I am not amused...
Now with a solid goal of running Finnigan through I decided we would follow up what we could about the original murder. We visited Gargan once more and I asked him about the mysterious man with a hook and he too confirmed what Spark had told me, there was obviously a man with a hook and another wingless illegal who were seen heading towards the docks. He also confirmed the Crown Jewel leaving for Britain early this morning.
Next we again met with Klog, however this time it could better be described as a full confrontation. Having rememberd me however, he immediately told me of a test for the Fellowship I could take from Batlin in Britain! My anger was more than visible. Ignoring his advice, I asked him about the man with a hook of which he knew nothing about, of course. He also denied knowing anything about a 'Crown Jewel', the stack of money I found in Christopher's chest and the scroll pointing towards some kind of wrong doing, most likely involving the Fellowship in one way or another. These were the antics of one at fault, I could see the sweat beading up around his forehead, he was clearly scared, and I loved it! Deciding Klog wasn't really a threat, I decided to ignore the obvious, feeling it would just work him up more, and left.
I remember the people who've been folling me around all this while; Iolo and Spark. Apparently Iolo was a friend, and Spark clearly idolized me, there was promise in him. I decided it was time to test this boys mettle (and Iolo's for that matter) in combat and set out to find exit from this sanctum. I found Johnson the guard at the East gate and gave him the blasted password after which he opened the iron gate. The gate look out onto the ocean and as soon as we crossed the threshold onto the world outside of Trinsic, young Spark began saying we should all sing some damned sea shanty! I smacked him, hard, so he would NEVER suggest such a ridiculous idea again. Luckily for him he held back his tears and pressed on with us. I wanted to go South, but the dock caught my eye, first a sundial, I could figure the time, and secondly a ship, with absolutely nobody around guarding it. The dial suggested it was around 10 o'clock, which leant me an hour before Finnigans demise. We quickly ran up the plank of the ship and I checked the cargo hold. Nothing much of true use, just some sacks of wheat, a bucket and a crate full of freshly caught fish. I attempted to sail the ship, but Spark reminded me of the need for a ship deed in my name in order to sail it. The boy was brave, but he was also correct, so we continued on to the South to test the party's combat prowess.
Soon after moving South we happened across a strange circle of large stones with a shimmering magical blue gate in the center. Without thinking we walked into it and found ourselves in a different place but a similar ring of stones and matching blue gate. Panicking (and remembering) we ran back through hoping to end up where we were... but we ended up in a completely new place. I had coincidentally remembered these were Moongates, they were used to travel around the various parts of Britannia, only I didn't know how to get back to where I was and apparently they weren't two way gates but interconnected in some odd fashion. Cutting our losses (and thinking a silent curse for the current circumstances that would grant Finnigan another chance at life for the time being), I decided to investigate our new surroundings.
I am not amused...
Eyeing the path I decided to follow it. Upon stepping onto it laughter came down from the heavens as if directed at me alone! Iolo and Spark heard it as well, this was odd, very odd and unsettling. The end of the path came quickly as it met with a small pier. Perhaps even more unsettling was the visage of Death calmly standing guard. He didn't seem an immediate threat as he wasn't moving but I had the others keep a keen eye on him while I investigated the plaque hoping to learn something useful of this surreal encounter.
Iolo... I think he's here for you.
The sign said something about blowing the horn to summon the ferry. Seeing as how the ferry already seemed to be here, I decided to strike up a conversation with the dead man. This went nowhere, all he did was stare at the floor. Cursing him out and receiving no response I decided this wasn't going to get us anywhere and backpeddled to the trail, figuring we'd follow it North.
Upon getting back on the trail a lone wolf decided he was a match for three armed humans. Things clearly did not go his way and we took him down without much trouble, Spark even jumped into the frey. We cut the thing opened and were horrified it didn't have any meat on its body! It must have been a runt that was kicked from the pack. After continuing North for some time the road widened and finally met another main path. A sign pointing in the direction we'd come said "Skara Brae" the island town I had remembered before. That must have been the ferry to Skara Brae, unfortunately the undead were now apparently in control of Skara Brae, a pity. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a conspicuous looking tree as part of the local forest we had passed through, it just didn't look right. I took my own advice and just ignored the tree and pressed on... which way should we go? The path was heading North and South and I was near Skara Brae.... my map! I fetched the map from my pack and unrolled it. If we went South, we'd meet up with a range of mountains which might yield a cave or possible dungeon, but we didn't feel we were equipped for such a trek. To the North were even bigger mountains. However I noticed the capital city of Britain was just a ways to the East and I guessed if we moved North we might meet the path that would take us there. We were clearly in dangerous territory and I had everyone on alert.
