Part 7: Turncoat or no?

Previously on AD+D:

"Their magic is more powerful than anything I have ever seen... they are going to kill us all."
"Where is the girl?"... "We have her now!"
"KABOOM!"

Marcus waited patiently for the guild leader to eventually arrive. When he did Marcus was permitted to speak with him and his partner. The leader intoroduced himself as Kimpal and his friend as Karkul. Marcus recognised the name, and noticed his most distinguising feature, a pair of entirely blacked out eyes. He asked him if his surname was Phage, and made mention of Harken, his brother. Marcus lied through his teeth about having been initiated into the Caramata by Gregory, using the stolen symbol as proof. Kimpal bought it and listened to everything Marcus had to say. He then sent Marcus away with instructions to come back when he knew more.

The rest of them all went back to Argons house, except for Hern who went to look about the town. They left word of where they were with a monk at the temple so that Hern and Marcus would know. Back at Argons house he pays them the money he owes them and then asks that they listen, as he needs yet more help. He explains that the Caramata are a serious threat to everyone, and that Renate must be protected. He tells them of a Caramata renegade named Orlath who has told him about them. Harken declines, noting that he has is own quest at the moment, seaching for his brother Karkul. Argon recognies the name and is sure that Karkul is in town, and in league with the Caramata. Harken agrees to help for as long the two quests run parallel. They begin to formulate a plan for keeping Renate safe, but also need to use her as bait to lure out the Caramata. Renate, through a series of misunderstood signs tries to explain that she can help. Eventually Harken agrees that whatever she should do she should do it to him. She raises her hand to him, as she did with Merithan and her body is racked with pain, in mere moments Harken begins to glow blue and then explodes.



Only joking.

She changes bodies with him, her young mind in his adult, scarred body, and him in hers. They spend yet more time discussing a plan. Hern and Shannusha head into town, Hern to get a new bow and Shannusha to get a blacksmith to attach the blue obsidian spear head to a shaft so he will be able to fight them should it come to that.

Marcus heads back to the theives guild and tells Kimpal and Karkul where she is, though he leaves out that she had switched bodies with Harken. They form a plan, in the middle of the night some thieves will attack the house, causing a distraction so that Marcus can kill Renate. He agrees

Next week on AD+D

Will Marcus truly betray his friends? Will he remember which one Renate is and kill the right person? Will Renate agree to switch bodies back or will she like Harkens better? Just how is it that she can do that anyway? Will Shannusha go Woo Woo Woo? Will Merithan show up and say sarcastic things whilst playing Mortal Kombat? Which of the players will excrete the nastiest fart and will they blame on the dog?

Find out next week.

Part 6: The big bang

After some deliberation concering travelling methods the group set back on the road to Bergsburg. Seoman once again is scouting ahead, and he sees up the road someone lying motionless on the floor. He signals and the others approach. Harkon approaches the body and sees it is Gregory, beaten and bloodied. Harkon tries to help him up and Gregory screams out in pain. He fixes up his wounds as best he can and begins to question him. Gregory is totally cooperative, telling them everything he can about the Caramata. He tells them that they want the girl because they are frightened of her, that their magic is more powerful than anything they have ever seen. That more are coming every day. He tells them about his thieves group, that is in league with them, but now he sees the truth, that they have made a big mistake and the Caramata are going to kill them all. Harkon gives him some food and merithan takes the Sleep Amulet. Greogory tells him how to use it. He also gives them another dagger with a blue obsidian blade and tells them that that is what they can use to fight them. And they all move on.

Until Seoman thinks of something else to ask him and trots back.

Then Shannusha thinks of something to ask too. But when he turns around Seoman, as suspicious as ever, follows him. A horse race ensues and Shannusha arrives, asks his question and leaves again. Then Seoman arrives, sees the Gregory is still alive and goes back as well. Eventually the cross-questioning ends and the continue on their journey. Shannusha takes Renate on White Mane and they travel in the trees, parallel to the road.

Seoman goes back to travelling ahead. He sees someone standing in the road. He hails him, but the figure does not respond. The others catch him up and again the figure stays motionless. As the approach though they see him more clearly. A man, wearing a pale china mask and a tattered grey cloak. His skin glowing faintly blue. He speaks, and a voice appears in their heads saying 'Where is the girl?' Harkon replies 'We have her now'. Hightower readies his lance and charges forward, the lance hits the figure full in the chest but simply passs right though, creating a tear in the cloak and blue sparks to crackle around the wound, but the figure is unhurt. Harkon tosses the obsidian dagger to Hightower who deftly catches it. But the figure holds up a hand and Hightowers body freezes, unable to move.

