Zorlon - Levdia

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel nods. "Looking for clues outside is a good idea."

 

He turns to Ari. "Proof? What would you consider proof that our intentions aren't hostile?"

[Arturius]

Outside sounds like a plan

*Picks up his Pack again and heads to the door*

proof? i'm not sure i was hoping you might have something that corroborates your storey?

*Wanders outside and starts searching for tracks (especially other this his peoples) and other things out of place*

 

*also wanders over to the store to see if any messages have been left there*

 

"surely you must have something to deal with this alien magic and evil cloud thing?"

[Malchik]

Ari has wandered off looking for tracks and finding only those of his own people. They have made no attempt to hide these, reinforcing the view that they left in a controlled way and not under immediate threat. Ari and indeed Siffli could follow their trail with ease.

 

Ari's search of the store reveals nothing, but the fact the Held have not hidden their tracks is sign enough that he was intended to follow.

 

The store contains less than usual but the few larger items like tapestries and rugs are still there.

 

Lurel and the rest of the party have split up (I hope) and are poking around in different parts of the settlement. Ford has been looking at the area used for cooking and can tell from experience that the last fire was two days ago. There are a few pieces of burned paper that might be interesting. Lurel is standing outside a locked hut some thirty paces away from Ford. Midge has disappeared into the dwellings in the tree tops. Ari is inside the store. Siffli, still in a huff, is ignoring you all pointedly and is hovering outside Ari's house. Lisette has chosen the moment to clean her weapons. Each of you is visible to the others (except Ari and Midge) but you are not close enough to converse in normal tones.

 

Except for Ari the rest of you have a strange sense of being watched.

[Switch]

Ford is constantly looking over his shoulder.

 

'I could swear someone's watching me... maybe a couple villagers stayed behind to watch over things...'

 

He looks down at the camp fire and picks up some of the burnt paper. He squints at it, trying to decipher what's left of it.

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel tries the door, but upon finding it locked wanders around the hut looking for an alternative way in. He considers using his earth magic to tunnel through the floor, but decides against it.... he is uncomfortably aware of being watched, and doesn't want to draw attention to his abilities.

 

If Lurel finds another way in, he'll have a look inside the hut. If not, he calls out to Ari to find out whose hut this is.

[Malchik]

Ford can see that the paper will break up if he touches it. Lurel might be able to help with a magic spell but Lurel is walking away from him. Better attract his attention.

 

Ari is still looking through the store hut but learning nothing of interest. The Held's full store of arrows has been taken, meaning he needs to be careful with the ten he has left.

[Arturius]

Ari *Sighs* and counts again 'well i'm screwed if anyhting serious goes down, enough for hunting till we find the rest the village at least'

 

'i wonder if the others have found anything'

 

he wanders out insearch of lurel, ford & co

Calls out:

"Lurel, ford. you guys found anything?"

 

"The stores are pretty much emptied. There a lovely set of oak drawers in there and some really nice tapestries but anything that could sensibly be carried has gone."

 

"i guess that implies they don't recon it'll be safe to return for some time if at all :("

 

*Looks for others* if he sees them he wanders over.

 

*despite trying to sound optomistic ari isn't looking happy*

[Malchik]

As Ari shouts out Lurel's name the air begins to shimmer. An elderly woman appears out of nowhere. She is dressed impeccably but in old fashioned clothes. Her ground-length skirt is of black velvet patterned with yellow diamonds. She has a waisted velvet jacket in dark green over a yellow silk shirt. Her shoes are those of a lady, not practical for walking around a forest. She seems to be about a hundred years old, though her eyes are piercing and highly intelligent. She moves slowly, supporting herself on a stick.

 

"Lurel! I am glad you have come. You will not remember me although we have seen each other before. My name is Thail."

 

Lurel, Lisette and Midge may remember her from the Battle of Marghulon but it was all too chaotic for memories to be clear. She is one of the four wizards of Levdia who helped your comrade Zekic in the past. She specialises in blights and 'chemical' attacks.

 

"We have been tricked. I and my colleagues have ben investigating the strange cloud that formed over Witten but it was a diversion. The real danger was a much more insidious change that started here shortly after the Witten cloud appeared."

 

She calls you all to her, Princess Siffli for once responding positively.

 

"Every land has certain inherent healing capablities - for healing itself I mean. It is not exactly magic, although we may call it that for expedience. It has a specific source and is distributed throughout the land along certain 'lines'. We thought we knew the lines although there were anomalies. But we did not know about this place. I was looking into the anomalies when I realised they could all be explained if there was a source around here. I came to look three days ago and found what was happening. I know about the objects in the Castle of Storms. I would say given the circumstances you are right in guessing the arrow is what must be replaced in Levdia but which arrow is missing? That you must find out urgently. A more serious cloud has formed over the village of Heimdal in the Lakelands and it too has been evacuated. There were a number of very sick children who the villagers were going to abandon. I and Varna, the woman who tends them, have led them, with some difficulty, to a safe place in a clearing in the forest. The Held has also moved there. I must stay here and do what I can to counteract the magic. But I am old. You need to hurry. There is little else I can tell you. The first encroachment was in Witten and I believe you will need to go there to find the missing arrow. But you need as much information as you can get about what a Held arrow is doing in Witten in the first place. Go to their new settlement at once."

 

She remains looking at you, willing you with her eyes, to set out at once.

[ThetaOrionis01]

"Thail!" Lurel exclaims. "This is bad news indeed - but at least the Held got away. We'll go there as fast as we can - if Ari will lead us. Before we go, there's one thing I must tell you... we have reason to believe that Anromainyus is playing a part in this. Does the name mean anything to you?"

[Malchik]

She shudders at the name.

 

"Anromainyus cannot be behind this but he will certainly be using it to his own advantage. What would you know of him? I have no direct experience. He had three, some say four, brothers and all were evil - except perhaps the youngest, Daro, I know nothing of him. Anromainyus now controls the undead from - wherever it is they exist. Shaura has not been heard of in years. Darendor is entombed here in Levdia but Zekic has told me the spirit is not at rest and may be brought to life again. For the sake of the world I hope not."

 

She thinks for a moment. "If Anromainyus wants anything with Levdia he has never bothered us before. The only thing I can think would be the raising of his brother. Had he wanted this I'm sure he would have arranged it. Strange now you come to think of it. I wonder if there is a reason why he doesn't want his brother to come back to life?"

 

She pauses again. "I wonder whether his other brothers are alive or dead and how he feels towards them. He was once just a powerful mage. Where did get the extra power from to lead the undead? He was certainly unscupulous enough to cheat his brothers. I seem to recall the youngest was last heard of in Bashkher. I can tell you more of Darendor but it cannot be of value in your current quest. I will be here until you have succeeded in that and will willingly tell you more."

 

Something occurs to her. "The current leader of the Held is an ill-tempered woman called Indril. It was - difficult and time consuming to get her to move. She is very unco-operative. I fear you will need to do something to make her like you before you will get much help there."