Reports

MXVI Drawing IX

On IX Drawing I defender Bann gathered in the hiring square at Norvic along with Fae Foalstride of Longstor, doctor Uriah Creep, master distiller Venin, mastersmith Thalnaz Galdoon, guildsman necromancer Alumis Tuntree, order knight Albanus Freeman of the Black, alchemist Vladimir Featherfoot and head of the Griffin Order Gaspar Asturian. Our hirer brought tidings of ill from the mines at Massingham. Swarms of ratmen were causing havoc in the mines. Tales told of a tunnel that led into the dwelling of Mal Zeth and his army of dead. The tunnel had been sealed two years ago by a brave party of adventurers.

We set out on the road to Sparham. The guard at the gates was prepared for winter, wrapped in warm furs he had no warnings to tell of the road ahead. Once outside the walls of the city we were attacked by a horde of foulspawn, among them was a goblin shaman which I quickly dispatched. A hobgoblin was also among them. The foulspawn were defeated and we head onward to Sparham. Sparham was quiet, the guard reported no trouble. The peasants complained of being oppressed. With pressing concerns were travelled onwards to Massingham.

At Massingham we entered the mines. The foreman of the mines described how the ratmen had entered the mines and drew a map of the tunnels. I drew a copy of the map for our journey. We found the broken blockade. Not fearing anything that might lie on the other side we entered the Mal Zeth's domain. Immediately we were attacked by many zombies and ratmen. We pressed them back until we reached a great black pit. Alumis identified the pit had the taint of necromancy. Disturbed by the abominations of nature Fae was compelled to cleanse the pit. Her ritual was interrupted and abandoned as the light in the cave faded. As we retreated mastersmith Thalnaz was able to shore up the breach.

The threat stopped we returned to Norvic and were rewarded. The repair would not last long however and a more prepared party of adventurers must go into the lair of Mal Zeth and bring an end to the wraith's reign.

Praise unto the lady

Bann

MXVI Midcold XVII

On XVII of Midcold MXVI the Earl DeMowbray gathered us at Lynn Regis. Head of the Griffin Order Sir Gaspar Asturian came from nearby Hawkwind Keep with Head of the Grey Order Sir Garviel Loken of Medehampstede, Sister Rose Eva and Brother Cragen Dewerstone of Spindlestone and Brisel. Other local adventurers Mother Fae Foalstride of Longstor, Alchemist Vladimir Featherfoot, Master Distiller Venin, Necromancer Alumis Tuntree, Runesmith Thalnaz Galdoon and myself Defender Bann of Crowa joined them.

The Earl proved his good guardianship of the Duchy and had us patrol the coastal road in preparation for delivery of needed supplies and rebuilding of communities ravaged by the Guidanese invasion.

We took the road north east out of Lynn Regis and headed to Rainham. Many foulspawn lurked on the road. Trolls, hobgoblins and orcs beset our party. Their attacks were futile, the beasts were cut down. A darker danger waited us, the corpses were riddled with disease. Any who came into contact with the bodies, even those covered with cloth or gloves became infected. We cleaned and cured ourselves before entering the village of Rainham. I went to speak with the village elder. The villagers had full stores of salted fish but complained of no bread, meat or potato. Later complaints of a lack of salt was also made, risking some stores of fresh fish that might not last the winter. There were signs of damage throughout the village from the recent war and also from a banshee that had been ravaging the nearby land.

Along the coast road to Newton Mother Fae reported of an ill feeling. A wrongness in the natural order and a corruption in the soil. More foulspawn roamed here, again they were defeated. Among them were more diseased bodies as well an Elderkin and other followers of the dark god Krygan. More careful this time none were inflicted with disease before we reached Newton. Newton had signs of being wartorn and ransacked. Its people were starved. Their stores empty and their fields bare. Food for winter and seeds for springtime were dangerously lacking. I tried to encourage those able of body to travel to Rainham were fresh fish was available for those that could offer their labour but many of the villagers were broken of spirit.