Renate tugs on Shannusha clothes, indicating that they should approach. As the get close she holds out her hand towards Merithan and her body snaps as though in great pain, her face grimaces. Merithan feels power rising in his body, his sickly appearance fades as he stands tall, his skin begins to glow blue and he can feel magic surging through his body. He lets loose a magic missile at the figure, only instead of once magic missile hundreds begin to fire out of him, slamming into the body of the masked figure. Merithan continues to rise in power, his skin glows brighter and brighter before sparking, and beginning to crack. The figure falls down dead from the barrage of magic missiles and the power rises to a point in Merithan that is simply to high. His body explodes, showering meat and bone all around. Everyone stares slack jawed at where Merithan was standing. Renate drops her hand, exhausted, and with an absolutely horrified look on her face.

After a while of comprehension, Harkon gathers up what he can of Merithan and performs a burial, Shannusha does a ritual of dance that lasts several hours. Marcus is devastated, he has taken what remained of merithans equiptment (its what he would have wanted) and is sulking. Seoman is now acting very cautious around Renate. She is upset, and crying gently but Marcus goes to comfort her.

Eventually they continue, in morose silence to Bergsburg.

They arrive at the city, ask directions from the guard at the entrance to a temple. Figuring that it would be safer to go there than directly to Renates Uncle Argons house. They secure a safe place at a nearby temple. Marcus, Edroic and Seoman head into the Harzel district. Marcus to find information on the theives and the Caramata and Edroic and Seoman to visit Argon.

Marcus chats idly with people, picking pockets as he goes. Eventually a man hadning out leaflets about a play aproaches his and speaks in Cant to which Marcus replies. They head into a secluded alley and Marcus introduces himself, showing the Caramata necklace he had previously taken. He lied about being a member of the group who was new to town and the thief takes him to the headquarters.

Edroic and Seoman arrive the Argons house, they go inside and meet Argon who asks where Renate is. Seoman offers to take him to her and he agrees and immediately redies to go. They arrive at the temple and Argon waits while Seoman goes upstairs to get Harkon. Harkon takes Renate by the hand and tells her to squeeze gently if the man is not her Uncle. They go down the stairs and when Renate sees him she immediately pulls away from Harkon and runs towards her Uncle.

Marcus meanwhile is sitting in the guilds hideout, waiting for the guild leader to return.

Part 5: The big rescue

Through the door they can see a cage with Renate's motionless body inside. They step through and Shannusha goes hurtling towards the cage. Harkon approaches the cage more cautiously. Suddenly four orcs and five men, including one big fucker in plate mail come around the two turnings in the room. Shannusha takes some hits while Harkon removes his mask, cuts his cheek and casts a spell that makes his face go really disgusting. The Orcs all stop, frozen in fear. Seoman and Hern loose some arrows and the petrified Orcs begin to fall. Harkon tries to rouse Renate, and she comes around slowly. He begins to look around the room for a key, but finds nothing. Seoman calls out for Hightower, but he is too far back down the dungeon to hear him. Merithan on the other hand does hear and runs back to get him. Shannusha is fighting valiantly but taking some serious damage in the process. Seoman fights against his hatred for Orcs and begins to fire arrows at the men instead. Marcus sneaks up behind one of the men and tries to stab him in the back but fails, the man turns on him and Marcus runs out of the room with the man giving chase. In the corridor Marcus attempts to tumble over the trap, pulling out the finger bone that has jammed it, but fails. Merithan and Hightower, rushing back to join the fray see Marcus being persued. Merithan tumbles down the ledge and fires a magic missile, killing the man.

Shannusha, too wounded to fight on attempts to tackle the platemail bloke to the ground but fails. Merithan rushes in and casts knock, causing the cage door to swing open, and the mans platemail to unbuckle and fall off. Hightower, who had stayed back in order to not be affected by the spell rushes in, and he and Seoman despatch him easily. Harkon and Marcus lead Renate out of the dungeon and sit her down in the cave mouth.

Hern explores around the turnings and discovers a man in a cell. The man introduces himself as Edroic, a cleric. He explains that whilst in the woods he came upon the orcs and men along with a bizarre man in tattered robes and a china mask with a strange blue glow about his skin. They set upon him and imprisoned him here.

Meanwhile Renate is attempting to tell, via signs and mime, that one of the men she saw was wearing a mask.

