Another night passes. You camp near the road again. Towards dawn the clouds break up and the stars come out. The morning is sunny and still fairly mild for this time of year.
This road is leading you back into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and those peaks loom ahead of you. The lands are wild around here.
At last, though, you reenter civilized territory, as you see open fields, pastures, and more of the small peasant huts that you saw around Sandas. Disturbingly, though, some of these have been burnt to the ground, and are now abandoned. After a time, you see Borderland Keep: a small, stout castle built on a hillside, surrounded by a dry moat, and beyond it more fields. Looming above it, though, some miles to the north atop a mountain ridge, though, is another castle, a ruin.
You follow the road to Borderland Keep. It is afternoon. The drawbridge is down, and as you cross it a guard greets you.
"Good afternoon," he says, and leads you through the passage between the guard towers and into the entry yard. Before you is a long building, obviously a stable.
Here to greet you are two more men: one in plate mail, the second a scribe.
"State your business," the first one says in a gruff tone, then notices that one of the plate clad fighters with you is actually female. Then he catches sight of Sasha, who is quite fetching in her new suit of black patent leather armour. "If you will."
Sasha smiles. "We have come to see Hlarn on some personal business. Do you know if they are here today?" She asks.
"Arrr..." he looks at the scribe's book. "'E left this morning with that rag-tag gang he hangs around with. Prob'ly gone up t' the Black Keep."
He motions to the ruin on the ridge with a wave of his arm, never taking his eyes off of Sasha and Illyana.
Farad pokes Sasha with his elbow. "Ask your paramour where they are staying too."
"My what?" She asks in puzzlement, turning to face Farad with a frown.
She turns back to the guard. "Well, I guess we would like to know where he and his companions are staying also. We met them in Sandas, and so don't really know where in this keep they make their home. Could you be so kind as to direct us?" Sasha asks.
"They've all rented a townhouse 'round the corner," he gives you directions. "But if you go in, you'll have to sign in here and leave yer horses at yon stable."
"Thank you very much, you are very sweet." Sasha says, taking the stylus to sign her name.
The guard blushes and beams.
Farad grins, poking Sasha again, "Could you ask your beau if that castle we saw earlier is the Black Keep he mentioned?"
It was. It is visible from where you stand now, looming atop the ridge to the north of you. You estimate that it is a two hour walk distant.
Turning to Illyana, he then says, "We had probably best wait here for them. That seemed to be a big place, and if it is a challenge for your powerful friends, we should probably best stay away. Besides, they are likely to strike first and ask questions later if we surprised them while over there."
"They could be gone for a while. Depends on what they had to do there. Let's find out more information on the Black Keep first. If it isn't far then we can send a message while we wait or go there ourselves."
"It looked like a ruin to me. But you are right, we should ask about it also."
"Shall we see if perhaps someone is at their townhouse to meet company while they are gone?"
"It is possible, but not likely. We'll check it out just to be sure."
Sasha turns to face the others, "Shall I get the horses settled down and meet you there then? Or would you rather help me?"
"Well, if not, let us leave a note directing them to an inn."
Farad asks the guard, "Sir, what inns are available inside the walls?"
"Aye, the Traveller's Inn. The Border House Tavern is right next door."
Farad nods and hands the man a gold. "When the dwarf Hlarn returns, could you please tell him and his companions that Illyana and her friends are here to see him. We will be staying at the Traveller's Inn" Farad names an inn the guard mentioned.
Farad then considers. "Here are two other golds. Please give them to those who relieve you and make sure they know of the message also."
"Ohhh, thank ye, sir."
"Very well then, let's leave a message at their townhouse, then proceed to the inn. I for one would like a nice warm bath! And something warm spiced cider ... and nice warm food ... " Sasha says, shivering a bit.
You all head for the stables after signing in, and leave your horses. Then, following the guard's directions, you make your way to the townhouse. It is a small, two-storeyed affair of brick and stone.
You knock at the door.
After a moment the door opens, and you are confronted by a half-orc in a night shirt. A lady half elf stands behind him.
"GRRRRRRRRR...who's this a knockin' an' draggin' me out o' bed so early?" says the half orc.
