The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Loyalties

vladimir came into the inn and sat down heavily in the corner. Bethany came over to him immidately with a goblin. Vladimir called out, " No no dear child save the human blood for yourselves, I will drink rat blood as I have grown accustom too". " But master you have been away a long time and must rest and recover?!".

Vladimir looked incredulously at one of his oldest of children, " No Bethany the human blood is for the others. I will feast on humans soon enough". Bethany drank from the goblet and goes to the bar. returning with another goblet.

" Ah yes", Vladimir smiles and plays with her hair as she sits down. She finishes the cup and looks at him with loving eyes. He smiles, " How are the little ones the xavier sent"?


Bethany thinks a moment then speaks, " Two died of sewer diesease. it was too late for them. We managed to save one and draw only 1/2 pint per day from him. We again had to pay a handsome sum to xavier to keep quiet. His prices go ever up but there is nothing we can do. He killed several children himself in capturing others. He has been quite to pauvo unless pauvo knows and keeps it to himself.

Vladimir weights everything she says before speaking," Yes if he knew he would attack us. there is hope. I have read that the priests of Solonari gave the map of the whereabouts to soulcutter to the Martecians. I have also made contact with strange humans near Loc Nordith. I have petitioned them to help me. I believe at least some will help.
We live on bread crumbs Beth I cannot allow this to go on. I only want what is best for the family. Has anyone turned another since I was away"?

" No master your orders still stand and will stand until there is enough food to go around", she whispers.


He nods, " Good". His eyes look distant, " Soulcutter, sword of undeath, with it we can strive to overthrow Lord Pauvo and his lichs. Make the world a better place without a fanatic of orcus always shadowing our heels and controling most of the city. We may even find a peaceful settlement with the ghosts of the temple district."

Bethany looks away a moment, " Master I doubt the ghosts will ever admit their state or realize that they are dead. I have family among them that revile my prescence".

Vladimir looks sad a moment, " Do you regret that i saved you to this state beth? You could always end it by simply stepping out the door? Some have and I dont pity their descion to do so. I admire their fortitude to seek beyond."

" Oh no master, I have found happiness in my state and with you. I just wish my family would understand"

He nods, " Then let us hope that these strangers will help us, If they do we will help them. I am old enough and wise enough now to keep my bargains. Let us hope these stranges will keep theirs. We will watch them and see."

The two figures in the old ruined inn retire to the deep shadows of the basement and await night to come once again .


Derristy and Harendas decided to assult Martecs. Neither had been there. As they were going though the minatour lands Derristy fell in combat. by chance a dragonkin met them going the other way. The dragonkin Saundry made a bargain with Harendas to raise the fallen conrad.

They struck a fair bargain and the dragonkin raised her. Seeing the way the pair worked and knowing the shadows himself Saundry offered another deal for the two of them to come to the infamous cunning claw guild house for a meeting. they shook hands and parted ways after a breif talk.

The two found the key to martecs gate and went into the temple grounds. They were immediately assulted by the clerics on the high towers. Together they worked penetrateing the gate then the keep itself. At first they went into the maze like labrinth under the keep itself only to find many minatours assulting them. they found the entrance again and returned upstairs. Then they assulted the upper keep.

Along the walls of the fortress they almost died many times but at last found the way to the upper floors and to the sanctuary of the priests long dead. Minatours had fully taken the place. They fought room to room of traps and foes in a desperate battle and finally found the inner sanctum of the high priest.

They carefully searched many hours finding a small study they found an hourglass seemed to hint of something strange. when they flipped it a ball of light fell from the heavens destroying the chair in the study and within the legs they found 4 ripped up pieces of vellum.

It took a potion and many trys to put it together when they did they found a map with many ceslestrial writings on it. it discribed a high temple in the deep hadaras where the sword of undeath was laid to rest bathed in continual celestrial light from the heavens

ominously there was a poem on the back of the map it read.

The Tyrant's blade no blood hath spilled
But doth the spirit carve
Soulcutter hath no body killed
But many left to starve

They returned to the vales each wondering what the reward would be that Vladimir has for them? If He would charge them to retreive it? And if it would be wise to give the blade to him if they found it?