Session 3a - Delvers into Darkness
More than forty days and nights have passed since the events at Faerie Pool. Both our heroes have taken separate paths- Severin growing in strength, wisdom and reputation as a hunter of great game, and Lammert in both knowledge and growing infamy as the acolyte of the Witch.
But as usual the two seekers are brought together by the whiff of danger and glory: word has gone out that 'goblins' have attacked a band of travelers and this time their prize wasn't a legendary sword, but a young girl child. Seemingly unwilling to risk his own men searching after creatures of myth, Lord Lupin has staked a hefty reward of 200 silver for the return of the girl as well as proof that the bandits have been vanquished.
Hungry for both justice done and treasure justly earned, Lammert and Severin make their way to the Castle to question Juan the Drover, being the only witness to the abduction.
The tale he tells is a strange one- small vicious creatures attacking with arrows and blades, he barely escaping with his life, the father and mother of the girl being slaughtered as she was spirited away into the twilight.
As Lammert thoroughly and doggedly questions every aspect of the man's story, he breaks into sobs and his indecipherable Ossitanian tongue. Lammert wishes to press on, but Severin stops his friend with a twinge of pity and compassion- this sorry man has already told them what little he knows.
After stopping for a lunch of bread, salt, butter and mulled wine at the home and shop of Henri the Blacksmith, our heroic companions head out of the Castle grounds and into the springtime sun.
Lammert explains to Severin that the Witch has told him that the 'goblins' camp was just south of the Thanestones, having holed up in the tomb of the once mighty Sennonian King Rathwall.
Although both are skeptical that the Tomb, Rathwall and the supposed goblins are all just creatures of songs and tall tales, the missing girl and the posted reward are clearly real enough to warrant further investigation.
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Coming upon the site where Juan had reported the ambush, Severin and Lammert find signs of struggle and tiny crude arrows staked into the ground. Severin also finds tracks and evidence of small folk traveling through the tall grasses away from the site of the ambush. Warily drawing their blades as they wade through the sea of grasses, Lammert of Severin follow the tracks to a small creek where the the trail ends.
Undaunted, Severin picks up the small and faded tracks again, following them directly into the Thanestones themselves: an ancient circle of standing stones, cracked and weathered by time, inscribed with symbols whose meaning is lost to the ages. Before entering the circle Lammert attempts to decipher the (possibly) mystic script engraved into the rocks, but his newly minted magic knowledge fails him.
Wary of ambush and the mysterious aura of this place, Lammert and Severin enter the circle with hesitation, sword and bow drawn and at the ready.
Whilst passing through, Lammert catches glimpse of a small Pech smoking a pipe out of the corner of his left eye, as Severin sees the form of a dire wolf stalking to his right. As they turn to face the interlopers with weapons bared, both figures disappear; it is as if they were never there to begin with.
Severin and Lammert turn to each other quizzically at this strange occurrence before continuing on to quietly stalk their chosen prey. Although still spooked their respective phantasmal sightings, both feel oddly refreshed as they leave the circle of stones - like they have somehow received the blessing of mysterious powers while here in the abode of forgotten gods.
Onward they continue until they come to the crest of the hill, able now to peer down to the valley beneath. Below they see the entrance to a cave- once bricked up with stone there is a now a black gaping maw into the earth. Stealthily they prowl through the wood to the cave's entrance- and seeing that it is unguarded they decide to boldly venture within.
As their eyes adjust to the gloom, Severin and Lammert find that ancient statues of twin barghest guard the entryway: cast from life in stone and with glittering garnet eyes. A certain..malice emanates from the statues, but whatever wards they might possess is either faded or otherwise insufficient to break the resolve of these heroes. Unfazed, they continue on forwards and downwards into the deep, the flicking faint light of their hooded lantern dimly lighting the way before them.
Without warning, three arrows fly out of the darkness - whistling past Severin and Lammert! As Severin fires blindly into the gloom, Lammert wisely removes the hood of his lantern and casts it's light into the blackness before him.
They hear an inhuman hiss as the light illuminates three tiny figures; each half as tall as a man, each with greenish-black skin and dressed in furs, rags and tattered leather armor, each with a bow in hand and a nasty-looking blade hanging from their waists. The strange creatures seem blinded by the sudden change in light, instinctively shielding their eyes from the brightness of the fire.
Letting out a war-cry that might loosen the bowels of the stoutest warrior, Lammert strikes fear into the foremost creature: without hesitation it hurtles in expeditious retreat deep into the tunnel. His way now illuminated, Severin's arrow strikes true, felling a second of the strange creatures before him. The third now attempts to flee as well, but with torch in one hand and sword in the other Lammert blocks it's path. With a last arrow shot Severin pierces it's armored back, killing it instantly. Deep into the catacombs the sound of a splash resounds.
With steely determination, our heroes press on into the unknown. Pausing to loot the small corpses for silver and arms, Severin notes conversationally:
"So- I guess that there really are goblins after all."
