Adventure Log #38

THE CHARACTERS

Kimmi-Manthootian warrior
Fin McCool-Bard about town.
Brock-A Monk who has recently been informed that he will have to fight a duel to the death in a month.
Garu-Elf archer. Somtime Boy Toy.
Paladin Marcus-Special Guest Star

Non-Player Characters Jona of the Harkers-The Harkers are "unofficial sherrifs" that formerly policed Mountain Vale.

Kenna Alexander-Commander of the military at Mountain Vale. Believes that he should be it's ruler because of his "Nobel" bloodline.

After escaping from the dungeon the party tries to head back to Mountain Vale using the extroidinary wilderness skills of Fin the Bard........Fin is better at singing than wilderness lore so the party gets off course. They are carrying Jag Voc Mercy and the person they rescued from the Gran sheesh so the going is sort of tough. Eventually they hear the sound of horses and remembering that Sheesh are afraid of horses they figure it must somone other than the Sheesh.

As it turns out they encounter Paladin Marcus a former friend and retired adventurer. Marcus is travleing with a small caravan heading to Mountain Vale's weekly fair. They are invited to join him and if nothing else they get a place to put the unconcious party members. They relate the story of their escape from "The Blister". Paladin Marcus furrows his brow at the mention of the place.

They also tell the paladin about the friction between Voc Serrif and Kenna Alexander and the almost battle that took place between the two mens armies. A short time later they meet a green robed person on the road. He identifies him self as Jona of the Harkers (the harkers were recently kicked out of Mountain Vale). He recognizes Paladin Marcus and says that he's hoping he can get some of his Marcuses cargo to feed the starving soldiers that are in his care.

Kimi and Fin specualte that these must be the deserters from the Mountain Vale garrison. Jona confirms their suspicions and he tells them that the men are led by their commander Brian Bitter, they're going to try to leave the forest and make their way back to Sylvias Rest and throw them selves to the mercy of Jkenna Jun. The party mentiones that Serrif would probally like to talk to Brian, Jona says that could be arrainged at a later time. He sholders the donated supplies and heads back into the forrest.

Still even later. The young man they saved from the Gran Sheesh wakes up and tells them his tale. He is a member of the Wharpick Mages guild, that was sent to ward the Blister. They had completed their task and he was to stay behind to keep an eye of it. One night he heard some noises in the forrest and he was attacked by unknown assailants. When he woke he heard the sound of somone chipping at the warded portal stones then sometime later the sheesh came out of the Blister.

The group agreed that whomever attacked the young mage must have gone down into the blister and opened one of the gates to another land. The young mage says that it was strange that the sheesh kept asking him where they were, as if they didin't know where the gate had taken them. Either way the fact that he was attacked before the gate was opened tells them that there is somone up to no good in Mountain Vale.

They arrive at Mountain Vale as it't getting dark and they leave the caravan men to set up for tomorrows fair as they head over to the mannor house to see Voc Serrif. They are met by the Voc's new wife Maug. She invites them in and tells them that Serrif has been in a deep sleep since the day after the wedding and they can't wake him up. She mentioned that Kenna Alexanders Leech (Doctor) Looked him over.

Paladin Marcus tries healing Serrif but nothing happens. Kimi and Fin tell her about how the group was abducted and a bit of what happened at "The Blister."Mauge suggests that they should go and see the Kenna. Althought they don't trust Kenna Alexander they go to see him. He greets Paladin Marcus (the two both served in the Deseratan military at the same time.) Marcus relates the story to him and he dispatches a Sub Alt (100 men) and some cavalry to the Blister to guard it. They ask him about the Harkers being asked to leave Mountain Vale and the deserters. The Kenna sidesteps the question about the deserters but says the Harkers were asked to leave Mountain Vale since the town is now under the protection of the Empire of Deserata there is no longer any need for them.

When pressed on whats wrong with Serrif they say that it looks like his (Kenna Alexanders doing) Alexander tells them that although Serrif is as "common" as dirt and had the morals of a stray dog, Serrif does have some uses. He also says that he's not afraid of Serrif and if needed he would fight him in fair fight and kill him that way. He aludes that Serrif may be suffereing from a strange venerial disease that Serrif had picked up considering that he's heard rumors that Serrif will sleep with anything. The party leaves after finishing dinner not sure if Kenna Alexander had anything to do with the things going on.