They search the area and find nothing more of note, and head up to leave, stopping to pick up weapons for Edroic and the list of names that Hern discovered. They all meet up in the cave mouth, stories about a man in a china mask are told and they all head off in the direction of Bergsburg.

Part 4: Some stuff that happened

The gang all ready, Harkon lets loose his bloodcurdling scream. The muffled chatter from behind the door stops, and then tentatviely the double doors swing open. Two men clutching short swords see Harkon and his scarred face on the floor. They step forward to look at him when Merithan and Marcus stab them in the back. Harkon rolls aside and brings his knife to his flesh, cutting into it and casting a spell, causing the wounds of one of the men to run thick with blood. The others hurtle around the corner and join the fray. Marcus ducks into the room and sees six more guys with swords there. He gets hit hard and runs back out again. While people are getting killed left right and centre Seoman knocks one of them unconscious.

Merithan is looting two of the bodies in the corridor, Harkon gives him a kick to stop that and get on with it. Harkon then decides to cut off one of the corpses arms.

Back in the room everyone is fighting when Harkon, with the blood of the severed arm spalshed all over his face comes screaming in, waving the severed arm about him. The men the group are fighting are visibly shaken at this sign of ferocious insanity. Merithan lets loose a magic missile, and after a while, only the unconscious one remains. The group lick their wounds.

Seoman ties the mans arms, searches his pockets, strips him to his underwear... the group watch, bemused. Shannusha lines the corpses up in front of him and begins to scalp them. They rouse the man, who opens his eyes to see his friends dead bodies being scalped. He goes into shock. They begin trying to ask him questions, but all he can do is stare terrified at his friends being hacked at by Shannusha. Harkon takes him into the corridor to try and get some sense out of him. Shannusha drags one of the corpses to the door so he can continue this mental torture, but Harkon kicks the door closed angrily.

He asks him if he has seen Gregory, the man stutters that he has. Harkon asks him if he has seen Renate. The girl, he answers, yes, they have her now. Harkon asks who they are. The caramata, he replies, and he shows Harkon the symbol he wears around his neck, the same as the one Iolo found. Harkon asks him if he lets him go he will return home, and pretends to cast a spell on him to make him think something bad will happen if he lies and he again says they will just go home. harkon lets him leave.

Marcus meanwhile has discovered a secret door, leading into a corridor. He scouts ahead, the corridor and finds it leads to a spiral staircase which in turn leads to a room with three doors in. He checks them all, hearing nothing and heads back upstairs to get the others. They all go down, as quietly as they can. Marcus attempts to pick the locks, but breaks his picks trying. Merithan steps up and manages to get the door unlocked. Behind is a corridor, leading to another door. They pick another door open and it leads to a balcony with a 10 foot drop into a deeper room, with yet another door. The third door led to an armory. The weapons inside were standard swords, bows, etc, but in one corner was a chest. The thieves pick it open, nothing is inside, but they are too smart for that, they discover a hidden section underneath. They find a dagger, with a blue stone blade and black handle. Marcus takes it.

They head back to the corridor and open the door at the end, it leads into a small closet. A quick search reveals yet another secret door, which opens onto a ten foor drop into the same sunken room. They quietly descend. On the floor is a run, that Seoman rolls up searching for traps, loose change, dust bunnies, etc.

Marcus opens the door, and it leads into a corridor, he searches for traps but finds none. Merithan however does, a small trip wire at the base of the door, and a suspicious looking flag stone. Marcus jams the flagstone and they all move along the corridor. At the end is a door, they push it open to reveal a gloomy, candle lit room with a cage at the far end. In the cage they can just about make out the figure of Renate, lying motionless.

To be continued.

Part 3: Gregory

The night passes uneventfully, somehow Merithan manages to stay awake during his shift on watch.

Harken heads out to pray and gather fruit, nuts etc to cook up a tasty breakfast for everyone. Seoman decides to simply eat rations instead so Marcus eats two helpings.

They gather their things and get back on the road. Hern scouts ahead today, with Marcus once more accompanying Renate on White Mane. Hern turns a bend in the road and sees a horse and cart surrounded by Orcs. He lets out the call and everyone runs ahead, leaving Marcus with Renate. They hide in the trees for safety.

