Another mild, wet, gusty day...
You continue on your way after a hearty breakfast of damp rations.
At midmorning, though, the forest ends and you come to a settlement.
It was once a settlement, anyway...now it is an abandoned ruin.
"Derextar West," says McTavish, eying the threatening ruins warily. "A suburb of Derextar, a few miles east of here. These lands are dotted with abandoned towns and cities like this one."
Derextar West is built around a crossroads. Here, the Great Western Road intersects with the Northern Road. Several smaller streets, now overgrown, lead off of these main roads as well.
"What do ye want to do?" the dwarf asks. "Continue on, or poke about in the ruins? Sometimes there's loot hidden in places like this..."
His eyes glint at the thought.
"The ruins of course." says Farad.
Humphrey says, "McTavish, what can you tell me about where we are heading? What are the points of interest that we will come near?"
McTavish sits back on the seat of his wagon and pulls out his pipe. He opens his tobacco pouch and takes some tobacco out...tamping it into the bowl, before lighting it.
He puffs for a moment.
"You know that this entire area - hell, just about the entire continent - was once part of the Empire of Saltar..?" he asks. "It collapsed...hmmm...700 years ago..? That was thanks to the invasions of humanoids from the north...in combination with the rebellion that your ancestors had...that led to the founding of Nlad. Even after that, though, the Empire still controlled vast lands...including this region.
"What happened next, though...had to do with the Wizards. An' I don't mean mages like Raz, over there...I mean The Wizards...the ones who taught men and elves about magic in the first place. Their Order had broken up into three parts - that wuz what the War of the Stones was all about, I think - an' then the Black Order split again.
"Imrimil the Black Lord - he wuz expelled from the Witch's Dale - that's northwest of here...back in the mountains...south of the Land of the Giants. He swept south with armies of orcs and evil men, laying to waste everything before him. He invaded Nolthen and stormed the Tower of Grador. Now, Nolthen was just about the richest part of Saltar...its breadbasket if you get my drift...an' Grador is one of the great Towers that the men of Saltar first built to guard their lands when they arrived here.
"Anyway, Imrimil took Nolthen and made it into his own foul kingdom. Much of the remaining lands of the Empire were cut off from its heartland to the south, an' were abandoned. That's what happened here, to Derextar. What was left of the Empire was thrown into disarray. Outlying provinces and fiefs declared their independence or were invaded by neighbouring states. Kludar - my home - had been a part of the Empire...my great-grandfather made it a fully independent state. The provinces east of Kludar also became independent lands...but they spend most of their time warring and bickering amongst themselves even to this day.
"Imrimil remained quiet for hundreds of years...consolidating his hold on Nolthen and subjugating the population," McTavish continues, puffing away. "Then, about 120 years ago, he invaded my homeland. It was a bloody war...we lost many good dwarves...much land...and many productive mines. But, we managed to fight him to a standstill. I'm sure that he could have overrun Kludar if he had put his all into it...but Nolthen is a big land and he needs a large army to just keep it under his thumb.
"The last I was home," the dwarf concludes, "Things were still at a stalemate. Kludar and Nolthen is still at war, but it's mostly skirmishes along the battle lines an' behind the scenes manuevering, now. Our side lacks the resources to defeat Imrimil alone...an' no one wants to be our ally. Imrimil - for whatever reason - chooses not to try to defeat us outright.
"Of course, things may have changed in the 31 years since I was last home...but Ray Jay says not."
McTavish relights his pipe.
"So...where are we heading? Right into the thick of it, dammit! This Road crosses the Mississippi a few miles ahead of us...an' then we're in the Eastern Lands. We'll travel through wild forests for awhile...before entering a more benign land...almost elven it seemed to me when my brother Angus an' I passed through it for the first time. Rumour has it that some Power resides in those woods...holding Imrimil's evil at bay. Then, we enter Nolthen itself. I want to see what matters are like there, firsthand. That is why you people are accompanying me. I'm a dwarf...an' for obvious reasons my kind ain't too welcome in Nolthen. It will be a hard journey...we'll be crossing the country from one end to the other...but the majority of the population is restive an' still bridles even 600 years after they was first subjugated, so we may find allies where we ain't expectin' them.