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Removed from the heat of battle for the moment, our pair now notes the walls of the tomb, painted with symbols and decorations. Great swashes of color - now faded and caked over with the passage of time- illuminate the stories and legends of gods and heroes whose names are lost to history. Severin and Lammert pause very briefly to marvel at the works of their ancestors before moving ahead- this is no time for sightseeing.
After traveling just a few feet, they come upon a gruesome sight: a man-sized skeleton, long stripped of flesh and belongings, pinned to the wall by the barbs of a sprung trap. In the opposite wall they see where the lovely swirling patterns of art once hid the holes from which the ancient ballista fired it's arrows and ended this unfortunate explorers life. Not wishing to share his fate, the two stalwarts move carefully down the long passage, cautious as not to spring another of these deadly devices.
At last the corridor opens to an alcove. Somewhere in the distance they hear the sound of running water - the source of the sound obscured by the acoustics of this underground lair. At the rear wall of the alcove stands statues of three maidens- one on the right pointing to the passway to the right, the one on the left to the left, and a middle maiden pointing solemnly down to the paved stones below.
Sensing a possible trap, Lammert tests the cobbled stone floor with his trusty 10ft pole before deciding that it is sturdy enough to walk upon. He takes a step forward- and is narrowly saved from falling into danger by Severin's deft grasp as the floor suddenly opens up into a pit of spears! As he removes his foot from the pressure-sensitive stone, the pit slowly closes again by the power of some unknown craft.
With only two ways to go now, Severin and Lammert follow the directions of the right-most maiden to explore the right hand passage. Carefully they travel along, the floor going ever downwards until the way is completely blocked by slow-running water: an underground river now runs through this place, defying the immortal will of the ancient kings by cutting a path through their hallowed tomb. This was almost certainly the source of the splash heard earlier, as the fleeing goblin took refuge by diving beneath and swimming to a yet unseen part of this vast grave.
Deciding now that the leftmost maiden might have a better idea where to go, the pair walk past the alcove again (staying very much clear of the trip-stone as they pass), and down the left-hand passageway. As they travel, they hear the sound of mocking and cursing voices in a strange and guttural tongue as the corridor goes deeper and deeper into the earth.
Moving in nigh-absolute silence, they come upon a doorway guarded by carvings of nude winged faeries, frozen in eternal careless flutterings. Peering cautiously within, they see four goblins tormenting another goblin suspended in a crude wooden cage suspended by an equally crude rope. The statue of an unknown goddess is standing above them, peering down in what seems silent and resigned condemnation.
Never above using the same trick twice, Lammert unhoods his lantern, blinding the goblins within. With a flash of swords and loosing of arrows the duo quickly dispatches the four armed goblins, leaving their sad huddled corpses bleeding green blood onto the floor of the subterranean chapel.
Crying out with joy, the goblin within the wooden cage cries out joyfully in the Midron tongue:
"Ha-ha! You killed them! Yes-yes! We are very impressed, we are! Ha-ha!"
Seeing that they share of common tongue, Lammert engages the odd creature in the cage, questioning it about the other goblins and how he came to be their prisoner. The creature patiently explains that he is called Hakolo the Delver of the Crypt-Delver tribe. The others, he goes on to say, are of the Greenbloods and mortal enemies of his people. Although he claims to be a mighty warrior, he states that he was ambushed and therefore unable to defend himself, thus his current ignoble state.
"The Greenbloods steal from the living", he explains. "We Crypt-Delvers steal only from the dead. The dead usually do not mind."
Lammert considers all of this for a moment, then asks, "If we free you- how do we know that we can trust you?"
Hakolo thinks on this for a moment, then his eyes brighten as he says: "You can't! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Although this is hardly an encouraging answer, Lammert decides that he likes this little fellow and his strange ways, and thus he and Severin free the creature from his cage and bonds. True to form, Hakolo immediately begins to loot the corpses of the fallen goblins for weapons and gear.
"This is mine.", he explains as he takes a particularly sharp looking pair of twin daggers from one. "This is not," he confesses freely while looting the leather armor from a second "but I doubt that he will miss it, yes?"
Severin graciously hands a stolen bow and quiver to Hakolo so that he may defend himself from the arrows of their mutual and similarly armed foes. Now three in number, these comrades in arms set out from the chapel and out further into the reaches of the ancient crypt.
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Not quite trusting their new companion, and taking his claim as to know the pitfalls of the ancient crypt as true, Lammert and Severin allow Hakolo to take the lead. Wrapping a rope upon his waist, he leads the duo through the waters blocking the right passageway and into the next section.
As they emerge from the water, our water-logged duo finds themselves in the corner of a vast hall; although now bereft of their torches, they are hardly needed here- a phosphorescent lichen hugs the walls of the hall, flooding the area with an eerie green glow that illuminates a stone rotunda 80 ft tall and wide and an ancient stairway that once led to the level above, having since crumbled with age.
In the middle of the room stands a large circular table ringed by gilded curule seats, the grandest of these being to the farthest part of the chamber near the foot of the stairs. The grand table itself is filled with treasures- all in the shape of food: crystals cast in the form of grapes, silver goblets, apples gilt and covered in blackened silver.
