Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Darren]

"Not at full strength, no," Kal says quietly, "but not defenseless, either. We will follow your lead, Histra, and listen to your direction. But please remember, too, that we are counting on you. No heroics, and no running off without letting us know what's going on. We all protect each other."

[Dave W.]

Adamant follows Histra and his friends up to the top of the wall, still rocking the infant creature. He stops his rhythmic rocking when Histra speaks so poetically about this realm. Clearly she's given him something to think about... until the baby fusses again... "Hush, I am still here Streko-son." the warforged quiets the infant and resumes rocking.

Jun 24, 2015 10:01:23 GMT -4 Darren said:

"We all protect each other."

Adamant nods at Kal's statement, "Yes, Histra, please remember that we are here to protect you as well. I will defend you against the yugoloth and any other thing here."

"You make an interesting point about this place. And your cousin arranged for us to arrive in the worst possible way; perhaps we would have cursed it less if we had arrived properly. And still, my decisions seemed to have all been... wrong... here."

---

I think warforged would make excellent baby sitters...

It's also interesting that no one seems to want to explain what the baby is or where it came from... Though I'm having fun with that (maybe more than is necessary)...

[Dave B.]

Shorak frowns when Histra only calls Belarin and Kal to council. Shaking his head he can only smile when Adamant follows them, unbidden, with the baby nestled in his huge arms. "Good. At least half of us will know the 'plan'."

He walks over to Torcer and crouches down so that Shorak is at eye level with the boy. "It looks like we'll be leaving now, Torcer. It was a pleasure to meet you. Maybe our paths will cross again, but somehow I feel that may never be the case." He looks around at the keep and his new and sometimes vexing friends. "Torcer, do you have a way of telling if any of us are possessed? It might be prudent for us to be sure none other of our party is under the thrall of a spirit."

[Jeff]

Histra gives Adamant a sidelong and slightly irritated look when his massive frame joins them on the wall, crowding them in just a little bit.

Jun 24, 2015 10:01:23 GMT -4 Darren said:

" But please remember, too, that we are counting on you. No heroics, and no running off without letting us know what's going on. We all protect each other."

To Kal she says, “As we have already. It is certainly advisable to save an ally’s life so that they may, in turn, keep you alive. As you did for me under the death’s head tree, and as I now do for you.”

Jun 24, 2015 11:35:11 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

He walks over to Torcer and crouches down so that Shorak is at eye level with the boy. "It looks like we'll be leaving now, Torcer. It was a pleasure to meet you. Maybe our paths will cross again, but somehow I feel that may never be the case." He looks around at the keep and his new and sometimes vexing friends. "Torcer, do you have a way of telling if any of us are possessed? It might be prudent for us to be sure none other of our party is under the thrall of a spirit."

Torcer nods, a friendly response though not quite a smile. “It is probably better if you do not come here again. But if you see my brother a second time, then I will recognize you. It’s…dimmer, but I still see where he goes. I am with him always, and he is with me.”

“Possessed? I suppose so. If you have any reason to think a ghost has taken one of your friends as a host, then speak to him. Spirits of that sort cannot know his mind or his memories. Ask him questions only he would know. Do it often. It will him uncomfortable if it is a ghost and he may reveal himself. Or herself, if the ghost was a girl.” A shadow passes his face after he says these last sentence.

Then he looks up on the wall where Adamant has gone. Speaking now to Streko as well as to Shorak he says, “The baby, she is very weak. Very frail. When you get outside the walls, place her down on the ground. Unwrap her. Don’t hold onto her anymore, don’t touch her at all then. She might be able to go free then. She is dead, she is not a baby in ways that matter anymore. But her mother, or her father, has probably kept her in this form out of their need. Do you understand?”

Although he looks to be little older than ten, suddenly Torcer seems much older than that.

[Darren]

Kal nods at Histra but offers no other response to her statement. "When you are ready, we can depart."

[Joe]

Speaking now to Streko as well as to Shorak he says, “The baby, she is very weak. Very frail. When you get outside the walls, place her down on the ground. Unwrap her. Don’t hold onto her anymore, don’t touch her at all then. She might be able to go free then. She is dead, she is not a baby in ways that matter anymore. But her mother, or her father, has probably kept her in this form out of their need. Do you understand?”


Streko listens to Torcer's advice and bows gracefully to the young ghost. "Thank you for that kindness. If you, or your brother, should ever have need of my services, you have but to ask. I am in your debt, young master. Thank you."

[Ken]

Belarin thinks about what Histra said about Dolurrh. "I'll take that under advisement. One day, I'd appreciate a guided tour of Dolurrh and its dark beauty -- truly. Right now, though, I'm sore, bitter, angry, and grieving."

When they seem ready to gather and move on, he says softly to Histra, "Can we talk privately for a few minutes? Depending on our... reception, we might not have another chance to do so for a while."

