Keep on the Shadowfell: Sessions 5

Jia woke early the next morning, and went downstairs to the inn's main lounge in search of breakfast. Expecting to be the first of the group to rise, she was surprised to see Bakaan, the warlord that Eilonwy had hired, sat drinking coffee and reading a book.

“Hello again,” he greeted her. Ignoring him she sat at a different table. A sleepy serving maid took her order for bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms, toast and a large cup of tea. Once the maid had left, Bakaan sat down opposite her. “You've gone for the full Cormyr breakfast I see. I prefer a simple breakfast, I have no real appetite when I first awake.”

“Look, whatever your name is,” replied Jia, “I don't mean to be rude, but leave me alone. Don't try to ingratiate yourself with me. You're not a part of this group yet. You're a hanger on, you're nothing. Plus you look like a demon. You're a waste of space until you've proven yourself.” She paused as the maid brought in her tea. Once the maid had left, she turned back to him.

“You're the FNG. Now go over there and wait by yourself until we leave.”

The tiefling sat silently, looking at her thoughtfully, as if about to reply, but after a few moments he bowed his head to her in acknowledgement, stood and went to sit by himself near the fire.

A few minutes later Doomgrad and Eilonwy came downstairs and joined her at the table. “Come and join us Bakaan” Eilonwy called over to the tiefling.

He looked over at them, caught Jia's glare, and replied. “Thank you for the offer, but I have eaten already. I'd prefer it next to the fire, I feel the cold so in the mornings.” He turned back to his book.

“Well he's a friendly soul” commented Doomgrad. Overnight, it seemed as if his voice had deepened.

“He's a damn FNG,” replied Jia. “Ignore him.”

“Oh, not this again, Jia, please?” asked Eilonwy. “You were like this when Kaza joined, and she's a valuable member of the group. You like her.”

Jia continued to eat breakfast and said nothing.

After breakfast, the group headed off to the keep to hand in the Kobold ears and get their reward. Lord Markelhay's seneschal, Luther, was pleased to see them, and even more pleased to see the ears and the bone mask.

“A dragon? You slew a dragon?”

“It was only a small one. It was bigger than four times the size of Gilee.” said Doomgrad “But smaller than eight Gilee's”

“Erm, yes, well, that's very...erm... interesting,” replied Luther, not sure what to say.

“Kaza and her companions are very glad to have killed the beast,” said Kaza. Luther looked at Eilonwy.

“Head wound?”

“Head wound.”

At Teldorthin's forge, they handed over the green dragon hides they had recovered, and were pleased at being able to sell the white dragon hides they had gathered. More cash came their way.

“Shouldn't we give Thorfinn his share?” asked Jia. “He did earn this after all.” But despite their efforts to find him, it appeared that he had left town already.

After lunch, a runner from the keep brought them a message, saying that Lord Faren Markelhay wanted to see them himself. They quickly made their way to the keep and were swiftly shown into Markelhay's study.

“Ah, the famous dragon slayers, I take it?” He beamed at them, and waved a hand at them indicating that they should sit. “I thought I should thank you personally for dealing with the kobold threat. You have done the town of Fallcrest a great service.”

“Kaza believes that it was her duty to banish these creatures to their graves,” announced Kaza.

“Head wound?” asked Lord Markelhay.

“Head wound,” replied Eilonwy.

“Anyway, I would be grateful if you could perform another service for me. Some five days to the east, on the road to Highmoon, is the small settlement of Winterhaven, ruled by a friend of mine, Lord Ernest Padraig.” Lord Markelhay laid a cloth map of the area on his desk showing the area.

”He is also suffering from kobold attacks, but there have also been sightings of goblins. The kobolds by themselves are a relatively minor threat to the town which has substantial defences. However, the presence of goblins hints at a greater threat, perhaps from orc tribes from higher in the Thunder Peaks. As he has only a small citizen militia at his disposal, he has asked if I can send any bands of adventurous souls his way. I'm sure he will match the agreement I had with you regarding the kobold ears and payment. Would you be willing to travel to Winterhaven to assist him?”

“We would be glad to assist, my lord,” replied Eilonwy. “We will gather our supplies and leave in the morning.”

That afternoon they spent some of their hard earned cash on a new covered wagon, and two new horses, who were swiftly named “Champion” and “The Wonder Horse”. Doomgrad also insisted that they buy a large dog to help guard the horses. Once they were done shopping they returned to the inn. Wisara Osterman, the innkeeper, informed them that a second messenger had visited them, inviting them to the Moonsong Temple to see the High Priest.