Disturbingly, the attendants are still here too- mummified corpses that sit along the rotunda every 10 feet, willingly or perhaps less-than-willingly joining their king to serve him in death as they did in life.
"Dont. Touch. Anything!", hisses Hakolo nervously into the still dank air of the chamber, and Severin and Lammert decide that it is best to heed this wisdom.
Seeing that the stairway is no longer in use and that the railing above might serve as a foothold for his grappling line, Lammert whirls his grapple and line in the air while aiming for the nearest rail, thirty feet above and just to the right of one of the desiccated corpses. His aim looks true for a moment- but then slips at the last moment, crashing down onto the stone floor beneath his feet.
*Tink* *Tink* *TINK!*
The sound of metal on stone is amplified in the chamber, and for a moment the trio are perfectly still, hoping that nothing else in this place was disturbed by the sound. This hope proves false, however, as three bow-wielding goblins emerge from the upper level and begin firing a volley of arrows down into the great hall and at the companions.
Barely dodging an arrow that lodges itself into a stone behind him, Severin lets loose two shots of his own, instantly killing one of the goblin attackers above. Hakolo and Lammert join in as well, finally felling the other two goblins in a furious exchange of fire.
Grimacing in a combination of frustration and determination, Lammert pulls out a stray arrow that had lodged itself in his armor and once again swings his hook towards the level above- this time striking true. Once again Hakolo is allowed to be first, lithely climbing the rope to the top (after a helpful boost from Lammert), followed by Lammert himself and then Severin.
Still bathed in the greenish light cast by the lichen above, our party finds that the upper level features a pathway of 7ft across following the perimeter of the great hall below. To the east stands great stone door with the three goddesses carved into the stone above it, to the south a great gaping maw shows where the stone wall has been broken- a foreboding aura emanates from here, and our duo concludes that it is best to leave this way unexplored for now.
They see on the western edge a great stone door has been opened ajar, above it graven in stone is the axe and shillelagh crest of the ancient kings. Surely this would be the final home of Rathwall himself, and the open door beckons further exploration. Weapons drawn and steeled for further peril, our brave travelers venture within.
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The trio emerge into another slender corridor, the walls and ceiling covered with once colorful but now faded flaking murals and runes. The lichen grows thin here- and the resulting light as well, casting the stone-hewn corridor into gloom . In the distance gutteral voices are heard - along with what sounds like a young girl crying in fear and frustration.
Attempting to move as quietly as possible, their presence is betrayed when Severin trips over a wayward stone in the darkness. The voices suddenly stop - and the sound is shortly replaced the whistling of arrows out of the pitch-black corridor before.
As Severin fires blindly and impotently into the blackness, Lammert readies his lantern and the flint-stone lighter which he had wisely sheathed inside his waterproof wineskin. Lowering his bow, Severin tries to aid him in alighting the torch, but barely able to see in the greenish gloom he is of no help at all. Cursing absent gods as arrows whisk past his form, Lammert at last lights the lantern, crying out at just at that moment:
"Hakolo, cover your eyes!"
Hakolo's lids close a split second before the lantern whooshes to life in a blaze of blessed light. "Aaaie!", cry the figures before them, the goblin archers now as blind as our duo was but a moment before. The advantage now of the side of the righteous, our three companions swiftly dispatch two of the disoriented creatures in a cacophony of blades and loosed bowstrings. The last attempts to flee, but his flight is interrupted as Severin's arrow finds his throat and he falls to the ground, shuddering before giving up his last breath.
Bloodied and weary but still unbroken, the trio continue down the hall towards whatever further dangers might await.
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Weapons in hand, Severin, Lammert in Hakolo emerge from the passage into the next room.
Here they find the burial chamber of a once-mighty lord; cast as an exalted throne room, so that the king may rule in death much as he had in life. Great tapestries line the massive chamber, now blackened and ragged by the passage of time where not covered by glowing lichen. Capped by a 50ft high ceiling decorated in amber, the lichen which now covers it and the walls of throne room casting an odd hue to the surroundings.
Central to the room raised in a staired pedestal 12ft high sits the body of the king: seated upon a gilded curule chair, now mummified in a dry and grisly mockery of what he must of have been in life. On his head sits a crown, and in his hands and lap he holds a great bronze axe, beautifully cast and clearly once very deadly.
Beneath the throne they find stone warriors, kneeling in eternal vigilance. Before these silent guardians is another seat, a curule chair where perhaps an attendant - or the corpse of one- once sat. Before this seat the remains of a fire and questionable grilled meat tells the tale of the goblins enjoying a feast but moments before they arrived.
Behind the lonely chair they see the filthy and slight form of a young girl, held within a crude wooden cage. Her intermittent sobs breaking the silence of the chamber.
Lammert steps forwards towards the crude cage to free the girl - but is stopped short as barbed and wicked arrows emerge from the balcony above; one almost piercing his foot and another lodging painfully into the flesh beneath his leather cuirass. Their ambush now sprung, the three companions look in dread as for shadowed form of six goblin archers are seen emerging from the balcony, firing down upon their exposed targets on the ground below.
