Moonday Night, Fireseek 3, 591 Common Year

Jankin walks over to the door and lets in Lorindel, Fingol, and Gar. Ragnbjorn greets them and bids them to find seats.

As Gar enters the room, he casually glances at Sir Ragnbjorn and lets out a little gasp at the sheer size of his manliness. Looking up, a little wide eyed with a bow and a twinkle in his eye, “Sir Ragnbjorn, Sir Jankin, it is a huge pleasure to see you again.” To Sir Indranil, he silently nods his greeting with a smile.

“Sir Fingol, Father Gar, thank you for coming. I think we all should confer with each other about this mission to see if peace can be negotiated with the lizardfolk, and there are things that you two,” Rangbjorn indicates Fingol and Gar, “should know about what we have found out there. Sir Jankin, if you’ll excuse us?”

“Yes, milord,” replies Jankin. “It has been a pleasure meeting you Sir Rangbjorn, Sir Indranil, Sir Lorindel. Goodnight everyone.”

Just as Jankin is leaving, Sedara appears at the door. “Excuse me, Sir Ragnbjorn? Prince Prospero was wondering if he could speak with you in the solar?”

“Hmm… Oh certainly milady.” Ragnbjorn turns back to the others saying, “You’ll have to excuse me, there are apparently some other things that need to be discussed. Sir Indranil, if you would do me the favor of telling Sir Fingol and Father Gar what happened to us. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” With that he leaves with Sedara.

Indranil sits back on his bed, takes a moment to fill, tamp, and light up his pipe and begins his story.

“We spent almost six weeks in the Hool scouting a passage that could be used to transport goods and services to Westkeep from Keoland. Unfortunately we were not able to find a contiguous passage with suitable draft for barges and larger boats.”

“Heh heh heh what we found in abundance was midges, flies and mosquitoes.” With a wink he adds, “Of course Lorindel’s snoring was loud enough to scare most of them away at night.”

Lorindel says, “Come now brother, my snoring couldn’t have been that bad.”

Indranil grins at his brother and continues, “The trip was uneventful until the last two days. The most troubling developments happened when we were closest to Westkeep!”

Indranil pauses for several breaths puffing on his pipe and thinking.

“Two mornings ago we observed four Amedi warriors in two canoes who paddle by us. They did not see us and while we had them triangulated and could have overcome them we chose to observe and not engage them.”

“On our last night before making Westkeep we were attacked by ghouls! Luckily we killed them but it took numerous arrows and a head shot to finally destroy them. Filled and powered by evil they were!” Indranil shudders.

“We then followed their trail back to their den and killed three more, again at great cost and peril. I was beset by two at once and took a vicious bite. Fortunately Ragnbjorn’s wilderness healing skills ensured I had no infection and our priests here confirmed I took no lasting harm. But I must say it shook me to fight such creatures that seemed to be invulnerable to all but the most devastating attacks.”

“I called it their den, but actually their den was a mass grave – a killing field left by the Scarlet Brotherhood. It was the kind of sight that shakes the soul.”

“Ragnbjorn then insisted we leave that night and make haste to Westkeep and report these two events to Prince Prospero immediately.”

“We know not who is behind the ghouls or the sudden appearance of the Amedi so close to Westkeep but it is deeply disturbing and an ill omen.”

“It’s true!” interjects Lorindel. “These vile creatures fought with such tenacity, I was barely able to keep distance enough to make use of my bow. Who’d have thought that these undead beasts could move with such speed?” 

“Ah, ghoulish indeed,” says Gar. “I do hope you are completely healed by now, Sir Indranil?” Then after a brief moment he adds, “What more do any of you know of the Amedi?”

Indranil replies to Gar, “Thank you Gar. I am completely healed.”

“Oh good,” says Gar. “I can probably help with the ghouls too if or when we have need. In great need, I can call upon the divine energy of life to bring healing and repel the undead. I don’t want any of them taking another bite out of you until I get my piece of you first.” Gar smirks and winks at Indranil.

Indranil’s neck reddens and he gives Gar a weak smile, and then says, “Thank you Gar. I welcome your help with these ghouls as they are difficult foes indeed.”

“Thank you, Sir Indranil, I will do my best.” Then looking to Fingol, Gar pauses and puts a finger in front of his lips in contemplation. “Hmm… I wonder if there could be a connection?” He wags his forefinger at Fingol, “Remember when Sir Jankin said that the appearance of the evil cleric Nauyotl, that nice old man whom we met today at the former mission, was a new development? I wonder if they are connected?”

Fingol considers this and says, “I believe the Olman refugees have been living in the clinic for about a month now. In any case, there might be a connection. Still, if Nauyotl was leaving the clinic regularly, to create undead in the marsh, than it would be likely that one of the paladins here would have spotted his aura before now. Besides, he kept a tight control on the food supply. I don’t think he would have been able to do that if he were to disappear for a few days at a time. So, I suppose it’s possible but I couldn’t say how likely. I have a feeling we will find out much more than we care to know, shortly after we set out again.”

“Yes, I believe you are right, Sir Fingol. The paladins are very good at weeding out true evil from pseudo evil,” Gar smirks. “I would be more inclined to believe Nauyotl was attracting the local ghouls to Westkeep in the same way my devotion to Obai-Hai repels them. In either case, if the Prince tries to take back the temple of Heironeous, the ghouls will certainly come to their rescue. Imagine what a ghastly sight that would be around town? I would bet that that is what those better than we are discussing at this very moment.”

Just then, Indranil excuses himself to use the garderobe down the hall.