Saszu found herself in the southern part of the realm, following her wanderlust, finding no compelling reason be anywhere important any time soon. She spent some time traveling through the country of Tinagel most recently, a place of wide open plains. The horselords of the clans of Tinagel wander between the few permanent dwellings with the herds, and this suited her fine for a time. However, it came time to part and she found herself crossing the river Mosel into the country of Deir es Mal.
The ferry on the main highway brought her to the first city in this new country, Vertus. It lay at the junction of the main north-south road, the river Mosel, and the river Albe. She expected to find a flourishing city of trade and commerce because of its strategic placement on the border, and at first she wasn’t wrong. She found all kinds of traders, wares, caravans, and busy docks.
However, as she passed deeper within and found an inn a passerby recommended, The King’s Coin, she noticed a depressed air about the city. People looked at each other with suspicion instead of friendliness. The guards studied her carefully, and she found herself questioned about her business on at least two occasions. The innkeeper of the inn was reluctant, and only let her have a room for a greatly inflated price after much haggling. To Saszu, it seemed like a good idea not to stay here too long.
One afternoon, as she was taking her lunch in the spring air outside, she heard an outcry down the street. Taking a last spoonful of stew, she put her lunch aside and joined the curious onlookers heading towards the commotion. A wagon being led down one of the side streets seemed to be the center of the disturbance. It was surrounded by a crowd held at bay by a few terse looking guards. The people were a combination of folks wailing, asking questions, or offering stern opinions.
Saszu pushed her way to the front, catching certain talk.
“What did it? What did it?”
“I tell you, it’s creatures from the underworld. I know, mark you. My da was there..”
“Shhh! Don’t say such things!”
“…she was the tailor’s wife, she was…"
“…I just had lunch with her the other day and looked as right as rain.”
“Sorcerers! It’s them! Spawn of hell all of em!”
“Aye, dem wizards and sorcers are da cause of all dis trouble!”
“Lydia! Why!! Oh, Lydia!! Why her?? Why, oh Arawn, why!”
Finally, she caught a glimpse of the contents of the wagon and saw the body of a middle-aged woman nearly torn to pieces. Saszu easily spotted the distinct marks of claws or talons, and surmised that no man-made weapon could make those marks.
Saszu stopped one of the guards to ask, “What happened to her? When?”
“Where you been, girl? If we knew that we’d’ve stopped it after the first one.”
“First one? How many have died?”
“Twelve in two months. Now if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave. Move along now.”
Now it became clearer why the city was so despondent. They were mourning the series of deaths and fear was making everyone suspicious. Saszu stopped walking with the wagon and watched the crowd disappear down the street.
The rest of that afternoon she spent wandering around, seeing the sights of the city. She found that despite the subdued atmosphere that the city had quite a lot to offer. A large hill and spiraling streets overlooked a wonderful view of the two rivers. Shops of all kinds could be found as well as temples to many of the 27 Aspects. She noticed that the temples were seeing quite a bit of business today.
The sun finally made its journey behind the hills and darkness descended. She started heading back towards the King’s Coin, but drat it. She lost her way in all the meandering streets. False turn after another and she had to admit she was hopelessly lost. Saszu kept her wits about herself, not wanting for one minute to run into whatever it was that killed that poor woman. Or even lesser dangers such as cutpurses or worse.
Naturally, the street she was on at the moment was completely deserted and the buildings were shut and dark. Then, as she passed an alley to the right, she suddenly saw a bright flash and she heard a roar as if by a campfire but much larger. Cautiously, she ducked to the corner and peered down the alley. Her mouth dropped open involuntarily at what she witnessed.
Down the alleyway was a man in black cloaks cowering against the wall, his face a mask of surprise and shock that mirrored Saszu's. Before him was a circular hole mid-air about twice the height of a man. Through it she could only see roaring flames taller than buildings. From the hole slithered a creature twice the size of a man. It had the upper torso of a man, though much larger, and the lower half of a great serpent. The cobblestones of the street smoked and smoldered as the creature touched them. Its hands had black talons instead of nails and in one of these was a great spear. The head of the spear was covered in some slimy substance that dripped and left smoking dime sized holes in the stones. Tassels of human hair also adorned it, still attached to shrieking heads that swung as the spear was moved.
The creature had no hair, but two long black horns protruded from its forehead and curved backwards. Two lower fangs protruded from its mouth, held in a sneer. Its eyes were slashes of pure malice and cunning, glowing reddish as it regarded the cowering man.
It stopped before him and spoke with a voice that was the deep rumble of a volcano.
“I am Mammon, Lord of Taius by grace of the Emperor.”
The man threw himself to the ground and whimpered pitifully.
“Caedwul, the Masters of the Dead have sworn their oaths to Me. You serve them, thus you serve Me.”
The man barely had the ability to whisper, “Yes, m’lord. I serve! I serve!”
Mammon sneered and clenched a fist. The man in black shrieked and writhed on the ground.
“Your masters have seen fit to give such an important task to a worm. I am here to emphasize what will happen to you should you fail. There are worse things than death, worm. You will recover what was stolen.”
“Yes! Yes master! I will! The boat was just a minor setback. I have new men. I will recover it in a matter of days. I promise!”
“Promises are nothing. Recover it or suffer.”
Mammon clenched his fist again and the man screamed louder than before, gibbering on the ground. The creature then turned and slithered back into the gaping hole of fire which then shrunk to nothingness leaving nothing but smoke. The man lay panting on the ground.
Just then, a hand fell on Saszu's shoulder. She turned around quickly to face a disgusting creature. It was once a man, but it clearly was dead yet it moved. Its skin was gray and half sloughed off its bones. It crouched like an animal, and black half congealed blood was on its lips. The breath of the grave blew into her face. She backed a step and tried to get at her weapon, but it slashed at her with a dirty hand with broken fingernails covered in disgusting filth.
She saw several others behind it coming up as a strange paralysis came over her. She knew this type of creature before from tales; it was a ghoul. It carried her into the alley where the man was just getting to his feet.
“Master….we found this…can we….eat it…?”
The man in black wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and was clearly composing himself, but his eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
“You. You saw, didn’t you?” Helpless and unable to move, she could only widen her eyes. It was clear that he was completely humiliated by the scene she just witnessed. She was very much in trouble.
“Hmm. I think we shall have some fine sport with you.” Then, he licked his lips and looked around nervously. “But not just yet. Not yet. Must finish the task first. Ah, I know just the place where you’ll keep until we're done. Just found it.” He giggled.
A sack was thrown over her and all is darkness.
That was two weeks ago. She had been in this dark dusty cell ever since she regained consciousness from that night. The door has given no quarter to all her efforts to open it. Fortunately, whether it was their arrogance or carelessness, she still had all her equipment and provisions but the food and water gave out yesterday. There has been no sign of the man and his creatures. However, on occasion she heard things moving outside the door at night (Well she thought it was night; there was no window). The one time she cried out for help, she heard these things outside the door, scrabbling against it. She was quite glad then that they made no more progress than she did.