Blocking a third and forth arrow with Orkney's mighty shield as Severin returns fire, Lammert first hears and then sees the tiny armored form of the goblin warlord Oggsblood charging towards him down the stairway, holding a sword almost as long as he his tall within his powerful grasp. Surely this sword must be 'Orendel' - the legendary weapon cast by Henri the Blacksmith.
Lammert ruefully smiles as he readies his long blade to give battle against this new foe- for now at last he can test his new sword against a worthy opponent.
Speaking in what must be the most hateful tones in his native tongue, Hakolo drops his bow and takes his twin daggers in hand as he charges the goblin warlord as well. Still weathering a hail of arrows, Lammert's sword meets the goblin chief's own before Hakolo can meet them. Oggsblood's first blow proves true- but he has overreached himself, and grimacing in pain Lammert drives the massive blade from the goblin's hand and clattering onto the ground.
As Oggsblood scrambles after his weapon and prize, Hakolo attacks him in a flurry of dagger strikes. Although two prove true, the blades glance harmlessly off the armored form of the goblin leader.
Although he sees his companions struggling mightily against the head goblin, Severin concludes that the greater immediate threat are the half-dozen archers on the balcony above. Firing arrow after arrow he slays one, then another, but third is able to by grace or luck to dodge his barbs. With grim determination Severin ever draws and fires again with deadly precision as goblin arrows continue to mercilessly rain down upon them.
Oggsblood regains his sword and his footing, and squares up against Lammert: "this one will fall", he vows to himself. Blow after blow is traded between the two warriors, Lammert drawing upon every trick and spell he knows, each slowly wearing the other down in a sanguinary contest of attrition; Hakolo giving what aid he can, but his blades pitifully impotent against the reinforced armor of his blood-foe.
Meanwhile, Severin's deadly bow-arm has managed to slay all but one of the goblin archers; mercifully, the goblins bowstring breaks and cursing in it's strange tongue it draws a blade and begins to run down to the floor below to give aid to his master. 'He will arrive in a few seconds', reasons Severin, but he decides to make those few seconds count by joining in the battle with the goblin warlord before him.
Just then- the warlords blade finds it way to Lammerts ribs. Blood weeps from the wound as darkness threatens to overtake Lammert's consciousnesses: but he wills himself to press on, not willing to die in this place and to so unpalatable an adversary. Sensing that he is but moments from victory, the goblin warlord smiles, showing a fearsome row of fanged yellow teeth.
Just then- perhaps seeing a glimmer of hope in Lammert's eyes- the goblin lordling turns; seeing Severin bear down upon him with a long stiletto in hand. The weapon pierces the spaces between his scalemail armor, drawing up a trickle of green-black blood as it exits the wound.
Sensing the turn of battle now that his brother-in-arms has entered the fray, Lammert in turn pierces the distracted goblin with his sword. The goblin drops to one knee; giving space for Severin to finally land the killing blow, his stiletto driving deep into the goblin's armor and flesh before finding its black beating heart. A torrent of blackish ichor erupts from Oggsblood's chest as he coughs up blood, coughs again...and then dies, the mighty sword dropping finally from his lifeless hands and onto the cold stone floor.
At this moment the last Greenblood arrives; and seeing his liege lord dead and no comrades to aid him, he swiftly makes his way to the door. Not missing a beat, Severin calmly reaches for his bow and with single arrow slays the creature before it gets more than a few feet from the entrance.
Lammert smiles a bit at this before coughing up blood, which only agitates the stinging wound in his side and arm and....well, all over, really.
Once again they have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. But now they are deep within a cursed and trap-laden tomb without hope of outside comfort and aid. Our heroes can only hope that the fates will show them the same kindness in the future that they have enjoyed in the past...
*End Session 3a*
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Session 3b- Rook, King, Bishop, Knight
Reeling from pain and and exhaustion, Lammert sits upon the floor and finds his pipe and lights it, enjoying a languorous smoke at the foot of the ancient king's throne.
He opens his armor to inspect his wounds- revealing a nasty seeping gash in his side. Aided by Severin, he salves and tightly bandages his cuts and bruises before reapplying his armored vest. Feeling stronger now and refreshed by the taste of fine tobacco, he patches up Hakolo as well before rising to free the girl in the cage.
She cowers in fear in the back of the crude wooden bars, a tiny sad and squalid thing covered in dirt and dressed in soiled rags. Gently, Lammert opens up the cage and attempts to coo her out, but her eyes flit between the two men and their goblin companion in undisguised distrust and terror and she refuses to budge.
Seeing that Lammert's attempt at friendliness has failed, and knowing full well that any girl might have good reason to distrust Lammert's intentions, Severin takes over and speaking kindly words hands the girl bread and water to drink and eat. She greedily gulps down the drink and stuffs to bread into her hungry mouth, leaving spilt water and breadcrumbs cascading down the front of her dress.
Severin explains that she is safe now, and that Lammert and he were sent by her uncle Juan to free her and return her to his side. She asks that if this is true, then why does a creature like her captors travel with them? Severin patiently explains that Hakolo is a friend to them, and the enemy of the goblins that took her captive.