Hern takes aim with his laser-sight gem of aiming. Seoman also readies his bow. They fire and two of the Orcs drop to the ground dead. The others turn, and seeing the elvish rangers charge and swing their short swords at them. Seoman and Hern both take small wounds. Sir Randolph charges forward on his horse and impales one of the Orcs on his lance, skewering him thoroughly like a cocktail stick buffet treat. The other Orcs are dead in mere moments. Seoman begins to behead the Orcs, lining their bloody craniums along the side of the road. Everyone but Seoman returns to where Marcus and Renate were, though the Marcus hides them a little longer than is necesary, to amuse both himself and Renate.

Seoman greets the man, who introduces himself as Gregory, a florist on his way to Bergsburg. He is truly grateful for the assistance and offers them a ride on to Bergsburg. Seoman enquires as to the commonality of Orc attacks on this road, Gregory assures him he has never seen it happen before.

Marcus is upset and yelling. Loudly wondering why, at the first sign of danger, everyone buggers off leaving him, hardly the most gifted fighter in the group, to stay behind and protect the girl.

They all catch up with Gregory and Seoman, who all seems very pleased at the prospect of a lift, while Gregory seems very pleased for the protection as well as the company.

Shanusha, without warning turns on White Mane and runs back the way he came.

Everyone stands around wondering what he is doing when they here:

woowoowoowoo

Getting louder as he comes hurtling around the corner

woowoowoowooWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOWOOwoowoowoowoowoowoowoo...

Hern advances on in scout mode, turning the first corner he sees Shannusha sucking on a pipe, eyes glazed.

"Can I have some of that?" He asks, but Shannusha doesn't seem to notice him.

Merithan loots the Orcs, and does rather well, finding a gold on each, as well as a handful of copper.

Gregory has cleared some space on the back of the cart, moving all the flowers to one end, and is regailing everyone with storys of the flower trade, to which Harken politely pretends to listen.

The sun hangs low in the sky and the caravan stops for the night. Gregory esitimates that at the this rate they will arrive in Bergsburg early tomorrow afternoon. Hern gathers berrys for Harkens stew, to which Gregory lends some dried meat. Harken produces the finest stew he has ever created and everyone tucks right in. They organise watches, Gregory offers to help, Hern insists on being paired with him.

During the first watch Gregory chats about nothing. After a little while he looks around the ensure everyone is sleeping and takes out an amulet he has on around his neck. A silver disk with a green gem in the centre.
"Look at his." He says to Hern, who looks disinterested. Gregory spinkles some rose petals over it, small blue sparks crackle around it, Gregory says 'sleep' and Hern's eyes grow heavy and he falls into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The sun rises and everyone begins to wake up. It quickly dawns on them that they were not woken for their watches. Gregory is missing, so to is Renate.

Hern and Seoman begin looking for tracks, they see the rose petals on the ground and horse prints heading into the forest. Seoman, Hern and Shunnusha all immediately ride, following the tracks. The tracks lead to a cave mouth, rising out of a hillock in the woods. Hern goes in alone, the cave leads into a small corridor with a set of steps leading down. Hern's leg snags on a trip wire and he collapses down the small flight of stairs. He cuts the tripwire to prevent anyone else falling. The steps lead into a room, a large room with ornate pillars down each side. On the other side is a large set of double doors. He approaches the doors around the perimeter of the room. He presses himself up against one wall, listens, and then opens it. A small corridor leads away and stops at a T-junction. He breaks an arrow and places it marking which way he goes. The corridor bends away and he follows it around to a door. In the room he finds a table littered with papers. He takes a map of Bergsburg and leaves behind a huge list of names, which spans several pages. He back tracks and runs into Seoman who has followed him in.

The others have followed on, following the more obvious tracks that Shannusha, Seoman and Hern have left.

They eventually arrive. Marcus and Merithan enter, carefully checking for traps. They see the trip wire and Merithan deduces that it has been both activated and disabled. Which earns a giggle. Harken, Sir Randolph and Shunnusha (who was waiting outside btw) follow behind.

Seoman and Hern step onto scattered broken glass, causing to crack loudly, the freeze and begin to advance slower across it, following the curved corridor around.

Marcus and Merithan are catching up and see the glass, they signal to the others and they begin to carefully move the glass out of the way as they walk.

Hern and Seoman come across a door at the end of the corridor. Peering through the keyhole they see nothing, but then a shadow moves past their limited view. They listen, and hear a number of voices. Marcus and Merithan reach the door, they listen and esitimate 6-8 people inside the room. The go back to Harken who devises a plan.

Harken lies on the floor, removing his mask to reveal the intricate network of scars that lie all over his face. Marcus and Merithan stand on either side of the door and the others go back around the corridor out of sight. They ready themselves for battle, and Harken prepares to let out his scream...

