On
Saturday afternoon, shortly after the trial of Sebastian Coe, the Healers’
Guildmaster Kellimon entered town leading a large group of undead.
He began to shout challenges to Lord Arianus who was still within the
Yawning Dragon with most of the townsfolk.
As the groups confronted each other outside of the tavern it became
apparent to Lord Arianus that his group was overmatched.
With Sheriff Angus Ebonheart and Sebastian Coe nowhere to be found Lord
Arianus led the citizens to the upper town in order to regroup.
Once
Kellimon arrived with his underlings the town defenders formed a defensive
position and began casting. Surrounding
Lord Arianus were his body guard, Dakota Ironbane, and Dinen.
The undead were held at bay for sometime. At one point Sheriff Ebonheart rejoined the battle and made a
valiant charge into the midst of many undead in an attempt to reach Kellimon.
He was not successful and paid for his bravery with his life.
Seeing that the battle was at an apparent stalemate, Lord Arianus called
another retreat to back to the Yawning Dragon.
Next
came a lengthy shouting match in which Lord Arianus and Sebastian Coe taunted
the earth caster and confirmed Coe’s belief that Kellimon was truly the famed
necromancer known as Dannacus. Having
grown impatient with this Dannacus ordered his undead army down the stairs to
the Yawning Dragon. To everyone’s
horror this army of walking dead was led by the recently deceased Sheriff
Ebonheart and Ambrosia Hera.
The
battle which ensued was a grueling match which saw many lose their lives. Lord Arianus eventually destroyed many of the most powerful
undead himself and the tides of battle began to weigh heavily in the town’s
favor. Finally Lord Arianus made a
break for Dannacus, effectively flushing the necromancer out and getting him
away from his undead. The chase
ended in Dannacus being imprisoned by Lord Arianus and being carried back to the
Celestial Circle at the Yawning Dragon. The
necromancer was later found dead by his own hand.
On Friday night Sebastian Coe, an initiate to the
Order of the Raven, was accused by a local spice trader of murdering the
merchant’s brother. The trader
claimed that he had seen Coe fleeing the scene.
The man had also found a ribbon which was the mark of the initiation of a
pending member of the Order of the Raven. Upon
seeing his accuser Coe began to assault him verbally and with spells.
Lord Arianus was nearby and quickly turned the tables on Sebastian by
demonstrating a superior mastery of magic and skills not possessed by the
dumbfounded Coe.
After
moving into the Yawning Dragon Lord Arianus heard both sides of the story. He knew that the trader’s family was respectable but
doubted Coe’s honesty. After
speaking with Sheriff Angus Ebonheart, Lady Morgan Scenarius, and Coe’s fellow
initiate Rhea Skylark, Lord Arianus decided that the accused was either very
honorable or a good liar. He
decided that Coe would be confined in a Wizard Lock for the night to be tried on
the next day.
At
the trial Lord Arianus heard the stories of both the accuser and the accused
again. Many came to see the trial
including farmers, townsfolk, and Coe’s friend Dakota Ironbane, Ranger of
Vindale, Lady Morgan Le Fay Scenarius spoke on behalf of the accused claiming
that Sebastian Coe was not capable of such crimes in her eyes and that she did
not believe it. After many minutes
of deliberation between Kellimon and Lord Arianus the verdict was given.
Lord Arianus proclaimed that he would pay the spice trader coppers to
help ease the pain of his loss and that Coe was free to go.
Kellimon was noticeably upset at this and he left the Yawning Dragon
immediately.
A group led by Rhea Skylark and others helped a
farmer recover his daughter from the clutches of a witch. They found the cave with the help of the farmer and quickly
eliminated the guards and the witch herself.
The farmer and his daughter were very happy and the girl gave her
deceased mother’s necklace as a payment to the group for her rescue.
Lord Arianus came into town Friday night offering
a mission that paid well but was very dangerous to any group who would take it.
He told the takers that he would send someone for them when the time was
right. The next day Lofton Krate, a
high ranking member of the Galavast Healer’s Guild entered town to lead this
group. He explained that an ex-apprentice of Lord Arianus named
Vance was trying to kill his former master.