We moved North and Iolo's eagle eye spotted a full grown deer off the trail, we all moved into action fearing if we can't reach Britain by nightfall, this might be our only meal. I ran towards it while a skillful shot from Iolo's crossbow took it down before I could reach it. We procured five large pieces of venison from the beast, we would eat well tonight. Spark was seemed useless at this point so I made him carry all the bloody flesh, it would get him used to more horrible things to come I figured. We spotted another deer and then a fox run by, this forest was teaming with life, and a small part of me actually thought that a good thing, quickly ignorning the synapse we pressed on. We rounded a bend in the road when Iolo warned us of bridge Trolls... this could turn out bad if he were right. Indeed he was.... three of them right at the base of a bridge we had just come upon. They swarmed around us quickly but Iolo was at the ready, pumping one of them full of bolts as fast as he could, I meanwhile was keeping another away from Spark. When I took that one down I noticed Iolo had felled one of his own, but another was still beating the poor old man, so we all converged on it making quick work of it. I was impressed, apparently we were up for a good fight or two, just the three of us felled three Trolls that easily overpowered us. Perhaps a little treasure hunting wasn't far off!
Death to the invalids!
Searching the bodies we found some useful pieces of leather armor and some gold for our efforts, not a bad haul considering we all should have died. I gave Spark the boots we found, he'd been barefoot up to this point. We took the extra armor and slings hoping to fetch a modest price in Britain. We crossed the bridge and came across a lone establishment in the woods with the sign "Trainer" along the wall. We could use some training after our fair fight and I decided to inquire. The man's name was Bradman and told us he loved the woods around the city of Yew... I was quite puzzled, apparently we had traveled to the outskirts of Yew, but I thought we were near Britain, ah well a city is a city, money is to be had in any city, and victims! Bradman also claimed he idolized Iolo... Iolo was a great archer of the lands! Of course that's why he had very little problem taking those Trolls down! This little group was quite a bit stronger than I had first guessed. He also mentioned a Tseramed, another great archer who takes up residence among the trees. He'd probably be worth tracking down, if only to ensure Iolo held the prestigious title as 'greatest archer in the land'. It was evident Bradman was only skilled with the use of the bow... and since Iolo already outskilled Bradman... Bradman was deemed useless, we would investigate his house and carry out our actions accordingly.
Before entering his home, I spotted a pair of sturdy leather gloves on a table outside and swiped them when he wasn't looking, I was slowly acquiring my own full set of leather armor. Bradman's house was quite plain, the only thing of any real use was the bow and arrows and bolts ammunition he had stored in his bedroom. I closed the blinds to the outside so Bradman wouldn't catch us and quickly swiped the aforementioned items. I moved all the items onto Iolo who noticed began to protest lightly, but he broke down quickly and stashed the goods in his pack, with that we were off to Yew or Britain or wherever, we desperately needed to set up a base of operations...
We continued along the path going North and noticed a smaller more obscure path with old rickety boards on either side leading off the main path and up to a decent sized house. Upon approaching Iolo ran ahead saying "Home sweet home!". Upon entering, Iolo's home was a complete wreck, a house of filth you might say. Garbage and piles of dust were strewn all about. I noticed a book set upon a table in his bedroom and began leafing through it.... it was like a holy grail for me. It was Iolo's personal writings of myself, the Avatar's exploits. I'd been here countless times before saving this world from evil wizards and world destruction over and over. I was the incarnation of a heavenly savior for the world of Britannia. Obviously it told me nothing of why I was here now... but then again how could it? I was thankful for that which it did describe to me, I felt a lot lost. A nearby desk held about twenty-three crossbow bolts which I placed with Iolo as well as some note from Iolo's current squeeze, Gwenno. It mentioned Lord British having some map to a place known as the "Serpent Isle", I knew nothing about it of course. I found a hood and a little belt among Iolo's belongings and made them part of my current warddrobe, any piece of clothing was a piece of armor to me at this point. In another room, what looked to be a workroom there were half a dozen crossbows, a hammer, knife, and other weapons. I ignored them, we wouldn't have the strength to carry it all right now, but I did take a small bee stinger I found (what use it had I didn't know) as well as a crossbow bolt that was glowing! Iolo said it was magical, so I kept it with me.
