MedievalGame2000Jul23

Ref: MedievalGame - 23rd July 2000

Day 5

• The party awoke after a rested night and only a minor incident with Kal in the night.

• While packing up, J'Heanna decided to revisit the area of the incident and attempt to track the unknown intruder. Her investigations revealed some interesting observations. It appeared that the intruder was smaller (probably human) and wearing soft coverings over its feet. It had stood not 3 feet from where Kal was seen taking evening relief. It appears that it had been standing there for at least a short while as there were signs of attendance. Also, J'Heanna noticed that there were no signs of Kal having been "relieved".

• This was discussed and Traceby, a student of Kal, refused to allow such a poor conclusion to be jumped to that Kal was in league with the Humans. He was one of the foremost and respected members of the town and had been attacked by the same assailants that the group had quickly jumped to the conclusion he was in league with. The fact's just did not add up. The group concurred, but remained wary.
• Shy-Lone spoke with Kal obtusely to try to glean some more facts and it appeared that he had been interrupted before being able to relieve himself, and that he felt - as the group did - that it would be a good idea to track them as far as they could as they may provide further information in the task they had been asked to perform by the Intendant.

• The group broke camp and followed the single footsteps about a quarter of a mile. The individual met three others and they walked further for about 200 yards where they all took up horses and rode onwards to the north-east. Mounting up, the group followed the reasonably easy tracks in the soft earth through the open woodland in the early Autumn.

• After a couple of hours J'Heanna and Krayon noticed a scent of woodsmoke in the air and the group halted. Traceby proceeded to camouflage everyone (and the horses) and J'Heanna, invisible as a bush in the camouflage, crept through the fern bracken towards what turned out to be a hut in the woodland. Two humans sat outside, lightly clad with pieces of armour. A dog played around them and their horses were tied up at the side of the hut. They were cooking some stew.
• J'Heanna managed to understand a little of what they were saying and it seemed they were wondering about whether they were being followed, though didn't seem too concerned. J'Heanna crept back to the group and they hatched a plan to capture them. J'Heanna crept round the rear of the hut while the others rode straight into the camp. Traceby felt that they would just kneel down when the clearly superior Hemnat arrived. The other didn't quite share his arrogance.

• As the group entered the campment, one of the humans dashed inside the hut - as did the dog - and the other (in light armour) took up his sword and started muttering some words. Shy-Lone picked one out - it was "armour", shortly followed by "killing-blade". Combat ensued with Krayon and Shy-Lone leading the assault on the sword-wielding guy. Valdomean and J'Heanna watched from a distance in the bracken.

• Unfortunately, the human in the hut had loaded an arbalest and shot Krayon in the side of the head. This assault was rapidly countered from Valdomean who made a critical shot into the hut impaling the eye of the human. He was heard to slump to the ground.
• The other human was beaten into submission, having been severely knocked-back by Shy-Lone. After some interrogation (by hanging its face over the fire), the human revealed that there were 10 more bandits to the north-east, encamped at an Ancient Clearing. The group tied him to the back of a horse and set off to the north-east after searching the hut. The human also mentioned something about caves nearby in the rocky outcrops of the foothills.

• Aside from some money, a magical green gem was found along with a crystal tear (hanging in the centre of the hut) and a small chest containing five perfectly cut crystal rods.

• Tyr, the faerie companion of Valdomean "volunteered" after much cajoling to visit the clearing and bring back word of what was there. It vanished into a tree and returned two hours later with a bundle of twigs for Traceby, a sack and a pouch. Traceby was also surprised to find it more arrogant than he! Tyr relayed that the clearing was empty with some tents and stuff, and kept the sack and pouch for itself.

• Arriving later that afternoon at the clearing, the group discovered a large (40') obelisk in the centre of a green glade. The obelisk was hewn with ancient markings which were very worn. Traceby started to document the obelisk while the others searched the empty encampment. There were three tents, two smaller bell tents and a large double-ended bell tent. The site was like a Mongol encampment with furs and throws laid out over bedding material. Simple travelling goblets and plates were scattered around and some short and long swords were seen in the main tent along with some shields and armour. There were a few chests with some money, clothes and food in. A cart sat around the back of the main tent.

• The group rifled through everything and discovered another 2 items from the list of missing items from the town.

• Traceby conducted a group ritual to talk with the spirit of the clearing. The ritual only managed in causing a pulse of silence to radiate slowly out from the obelisk. For a moment there was only silence and then the birdsong returned to fill the vacuum. It was eerie, yet calming. While the group were waiting for something to happen, Shy-Lone noticed in the distance at one of the outcrops that a group of humans were appearing slowly from a cave and mounting up. The humans started to make their way down the hills and the group decided that a retreat was in order.

• Covering their tracks and leaving things much as they had found them, the group camouflaged themselves again in the woodland at the edge of the circle. The humans returned from their travel and started to cook and drink. After an hour or two, many were drunk and singing. Darkness fell.

• Later, a pulse of silence again radiated out from the obelisk. As the group watched a faint inner light grew and a being of light floated out from the centre. [See attached file for picture - there was only one of them]

• Traceby decided that, even though a few of the bandits were still around, he'd walk straight out into the circle and talk with the spirit being. He approached it calmly and entered into conversation. Quickly, on the other side of the circle, the few conscious bandits sprang into action. Two crossbows were levelled at Traceby and loosed. Who appeared to be the leader called for another in the tent behind and a robed figure appeared briefly to observe the scene.