Hakolo comes to the door of the cage to speak with her as well, and surprisingly is at last able to convince the girl to emerge from the perceived safety of her prison. She gives her name as Vioeta, and sits quietly watching the three companions with wary and suspicious eyes.
This task accomplished, Severin carefully searches the throne room and finds a small secret door to the rear: sealed with glyph-like stones and with no apparent way to open it. Upon investigation with his trusty 10ft pole, Lammert determines that he can depress each of the stones briefly before it pops back into place, but no matter what stone or series of stones he depresses seems to make any progress in opening the mysterious door.
The two men struggle with the puzzle for some time before Lammert says, "Let's ask Hakolo!"
Hakolo puzzles over the glyphs for a moment, and then his eyes brighten up and he exclaims, "Hakolo knows this!" Leading the two companions back to the tunnel from whence they entered, he points to faded and peeling symbols upon the wall, reading:
"KLH:-|"
Returning to the door, Lammert presses the proper sequence into the stones: suddenly all the stones depress at once with a loud 'clunk' and the doorway sinks slowly into the floor, revealing a small room filled with elegant ancient bronze weapons and treasures. Quickly appraising their find, Lammert and Severin waste no time filling their packs to the brim with their new found loot.
Whilst marveling over their ill-gotten gains, their scavenging is suddenly interrupted by a high pitched scream from the front of the throne room. Poking their heads out of the small treasure cache they see Vioeta cowering in fear - all within standing astonished as the two stone guards before the throne slowly rise to life, hefting their massive bronze swords before them as of they were feather-light.
Lammert loudly orders the girl to hide in the corner, to which she dutifully complies - taking refuge in the far northwestern corner of the hall. The stone guardians thankfully ignore her, their lifeless crystalline eyes seeming set upon the forms of the three raiders in the rear of the tomb. The constructs begin to walk slowly towards the interlopers, weapons raised and at the ready.
Not wanting to wait until within range of their fearsome-looking blades, Severin raises his bow and fires single arrow at the front-most golem- but the arrow is deflected harmlessly off the creature's stone-hard skin.
Thinking that magic might succeed where mundane weapons have failed, Lammert races into action to flank the right-most golem. Speaking the mysterious words that the Witch had taught him, he summons a ray of freezing cold from the nether realms, covering one in a layer of hoarfrost and the other in ice. The ice covered golem pauses briefly- then shatters the ice in a mighty shrug and continues forward.
Hakolo acts as well, cursing in his native tongue whilst drawing his bow to fire upon an advancing construct- only to find that his arrow has no more effect upon it than Severin's shot had.
Keen on maintaining his distance from the advancing guard, Severin rushes past the reach of it's massive blade and up upon the stairwell, again firing upon the nearest foe. His clicks his tongue in frustration as this second arrow is again deflected by the creatures natural armor.
The now frost covered stone guardian nearest Lammert now faces towards his closest foe. Lammert wisely makes some distance- and speaking the magic words again a polar ray leaps from his hand, covering the massive creature in layer of ice. Undaunted, the golem shatters the ice and moves forward towards Lammert- then smites him with a single swing of it's fearsome blade! Lammert's body slumps lifelessly to the ground.
Meanwhile, Hakolo finds himself face-to-face with the second golem. The creature swings it's mighty blade at him, barely grazing his tiny opponent. Deciding that discretion is the best part of valor, Hakolo runs to join Severin on the stairwell - firing but the missing the creature as soon as he takes position halfway up the stairs.
Not certain if his brother-in-arms is yet alive or now dead, Severin draws his bow to fire two bolts at the golem nearest Lammert. The first arrow misses completely- a second lodging itself into it's stone skin. Losing interest in it's now fallen opponent, he creature turns to where Hakolo and Severin are and begins to pace towards their position.
The first golem catches up to Hakolo at the foot of the stairwell, barely missing the goblin with a swing of it's huge blade. The second one now joins him- knocking back the goblin as he winces with pain and the proximity with mortal danger. Hakolo keeps his feet, however- he races up the stairway to gain a decent vantage point, aims at the nearest golem- and fires. The arrow strikes true into a glittering crystal eye, and the golem shudders once and then falls, it's bronze blade falling from it's hands and clattering across the stone floor.
"That's it!", thinks Severin, and drawing back his bow he strikes a well placed arrow into the eye of the second golem. It too shudders and droops into a lifeless slump at the foot of the stairway.
Not pausing to enjoy his victory, Severin leaps over the banister and straight towards his fallen comrade. Fearful as to what he might find, he relieved to discover Lammert still raggedly breathing whilst huddled semi-conscious upon the floor. Quickly he strips off Lammert's now beaten and torn leather cuirass, reapplies salve and bandages, and gives him a swig of Remy's strong brandy - Lammert suddenly waking with a series of ragged coughs before sitting up to regain his bearings.
Lammert turns his head to see the fallen bodies of the stone golems and says, "Good job!", before slowly taking his feet again. Twice today he had been at death's door, and twice he had been given reprieve. Although he lacks a looking glass, seeing the expression on Severin's face tells him all that he needs to know about how he might appear at this point. A bloodied and half-broken Lammert makes a mental note that perhaps he has pressed his luck today as far as he should.
