Aegon and the Troupe joined Jet’Laya in the search for her lost sister. After travelling through orc-infested woods and hordes of the undead they have finally found her. Unfortunately Jet’Laya’s sister is no longer in the realm of the living, and now the Troupe must face her wrath.
9 Eleint 1368
Banshee: Fools! You all shall die!
The ghost lets out a scream that is deafening to hear. A soul that pierces through your skull and burns the inside of your mind. I feel like my soul wants to escape the pain of being in this body. I turn and I see the ghosts rise out of Thorfinn, Garrick and Aura. The barbarian and the bard fall down lifeless, but Aura’s soul seems to decide it wants to return to its body.
I scream in rage as I swing my War Hammer towards the banshee’s face. I mustn’t let it scream again.
Jet’Laya attempts to Hold the banshee in place with her god-given powers. If the banshee can’t move it can’t scream. She seems to resist Jet’Laya’s spell as she screams in my face. Somehow I’m still able to hold on to my life.
Seeing that I’m able to resist her screams, the banshee resorts to ripping open my flesh with its claws. I decide that now is a good time to summon the Phantom Blade.
Jet’Laya Blesses us, but I find myself unable to focus. Is the banshee still in front of me? I think that’s her. I swing my summoned blade.
I think I need to go. That rock seems important. No. Wait. The banshee. Where is she?
I’m supposed to… where am I? I’m supposed to be doing something right now. I need to think. Focus, Aegon! What is this place?
Right, the banshee. Yes! I need to find the banshee. She’s there! I make my attack!
Where is everyone? Banshee? I need to… I need…uh…
I finally come back to my senses. The banshee must have cast a spell on me. I find the others and they raise their weapons. I hold up my arms to show I’m no threat anymore.
They explain what happened. I was charmed by the banshee and wandered off. She followed me, attempted to kill me. They fought her off and then she disappeared. I attacked Jet’Laya, thinking she was her sister, so they fled. They gathered up the corpses of Thorfinn and Garrick while they waited for the glamour to wear off.
With two of us dead I suggest we leave this cursed place. We can return later and bring Jet’Laya’s sister the peace she needs in death. As we leave we are given one last reminder of what we are fleeing from. The wraith only slows us down a little.
We make tracks to the west, toward the Friendly Arm Inn.
10 Eleint 1368
The way back to civilisation is not without its trials. Wyverns roam the wilderness this far to the east, and we are ambushed by the creatures on one occasion. We choose not to fight in our weakened state. Somehow we manage to outrun them.
We keep moving as much as we can, with very little time to rest.
11 Eleint 1368
Exhausted, we find our way back to the Friendly Arm Inn. Its keep towers over us, inviting us for some much needed rest. But we need to bring back our lost friends first. We take their bodies to the Temple of Wisdom and find Gellana ready to trade donations for healing.
Gellana Mirrorshade: For a bit o’ respectful coin we can cure what ails thee, if you need.
Aegon: What sort of cures do you have available?
She asks for over a thousand coins to raise Garrick and Thorfinn. I say they should take time to recover. Garrick agrees and says he will make his way to Beregost to work on his ballads. Thorfinn is reluctant at first, but comes to understand he needs time to regain his strength.
Thorfinn Hauskluniff: Very well, but do not forget what I have taught you, friends.
We will need help when we return to find Jet’Laya’s sister again. Only this time it will be a hunt rather than a search. We will need muscle, and I know we can find it in the Friendly Arm’s keep. A half-orc I met long ago, whom we helped in his quest for vengeance.
Dorn: Well met, Aegon. My blade is wasted in this place. Do you have need of it?
Aegon: Indeed, I’ve come to recruit you.
There is another warrior here. She may not be a man’s best friend, but she has proven her prowess in combat and I believe she would be willing to join us.
Shar-Teel: You have returned. That is fortunate, as I do not feel I have truly paid my debt to you just yet.
Aegon: I do have need of you, but not because of your debt. Your skill is invaluable to me.
