Chapter 3
[<<Back]Everything is now quiet, except for a moan from Kylar, who's starting to come round.
But then footsteps on gravel can be heard around the corner. Immediately Duplar retrieves his lightning wand and turns to face the sound. Jaldaric, who had been kneeling next to Kylar to see if it's him or someone else coming round, also turns to face the sound. But he doesn't put up his blades, yet.
Round the corner comes a bewildered-looking kandar, scruffily dressed and covered in scratches and bruises. He's wearing leather armour, and carries a sword with a lot of dried blood on it. He looks towards the party, but appears to stare right through them, as if they weren't even there.
"Uh oh" says Duplar quietly, "looks controlled to me." He raises his voice and points his wand at the stranger.
"Hold it right there! Put up your sword and let's talk shall we?"
The new arrival notices Duplar pointing a weapon at him. "Don't shoot!", he says in a sad, bewildered voice, "All dead! What happened?".
Duplar relaxes slightly, but is still wary. "We don't know. That is why we are here. Who are you and tell us what you remember."
"It was an.. ordinary day, Then... everyone was dead". I can't remember....", he says, "All of them... Am I the only one left?".
Jaldaric is not sure he trusts this kandar. He's been fooled before; keeping his blades handy, he stands and steps slightly to the side of Duplar so they are well clear of each other in case of nasties. He watches the "survivor" critically, trying to use his professional entertainer's eye to gauge if this is an act or a really distressed dude, but to Jaldaric's experienced eye, this is looks like someone confused and frightened. It doesn't seem like an act, but Jal is no mind-reader.
-o0o- All this time Reylorna continues to watch and remain quiet, obviously still tired from her ordeal earlier.
Now that he is sure that Reylorna no longer needs him, Ryzar goes to the prone and bound form of Kylar, and starts removing the ties from his hands and feet. He leaves Duplar and Jaldaric to deal with the stranger.eared, Ryzar continues to focus upon Kylar.
"Kylar. Kylar." Ryzar says to his cranky friend, turning Kylar's face to look at him, "Kylar, snap out of it. Kylar, how many fingers am I holding up?" Ryzar asks, holding a closed fist in front of Kylar's face.
Kylar is conscious but a little groggy. "W..what happened, Ryzar", he says, "That thing.... I felt it again. Is it still here? Why am I all tied up?".
"I tied you, friend Kylar," Ryzar says to the groggy Legionnaire, "Because you were under a fouls Kolder influence, and were attacking your friends." Ryzar finishes his untying, "As for the Kolder-spawn, Lady Reylorna has caused it to slumber. Tell me, can you remember to were you were headed? Whence did the Kolder direct you? Perhaps that would be a clue to its whereabouts."
The Legionnaire shakes his head.
"I can't remember anything", he says sadly, "One moment I was watching the gate, then I remember waking up here".
-o0o- Jaldaric is delighted at Kylar's recovery, though he's a bit puzzled as to what happened in the first place. He turns back to the survivor.
"Who are you?" he asks gently. "What position did you hold in this house, and who is - was - its' Lord?"
"Me? I am Verthes d'n Durvath", the survivor replies hesitantly, "I was but a mageguard for the Academy. Aranyr is, or was, our leader here. I don't know if he lives; everyone else I knew is dead or missing".
Reylorna addresses Verthes, "Do you feel well enough to lead us around the castle? We need to see if anyone else is around, and if they are OK". She doesn't articulate that they need to do it soon before that thing wakes up and they are all in trouble.
"We have been sent from the Academy in Calbeyn - and will need a formal report for them at some point", adds Duplar, "For now though, the Apprentice is correct, we need to check on the rest of the Keep and it would be better if you could act as guide for us."
"I don't know", the still-confused survivor replies, "Everything went crazy; people started having bad dreams, then the killings started. Everyone else is either dead or possessed".
"But you aren't dead or possessed, don't you see", says Reylorna, "So when we put the monster to sleep it may have released others that were in the same state. Come we need to hurry."