"Finally, we have to find a way to cross the battle lines and enter Kludar," he says. "Once we get into Nolthen we'll be passing through some towns an' maybe even a city or two.
"Anything else I can tell you?"
"How do we get back? The same way?" asks Illyana.
"Most likely," McTavish replies. "Unless you can find someone to teleport you."
He glances at Raz.
"This Imrimil. He's still alive? Are the Wizard's humans, elves, or something else?" asks Farad.
"Something else," replies the dwarf. "They look sort of elf-like, I'm told, though I never seen one. My father has, though. Legend has it that they're immortal...though they can be killed. That's a damned hard thing to do, I'm told...an' worse yet it's not usually a good idea. They have some sort of reincarnation ability, an' when they come back, it's as a more powerful Wizard.
"And yes, Imrimil still lives...too bad."
"So how much farther do you figure the journey being, McTavish?" asks Illyana.
"Several months, anyway," replies the dwarf.
Humphrey: "McTavish, is Derextar itself abandoned as well. Reguardless, I am willing to check it out."
"Aye...there's three abandoned settlements here: Derextar West, Derextar East - across the river - an' Derextar itself."
"I agree lets go to the ruins. Maybe we can find something to make our trip faster," says Kelar.
Aldarin seems to light up at the prospects, "Sounds like a good deal to me."
"Hmm yes although the ruins might be interesting I dont think they will speed our journey " Pillar pokes his tounge out at Kelar, and makes a sour face, then shakes his head looks up to the sky and says "Why me?!" in an exasperated voice.
Humphrey also appoaches Illyana and asks her if she could teach him how to shoot a bow.
"Sure, I don't see a problem."
You pull the wagon off the road and hide it in the woods, along with the horses.
Leaving Britan on guard (Jeff is having even more email problems than usual), the rest of you head into Derextar West on foot.
Most of the buildings are in ruins...collapsed, mouldering and overgrown, but some of them are more intact, so you decide to concentrate on them.
The first building you check out is deserted and uninhabited...but the second one - on a sidestreet - is occupied.
Opening the battered front door, you find a dark room lit by a guttering candle lantern. It has been made over into an encampment of some sort.
In here are 15 men...clad in leathers. Most of them are sleeping in bedrolls, but four of them are sitting around a three-legged bench playing cards.
"Good morning," says one carefully, laying down his cards and regarding you with his dark, beady eyes.
Raz smiles at the man and asks, "Care for a game of cards?"
"You play blackjack?" asks one of them. You see piles of copper coins on the table, before each player.
"Oh, hello. We thought this place was deserted." says Illyana.
Another man smiles at her.
"Not so, my lovely lady. And who might you be?"
"Why yes I do", replies Raz pulling out several of his own copper coins and sitting down with them.
The dealer shuffles the cards, and deals himself and the four other players two cards apiece.
The players look at their cards.
Raz has a 9 of hearts and an 8 of clubs.
"On with it," says one of the men, tossing 2 coppers into the kitty.
The other three men follow suit.
The other men, who had been sleeping, are waking up.
"Where are you people from?" asks the dealer.
"Near or around Sandas. We are escorting this dwarf McTavish home and thought the ruins would be an interesting place to look around in." replies Illyana.
"Sandas? Where's that? South? That's where we're headin'."
"What's your business down that way? Perhaps we've heard something that could help." says Farad.
"We're loggers," the dealer replies. "They do much cuttin' down there?"
"Not that I've seen. But I know of a house that you can demolish for lumber if you wish." Farad gives them the house's address.
"Hey, thanks!" says the man, as someone else jots it down. "Where are you people headin'?"
"East, in search of adventure. Know anything about the road ahead?"
"East...no we don't," the dealer replies with a glance at Raz, as the other players all put their money in. "We came down the Northern Road from Campney. Got out before the next war starts."
Raz tosses 2 copper into the kitty.
Farad shrugs. "We may be heading up that way. But I know we are heading east eventually. I'm just following the big guy here."
The dealer looks about to see if anyone wants another card.
The first man nods, and is delt a card face up...a queen of clubs.
"Shit," he mutters, tossing in his hand.
The next man stands pat.
Number 3 nods...and is delt a 3 of spades.
The dealer takes a card...an 8 of spades. He mutters something and tosses in his hand as well.
Three players remain...