Curious, they ventured forth into town once more. The temple, an elegant building of white marble with soaring minarets held a commanding view over the lower part of the town. Introducing themselves to one of the temple acolytes, they were shown through to the High Priest's quarters.

High Priest Ressilmae Starlight, an elven priest of Corellon, greeted them warmly as they entered.

“I am so glad you could join me. I have heard all sorts of tales about you during the day, and I wished to see the mighty dragon slayers in person.”

“Kaza is pleased to meet you, your eminence,” said Kaza.

“Head wound?”

“Head wound,” replied Eilonwy.

“Anyway, I was wondering if you would be able to help me, as a situation of grave importance has arisen.” He sat down in a seat beside the fire. “ Towards the end of last year, I heard from the mother temple of Corellon in Suzail about a dangerous man who had escaped from temple custody. This man, by the name of Kalarel, is a worshipper of Orcus, the demon prince of the undead. Having spent some time in Suzail and Marsember preaching of Orcus' might, he was apprehended by temple guards and placed in custody, but managed to kill three guards and was last seen fleeing north from Suzail. My concern is that a report of a man matching his identity has been seen not far from here. I doubt there is much truth to this report. Surely he would have fled far from the lands of Cormyr. I would appreciate it if you would investigate this and report back to me. Although the temple is not rich, as running costs for a building like this are high, I may be able to find some funding for you, say two hundred and fifty gold pieces.”

“We would be honoured to help,” replied Eilonwy. “However we are already contracted by Lord Markelhay to travel to Winterhaven to the east to assist the town with a recent kobold threat.”

“Ah, well this is truly a case of serendipity, as it just so happens that the report I received regarding Kalarel's recent appearance came from one of my colleagues in-”

“Winterhaven,” interrupted Eilonwy.

“Indeed,” smiled the high priest. “Lord Markelhay's seneschal is a Corellon worshipper and informed that you would be travelling that way, and I thought, why not kill two birds with one stone?”

The next morning the party set out along the road to Winterhaven, rain streaming from the wagon's covers. Doomgrad and Gilee sat up front, Doomgrad in his armour, Gilee in her armour and a very fetching frilly bonnet she had aquired from the market. Over the course of the day, they passed through the relatively settled areas round Fallcrest and into more frontier terrain. By the end of the day all signs of settlement had passed and the road had become little more than a well used track. No traffic had passed them in either direction all day.

Doomgrad pulled the wagon off the road as twilight began to fall. A hollow between two low hills gave them some scant shelter from the elements, but the evening's wind still stirred the flames from the small fire they lit to cook their meal. Dividing themselves into three watches, they prepared for sleep.

Jia was woken by Eilonwy for the middle watch, and when she climbed from the wagon Bakaan was waiting for her.

“I'm sorry if I have done something to upset you,” he said.

“I said, don't speak-” she began, but he raised his hand to silence her.

“Please, let me finish. I will stay on my side of the fire, you may stay on yours. I am sorry you feel this way, but I will respect your wishes. You are not the first person who has reacted as you have. Being a tiefling brings with it certain social...consequences. I do not desire to antagonise you further, so I will leave you to your watch.” He left her and went to stand on the far side of the fire from her.

She stared at him for a few moments, then turned her back on him and concentrated on the dark landscape. However, after a few minutes she found that her gaze returned to him as he stood, lit in the flickering light of the low fire.

The night passed peacefully, and the party pushed on towards Winterhaven. The next three days and nights passed without incident. However, on the fifth day of travel, as the wagon was passing through a narrow gully, a small band of kobolds accompanied by a goblin jumped from rocks to the left side of the wagon and ran forwards, shouting warcries.

Doomgrad immediately brought the wagon to a halt, and dived from the running board, closely followed by Gilee. The others jumped from the back of the wagon to engage the kobolds. Kaza ran round to the right side of the wagon to take up a good position to unleash a magical assault, but was surprised by two more kobold crouched behind a boulder.

Doomgrad and Gilee soon began to cut down the kobolds, aided by Eilonwy and Jia. However, Kaza found herself being attacked by the kobolds, and while dodging their blows was unable to use her magic to best effect. Bakaan, seeing her in peril, ran to her aid, but the kobold dragonshields were a match for him and Kaza. While suffering some nasty wounds, Bakaan was only able to land a single blow, though that was a mighty one, staggering the kobold he hit. It was not until Doomgrad and the others had dispatched the kobolds and their goblin leader and were able to come to their assistance that Bakaan and Kaza were out of danger.