Jaldaric, although unsure if they should be helping this chap or clobbering him again, readies himself. His shoulder-blades are beginning to crawl out here in the open.
"You have subdued it", says Verthes, "Was it the source of all our troubles, all the madness? Guardians! How many did it kill?"
Then he sees the body Jaldaric had earlier examined, and runs towards it.
"Lethelar!", he says, looking sadly down at the body. "You too. Does anybody still live from this accursed place?".
"Um, it doesn't look like it," offers Jal gently, "we've seen no-one so far."
The survivor turns to the mercenary. "No one alive at all? Was everyone dead?".
Ryzar looks at the Mageguard...then looks towards Kylar...then looks towards the Mageguard...then looks at the group in general....
"When Kylar was possessed..." Ryzar points at his friend, then down the passageway, "...he was walking in that direction. With what appeared to be a purpose." Ryzar looks to Reylorna, "If it was a beast that did this, and if we assume it's just a beasts instincts driving it, then Kylar was, perhaps, being called for....dinner." Ryzar again addresses the group as a whole, "I say we go that way, and see what we can find." Ryzar turns to the Mageguard, "Please, goodman, tell me again what is at the end of this passageway?"
Ryzar helps Kylar to his feet -- and then returns the Legionnaire his weapons, which Ryzar had earlier removed from his reach.
"The Kolder-spawned beast has only been subdued by the Witch." Ryzar says loudly, to everyone, "We must either find it, and slay it, soon, or we must make tracks to get far away from here, before it re-awakens." Ryzar points to the old Mageguard, "He says that he knows not were the beast is. If none of us have any skill at sniffing out the beast -- either by its physical presence or it's mental abilities -- then I suggest we leave. We have ben a-trail all day, and we are near exhaustion. We must find a safe haven, and rest."
Reylorna nods her head vigorously in agreement. "Soon, we must find it soon... I have no idea how long it may stay asleep."
"Good point Reylorna!" exclaims Duplar, "But has anyone any idea where to start looking?"
"Wait!", says Verthes, "should we see if any still live. If I have survived, maybe there are others".
"Have we any idea where this creature is hiding?", asks Kylar the legionnaire, "Is it within the castle somewhere, or hiding in the forests outside?".
Reylorna almost jumped up and down "Exactly that is what I have been saying. Others may still live and are freed from control. You know the castle. Lead, and let us look."
"Let's not waste any more time", the stern Legionnaire says. "I say we search the keep. Verthes; you know the layout of the place, where should we start?".
"The fore-building by the gate leads to the hall", the still-dazed survivor responds. "Below is the kitchen and the servant's quarters. Up above was where the wizards lived. Aranyr lived in the tall tower".
"Any other places", Kylar replies.
"There's the barn and the stable round the back", Verthes replies.
Jaldaric thinks for a moment. "As this is some sort of magical creature, is it perhaps after something specific? Something magical? If there's something powerful stashed here, perhaps that's where it's going? Failing that, we might as well start with the main keep." He looks at the survivor. "Any suggestions, pops?"
"For my money the tower. Where the high-powered mage was and any magical goodies, there it'll be - assuming it isn't him or something he created!" Jal agrees with Ryzar.
-o0o- The doors to the main keep stand closed, and apparently barred from the inside. With no sound or signs of life inside, the only way in is to batter down the door.
The door puts up quite a fight, but eventually gives in, levered open by the combined strength of Kylar, Ryzar, Jal and Verthes. They find themselves in the shattered great hall of the castle. There has been a battle here; the great wooden table is overturned, chairs shattered, tapestries and wall-hangings torn and charred. Two more bodies lie on the floor, one of them badly burned.
Ryzar enters the great hall, heavy shortsword in hand. The young Borderer is watchful for any sign of attack, as he looks for the exit(s) from the great hall. Reylorna follows the group in mute silence. Her eyes mirroring the horror she sees around the hall. Verthes kneels over the two bodies.
