The War Without End – Episode 1.12
A visitor arrives at the Fortress of the Second urgently seeking Heiron. However Heiron is absent, having gone with Ebon, Graffan and Korbin to the world of Aluen on a mission to help Shilaze. Delwar, Heiron’s new assistant, greets the stranger and informs him that Heiron may be out of contact for a few days. The visitor is plainly distressed by this news but simply asks if he can wait. Delwar agrees and the man then bides his time in the library reading some of the ancient religious texts there.
Having witnessed the exchange between Delwar and the stranger, Elsabeth asks Delwar who the visitor is, and is informed that he is an old friend of Heiron’s, called Drukar. Later the sorceress introduces herself to Drukar and offers him her assistance if she can help in any way. Drukar politely declines saying that he prefers to wait for Heiron.
However time passes and Drukar grows increasingly restless.
That evening, whilst eating dinner with Elsabeth, Baratus and Kai, it becomes clear that whatever has been troubling Drukar will keep no longer. After an animated conversation with Delwar, Drukar asks Elsabeth whether her offer of assistance still stands.
He tells those at the table that a friend of his has contracted Lycanthropy and that he has spent the last four years of his life searching for a cure. His research has led him to believe that what he seeks can be found in a small village called Thentis but since he is more of a scholar than an adventurer he needs their assistance to go there and find it.
The curse will strike again in five days, and although obtaining the cure is the important thing, he intends to do his best to get the cure before then.
Elsabeth, Baratus and Kai agree to help Drukar but before they can depart another stranger arrives at the Fortress. The new arrival introduces himself as Ardep Bey and tells them that he is a member of the Fifth Tribe who has been sent by Kai’s family to assess Kai’s conduct. Apparently Kai’s family have taken a dim view of some decision that he has made and wish to see if it is justified, though the others have no knowledge of what this is. Consequently Ardep Bey accompanies them on the quest to help Drukar, so that he can keep an eye on Kai.
The group work their way through a series of portals before emerging on the edge of a mountain range some half a day’s travel from Thentis.
About an hour later they come upon a bridge spanning a large river. On the bridge, blocking their path, are a motley group of men led by a brigand carrying a ranseur, garbed in full-plate armour. The brigand proclaims that no one can cross the bridge without paying a toll of fifty gold pieces or defeating him in single combat. Anyone who can best him in a contest to first blood will be granted free passage but those who lose will have to pay double.
Put out by the ruffian’s impertinence, Ardep Bey accepts the challenge. However, after a rather reckless attack and a neatly timed riposte, he is forced to retreat with first blood having gone to the brigand. Seething with indignation he refuses to pay the resulting toll and marches a short way downstream where, with an astonishing leap, he jumps across to the far bank.
Crying foul, the brigand angrily orders his men to attack the remainder of the group, and springs a trap upon them. From the undergrowth a hidden assailant looses a bolt at Elsabeth and badly injures her with a precise shot. Unfortunately for the aggressors the sorceress does not go down however. With a withering look she summons all her magical power and blasts the opposition with a huge fireball, leaving the bridge smouldering and only the heavily armoured brigand still standing. A slight whimper is heard from the bushes and the hidden assailant hurriedly departs through a Dimensional Doorway. It doesn’t take Kai and Ardep Bey long to finish things off.
Continuing on to Thentis the party are warmly welcomed by Ada, the Mayoress, who goes to great lengths to ensure that they are happy and have been provided with good food, drink and lodgings. Ardep Bey is suspicious but can find no evidence of anything amiss. The companions make enquiries around town but soon discover that no one seems to know anything about a cure for lycanthropy.
The next morning Ada suggests that they go up into the hills and seek advice from Red the hunter.
Having no better course of action to follow the group sets off, taking a slight detour through one of the many fields of vines that surround the town. These are abundant because Thentis runs a substantial wine producing industry.
Kai notices something glinting in the foliage and goes to investigate, only to be attacked by an Assassin Vine. Fortunately, thanks to his agility, he is able to tumble out of the vine’s reach but after that the friends decide to stick to the road.
A short while later they encounter two Athach camping in their path. The creatures are not immediately hostile but are disagreeable and obstructive to the point where a fight breaks out. It is barely a contest however and the Athach are easily dealt with, primarily by Ardep Bey who carves them into little pieces with a frenzied assault.
After despatching the Athach, the companions continue unmolested to Red’s where they learn that the hunter had indeed killed a werewolf a number of years earlier. Red shows them the pelt of the werewolf he slew and dismisses the old wives’ tale that upon death werewolves revert to their original form. He also confirms that a number of the townsfolk are shape-changers but says that they behave themselves so there is no cause for alarm. According to Red rumours of a cure are sheer nonsense but if they are dead set on pursuing their quest they should probably go and speak to the Baron.
After lunch the friends return to town, arriving just in time to witness a commotion at the Broken Mug Inn. The Baron is there with a small group of soldiers, wearing red and white livery and bearing the symbol of a stag upon their breastplates. The local priest is also present, tending to an injured villager.
Seeing the friends, Ada approaches and asks them if they will speak to the Baron in private. When they agree she escorts them to a back room where they meet the Baron.
When they are alone the Baron explains that there is an invading force coming up the road toward Thentis. He is not unduly troubled because the town is of no strategic importance and all of the townsfolk are non-combatants. There will be no resistance so bloodshed should be avoided. In fact the Baron has already set up a meeting with the General of the advancing army, tomorrow. However a number of his men who were out delivering wine have been captured, and the Baron wants them freed before the negotiations commence. He could send a force of his own men to recover them but if the friends will do it for him he will be able to maintain deniability for the talks tomorrow. The Baron stresses he wants no bloodshed because that will only make things more difficult.
The Med-Jai agree to help him on the understanding that afterwards he will tell them about the cure for lycanthropy.
To be continued…
Notes:
First appearances of Delwar Cotto (Stephen Furst) and Ardep Bey (Oded Fehr)