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While Lammert enjoys another smoke, the bittersweet taste of the tobacco replacing the flavor of blood and bile in his mouth, Severin uses his stiletto to pry the remaining magic crystals from the eye-sockets of the fallen golems.
Once his smoke is finished, Lammert climbs the stairway of the dais and takes the ax from the dead kings hands, and the crown from his head. If the king has a complaint about this theft he appears to be in no position to protest, and Lammert leaves the silent corpse behind him as he places these pilfered treasures into his pack.
Severin then loads their packs with the other stolen treasures and weapons of the tomb, and they once again prepare to exit in marching formation: Hakolo again taking the lead, Severin right behind, then the girl, with a stumbling and exhausted Lammert guarding the rear.
Down through the darkened passageway they go, then to the walkway above to rotunda, then climbing down into the Hall of Feasting, Lammert carrying Vioeta upon his broad back. As they enter the great hall, our trio nervously watches the mummified figures that line the room for signs of stirring- but they remain still. Not wanting to press their luck further, all stay clear of the glittering treasures of the table as they make their way to the pool at the western corner of the room.
Again, Hakolo goes first, followed by Lammert (with the girl again on his back), holding their breath for a few fearful seconds while passing through the dark and slowly moving water of the underground stream. Finally Severin emerges from the other side to rejoin the party, carefully reeling in the now soggy rope from the waters.
From there they follow the passage to the Maiden's Alcove, taking care to steer very clear of the spike trap beneath, then up through the entry passage, past the guardian barghest, at last emerging into the cool night air. Severin and Lammert breathe deeply of the piney air of the forest- so sweet after the dank and fetid air of the tomb.
Making sure to make their way around the Thanestones this time rather than passing within, our duo decides that it is best to head back to Montaigne rather than visiting the castle in the middle of the night. They ask Hakolo if he might want to come along, and he shrugs his small but wiry shoulders and says, "Hakolo will go with you, yes."
As they make their way northwest, Severin becomes aware that...something...is stalking them part of the way. Perhaps not hostile, or maybe frightened away by the aura of death the surrounds our warriors, whatever it is lets them pass without incident and soon they come upon the torches that illuminate their tiny village.
Not wanting to catch undue attention, Lammert convinces Hakolo to climb inside a bag to shield him from unprepared eyes, and carting him about thus with Vioeta in tow they enter Remy's Inn without incident. Lammert thoughtfully leaves a note on the bar for Remy to read when he awakes, noting that they have a 'guest' in their room and that he prefers his privacy.
Severin gives his bed to Vioeta, and curls up upon the floor for much needed rest. Hakolo sets up a blanket as well, and after making a circle about his sleeping area like a cat, finally settles down into his improptu bed, putting the blanket over his head to shield his eyes from the light of impending dawn.
Lammert slowly removes his boots and armor, wincing with pain all the while, a network of blood-soaked bandages making a crude shirt as lays down upon the blessed comfort of his own bed. Soon fatigue overtakes him, and he is off to a deep snoring slumber.
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The next morning comes late for our heroes, who slumber well past the dawn and into the tenth hour of the following day.
Severin awakes first, and is kind enough to bring up breakfast to the room (courtesy of Remy). Lammert, Vioeta and Hakolo eat their meals like starving man, girl and goblin, Hakolo only eating the sausage and giving away the extra bread and butter to Vioeta and Lammert. For his part, Severin eats little - the black blood of his sausage reminding him too much of the wholesale slaughter of the day before.
Bellies now filled, our duo decides it is time to bring Vioeta to the Castle to be reunited with her uncle, and for them to collect their hard-earned bounty. Hakolo's assistance is both unneeded and unwanted, so he crawls straight back into his blanket pile and again falls fast asleep.
As soon as he makes his way downstairs the normally unflappable Remy seems shocked at the state of Lammert, but Lammert explains that he feeling much better after his hearty meal, thanks to Remy. Remy pulls him aside and asks Lammert:
"Your guest- you think that you can trust this one?"
Lammert thinks about his conversation on the very subject with Hakolo the day before, but his fearsome little companion had since proved his worth.
"Yes, I do.", he replies with confidence.
"Hmm. Okay then.", says Remy, his face still showing some reservations about his mysterious guest.
The duo manage to rent a cart and mule for the day, which speeds them to the castle in but a few hours time. The castle guards show a certain bored familiarity as they pass through the gates with a dirty and bedraggled looking girl as their guest. They intend to make their way straight to Juan to present her, but are stopped on the way by a young acolyte of Diove.
"Greetings, heroes", he intones before continuing. "My Master, Priest Aeron would like to meet you in the Chapel for refreshments as soon as you are able."
"Sure", says Lammert dismissively. "As soon as we are able. Now excuse us- we have business to attend to."
The reunion of Juan and his niece is tearful, the grateful Juan offering the duo all that he owns in return for their great service. Not wanting to take the last of the wretched mans wealth Severin refuses, pushing the money back into the older man's hands.