We came to the last of the villages along the road, DeRising. Close the DeRising Keep which had been made into a bastion of the enemy during the war the village was more wartorn than any we had seen. The people were stalwart of body and mind. They spoke bravely of how they could survive of the land and guile throughout the coming months of cold, I also recommended any strong body that labour could be traded for fresh fish at Rainham. A darker tale so lurked here too. Tales of meat stolen from stores and of a white elf which visited the inhabitants of the village in the dark of night. On examination those who had been visited by the white elf showed bite marks on their necks and an aversion to the light of Crowa. All the victims were rounded up and questioned. It was decided that the white elf was a vampire and most of the villagers were inflicted with vampirism. To avoid slaughtering the whole village to prevent them becoming thralls of the undead lord we sought out the creature of the night and found it's domain in a nearby graveyard. Necromancer Alumis was able to quickly dispatched the fiend. The graveyard had become tainted by the presence of the vampire and many corpses rose from the corrupted earth to molest us. Whilst we fought the walking dead Fae cast a cleansing over the graveyard. Her efforts and our own prayers returned the dead to their eternal slumber. We returned to the village to check our success. The people of DeRising were no longer at risk but would needs seeds for the ploughing if they were to return to good living their deserved.

The Earl's supplied followed us along the road and our mission was successful. The Earl offered extra pay of one crown each for those that chose it or else it would go to provide extra provision for the villages. After seeing and talking to the villagers, I recognised their spirit and bravery and I donated my crown to the them.

In faith

Bann

MXVI Deepwinter XXI

Gathered at Caister were the adventurers Doctors Tehya Linn and Uriah Creep, Ranger Reuben, Percy Thrower, Mother Fae Foalstride of Longstor, Brother Mosh of the Templar Order, Mother Rose Eva and two supplicants to the Rose Order and myself Defender Bann of Crowa. We were in Caister to investigate and explore the situation at the mines. Whilst in Caister we spoke with a lady who reported her son Ben the hunter was missing. Others rumours told of missing Longstorians and some lost magic books by the school of Necromancy.

We began our investigation at the house of the foreman. Our arrival at the house was expected so when all was quiet our caution was aroused. Upon entering the house we found the foreman dead and hung from the rafters. The two doctors conducted an autopsy and concluded that the cause of death perhaps murder.

Forewarned that malign forces were at work against us we left Caister to explore the mines. On the road to the mines we were attacked by bandits. Among the bandits were heretic Fygolians. Further along the road Reuben and Fae perceived something amiss. The trees ahead were surrounded in spores, when any of our company came into contact with the spores they suffered great pain. Fae told us that the trees were Fey trees.

Past the trees we discovered a house. The house was empty. Exploration of the house discovered it was the house of Ben the hunter. The hunter had left tracks leading away from the house which led to a bush and suddenly disappeared.

Mercenaries greeted us as we came near to the mines. This militia had been brought recently to guard the mines. The miners had not seen the foreman for days. Fae spoke with the Dverge, they told tales of some of them trying to return to the cave but either being killed or badly hurt.

We reached the village of Ravenshall but found it surrounded by bushes. We passed through the bushes to find many agitated villagers. Also visiting the village was a trader with a Fygolian guard, the pair left when it was clear they were not welcome. The villagers talked of being attacked.

Following the directions given to us by the Dverge we found a cave not far from the village. Outside the cave Fae Foalstride beseeched Longstor to give her sight beyond sight. The lord of the hunt granted her a vision of three Skarahai that dwelt in the cave. She spoke of her vision and told that it would be a hard and bloody fight to defeat the three monsters as they clawed and leapt their way around the clearing outside the cave. Bloody was the battle when fought but we were victorious.

When we came out of the cave night had fallen. In the dusk light we saw dark elves on the road above. The dark elf numbers were great, a war band of many set to attack the village of Bungay. Quick were we to ambush them and forestall their plans. Their numbers alas were too many and we could not stop them. By the time we fought our way back to the village it had been assaulted. We joined in the defence; the dark elves focused their attacks on the mines and the elves which worked there. The attack was fought off. After the battle we sought rest at Asturian Manor. Lord Asturian paid us two crowns each for protecting the mines and his workers.

