The Gorge Logs

[skylarious]

Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5

[skylarious]

GM: It seems you have always been dreaming. As if in the throes of fever, your minds float from insubstantial and cloudy recollections to nightmarish cavalcades of monsters and freaks. Sometimes great longing for something you cannot determine suffuses you, but mostly your emotion is reduced to the animal: fear, exhilaration, and most of all confusion.

Only after a time do you dreamers sense one another, noticing other minds flit about near you as a fish senses the ripples of another swimmer. While you all occupied the same great sea of dreams, each of the dreamers seems to be followed by a bubble of warped memories and preoccupations. Sometimes as you bounce about in the shared mental space, you find yourselves drawn into the orbit of one of the others. You converge within a dream, and for a short time you experience it together, sharing minds as if you were one being.

Sometimes you are named Jidan. You might be a boy climbing a tall tree, each sun-dappled branch giving you a little shiver of joy and anticipation, knowing that when you reach the top you will see the whole world. But when you do reach the top you are an older, more bitter man, and the land below is filled with fire and wailing ghosts. Other times you are down within that conflagration, which reveals itself to be a battlefield, and the ghosts are men and women in armor. You swing your sword endlessly, cutting down the ghosts regardless of the sigil they wear, hoping to silence them, but there is always more screaming, and soon you realize it is coming from your own lungs.

Agnes: Agnes felt herself wake with tears on her cheeks, wondering why her mother wasn't running to hold her. But she seemed wrapped in silence and then she knew she would never see her mother again.
Sasha: the dream took the form of an arrow in flight, fired straight and true. It sped through a landscape of anger, and the dreamworld took on an aura of righteous rage. Then there came a sudden jerk, a bolt of realisation followed by an avalanche of shame and regret. With an effort of will, Sasha focused her mind on her sense of self and tried to no longer fixate upon the arrow.
Hye: Hye still floated in the sea of dreams and dreamed her own. Surrounded by endless numbers of tents and the campfires that dotted the hills, eventually, these morphed into the lanterns hanging along the streets and yet the endless bloodly snowflakes fluttering through the freezing sky which flutters between red butterflies and snowflakes.
Raina: The hearthfire flickered, casting threating shadows across the walls of the hall as a tall, warlike woman stood up to speak of battles and change and things to come.
They heard her for a while, but the speech was plain and uninspiring and the words did not come easily, and soon the listeners, grim, hard-faced women with spears, swords and axes, turned against her...

GM: Waking is hard and slow. On the edge of dreaming and waking you hear distant babbling and whispers in your ears, along with other sounds too muddled and strange to describe. After a while one sound begins to drown out the others. As your eyes flicker open to reveal a dark gray sky above, you can tell that there is a strangled gasping and gurgling nearby. Unable to immediately rise, you roll onto your sides or push yourself halfway toward sitting, with joints and muscles immediately protesting.

Soon, though, you all make your way across the flat, cold stone on which you find yourselves. Even as you arrive at the source of the sound, it is fading almost to nothing. There is a man there, tall and strongly built with scraggly hair and beard, wearing plain cotton clothes. The cotton below his throat is stained crimson now, and the hilt of a knife emerges from his neck, two fingers of his right hand hanging loosely around it. His dark eyes are glassy, and only a few bubbles of spittle and blood around his mouth suggest any breath remains to him.

You know at once that the dying man’s name is Jidan. You know more than that, too – you know why he would stab himself. You lived in his mind for a time, after all, and the wailing of those he’d killed and seen die beside him nearly drove you mad even during that brief stay.

Now you also are aware of the others there beside you. Three more dreamers, in some ways known to you intimately now, after sharing some of their most private thoughts, and yet still strangers. You are gathered around Jidan on a great round disc of stone, equally disheveled and wearing similar cotton clothes. To one side a mighty cliff of rough earth and rock rises above you, and on the other a bumpy slope works unevenly downward, dotted with twisted shrubs and trees. The sun is in the sky, but it is strangely shrouded, and the whole world seems fuzzy and drained of color.

Agnes: Agnes turned away from the others, roughly rubbing the remains of tears from her cheeks. She shook her head, trying to clear away the dreaming, then stared at the blood staining the man's robe, and sniffed. "Weak," she said, her deep voice gruffly dismissive.
Sasha: a woman with skin the colour of furrowed earth stood and walked over to where Jidan lay dying. Her clothes were a red-brown, like clay, and she wore one band of cloth around her head and another around her right forearm. She glanced wordlessly over at Agnes, then back to the dying man. Sasha drew her knife. "Want an end?" she asked the man quietly.
GM: Jidan's eyes focused hazily on Sasha for a moment, and he blinked slowly. He gave no other indication of noticing her. A slight gurgling cough came from his throat.
Raina: Raina was a tall, strongly built woman with large green eyes and long, thick auburn hair who carried herself like a warrior. Her expression conveyed quiet frustration and disappointement rather than disperation and fear as she surveyed her situation and the dying man. She looked at the others in silence.
Agnes: Agnes gazed at Sasha with no warmth in her dark grey eyes, then turned away, sweeping back her dishevelled black hair. She gazed down the slope, tapping her small foot as if to a tune only she could hear.
GM: Looking below, Agnes could see that the trees became thicker a few hundred yards down as the slope mostly flattened. Rolling, wooded hills stretched as far they could see. The world was dark, however, almost like night despite the sun, and it was hard to make out details.
Raina: Raina's gaze focused on Sasha as she approached Jidan, obviously intent on ending his life. She nodded her head, almost imperceptibly, as in her approval as she waited for the other woman to do the deed.
Agnes: With an economical movement, Agnes sat down cross legged on the stone and began to examine the objects she found about her person, sniffing at the waterskin before taking a small sip. She tested the knife on her thumb carefully. "Just kill him already," she said to Sasha, without turning round.
Sasha: Sasha walked over beside Jidan and knelt. "Good night," she said, driving her knife down into his heart. Once the man's struggles finished, she cleaned her knife, then began to strip him of his belongings. There was some kind of scroll wrapped in a hide case at his waist - as there was at her own, she noticed. "Anyone read this?" she asked, tossing Jidan's scroll case away. After putting his knife, waterskin, and bread to the side, she began to strip his clothes off.
Agnes: Agnes pulled out her own scroll and began to read.
GM: The water was lukewarm but otherwise drinkable. The edge of the knife was sharp enough to cut with effort, though not ideal.

Most of Jidan's clothes were still salvageable, though parts of the shirt would inevitably grow stiff when the blood dried.

Raina: Noticing the others were examining their belongings, Raisa's eyes and hand went to the knife on her crud belt and paused there for a while, as if the sight and touch of a woman proved reassuring to her. Ignoring the waterskin for now, she slowly opened her case and took the scroll out to stare at for a few seconds, but she obviously couldn't make out of the words. Frustrated, she glanced around until she noticed Agnes, who seemed to be intent on reading her own.
Sasha: Sasha began to cut Jidan's clothing, or at least those parts that were not stained with blood, into bandages. As she went about her task she glanced up at the sun, trying to determine if the strange shroud was natural, though she suspected it was not.
Raina: edit: Raisa=Raina, crud=crude
GM: The scrolls were all written in the blocky hand of an inexpert writer attempting to look formal. Agnes's read: "The exile Agnes Emmer is sentenced to spend the rest of her days in the Gorge. She has committed the crime of CONSORTING WITH UNRIGHTEOUS SPIRITS, as determined by Magistrate Groon." The crime itself was underlined three times.
Sasha: Sasha picked up her own scroll case, paused for a moment as she tried to remember, then flipped it over to Agnes.
Hye: Hye glanced around, looking unsure at her clothings and rubbed her temple as if it somehow help with the headache. She took a glance around her surrounding carefully.
Agnes: Agnes glared at the scroll in disbelief, then she slowly ripped it apart. "When I come back I'll kill you Groon, you slimy old bastard." she whispered to herself.
Raina: As she approached Agnes, Raisa stared for a few moments at the shrouded sky, confused. She didn't seem to be able to make out much, so she shrugged. Somewhat reluctantly, as if she was not fully comfortable with that despite her situation, she held up her scroll for Agnes to read "What's written here?"she asked, fairly bluntly
You whisper to Sasha: Sasha was uncertain what could have caused the strange shroud over the sky, though it was nothing she was familiar with. The air was a bit chilly, although not as cold as she might have expected given the darkness.
Agnes: "Can't any of you read?" Agnes asked with a frown. She took the scroll though and scanned it quickly.
You whisper to Agnes: Glancing up at the sky after reading her reading the message, Agnes wondered at the possible causes of the strange shroud across the sun. The only thing she could recall was that in the wake of aether storms and other disasters, there were sometimes tales of the sky made dark during the day.
Hye: Hye approached her, looking at them and nodded, "I can read..." She does look slightly confused.
Sasha: "Read the land, not books."
Agnes: Agnes rolled her eyes. "Homespun wisdom didn't help you much did it? You're having a holiday here too," she said in a voice awash with sarcasm. She indicated the swathed sun. "Good job we weren't here when that happened. Aether storm."
Agnes: "Or maybe just the end of the world." she added with a grin.
Raina: "Can't be good, whatever it is." said Raina
GM: The others' messages read exactly the same as Agnes's, just with different names and crimes.

"The exile Sasha Arnhand is sentenced to spend the rest of her days in the Gorge. She has committed the crime of MURDER, as determined by Magistrate Groon."

"The exile Raina Rithasa is sentenced to spend the rest of her days in the Gorge. She has committed the crime of TREASON, as determined by Magistrate Groon."

"The exile Hye Audra is sentenced to spend the rest of her days in the Gorge. She has committed the crime of MURDER, as determined by Magistrate Groon."

Agnes: "This Groon has been a busy bastard," Agnes said, throwing the scrolls back to their respective owners. "I think we should find him and rip his balls off."
Sasha: Sasha paused briefly in her task, nodded, continued cutting bandages. She stuffed those she had done in the scroll case. "Lots that would help," she said sarcastically. "How'd we get here? Where from?"
Sasha: Sasha caught her own scroll. She made to tear it up, paused, and put it in Jidan's case.
Agnes: Agnes shook her head, and for the first time her confidence seemed to have left her. "No idea. Drugged and shipped off...? But where is this place?"
Sasha: Sasha stood, stretched, and looked around for footprints, though something told her this was a pointless endeavour.
GM: Their memories were all hazy. They could remember some details of their lives before arriving here, but they were patchy, with new memories floating into their minds unexpectedly. None could recall Magistrate Groon or their sentencing.
Raina: Raina's lips curled in displeasure as Agnes read her scroll, but she did not seem very surprised. She stood in thought for a while, as if reminiscing something and then opened her mouth as if to speak, but stopped, as if unsure. Then, as if gathering some resolve, she spoke up in reply to Agnes' earler comment "I could get behind that. But...we'd have to get out, first."
Agnes: While Sasha looked for signs of life, Agnes pulled the scroll out of Jidan's case and read it.
Raina: edit: 'opened her mouth to speak', change 'earler' to 'earlier'
GM: Jidan's crime was listed as DESERTION.
Tokens dropped onto map 'Grasslands' by player Hye (Player)
Agnes: "Poor fucker," Agnes said, but with little sympathy. She looked up at Raina. "Get out, yes, but we need to find out where we are first."
Hye: Hye moved around, shaking off the feeling of sleep. She is rather small for her age but her muscles suggest that she is capable of giving more than what her size suggests. Her black hairs was reaching down to further than her shoulder and her eyes have a strange shape to them compared to the others. Her hands, arms and face show a sign of very old scares.
Raina: Raina didn't seem particularly sympathetic to Jidan's crime herself, but she did not comment on that, for good or ill. Instead she stared at the rising Hye, some distance from them. "There she is. Doesn't look like much of a murderer to me, but there's all kinds I suppose..."she said
Agnes: "In my experience murderers are not the worst people by any means. I bet Groon doesn't kill people himself, but he's destroyed plenty of lives no doubt."
Raina: "No doubt."agreed Raina "Whoever this Groon is."
Hye: Hye glanced back at Raina and strolled over to them and introduced herself, even thought that may be pointless. "My name is Hye Audra of..." Her face looked confused for a moment, "Whatever that is... " She soon restored her friendly mood, "I am sure whatever I did, it must be for a good reason. Still, I guess we have to make the best of this situation." She glanced around, attempting to see if there is anything she can do.
Sasha: Sasha snorted at Hye's comment and continued to search for signs of life.
Agnes: "What kind of good reason would anyone have to consigning us to this..." Agnes swept her arm round to indicate the lifeless landscape around them. "And without a chance to see our accuser!" she added.
Sasha: "Wouldn't remember them if you did."
Agnes: "We'll see," Agnes muttered darkly.
Hye: "And beside, who know, they may deeply regret that we got banished rather than killing us in the end." Hye smiled slightly at the possibility of revenge.
Raina: "I hope so!"said Raisa suddenly sounding somewhat eager
Sasha: Sasha shook her head. "Don't even know what you did. Why assume you're right?"
Agnes: "Who cares what we did? Maybe you killed someone, and maybe I played with the spirits, but that doesn't mean we should feel any shame. Maybe there was a perfectly good reason to do what we did!" Agnes said, her eyes flashing.
Sasha: "Maybe wasn't. Maybe we won't ever know. Whichever, can't eat anger."
Agnes: "It can keep you warm and give you a reason to live though," Agnes retorted.
Sasha: Sasha shrugged. "Whatever." She gathered up Jidan's extra belongings and prepared to leave.
Hye: "I think the revenge is a dish best served cold, in my opinon." Hye strolled away afterward, looking at the sights.
Agnes: Agnes snorted then. "So are we going to stand here gawking like peasants at a marvel, or get moving?"
Sasha: "Try to be quiet. Moaning scares the game," Sasha said, making her way down the slope.
Agnes: "What fucking game?" Agnes grumbled as she followed, picking her way cautiously.
Sasha: "The game with legs. Dish best served warm."
GM: After searching about near the great stone disc where the exiles had awoken, Sasha found the faded tracks of a small animal in the dirt. The exiles noticed a slight pang of hunger that would only be briefly sated by the bread they had with them, and with nothing keeping them at the disc they followed the tracks down the rocky slope. The trees grew thicker as they walked, though they were still sparse.