"Klavor and Nitheyn. Both good men. The madness took them both".
Jaldaric also appears greatly moved by what he sees. His eyes shine suspiciously as he looks down at the slain retainers, then back at the door.
"'They died defending their master's hall, stalwart to the last, no thought of flight had they'", he quotes, to the general bafflement of anyone who's listening.
Reylorna continues in almost silence, an occassional gasp escaping from her lips. She can't help but react, even though all this is almost too much for the young apprentice. Jal spares a moment to put a hand on her shoulder. He's seen battlefields enough in his years with the mercenaries, and knows that men are quite as capable of producing ripped corpses as sorceress beasts. But it's no easier the first time, and rightly or wrongly, he assumes that it is the first time for the young woman.
-o0o- The group advances cautiously to the stone steps leading upwards at the back end of the hall.
"Down to the kitchens, up to the tower", Verthes says grimly. The party ascend the stairs to find themselves in a hallway, a balcony overlooking the shattered great hall they had just left.
Verthes opens a door leading to an short stretch of exposed battlement on the side of the tower. "This way", he says.
The short battlement ends at a doorway leading into the circular tower. The door lies shattered, as if someone or something has forced their way in...
Jaldaric looks at this with mild surprise. "This cans the theory that he summoned - whatever it is," he notes, gesturing through the doors. "It would have burst out if that were the case. Careful here, comrades. It may still be in there."
Reylorna was comforted by Jal's hand. But she shrinks back from him in horror.as soon as he mentions the possiblity that the local wizard had summoned the creature
"How could you even think such a thing. We don't do anything as horrible as that."
Even though in her mind the accident that probably damaged Tanela's mind permanently haunts her.
Jaladric grimaces in response. "What about that - thing at the academy?" he counters. "Somebody summoned that, and all the evidence points to your rogue Academician." He smiles slightly. "Maybe we," he means all the party, "can salvage some of that dishonour by disposing of this, whatever it is."
Duplar raises an eyebrow. "I trust you are refering to the creature in the liftshaft at the Guildhall, I do not recall a disturbance at the Acadamy."
Reylorna nods in agreement with Duplar. "That happened at the Karazanthian building, not the academy. And besides, we had nothing to do with it. We don't summon evil creatures to destroy us." Her little foot stamps somewhat indignantly.
Jal raises a hand in mock defence, ceding the point with an apologetic smile. He loosens his blades in their scabbards, and, checking the others are ready, looks cautiously through the shattered portal.
-o0o- This inside the tower has seen another battle; not only has there been fighting here, but fire as well. The tapestries and wall-hangings are burned, and what remains of two chairs are charred as well. As is the body of an armoured man lying on the floor. There are two obvious exits from this room, both heading back in the direction of the main hall.
Jaldaric kneels next to the armoured body, gently turning it over, and looks up at Verthes. "Anyone you know?" he asks quietly.
"Another one of my colleagues in arms", Verthes says, sadly shaking his head. "He was one of the first taken by the madness. Those that stayed sane longer thought he had vanished".
Reylorna looks down her eyes sad, but not moist after all the destruction she has seen she has grown weary of it. She says "we should continue on, maybe we can help someone."
Jaldaric looks around. "If he was the first taken, maybe it started here," he suggests, looking around for clues.
"Which way?", asks Kylar. "Verthes, you know the place; where do these doorways lead?".
"That way leads to the other wizard's rooms", Verthes replies, "The other door goes to the stairs; it leads up to the chapel and Aranyr's chambers, and down to the cellars and servant's rooms".
"Well, folks, I suggest we head for Aranyr's chambers, unless any of you have any better ideas".
He looks to Jal, Duplar and Reylorna.
Reylorna manages to shrug her shoulders not really having a better idea. Still in awe of all the death and destruction that has been wrought.
