Is it good fortune, or ill, which follows our team? I think the team is blessed with a mixture. For instance, had Leader not been slain, the Team may well have not been awake when the fire is set. The team is doomed, if not for their vigilance in supporting Aislyn’s grief, as they spend the late night watching over her. This decision affords them alertness to detect the smoke, where if sleeping, its deadly fumes surely would overcome them.
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We commence upon Laedersburg, late one day, and are told not to march on the orcish threat, but to escort the lady Aislyn back to Stahl, whereby she might enlist some martial aid from Mayor Theonius. Without question, our team commences upon the journey, only to be charged in Stahl with the duty of rooting out that town’s spy. Incredible as it is, the team agrees to this, removing themselves yet further from the task at hand, mainly to recover the Heart of Grakis.
It is hard for me to believe that Sir Laeder might have been intentionally misdirecting the team, but at first it seemed as obvious to me… as obvious as Cian’s later attempt to distract and misdirect Justiciar Hathorn by his false confessions and subsequent peregrination to the pillory. Both attempts seemed to have thoroughly distracted the intended target. Perhaps Laeder was merely trying to get rid of the team, or perhaps he was indeed fearful of his wife’s safety upon the journey. In any case, the point is moot now, for news has reached us of Laeder’s murder. |
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I find it interesting that I have nothing interesting to report. Nothing of interest to the mission or the project, that is. For me, the most interesting event is the one with the exiled Gypsy, Varisia, which took place in the wee hours of the morning as the team was monitoring the egress in the town’s wall. The admitted murderess of Lord Finesmith’s nephew Quarrel is thereby apprehended by the team, questioned, and they subsequently release her. The team buys into her lies, that she suffered magical coercion in committing the murder, while using poison no less (she even uses the same poison against the team), and they believe her sad story of remorse, complete with batting eyelashes and moist cheeks. The team grants her an unauthorized and unjustified pardon, letting her go scott free (Oh, they take the poison and the offending weapon, but do not leave her unarmed). She is, in fact, remanded to Fosse Keep for her own protection, leaving a confessed killer to go free for her life, supposedly being protected from those servants of diabolism who she is actually working for. It was all I could do to keep silent. |
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I am overjoyed to report that I am once again returned with Team 37, sans Kypris, of course, as she is returning to Archemaine per her orders. The team seems gloomy and affected by their loss. Also, the prospect of dealing with a potentially criminal sibling gives our good Father a dour disposition. The three day trek to Witheridge is spent in quietude, ploddingly advancing in fog, next rain, and yet another bout of heavy and bone-chilling fog. When at last we espy the town of Witheridge, set as it is at the foot of the Withered Hills, jutting abruptly like some huge swollen toe, exhaustion and cold take their toll on the lot of us.
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The fallen Dwarf Horrace was helpful. That was, once he realized we were not his enemies. The ghost filled in many of the gaps for us. He recounted his history with Laeder, and the motives that the orcs might have in seeking retribution towards Laeder, his hamlet, and Stahl. We took Horrace’s remains to S.W. Asa, to be laid to rest. Horrace bequeathed his belongings (not owned by his church), to the team. The magical chainmail only fit Iz’Alma. Calen carries the fine heavy mace. There was a large cache of treasure in the shrine. It indeed was a shrine. I have added the contents of the cache to my inventory report. We also returned to the Orc Hall on Laeder’s request (he hired us – 50 crowns apiece). We searched well, and destroyed another undead.
Once the artifact (we now strongly believe is the Heart of Grakis) was removed, animals outside were not afraid to come near. Also, the hauntings we earlier encountered subsided. Although the team failed to stop the half-orc Degarn from escaping with the Heart, they are dedicated to track it down and retrieve it. They must, however, cooperate with the local authorities (Laeder, S.W. Asa and the Mayor of Stahl). This may cause some complications. I have faith that the team can figure out how to handle them. |
The ghost of Horrace  |
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Uneventful trek from Laedersburg to the "Orcish Hall". The ruined village is a tumbled ruin. It was crudely built, even in its prime. Two orcs patrolled watch outside. Dorak and I tried to sneak up on them, but they saw us coming. One fled underground, we killed the other. The orc fled into a crude cellar. We followed, but by the time we all got down into the hole, the orc was gone.
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Acting upon the dubious intelligence given them by the interrogated orc, Team 37 proceeds to the presumed site of the ambush upon the Skylark’s Wing and her party. Indeed, the brutish orc told the truth, for once the site is found, the forked tree and clear trail made by the raiders lead east, to the very ravine the orcish captive described.
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This team shows promise.
Team 37 backtracks the wounded goblin, and to everyone’s surprise, they find him sleeping at the small encampment they had discovered earlier, from following the back trail of the ambush party. Were they made of common stuff, they’d have slit the thing’s throat and be on their way. But no, your newest employees have the foresight to overcome the frustration of communication barriers (presently not being able to speak the foul thing’s tongue). They instead choose to cart the little menace into town, to see if Alynian may have some agent within who could converse, or more directly, interrogate the thing.
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Team 37, in this chronicler’s ever so humble opinion, have need of healthy portion of leadership. It is obvious that Kypris has an agenda other than that of the GE, for she separates herself from the presence of her team more than she is with them. She lets them wander on their own and gives them too much freedom, so it is no wonder that the few orders she gives are not followed. But such is the nature, one must assume, of a green and inexperienced team.
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Winter persists, and Team 37 falls under fortune’s umbrella, saved from the drenching rain by the canopy of their newly acquired waygon. One long week’s journey brings the team to their objective, the village of Stahl, Southeast of Beckridge by two and a half days travel.
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