You recognise him to be Gnarsh. Bel had a bar fight with him recently in Sandas.
Bel jumps forward and says, "GNARSH, old bud! What are you doing here? We were looking fro a place to stay and have some fun, and I promise I will only fight in other bars unless you say otherwise."
"Arrrr! It's that stupid druid! Let's go t'th' bar!"
"Hi! I am Sasha, and these are my companions, " She points to each in turn ... "Farad, Illyana, Bel, Raz, Kelar, Hawk ... and ... oh, that's it. We wanted to meet with Hlarn on a matter of some importance. We realize he has left for the Black Keep, but we would like to leave him a message to meet with us at the Traveler's Inn."
"Greetings Sasha, Farad, Illyan, Bel, Raz, Kelar, and Hawk. I am Amber, a cleric of Freya and a member of the adventuring party Hlarn is a member of. When he returns, which should be within a day or two, I will tell him to meet you at the Traveler's Inn."
"That is most kind of you, Thank you." Sasha replies.
Looking over Sasha's patent black suit of leather armor, "That must certainly turn the men's heads, are you a follower of Freya also?"
Sasha shakes her head. "No, I follow Isis - I believe there are similarities between them though." She smiles.
Sasha looks pleased at the compliment on her leathers, though she does not comment on it.
Illyana steps forward. "Can you also tell him when you see him that I wish to take him up on an offer he made to me earlier when we were in the abandoned wizard cave."
"I most certainly will Illyana. An abandoned wizard's cave? Did you find any interesting books there?"
Farad gets to the heart of matters. "The gatesman says your friends are at the Black Keep. Do you know how long they usually stay there? Would it be possible to find them?"
To the grey elf Amber replies "They ususally spend only a day or two at a time at the Black Keep, and as they left just this morning they should be back this evening or tomorrow. As to finding them inside the Black Keep, follow the trail of dead bad guys?"
Sasha laughs. "I think we shall simply await them at the inn. We have a bit baggage with us at the moment - and I would prefer not to lose it there." She turns to her companions, "Though you may all go if you wish, I will stay with the body then."
Turning toward Sasha and nodding, Hawk says "I agree, we should give them a day or two to return before we go looking for them. I'm sure we can find something to entertain us for the time being."
Farad shakes his head. "No, as I said before we had best wait if their location is not readily apparent. A day or two won't hurt us."
Sasha nods. "I had hoped that would be the case."
Farad turns to Gnarsh and Amber. "If either of you wish to accompany us to the inn, we won't mind. Anything we can learn about your friends and this area would be helpful."
"And I also would be interested in learning about you and your friends."
Farad smiles. "We're from Sandas. Some of us have met members of your group before. Illyana has in fact adventured with Hlarn I believe. Right now we hope to restore J'Harast, the elf that is dead, and move on to a place called the Megadungeon. There we hope to increase our skills before tackling a serious problem of a haunted house back in Sandas which we have been plagued."
"Yes, please do. It will be nice to have other folks to talk to!" Sasha laughs.
Amber smiles at this, "I know, Gnarsh here is much of a conversationalist."
Farad asks some questions. "Since you are Hlarn's companions, I assume he is up front with you and you know his skills. Does he still possess a magical rod that can restore the dead? This is why we have come seeking him."
You notice Sasha all but holding her breath as she awaits a response to this.
"Yes he still has the rod. I believe he took it with him this morning."
Farad breathes a sigh. You are not sure if it is of relief, or perhaps displeasure. "Then J'Harast has a chance of being able to come back. Sasha here will be pleased."
"Do you know if he could use the rod to aid us, or perhaps could be hired to use it? The baggage my friend mentions is a dead elf. I fear your friend Hlarn is his only hope, if indeed he holds the rod we were told he has."
"Hlarn could use the rod to raise your friend. Recently he used the rod to bring back to life an elven ranger when all that was left of him were his bones. The only problem you might have in getting the dwarven priest to use the rod for your friend is our party's leader Kadlian-you could say he's a bit of a tight ass..."
Sasha raises her brow in confusion over this comment. "Oh ... um, well." Is all she manages though.
Farad nods. "Aye. Such magic is rare and I can see why the leader would want to hoard it."
Sasha looks hopefully at Amber ... biting her lower lip.