We left Iolo's home and I decided we'd better backtrack as Yew wasn't going to help us, there was no centralization of the city, we'd have to travel to Britain for some security as well as to speak to Lord British, he would know why I'm here and what I am to be doing. We made it again to that river crossing and another two Trolls had set up shop there and attacked us on site! We dealt with them in a matter of seconds and I again loaded Spark up with all the leather goods we could carry. To my suprise one of the foolish Trolls had been carrying a nugget of solid gold! I stashed it in my pack and we continued, I knew there was a break in the Eastern mountains that would lead us to Britain. As we continued along the road we found the break and followed it but as soon as we turned a bend into the pass I saw a group of well equipped brigands, I told Iolo and Spark to keep quiet and we hid back around the bend for a little while. When we came back through the brigands were gone, and a good thing too for if they had seen us we'd definitly have been killed, Britannia was clearly not very safe anywhere. A little ways further and the dirt road turned into well maintained pavers, one of the illustrious roads of the capital city of Britain! We had made it!
The first thing I decided to do was to seek counsil with Lord British, he would know what I should be doing as well as where I could set up a base of operations, and in the back of my head I knew any King held great treasure. We spotted the great castle of Lord British and took the necessary roads to reach it, it didn't take long till we were standing on the drawbridge to the magnificant establishment.
We are here to requistion your cannons, hand them over!
We entered and found someone I loathed... Chuckles the Court Jester. He had tricked me and heckled me many times before, I knew not how or what about I just knew this bastard never respected me. He would pay... but before that I gave him one last chance to redeem himself and struck up a friendly conversation with him. He immediately began to talk about some kind of 'game' of which I knew nothing about. My instincts told me not to listen to the ass but my curiosity got the best of me as it always had before. The bastard began running me in circles about this damned 'game'! He wouldn't explain any rules or anything.. so I had to use my cleverness to crack his damned facade. After many minutes of inquiry and playing his stupid word game he decided to give me a clue... the clue turned out to be a scroll that did not seem to end and when it did only told me to seek out a gypsy in Minoc! I went through all that so the ass could refer me to some damned useless gypsy?! He would pay in blood! Anger took hold and all thoughts of consequence left my mind in an instant, I readied my weapon and lunged at Chuckles! He being defensless could do nothing to stop my attack, my blade bit him hard and he fell to the castle floor. Meanwhile I was being surrounded by castle guards, very well equipped guards and couldn't escape... they had me.
To be caught dead in clothes like that! Haha!
When I came too... I was both happy and annoyed. I was happy to be alive and it further proved I could not be killed! However I was bothered to find out I wasn't simply brought back by that odd magic that had occurred when I tried to take out Finnigan, instead I awoke with Iolo and Spark and others looking down on me. I sat up and realized I was in some kind of shelter. A man looked at me and told me that Elizabeth and Abraham had saved me and brought me here, those were the same names of the people in the Fellowship that were to leave for Britain early this morning!! They were most likely accomplices to the murders in Trinsic, why would they help me?! Apparently they dropped me off here and continued onto Britain. None of it made any sense, but then again this world largely didn't make much sense. After these thoughts had passed through my mind, a moment of malevolent revelation came to me.... if others brought me back from the beatings the guards put me through in the castle... perhaps the fool Chuckles really is dead! Hahahahaha!! My first victim and I got away with it in broad daylight among the very floor of his majesty's castle! I knew now that I would rule this world one way or another!