• The quarrels floated languidly towards Traceby, as if though treacle. There was some kind of defence in effect. Valdomean returned the fire almost immediately and his arrow drifted almost lifeless. Shy-Lone broke cover and raced towards the two archers, the leader and the robed figure who had appeared. Unfortunately, he was also affected by the magic and appeared to almost stop mid-flight as he crossed the circle.

• Traceby continued as if nothing was happening around him.

• The robed figure began to hurriedly prepare a ritual and J'Heanna quickly crept anticlockwise around the circle to get behind the group. Slowly she sneaked behind them to observe the robed figure call forth a being of pure darkness, hovering about 3 feet high above a smoking crucible in the centre of a black cloth with a plain silver ring encircling the crucible.

• Blocked by the leader and the two archers, she moved round to the left silently, taking up a branch along the way. Valdomean broke cover and headed around the circle for the group. One archer broke from the ritual and engaged Valdomean. A brief combat ensued knocking the archer unconscious. Valdmoean rapidly tied him up.

• In the circle, Traceby asked if Shy-Lone could be placed outside the circle and the spirit obliged. Unconsciously, Shy-Lone regained her attack and piled into the leader. J'Heanna Valdomean across the ritual cloth attempting to knock the crucible over and spoil the ritual. Unfortunately, being almost inept with the branch, she missed and ran straight through. The second archer took flight after her, but was no match for speed.

• A short distance off, J'Heanna turned to take the armed creature on. She kicked once at its chest, and again. It swung with its sword and the combat became more a pushing and shoving affair than a clean cut brawl. After a few exchanges, J'Heanna turned and lead the bandit away from the circle into the dark of the woods.

• Meanwhile, Shy-Lone took on the leader. Unfortunately, he was a little more dextrous than she and blow after blow was evaded, followed by blow after blow that it managed to land on Shy-Lone. Both suffered wounds, and unfortunately Shy-Lone's attacks were weak and unable to mis-foot the creature. After two carefully aimed blows to his head, Shy-Lone slumped backwards onto the ground. The bandit leader was just about to make a killing blow to the prone Hemnat, when Kal's ball lightning spell finally perambulated around the circle and exploded electrically on the leader's arm, shattering it and knocking the bandit back about 20 feet in a shower of sparks. The body landed unconscious on the ground. Valdomean left his captive and ran to secure the leader and aid Shy-Lone.

• Just then, J'Heanna returned pursued by the foolhardy, lone bandit. He halted when confronted by the two Hemnat, his leader and another tied up and the rest of the camp in a stupor. Turing to flee, J'Heanna leapt after him and brought him quickly to the ground. No sooner was it bound and gagged along with the remainder of the encampment.

• Valdomean and Kal used much healing to restore Shy-Lone and the group rested the night to recover. Much discussion was had about the shadow (as it was identified as) and how it could be dispatched. Since the summoner was now unconscious (and probably close to death - Shy-Lone had vented his frustration and used the guy as a punch bag before being restrained), there was little hope of the group having any control over it unless they knew about such magics. Naturally, they did not.

• The spirit of the circle (who is now attributed the name Sable) spoke a little of the dangers of shadows and the fear she obviously had for them. Since it appeared trapped - the summoner had not released it from the circle on its task - Sable said it would be best to leave it. Since it had been summoned, it would only be permitted to remain here for a short time before being naturally dismissed to its place of origin - that is if it hadn't been granted an extension via a binding or some such magic. Fortunately, by sunrise it had gone.

• Sable also spoke of her past and it turns out she knows about dragon lore and could teach the group of such things. Apparently they taught the Hemnat about such things to help them against the Dark Conspirators back in the Golden Age. But that hadn't stopped her kind being trapped in such places as librarians. The group never got to the bottom of this and agreed that it would be wise to learn more at another time after they had sorted out these pesky humans. Sable told that she had been sad since the Hemnat retreated. It felt as if one day they had just gone. She had become almost dormant until she felt the gentle asking of the emissary (as she called it). There is clearly an affinity between the spirit and the Hemnat.

Day 6

• The group spoke about what to do next and agreed that these bandits could provide much information under the right interrogation and that they would be taken back to town. However, they would first investigate the cave in the hill before returning.

• After a short walk, they arrived at the entrance to a large cave-mouth. The cave had stabling pitons hammered in to tie horse up and a fire at the entrance. It was clear that the cave had been used several times and bore signs of recent activity.

• Lighting a torch, the group moved towards the back and found a flight of hewn stairs spiralling down into the earth. The stairs weren't small in relation to the Hemnat and the going was easy. As the group neared the bottom, Shy-Lone noticed a faint glow of light coming from below. The group halted on the stairs as he went ahead. Turning the corner, he discovered a wide arched corridor ending in a pair of gates made entirely of tendrils of light. At the sides of the stone crafted corridor rested a number of picks and there were signs of excavation - probably where the humans were trying to dig round the sides. In the centre of the gates is a plate of light that could be some kind of lock or clasp, but no visible signs of accessibility. On closer examination, the tendrils of light are actually a myriad of small beads of golden light moving about each other and emanating the light that forms the bars of the gates. Incredibly beautiful, if a little weird.