[Jeff]

Histra prompts everyone to leave the wall and gather in the courtyard below. She then steps into the eastern tower with Belarin.


Private thread, Ken?

[Dave W.]

Adamant looks confused at Histra's irritation but it slowly dawns on him that this vantage point really isn't big enough for everyone... he reaches up and scratches at the dent on his thick metal head. He slowly realizes he's made another mistake...

"I... ummm.. that is to say... I think I hear Streko, I should take his child to him..."

Adamant decends to the courtyard and goes to find his cleric friend. "Streko, I think we are going to set out very soon. Do you mind carrying your son again? If we get in a fight, I would prefer to have both hands free... it's the style I was taught you understand."

[Joe]

Jun 25, 2015 11:02:39 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant decends to the courtyard and goes to find his cleric friend. "Streko, I think we are going to set out very soon. Do you mind carrying your son again? If we get in a fight, I would prefer to have both hands free... it's the style I was taught you understand."

Streko takes the bundle. "Of course, my friend. I now have the information I need to set the child's spirit free and shall do so at the first available opportunity. Thank you for being his guardian for a time. He was in no safer place." Streko bows to the Warfroged and prepares to get on with leaving this accursed place.

[Dave B.]

Shorak bows farewell to Torcer and joins everyone else to wait for Belarin and Histra.

[Brian]

"One moment," Condign says, his voice raspy. He directs his attention to Torcer. "I know you. You are a relative of the lady Histra. You...live here." He licks his lips. "The spirit that possessed me. Can you tell me what happened to it?"

[Jeff]

Torcer's face twists into a malicious little grin, and now again he looks like a young boy. Like a boy who has broken another's toy. "I cast him out and cracked him in half. Which is to say that his form was disrupted for a time. I can't really kill him, not in the way you understand killing. He is undead. Ghosts are difficult to destroy. You either have to satisfy them with something, something that drives them and gives them form, or else be powerful enough to simply unmake them. I did neither. If you harm their forms, they will disperse for a little. It will be a few days before he can trouble you or anyone again. You don't have to worry about him anymore."

[Jeff]

A short while later, Belarin and Histra come down from the tower and rejoin the group.

Then through the gates Histra leads you, and the ir’Serell keep, Torcer, and its skeletons are quickly left behind—the gloom of hte labyrinth swallows it up, and you find yourselves once again amid the winding, confounding passages of the hedge maze. The two skeletons recently risen by Histra have come with you, and they fall into stride beside the group, mostly keeping pace on either side of her and Belarin.

Tangat slinks alongside Kal, and it saddens the human to see that there is none of his characteristic, adventurous trot.

A mere ten minutes into your journey—which thus far Histra has led with no uncertainty on her part—and you reach a three-way junction, where the path splits left and right. By this time, you've been turned around enough again and have no helpful landmarks to gauge north, sound, east, or west, so you're back to left and right again.

However, standing in the center of this junction is a tall, shadow-cloaked figure that seems to combine wizardly robe with knightly armor. Its details are unrefined, and there is no gleam upon even the metallic parts of its armor and helm, just a light-eating design. A large two-handed sword is strapped to its back. White eyes that don't glow but merely punctuate the gloom of its form look down upon you.

Based on your own experienced, and the fact that it has no visible feet to speak off, you would guess this was some sort of armored wraith.

Histra halts your march and lets out a sigh. "Go, speak. I am Histra ir'Serell and I have little time for delay."

"Lord Branash sends his regards to Belarin Malizia," the wraithlike emissary speaks in a whispery voice, though its head swiveling from one side to the other as it takes in the whole group. "My lord hopes that he is enjoying the gardens of this land and that he will choose a more permanent stay here."

Histra turns to Belarin. "You can ill afford a battle at this time," she says quietly.

But a little louder, she asks him and the group, "Do you have anything—any of you—you wish to say to my cousin?" There is a wry smile on her lips, like she's genuinely looking forward to his response.

[Dave B.]

"Yes." Shorak says. "I would like to know how he feels about betraying his cousin, family and his entire house. Then I would suggest a punishment of staking him to the ground of this labyrinth and leaving him to the whim of Dolurrh."

[Dave W.]

"There is nothing I need to share with Branash's messenger." Adamant says softly. "If he had come himself things may have been... different."

[Brian]

Condign stands taller, though the effort pains him, and he steps forward.

"A man who sends another to fight his battles is a man without honor. Let Branash hide behind his cowardice, and may his black heart tremble in fear of our return." The tiefling gestures to his friends. "For return we shall."

With a nod to the wraith, he rejoins the others.

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[Darren]

Kal mutters under his breath, "Yes, let's all provoke the wraith. Excellent plan..." He maintains a defensive posture, but does not address the wraith directly.

[Dave W.]