Gathering my items and equipment I began to inquire where exactly I currently was. I first spoke with the man who first told me how I got here... I noticed he was carrying a staff exactly like I had seen in the Fellowship hall in Trinsic, this man was another Fellowship minion. Apparently he ran this 'Fellowship Shelter' with his wife Brita and son Garritt. I was in the very pit of hell. I inquired about his wife... he claimed she was wonderful which caught her attention and she was thrust into the conversation, I looked at her and practically gagged, the woman had the likeness of a pig. He talked up his son Garritt as being some prodigy to this world, because he knows how to play the panpipes. This was the only shelter in all of Britannia to help with the poor in all Britannia. I could smell deception from this man's entire family, there was just something about the Fellowship I did not like, which I'm sure has nothing to do with the fact that the organization itself is most likely behind two or more ritualistic murders already! In the end I found out I was in Paws, a wretched little town stuck between Trinsic and Britain, known as the poorest area of the world.
Both Feridwyn and Brita new most everyone in Paws, and has gossip for everyone as well. I overheard something about a snake venom theft from a merchant in town, the butcher Morfin who also deals in snake venom. What little I knew about snake venom was that it was essentially the drug of choice for diliquents and criminals, as well as a major money maker for the dealers. The room I was in held beds for all those who called this shelter home, and each one had a small chest nearby for what little each had as belongings. I quietly checked each one and only found loose clothes and pinnances of change that wasn't worth getting caught for theft over. There was one chest in particular which was locked.. and there was as set of panpipes nearby which indicated to me that it was Garritt's chest. I would note that, anything locked is typically worth unlocking. I moved out into the main room of the shelter, a sort of cafeteria. A desk was against one wall with the damned book of the Fellowship set proudly upon it, as well as a scroll. The scroll lifted my hope.. it said "Keep Britannia Clean - Send the gargoyles back!" and was paid for by the Britannian Purity League, I would have to join this league when I had the chance! Finally a group that felt just like me! Maybe the Fellowship wasn't so bad afterall!
There were two more people in the room a woman and man sitting at a nearby table. I first spoke with the man and immediately sensed an attitude, so I figured I'd see if I could provoke him out of boredom. He asked who I was and I told him it wasn't of any concern to him, which he didn't appreciate, but I certaintly did. This bums name was Merrick and was currently unemployed. His eyes lit up when he saw me impostering as a member of the Fellowship, that just made it all so obvious how dumb these Fellowship folks really were, they were as plyable as clay! Merrick had a pathetic little tale about how he and a couple others used to run and operate a very productive farm until things went sour and they all became street bums. But Merrick joined the Fellowship so now he's effectively living off others and his old buddies probably want him dead for abandoning them. Lastly I inquired about the recent theft of Morfin's snake venom and Merrick had no problem blaming the local widow Camille's son Tobias of pulling off the crime. Next I spoke with the woman who was about as ugly as Brita, this hogs name was Alina. Alina's sad tale was that her husband Weston was currently locked up in the castle dungeon for stealing, and now she has to provide for herself and her baby Cassie. She claims Weston was wrongfully accussed for stealing fruit from the Royal Orchard, frankly I could care less, she was poor and even if I helped her husband, she couldn't possibly reward me with anything useful, and any admiration from a piggish woman like this would be an insult, surely Weston was glad to be locked up away from this horrible looking pauper. Finally in the next room were more beds and a small baby in a cradle, probably Alina's daughter Cassie. We found another pair of leather gloves in a bag nearby and Iolo gladly equipped them.
We left the shelter and saw a young child milling about, he was Garritt, god's gift to the poor. This kid was clearly a brat and everything his parents told me of him was a flat out lie. This kid wasn't gaining anything from their 'superb' parenting. He mentioned the recent theft and also pointed a finger at Tobias including that he hates both Tobias and Camille simply because they don't want to join the Fellowship.. frankly I must side with them just because the Fellowship is so far a pretty pathetic group of people anyway. Something just isn't right about this Garritt twirp...
Feeling as though this whole theft situation was an issue I decided we would investigate it and find the real culprit. My thoughts were that by investigating this situation I could get my hands on the stolen goods one way or another, snake venom was a drug and a lucrative product as well. I was also looking into the future and thinking it might be best to perfrom some experiments with them later on. I must get my hands on some venom!
I made a choice to begin questioning everyone in town, so far Tobias was the main suspect according to at least two people, though no real facts were consulted.