Seeing the concern "Was he close to you?"
Farad gives a harrumph, but says nothing further.
Sasha blushes and gives Farad a quelling look. "Um. Well, yes and no. It is very complicated ... and perhaps better related over several tankards of ale."
Farad turns to Illyana. "Was Kadlian with you and Hlarn? Do you think you can convince him to aid us?"
"He was the leader of our expedition following the orcs up to the cave. As for convincing him, that remains to be seen. What little time I spent with them we were not exactly in the best position to converse." She turns to Amber, "I'm sorry Amber, but the cave had been long deserted aside from the orcs who inhabited it. All that was left when we were finished were piles of dead orc bodies." Illyana pauses. "Do you know if Gunther went with them?"
"I'm sorry to tell you that Gunther is not with them. He and the elven ranger, Sian, died inside the Black Keep while many of the party were adventuring elsewhere-with you I assume. The rod you seek was able to bring Sian back, but not the paladin. Gunther is now with Tyr."
"I.. I.. Dead? Damn, why didn't Yuri tell me.." A tear rolls down her eye. "Do you know where he was buried? I want to visit his grave at least."
"He was buried at the church of Tyr here in the Borderland Keep. I will take you to his grave."
Farad places a hand upon Illyana's shoulder. "Perhaps he didn't know. It was only about two weeks ago that we saw Hlarn and his friends in Sandas."
Turning to Amber, Farad asks, "When and how did Illyana's friend die? Gunther I think you said his name was."
"It was over a month ago that he left with Sian for the Black Keep to rescue Betty, a local woman who was abducted during an orc raid. While searching for her, they were attacked by giant poisonous frogs- neither lived. When Kadlian and the others returned from Sandas they went into The Black Keep to retrieve the bones of the two and destroyed the frogs."
"Also, what can you tell us of the Black Keep? It looks like a ruin to me. Is it filled with evil that needs cleaning, or are your companions travelling there for a different reason?"
"It is indeed an evil place that needs to be cleaned out. The Black Keep is a vile place infested by followers of the evil goddess Tyaa, goblin-kind, frost giants and numerous other monsters.
"Usually, the group goes there to combat the evil within its wall, but today they went to find a missing party member who was randomly teleported away a few days ago when the group met up with an undead fiend.
"If you should decide to go to the Black Keep, I would like to go with you. Besides having been there, I do have some maps of it..."
Amber takes Illyana to Gunther's grave. He is buried just outside of the Keep in the small cemetary there. After a time they meet the rest of you back at the Border House tavern, where you have gathered for food and drink.
The Border House is a busy little place, the food and drink plain but satisfying. There is a constant stream of customers coming and going...mostly off duty members of the Keep garrison or local farmers and merchants today. After a time, though, you see a solitary man enter the place and be seated by himself. Robed as a magic user, you note that he glances in the direction of your table fairly frequently.
Illyana stares at her beer.
"I hadn't seen Gunther in such a long time. I didn't know what happened to him and now I do." She sighs. "Life at the castle was boring without him. There were things to do but it just wasn't the same. I'll miss him.. we got along so well together." She pauses. "His last words to me were, 'Live a long and happy life.' I knew I probably wouldn't see him again but I had hoped I would. We saw him and the rest of the group that one night in Sandas, but it wasn't the same."
Raz, feeling pretty good from the beer, stands and walks over to the magic user. "Hail friend! How are you this fine day?" Raz pats the man on the back. "Care to join us? I'm with that party over there....Hey..are you a card player?"
"Thank you, I will join you ... what game are though playing?"
"We aren't playing a game as of yet....but we could start one up if you are interested.", says Raz as he leads the magic user over to meet the others of the group, a hopeful look in his eyes. Once at the table Raz says, "Folks this is....ah..." Raz looks at the stranger, "Say mine name's Raz. What yours?"
"My name is Dweomer, Kael Dweomer."
Raz nods, "Well, folks...this is my new found friend....Kael Dweomer." Raz motions for Kael to take his seat at the table.
He does so...and out come the cards.
It is midafternoon.