Jun 26, 2015 14:45:42 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal mutters under his breath, "Yes, let's all provoke the wraith. Excellent plan..." He maintains a defensive posture, but does not address the wraith directly.

"Kal is correct, provoking the wraith will gain us little." Adamant moves slowly forward to stand next to Histra. But he draws neither sword nor shield. The bright eye-gems focus on Belarin...

---

Just noticed Adamant's in the back...

[Brian]

Jun 26, 2015 14:45:42 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal mutters under his breath, "Yes, let's all provoke the wraith. Excellent plan..." He maintains a defensive posture, but does not address the wraith directly.

Condign wraps his cloak tightly around his battered body. "I hold my honor in my sword and in my shield," he whispers, his eyes cutting to Kalarin's. "Where do you hold yours?"

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[Joe]

Streko steps forward as well. "Tell Lord Branash that his gardens were quite hospitable, though slightly tempermental. We delighted in our stay, but no longer wish to put him out, seeing that it is probably time for his afternoon tea. Our friends in Dolhurr send their regards and look forward to greeting him in person. Sooner rather than later." He smiles warmly at the wraith, bows, and returns to his place in line.

A quick glance at Condign. "Well said, my friend, but focus your anger and frustration at the one who has caused us all harm, not one who has, more often than not, saved our lives numerous times."

[Ken]

Belarin says, "Please inform Branash that Belarin Malizia has enjoyed his visit and looks forward to laughing the next time he sees him."

[Jeff]

The armored wraith makes no response to each of you who address it. Finally, facing Histra, it says: "May I speak with you, Lady Histra? My lord would share some words with you alone?"

Histra considers this for a moment, then says, "No." She chooses the right-hand path and proceeds to move down it.

A low hissing emits from the wraith as it watches you begin to walk past it.

[Brian]

Condign keeps his eyes trained on the wraith as they walk by and is prepared to act defensively should the thing attack.

[Ken]

Belarin walks alongside Histra nonchalantly.

[Dave W.]

Adamant stands still facing the wraith, but making no aggressive action, as his friends move past. When the last of his friends move into the right path, the warforged follows without saying anything.

[Darren]

Kal nods at Histra's decision. "Thank you," he says, then follows the necromancer with one hand gripping the hilt of Skyfang.

[Dave B.]

Shorak follows behind everyone. When he passes Adamant, he stops and waits for the warforged. Together they continue down the path that Histra has chosen.

[Jeff]

A disturbing susurrus issues from the spirit as you all walk past it. Those at the end of the group are the last to see the wraith, who has silently swiveled to watch them depart. Then it’s out of sight, if not out of mind.

Another short while later, perhaps only five more minutes, and Histra leads you into a small clearing that at first simply resembles a weed-choked meadow. It’s thick with vegetation, like an overgrown pumpkin patch without fruit, but every stalk and leaf looks withered and curled. A few trees have sprouted near the hedge wall near the exit passages.

Histra slows her pace, then stops altogether when the weeds begin to stir…. She quick withdraws her knife, lightly slashes her skin on the back of one hand, and spatters the blood upon the ground before her.

In the span of a few seconds, you find yourself surrounded on three sides by menacing, plantlike creatures. Some of you have seen their like before; others have not. The ground is filled with small, three-foot-high creatures that looks like tumbleweeds crushed into vaguely humanlike shapes. Their every limb is sharp. Then, shifting amidst coils of woody vines, what at first appear to be cocoons tightly wrapped around the trees somehow move forward. You glimpse skeletal remains within the tight coils, and sharp thorns sprout from the vines. Finally, behind all of these are what can only be described as bristling, moving clusters of vines without any sort of humanlike feature.

“Gulth-blights,” Histra says to Belarin beside her. “Do not attack.”

Two of the human-sized vine-wrapped skeletons Histra, moving not on their feet but sliding across the ground by the coils and writhing tendrils that still tether them to their trees of origin. One of them reaches down and draws root-like appendages across the ground where Histra spattered her blood, as if tasting it.

“Lady ir’Serell,” both of the creatures say in unison. Their voices sound like wind rustling through a dry landscape but without anything melodic about it. “What is your wish?”

Histra says, “Open passage to the Drowned Gate.” She pauses and looks around at the gathered host of malevolent plants. “I would also have you bar any corporeal creature from following us between here and the gate.”

Both cocooned skeletons answer after some delay: “We ask only that you surrender one not of your blood for our table. It has been long, lady.”

A small laugh actually wracks Histra’s body. She sounds giddy, or badly underslept. She turns and looks back at the group with a half smile on her lips. “Any volunteers?”

[Darren]

Kal gives Histra a withering look. "You know we don't have time for your jokes, Histra." He edges closer to the woman and lowers his voice. "Also, we have already killed many of their relatives...." Kal's eyes dart warily between the creatures. "Just work something out with them and let's move on."