The Snake Venom Theft Suspects
Travelling South further into the town of Paws I met Andrew the owner of the local dairy. Andrew seems to vouch for Camille knowing her to be a good person and follower of the old 'Virtues', which explains why she isn't into the Fellowship. For as much as I can recall of my travels in this land it was the Virtues that everyone relied on, there are eight of them and I can't place each of them but a few having to do with Justice, Humility and Compassion. They were essentially the religious roots of Britannia and from what I could conclude, the Fellowship was a new 'religion' bent on recruiting as much of that land as it could. Anyhow, Andrew shed some light on Morfin the owner of the local slaughterhouse and seller of this snake venom. He claims to see him going in and out of his shop at all hours of the day.. which is to say the least quite suspicious. He also remembered the previous owner and being shown a back storeroom of the slaughterhouse, he's quite sure Morfin would have the key to this storeroom in his house... this should prove most valuable. I thanked Andrew for his time and continued on.
The next person I questioned was Thurston, the operator of the mill. Thurston turned out to be a very pathetic and boring oaf of a man. He had no family and considered his running of the mill the only reason to live and drank away his sorrow at the Salty Dog tavern. Apparently he had his eye on some Polly woman there, oh the drama; gag me. He did inform me on the uses of Silver Serpent venom... apparently the illigitimate Gargoyle's use it habitually, doesn't suprise me the inept fools. However the Gargoyle's are very strong so I suspect the venom might have something to do with that. When Thurston wasn't looking I snuck off into his bedroom attached to the mill and filched a few goodies: a torch and some flaming oil! I also spotted a locked chest and managed to pick the lock only to find it was empty! What the hell was wrong with this guy?! Who locks an empty chest?! I broke one of my three picks for nothing!! Before getting too upset at my own misfortune I left... and found two cripples on the street, amusing to say the least.
"I have no legs!"
The man with the crutches called himself Komor and mocked me by telling me he was a dancer... I seethed with hatred and anger. The other idiot quadrapalegic with him roared in laughter as well, he was called Fenn. I became livid and decided these cripples would feel my wrath after I had gleaned any piece of useful information from them! I learned nothing I didn't already know however what may save them is these guys deplored the Fellowship about as much as myself. Fenn was more respectful and forthwright with me. He also vouched for Camille and Tobias as it seemed she would send Tobias with food for Fenn and Komor. He also gave a new impression that I had already had myself about Garrett being the rude child and not Tobias, but I had yet to meet Tobias. Considering the little information gleaned, my hatred although dwindling still targetted Komor, he mocked my questions and now he must pay. I hadn't yet played with flaming oil and so the cripple with the crutches would be my test subject! Things didn't turn out so well...
Die cripple DIE!
After I threw the flaming oil and it struck Komor, Iolo and Spark came to my aid to finish him off, then all hell broke loose as Fenn began attaking me and called the guards, two guards swarmed onto the scene targeting me and felled me very easily. AGAIN I came to in the damned shelter! This was awful! I ran back to the scene of my deviance and found Komor still burning and quite dead, to my suprise Fenn was still milling about as if nothing happened, he didn't even seem that bothered by his friend's corpse burning in front of him! Some mysterious magic was at work for sure! In the end I carried out my wishes, Komor paid for his insults and Fenn was left to live out his days on his knees. I attempted to speak with Fenn.. when cold realization set in... he would not speak with me at all, the damage had been done.
We moved South to investigate a little house well made up by the woman tending it. I initiated conversation with the women whom only returned an alarmingly disturbing glare... I noticed she was near a window facing North out of her home; she had seen everything.
I left and pondered, odd events were at work in this world, I unashamedly butchered a cripple in broad daylight and although I succeeded in ending his life, it wasn't without consequence as I had expected, due to the early occurance in Trinsic. Twice now I had been knocked out cold only to come to in the womb of the Fellowship Shelter here in Paws. However my actions these two times have persisted (I can only assume Chuckles is just as dead as Komor) whereas in Trinsic they had not. Furthermore, the witnesses to my crimes have persisted again, unlike the initial confrontation with Finnigan in Trinsic. I was dismayed at my findings but also enlightened. It seems as though I could not die, I should have died multiple times now and I have always been only knocked out temporarily. However I would always be brought back to this infernal shelter of paupers. From now on I must carefully plan my attacks and must ensure there are never witnesses as it is quite clear my relationships with Fenn and the local homemaker have been forfeited, in their eyes, I am a shameless murderer.