To be continued.

Part 2: Pre-amble

Marcus comes down early, looking for breakfast and is greeted by a number of awe struck commoners. They are whispering amongst themselves... "Thats one of them." "Oooooh, is it?" "yeah, it is... I think its the one who castrated that guy..." "Oooooh, is it?" "yeah..." He generously allows someone to buy him a drink, and then offers the locals the opportunity to touch him. A comely young lass takes him up on said offer and when he asks "Can I touch you know." she replies "well, that'll cost you." He picks the young prostitutes pocket, finding two copper pieces, pays her with one of the copper pieces, cops a feel of a tit, and then pockets the other coin.

Marcus. What a guy.

The others come down looking for breakfast and are given free food and drink by the still grateful innkeeper. People are still milling around admiring the group. Though for some reason Shannusha, who is wearing the blood from one of the scalps on his face, is getting significantly less attention.

The morning progresses as mornings tend to do. Hern decides to take a look around the town, which takes significantly less time than he would have liked. Marcus and Merithan move on to Iolos house, though for less than noble reasons. The walk around it, checking for doors, windows, escape routes, likely deposits of cash. (Pair of bastards.) Eventually everyone arrives at Iolos house, some even have honorable intentions.

They knock at the door and are greeted by the butler, who invites them all in and gets them drinks. After a few minutes of waiting they are taken in to see Iolo.

Sir Randolph refuses to sit. Shannusha also refuses to sit. Everyone else sits. Harken scolds Sir Randolph and eventually, he sits too. Iolo expains that he is in need of a group to escort his Neice, Renate, to Bergsburg. Shannusha immediately exclaims the Iolo has no honor, and he should escort his neice to Bergsburg himself. Iolo does his best to explain, though at this point he was feeling rather harrassed. (both in and out of character.)

Shannusha insists on becoming blood-brothers with Iolo, who isn't keen. But when Shannusha states that it would make Renate like family to him, he accepts.

He explains: Renate has been the subject of kidnap attempts, the kidnap attempts drove them to Hamsland, but recently another kidnpa attempt was made. Strange rumours surround Renate, chiefly that she made someone dissapear. Though Iolo expresses that he has no idea how much weight these rumours should be given. He calls for the butler to bring Renate in. The group turn to face the door, eagerly anticipating the arrival of a drop-dead gorgeous woman.

When a seven year old girl waddles in.

Jokes are made about Marcus' physical resemblance.

Iolo continues to explain: Her father was killed, in Bergsburg is her other Uncle who is waiting to recieve her. He will follow behind and catch them up two days later. They will be paid the sum of 100 gold now, 500 on arrival. They accept. (much to the gms relief.)

The gm then blunders by stating that there is no rush. Marcus immediately attempts to put off the journey to Bergsburg for another night so that he can rob Iolos house. (did I mention that Marcus is a bastard?)

After a brief visit to the local shop, which only served to make them so much more grateful for what little they have, they set off.

Seoman walks ahead. (Paranoid) Marcus and Renate share Shannusha's war pony (the hilariously named White Mane... which we all misheard as White Man. Which, given Shannusha's american indian stylings, certainly made me laugh.) Marcus made a point of being very friendly to Renate, telling her storys, wondering what they will all do when she needs to piss...

Seoman sees something in the trees. A large, black something. He cannot see it clearly through the trees. He makes a birdsound to signal danger, but no one else knows this birdsound means danger. They all come strolling around the corner and see Seoman standing in the path making bird noises.

Seoman calls out to the black lump. "Come out with your hands up!" (Or words to that effect.)

Hern approaches and brazenly pushes through the trees to see what all the fuss is about.

He sees a large Obsidian boulder. Shards of Obsidian are scattered around, picked up, and kept. The boulder is hollow, they discover, and inside is another piece of Obsidian-like rock, only it is blue, sparkly shiney blue. Harken thinks they should just leave it alone, since rock is known to have magical powers and... too late, Hern has it in his backpack. They deduce from the way a number of trees are all broken that this is what fell from the sky.

Shannusha declares that this is 'bad juju' and everyone has a good laugh.

They walk a bit further and as the sun sets they find a small clearing off of the path and make camp. Renate picks flowers and gives them to everyone and then Marcus teaches her how to play cards. Though amazingly he does not ask her if she wants to play for money. I guess theres hope for the little guy yet.

Part 1: Blood bath at the Hamsland Inn

The group, on their way to Bergsburg, decide to stop for the night at the small, poor village of Hamsland.