Vance was the mage who owned the infamous golden arrow.
As
the group entered the field near the Traveler’s Stone they encountered Vance
and two of his apprentices. The
battle was hard, but was eventually won by the group thanks to the fighting
abilities of Lofton and Sheriff Ebonheart and also the healing of Chalene
Silvermoure. Although many members
of the group fell all were healed except for Ackron Shadowcloak.
This brave warrior took a death at the hands of the foul scoundrel Vance,
but his loss was avenged when Lofton delivered the blow that sent the caster to
his grave.
The healing of the stone was a sorded and bloody
affair. I hold none but the bard
and possibly Lady Morgan at fault. I
am however just a Drae and my recollection of the events that took place that
cold night will most likely be written off as a lie or just some plot formulated
for my own benefit. But I digress.
As I remember it, we had set out in hope of healing the stone.
As we neared the crest of the hill, we were surprised by a group of
lesser undead. We quickly disposed
of them with only one fatality. One
being our precious and wise healer Chalene’s spell book.
She had lost it valiantly fleeing the battlefield despite several cries
of agony. In time, we moved on.
Reaching the crest of the hill we heard the familiar call of the
gargoyles echo from their lair. Consulting Sheriff Angus, the party decided it would be best
if a party confronted the gargoyles while another healed the stone.
Angus appointed himself to lead the first and I the ladder.
As we approached the stone, I felt the crystal surge with magical energy. I must say, it nearly burned my hand. All else afraid of the task, as usual, I placed the crystal
upon the stone. The stone surged,
flashed briefly, and became dormant. As
be began to argue about whether the stone was in fact healed, cries of battle
went up behind us. I decided the
only way to be sure would be to take the crystal.
Touching it, I found it to be dormant.
I knew our job was done. The
bard, however, believed his magical knowledge to be greater than mine.
He informed the party I was just a Drae, and by that fact I could not be
trusted. Lady Morgan agreed and the
party decided to stay and play with the stone some more.
Convinced I was surrounded by fools and the idiot that leads them, I
dashed off to help my comrades. I
arrived moments too late. Many lay
fallen, but they had defeated the gargoyles.
We returned with the spoils. Eventually,
the bard and his group caught up. They
informed us the stone had in fact been healed.
On the night of October 31, the Screaming Lantern, River’s End’s only tavern burned to the ground. Ariel Landstorm, its owner, took her final death in the fire. Lord Mangus has issued a proclamation that he will give a tavern license to start a new tavern within the next month. Anyone interseted in this should contact Lomas Cary, minister of trade. (See “Own a Bar”).
I, Lord Arianus, High Wizard of Galavast, offer
to all of those who helped to defeat the necromancer Dannacus my most sincere
thanks. I have decided that each of
you will receive a payment of twenty coppers, and although this is a small
amount compared to the great deed which we have accomplished I hope that it will
serve to in some small way reward your loyalty to me. I shall not forget what happened and the occasion from this
day forth shall be known as the Rebellion of 595.
I am currently seeking an historian to write a history of Galavast to
record such events. If anyone is
interested in the endeavor please contact me.
I’m writing this as a forewarning to all who
would listen. I know many of you do
not trust me. I know many others
who would have me dead, but take heed. Just
because one has been defeated, we should not leave him forgotten.
Souls freed may wander where they wish.
Revenge is a most sought after prize.
Never let our tainted healer stray far from our thoughts, for I fear we
shall never be far from his. I owe
my archer friend Nightshade a great debt of gratitude.
Had it not been for him I fear I would not be writing you on this cold
night. He tore me back from
death’s grasp in out fight against Daccanus.
I owe you my life good sir. If
in any way I can pay you back, do not hesitate to call on me.
I will do anything in my means to aid you in any way possible.
You are one of the few people that has shown this untrustworthy scoundrel
an ounce of compassion. I thank you for your kindness.
I fear I must bid you all a farewell for the time being.
My old master requires my attention.
Until our paths cross again, may all your nights be as silent as mine
once were.
Sincerely,
Dinen