear shakes his head and assures it was not taken down by one of his own.
He tells the rangers at his side to fetch refreshments.
Zap whispers to Gil.
Gil winks and walks away without another word.
They head in. There is a nice map of all the upper lands. There is a knife stuck into the map where the lodge is and arrows show where troll encampments were sighted. Hawkspear gestures for the group to sit. The rangers bring in some water and tea leaves. There is also some hard bread. (not as good as FINE DWARVEN CRABS)
Ranger-Captain Hawkspear stays with the group, but all others leave.
Hawkspear: “Alright, I think it’ll be best that we start from the beginning.”
Gilveradin gives him a really concise report about what had happened, including Arator going missing.
He leans back in his chair, and strokes his chin.
HS: “And all of this without any knowledge for us. We have no idea.”
Gil: “If they’re able to transport themselves through graves like there, I don’t know if you could.”
HS: “Tell me, the spell, could they use it to travel through any grave? If that was the case then they would be unstoppable.”
Between Gil and Vel, there is no teleportation spell that takes you where you haven’t been before without huge risk.
Vel: “Most likely, given teleportation magic, it has to be where they have been before they have been before. We guess they are using their catacombs.”
The bounce around ideas about how it might work.
HS: “Tell me, lady windrunner, were the graves open or were they closed?”
Vel: “They were opened and the bodies were exhumed.”
“That could be another limitation. If the grave wasn’t open, that could cause some problems. “It still troubles me. How did they get through the elf gate?”
Gil: “Perhaps it only took one, and the other ones connected to it.”
HS: “Even so. It’s possible.”
Gil: “It’s easier for one to slip through than many.”
“This bodes ill for the lodges. Ranger Captain Windrunner will need to know of her son.”
Everyone seems nervous to tell her.
HS: “She will be helping us, you know.”
Zap: “You know, if we’re operating under the assumption that they’re using open graves, we should probably start asking that people start checking on graves.”
Gil and Zap suggest that they stop digging graves and that everyone should check on the graves in their towns. The Ranger Captain agrees, noting that he will put it in his report.
(By the way of Banshees: Ghosts are very uncommon, Banshees are not common, they’re myths. The party doesn’t know much)
Gil inquires where Ranger General Windrunner is. The Captain explains that he doesn’t know exactly, but he knows she has a meeting to attend within the month. He also suggests checking Sulamon and it’s expansive caverns for the people who have been taken.
“If there are trolls hiding out in there, time may be of the essence to rescue them” The Capatin says.
Uther asks a favor of the Captain. “If you would grant me messengers to send to Stratholme, Lordaeron, and Dalaran, this must take priority over returning home.”
The Ranger Captain promises Uther that he will send runner to those cities and to Silvermoon, too. They discuss hospitality, Uther thanks him for all of his help.
They have not heard anything of Loa. The Dark Blood god was dealt with during the Second Troll War, among others, and HS was pretty sure they would not risk trying to summon Hakkar again.
Zap mentions having heard of Hakkar before. It was confirmed that Arthas stood alongside elves, men, and dwarves alike. Anduin Lothar lost his life there. There was a massive loss of life when the beast was summoned. “The toll of life was drastic on both ends.”
Gil: “Do we still have reports of infighting with the trolls?”
“Most of the trolls we have encountered in this area are primarily are the remnants of the Amani Empire. Sometimes Jungle Trolls appear, sightings have been going down.”
(Note on Trolls: Until the second troll wars, trolls haven’t been seen working together. The Zandali were completely wiped out, or so they know. The Dark Trolls have not been seen, either. It’s likely they’ve died. Ice trolls are rare, you’ll only seem them in the South. Forest trolls will be all over the place. Jungle trolls lost everything-- they went back to the remnants of STV. They don’t spend time with their own-- as there aren’t a lot left. Sand Trolls got fucked, gods know there might not be any left.) The vast majority that are left are forest and ice trolls, though there have been reports of occasional sand trolls in the Badlands.
“Well, Uther. We’ve got what looks like 2 or 3 major paths ahead of us. We could take the missive to Silvermoon ourselves, we could go to the Catacombs, or we could go to Lordaeron.”
HS: “I apologize we do not have any dragonhawks available for you to take. That would speed things up, but we do not have any on the premise.”
“Time is of the essence, we should continue our investigation. As of right now we’re the only ones with the knowledge of the situation and any way to handle it. We shouldn’t squander this opportunity.”
Gil asks if the Farstriders have any men to spare.
“Unfortunately we need to keep patrol on the border strong as well if they are sojourning in the human lands as well. I don’t have men to spare, but I can see what I can do. I’ll gather my people and start sending them out. It may be wise of you to take this moment to rest, I don’t know how long it will be before you can rest again. You’re of course all welcome to the lodgings here in the meantime. Anything we can assist with, or items we can provide, you are free to consult our quartermaster. We have a number of mages from Silvermoon on the premises as well. They may be able to assist you if you so desire. But I will work on gathering the men. We will have runners on the road before the rooster crows.”
