Session 3: Keeping Peace, Letters Given, and Ruins Explored Report

As night was thickening, Thelastor established a watch comprising of conscripts, saviors, his own servant, and himself, keeping regular interval. Xeyesh was watching alongside them from the upper tower. In this location he noticed a certain rustling in the woods, small movements by small things, but many of them which caused concern. He went to Thelastor to report the sighting. Strange, especially with Duyor on the prowl. He decided to awaken all those remaining who were asleep, Arelastod in particular, and force them to stand watch for the time being. Arelastod responded with a fuss, but was prompted lifted from bed, handed a spear, and thrown toward the walls. Everyone’s eyes were to the forest, but nothing vile was stirring yet.

A long distance away, Rhomod and Qetukras were ranging north through the miserable undergrowth. Thankfully the former had decent experience cutting through such morass, and thus their progress was steady. Yet, in the dead of night they heard the sounds of moment around them. Qetukras decided to investigate, and found there a beast with rusty white colored fur, narrow black eyes, but garbed with crudely made fiber and linen clothes, bearing stones, sticks, and other small items. He bid the thing come closer, and he made good purchase in befriending it. Rhomod approached, which frightened the thing, causing it to recoil with a yelp. Qetukras attempted to calm it against, but failed, and the things departed. Shortly after, the sounds of 4 additional pairs of feet, much larger now, were heard through the forest. They attempted to run away, but found that the oncomers were too fast. Disaster!

Meanwhile, Othyrus and Oradyol, weapons in hand, plunged into the darkess with only a torch to accompany them. The stairway wound downward, and upon the right wall were a number of carvings depicting strange figures working in a field beside a great tower, but terrible tendrils close in upon them. Othyrus swiftly recognizes them as the same race as Oradyol, and he asks about them. Oradyol explains that such carvings are cautionary tales, especially for those near the top of the Pillar City with a view toward the horizon, as this spot much have once been, long ago. It represents the constant Eshanic dangers the Odyrzid suffer, since the days of the First Feud and thereafter. Othyrus nodded. Around that time, Yaza appeared, gazing down on them with interest, and joined them into this strange place.

Above at the viod, Xeyesh took a patrolling walk around the perimeter of the wall, determining whether the strange beasts were everywhere or limited to a single portion of the forest. He learned that the movements were not reserved for one place, but all over the forest. Indeed, some of them were coming closer and closer, darting between the waist high stumps. Xeyesh thought quickly, gathering a stone from the battlements and casting Mesian’s Eshanic light upon it. He heaved it toward the oncoming beasts, who were revealed as Duyor youth, but scattered in all directions to hide. Thelastor followed up this action by having the whole garrison light torches and hurl them into the open ground. This prevented any more Duyor from approaching.

In the woods, Qetukras and Rhomod were fleeing from the enemies, who were closing fast. Qetukras decided to halt and attempt a negotiation with the beasts. Rhomod was perhaps more wise, and continued running. The beasts came crashing through the undergrowth, four large Duyor and the smaller child, and surrounded Qetukras. Unfortunately, he was unable to convince them to depart in peace, so when they came close to loot him, Qetukras grasped his hidden dagger and attacked one. The Duyor were swift, however, and leapt back in defend, then plunging forward with spears. Qetukras scrambled to his feet to retreat then flee, but was wounded many times and his armor destroyed. He managed to duck into a tree hollow and survive. Rhomod continued running and finally reached the village near the end of night. He knocked upon the houses until he was brought to Ebrihin, who allowed him to stay the night, took Thelastor’s letter, and offered some supplies.

Othyrus, Yaza, and Oradyol continued down into the smokey depths of the Pillar City. The pall became thicker and more dreadful to breath. At this point they made the decision to return upward, in part because of the obscured view and second because they were uncertain when the stairway might unexpectedly terminate. They turned about and returned, but along the way heard footsteps following them upward. Faster they went, escaping the smoke, and the footsteps did not follow them beyond.

In the morning, Rhomod gathered some traveling supplies to return safe and departed the Demhaz village. He retraced his steps as best as was possible, and came upon a clearing wherein torn scraps of leather and broken copper necklaces were present. At the same time and a short distance away, Qetukras awoke in a rotting tree’s hollow, bleeding and worse for wear. He stumbled into the daylight and successfully managed to reckon his way back to the path. Rhomod witnessed as he returned to the clearing, looking just as terrible as expected. Rhomod questioned how he survived, to which Qetukras explained that the ruse worked, and that me managed to trick the enemies into going away. They gathered whatever items were salvageable and departed together back to the viod.

Morning rose, and the perceived Duyor threat never materialized. This was a great relief, now they could get some needed sleep. Around this same time, Rhomod arrived with Qetukras leaning upon him. They were first noticed to Arelastod, who made no effort to greet them or assist them, but allowed them through without a word. Thelastor and the others were surprised to see their battered state, and the occurance in the forest was explained, including the unsavory details of how Rhomod retreated from the fight and left Qetukras behind. A shame, they all agreed, but at least the pair survived to return. The letter was delivered as well, which was a great boon.

Yaza spoke with Artem and Marasi, who explained that they had little to do in relation to Vojun. It was a power beyond their purview and their interest. At the same time, a more compelling threat of Nith’eshan interlopers caught their attention. They would be willing with assist with their Eshanic power against that nature of threat. At the same time, Acolitus was active in the area, within the party actually, and making an alliance with his follower(s) would be a wise decision. Yaza agreed to seek any Acolitus followers and assist them in culling the Eshanic threat.

Othyrus spoke with Vayas, and regaled her with the situation regarding the Vojun and potential beasts dwellings in the lower viod. She explained that such details were beyond her immediate knowledge, and thus she could not teach him how to harnass this power. Yet, this power could be quite potent if harnassed, especially in these amounts. This could benefit them greatly, especially against Eshanic opposition. She would seek out any Vojunic adepts or masters in the regions and persuade them to come to Viod in exchange for Eshanic gifts or promises. This fellow, whomever, could then reach Othyrus to harness this power for their benefit. Once this was arranged and achieved, the new part of their plans could come into effect.

At the changing of the gurad, Thelastor gathered together the party to question the presence of the Viiryne, whose it was, and the intentions associated. The conversation went back and forth, with explanation of Vojun and Viiryne reiterated, but nobody wished to claim ownership. Most blamed Arelastod, being the most wealthy among them, but Arelastod continued to deny knowledge of it. Thelastor called him upon the misdirection, and departed to confirm with Getas and the ship’s manifest. This was done without contest, and it was indeed true that the Viiryne came with Arelastod, though Arelastod didn’t appear to know why. The party speculated that Arelastod was just a pawn of his family’s machinations, and perhaps an important part of this fort’s current fortunes, but Arelastod denied this possibility as well. Thelastor confiscated Arelastod personal letters pending investigation, and Arelastod was sent to sleep. The others broke for some well-earned rest as well.