Shar-Teel: Make no mistake: I follow you only because of your prowess in battle. When that falters, so does my loyalty.
With new recruits comes new equipment. We have quite a collection of weapons and armour in our Bag of Holding, so we see if there is anything our new warriors can use. Shar-Teel takes an enchanted sling. She isn’t skilled with the weapon, but she at least has the strength to hurt someone with it.
She upgrades her sword to a Varscona, giving her attacks an icy sting.
She couples her blade not with a shield, but with Nemmerle’s Chill. She says that if she’s attacking them, they aren’t attacking her.
For protection she takes Telbar’s Studded Leather. The armour of a rogue will keep her flexible.
For some extra protection she also takes the Golden Girdle, which should give her an edge in melee combat.
Dorn takes an enchanted composite long bow as well as some enchanted studded leather. He replaces his sword with the Spider’s Bane, ensuring we have an advantage next time we encounter any giant spiders.
As most of us are still exhausted we talk to Bentley about a room for the night. We pay out for a nicer room. We need it after spending so long in the wilderness.
Bentley Mirrorshade: Sorry, I’m right out of the cheap stuff. So what can I do for ya?
While most of us take the time to rest, Kivan asks Shar-Teel if she would be willing to spar. He wants to be ready when he gets his chance at vengeance, I guess. Shar-Teel proves to be too aggressive for the old elf, however.
Kivan: Shar-Teel, do stop this folly.
Kivan throws his sword on the ground.
Kivan: A practice fight is a, practice fight, but you are trying to hurt me. Your sword has an edge, and I do not believe that you forgot it.
Shar-Teel: You know it has an edge! What are we, small children, to fight with blunted blades? Defend yourself, coward! .
Kivan: I will not take a wound so you might exorcise your demons. My sword is on the ground, and I will not lift it. The practice is over.
Shar-Teel: You might call yourself an elf, but you are just as full of it as a human man!
She spits.
Shar-Teel: You are afraid that a woman can beat you!
Kivan: That is not true, Shayleigh of Shilmista is a far better sword than I. My wife would pyt an arrow through mine in full flight. I have no problem with you being female; I have a problem with you treating me as a real enemy in a mock fight.
Shar-Teel: Words, words and more words. I knew I should not have wasted my time ona flimsy elf. You cannot even put up decent resistance. It is true what they say of your kin: you have water in your veins, not blood!
Kivan: You must have suffered much, Shar-Teel, to become this bitter, but I am not kind enough to see beyond the rough fagade and try to heal your soul. I pray that you meet someone who would.
Shar-Teel: You know that you are insufferably stupid? Even for a man?
Kivan: Say what you want, Shar-Teel. I just do not care.
Kivan storms off while Shar-Teel continues to spin her blades. Individually they are strong, but I am not sure everyone here will be able to get along. I lay down and close my eyes.
We wake in the morning and get our gear ready to leave. As we do so, a conversation with Dorn yet again makes me worry that we will be unable to work together well.
Dorn: Do you worry it is a mistake to bring others on your mission? Someone could betray you.
Aegon: Is there someone you suspect? .
Dorn: Since you ask…
He nods at Shar-Teel.
Shar-Teel: Cross me, male, and I will break you over my knee.
Dorn: Her hatred of men makes her unpredictable.
He looks over to Kivan.
Kivan: Careful what you say, half-orc.
Dorn: He has already proven himself weak for love.
So you see, even those you hold close cannot be trusted.
Aegon: You were suspicious of everyone even before Simmeon, weren’t you?
Dorn: I was not suspicious enough of Simmeon’s gang. They masked their hatred for my half-ore heritage, fooling me into thinking they were my friends.
Never again will I delude myself in such a manner.
He will not be convinced to trust people, not after what Simmeon and the others did to him. Arguing will do nothing. I decide it best to just affirm his beliefs for now.
Aegon: Good. I will have no fools in my company.
Dorn: You may have welcomed fools into your company, but I am not one of them.
I look to the door of the keep. We have a long journey ahead of us. Hopefully facing death together will keep us strong…
