Despite falling in the battle with the brigands, and suffering a headache from the blow, Sigwald was in a fine mood that evening. He sat outside the tavern, pipe clenched in this teeth, a full meal in his belly, and watched the fog roll in over Faygrove. It was an almost daily ritual he engaged in as he considered the events of the day, and even the weeks before. Almost daily because some evenings he didn't sit there, but the fogs arrival was a constant. It would burn off before midday. The day would be dull light and slate skies, and then the fog would roll after dark. Sigwald smiled at the fog as he settled into his pipe, he somehow found the consistency of the bleak weather comforting.
Inside the tavern the others weren't as contemplative, but they were no less content. Their laughter was real, but not boisterous, simply the sound of companions enjoying an evening. Chevell had recovered from his wounds and was enjoying his return to the company of his companions, as well as getting to know Odmar, the newest member to join their Party.
Brold seemed to be enjoying his evening more than the others. Over the Parties stay in the town, Brold had been spending more and more of his evenings with a local woman, Ms Idona Gumoster. Tonight the two were sitting close near the fire, alone in the room full of people.
Alart drank from his cup and glanced around the room, his gaze hesitating for only a heartbeat on the couple. The work they did was dangerous, and none knew what day would be their last. Brold deserved the happiness he could find with whom he could find it, for however long. But Alart knew well the trouble that love could bring. Not just to the couple, but to their companions as well. He resolved vigilance, and turned back to his friends.
Outside the fog rolled.
Outside the fog rolled.
As the last wisps of fog faded in the pale morning light, the Party set out into the woods. Their steps were more guided today than others, taking them through the woods to a seldom used trail. The Party had heard from some local folk about the ruins out here. None could say what they had once been, church, manor, temple, it did not matter in the end. What did matter was that ruins of any kind made a very good camp, or even lair, for all manner of people. People the Party were interested in finding.
The overgrown vegetation could easily hide the crumbling walls from any casual passerby on this disused path, but the ruins were not difficult to spot if you knew to look. They spotted the broken masonry above the trees from a good distance, allowing them to approach on their own terms. Brold, Sigwald, and Elman, being the faster members of the Party moved off the path and into the woods to approach from the ruins flank. Sir Alart and the others remained on the path for their approach.
Drawing near the Party felt some satisfaction with themselves for deducing an enemies location, for they could clearly hear the sounds of activity from within the remains of the structure. Thus they were were confident as they approached that they were prepared to face any enemy. They were not at all prepared to face what actually came from within.
Men, in the most generous use of the word, advanced on the Party with stuttering shambling steps. Once they were no doubt healthy men, but now they were emaciated and sickly in color, granting them a repulsive and horrific visage. But it was the behavior that chilled the Party, it was mindless, not even the base instincts of an animal showed in their movements. And it was their eyes, alive but empty, hollow windows to a room devoid of the soul that was once within.
"Good God," Elman gasped, "what are they?"
"Victims", Sir Alart growled as he shifted his sword grip. "Victims of something foul. They deserve our pity, but the only help we can offer is to set them to rest!"
Brold and Sigwald quietly moved through the brush, emerging just outside the opening of a collapsed wall. Though they had moved in virtual silence in their approach, the soulless things were there waiting as then emerged from the foliage. Brold hesitated not at all, but his mace crashed down on empty air again and again.
"They're slow when walking, but fight like lightning!" Brold cried out in frustration. His final blow cracked the fallen hard, causing the creature to shiver but not fall. The things return blow against Brold, however, dropped the warrior almost effortlessly.
On the path, Chevell was once more wounded into unconsciousness, though he did not fall easily. Warton ended the creature with a well placed shaft.
Sir Alart made good on his promise, and one after the other he granted the last three their eternal rest. After a short pause to gather his breath and be certain there were no others, he made haste toward the sounds of fighting in the ruins. He arrived in time to see Elman sever one creature from life, and watch the last of them collapse lifeless from its wounds.
In the sudden stillness all that could be heard was the heavy breathing of the warriors, until a muffled cry burst forth. After a moments confusion, the Party was able to locate a man bound and lashed to the top of a failing wall. It seems that those half living things, or more likely whatever was responsible for them, had taken a prisoner.
Faygrove
Outlaws Border Dark Secrets
7 5 6
The Outlaw danger increased on this turn. Again.
Brold was knocked out, but was saved by his helmet.
Chevell was wounded.
Loot:
A set of Partial Armor, and a set of Grieves
I've started including in some of the charts from the Five Parsecs rules, Personal Events and Campaign Events to add some random story flavor, which seems to be working. Orva writing home, Brold being in love, etc. Most of the results fit, or can be tweaked to fit with little effort. If they can't, then I just ignore them.
I've also started rolling on the Parsecs mission chart for "objectives", though they generally only serve as hooks or fluff. "Explore a location" was the objective here, which inspired the trek to the ruins. The game was still a regular stand up fight, but just the idea of the Party going somewhere specific was helpful.
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