The door opens behind the party. “With all do respect captain, you may want to belay that order.”
The group turns, and there are two young elves. Zaeneas and Caleron, Gil knows them and lights up. Caleron nods, Zaeneas looks agitated.
“Ranger Captain, you may want to speak to your men. We got your message and we came to see what we could do. We found something troubling at the elf-gate.”
‘What did you find?”
“Exiting the elf-gate is one thing. In order to enter or exit, you need to have the proper clearance in the form of runestones. Most have one use, but in the case of higher rank, as I’m sure you know.”
“What happened to the Gate?” Gil asks.
“There was an inspector from Silvermoon. It appears the Southern Elfgate had been used with unotheroriderd. It was used from this side-- the South of the Elfgate.”
“All right, but how?” Gil asks.
Caleron looks to Gil and to the ranger Captain. “I believe there might be… a traitor in your midst.”
HS furrows his brow. “Traitor? You think that one of my people - my farstriders - is responsible for helping trolls get through the elf-gate?”
Zane says, “It would make sense, wouldn’t it? They needed to get South somehow, and they had a way. Do you think they dug through the mountains when we’ve sealed the tunnels again and again? Or do you think they were being let in? Do you want to send out your men before knowing what is going on here?”
The Captain crosses his arms. “There’s only a handful that have, besides one use, we do have one-use keystones. Any of our farstriders would be able to get the the QM himself is responsible for those. Additionally a number of us have more permanent badges. The mages from Silvermoon - two of them - have badges that allow them to pass through, but I am loathe to believe that them or someone they came with would be responsible for this.”
“It’s not something we should ignore.” Gil adds.
“My Lieutenants have keystones, too. Besides though, they allow a single individual to pass. To be able to bypass the enchantments at the elf gate, the shield around Silvermoon, and the guards at Quel'thalas… it does not bode well.”
“What do these mages specialize in?”
“Probably not conjuration magic.”
“No. I’m not sure what they specialize in.”
“I was intending on speaking with them anyway.” Vel deadpans.
“Try to be a scalpel, not a hammer.” Gil warns.
Vel looks at Gil, not sure what he’s getting at. Gil smiles.
‘Try to be subtle.”
“Right.”
“Aurora Skycaller-- a Strawberry blonde elf frequents this location. I’m not too familiar with the arcane arts, but she may be conjuration. Kriss Goldenlight is evocation specc’d, most likely.
“There are other woodsman, mostly who collect lumber and see to maintenance, you can speak to them as well. I imagine they may have seen something. In addition, There’s the farstriders at the lodge and the people I spoke of.”
It’s also said that Aurora and Kriss came with others. HS doesn’t remember their names. He suggests it would be wise to belay the messengers to make sure the claims are true.
HS: “Can I count on your assistance in this manner?”
The party agrees without hesitation.
HS says they have free range of facilities. He wants them to gather a plan. “Once we leave this place, let us keep this talk on the downlow. We don’t want the person responsible to hear and go to ground.”
“ABout this matter, we shouldn’t speak outside of this room.” Uther says.
Ranger Captain: “A sound plan, your Highness.”
Elissa says, “I don’t know if they’ll listen to me, I’m just a commoner, maybe the commoners and woodsmen would tell me something?”
Zap: “Well, if it's any consolation, you’ll probably have better luck than I would.”
(Rivalry between elves and dwarves confirmed. It’s all about the beards.)
The party discusses a battle-plan. Elf/Dwarf politics begin off strong. Crumbs in beard = Unexpected treasure. Vel is grossed out about Zap’s crumb-beard. Zae is also squicked out.
Vel: “If I am approaching the mages, we’ll bring Zap along.” She invites Ashwynn along.
Ashwynn pledges to catch anyone who runs. Uther wants to come and talk to the mages, too-- as it will help is studies. And not because he wants to hang out with Vel. nOOOoOOOOOoooOo
Gil suggests Ashwynn goes with Elissa, Ash goes where she’s needed. Ash is also more unknown, so they hope to get more out of the common-folk.
Groups:
Uther, Zap, Vel are going to talk with the mages. Elissa and Ashwynn are going to talk to the Slum People. Gil, Zane, Cae are going to check out the Farstriders.
Renthar Hawkspear.
Vel asks Gil for the ring, Gil hands it over to her. The ring has light abjuration magics on it. The ring was enchanted during their mother’s honeymoon-- so they could protect them as much as they could protect each other. “When I’m not with you, I’m still protecting you.”
Vel investigates the ring when she has a quiet moment.
“May this piece of my heart protect you when I cannot.” is engraved on the ring.
Gil could see Vel almost apologizing. But, there’s no decisive words. Gil is used to looking for that in her.