Duplar agrees. "Sounds as reasonable place to start to me, though I guess is they could have started anywhere. After all, they put that monster right in the Guild's liftshaft which was either becasue it was smack in the middle or some precise targeting. I fear the latter."
"I too agree," says Jal, "if there's going to be any evidence as to what happened, it'll be there."
He doesn't say, or imply particularly, but Jaldaric Madmartigan still harbours a deep and uncomfortable suspicion that the cause of all this sorcerous mayhem is internal, not external, and the damned Kandar wizards have gone and done it again....
-o0o- The first room is Aranyr's study. Compared with the destruction down below, this room seems eerily calm and undisturbed, apart from the fact that the door is charred on the inside. There are scorch-marks on the floor too, but it seems that someone cleaned the room after whatever it was caused the fire. Several shelves of books sit on shelves, undisturbed.
A figure sits at a heavy wooden desk, his face in shadow. Upon the desk sits an open book.
To Jaldaric, anyone sitting calmly reading in the midst of all this mess is either monstrously tactless or responsible for it all. With a soft, sinister slither, both of his blades clear the scabbards, ready for instant mayhem.
**Arggh!** thinks Duplar, **friend or foe?**
He has his wand out, and his finger is on the trigger. but it is pointing down at the floor.
"Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
But the figure does not respond.
*Uh oh - must be controlled, mad, or dead - guess dead**
Duplar advances on the figure, suspiciously.
Jaldaric closes in from the other side, and uses the tip of his Nirvork to lift up and back the edge of the hood, revealing the face....
As he lifts the edge of the hood, the figure slumps forward onto the table. Duplar and Reylorna both get a glimpse of the face; which is blank and expressionless.
"It would seem that he was suffering from the same mind control we saw earlier", says Reylorna, "Is he still alive?"
The absence of any breathing, accompanied by the grey pallor of his skin make it quite clear that he's no longer in the land of the living.
"There is something not right about this." Ryzar says, obviously. Then, at the looks from his companions, he continues, "What I mean is, that everywhere else we have seen the effects on people who have suffered this Kolderspawn's mind control, they have been scenes of violence. Here, we see what we believe to be another case of the mind control, but the scene is peaceful. There IS something different here. But what, I can only guess."
Reylorna's eyes start to shine as a few tears well up. She just can't help herself. Even in light of all the destruction, she had hoped that against all of it, he would still live. Now her mission was a failure, at least somewhat. She had learned something, the question remained, would she bring it home.
Ryzar approaches the front of the desk, and points at the open book with his free hand
"What was he reading?" the young Borderer asks, looking to Reylorna, then Duplar.
-o0o- The book on the table isn't an ancient tome, but appears to be a diary. A pen lies on the table, attached to a large ink blot.
The entries for the last month are visible.
1 Kavil Farithru
Runaka farspoke me today. Talked of politics in Filgeth and other boring things. She's still worried about Reylorna; Tanala has been causing trouble again, Runaka doesn't trust her not to arrange an 'accident'. We need to bring one of them here to keep them apart before something terrible happens.2 Kavil Farithru
Korvyn has reported that two of the guards have gone missing.3 Kavil Farithru
Ulkarlyn the priest tells me that the Oracle is warning him of something strange, but he won't go into any more detail. All I can say Karlandra can be cryptic at times. As if that weren't enough Kalarna the healer has several people sick with an unknown disease.4 Kavil Farithru
The two missing guards have been found, what's left of them. Some terrible creature has torn them limb from limb. Korvyn has doubled patrols.5 Kavil Farithru
One of the mercenary guards has gone berserk. He killed a mageguard and two slaves before he was stopped, as well as wounding several others. Kalarna has him in the sick bay at the moment. He just babbles incoherently.6 Kavil Farithru.