As the day faded, the shrouded sun sinking behind the great cliff to the west, three moons rose above the exiles. The great white one at the center was flanked by its pale red and ashen gray companions, and their light seemed far stronger than that of the sun. The exiles remembered these moons from before their dreaming, a reminder of the world outside. The moons seemed more real and bright, somehow, than the sun had, and as they cast their light over the land everything seemed less dreamlike than before. This did not lift their unease, however. The pale light made the other women’s features look almost ghostly, and cast sharp, creeping shadows from the scraggly trees and shrubs. The exiles' other senses seemed clearer too, though with no more promising results. In the distance was a faint keening, whether a wolf’s howl or a cry of grief or merely distant wind. Despite the deadness of the air here, a scent worked its way through the exiles' noses and to the back of their throats, a nauseating mixture of burnt meat and mildew.

Although the original tracks soon faded, Sasha found more, and after determining the most frequented animal trails she set up a makeshift trap of branches tied back with strips of Jidan’s clothing. They watched as a scrawny deer made its way along the path, and when the branches suddenly swung out and stunned it, Sasha sprang out and swiftly cut the creature’s throat.

Raina used the presence of certain mosses and lichens, and her sharp senses, to find her way to a small stream where the exiles could refill their waterskins. The party camped near there, and Agnes moved her hands in the shape of a rune while chanting the words of a spell, and her kindling burst into a pleasant fire. The group made a meal there, wrapping up what remained, and gathered their strength before looking about for anything else useful before the dark daytime returned again.

Agnes noticed a few prints, and Sasha recognized them as human. After following them for near an hour, the group found the remnants of a camp much like their own, with faded ashes of a fire from weeks or months ago. Around that fire, though, were bones, most of them cracked open in the middle. A few pieces of battered weaponry were littered among the bones. In the pale light of the moon, skulls seemed to look up at the women with smiles of dark mirth.

Raina: Raina eyes quickly scanned the remains of the camp and focused on the weapons, trying to see if they could still be of use.
Agnes: Agnes crouched down and examined the bones, picking through them. "Cannibals do you think?"
Sasha: Sasha began to search among the bones for useful items, keeping a particular eye out for any signs of a bow.
GM: Agnes's suspicions seemed reasonable as she looked more closely at the bones. There were human-like teeth marks there, particularly around the broken ends, suggesting that someone had been drinking their marrow.
Agnes: She looked up with a sharp expression in her eyes. "Definitely cannibals. I hope you lot have something better than those dinner knives to fight with!"
Raina: "That's what I'm trying to take care of."said Raina as she approached the damaged weapons
GM: Sasha quickly found what she'd hoped for: two shortbows, one missing a string, the other with one that looked weakened from exposure to the weather but would likely last for a few shots. There were arrows scattered about or with tips lodged in the ground, a total of seven. Raina found more, a sturdy quarterstaff, a shortsword with some rust but mostly serviceable, and a mace still clutched by skeletal fingers. The rest seemed too worn or damaged to be of use.
Hye: Hye eyed with a hint of distaste when Agenes uses magic. Still, when they stumbled upon the skulls, she glanced at these bones with emotionless stares. She settled down, her eyes looking out for any dangers
Sasha: Sasha took the bow and drew the string back to test it, then slung it over her shoulder. She took the stringless bow as a walking stick and wandered round the camp, tapping it against each skull as she found it to take a count.
Raina: "Ah!" Raina's eyes lit up with pleasure for the first time since she was in the Gorge as she took the sword in hand and held it up "This'll do, for now!"
GM: Sasha found 9 mostly intact skulls, and she estimated two or three more from a few piles of fragments. Counting both the intact weapons and the degraded ones, there were probably a dozen pieces of armament in the camp as well.
GM: Sasha also noticed a few scraps of cloth caught on brambles and under bones, but for the most part any sign of the peoples' clothing was gone.
Agnes: Agnes continued poking around among the bones, "All men you think, or any women?"
Sasha: "Folk must have made these weapons. Mine for the iron. Village, maybe."
Raina: "I hope you can use these"said Raina as, after putting the sword in her belt, she walked over to the others with the quarterstaff and mace "I don't think we want to be an easy meal."
Sasha: "Bad to waste arrows on people. Can't eat them." Sasha grimaced. "Won't, rather."
Agnes: Agnes stood up and shook her head. "I've used a bow, not very good at it though. Swords aren't really my thing."
Sasha: Sasha tossed Agnes the stringless bow. "Might find a string. Make one, maybe."
Hye: Hye reached out for the quarterstaff, "Personally, I am more comfortable using my fists and feets. I will give this a go." She handled a quarterstaff like if it is a weapon with heavy sword at the end/
Sasha: Sasha found a quiver beneath a log, wiped the mud from it, and strapped it to her waist, putting her arrows inside. "Better."
Agnes: Agnes grimaced at the stringless bow, but she hunted around a little for anything that could be utilised.
GM: There was little else in the camp. Strangely, as the weapons had been left, other mundane tools seemed to have been taken, if they were ever there. Sasha did find one thing: A muddy, half torn sheet of paper. All Agnes could make out was "the crime of SEXUAL DEVIANCY".
Hye: Hye moved into a kind of military stance with the quarter staff over her right shoulder,
Hye: and wondered what Agnes found.
Agnes: Agnes gave a snort of laughter and read it out to the others. "Not on a par with murder and cannibalism really is it? Poor bastard."
GM: By now the moons were beginning to fade out of sight and the darker shroud of the earlier daytime was returning, as the darkened sun rose, obscured by the trees.
Sasha: Sasha checked around for tracks to see if there was any sign of anyone returning to this place, or what direction they might have left in
Raina: "I guess they really send people here for everything."commented Raina "Still...getting darker, again. We don't want to be easy prey for cannibals.."
Agnes: Agnes yawned suddenly. "Can we find a place to rest? This is all wrong, sun coming up at night."
You whisper to Sasha: The tracks around the camp were old and muddled. Obviously there had been much running and trampling. Tracks, some barefooted and some with boots, went off in almost every direction, though she couldn't follow them for more than a hundred yards before they would be lost in thick undergrowth.
Sasha: "No one recent, seems," Sasha said after a while. "Don't want to go back. Fire might have been seen. Continue on."
Agnes: "If we have to."
GM: The group moved back to the stream Raina had found and followed its flow. The sun rose higher in the sky and the world seemed to grow ever darker and fuzzier. As the exiles grew tired, they got jumpy, snapping around at every crunch of leaves or far off howl. The water was like a lifeline, keeping them from staggering off and losing each other.
Sasha: struggling to keep her mind clear, Sasha began to search for a sheltered spot to camp
GM: As they traveled more of their memories came to them, visions of trauma and long-gone friends floating before them, making their lives before the Gorge seem an unending parade of tragedy. The exiles managed to push back the spectres though, and focus on the road ahead of them. Sasha and Agnes noticed some tracks leading off from thre stream after a few hours. They led to a small hut, perhaps a woodsman's cabin, with just enough space for them to lie curled up back-to-back, a woodcutting axe embedded in a log outside, and a jar of pickled vegetables stored away in a corner. They quickly collapsed into sleep after setting up watch shifts, though the watchers found it difficult to keep their eyes open. The day passed uneventfully, and they welcomed the blessedly bright and clear night as it came once again - despite the eeriness of the cold shadows under the three moons.

The tracks that had led the group here also seemed to head off northward from the hut, a single pair of boots making clear marks in the dusty ground.

Sasha: Sasha examined the tracks to see how recent they were
GM: The tracks were clear and fresh, one or two days old at most.
Raina: "Not a cannibal, I hope." said Raina
Hye: Hye swiped away the tears on her face as she woken up from her unrestful sleep. Noting that there is a weapon she can acutally use, she went over, seriously considering taking a weapon, "I can use this!"
Sasha: "Person might be friendly. Don't steal."
Hye: Hye looked rather doubtful at the possiblity that there is a friendly person and raised her hands, "Fine. Hopefully we can find this person."
Raina: "Might find us if we wait."
Sasha: "Better to look."
Hye: Hye nodded her head, agreeing with Sasha, "Good idea."
GM: The party departed, following the tracks, which were clear enough for them all to make out. Soon they picked their way through the trees to an area of sparser shrubs, and a worn, makeshift path where the tracks joined others, including one set that Sasha thought likely to have been made only hours before, as well as others weeks or months old. As they continued, thin clouds formed in the sky, and a light mist of rain fell on their faces. After a few hours, with the dark daybreak approaching, they crested a low hill and saw ahead of them what looked like a round wooden palisade, large enough for a few buildings. Smoke rose up from behind the walls. The tracks on the makeshift path continued on toward the palisade.
GM: *edit: a round wooden palisade about half a mile on.
Hye: Hye eyed the palisade, "I wonder how welcoming they are." She considered it.
Sasha: "Could watch." Sasha sat down and looked towards the settlement.
Raina: "Smart. They might not take kindly to strangers, after all."
GM: After a couple of minutes, Sasha was able to discern two figures with torsos above the walls, perhaps standing on a guard tower. They appeared to look around, but not with particular caution or excitement. After a short while one of the figures disappeared behind the wall. Other than that no activity was clearly visible beyond the continued smoke rising from the settlement.
Raina: "Nothing out of the ordinary." said Raina "I suppose we could just walk over there."
GM: Hye's eyes were keener that night, and she could discern that the figures were men wearing armor of studded leather. She also heard a faint sound emanating from behind the walls - an alternating low boom as of a drum, and a ringing as of a gong.
Sasha: "Stand and wave? Could see their reaction."
Hye: Hye gave a customary wave to the small community in her own way.
GM: It took a while before the remaining man at the wall noticed them, but finally he spotted Hye's wave. He ducked down behind the wall for a moment, and then popped back up with another man, perhaps the same one from before. The second man waved back and gestured at the party to come forward.
Hye: Hye came forward, gesturing the others to move forward as well, interested as to what they have to say.
Raina: Raina walked over, trying not to look threatening despite her size and physique, likely not very successefully
Agnes: Agnes moved cautiously forward, ready to react to any untoward action on the part of the men. "Be careful," she said quietly. "For all we know there might be pits or anything around the village."
Sasha: Sasha took up the rear, keeping an eye out for any danger or signs of treachery.
GM: As the group got closer, they could make out the men more clearly. One was thin and beardless, little more than a boy, while the one who waved at them was wore his long black beard in a sharp point. Their armor was plain, and the boy's was ill fitting. The walls were bumpy thin logs roped together. A small gate, just large enough for a cart if any occupants ducked down, was open to the left of the guard tower where the men stood. They hurried down to meet the party at the gate. "Strangers," said the older man, holding up a hand to stop them half a dozen yards away.. "Newcomers here, eh? Have your papers?" At his belt was attached a crude but large axe, while the boy beside him held a spear.
GM: As they grew closer to the settlement the drum and gong sound grew louder as well, seemingly coming from the center of the settlement, alternating every few seconds.
You whisper to Sasha: Sasha could see the man's gaze darting about. His gaze lingered on their weapons, but also a bit too long on their bodies. It seemed as if he were treating them as he would other newcomers, but was certainly surprised to see four women.
Agnes: "Papers?" Agnes asked. "What kind of papers do you think we would have?"
You whisper to Hye: Hye felt the man's demeanor seemed friendly and professional enough, as if he greeted most visitors the same way.
GM: "Why, your letter of exile of course. We forgive crimes from before you came here, but... it's best to know who you are dealing with, yes?"
Sasha: Sasha spoke quietly to Raina for a moment, watching the guard.
Sasha whispers: "Eyeing us up. Not expecting women, I think." Sasha whispered.
Agnes: "Who are you to forgive crimes?" Agnes asked testily. "Isn't that the kind of thing only gods and victims have a right to?"
Raina: Raina frowned for a second when Sasha whispered to her, but said nothing and turned to address the guards "We...can't fault you for wanting to know who you deal with."she said somewhat awkardly as she went for the scroll in her belt-bag
Agnes: "Do we get to see your papers then?" Agnes asked the men at the gate. "We'd like to know who we are dealing with too."
GM: The man laughed, and the boy beside him parroted him with his own nervous laughter. "True enough. Better to say we do not judge for what the letters say, but it's always better to know. I for instance, am a goat-fucker. Apparently. And whether I did it or not - I can't remember - many will make friends with a supposed goat-fucker when they wouldn't with a child-killer." He said this quite casually, and laughed again. "We won't keep anyone out if they don't look to be picking a fight. But if you have your papers, we prefer to see them."
Sasha: Sasha frowned for a moment, trying to remember. Failing, she glanced up at the man. "Why the drums?"
Agnes: Agnes shook her head. "Sorry Mr Goat-fucker but my papers blew away. I don't remember either, apart from the magistrate being someone I've never met. He has a warm welcome waiting for him in hell though."
Hye: Hye glanced at Agnes and sighed for a moment, "Make sense to me." Hye went for the paper and took the paper of exile out. "There you go."
GM: "Ah yes, Magistrate Groon, correct?" said the man with a toothy grin. "He's signed all the papers for the last year or so. I think you'll find many here share your opinion of him." He glanced back at Sasha. "There is a judgment happening. Two new arrivals, who killed another in cold blood, or so those who found them said. The drum and gong are gathering the people to take part in the judgment. You can watch if you like." He shrugged. "We must store away your weapons if you are to enter, though."
Agnes: Agnes shrugged and handed over the blunt knife and the stringless bow. "You're welcome."
GM: The man glanced at Hye's paper. "More dangerous than you look, eh?" He handed it back. The boy beside him took the offered weapons.
Sasha: "Only force yourself on goats, yes?" Sasha threw her scroll to the guard.
Raina: Raina took her scroll out for the men to see and gave them her sword, albeit reluctantly.
Hye: Hye nodded as this phrase and gave her quarterstaff over to the boy.
GM: The man laughed, long and braying, at that. "Ah, no my lady, you judge me wrong! If I did fuck that goat, I know that I did so tenderly, and gave it the best night of it's little life. It baaaah'd in pleasure so that even the watchmen could hear, I'm sure! If you wish for the same, I can get some time off." The boy beside him chuckled even more nervously at that, looking at the man with thinly-veiled disgust.
GM: The man looked at Raina's and Sasha's scroll, and nodded in seeming satisfaction before returning them without remark.
Sasha: "Do they give seconds off?" Sasha took her scroll back, thought, then handed over her bow, arrows, and knife.
Hye: "And what are your names?" Hye asked the man and the boy.
Agnes: Agnes looked the man up and down, then sniffed. "I think you should stick to goats."
Raina: Raina seemed disgusted with the man's behavior, but tried to keep herself in check "I think we'll pass. But we might want to see this 'judgement' of yours."
GM: The man laughed uproariously again at Sasha's words. "You poor soul. I think you made a fat old man laugh until his heart stopped, and they tossed you in here for murder." He just grinned back at Agnes, unfazed by her comment. The boy spoke up in response to Hye "I-I'm Rufun, and th-this is Zerill. Welcome t-to Hilltown."
Sasha: Sasha suddenly thought of something, then spoke again quietly to Raina.
Sasha whispers: "The note said sexual deviancy. This one's dangerous."
Sasha: "How many in Hilltown?"
Hye: "Nice to meet you Rufun." Hye smiled friendly, trying to calm his nerves.
Raina bisbiglia: "Best to keep an eye on him, then. And ensure he keeps his hands and whatever else off us."
You whisper to Agnes: Rufun struck Agnes as shifty, somehow. If there was anyone dangerous here, she was certain it was the boy, putting on an act of naivete.
Raina: Raina replied to Sasha in a hushed tone
Agnes: "What were you sent here for then Rufun? Something more exciting than goat-bothering I hope?" Agnes asked brusquely.
You whisper to Hye: While Zerill and Rufun did not seem directly dangerous to Hye - rather harmless in fact, despite Zerill's crudeness - she did feel that there was some danger here that he was not speaking of. Not anything he was plotting against them, but something to be wary of nonetheless.
GM: Rufun bobbed his head in greeting to Hye, then looked to Agnes, wide-eyed, when he spoke. "I-I wasn't. I was born here. In a v-village of folk born here. But those people are mad. I was rescued, and raised up good."
Raina: "Mad?" Raina butted in the conversation "What kind of madness?"
Agnes: Agnes raised her eyebrows. "Mad, as in they go round eating people maybe?" she asked.
Sasha: "How many in Hilltown?" Sasha repeated
GM: "The worst of them," interjected Zerill. "Most of the folk from within the Gorge are mad in different ways. Raving lunatics or obsessives, collecting baubles like crows do. But.. the Baron makes some folk, the exiles sometimes but mostly the natives, into something worse." He shuddered, for the first time looking grim. "You'll hear more of the Baron. I'd rather not speak of him here - better with a mug of ale in the tavern.