Lammert is no more inclined to take his coin either, but has not forgotten about the man's self-confessed cowardice during the goblin attack. Rising to his full height, he places his form directly into the man's face and declares:
"You have her back now. If you want to do us a service, and you wish to avoid our wrath, then do this: Never. Leave. Her. Again!"
Shaking with fear and shame, Juan replies in the positive: "Si. Si! I will not. Never again, I swear!"
Satisfied with this answer, and happy that Vioeta is in the safe care of her remaining family they leave her to Juan's care while they go to elsewhere in the castle. Fully intending to visit Henri first to present his retrieved sword, they are waylaid by a castle attendant who insists that they meet with the Lord 'after breakfast'. Seeing as it is already well-past midday it seems that the Lord must break his fast rather late...but the duo agree that they will be along to make his audience shortly.
As soon as he comes in sight, Henri greets Severin like a brother, grabbing him in a giant bear-hug. To Lammert he gives a polite nod, then welcomes to duo in for bread and cheese.
The burly man's face distorts in comical surprise as Lammert unwraps and presents the masterwork sword 'Orendel' to the blacksmith. Without hesitation he hefts the blade and tests it's weight and balance, clucking his tongue as he does, saying:
"These goblins treated her poorly in her care, I am afraid. They WERE goblins, were they not?"
"Just as you said", confirms Lammert, opening a bag so that Henri can view the grisly trophy of the goblin chieftains head.
Pressed for details, Severin and Lammert recount the thrilling events of the day before- the seemingly endless army of goblins, their fearsome chieftain, the mysteries and perils of the ancient tomb. Impressed and grateful for the return of the masterwork sword, Henri offers to rework all of their 'simply-made' equipment to something better befitting true heroes, as well as his services in crafting weapons and armor going forward.
Severin asks after making a light blade called a 'rapier' for his use, but Henri notes that these are 'duelists toys' made across the middle-sea, and not something that he would be want to craft. He thinks that he might know of some sources for such a thing, however, and that he would get back to Severin as soon as he has some leads.
Pleased with the results of this meeting and with bellies newly filled, our pair at last makes their way to the central keep of the castle to meet with his lordship and claim their 200s reward. Attendants race ahead of them as they pass deeper into the keep, opening doors before them in a regal display of pomp. At last they reach the central keep, and to the seat of the lord himself.
Lord Lupin is a slender man- perhaps even scrawny- but tall in his lankiness. Word has it that he was a housebreaker in port Cales before rising to his current position- and this seems a possible profession for the man: he seems hardly a warrior. He is dressed in finery- a burgundy doublet, and silken grey hose, with golden and bejeweled rings upon each of his fingers, a gold chain upon his breast bearing the sign of St. Jean's eta. Although his clothes are certainly expensive - the whole of it crosses into the realm of gaudy, like the clothes bought by a man unaccustomed to being dressed well.
To his left and right are two pretty maidens- both corseted in such a way as to best show off their ample physical assets. As the one to his left serves him wine in an over-sized goblet, the other presents sweetmeats and cheeses, feeding the food directly into his mouth with her soft and delicate fingers.
"Hail the conquering heroes!", announced the Lord with a certain air of diffident irony. "I hear that you have again accomplished an impossible task and brought back the kidnapped Ossitanian girl safe and sound. Well done...well done. And- I hear also that you fought..goblins, is it?"
"We fought those, yes.", agrees Lammert. "And we are here for the posted reward."
"Well now," says Lupin, pausing to take a sip of his wine and to eat a bit more meat, "...I do not know about these 'goblins' that you have done battle with, but I am pleased to see you both back safely. Your prowess in battle is well-documented" - he points to the massive boars head mounted behind him in the large room - "..so I am unsurprised at your success in felling these tiny bandits, whomever and whatever they might have been."
Seeing as he has only earned silence as a response to this, the Lord goes on to say, "Well, please take your leave with my blessing, and your reward. I hope that you will prove to be of further use to the domain in the future."
Severin bows slightly in exit, but Lammert only scowls a bit. As soon as the duo has made their exit but halfway to the door, Lammert suddenly turns and says:
"Oh yes- one more thing."
With this he opens the bag, and flings the goblin chieftains head across the room and directly in front of Lupin's seat. The grisly trophy bounces and then lolls before the seat, leaving a trail of blackish ichor behind it. The Lord and his Castellan stand up in shocked surprise, Lupin spilling his wine in the process: the women scream in horror, one dropping her plate of food in a clatter.
Smirking all the while, Lammert turns now again towards the door without saying another word, with Severin in tow. Passing by a shocked attendant holding a tray with a bag full of coins that is their reward, Lammert grabs the coins and continues forward, never breaking his stride until both have just about left the castle keep.
As they are making their exit, however, they are stopped by the approach of Priest Aeron who is flanked by two young and handsome acolytes. He smiles warmly at Lammert and Severin before noting wryly:
"That was quite a display there. Perhaps you two bold young men might join me now for refreshments at the chapel? There are things that I might like to discuss with you."
Lammert is suspicious of the effete priest and his motives, but the day's events have built up an appetite and Severin seems keen to hear what the man might say. Putting aside any misgivings that they might have, the duo follow the priest out into the courtyard and into the chapel beyond.