In the morning we returned to Caister. The lord of Caister paid us our social status for our good deeds. We reported to Ben’s mother that we could not find any trace of her son and assured her that she should keep any reward for herself.

In faith

Bann

MXVII Thawing XVIII

On XVIII Thawing MXVII we gathered at the hiring square. Our party was Novice Spunds of Sparham, Templar Errant Mosh, High Father Dante Potocki, Ranger Isau, High Guildswoman scout Beff, Brother Francis Teach of Rolbor and myself Defender Bann of Crowa. We were hired to investigate a missing Longstorian. We were warned of Kryganites to the west of Caister and also a strange portal to the fey realm.

On the way out of the gate we hear tale of an old library on the coast at Crowsmere that had opened it doors to the adventuring community. Further along the door we met an unfortunate alchemist, the lady had been a lone traveller and reported that she had been knocked on the back of the head by an unseen assailant. All her potions had been taken and she had forgotten her name. With Kryganites nearby we suspected she was attacked by a corruption of the forest. We counselled the lady to accompany us to Keelinghall and to stay near the middle of the road away from the trees and bushes. At Keelinghall we asked the townsfolk of the Longstorian, they reported seeing them pass through with two guards. We also met Sleeping Jon, a traveller that was sleeping the road. Sleeping Jon said he had come to the town during the night and now rested he would head on to Norvic. We warned Sleeping Jon to watch out for attackers from the trees and to travel together with Lady Forgot-her-name Alchemist. The two travellers set out for Norvic confident that together they could survive the journey. We wished them well and the blessings of the seven.

Not far from Keelinghall we discovered the body of a slain guard, a dagger stuck fast into his ribs. Scouts Isau and Beff searched the area and reported many men entering the area and they after a battle a fast exit. We later concluded that a band of Fygolians had attacked the Longstorian and their guards. Taking the Longstorian and remaining guard prisoner.

Isau and Beff followed the trail left by the Fygolians and we met them selling their prisoners to a group of Kryganites. We attacked them but at least on Fygolian escaped by fleeing into the woods and another simply vanished. After the battle we could not find the Longstorian but did discover a sleeping guard. The guard could not be roused so we buried them under a fall of leaves and planned to return later to take them to safety.

We saw ruins in the distance and when we approached them we found a familiar sight of strange trees with the air around them thick with spores and pollen. The spores caused everyone pain bar myself and Mosh were immune so aware of time I dragged everyone through regardless of any cries of pain or discomfort. After the trees we found a gate, dark elves Kryganites were gathered around it. We put them to the sword but some fled through the gate and disappeared. At the gate a strong fellow was repairing the stonework. I complimented him on his work and he told us of a tower that could be seen yonder.

Bracing ourselves we entered the gate and were suddenly attacked by many men and dark elves. These were the soldiers of the court of Wane. Striking them down we found a Longstorian Father Badger, he had been recently captured and brought here. Strange Fey creatures were torturing people, we saved the people and a skittish fey by the name of Pugh talked to us. He said he was a servant to the Lord of Wax. He had a game of riddles with Dante and reward us with a bag of potions. The potions were labelled in Rhonish but in such a strange and alien place we could not trust such writings so concluding that these must have been the potions Lady Forgot-her-name Alchemist was robbed of we took them with the intention of returning them safely to her.

Ahead in the tree we saw many skinned people and more prisoners. To save any more suffering we attacked the torturers and assaulted the tower. Many defenders guarded the tower but we would not be stopped and won our battle. Many Longstorians were freed including the missing Longstorian we had been hired to find. Suddenly we were all transported back to the gate we had passed through. A voice sung in our head telling us of how we had aided the Lord of Wax.

We headed back to Norvic and collected the sleeping guard on our way home. At Norvic we gave our report and were rewarded handsomely. When we returned the pouch of potions to Lady Forgot-her-name Alchemist it was empty! We apologised and wished her and Sleeping Jon well.

In faith

Bann