The group are:

Harken Phage, Blood Mage
Soeman Snowlock, Elvish Ranger
Shannusha, bizarre indian nutter
Sir Randolph Hightower, Knight
Hern D'arcy, Elvish Ranger
Marcus Leafer, Halfling Thief
Merithan, Anemic Mage/Thief

As the sun begins to set they head for the towns one and only inn. Shannusha decided instead to construct a teepee outside and spend the night there. He lit a fattie boom battie peace pipe and holed for the night.

The inn keeper seems stunned and overwhelmed at the prospect of letting out so many rooms all at once. They buy drinks and order food. He called out to his wife to prepare six stews, who seemed displeased at the prospect. They all sit at the table close to the roaring fire and begin to drink their ale. Except Merithan, who sipped tentatively from a mucky glass of water. Sir Randolph turned his chair to face the door, dilligent as ever.

Marcus offered the locals a game of cards, which an old man accepted. Marcus proved himself to be a savage cheat as he worked the cards and won game after game. He offered to play for money, which the old man just laughed at. He explained how poor he was, and anyway, he was clearly crap. Hadn't won a game all evening. Marcus picked his pocket. A stubby old pencil was his reward.

The stew arrived, greasy stringy meat with ill looking vegetables. Soeman sprinkled some herbs on it to make it taste better. They ate cautiously.

Outside, in the teepee, Shannusha hears:

"Ready?" "I'm ready?" "Ok, lets go."

He decides this is not very important and takes another monster toke off the pipe.

Five men walk into the inn. Four stop in the centre, one heads to the bar, who says.

"Ok, this is a robbery, everyone place your valuables on the table and we come around and collect them."

He draws a hand crossbow, the others draw their swords. Two head over the table with the group, the others to other tables. Sir Randolph stands and positions himself between the guy with the crossbow and Harken.

One of the others mutters... "Um, he's quite big..."

The one he was speaking to was distracted... Marcus had crawled under the table and now had his testicles at knife point.

The one with the crossbow fired, it dinked off of Sir Randolphs armour. Combat ensued. Merithan fired off a magic missile that knocked one of the to the floor, howling in agony, another recieved a hefty sword blow. They tried to fight back, but they were shaken, they were not expecting to be fought quite like this in the tiny village of Hamsland. Their attemps at sword play failed miserably.

Marcus grinned an evil grin up at his victim and slowly, evily, sadistically, cut his scrotum open. He pulled away and made for the door. Slowly. Harken, who had been winding up to cast a spell, decided not to bother as he saw the utter dominace of the group over these hapless thieves. A few more sword blows and two were on the floor, close to death. Harken opened the door for the newly castrated thief, only to reveal a very stoned Shannusha, who promptly put a hatchet between his eyes.The other two, who upto this point had only been standing watching slackjawed made a run for it. They brushed past Shannusha who gave chase. He caught them up and killed them both with skilled hatchet blows to the back of the head. Their corpses landed at the feet of Fred, the towns one and only guard.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Said Fred.

Shannusha began to explain that they had started some agro... Fred seemed unimpressed with this story, and bemused that it had happened in his town. Harken caught up and explained that they had tried to rob the inn, Fred seemed pleased that the group had been their to deal with this problem, and promptly bought them a round of drinks. Shannusha remained to scalp the bodies, light a fire, and do a war dance. And also to get a little bit more stoned.

Soeman tended to the wounds of the one remaining thief. Sir Randoph takes him outside and shows him the bloody scalps of his friends, and informs that he "may wish to rethink his line of work" and leaves him tied up watching the war dance.

A man approached the table. He explained that he was very impressed with their combat skills, their ruthless efficiency. His employer was in need of such a group of people, and was offering to pay handsomely. The job requires going to Bergsburg, where they were headed, they agree. He gives them the address and tells them to come to the house in the morning.

Sir Randolph returns to the man he left outside and asks if he has thought anymore about this. He feebly replies, with a sob, "I want to be a farmer."

They retire for the night.

In the middle of the night some of the group are awoken by a crashing sound, off in the distance. Some (forget who) look out of the window. They dont see anything. Shannusha makes a call sound, a sound he and Harken had agreed to use to signal danger.

Away in the distance they see, what appears to be a falling star, only it lands, with a distant crash. Nothing more happens, Harken calls out of the window to Shannusha not to worry and go back to sleep. Shannusha is clearly paranoid for some reason.

To be continued. Dun dun duuuun.