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Now seated at a table before the priest, attendants arrive bearing water, wines, juices, and all forms of meats and cheeses and other delicacies that would be too tedious to catalog in full. Severin and Lammert notice that all of the priests attendants are young, male....and quite pretty to a one. Lammert thinks ruefully how much better this 'humble' priest seems to live compared to his laity- surely they would not expect their tithes to go towards such luxuries, if they knew.
Severin accepts a goblet of juice and little bread with salted butter, while Lammert gulps down heady cups of wine whilst picking out the most expensive looking food then greedily and rudely stuffing it into his gob.
After making some small talk, the Priest then gets down to business: "Ah, but I should get to the point now, shouldn't I?"
With a dramatic flourish, he produces three wax-sealed scrolls from the drawer of his desk. "I have written three letters", he explains. "The first" - he holds up one of the sealed documents - "..is to the Hierophant of Treves, announcing your appointment to the title of Templar."
"The other two," he continues, handing the two letters to Severin and Lammert, "are your letters of appointment- one for each of you. Feel free to read them carefully."
Answered only by astonished silence, he continues. "I have been watching your careers closely, you see. The King needs men that he can trust here in the south- and you seem like men who can be trusted with a task. The King also has my trust- and I am his eyes and ears here. But I cannot see everything all at once, can I? So I will need you to be my eyes and ears as well, assuming that you accept this great honor."
Severin reads the letter closely as the priest speaks, then asks: "It says here that we are to be 'Templar-Errant' rank. What is that?"
"I thought that you might ask that", the priest notes with obvious amusement. "As you know, most of the active Templar have been called upon to fight our holy war in the southern lands. Were I to make you simply Templar you might expect- with good reason- that you might be then called upon to serve in this capacity as well. But I think that this would be waste of your talents, and I am certain that you two would agree with this assessment as well."
He continues to explain: "As Templar-Errant you are free agents. You take no orders from anyone- myself included. You may choose where your services are best needed and act accordingly, but with the full authority of the church. Of course, " he notes casually, "were it to be determined that you were no longer serving in the interests of the Church the appointment CAN be revoked. But again- all I ask if that you use your best judgement, and make sure to meet with my regularly to report all that you see and hear. That alone is sufficient to fulfill your duties in my eyes, and in the eyes of the Heirophant."
While Severin seems to consider the offer, Lammert looks the priest dead in the eye and says: "Thank you for the offer. I'll pass."
"You won't reconsider?", asks the Priest, in tone of disappointment but seemingly unsurprised by the response.
"No, thanks. I'll pass.", confirms Lammert.
Severin seems conflicted for a moment; the offer clearly does come with strings attached, but the vast advancement in rank and options seems to outweigh the risks.
"Thank you. I will consider the offer", he states.
The priest thanks Severin for his consideration. With that the priest begs their pardon, but there is pressing business to attend to and he rises to leave, a young boy attendant dutifully in tow. Severin and Lammert are left behind to enjoy the remainder of their refreshments while Severin weighs his options.
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While dropping off their weapons and armor with Henri to perform the necessary upgrades, Severin confides to Lammert:
"I think I am going to take up the priest on his offer."
"Are you sure?", asks Lammert. "I don't know that we can trust that priest- any more than any other priest, for that matter."
"Sure", concedes Severin, "but what is the worst that he can do, make me not Templar again? Seems worth the risk."
"Well, I am sure that you would make a great Templar", says Lammert, smiling. "You can use the scepter and crown of Rathwall as your badges of office!"
"The scepter, sure", concludes Severin. "But...the crown seems a bit much."
Before leaving the castle Severin summons one of the acolytes to inform him that he will accept Aeron's appointment. The new Templar and his wizard companion then leave the castle, taking their cart and mule west towards the setting sun.
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Back at town they seek out merchant Savin before he closes shop for the day. First they trade him their antique weapons- which he seems impressed by, offering 60 silver for the lot. But when they present the remaining treasures to him he is genuinely astonished. He offers 500 silver for the entire lot, payable immediately. Pleased with this welcome addition to the day's haul, the two heroes gratefully accept the offer, walking out with coins jingling in their packs.
Returning to the Inn, the pair are surprised to find a wench tending the bar, with Remy nowhere to be found. Making their way upstairs, they find him together with Hakolo, trading stories in a strange pidgin language of Goblin mixed with Midron.
"Ah!", exclaims Remy. "You have returned. I was just trading stories with your new friend. He seems interesting."
"I see", says Lammert. "So...do you trust him?"
"I don't know", admits Remy. "Hakolo- can I trust you?"
Hakolo ponders this a moment, his eyes brightening as he says: "No!! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
***
Rewards: 1198xp, 11+Legend Reputation, Title: Templar-Errant (N1, 30 rep cost, Severin only)
Trophies: 200s + Goblin loot (250s) + Treasure cache (560s), Scepter of Rathwall (Mace 1d8 lethal 20 AP 4), Crown of Rathwall (Value=?) +1 free upgrade, all current gear