Alev: Through the Thicket and Back Again

March 18, 998 CE

Our elven companion seems to have upset someone is his search of the library at the Order of the Prism. He received a bottle of Elven wine this morning, that Lady Arigane has made us aware is a warning from the Midnight Enclave. At least we now know we are on the right track. But, I wonder what it is that they fear us learning? We shall learn soon enough, I am sure.

This Lady Arigane has been a delightful interruption to our "by the seat of our pants" strategy thus far. She has been most helpful, and not a sore on the eye either. She is pressuring us to leave post haste, which I do not disagree, so we gathered up our things and made small stops on the way out of town. The Temple of Aranu here is magnificent. It reminds me much of home and the Great Temple in Crom Calamar. They are wise to follow the Lawmaker.

Our journey to Chalksmere began smoothly, we stopped over in Hockton Barrow first. I was glad to see that Captain Lucie took some of my defense recommendations to heart. They seem well fortified, as well as they can I guess. When the time comes, they will be just another bettle in the path of a swarm of ant, they may sting a few, but will be overwhelmed and swallowed in the end. What a wasteful loss that will be.

On the road between Hockton Barrow and Chalksmere, we encounter a Wyvern. More like it encounters us and attempts to make quick work of my companions. It was perhaps the deadliest creature we have come across on our trip thus far. After taking down Rumus and severely injurying Casey, the barbarian Tilk was able to slay it. His mixture of magic and muscle is most interesting, he will be a deadly force once he comes into his prime. There is sometimes an advantage to brawn over brain, I must learn to use his talents to our advantage in the future. I'm sure this wyvern poison will come in handy some day, I must keep it close and secure until then.

When at last we reach the border of Chalksmere, the bridge is blocked unceremoniously by felled trees and some scribbling written on a sign. It was almost uncomprehensible, but we deciphered it none the less. The pair of eyes we saw watching from the forest were threatening enough, though I did not fear them. The group decided to spend the eve in a nearby farmhouse. Rumus and Casey are still quite hurt.

March 19, 998 CE

Just past dawn, we depart from the farmhouse, easily bypassing the blockade on the bridge. We arrive to the town to find it quiet and the people busy about their day. The villagers are not a friendly sort, and any attempts to talk are met with retisence and evasion. Eventually good Neil is able pry some information out of a villager. We speak to the elder, but he seems not to care in the least about the upcoming war. Wen, the local idiot appears to have been the one who wrote the sign, though no one is saying why. Tilk shows us to a local shrine of Wohoon where we find human bones that appear to have been cooked and eaten! We also find some blood near the ground and multiple tracks, but are unable to find anything in our search.

That night we find that the villagers are actually cursed, as they hide in the Town Hall and turn into boars. The local idiot, Wen, stands guard at the door. Eventually, the "Huntsman" comes, he's a half-man/half-deer creature with a large bow and spear. Accordingly to Tilk, he's the Avatar of Wohoon. Well, he did not want to speak and eventually was able to get into the Town Hall through a window, no matter how Wen tried to stop him. As Wen pulls the doors open, the boars go off into the night and the Huntsman begins his search. We do see him eat another villager before the night ends, and stack the bones in another pile.

March 20, 998 CE

Finally, with proof of the issue, we are able to get the Elders to tell us exactly what is going on. It seems that one of their hunters killed a white boar, which they feasted on and since have been cursed as thus. After we encounter the hunter, we determine that he is lying but he runs off before we can convince him to tell us the truth. Tilk and Rumus go off to gather the hunter as the sun begins to set, while the rest of us wait at the Shrine. The tree speaks, saying "That which was taken must be replaced." Then the Huntsman forms up from the water pool at the base of the tree and walks off.

Rumus and Tilk appear with the hunter knocked out and then wrap him in the skin from the White Boar. He transforms into another white boar, which proceeded to move up to the tree and go to sleep. What a coward that hunter was, killing a sleeping boar. The shrine then speaks again saying the curse was lifted, but the people would remain were-boars of pure blood for as long as their bloodline ran. Too bad you can't become a were by sleeping with one, otherwise I would have taken advantage of it. That is more a benefit than a curse in my eyes.

We convince the villagers to head down to Saragost, these were-boars will make a savage addition to bolster the strength of the Saragost forces.

March 21, 998 CE

We travel this day towards our next destination, Astercote. The party decides to stick to the roads, which take us to Hockton Barrow.

Day goes uneventful.

March 22, 998 CE

Between Hockton Barrow and Saragost, the group is ambushed by a party of five Drow, one of which is a wizard of some strength. We dispatch them, chasing down the runners, but not easily. This was a tough encounter. With the letter we found on the body of the wizard, we finally have proof of the mind behind this war; the Drow must be the ones organizing the Duergar and directing them. And apparently they have already infiltrated the city of Saragost, not surprising really.

Rygorh receives a sending from Lady Arigane with a summons. Looks like it's time to venture again into the lion's den.

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