He glanced back at Sasha, perking up again. "Ah yes, sorry my lovely, I couldn't make out your words over the musicality of your voice itself! Ha! The numbers change, as many folk stay here temporarily when they bring in a catch or some traded goods. Right now around eighty, I'd say."
Sasha: Sasha nodded, and leaned in to speak quietly to Agnes.
You whisper to Agnes: Zerill's fear seemed very real when he spoke of the Baron. The word even caught grudgingly in his throat, as the names of great Unrighteous Spirits often does among the devout.
Sasha whispers: "Careful. Note at the camp said sexual deviancy. Like goat bothering."
Agnes: Agnes looked sharply at Zerill. "We would hear more of this Baron. How much do you know about the history of this place? How long have you yourself been exiled here?"
GM: Zerill waved his hand. "As I said, ask more about him in town, when people can take a drink to ward off evil. As far as the Gorge itself... I've been here three years now, and I know but little. They say it was transformed in a great disaster whose effects can still be seen, but no one knows quite what." He perked up suddenly. "Hey, perhaps you should ask the newcomer! One of the accused said she... he... anyway, said they came to learn more about the Gorge."
Agnes: Agnes frowned. "You seem a little vague about this person...."
GM: "Oh, you'll see. All I know is I'd like to know what's under those clothes. Now you'd best hurry in if you want to watch, the words of accusation should be starting soon."
Sasha: Sasha walked through the gate, glancing briefly at Zerill before continuing on.
Hye: Hye nodded, "Sound like it should be intresting." She starts to makes her way through
Agnes: Agnes nodded briefly to Zerill as she followed the others. "If that creep comes near me I'll fry his ballsack and feed his testicles to the bloody goat."
Agnes: she muttered to them.
Sasha: "Was Zerill's note at the camp. Careful of him."
Agnes: "It could have been anyone, but he was a first-rate shit, and that boy is highly suspicious too," Agnes said. "Can''t be as feeble minded as he makes out."
GM: The party made their way through the open gate, with Rufun gesturing the way past a couple of large buildings. One looked to be the tavern, but the last of its occupants was hurrying to the center of HIlltown. They approached the drum and gong, and found the large instruments being struck by large men with mallets on either side of a wooden dais. On the dais sat two people, not bound in any way. One was a tall, ruddy-faced man with a balding head, rippling with muscle. He glared at the crowd. The other was a slim, androgynous person with short black hair and wide brown eyes, wearing a calm, beatific expression. They both wore the same plain wool clothes as the party, though the man's sleeves were stained with blood. A few dozen people, around two-thirds men, crowded around the dais, chattering excitedly. A white-bearded man stood in front of the dais, the crowd granting him a few feet of space. He held a piece of parchment, and was muttering to himself as if practicing the words he was about to read. A few members of the crowd glanced at the party, but were more interested in the upcoming spectacle.
Sasha: Sasha stood and watched in silence. She looked over the inhabitants of Hilltown, trying to get a feel for their age and what kind of work they might do.
Agnes: Agnes stared around the crowd, wondering what kind of crime the pair were accused of.
Raina: Raina focused on the accused more than the crowd, in particular the androgynous, black-haired on, obviously somewhat disconcerted with their smile
Agnes: Agnes asked the people standing next to them about what had happened.
GM: There were few old folk in the crowd other than the man with the parchment - most looked to be in the range of twenty to fifty years, with a couple of teenagers like Rufun, and one toddler sitting on a woman's shoulders. They were diverse in skin color and other features, though that was not uncommon in Kaynland. A few of the men and one woman wore armor and weapons like the guards at the gate, but they looked as eagerly interested in the spectacle as the rest. Quite a few people looked to have come directly from working a profession or craft - one man wore a butcher's apron, and one woman was holding a half-finished pair of shoes.
GM: The folk there were eager to fill Agnes in.

"I heard they arrived in the Gorge with another fellow," said a stout woman in sturdy farmer's clothes. "The deviant up there seduced him, and the giant took the opportunity to cave in his skull!"

"But that makes no sense!" said an exasperated thin man with spectacles. "Why would she want the other man dead if she seduced him?"

"He!" said another man, with bushy eyebrows frowning along with his mouth. "I'd bet a pound of gold that little waif has a lad's parts."

From the many conflicting accounts, Agnes discerned that the androgynous person was named Zunshashun, and was some sort of scholarly priest of the Grand Spirit Malan, who had no letter of exile and claimed to have come to the Gorge to discover its secrets. Everyone was quite flummoxed over how well Zunshashun could remember his or her mission. The large man was Garald, whose letter accused him of theft. They had gotten in an argument with another man, some said one who had made advances on or slept with Zunshashun, and then Garald had killed the man. The accounts were too conflicting to determine more of what had happened. In any case a couple of hunters from Hilltown had stumbled upon them as they buried the body of the dead man, and brought them back here to stand judgment.

GM: Finally, the white-bearded man spoke, and the crowd quieted in anticipation. "Zunshashun of the Disciples of Meditative Malan, and Garald Varnook, you sit under the judgment of the People of Hilltown. The accusations shall be read, and you shall speak in your defense. If you are found guilty, you shall be given up to the Nightmares, and no spirits shall protect you."

[skylarious]

GM: The party stood amongst a crowd of a few dozen people before a wooden dais, on which sat the two accused: Zunshashun, a slim, androgynous person with short black hair and wide brown eyes, wearing a calm, beatific expression; and Garald, a tall, muscular, ruddy-faced man with a balding head, who glared at the crowd. The sky above them was black but for the heavy, watchful moons, which cast pale sharp light on Hilltown.

Finally, a white-bearded man just in front of the dais readied to read from a piece of parchment, and the crowd quieted in anticipation. The moons produced heavy shadows in the crevices of his face. "Zunshashun of the Disciples of Meditative Malan, and Garald Varnook, you sit under the judgment of the People of Hilltown. The accusations shall be read, and you shall speak in your defense. If you are found guilty, you shall be given up to the Nightmares, and no spirits shall protect you."

Zunshashun just blinked, while Garald’s neck seemed to strain from anger.

“You stand accused of murdering Ruddney Slown, a fellow newly arrived exile, Garald physically and Zunshashun as an accessory. Men of Hilltown found you, Garald, wringing his neck with great violence written on your face, and you Zunshashun appearing without concern. He was dead when they checked him. Upon questioning Garald suggested that Slown got what he deserved, and Zunshashun said that he was behaving violently himself. We found no signs of violence other than that committed by the accused.” The officiator cleared his throat. “You will now tell your side of the story. When that is done, the people will be allowed to speak to you individually, and there will be a final chance for anyone to speak their views before judgment is made.” He stepped back, ceding the floor to Zunshashun.

The Disciple looked up to the sky and then back at the crowd, hands raised as if speaking in a sermon. ”in my order, we study the secrets of the Grand Spirit Malan, who is a great guide in understanding truths that are obscured. Malan is sometimes female, sometimes male, sometimes neither, and always all those at once. That is the most basic fact we speak of about the Grand Spirit, but it suggests a broader point than mere gender. Malan is the Knower of Truth, because truth is multifaceted. We can only find it when we are willing to get beyond binaries of yes or no, good or evil. Thus, your tribunal will be led astray if it focuses on the mere physical actions leading up to the death of this man, and not the spiritual context…”

The crowd began to grumble. “Is she admitting they did it?” muttered a man near the party. “Sounds like she’s trying to confuse us,” responded another.

Zunshashun was starting to look flustered, eyes darting about now. “While Garald here might have killed the man, he was merely defending me from violation! Not the physical sort, but…” The crowd’s murmuring grew even more accusatory as the Disciple kept on speaking, seeming to have determined that the pair were admitting guilt, and Zunshashun began to grow red in the face and wide-eyed. Garald, who apparently expected such a reaction already, maintained his original glare.

Finally Zunshashun trailed off, unable to find words that could sway the crowd. The officiator stepped up before the prisoners’ platform, and lifted his hands. “The people of Hilltown are now invited to speak with the accused, to offer them prayers and incantations for their souls or ask them to affirm or deny their guilt. Afterward anyone who wishes may speak to the people as a whole, and then judgment shall be decided by vote.”