The strange sickness has now affected half the castle, although some people are making some sort of recovery. One of the guards has seen a strange shaggy creature outside the gates. Is this what killed the guards?7 Kavil Farithru
The guard who went beserk has died. Held council with Korvyn, Kalarn and Ulkarlyn. No-one has any idea what is going on. Feel very tired. Everyone is on edge. We now have slaves on guard duty, as too many guards are dead, injured, or ill.8 Kavil Farithru
Klaryn tried to kill me!. He burst into the room with a dagger early this morning. I was forced to use the Way of the World in self-defence. He's badly burned, but I think he should live. I curse myself for not using a less dangerous method of self-defence.9 Kavil Farithru
Something has terrified the guards. Two slaves ran away, and two mageguards are terrified out of their minds.10 Kavil Farithru
Klaryn died this morning. The wounds from my fire should not have killed him, but he seemed to lose the will to live. Everyone and everyone is wondering who will be next to go mad, and is suspicious of everyone else.11 Kavil Farithru
Saw the shaggy creature again. Ulkarlyn seems to thing it is cause of our troubles. Korvyn proposed to hunt it down destroy it.12 Kavil Farithru
This morning Korvyn, Alorna, and the four remaining guards located the creature and tried to attack it. It let out a terrible howl and the guards ran off in terror. Korvyn bravely fought it, but was killed by it, although I think it was badly wounded. Alorna has disappeared.13 Kavil Farithru
Somebody has murdered Kalarna the healer, and Ulkarlyn the priest has disappeared. I think this monster is very strong in the Way of the Will, and is making us kill each other. Who will be next? There are only half a dozen of us left now.14 Kavil Farithru (today)
No entry."A strange shaggy creature?" Jal comments after finishing the text. His suspicions of summoned nasties being to blame - more kandar meddling with extraplanar things best left alone - are raised again. He looks at the survivor. "Do you remember anything about this, old fellow?"
"Oh no! Just look at the dates!", gasps Duplar, "If only we had got here Yesterday! It looks as though he had either just sat down to write today's entry, or had just finished Yesterday's."
Jaldaric looks around on the desk, and in the dead man's hand, in case he had a pen nearby. The man's hand is cold to the touch, and still grips the elegant and expensive-looking pen tightly.
The nib is quite dry.
The bard sighs; there's no clue there as to exactly when the deed was done. He turns his keen gaze to the rest of the study, scanning the shelves for odd things or missing volumes, tables and so on for open books; anything that springs out as a clue to what might have gone on.
Duplar shrugs a litlle.
"Well yes, and then again, no.
"There would have been the usual Mageguards, and many of those have far stronger mental attacks than I have. I suspect Reylorna here is in fact more potent than I am if it were to come to mental combat.
"My abilities are more subtle: I'm one of the better object readers and locators, and some minor things which are not relevant to this situation.
"If things are getting really unsubtle, then I do have this lightning wand - which these folk didn't have. "But you only get 10 shots from a fully charged wand, and I don't know how they are charged.
"Get me an object related to our enemy and I can tell you much about him: often where he is, almost always where he's been, and sometimes a bit about what he indends.
"Which reminds me - there was a crossbow bolt I wanted outside. Well I guess it won't be going anywhere.
"I hate doing this, but I think I will have to read this body and try to determine the cuase of death. Ah well, beats being in contact when someone actually dies - that is a really bad idea! Relyorna - take note of that one - people have died in sympathy before now."
Jaldaric's expression during this is a mixture. As Duplar describes his psychometric abilities, the bard seems mainly interested, his imagination picturing uses for the interrogation of thousand-year-old objects. But then as Duplar describes his tomb-tapping powers, he pales and looks nervous.
"You can do that?" he whispers. He stays unusually quiet during the procedure that follows.
As reverently as he can, Duplar places his hand on that of the late Master of the Keep. He slowly expands his senses.
Duplar recognises the mental signature of the alien creature at once. Aranyr had clearly attempted to fight it on his own, and the results had proved fatal. He lets his hand drop from Aranyr's body.
"He fell in mental combat with that creature.", he tells them
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