11th Day of Snowmoot, Thunderday:
Burying the fallen crewman was impossible in the rock hard ground. The crew gathered stones and he was given a sailors funeral on the river. The group tired from a long night, and Grog and Bandur feeling slightly exhausted, they all succumbed and slept in the large rear cabin, well large for a barge.
Having slept for most of the day Pops and Lars got Boy to make the fire up and they produced a wonderful fish stew for supper. It was Zindra who stood up and drew her bow first as the dishevelled figure staggered into their camp muttering "Red Larch.....Red Larch", before collapsing at their feet.
Fabien stumbles into camp
Grog responded by using his cleric powers of healing hand and some water. It wasn't long before the figure came round and started answering the barrage of questions. The figure, human, well dressed though very dirty, introduced himself with an accomplished flamboyance as Fabien, minstrel to the delegation of Mirabar. After leaving Beliard the group were attacked on their first night in the hills. Bound and gagged they were carted off towards the river. It was here that Fabien had escaped. Exactly how he did not say. He had seen that most if not all of the 'bandit abductors' had a distinctive tattoo on their forearm:
He also heard them mention Red Larch. Zindra only knew of the town of Red Larch on the south west edge of the Slumber Hills. But Fabien didn't know if it was place or person.
As it was unsafe to sail at night the departure for Stonebridge was put off until the following morning. Bandur, on watch, heard a wooshing sound, then found he was unable to move, he was pinned to the tiller by 3 daggers. Before he could utter a word 4 burly, armed men and a slender woman had climbed onto the stern with him. Bandur was asked who was on board, he tried to delay but found himself expertly disarmed as he reached for weapons that were no longer their. The 'Pirates' shouted out and the group woke up.
Lars seemed to recognise them. The female addressed Zindra directly, "If I knew you were on board I'd have brought you a bottle or four". Zindra acknowledged the female (Zindra later told the tale of Ola, her parents demise at the hand of a noble of Neverwinter - Lord Arlon Bladeshaper, and their travelling knife juggling act), when Fargrim and some of the others mentioned their troubles with Lord Bladeshaper the 'Pirates' attitude changed. A hidden signal by the leader of this group heralded the arrival of 5 more skiff like boats and around 20 'Pirates'. They were after Tyr, he was supposed to have something for them. When hearing of his demise they settled for the skin of the giant crocodile and went on their way. Grog wasn't happy as he had spent the better part of a night skinning the corcodile.
12th Day of Snowmoot, Swordsday:
The 'Eel' was beginning to be harder to control. The river was unusually swollen and faster flowing than it should be for this time of year. Zindra shouted steer right, Bron had seen it too but Zindra couldn't reach far enough so he quickly got hold of her legs and held her as she reached down into the water and pulled something, blue in colour, on board.
Zindra said she was a Naiad, a water nymph. The Naiad was badly injured and again Grog and Zindra stepped forward and gave the Naiad healing. Once healed the creature introduced herself as Sirene, she and her sister were attacked by a Water Elemental. She had been separated from her sister but was too badly injured and had clung to the branch before passing out. (That's what Zindra had seen). Yhe Naiad commented that she thought the elements were out of cinque with nature. Unnatural things were happening. Before she dove back into the river she asked them to ass on her regards to Foldron, inn keeper at Stonebridge.
After a few more hours they could see an immense structure spanning the river ahead. Some 100 feet above the river and spanning the river by some 2 miles was a vast bridge. The bridge detail became more apparent when the barge docked at the small wooden dock below the bridge.
Fargrim and Bandur stated with pride in their voices, Dwarf built, you can tell. As the bridge sloped down at each end the slope became steps. For its entire 2 mile length there was no support to be seen. Surely a wonder of Dwarf building and magic.
Not far from the jetty was a homely, welcoming 2 storey building. Standing outside a jovial, elderly Dwarf stood, hands on hips and long ginger beard tucked into his belt.
Welcome to the Kings Stand the finest inn in Stonebridge. The irony that it was the only inn in Stonebridge was not lost on the group. Foldron stopped mid sentence introducing himself as he indicated to Zindra that before she could enter she had a bar bill of 50 gold to pay. Zindra entered into a game of chance where she lost twice, he bar bill now stood at 200 gold!
Fabien stepped forward and with great elegance offered to entertain, if Zindra's bar bill would stand in stead of payment. During the night Foldron, getting more and more inebriated, was impressed with Fabien and forgot all about the bar bill owed. Foldron regaled the group with the story of King Torhild Falmetoungues last stand, in the middle of the bridge against an Orc Horde that was laying waste to his kingdom. When all seemed lost Moradin, God of Dwarves, appeared by his side and fighting back to back they defeated the Orc Horde. However the King succumbed to his many wounds and fell frm the Bridge. He was buried by the surviving Dwarves but his kingdom still fell. Many have tried to find the fabled city of the Dwarves and although many have claimed to have found it none have provided proof.
The night passed slowly with mroe and more ale being drunk. Foldrons last story was that he had heard rumours of an ancient tomb filled with treasure and priceless artifacts, he couldn't remember where but it had something to do with hunting, halls and an axe.
13th Day of Snowmoot, Saintsday:
The group spent a welcome night in a warm bed for a long time. In the morning Foldron sent them on their way with a hearty breakfast.
Foldron remembered that Fabien had drawn a symbol on the table, the symbol of the tattoo he observed. Foldron told Fargrim and Bandur he was worried, that symbol hadn't been seen in over a thousand years it was the symbol of an evil cult, The Cult of Black Earth.
Beliard was some 15 miles along the road that wound its way through the low hills. Zindra spotted movement and the group were ambushed.
Fargrim, boar mounted charged forward, narrowly missing a trap, his spiritual boar killing the archer.
Bandur followed. More assailants poured out of the trees as arrows and crossbow bolts criss-crossed the road from both sides. Bandur was unhorsed, falling on some spikes hidden in the grass.
Fargrims' boar was dispelled by a crossbow bolt through an eye but landed on his feet. Fabien and Grog were assailed by 4 attackers, Hagnulf thundered into the trees to attack 2 more.
Suddenly Bandur was plunged into darkness.
When the darkness disappeared he dispatched the archer in front of him and still in battle rage charged to attack Fargrim.
Fargrim knocked him out. Bandur woke up tied to his horse as the group approached the village of Beliard. Zindra told them that the village head man was the Constable Adam Burns, the only inn was the watchful Knight, run by Oliver Farring, quietly hoping to herself she didn't owe money here either.
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