The crowd began murmuring, but no one immediately moved to speak to Zunshashun or Garald.
Raina: Raina did not seem positively impressed by Zunshashun's words, and in fact rolled her eyes at least once during the speech. "I don't know what that Ruddney did, maybe he deserved it, but she, I mean, he..."Raina stammered for a second "...this Zunshashun doesn't sound very convincing to me."she said somewhat coldly to the others beside her
Hye: Hye gave a small snort at this explanation and murmured to herself with a hint of contempt . "Spirits!" She considered it over "Still, I would not mind hearing more about this particular danger. At very least, this person should explain more about this violation...."
Sasha: "Yes. She arrive without the memory loss? Seems to still remember."
Hye: Hye nodded with agreement, "And apparently that is unusual. Maybe Zun has some protection from the memory losses." She shrugged at that possibility.
GM: Finally a few people began to approach the dais. From what the party could hear, most were asking simple questions like "Did you do it?" and getting answers just as prevaricating as the one before, although Zunshashun insisted that they deserved to be found innocent. Others simply gave prayers for the pair's souls, while one woman spit on the disciple's exile's garb before walking away wordlessly. The white-bearded officiant began reading the next part of his parchment to himself, readying for the judgment to move on.
Agnes: Agnes marched up to the dais and stared up into Zanshashun's eyes. "Can you explain what you mean by non-physical violation?" she asked.
Hye: Hye followed Agnes, interested as to the answer from Zunshashun, with curious look in her eyes
Raina: Raina did likewise, though with the face of a woman who did not expect a straight answer anyway
GM: Zunshashun looked somewhat shocked by the directness of the question. "It is... hard to explain. The man had a tattoo on his forehead of a closed eye. When we looked at it, we started to feel... lost in our heads." Garald nodded forcefully. Zunshashun continued: "I cannot really explain it, but when he looked back into me, staring into my eyes, it felt like everything was being ripped away to reveal the core of me. It was painful." The Disciple said this last bit almost as a retort against expected skepticism.
You whisper to Raina: Raina felt that Zunshashun was attempting to describe the experience truthfully - the Disciple's pain at the memory felt real.
You whisper to Hye: Hye felt that Zunshashun was attempting to describe the experience truthfully - the Disciple's pain at the memory felt real.
Raina: Raina frowned and scratched her forehead for a moment, as if slightly confused by the revelation "Sounds...truthful." she said and then added "Whatever it was."
Agnes: Agnes frowned as she turned over what this person had said.
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes recognized the mention of the lidded eye. She had heard of a strange god known as the Blind Father worshipped in a few disparate regions by eccentric cults, with the symbol of the lidded eye. She could not recall more about the Blind Father off the top of her head, except that his worshippers were known to be extremely fervent.
Agnes: Nodding her head as if the words had meant something to her, Agnes kept her eyes on the strange disciple. "Do you think the man was using magic against you?"
GM: "Magic? Not in the traditional sense. He said no words and made no gestures to appoximate the language of the ancients. But I did wonder if his tattoo may have granted him power in the same way that a magical rune draws aether into the object on which it is inscribed." This area of discussion seemed to put Zunshashun more at ease. "May I ask your names, by the way? You are recent exiles, like us?"
Agnes: "Very recent," Agnes replied. "My name is Agnes, and like you I am a disciple, a seeker after hidden knowledge."
GM: The Disciple of Meditative Malan smiled. "Zunshashun, as you've heard. Y-you may refer to me as female, by the way, for that is what I am presently." Garald looked only slightly less angry than before. "Garald," he grunted.
Agnes: Agnes didn't look round to see if the others had approached, or bother to introduce them. "Zunshashun, I believe this man who affected you so strangely was a follower of the Blind Father, whose symbol is the lidded eye. I think you may be right about the rune. What happened after you felt this effect?"4
Raina: "Raina."she said simply, though she now looked slightly more trusting
GM: Zunshashun looked down briefly, grimacing. Garald spoke up. "She was quivering, whimpering. Looked bad. Starting to fall over. Bastard was sneering. I grabbed 'im." Zunshashun looked back up. "Garald saved me. I don't know if I would have died, but I know my mind would have been damaged forever. I felt my inner self being drawn inside the tattoo, and felt a darkness there like nothing I'd ever known."
Agnes: Agnes frowned again at this, but she merely asked Garald. "Did you intend to kill him?"
GM: Garald shrugged. "Sure. I like Zun. And bastard would have killed me too after, I imagine. What's the use in leavin' that sort alive? Ain't the same as murder." Zunshashun winced at Garald's admission.
GM: The party noticed that a few of the townspeople had started to move up behind them, listening to the conversation.
Agnes: Agnes nodded. "It's probably best not to say so though, if you want to avoid an unpleasant end. Two things, firstly were you still attacking him or trying to bury him? There seems some confusion in the accounts of those who found you. Secondly, what happened to Ruddney's paper? Maybe there is a clue to his behaviour and strange powers in that."
Sasha: Sasha, who was far from the most persuasive speaker or incisive interrogator, stayed towards the back amongst the townspeople, keeping an ear out in case anything was said that would be of use to the others.
GM: Garald replied: "Man was just dead. I'd started to find some rocks to cover him." It looked as if he were about to say more about the man, but had taken Agnes's caution to heart and said no more. "I don't know about the paper," said Zunshashun. "I was half-conscious when the men of Hilltown arrived... though I was standing, so perhaps I didn't look it. Perhaps they took the paper?"
GM: Sasha heard mostly more wild rumor and discussion of Zunshashun's unusual appearance. One small group was merely giggling at how off-put she'd looked after being spit on. A few folk were trying to call for caution in judgment and urging others to go listen to the accused, but they were a minority.
Agnes: "We must find out then." Agnes turned round and called out in a loud voice. "Does anyone know what happened to the dead man's paper? What was he exiled for?"
Sasha: Sasha wandered over to the others and reported what she had heard. "Magic talk's not too likely to sway them," she said. "Best way might be to delay, try to put off judgement. Not like most folk know anything of magic. Need time to gather more proof."
GM: Much of the crowd went silent at that, though there was still a low murmur. The white-bearded officiator looked up, mouth slightly agape, then cleared his throat. "His paper suggested he had been exiled for striking a nobleman. Not the sort to engage in violence warranting murder!" he added huffily.
Agnes: Agnes snorted. "I'm willing to bet he did more damning things than that," she muttered.
Agnes: "Of course he could have stolen someone else's papers..." Agnes added.
Raina: "Or fabricated them?"suggested Raina, tentatively
Sasha: "How'd you meet this man Slown?" Sasha asked Zunshashun
Hye: Hye listened to the discussion intensively
GM: The crowd was now more alert, and although many returned to their conversation others were now more eager for Zunshashun's answer. "I followed him in. I can't remember all the details of our arrival in the Gorge... As I told the men who found us, I came here to find its secrets, having heard rumors. All I found were many folk, some on their own and others in clusters or lines, dressed as all the exiles here are. They were marching down a steep slope, as if in trances. Except one man, who looked purposeful. It was Slown. I knew I had to follow him. I found some clothes and..." She looked nervous at having mentioned that, then continued on. "A woman had fallen on the slope. Broken her neck. I didn't like it but I-I took her clothes so I would not stand out. I found Garald here, who was struggling to make his way down, and grabbed his arm. I led him after the man. After that... We awoke together on a stone disc. He spoke nothing to us as we adapted to this new world, looking away from us until finally he turned and we saw the tattoo." Zunshashun bit her lip. Garald glowered down at his feet at the memory.
Agnes: Agness looked up in surprise. "So when you first saw Slown, it was before or after your arrival at the Gorge? You think he had power over these people?"
GM: "Before, I think. Whatever this Gorge is, things were different after I arrived. When I saw Slown and the people marching down, it was daytime. Real daytime, not whatever parody we have here. I did not see him exercising any power over the people. He was hurrying past them, heading toward the northern side of the bottom of the slope. Down below it was foggy, so I could not tell how far the slope went, but he seemed to want to take a particular route, while the others were just heading straight down." The crowd was murmuring more loudly once more, though this time the discussion was focused on Zunshashun's words rather than mere speculation.
Agnes: "Perhaps, like you, Slown wanted to come to the Gorge for his own reasons," Agnes said.
GM: Zunshashun nodded. "I think so. But I also think he knew more of it than I did, for I could not see anything past the fog. If I had not noticed him I would likely have just walked straight down as the others did."

The crowd was growing more restive. "What does this have to do with it? They still killed him!" shouted a burly woodsman. A tall, gray-haired woman replied: "Didn't you hear? He was using some foul magic. You heard about the tattoo on his head. That isn't the mark of anyone normal!" More arguments began to break out among clusters of people. "Perhaps they made the tattoo..." "How would they do that?!" "Irrelevant!"
Agnes: "Whatever the truth, you won't find it out by shouting," Agnes said angrily to the crowd. "There are facts missing here."
GM: "What facts?" called back the woodsman. "All we have is what was found. That says they did it!" The babbling continued to grow as people grew more set in their opinions.
Hye: Hye considered this carefully and she spoke up, in the tone that managed to carry far yet still maintain the same calm tone "Perhaps. However, this is not just a simple case of murder. There are many issues in this not so simple case that need to be clear up. For example, they have reason to believe that they are in danger and thus took an action which may be drastic but with a hindsight, may have a good reason. Would you like such person to be capable of ripping people's mind apart by mere look? For that reasons explained by Zunshashun and Garald, it should be worth delaying the judgement until more information presented themsleves. This may be just an act of self defence rather than callous murder."
GM: Hye's calm yet forceful tone seemed to connect with the crowd. They quieted as she spoke, and when she was finished even the woodsman's scowl was reduced to a mere frown. The old officiator was nodding his head thoughtfully. "Perhaps we cannot pass judgment yet. But we cannot let them go either, dangerous as they may be. I call for a vote on the proposition to keep Zunshashun, Disciple of Meditative Malan, and Garald Varnook prisoner until such time as enough evidence is presented for conviction or release." He raised his hand silently, and so did about two thirds of the crowd.

Zunshashun sighed in relief, and Garald wiped sweat from his brow, his glare finally fading. "Thank you all!" said Zunshashun. "I'm... not much for speeches. I'm afraid the Archon would have me demoted to Initiate for the trouble I got myself into here!"

A couple of guards had come to take Zunshashun and Garald to their place of confinement, though they told the party they could visit the pair at any time. The crowd was already starting to break out the celebratory ale, wine, and liquor as well as an array of meats and roasted vegetables, originally intended as a post-conviction feast. They were now avidly discussing how new evidence might be procured. The party were offered refreshments and the chance to mingle and talk as the night began to fade.
Agnes: Agnes nodded to Zunshashun as the guards came to collect them. "I would like to speak with you again."
Hye: Hye took some refreshments and went around, making some chit chat.
Agnes: Agnes also wandered around, eating this and that although she drank little, and listening to the people around her, asking a few questions her and there.
Raina: Raina awkardly accepted the refreshements - food was not easy to come by in such a setting after all - and even more awkardly attempted to find out more about what had happened
Sasha: Sasha devoured most of a chicken quickly, licking the grease from her fingers and tossing the bones away once they were stripped of meat. She began to ask around about where the killing had occured - she did not know if everyone entered the Gorge at the same place as themselves, though the description of the place Zun and Garald had entered sounded familiar.
GM: Agnes found the most success in prying information from the townsfolk. She asked about the presence of magic-users, and found surprising reluctance to speak of it. Finally, as she sat in the nearby tavern across from a slightly tipsy barmaid, she found out why: "Those who cast spells do so quietly. Many of us still say the words we can remember from our ceremonies, but anyone with spells whose effects you can see learns not to cast them often. There are tales... the Baron comes for those who cast. He wants their blood, they say, for it gives him greater strength than that of ordinary men and women."

Hye spoke to a few merchants and found that Hilltown operated largely by barter, although people occasionally ran across caches of old coins which were considered valuable.

Sasha learned that people seemed to enter the Gorge from numerous places all across the western cliffside, though the details were too vague for her to determine exactly where the crime had occurred at this time. Each entrance had the same sort of stone disc, however, and people had the same experience of waking with memories mostly gone after strange dreams.
GM: edit: than the blood of ordinary men and women.
Agnes: Agnes considered what she had heard as she wandered about.
GM: Sasha was unable to find out whose cottage it was they had slept in the day before, but she did learn some other useful information: There were quite a few hamlets dotted around the Gorge, including a small one about two day's walk to the east. Another few days east was the largest settlement of exiles in the Gorge, Bloomdorn, which had at least a thousand inhabitants - although reaching it required going through land where Nightmares roamed, or a long detour. To the north there were settlements of the mad natives, and eventually the home territory of the Baron, said to reside in a strange and beautiful palace. To the south were dense woodlands of strange monsters that the exiles avoided as best they could.
GM: The group asked more about the Nightmares, and heard only vague whispers. Most had never seen them themselves, except perhaps at a distance. Those convicted of grave crimes would be taken out to the plains where they were most frequent and left to fend for themselves. The Nightmares appeared as shadowy, roiling clouds, ever-changing into half-recognizable shapes. Those caught by them would not be seen again, except a few survivors gibbering with madness. Only the most experienced and bravest souls went through Nightmare territory, but some were quick and strong enough to race through and fight the Nightmares away as they went.
Sasha: Sasha went to meet with the others and share what information she had found. She sipped at an ale and looked at the others. "What will you do now?" she asked.
Raina: Raina had found out nothing herself, so she merely commented on what the others shared "This Baron...sounds like no good. Best to keep any magic we may have hidden, then."
GM: Agnes found more about the Baron as she asked around, though most people were loathe to discuss him much.

A brawny guard almost cowered like a child at the thought of him. "I saw him once, when I was patrolling outside the walls. He was chasing after some poor new exile. He wore only black trousers. His skin was hairless, whitish-blue - ghostly - and lined with black scars. He bounded after the man like an animal, and cut him open with a great curved dagger. He lapped up the blood and looked at us, smiling. If I see him again I'm putting my dagger in my eye before he gets close!"

Another woman spoke somewhat eagerly, enjoying the dark thrill of speaking on the subject. "They say there's not just a Baron, but a Baroness too. While he terrorizes the land she mostly stays up north, but brings inhabitants of the northern towns into their palace, where they're never seen again."

A wizened older woman spoke on the Baron's other exploits: "He doesn't just take people for his feeding. He'll make others watch, and weave some strange sorcery, which drives men to share his hunger."
Agnes: Agnes joined the others, got herself a small glass of wine, and told them what she had found out. "This Baron is either some kind of monster, or has made himself one. He may use magic to take control of men's minds."
Sasha: "Meaning to stay in Hilltown?" Sasha asked the others. "These folk might be innocent. Not sure how we'd find out though. Or who'd pay us for it."
Raina: "I suppose we'll want to stick together for the time being." suggested Raina to the others "Much better chances for four freshly-arrived women this way, considering how terrible this place seems to be."
Hye: Hye shivered at the thought, "Very nasty monsters in this new realm." She glanced at the others with a hint of consideration, "Frankly, I would not like to see these two to lose their lives over a misunderstanding."
Agnes: "It would be good to get to the truth," Agnes admitted. "And I would like to know more of the barrier between this world and reality."
Raina: "As for the man and...woman, they seem innocent enough. Or justified. We might as well help them, as long as it doesn't cost us too much."
Hye: "We got all the time in this world." She replied sadily, "At very least, they will owe us a favour in case we managed to help them." Hye suggested this as a reward.
Sasha: Sasha mulled Raina's proposal. It was easier to feed one person alone, and she had always preferred to work that way. Or had she? Something niggled in her mind but she could not think of what it was with the cloud over her memory. "Alright," she said finally. "Stick together for now."
Agnes: "It seems we have a task then. Where should we start?"
Raina: "Perhaps we could see if we can get a look at the dead man."said Raina "You know, the tattoo and all...there may be other signs..."
Sasha: "Was thinking the same. Assuming they brought the body."
GM: The party asked a guardsman about the body of the dead man, but were told he had already been buried. Burhan, the officiator of the judgement, had been the one to officially examine the body before it was laid to rest.
Agnes: "We would like to see Burhan then." Agnes said.
GM: The guard took him to the old man, who was transcribing the events of the day's judgment in a large book of parchment, sitting in his study above the very courthouse where Zunshashun and Garald were being kept. He looked pleased to see the four women. "Ah! Hello! I don't think we've been properly introduced. I am Burhan, Keeper of the Memories of Law for Hilltown." He offered his hand to shake. "You spoke well today. I must admit we may have been a bit... rash today. I hope you won't judge us for it. It is hard to keep order in a place like the Gorge."
Agnes: Agnes shrugged but did not look displeased. "This is a strange kind of crime, compared to most."
Hye: Hye took the hand gracefully and shook his hand. "My name is Hye. You can never tell a book by its cover after all."
Raina: Raina nodded along with the man's words "Yes, it must be."
GM: Burhan looked glad at their reactions. "Did you have questions about how the accused shall be handled?" he asked. "I assure you they shall be treated fairly. Occasional chances to get out for exercise, and decent food. I'm not sure how long we will be able to wait, though." He sighed. "We have little knowledge of such strange happenings here in Hilltown, and the people will eventually get restless for judgement to be made."
Agnes: "From what they told us, the dead man seems to have been a follower of the Blind Father. You saw the body? Did he possess a tattoo of a lidless eye?" Anna asked.
GM: "I don't know of this Blind Father, but I did see the eye, yes, if that's what it was. An oval that could be a lid, with curved lines extending from the bottom that I suppose could be lashes. Most strange indeed." He paused and leaned back, searching his thoughts. "I was more concerned with his injuries than the tattoo, but now that you mention it... I recall hearing a rumor of something like this. A traveler from Bloomdorn was staying hear months ago, and he mentioned how there were rumors of a group of men and women with some sort of tattoo on their foreheads. Perhaps Slown was part of that group?"
GM: *edit: staying here
Agnes: "There is a possibility that the closed eye tattoo could have been a rune of some kind, which Slown used to gain power over Zunshashun's mind in some way. Also that he was more aware of what was happening when they were sent to the Gorge. Is there anything more you noticed about Slown's body?"
GM: "Nothing really out of the ordinary. All I truly learned is that Garald is about as strong as any man you'll meet. We did find an unusual item upon his person, however." Burhan rummaged around in his desk and brought out a small box, from which he pulled what looked to be a thin necklace of shiny black material. He held it out for Agnes and the others. The necklace was cold to the touch and had the texture of steel, but what highly flexible. "Occasionally exiles will have small trinkets on them when they arrive, but usually nothing of value. This is not something I recall seeing before."
Raina: Raina's brow furrowed for a moment "This looks...odd"
GM: *edit: but was highly flexible
Hye: Hye frowned at the sight of this necklace and agreed with Raina, "That does look ood."
Agnes: Agnes took the necklace and felt the coolness of it, trying to feel if there was any kind of magical residue about it.
Sasha: "Got Slown's name from his paper of exile, yes?" Sasha asked.
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes could not sense any particular currents of aether about the necklace indicating magic, but she did think she could devise a test of her suspicions with a few minor spells, though it would take some time and expend some of the aether within herself.
GM: Burhan nodded. "Yes, his papers were the same as any others, and included his name."
Agnes: "And you are sure they were his? He could have stolen them."
Sasha: Sasha grunted. "Might have taken them. Not hard to find spare papers." She retrieved Jidan's paper and showed it to Burhan. "One of ours decided to end himself."
GM: Burhan shrugged. "It seems unlikely. From even what Zunshashun said, it seemed he had awoken alongside them, and it seems unlikely he could have met any other exile before being killed." He handed over the paper for their inspection:

"The exile Ruddney Slown is sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the Gorge. He has committed the crime of STRIKING A NOBLEMAN WITHOUT LEGAL CAUSE, as determined by Magistrate Groon."
Agnes: Agnes shrugged. "It was a thought. I suppose the other possibility is that he was given a false paper before ever he arrived."
GM: Burhan stroked his beard. "If you wish to find out more, my only thought is that you might track down these others who were seen with the tattoos. The story was that some were seen near Bloomdorn - though that was months ago, so if the rumors are true they may have moved on to other places. Bloomdorn is also where the only folk of much lore dwell, so it might be you could find information on the strange magics the Disciple claimed Slown used."
Agnes: Agnes' looked up quickly from the necklace she was still holding. "How far is Bloomdorn?"
Sasha: "Days to the east, I heard," said Sasha. "Through Nightmare land."
GM: Burhan nodded. "That is by far the swiftest way, perhaps six days of marching, though dangerous. You could also try traveling northward of those Nightmare-ridden plains, but then you'll encroach on the Baron's territory. A bit safer, but not much, and it will take twice as long. Even slower would be to go south. You would pass through woodlands filled with other dangerous creatures, twisted and ravenous beasts, but at least things that men have had success in slaying with sword or bow. Many do not make it through, whichever route they choose."
Sasha: "How long we got? Will have to have a judgement eventually, I imagine."
GM: "Sooner would be better, certainly. I think if we assure the people that you are going to find the necessary information, and explain your route, it may placate them long enough to wait. But if you take the slower routes and your travels are much delayed or you spend more than a day or two in Bloomdorn, I doubt I will be able to keep them from demanding judgement."
Agnes: "The quicker the better, it seems." Agnes said.
Agnes: "We need to rest now, but it would be good to have as much information as possible to enable us to face the Nightmares."
GM: "Indeed!" agreed Barhun. "It's best not to test the mornings here - we have all experienced the consequences. I'll have rooms prepared for you at the inn, and then when evening comes again we can discuss your plan further and get you what information you need."
Sasha: "How do you deal with the mornings if travelling? Find a cave to shelter in?"
Agnes: "In the meantime, may I borrow this to study further?" Agnes held up the necklace.
GM: "That is best," he replied to Sasha. "Anywhere dark. If you must have watches, make them short and switch between short dozes - it is not the most restful sort of sleep, but it is better than the alternative."
Raina: "We will see about that. As for me, I'd be tempted to suggest going south, if speed was not the of essence..."
GM: Barhun was at first unreceptive to Agnes's idea, but when she and Raina continued to stress the value of what they might find to the case, he relented and handed over the necklace.
GM: The party were soon given lodgings for the daytime, and they gathered to go over their plans before sleeping, while Agnes did a few tests on the necklace, whispering words that send small bolts of aether at it, cold and then hot, electrified and then empty air. Finally she found some success: Aether that was attuned to her very mind, used in more complex spells to charm people or instill them with fear, seemed to wrap around the necklace and float away, disippated, as if the necklace were a dam preventing the aether from passing.

Finally the women retired to their rooms, small and spartan but with beds that felt like pieces of heaven after their time in the Gorge. The women each drifted off into sleep quickly, and dreams of their pasts began to float up from their subconsciouses, filtered through the strange and haunting air of the Gorge.

[skylarious]

GM: Sasha, Agnes, Raina, and Hye had their first restful sleep in the Gorge, in the simple but decently-fashioned beds of Hilltown’s small inn. They dreamed of their pasts once more, but this time the dreams were peaceful, the visions of their memories embracing them in warmth and light.

Waking was hard as they found themselves in the cold reality of the Gorge, with a dangerous expedition to Bloomdorn ahead of them. But the dreams kept them heartened for a little while, and there was a hot breakfast of eggs and buttered wheat-cakes awaiting them on the first floor.

As they ate, old Barhun came to speak to them conspiratorially. “You’d been thinking of going through the Nightmare Plains, yes? While I can’t say that’s wise – I could never in good conscience recommend such a thing – I do think it may be necessary if you wish to bring back evidence before the judgment goes forth. Already this morning I’ve had people complaining about leniency and asking when we will find a verdict. If you are intent on helping the prisoners, spend a few hours preparing, then set off tonight if you can. With another night’s travel you should be able to reach the hamlet of Greyroad, and then set off from there for the more dangerous part of the journey. If you move quickly you can get through Nightmare territory in two night’s time.”
Sasha: "What are the Nightmares, exactly?" Sasha asked.
GM: Barhun shrugged. "I assume you heard that they appear as creatures in a roiling shadow, twisting and changing? They are some sort of spirit or manifestation of the twisted aether there, I assume, though I know little of such things. It is said that they feed on your fears and attempt to drive you mad even as they swallow you up. But they are vulnerable to mortal weapons, at least enough so that they can be driven off for a time. Those who survive move quickly, and do not sleep there even though the day can be troubling awake."
Hye: Hye shook off her tiredness with a good helping of breakfast and reflects on her dream.
Sasha: Sasha nodded and nibbled on a wheat-cake. She glanced at her quiver and frowned. "Will need more arrows. Don't imagine the Nightmares will have them."
Agnes: Agnes frowned. "Are they affected by anything else?"
Raina: Raina seemed well-rested as she sat with the others "I have a sword and know how to use it, good to know that'll help." she said as she began to eat
GM: Barhun scratched at his bearded chin. "I've heard tell that fire can harm them, though I would be more comfortable myself with a blade than a torch. Did you have something in mind?"
Agnes: Agnes shrugged. "I was wondering if it would help to build a fire if we stop."
GM: "I don't know enough of them to say, but it seems logical enough," he replied. "But don't stop for too long, I think."
Agnes: Agnes nodded. "Can we get some torches and other supplies?"
GM: "I do not have control over the stores myself, unfortunately. I will tell the Captain of the people of my belief in the urgency of your mission, but you will likely have to do your own explaining to be given aid."
GM: The party spent a few hours preparing and requesting aid. Agnes managed to convince Barhun to let her hang on to the protective necklace, while Hye explained their goal to the guard Zerill, who laughed at their audacity but still agreed to requisition them some equipment. Sasha salted their meat and with some help from Raina found a number of good vegetables growing wild that would give them strength on the road. Agnes and Raina discussed their thoughts on the Nightmares, and using their knowledge of spirits came up with a few ways to hopefully protect against them.
Agnes: The others saw Agnes smile for the first time as she dressed herself in the black clothes she had obtained, having been told this would help them to blend in with the dark to avoid detection by the Nightmares. She hung the necklace around her neck and nodded slowly. "This is more like it."
Hye: Hye managed to get some soots to blacken her clothings and grimaced for a moment, "Soots always remind me of the battles." She frowned for a while considers her slowly opening memories.
Raina: Raina managed to remember some bits of knowledge about nightmares she was able to share with the others, and thanks to some trading of what they had managed to get her hands on a shortspear she was obviously pleased with
Agnes: "Soot reminds me of burning..." Agnes said, with a twist of the lip.
Sasha: they had managed to requisition some arrows from Zerill, so Sasha counted these out, giving five to Agnes and keeping the remainder for herself. The full quiver at her hip felt reassuring, so she blackened her clothes with soot, washed her hands, and stood ready to depart.
Raina: edit: 'about nightmares' -> 'about the Nightmares'
Hye: Hye eyed her rather well used longsword critically and nodded, "This will do..." She made some move that clearly hints as her past in the merc, a kind of nasty dirty sword fighting, with no honour and clearly for one bloodly aim, to kill.
GM: The party set off into the pale night, heading east from Hilltown on a barely-marked road. The hills all looked the same, drab and dead in the moonlight, and for a while they got turned around. After a time, though, the hills began to flatten out, trees appeared more frequently, and Sasha managed to find them a great hollow husk of oak to camp in for the next day. When they departed again they found the travel relatively easy: the path was not well-frequented, but dead leaves and brush kept clear signs of travelers. Due to the early delay they arrived in the hamlet of Greyroad, near the edge of the Nightmare Plains, as the sun was already rising and beginning to play tricks on their minds. The hamlet was only a half dozen small houses, and the few people who came out to meet them were wary yet unsurprised to see the travelers. They held scythes, pitchforks, and quarterstaffs as they watched them enter, and a wizened woman greeted them with "You have coin?"
Hye: Hye confirmed the fact that they do have coins and would like for a place to stay she asked most politely, using her charms
GM: The woman nodded warily and agreed to let them stay the night in a loft filled with old hay. It was a welcome relief to sleep in the cool darkness, for the next day they would face the Nightmare Plains under the watchful moons.
Sasha: "What do you know about Nightmares?" Sasha asked the woman.
GM: The woman greeted them that evening with the same stone-faced wariness she'd shown when they first arrived. "Not much. We don't head east of here, and they don't come this far west. When the earth gets blasted and gray, you'll know you're in their territory. Don't know why you'd risk your life and mind to go through there, but so be it."
GM: The party set out for the Nightmare plains early that night, hoping to make it as far as they could before dawn. The woman spoke true: as the ground continued to level out the ground grew gray and cracked. Occasional crevasses and holes like pock marks in the earth marred the otherwise flat land. The air was quiet and oppressive, and seemed to hang on them heavily. They sung low tunes to keep their spirits up but otherwise traveled quietly, sometimes with one scouting ahead to make sure there was no sign of the Nightmares. They pushed through fatigue, munching on their rations, legs growing heavy as they marched, though Sasha led them on with grim determination and kept them moving when they were about to fall. As they went farther the moons seemed to grow fainter and the darkness more complete, and sometimes they thought they heard laughter or weeping in the distance. Finally, an hour before dawn, they could go on no farther, and huddled together in a sinkhole for a brief rest. Agnes quickly lit a fire with a spell, and the blaze warmed their hearts and bodies.

