The group woke up on the 21st later in the day, and took the day fairly light and easy. Some scrolls were written, drinks were drunk, and we watched outside the raid fall, muddying up the road. We were hoping to get some information about the area, specifically the locale that they called HIllscar? There was local historian, the Stroyteller, Avir, who we plied with some beer to get a heads up.
Hillscar was a temple grounds and college area that had been overrun and destroyed during the Randari war over a century ago. It’s about 9 miles or so east, south east of here and the main cathedral is located on top of the central hill. We then figured what we might need. It meant going into the rain to the Tradehouse (making Eoghan unhappy) where we grabbed a few things, including some basic bolts of cloth.
Once back at the Wandering Ewe, we killed a little time and had Shim prestidigitate once of the bolts into Sunrise Yellow color. The plan was that we would visit Lady Vari tomorrow and bring it as a gift. We rested well and slept more than enough.
The next day was the 22nd of Plantmonth, the Festival of Pies. Any and every person who had anything left over in their larders were invited to make pies and bring them out the share with the rest of the populace. It was a spring day, beautiful, wonderful. The baker had been working hard and just about every one else had brought many types of pies to share. Some musicians were playing about, a few locals were juggling, and there were dozens of different types of pies to sample. Most were free, a few were for sale. All were delicious.
At some point the Dikstra family arrived at the town square with their own pies, their family…and their hired hands. Sonnab and his crew. Darius grit his teeth and made sure to follow the 18 year old shepherd around the festival. Blocking him from enjoying any pie. Not one. Not a single slice. Sonnab was growing upset, visiting different stands and trying to get pieces. Darius made sure to knock them over, buying them outright first, or just taking the plates and handing it to another festival goer.
It ticked off enough of the locals who contacted the Sheriff Torod who suggested that Darius and Rhygar leave the festival for now since they were abusing Sonnab. Darius didn’t take it well but allowed himself to go back to the Wandering Ewe. The young man thought he was free of it all but the rest of the group intervened and allowed him to get 1 piece of pie – and that was it. If he took another, there would be a problem – as promised by a smack across the face.
Other people came and left, including Lord Glagdir and Lady Vari. Her paramour, Hragring, was snubbed but the Festival was still fun for what it was. We all reconvened and went back to the Thol Estate where we cleared the air with Lady Vari. Apologies were given stories exchanged, and we even gifted the dyed cloth. In addition, we had Shimlagesh prestidigitate the other bolt of cloth to blue. Lardy Vari assumed that the gnome was a dyer and was willing to share his skills with other noblewomen she knows.
We rested and the next day, Plantmonth the 23rd, after getting ready, we left Glagdir Province, heading east and south east towards eventually Hillscar. The landscape was scrub at first but over time grew wooded and then denser. At some point we had to climb a tree to get a better sight line on the ruined tops of the cathedral. The day was passing on and the light wasn’t going to last.
However, the common denizens of the forest gave way for a 6 count of oversized giant weasels who charged us. Missile weapons fired and Wilhelm’s spells calmed the most aggressive specimen. But they came on, biting and clawing, Connal taking the brunt of their attacks. Eventually enough had been taken out that we could scare off the last one. Healing was dispensed and we moved on.
Eoghan and Connal had done a decent job getting us to the grounds around Hillscar. Most of the other buildings had been reclaimed by the forest, leaving foundation stones and the odd wall. The Cathedral was on the top of the hill of which part of it had been blown apart by the Gorokian dwarven assault long ago. Even portions of the Cathedral had been sheared off. But the place was quiet. Only our voices and the creak of our armor filled the air. Through the shattered walls we could see the inside of the Cathedral – nothing grew within. Plants seemed to grow to the wall but not beyond. There was a death-like and unnatural feel to the place.
It was shortly before 7 when we chanced to enter. Some water had come in through the busted stones but nothing else. The main floor had some pews still visible, almost all were destroyed. We wandered in and made our way to the choir section, with which part of it was submerged with standing water. Beyond we could see some piled stone making a makeshift wall. A set of double stairs went up to the upper floors, one on the south side, the other on the north. But we went on to the end and took a look beyond the low wall.
A shattered case was here, damp with broken glass within, some sort of written manifest could be seen there. There were also some cut ropes and makeshift blankets tossed around. Finally a group of 5 barrels with brewers marking and stamps from Paxain, Canaslan were against the back wall. Grendel and Connal were checking the area out, looking over the ruined box. There was a note from Wendover Brewers and Apothecists (which according to Rhygar was a small sized city or large town in Canaslan.
“In conjunction with the Freyjacobites request, please feel free to test the intensity and potency of the enclosed Philters brewed to your expectations and demands. For best results, the determined affectant should imbibe the Philter. For lesser results either tactile or inhaled consumption is applicable but the duration will be severely truncated to a week tops.
We hope these Philters adhere to your needs Rector and we here at Wendover Brewers and Apothecists are looking forward to another endeavor in the future.
Stavraphore Morkanus, Master Apothecaire
Wendover Brewers and Apothecists,
Storied District, Wendover, Canaslan”
Philter? Touch or inhaled? There was nothing in the box but busted glass. And then Grendel and Connal were both flush. Very flush. Fevers rose, skin grew warm, and they were…erect. Looking for someone to lie with. It came on them fast. After explaining how they felt and what was going on, referring to the letter, we came to the realization that Sonnab and his crew must have come upon the orcish girls here, got dosed from the busted philter – and were overcome – doing the evil they did. And it also explained why after 5 days they seemed to come out of their stupor and seek to end it.
Wendover? Do we go there next? Where were the orcish girls and why were they here? Some answers and more questions. Do we look over Hillscar more? We’d need to talk it over. It was already 7:30 PM or so on Plantmonth the 23rd and we had a full day.
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