Raz says, "I'll stay"
McTavish shakes his head.
"Naw...we ain't headin' north...not this time, anyway," he replies, glancing about. "We're headin' east fer Kludar."
"Never heard of that place, either," says the dealer.
You all toss more coppers into the kitty.
The second player continues to stand pat. The other one takes another card - a 7 of hearts.
He puts down his hand face up: 6H, 7H, 5S and 3S...21.
"Blackjack," he says, reaching for the pile of coppers.
The other man puts down his hand: QH and 10H...20
"Another game?" asks the dealer, gathering the cards with a smile. "Anyone?"
Raz nods agreeably.
"So how long have you been in this area?" asks Illyana.
"Got here yesterday. As soon as the rain lets up we'll be on our way."
Humphrey says, "Deal me in the next hand."
He smiles as he wait his turn.
Aldarin will keep a wary eye on the group.
More games ensue. Several hours pass, before you bid your farewells and leave the men. Raz is 64gp richer, while Humphrey is 5gp ahead.
You continue your exploration of Derextar West.
The next three ruined buildings you visit are deserted...and have been for a long time. The one after that - a leather working shop going by the look of it - is filled with orc bones...years old. The next four buildings and shops - tanneries or leatherworkers also - are also barren.
You continue one...visiting several stone masons and smaller shops...all deserted.
Finally, you come to what was once a temple...though to what deity you do not know. Upon entering this place you see a movement at the back...near the altar...which you now notice is covered in fresh blood and bones. Something comes loping towards you...a ghoul!
"What? Where did he come from?" asks Illyana.
Farad takes the front, and attempts to make short work of the thing with his sword.
Humphrey: "I have no weapons that can hurt a ghoul, anyone have an extra magical weapon, that I can use?"
"No need my friend, with the aid of my god this foolish creature will soon depart", raising his holy symbol Pillar says "Go away ghoul".
"SCREECH!!" goes the ghoul...as it skids to a stop...turns tail and flees back the way it came..to cower behind the altar.
Laughing evilly Pillar looks at the ghoul "You pathetic loser, I am surprised you are strong enough to be one of the undead, hahhahahha". Pillar laughs at the ghoul, quite evilly.
The ghoul looks sheepish.
Farad is not satisfied with the current situation. He goes over to the ghoul and proceeds to insure that it is not around to kill future passerby's.
Aldarin steps up to attack also, flaming sword in hand.
Humphrey muses: "Well, since I do not hve a sword, I wonder if I could damage the ghoul doing a belly flop, with my magical chainmail?" He says this to no one particular, but does laugh at the image it brings to mind.
The elves walk up to the cowering undead and swing their swords...
Farad kills it with a single swing.
Searching the temple and the adjacent rooms, you find no treasure or anything else of interest.
You continue your explorations.
Right next door to the temple is a small tower. It reminds you a bit of Ray Jay's tower back in Sandas. You enter it and poke about.
The ground floor is deserted...but when you climb the stairs to the second floor, you are met by five giant weasels as you reach the top of the stairs!
One lunges at Farad while a second jumps at Illyana.
Both miss.
"Try not to damage their pelts!" warns McTavish, as he takes out his non-flaming longsword, "They're worth a bundle!"
"We're being attacked by giant rats, and you want us to keep the things intact?!? Oh very well." Illyana bops the rat over the head with her quarterstaff.
"Not rats, you dunderhead...WEASELS!" retorts McTavish.
"They're just as annoying and as fuzzy as a rat."
"Rats are fuzzy??" wonders the dwarf.
A fuzzy weasel lunges at her and misses. She swings her staff and misses as well.
Farad does not think weasels are fuzzy...especially when one attaches itself to him and starts sucking his blood...for 8 hit points of damage.
He tries to stick it...but misses on his first try and connects on his second.
Aldarin sidesteps a weasel, and connects with his flame tongue.
Kelar is next...and he chops at another with a scimitar after it misses him.
Illyana tries again, rapping her weasel on the noggin for 6 hit points. It lunges again...but misses.
Farad is sucked for a further 7 hit points...before he kills the weasel.
Aldarin connects again, and the weasel dies. Unfortunately its pelt is rather burned...
Kelar misses with his first attack before the weasel on him latches on...and sucks him for 5 hit points. He tries to saw at it with his second scimitar...but misses.