Bel's face lights up at the appearance of the deck and he sits down and says, "Welllll, glad to meet you Kael. Let's get rolling, Hlarn will be back tonight or tomorrow night at the latest so we do not have much time to play. We're burning cardtime."
With a twinkle in his eye, Aldarin says, "Hey deal me in also, I just can't pass up a good game of cards." "What are we betting, gold?, spells?, etc.".
The hours pass. You drink, play cards, drink some more, eat, and drink. Gnarsh passes out and topples to the floor.
It is mid-evening when the door to the tavern opens and Amber and Gnarsh's companions walk in. All are healthy and smiling, though many of them look a little scorched around the edges.
Most of you have met most of them before.
"Porkus, tonight we celebrate. Everyone, come drink with me and my friends. My treat."
Drandar will toss Porkus a bag of gold, "When that runs out, let me know. But it shouldn't run out quickly."
In the bag are 100 gp.
Hlarn waves to Amber, and nods in pleasure at seeing Sasha and Illyana. He goes over and talks to the women.
"Oh, looks like we have rare company. You should have left a message saying you were here. We might have missed you before we head back to the keep tommorrow morn."
From the back of the room a grey elf is heard muttering about messages and gold lost.
"So tell me. Does your being here relate to why we have a bundle at the townhouse?"
Damius leaves the tavern as discretely as he can.
Sasha nods. "Yes, it does. We have come to speak with you about possibly doing us a great service - in exchange for whatever we may be able to provide you with. You see, one of our comrades has fallen and we wish him to be brought back ... but he is an elf. No doubt you saw his body at the townhouse." Sasha looks pleadingly at Hlarn.
"Is there any way you could help us?"
Hlarn nods. "Because Kadlian, Drandar and I have fought alongside Illyana I will say yes. But because the raising of an elf will drain the item much, I must ask if you can offer anything in return. Just today we mentioned discussing not using the rod as often as we have in the past."
"Yes ... I do not know what to offer. We hope to go to this dungeon up the road for some training, it is said to hold much in treasure and challange ... perhaps we could let you choose from what we win there ... or gold ... or something else. I do not know what to offer." Sasha says, a bit helplessly.
Hlarn nods. "In any case we can do nothing today. We have already used the rods powers this afternoon, and can not use it again until tommorrow. Come to the townhouse then, and we shall see what can be done. By then we can discuss this among each of our groups."
Noticing the group, Sian heads over to the table.
"Hello I do not believe I have met all of you. I am Sian, the pathfinder for our party."
Turning to Kailar, he says, "I think that from the sounds of things it is having women in the party that causes so much bad luck. Untill you give them enough lucky charms to counter that. We have one and look how much trouble we got in. They have two and sounds like they got in a heck of alot more than us."
Hlarn nods. "Aye, women really should stay home. Its not natural to see a woman with a blade or crafting spells."
His wink betrays his words however.
Fallon picks a bit of green stuff from her plate and tosses it at both of them!
"Watch what you say - next time I will let those nasty creatures get you - and then where would you be? Why if it weren't for me - we wouldn't be here right now!" Fallon giggles.
A new look seems to come over Aldarin, a mix of deep thought and anxiety, "I have seen many things over the last year but most of what sticks in my mind is the suffering and pain that the local humanoids press upon the innocent. I have fought beside many a farmer or merchant, slaying orcs and goblins by the dozen. So much death and bloodshed, it will eat away at you if you let it. Sometimes it almost seems all for naught, but then you see a young child's smile or a pair of young lovers reunited and then you realize why you keep fighting. I hope to make a name for myself, but most of all I hope to make this world a better place for the decent folk."
Fallon nods, but says nothing, still hiding behind her bangs.
"I need a breath of fresh air." Fallon says, rising suddenly from her chair and walking out of the inn.
Drandar gets up and follows Fallon outside.
Hlarn smiles. "I wish you well. Hopefully you and your companions will indeed make a name for yourself and avert much suffering through your good deeds."
Seeing Fallon and Drandar depart, Hlarn stands also. "I need to begin mediations." Turning to Illyana, he says, "I will see you folk at the townhouse tommorrow. We shall have an answer by then about raising your friend."
Hlarn leaves, not following his friends but going home to study his spells.
The rest of the Borderland Keep party also departs, then.