For a long time there was no sound but the crackle of the fire, but then Agnes heard something out in the darkness. They all strained and heard it, a whispering sound growing closer, turning from persistent, irregular words into a babble. They recalled Barhun's advice not to stay to long in one place and not to sleep on the plains, and once again set off. The whispers continued to grow closer, now mixed in with sobbing and the occasional deep mournful cry that tugged at their spirits. At the edge of the darkness they began to see roiling shadow like a strange fog, and soon within that shadow were shapes that moved from form to formlessness, people and animals and stranger things. Some tore at their own shadowy skin as if in pain, some lunged out of the shadow-fog before dissolving, others simply moved silently and gracefully with mist-like fingers pointing at the travelers as if in accusation. And they were growing closer.
Sasha: Sasha saw no reason to wait, drawing her bow and immediately firing at the Nightmares as they advanced.
Raina: Growing warier by the second, Raina held her spearhead close to her face and began to chant and gesture over it with her other hand, obviously casting a spell of some kind. Her attempts seemed to have no attempts and she seemed to grow more and more frustrated as the Nightmares were getting closer, but finally she breathed a sigh of relief after she chanted the syllabes just right and the spearhead seemed to magically gain a wicked sharp edge. Seeing Hye besides her, she put a hand over her sword and - again, after a few tries - magically sharpened that weapon too.
Agnes: Agnes drew herself up, her eyes blazing, muttering words of arcane power which made the hairs on the back of their necks rise up.
Hye: Hye made some attempt but the very nature of these monsters made her so nervous that she made a miss. Desperately, she threw a rock which went wildly.
GM: Sasha's arrow sped into the shadow-fog, which seemed to part and roil back in that part of it. The mass of the Nightmares continued to advance though, and the party found they had no choice but to move and fight at the same time, striking when the shadow creatures got too close while avoiding being overrun by the fog itself. They swung blades and fired arrows and flame, pushing back the enemy. But the sun was beginning to rise, a black sun that seemed to rain darkness onto them, and the shadows were bubbling angrily and growing stronger, closing in on them whenever Agnes's flame or the blows of the others let up...
GM: There was a buzzing in each of their ears, growing into a great rumble. The substance of the air seemed to quiver, and the black sun seemed to grow lower to the earth, burning them with cold. They all began to feel along, the darkness closing in and making their companions disappear until it was only the Nightmares.
GM: Sasha saw her adversary before her. A shadowy girl in robes that were blue-black in the night, an arrow already lodged in her heart. She was screaming, a sound that shredded at Sasha's mind, and she hurtled at the archer with dark fingers outstretched like claws.
GM: Raina saw a warrior, dressed as one of her old comrades in arms. Her insubstantial neck had a bright white scar of a noose about it, piercing Raina's vision in the darkness. The warrior's eyes accused her - many had died because of her failures, and now they were come back to take their due.
GM: Hye saw a young man, clearly her kin. Blazing white blood dripped from the stab wounds in his back, wounds inflicted by enemies that she had brought upon their family. His eyes were sad rather than angry, but he slid toward her silently, whispering that she must come with him now, for the death-price was due to them all.
GM: Agnes saw a boy still youthful, but his skin was burnt and cracking, and from the scars rose shadowy smoke. His lungs were burnt and so his open mouth let out no scream, but behind him she could see two figures, taller than life, a man and woman urging him to move forward and take a life for the one that was taken from him.
Hye: Hye's eyes moistened for a moment and charged at her kin, "You are but a figment of your imagination." She roared at this nightmare. "Be gone!" Her longsword was overextended itself due to her stress.
Agnes: Agnes had been muttering to herself, her breath coming short and fast as she fought to keep the Nightmare shadows at bay. At the sight of the burned boy, she stopped breathing altogether but then her eyes narrowed. "You're not Danny! You bastards!" She pointed at the figure and it seemed to burst into flames. Her expression was furious and triumphant but tears were pouring down her cheeks.
Sasha: Sasha stared at her foe in shock for a moment as disjointed fragments of memory came to her. "I...I didn't realise..." The archer stood still for a moment before her desire for survival kicked in. She fired at the oncoming figure, burying an arrow in its chest, then followed this up with a second shot just as it came near to her.
Raina: Raina hesitated in fear and shame until she realized what was actually happening. Spurred by the voices of her companions and their own struggles she lashed out violently, throwing a rock which struck the nightmare-warrior in its arm.
GM: Hye's Nightmare gazed relentlessly into her eyes, swiping at her with claws of shadow, but she managed to leap back from his blow.
GM: The arrows in Sasha's nightmare seemed to be swallowed up into her body, but now the wounded areas were hazy and insubstantial, almost ready to return to the shadowy fog. She reached Sasha, still wailing, and tore at her. The shadowy claws ripped at her flesh, cold as ice, and though they did not pierce the skin they left deep blue-black bruises
GM: *edit: and though they did not pierce the skin they seemed to pass through her and left...
GM: Raina's Nightmare reached her, but before it could strike she jabbed forward, driving her spear into its eye. It pushed forward, driving the spear farther until it popped out of its head, leaving a billowing cloud of shadow where a large piece of it had been. It slashed at Raina, leaving her abdomen with wounds of cold.
Sasha: Sasha transferred her bow to her left hand and drew her knife.
GM: Agnes continued to burn at the shadow, whose silent scream continued as his skin melted further from him in globules of shadow. He was almost at her...
Hye: Hye avoided this Nightmare's creeping attacks and made another attempt and missed once more
Raina: Though she recoiled from the coldness and aching of the Nightmare's attack, Raina quickly pulled her spear back through the cloud of shadow and stabbed again with great violence close to where she had before, the magically sharpened weapon dissipating misty essence of the thing.
Agnes: As the shadow boy reached her, Agnes thrust out her hand, forcing fire to wrack the shape before her. Cold poured from it into her arm, and she felt her mind cringe.
GM: Raina's and Agnes's Nightmares each seemed to disippate, the first in a burst of shadow after her strong blow, the second consumed by fire. But then they each noticed something, cold creeping up on every extremity, shadow surrounding them, hungering for their minds...
GM: They fought the Nightmares off, trying to drive them mentally from their bodies. Each of them felt a leg growing cold, tingly, and useless, and they stumbled to the ground. Raina found one of her arms moving of its own accord, grabbing for a knife and moving it slowly to her throat.
GM: Sasha and Hye continued to fight their enemies. Sasha cut into the Nightmare, and its chest was now very insubstantial, looking close to collapsing inward on itself. The beings continued to strike at the companions mercilessly.
Raina: Raina could not immediately resist the compulsion and the knife drew forth blood from her neck, though luckily she managed to regain enough control of the limb to stop before she could do critical damage to herself
GM: Agnes began to feel the darkness lift from around her, and she could see her companions locked in struggle, Hye and Sasha fighting their Nightmares, Raina fighting herself. Agnes's leg still seemed cold and useless, so she could only crawl.
GM: Raina managed to overcome the compulsion in her arm and cast the dagger away, and she too found herself able to see Hye and Sasha struggling, as one Nighmare tore into Hye and cast her to the ground.
Hye: Hye hit the ground hard and she groaned with pain. Still, she lashed out with her longsword and slashed into its right arm brutally.
Raina: Thinking that Hye seemed to be in the worst situation, Raina began to desperately limp towards her
Hye: She then leaped back onto the hard ground, her tear-steaked eyes glared at her Nightmare.
Skylarious: Hye's Nightmare hissed as its right arm was nearly entirely gone, but it leapt at her, brutally clawing at her abdomen. She fell to the ground unconscious, and the others saw the insubstantial shadow-thing gathering above her as if to envelop her body.
Raina: Raina came beside the nightmare lurking over Hye and placing her weight on the leg that was not numb, thrust her spear through it. The creature's shadowy form withered and started to dissolve....
Agnes: Agnes forced herself to concentrate, murmuring the words of power which brought fire and pain flying from her fingertips into the shadow attacking Sasha. With relief she saw it writhe and disippate.
Skylarious: Sasha saw her foe disappear in shadow and flame... but then felt the darkness within her, creeping throughout her body. She felt consumed by it. She was his lordship's daughter, cut down in her youth by a vicious criminal. She had been banished to this world of shadow, and wanted nothing more than to escape to the bright world of life again... Her hands clawed at her face and her legs kicked, until the others arrived to restrain her.
Sasha: Sasha made an attempt to scream which failed, at least until she finally regained control of her body, whereupon her cry rent the air. She slumped on the ground, holding her head in her hands.
Skylarious: The sun above them was back to its shrouded brightness. The shadows had disippated, leaving a vast and empty plain. Raina and Agnes were able to lift Hye and help Sasha to get herself to walk, and they crawled their way to a place of shelter beneath a single great boulder which stood out-of-place among the flatlands. They could not go on now, not with one companion unconscious and another suffering greatly from her ordeal - and even Raina and Agnes found themselves deeply shaken. They stayed there, resting in shifts as the merciless day wore on, but saw no more sign of the Nightmares. Finally night fell, and their spirits grew less oppressed. Hye found herself waking after uneasy dreams, and the companions were well enough that they could begin to struggle through the last difficult miles of the Nightmare Plains.
Hye: Hye groaned for a moment, touching her nasty burn, caused by nasty Nightmare. "I am still here?" She asked with a hint of grogginess. "Not going through here again!"
Agnes: Agnes held out her hand to help Hye up. "We'll take our chances with the Baron or the monsters."
Raina: Raina had been staring speechlessly at the sky for a while, lost in thought, and only turned to acknowledge Hye's partial recovery.
Sasha: Sasha was looking up at the sky as well. "I liked it better when I couldn't remember," she said finally.
Agnes: Agnes shook her head. "You can't carry the past around with you forever like a heavy load on your back."
Hye: Hye sighed for a moment as she took Agnes' hand, "Yes." agreeing with them all.#
Skylarious: They ate their rations despite queasy stomachs, and felt a bit better afterward. Finally they forced themselves to move on, and by the time the night was approaching its end, they began to feel wind on their faces, and the land grew hilly and green once again. The Nightmare Plains were behind them.

[skylarious]

GM: The companions moved quickly to the east despite their weariness, eager to put the Nightmare Plains as far behind them as possible. They soon found a deep, mellow river lined with ferns winding its way through the hills and woods, and its gentle burbling was a welcome respite after the empty quiet of the plains or the shrieking and whispering of its inhabitants. Soon the river met up with a road, wider and better-maintained than any they had seen in the Gorge, coming from the north and now heading due east in the direction of Bloomdorn.

There were only a couple of hours left in the night when they came to a sign by the side of the road, made of plain wood and carved with blocky letters – “The Lady’s Hot Springs” – and an arrow pointing northward into a makeshift trail through the thin trees.
You whisper to Raina: Having trained in magic, Raina was able to see the aether that moved through the air like multicolored mist at all times. In most places the aether was thin, barely detectable, but here she could see currents of it drifting gently northward. There was a gathering point of aether to the north.
You whisper to Agnes: Having trained in magic, Agneswas able to see the aether that moved through the air like multicolored mist at all times. In most places the aether was thin, barely detectable, but here she could see currents of it drifting gently northward. There was a gathering point of aether to the north.
Sasha: Sasha wandered ahead slightly towards the makeshift trail, examining the ground for tracks to see if these hot springs saw much use.
Raina: Raina seemed somewhat suprised by something she did not publicly mentioned, and walked closer to Agnes, whispering something to her
Agnes: Agnes put her head up, like a hound scenting a trail, and looked around, finally facing north.
Raina bisbiglia: "Can you see that? North..."
Agnes: Agnes looked slightly surprised but nodded and spoke quietly to Raina.
Hye: Hye looked wore out looked curious at Agnes and Raina and wonderng what Raina is on about.
You whisper to Sasha: Sasha could see prints clearly - many prints from a month or more ago, and wear in the vegetation from many travelers, suggesting that the trail was used regularly if not frequently. She also noticed a few prints that were more recent, perhaps 3 or 4 days old, that had attempts to conceal them. She guessed that four people in soft boots had gone this way.
Agnes whispers: "I would like to follow. Who knows what power is there?"
You whisper to Sasha: edit: that should read six people
Sasha: "Tracks from the last few days," said Sasha. "Six people, looks like they tried to hide their passage. Other tracks from before, reasonable number of travellers."
Agnes whispers: "Of course it could be an Aether Storm building, in which case we are in grave danger. Or perhaps something to do with the Baron..."
Hye: "Heading to Bloomdorm I guess?" Hye suggested the idea.
Sasha: Sasha shook her head. "Wrong direction. Were heading towards these springs."
Raina: Raina nodded along to Agnes' words
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes focused on the aether, trying to get a sense of its character. It did not appear corrupted or twisted by the environment - in fact it seemed purer than most of the aether in the Gorge, a good sign for its safety. She could not rule out that it might lead to an aether storm, but that would be devastating for miles in any case.
Agnes: Agnes stepped forward with a cough as though having made a decision. "There is the possibility of an Aether Storm building to the north, but... I don't think it is. I'd say it's safe, at least for now."
Sasha: "Checking these springs?" Sasha queried.
Agnes: Agnes nodded. "I don't know who this Lady is, but yes."
Hye: Hye nodded with agreement, "A spirit maybe?" as she headed to the trail
GM: The path winded its way northward for half a mile through the trees, which began to grow thicker and more frequent. Finally the trees suddenly thinned out, and the land crept down into a small rocky basin surrounded by the woods. At the bottom sat the springs, three pools of clear water about six feet across, with steam rising from them into the cool night. Beside them, portions of the basin were flattened and cleaned of rocks as if camp had been made there before, and a firepit was filled with charred wood.
You whisper to Agnes: Aether was flowing down the slope and building within the three pools. To Agnes's eyes, the pools seemed to glow with rainbow light.
You whisper to Raina: Aether was flowing down the slope and building within the three pools. To Raina's eyes, the pools seemed to glow with rainbow light.
Agnes: Agnes inhaled deeply and sighed. "This is beautiful."
You whisper to Sasha: The "concealed" tracks led down into the basin and the makeshift camp.
Raina: Raina's gaze set on the pools, as if captivated by something "I...see strong magic there."she stammered out
Agnes: "Oh yes..." Agnes breathed, stepping forward towards the pools.
Sasha: "Those tracks head there," Sasha pointed towards the makeshift camp.
Hye: Hye looked at these springs with wary after Raina suggeste dthat there is powerful magic.
GM: They picked their way down to the bottom of the basin. Warmth emanated from the pools, which were only a few feet deep, with small bubbles constantly rising to the surface. Beneath the clear water the ground looked sandy, with a few small clear pebbles, and some flat rocks that would be convenient for sitting with one's head above water. Beside the pool was the campsite. By the firepit were a few discarded rabbit bones, and in the ground were markings as if someone had pitched a tent.
You whisper to Agnes: The light of the aether from the pools gave the basin a dreamlike quality, casting ever-shifting color across the face's of Agnes's companions.
You whisper to Raina: The light of the aether from the pools gave the basin a dreamlike quality, casting ever-shifting color across the face's of Raina's companions.
Agnes: Agnes gazed at the pools in rapture, and smiled dreamily at her companions. "Ah, the light and the colour. Wondrous."
Raina: "Would that water be safe?" Raina asked Agnes, expecting the woman to know more about the pools than her
Sasha: Sasha wandered around the perimeter to continue to check for tracks or other signs of life, concerned that the group that had concealed their presence might still be around.
Agnes: "Safe?" Agnes said slowly as if she had never considered the question before. "I believe so. I'm going to find out."
Agnes: Without hesitation, Agnes waded into one of the pools.
You whisper to Sasha: The tracks were all around the basin, but Sasha eventually found the same recent ones leading out of the basin to the northwest - this time only four sets. Some of them were more heavily obscured, as if something heavy had been dragged across them.
Sasha: Sasha frowned and headed back towards the others. "Tracks lead out to the northwest. Only four sets now, but much more obscured. As if something heavy was dragged over them."
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes immediately felt the warmth of the pools soak into her bones, and with it flowed the aether, drawing itself easily into her chest, restoring some of the power she had expended against the Nightmares. The serenity of the pools eased her mind of the horrors she had seen as well, as if a stain were washed away.
Raina: "They won't necessarily be hostile."said Raina "But it's something to keep in mind."
Raina: She turned her gaze to Agnes, as if she expected something special to happen to her
Agnes: Agnes looked extraordinarily relaxed, as if a weight had lifted from her.
Sasha: "Were six sets of tracks when they came in and four going out," said Sasha. "Two are still around, or else died."
Agnes: "Come on in," Agnes called to the others. "Perfectly safe"
Raina: Raina tentatively approached the waters, seeming wary. She dipped first a feet and then entered with her whole body.
You whisper to Raina: Raina immediately felt the warmth of the pools soak into her bones, and with it flowed the aether, drawing itself easily into her chest, restoring some of the power she had expended. The serenity of the pools eased her mind of the horrors she had seen on the Plains as well, as if a stain were washed away.
Sasha: Sasha began to set up camp, keeping a wary eye out and her bow close to hand.
Raina: Almost immediately Raina seemed to relax and enjoy the water, as if it was having some beneficial effect on her.
Raina: "Might do you some good, too."Raina suggested to Sasha, though she did not sound perfectly sure
Sasha: "Later," said Sasha. "If anything shows up we shouldn't all be in the water."
GM: Sasha and Hye let the two others take the first shift in the pools. The heat of the springs soaked into Agnes and Raina, and they lost themselves for a time in the light back-and-forth rocking of the water, like a loving mother’s embrace. Fireflies moved lazily above them, so that it looked as if half the stars were dancing in the night sky. Looking up at those dappled stars and the triplet moons, they felt for the first time during their exile that they still truly lived on the surface of the same world that they had once called home. Hye and Sasha also felt a sense of relaxation, if not as strong, and they soon had a decent camp prepared.