The final weasel jumps at Pillar. But the cleric is ready...and greets the monster with a crushing blow that does not quite polish it off.
The weasel misses him.
McTavish helps out Illyana...easily connecting and beheading the giant weasel.
Humphrey moves to Kelar's side and strikes at the weasel from behind...two misses.
Kelar suffers another 6 hit points of damage...as he again misses with both weapons. Humphrey fares better, though, and kills the monster.
Pillar grunts as he misses the last weasel...but it misses him too. Illyana rushes to his aid, though, and kills it.
The weasels are dead.
McTavish insists that you skin them...and with good reason...
"I reckon that the four good pelts are worth about 6000gp each," he says with a smile, "The one that Aldarin torched is only worth 1000gp, though."
Searching the rest of the tower turns up nothing else, though.
It is early evening.
"For being fuzzy rats" says Kelar, looking at Illyana "they sure don't bite like them."
"Farad when you get done with yourself I could use some of your healing if you wouldn't mind."
He checks the room for anything hidden...but finds nothing.
Farad heals himself and anyone else who is wounded.
"The tower of undead, bloodsucking weasels, and a ghoul", sighing Pillar looks around and says "lets camp and drink some ale".
"Might as well. It will take a while to prepare these pelts."
You gather up the weasels and return to camp, where Britan awaits you.
"Hope your wagon is large. Looks like we will have a lot of loot to carry about until we reach someplace to sell it." says Farad.
"Now can someone explain to me why the pelts of such an annoying little critter are worth so much?" asks Illyana.
"I've found that the skins of many annoying creatures seem to be worth money. I suppose one could make a living raising creatures like these, if you could live to sell them."
"Look at the quality of the fur," replies McTavish, as he starts to skin the weasels. "Giant weasels is rare...an' there's lots of fancy ladies an' gentlemen in the big cities what like to be seen in a weasel fur coat.
"Or," he adds, "You can make a coat for yourself, Illyana. It'd keep ye warm in the coldest weather."
You skin the weasels. McTavish has some leatherworking knowledge, and so sets to treating the pelts.
"That was profitable," he says, as he works over a barrel. "Do ye want to explore some more tomorrow...or should we be on our way?"
"Weasel fur coat? Talk about being overkill when it comes to fanciness." says Illyana.
Humphrey says, "Looking at the Giant Weasel Pelts. You know a person could make a fortune raising Giant Weasels. I wonder how fast they breed."
"But the idea of wearing a weasel.. yuck."
Regarding McTavish's question about moving on, Farad says, "Lets spend another day walking the ruins, and depending on what we find decide tommorrow."
"Maybe we can even hunt something down to cook it! Too many rations, yuck." says Illyana.
"Now that the weasels are skinned, you can eat them."
Illyana starts thinking. "Weasel stew? Weasel kabobs? Hmm.. I suppose now would be the time to try something like this. The stew would take a while.. Why not." Illyana proceeds to make (try to anyway) wild weasel stew.
Farad laughs at this, and pulls out some of his own rations.
"I do need guinea pi.. err, people to try my stew out."
"I'll taste it," says McTavish. "Ain't too many things around that I ain't tried to eat, in my time."
"I don't suppose you carry vegtables, do you? That would help things out considerably. Otherwise, I may have to buy some when I get the chance."
McTavish rummages...and comes up with some dried peas and raisins.
Humphrey says. "Well I feel that I am ready to do some more training, are there others. With McTavishes wagon getting full, I'd suggest that we move and find a place to sell all this stuff and allow those of us who ready to train, to train," of couse Humphrey says all of this with a big smile.
"It's a long way to go before we'll find anywhere to sell this stuff, Humphrey," replies McTavish. "Besides, there's lots o' room on me old wagon yet. Can anyone in the party train this guy?"
Farad asks, "Are we likely to find anyone who can train us on the road ahead?"
"Not for awhile," reiterates the dwarf.
"I could try, don't know how successful I would be." says Illyana.
"Is it possible for him to train himself? I know it takes longer, but I imagine all that is needed is the right equipment, which is bound to be easier to find than a trainer." says Farad.
"Let's explore for another day, an' then see about gettin' Hump trained," suggests McTavish.