We traveled from the Kaer to the site of Uqbar City.
Following the path laid out by group 2, we arrived at our destination in about
a day’s travel.
The remains of Uqbar City were not much to look at. Bones of
countless name givers surrounded the bones of the city. The tent, gear and cart
left by group were found where they said they would be. No signs of Urmann Bey or
Guarani were at first found. We searched the city for signs of the missing
members of groups 2 and 3. This search was successful in another way. We
located a hidden chamber under one of the ruined buildings in the northwest
section of the city.
Within we found a refuge that could be used as a shelter. We
also found the long dead remains of a name giver. Cetharel experienced its
death. He died in defense of the city gently succumbing to his wounds within
the shelter.
We also examined the central well. Oren and Ermin physically
traveled the shaft and I scanned it with my vision. Nothing was found.
Cetharel was examining the area with astral sight when she
noticed beings standing sentry by the entrance of the former keep. We
approached and discovered these beings to be elf-like but something was wrong.
We tried to talk but the creatures did not respond. As we drew closer, I could
see Urmann Bey kneeling within the building. I cut down the first sentry with my
axe. It fell easily. Erin attacked the other with a similar result. I rushed
forward to attempt to rescue our companion but found that there were more of
the creatures within.
To our horror, it appeared that the creatures were only
faking their disablement. The ones that were felled jumped up and attacked with
claws. The ones within the keep attacked with foul magics. I was knocked from
my feet and suffered great injury. Ermin and Cethreal were pressed at the door
and Oren was pinned down upon the roof. Quinn raced forward from the central
well at the sounds of battle.
I fought my way back out to my companions. I drank my
healing potion and retreated to the group. Not fooled again by their false
death tactics, we killed the two at the entry and the two that I engaged within.
We took what shelter we could against the keep walls. More of the creatures
exited the structure and we cut them down. Ermin fell to injury but we managed
to hold off the enemy. Once we had killed 7 of their number, the remaining 3
creatures ran away. We did not give chase.
We went immediately to the aid of Urmann Bey but it was too late. The dwarf unfortunately was possessed by the same horror that had recently attacked the Kaer. The thing spoke to us through our former comrade.
“One hundred plus forty eight. I counted each one as they died. I had to count fast.
The old man didn't send the boy. Maybe he's worried someone's closing in on
the truth.
There are still six left.
Three orks, a human, a troll and a dwarf. Follow the stone road south to find the
dwarf. I promise to return some of
them...alive. Trust me...have I ever
lied to you? All I say will come true.
I cannot smell my servants.
I hope you caused them pain...
Remind the old man of what I said in the cave. Follow the road south, no more than a day, I
reckon, but hard to tell, the weak move so slow.
When you go back to the kaer, do not stay too long. I do not want you there when it happens. You must be alive to see...an artist needs an
audience. But - this would not have
happened if the old man had told you the truth.
It is all his fault. Good-bye,
for now."
With the last, the body collapsed and moved no more. We
removed its head.
The remains of the elf-like monsters were gathered. We
burned them all. For Urmann Bey, Cetharel performed the embalming and we said
some words about our fellow name giver.
We rested for the remainder of the day and the next before
heading south along the Imperial Highway. Along the road we encountered what
Cetharel called a cemetery. It was a large plot of land marked with stones
protruding vertically from the earth. Cetharel explained that this was a place
of the dead. Apparently the ancestors choose to bury their dead rather than
burn them.
Upon approach, we spotted a robed figure standing at the
outskirts of this cemetery. Its back was turned to us and it did not respond to
our greetings. It gave off no heat to my vision but it moved slightly so I knew
it was not a statue. The group approached within close distance but still
received no answer.
After that, all I can recall is pain. Never-ending pain. It
is not clear how long we were tortured by the thing but it could have been
lifetimes. Apparently the creature released Ermin before the rest of the group.
They spoke about the T'skrang. The creature also gave him two daggers excavated
from the ground, from a grave of one of the ancestors. It then left and
released the rest of us from the agony.
Once we had recovered our senses, it was clear that no real physical harm had been inflicted. It had just been pain. The psychic scars would take longer than the body to recover.
We investigated the grave to see if we could learn anything
further. The hole contained the skeleton of a human woman. Cetharel used a
spell to experience the creature’s death. She learned that the warrior had died
fighting near Uqbar City. She wielded one of these daggers. Another, a male
human fought nearby and also wielded one of the weapons.
We continued our journey south and eventually came to the
Imperial monument, Attar’s Gate. It was with dread that we approached. A grim
sight was before us. Stretched between the massive arch was the remains of Vivake
Mandal. The dwarf had been skinned alive and suspended upside down by stretched
limbs. One eye was dangling from the socket. The body was affixed to the stone
by daggers. Papers, pages from a book, were painted with a message written in
blood. It said “Pain and Blood will bond our Patterns”.
The inscription upon the arch left by the original builders
read “Attar defeated Talwor the Bastard at this place - 114. The Empire hence
bestowed peace upon this region.”
I brought down the remains of Vivake Mandal. Cetharel again
performed her solemn duty. It is worrisome how frequent it has been needed and how
familiar we have all become with this ritual. We burned the body and the bloody
papers.