An hour passed in what seemed to Agnes and Raina like moments. A low humming like a lullaby permeated the air, which at first the companions mistook for the insects or the wind, but it began to grow louder. Light began to build above the crest of the basin, and suddenly a figure appeared there, tall and graceful. She wore white robes wrapped with flowering vines, and her clothing and silvery hair drifted slowly behind her as if she were underwater. On her face was a porcelain mask painted with an intricate face, and she held her sleeve-covered arms up beside her like a dancer.
Hye: Hye shivered at seeing such figure.
Raina: Raina looked at the stranger warily
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes immediately recognizes that this is a spirit, likely one connected to this location, and thus very powerful within the area. Local spirits can range from friendly to hostile, although she is showing no immediate sign of aggressiveness.
Agnes: Agnes sat up in the water and gazed at the figure. "The Lady of the Springs..." She moved round so that she could bow to the figure. "Thank you for the use of your waters."
GM: The masked lady looked down at Agnes, then glided gracefully down the slope, her loose robes and long sleeves drifting behind her. She slowed to a halt before the four women, and looked at each of them in turn. Up close her mask was a design of vines and brambles, rocks and bubbles, and they needed to look carefully to make out the face within it. She spoke, and her resonant voice seemed to rise up through the water of the pools. “You are four this time, as you were last, but possessing eight eyes instead of twelve. You carry blades and bows, and within you is the spark of flame and the song of blood. You rest here now in my springs, and wash away the darkness, but will you wake tomorrow to seek darkness again? Tell me, travelers, why are you here?”
Agnes: Agnes puzzled for a moment over the Lady's words but then answered. "We seek answers in order to save two lives."
Raina: Raina said nothing for the moment but followed Agnes' gestures, deferring to her judgement. She did seem somewhat surprised by the mention of 'twelve eyes', but did not comment on that either
GM: The spirit spoke slowly and deliberately, as if human speech was not quite natural to her. "A great parrallel then, to the lives that were snuffed out. But are these lives worth saving? Not all are, in the Gorge."
Agnes: "We do not know enough to tell that, but those we seek have commit themselves to evil deeds," Agnes said. "Did the four last time have three eyes each? A pair as we have, and then another painted here?" she indicated on her own forehead.
GM: The spirit watched Agnes for a long moment, perhaps considering whether to speak.
Hye: Hye winced at the bluntness of Agnes' direct question and asked this spirit respectfully, "I apologise for infringing this alluring place. I agreed with the assessments of lives. The worth of each life is in the eyes of its beholder. I personally believe that two lives we are aiming to save are worth saving. However, we do have a reason to ask such question as the lives may be connected to this strange group with three eyes each.." She was hoping to win over this clearly dangerous spirit.
GM: Eventually the spirit nodded. "Yes. I do not wish those humans to succeed. They did have third eyes on their foreheads, not of flesh but of magic. Four of them came here, and I sensed their avarice and violence. I tried to send them away, but their third eyes saw me in ways that the eyes of ordinary mortals do not, and they were thus able to drive me off. Watching from afar, I witnessed them chanting and drumming and marching about around the pools. They had two captives with them.”

As the lady spoke, the image seemed to become visible in front of the companions, indistinct and mist-like. Four figures dressed in red and black, and two more in tan cloth like that of new exiles. “When the ritual was done they pushed the captives’ faces into the water until they drowned. They dragged the bodies away, and I saw no more of them.”
Raina: Raina winced at the mention of ritual sacrifice
Hye: Hye shivered at the illusion, and frowned for a moment, ""Horrible. Just horrible." She whispered
Agnes: "What were they hoping to acheive..." Agnes muttered to herself.
Sasha: "Did they say anything while here?" Sasha asked.
GM: "I could not make out their words as I was driven back. I only heard the screams of the victims, who wished to know why they had been taken and what would be done to them. I do not think they received an answer."
Agnes: "This might be what would have happened to Zunshashun and her companion, had the attempt to take over her mind succeeded," Agnes said. "These followers of the Blind Father probably prey on newly arrived exiles for their dark rituals."
GM: The masked lady nodded. "Perhaps. They seemed practiced at their murderous craft. Do you plan to end them?"
Agnes: Agnes looked at the others. "I would say yes, but we need proof of their evil-doing. "
Raina: Raina nodded silently
Hye: Hye nodded with vehement agreement and said, "Such people and their avarice and violent powers should be exterminated!"
GM: "Then I shall let you stay here under my protection until you are ready," replied the spirit. "There is a taint of darkness upon you, and your strength is sapped. My pools can rejuvenate spirit and body. Is there anything else you will ask of me?"
Agnes: "We will have to face the darkness again, or other evil things whichever way we choose to return. Can you tell us how we may protect ourselves or resist the effects? Anges asked.
GM: The masked lady looked down at her for a while, then spoke: "You are wearing something around your neck. May I see it?"
Agnes: Without hesitation, Anges opened the neck of her shirt and drew out the necklace, slipping it over her head and holding it out so that the Lady could see it. "This was on the man who was killed, one of the same cult who committed murder in your pools."
GM: The spirit reached out, and her sleeve passed over Agnes's hand. Within, Agnes could feel a jolt of tingly energy before the necklace was lifted from her grasp. "The four who came here wore the same." She reached down and plucked some thin vines and flowers from her robe, wrapping them around the necklace. "I imbue it with my blessing, which shall give you protection from the dark beings to the west." She plucked more vines and flowers, and tied them into three more makeshift necklaces. "Now that I have held their talisman, I know its power, and I replicate it for you. I believe these will give you strength against the power of their lidded eyes." She dropped the original necklace back into Agnes's hand, and then reached out holding the three new ones. The floated on the gentle breeze to Hye, Raina, and Sasha.
Agnes: Anges bowed. "Thank you my Lady."
Hye: Hye looked slightly surprised by the help by the spirit and bowed as well, "Thank you most kindly, my Lady."
GM: She nodded and slowly looked around at the four. "I hope you will put them to exalted use. Will you ask anything more of me before I leave you?"
GM: Witnessing their silence, the masked lady nodded again, and turned. "I shall watch over you tonight," came her voice before she floated up the slope of the basin, and quickly disappeared behind its crest.
Agnes: Agnes stayed sitting in the pool, looking down silently at the necklace in her hand.
GM: *edit: I shall watch over you today
Hye: With this support from a strange spirit they met, Hye decided to take advantage of the pool and to relax.
You whisper to Agnes: Silvery aether clung to the vines and flowers around the necklace.
Sasha: deciding she was as safe as she was likely to be, Sasha stripped off and sat in one of the pools.
Agnes: Eventually Agnes returned the necklace to its hiding place with a sigh. "This place... it makes our exile a thing of wonder instead of pain and loss."
Raina: Somewhat changed by the experience, Raina returned to the pool.
You whisper to Hye: Hye immediately felt the warmth of the pools soak into her bones, and with it a strange sense of energy mixed with calm. The serenity of the pools eased her mind of the horrors she had seen as well, as if a stain were washed away.
You whisper to Sasha: Sasha immediately felt the warmth of the pools soak into her bones, and with it a strange sense of energy mixed with calm. The serenity of the pools eased her mind of the horrors she had seen as well, as if a stain were washed away.
GM: The companions relaxed for the remainder of the night in the pools, and then settled down to a restful sleep. Once again they dreamed of their pasts, but this time it was small and pleasant moments that pushed back the surreality of the Gorge. Finally they awoke with evening coming again.
Sasha: Sasha woke, stretched, and began to pack up their belongings.
Hye: Hye smiled slightly, becoming more herself prepared herself for the upcoming journey with increased confidence. "Who would thought such things exists in this dark realm>"
GM: They left the Lady's Hot Springs, heading northwest as Sasha followed the tracks of the four servants of the Blind Father, which soon were no longer concealed. They spent most of the night traveling, getting close to what they surmised would be the Baron's territory. The trees thinned out, and most here were dead and cracked. The ground was rocky and brown, spotted with the occasional sickly shrub. The wind began to rise in earnest, until it was nearly a howl. They began to find signs of agriculture from years ago, fallow fields where the tilled soil had grown hard and cracked. Finally in the distance they spotted what looked like a half-ruined farmhouse framed by leafless trees, with the tracks heading straight there.
Agnes: Anges turned to the others. "Plan?"
Sasha: "Scout it quietly? Can find somewhere nearer to where you can stay and I'll creep down."
Raina: Raina thought for a while but could offer no worthwhile plan
Agnes: "If you are good at moving stealthily, that sounds a good plan," Agnes said.
GM: The group sneaked up close enough that they could better make out the farmhouse, peering over the ridge of a low hill topped with a lightning-blasted stump. Strong winds buffeted the walls of the house like war drums. Swirling gusts danced about the fields as if possessed, crashing through the branches of hollow tree husks to raise a cry as piercing as the judgment of the Grand Spirits. The wooden farmhouse was large enough for multiple families, but parts of it were collapsed, including most of the thatched roof. It was flanked by the barely discernible ruins of some other buildings. Sasha scouted on ahead.
Agnes: "What happened here?" Agnes muttered to the others as she looked out of their hiding place at the broken down buildings. "Was it a thriving land until recently, and struck by disaster?"
You whisper to Sasha: Sasha picked her way close to the house, darting from tree to tree, keeping herself low - the noise of the storm mean she had to worry little about making noise. She crept up to the walls of the house, and quickly spotted their quarry through the splintered walls: a man and woman in red and black standing at a table beneath a bit of remaining ceiling, and another man and woman leaning against the nearby walls. Each bore the tattoo of a lidded eye with lashes pointing down. The woman at the table had a curved sword at her belt, while the man had a long curved dagger. The woman against the walls was leaning on a bow, and the man there had an axe. Sasha risked getting closer, sneaking around to the other side of the wall so that she could attempt to listen in on the conversation of the pair at the table. She could make out only snatches of it over the wind and through the wall. "We might not need more..." "...but we cannot seek him without being sure..." "...must strike quickly..." "...return to Bloomdorn for..." "No, they're getting suspicious." "...find new exiles..."
Hye: Hye glanced at the lands and wondered as well, "It could be. Such are the fates" She commented
Raina: "Could have been anything." whispered Raina "Keep your eyes open"
Agnes: "The Aether brings life and also death," Agnes said, adding with the ghost of a smile, "as the cultist will discover shortly."
Sasha whispers: Sasha listened for a moment longer, then made her way back to the others
You whisper to Sasha: The winds rose up higher and Sasha could make out no more, so she hurried back.
GM: After they watched her stay near the farmhouse for a few minutes, moving from one side to the other, the companions saw Sasha move stealthily yet quickly back to their sides.
Sasha: "Four of them in the farmhouse," said Sasha. "Two men, two women. They have weapons, but no armour I could see. They have the eye tattoos. Two of them were talking but only made out some words over the wind. They're seeking a 'him', but need to be sure. Not certain what of."
Agnes: "Did it sound like they were seeking this person for good or ill purposes?" asked Agnes.
Hye: "Most likely for ill purposes... surely" Hye said so
Sasha: "One said something about striking quickly. Probably don't mean this person well."
Agnes: "We must strike quickly then, before they can get their hands on anyone else." Agnes said.
Raina: "But first...." said Raina, and she began to chant and gesture over her shortspear and Hye's sword. It took a few attempts for each weapon but the spell eventually succeded, honing the spear's head and sword's blade to razor-sharpness.
Then she attempted another spell, this time focusing on Hye herself. However she kept mispronouncing the words and not getting the gestures quite right, and seemed to grow somewhat fatigued and stressed with each attempt, until she eventually had to give up on her attempts, looking distressed
Hye: Hye frowned slightly at the attempts and told Raina, "I will be fine. Thank you very much for trying your best."
Hye: as she try to comfort Raina.
Agnes: Agnes concentrated, her face expressionless, her hands moving economically in the familiar gestures, almost inaudibly muttering the words to shape the magical forces to her will.
Agnes: "Do they have a fire lit?" Agnes asked Sasha
Raina: "I'm but a dabbler, sadly. "said Raina shrugging " But at least our weapons will be deadly."she added holding her sharp spear in hand as she eyed the farmhouse
Raina: Raina however gave a second look at Hye and saw that her torso wound still bothered her. She hesitated for a few moments but then started to focus again, this time putting much more physical effort in the spell, as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Eventually, the spell was cast, and for a moment Hye could feel herself magically protected. Raina seemed somewhat hurt by the effort as if her flesh was lightly bruised, but it was nothing too grevious.
GM: The group moved forward, doing their best to get close enough that Sasha could strike and then retreat to their lines.
You whisper to Hye: As they stealthily approached, Hye noticed a woman's face appear at the edge of a half-collapsed wall. The woman seemed to look around briefly, and then freeze upon sighting the party, before darting back behind the wall.
Hye: Hye mouthed the oath
Hye: and whispered to other quickly, "She just spotted us!"
Sasha: Sasha nocked an arrow and readied to fire if any of the foe popped their heads out
GM: The wind began to die down a bit, and they heard a call from behind the wall of the farmhouse. "Come on in and talk!" came a woman's voice, which Sasha recognized as that of the one she'd heard talking before.
Sasha: "Seen all of us?" Sasha asked Hye.
Hye: Hye nodded, "I reckons so"
GM: The party moved forward, keeping low in case the servants of the Blind Father decided to strike at them. Another call came "We might seek the same thing!" They saw no sign of the four as they moved forward toward the walls.
GM: The group continued to move foward, until they were only a few yards from the walls. "Well?" came the woman's voice again. "Come on around. Our weapons are sheathed."
Sasha: Sasha tried to have a glance through a hole in the wall as they moved forward, though she didn't see anything
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes managed to find an angle through which she could peer through a crack in the wall without exposing herself to risk of an arrow. It appeared the woman was being truthful. She was standing with the two men by a table a few yards past the wall, and their weapons were not out. Behind them she saw the archer, who had her bow at her side but no arrow knocked. The were mostly looking to the left of the group, where the largest breach in the wall was, although the man with an axe was looking about to their right where there was another hole.
You whisper to Raina: did not sense deceit in the woman's words.
Raina: Raina looked at Hye, Agnes and Sasha with worry in her eyes, but said nothing
Agnes: "Seems they are telling the truth," Agnes murmured to Sasha next to her. "No weapons out."
Raina: "Sounds so, but still...."whispered Raina, unsure "Shall we take them on their offer?"
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes did not sense deceit in the woman's words.
Sasha: "What you seeking?" Sasha asked the woman.
GM: "First I have some questions for you," called back the woman. "We can't be telling such things to anyone. It would be more comfortable to discuss in here, or do you want to play call-and-response?"

[skylarious]

GM: The party were against the low standing wall of a half-ruined farmhouse, on the rocky brown ground of the southern tip of the Baron's territory. Wind howled through the air, though it had eased up enough they could more easily hear the words of the woman who seemed to be the leader of the four servants of the Blind Father they had followed.

"What you seeking?" Sasha asked the woman.

"First I have some questions for you," called back the woman. "We can't be telling such things to anyone. It would be more comfortable to discuss in here, or do you want to play call-and-response?"
Agnes: "We will come inside,]]
Agnes: *edit: ignore
Agnes: "We will come inside. There is no reason for us to fight," Agnes said.
GM: "Good," responded the woman. "I see you're reasonable people."
Agnes: Agnes waited for the others to move in front of her.
GM: The companions moved around the edge of the wall. They saw the four servants of the Blind Father there, watching cautiously but not yet moving to strike.
GM: They all wore fine thick clothing of red, black, and gold. The woman who had spoken was tall and stick thin, with black hair that framed an angular face with an arrogant smile. A sword was at her side. “I am Karra. My companions are Rell, Unaka, and Byin.” She gestured around, first at an equally thin man with a lined face and sunken eyes, whose belt held a curved dagger and a large pouch. The next man was short but muscular, with an unkempt beard, and he had an axe at his belt. The last woman, the archer, leaned lazily on her bow and watched them through long hair.

”So,” said Karra. “This is an unusual place to meet. It’s not a route the people of Bloomdorn take often. I can see only two reasons you would be here. You’re after us, or you’re after the Baron. Mind telling me which it is?”
GM: Each of their foreheads carried the tattoo they had hear about, an oval with lines running down from it, approximating a lidded eye with lashes. Its color seemed to shift from black to red depending on the angle.
Raina: Raina eyed the four warily but said nothing, looking up to Agnes to handle the negotiations
GM: edit: heard about
Agnes: Agnes smiled easily. "You are right of course. We followed you because we'd heard there was a group of people who knew how to cross the Nightmare plains."
GM: Karra smirked "Did you? I don't know who told you that, but there are plenty of idiots in Bloomdorn. We may have ways to cross, but they're not something we can pass on to you. I'm disappointed."
You whisper to Agnes: Agnes noticed Karra glance at Rell, and Rell return a slight nod. They both tensed as if ready to take action, although they did not reach for their weapons.
Agnes: "Why would you be disappointed? Did you expect a different question?" Agnes asked.
Agnes: "Attack coming," Agnes muttered to Hye. Behind Hye's back, she signalled the same to Sasha.
GM: "I thought you might be useful for our mission. You'll still be useful, but in a different way." Karra smiled coldly and raised a hand to her companions, signaling them to strike. They each began to raise a hand up against the eye tattoo on their foreheads...
GM: Karra's eyes lit up, giving her smile a sense of madness, and she looked straight at Hye, catching her eye. Her tattoo seemed to glow and shift, taking on a dreamlike quality... and then a line of air between them seemed to ripple, and Karra staggered back with a shriek, clutching at her forehead in pain.
sd: Sasha whipped out an arrow with a practised motion and began to line up a shot at Byin
GM: Unaka, the bearded man, seemed obvlivious to what happened with Karra. He caught Raina's eye - but the warrior woman felt strength and peace flow from her necklace up to her own forehead, and she watched as the man reeled back with a grunt.
GM: Rell glanced to see his two companions nearly falling, and his eyes widened in horror. He ripped the dagger out of its sheath, backing away.
Raina: Raina rapidly shifted to a battle stance, reading her spear as she advanced towards their foes
Agnes: Her eyes burning, Agnes spoke the words releasing her arcane power, striking all four of the cultists with burning agony.
GM: Agnes's fire caused Rell to leap aside but still badly burned his left arm. It struck Byin in the head - she cursed but continued trying to load her bow. The other two were struck as well, but were already reeling.
GM: Rell staggered to his feet, arm hanging limply at his side
Agnes: Agnes called on her magic again, although this time she only hit Karra's arm and Unaka's leg, wracking them with burning pain.
sd: Sasha finished reloading and fired at Byin, burying an arrow into the cultist's abdomen.
GM: Rell raised his dagger and began to cut into his flesh in the outline of the tattoo. The air around them all seemed to warp and shift, causing their stomachs to churn, but in the pain and chaos of battle Rell lost his concentration and his dagger slipped away from the tattoo. Reality went back to normal.
Raina: Raina advanced towards the stunned Unaka, but overextended with her spear-thrust and missed the man
Agnes: Agnes cast her magic again, causing Rell and Karra to grimace with pain.
GM: Unaka ripped his battleaxe from his belt, ready to fight Raina.
GM: Rell, desperately tried to throw his dagger at Agnes before Hye could reach him, hoping to end the party's magical advantage. The dagger flew wide, and she saw that the blade glistened with a mysterious clear fluid.
Raina: Raina stabbed at Unaka with her spear but the man caught the spearhead on the haft of his axe
Agnes: Again Agnes' spell blazed agonisingly in the bodies of the cultists.
GM: Karra moved to engage in battle with Hye as she moved forward near to the prone Rell. She drew her sword, scowling at her enemy.
Hye: Hye eyed Karra carefully and she made a short blow but her sword was parried very barely
Hye: Despite this parry, such the strength of her blow that her parry was unable to block the full blow and the blade power glazed into Karra's head. With such pain, she crumbled onto the floor, joining her fellow, Rell. Hye smiled with a hint of wickedly.
GM: "You vermin!" screamed Unaka as he saw his leader fall. He swung his axe at Raina, but the blow was deflected.
Raina: Growing frustrated with her previous lack of success, Raina stabbed again with all her strength, the powerful thrust slipping past the man's defenses and hitting him squarely in the face dealing a grievous wound which left him dazed in pain.
Raina is disconnected.
Raina has connected.
Agnes: Agnes focussed her magics on the archer, but the female cultist dived to one side.
Hye: Hye attempted to go after Rell with the sword and missed widly
sd: Sasha fired at Byin and began to draw another arrow in one smooth motion. The shaft buried itself in the cultist's leg just as she rose from having dodged Agnes' spell.
GM: Seeing the arrow strike Byin and the battle nearly lost, Rell groaned in despair. "Forgive us Father!" he cried. Suddenly there was a wet pop, and Hye could see blood and brains spill onto the floor from his forehead. Unaka, driven back by Raina, saw Rell die, and murmured "Forgive us Father..." himself. His own tattoo exploded outward, and Raina was drenched in blood, brain, and skull fragments. Wild-eyed, Byin cursed to herself, hesitating. But as she grasped at the arrows already in her and felt the pain of the spell-wounds, she accepted that all was lost "Forgive us Father!" she spat angrily, and her own forehead burst apart. The only member of the cult who still lived was Karra, unconscious on the ground.
Hye: Hye frowned with a hint of surprise. "Well, good thing I knocked out Karra... Sound like this Father is a mean one." She commented
sd: "Check for papers," said Sasha. "Not safe to bring her back, probably."
Raina: Raina seemed somewhat taken aback by this turn of events, but soon she recovered and tentatively tried to clean herself from the Unaka's gore. "Keep an eye on her, don't let her wake up."
Raina: edit: she said turning to the unconscious Karra
Hye: Hye nodded and eyed Karra carefully, read to punch her out with the fist
GM: Sasha managed to find a bag which contained letters of exile (whether they were real or not) for each of the members of the cult, as well as a few vials of the poison Rell had used on his dagger, gold and silver coins, and a few papers: These were written in a strange and unfamiliar script that would take time to decipher, although each was headed with the symbol of the lidded eye. The companions also found necklaces just like the one Agnes wore on the neck of each of the cultists.
Agnes: Even Agnes looked a little suprised at the turn of events as the cultists' heads exploded, but she was quick to look through the papers.
sd: "What's these say?" said Sasha, gesturing vaguely at the papers.
GM: Agnes could not make out all of the writing, but she noticed that many pieces of the script approximated magical runes with which she was familiar. Combined with some educated guesses, she deciphered that the papers spoke of a great threat within the Gorge, a threat to the Father that the cultists had spoken of. The threat must be dealt with so that the Father's hunger could continue to be sated. Another paper spoke of a ritual of killing human beings that would grant them the Father's unlimited sight, beyond the flesh-sight of mortals.
Hye: Hye looked at Agnes' explanation with interest. "A great threat... Hmm... Could be that the Baron?"
sd: after Agnes deciphered the papers, Sasha drew an arrow, nocked it, and pointed it at the unconscious Karra. She glanced at the others. "Safe to bring her back? Not everyone in Hilltown has our necklaces."
Raina: "No way we could rip out her third eye?"suggested Raina brutally
Agnes: "We don't need her now we have these," Agnes said, looking down at the unconscious woman.
Agnes: "There is no way she can be set free. Either she will continue murdering or she will kill herself. Either way she is better off dead."
Hye: Hye agreed with the plan "Better to have her dead than to let her go or she may escape!
sd: Sasha nodded and walked over to Karra. Pointing the arrow at her head, she fired at point blank range.
GM: The arrow buried itself in Karra's head, ending her. The tattoo on her head seemed to fade to a duller black.
GM: Their journey back to Hilltown was much easier than the one away from it. The masked lady’s protection proved invaluable: the Nightmare Plains were eerily quiet but empty, and they slept untroubled. Finally they arrived back in town, and were greeted by the nervous young guard Rufun, who told them the judgment was about to proceed.

They hurried to the town square, where Zunshashun and Garald were once more seated on the dais while the restless crowd seemed ready for blood. White bearded Barhun was reading the accusations once more when he noticed the arrival of the party and stopped mid-sentence. Zunshashun broke into a wide smile. “You’re back, thank Malan!” she called. “Can you stop this farce?”
Agnes: Agnes strode up to the dais and called out. "We have found the killers. They all had the third eye on their foreheads, and they tried to do the same to us - use their evil magic to enter our minds. Fortunately the necklace protected us. Now we have proof - papers they were carrying which speak of human sacrifice!"
GM: The crowd seemed excited by this news, regardless of its veracity - cultists were even more exciting than seduction and murder. Agnes and Barhun looked over the papers together - Zunshashun tried to look as well but was pushed back - and eventually the white bearded officiator seemed satisfied. "It is difficult to read," he announced to the crowd, "But it does seem these tattooed miscreants were here on some strange mission for their Father, and were willing to kill for it." The crowd had heard the rumors of the sightings of the servants of the Blind Father, and most readily accepted what the party had to say.

Zunshashun and Garald were acquitted, which once more became an excuse for a celebration, full of food and wine and song. Garald repeatedly nodded to the party members, as close as he got to affection, and Zunshashun gave them each a hug. "I can't thank you enough. You risked so much for us, and you even brought back papers which should help shed light on what is going on here. I don't have much to offer you other than my knowledge, but perhaps I can use that to help you find a way out of the Gorge."
Agnes: Agnes smiled, but a little uncertainly. "I'm not sure what my life held outside. But thank you Zunshashun. Knowledge is a great gift."
GM: Zunshashun's eyes sparkled. "Then perhaps we can find more. I have been hearing about the Baron, and it's said his palace is an ancient one of the Empire of Song, sure to hold many secrets. Very dangerous of course, but I think it may be the one place we can find out what the Gorge is, and where it came from, and perhaps knowledge of even more incalculable value."
Raina: Raina shrugged at Zunshashun's expressions of thanks, though it was obvious she was pleased with how things had turned out. "I doubt it would be easy."she said referring to the chance of escaping the Gorge "But perhaps..."
Hye: Hye smiled for a moment, "I am glad that we can save your lives. I am also interested as to what this place is and eventually, leave this realm."