1.13G - Estrode

Although dusk was falling again, and she would dearly love to rest after the day’s excitement, she took the hammer and made her way back up the steps to the very base of Hammerknell.

It’s funny, she thought, each time they send me back here I get a little bit closer to the door.  Maybe one day I’ll go inside.  Then she stopped and shook her head, knowing if the doors of Hammerknell ever did open Telara would be in a worse state than it is now.

Holding Scotty’s gift, she crossed the paths heading towards the east.  As she rounded a corner of the fortress she knew she was in the right place.  Before her, an Abyssal Cultist was channeling magic through the rune vessel and into water-being four times as large as she was.  The water-being crashed into the wall of Hammerknell.  Again and again it crested over the stones.

1.12g - The Abyssal Hammer

In spite of being ignored, Gwenllian was pleased; the Runeguard may finally see the Abyssal as a true threat.

Captian Hagen turned to her.  “You say the Abyssal leader believes the key to releasing their god Akylios lies within Hammerknell Fortress?”

Gwenllian nodded.  “The messenger of Bahralt told me this personally.”

“The cultists have an interest in Gorvaht’s rituals. “Borrin echoed Gwenllian’s thoughts.  “What is the connection?  If we can understand why, we may be able to get ahead of them.”

1.11G - Grey Gardens

Confused, but unable to steal a private word with Borrin with so many of the Runeguard around them, Gwenllian entered Grey Gardens.  It was in ruins, and infested with planer beings, but she was still pleased.  In her youth, before the shade war that took her live, there had been a painting on her kitchen wall.  Her mother told her it was of the great garden of Hammerknell.  The beautiful cherry trees lined the elegant pathways and green spaces.  Gwenllian would listen to her mother for hours as she described the peaceful place. 

“Not once did mother tell me that runebinding experts tested their constructs in the Grey Gardens, using vessels holding dark spirits to power their golems. “ Gwenllian thought as she sat on one of the garden walls and swung her legs over to the path.  “And why would she.  That type of ending to the story would have crushed my daydreams into nightmares.”

1.10G - The Runeguard

Gwenllian returned once more to Hammerlord Post.  Thomas was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps.

“We watched the Abyssal flee from the woods.”

Gwenllian smiled, pleased with her work, but dropped it quickly as Holden joined them.  The sight of him reminded her of her vision of a spiteful return, however, her near death and failure in her rescue of the messenger had reminded her of the need for companions.

“I don’t even need to ask.  I can tell by the look on your face that Dorim won’t be performing any more rituals anytime soon.”  Thomas continued

1.9g - Scotty's Blessing

Pleased at the possibility that not all of General Stanig’s family had died in Molinar Crossing, Gwenllian returned to Hammerlord Post to check in with her progress.

“Three of the relics were gone from their altars?  This is very disturbing news.  First the Messenger himself and now Bahralt’s sacred relics.  The Abyssal must be planning something big, Gwenllian.”  said Thomas, as he paced around the outpost.

Holden came to join them, standing beside Gwenllian with his face downcast.

“It was a noble deed, Gwenllian, ringing the bell.  The bell is a symbol of Dwarven determination.”

1.8g - Molinar Crossing

When at last Gwenllian left the outpost, she was surprised to see it was again early evening.

“Have I really only been away from home for three nights?” she wondered to herself, looking at the early stars that attempted to pierce their way through the low lying clouds.

On her way to Molinar Crossing Gwenllian tried to picture in her mind the way the city had looked on her past visits; the large homes, the towering statues, the grand squares.  As she entered the village she found it much changed.  The homes appeared smaller; the statues no longer cast impossibly long shadows; the air of activity that the city once exuded, even at night, was replaced by the silent, ghostly images of the spirits of the dead.

6.09a - The Tablet

With the guards out of the way Anneleigh was free to study the tablet for a few more minutes; enough time to decipher the last few clues she needed.

“The last phrase refers to Hammerknell Fortress,” she thought to herself, completing the fragmented clue she used to lure the guards, “No one has been in Hammerknell Fortress since the dwarves were forced out.  This is troubling news if the Abyssal think they can get in there.”

1.06G - Faering Woods

Gwenllian traveled west to Hammerlord Post.  As she approached the watch tower, she was disappointed to see its beautiful sky reaching tower had been crushed to half its height.  “Who would have the power to do this?” she wondered as she climbed the steps to the observation platform.

“Thomas Penthas?”  She inquired of a man who stood watch.  “Brother Jebiah has sent me from Three Springs to help you in any way that I can.”

6.08a - Dayblind Hollow

With the retaking of the outpost underway, Anneleigh made her way to the caves of Dayblind Hollows and asked to speak with Lana Farnish.

“So you are the one Tabitha Leighton has sent me?”  Lana said with surprise and delight.  “My scouts bring word of your victory at the Outpost, the Vigil be praised.  Your knowledge of the Abyssal will be an invaluable asset to me as these caves are teeming with them.”

1.05g - The Abyssal

Still confused, unsure why the focus of attention had suddenly switched from the Death-touched Satyrs to the Water-touched boglings, Gwenllian listened as Brother Jebiah spoke.

“I used to visit Moonshade Pools to hear the will of the Vigil, but I won’t go near the place now.  Bloodcurdling screams echo through the night, and Tidal Aberrations have risen from the water.    They are infused with death magic, Gwenllian!  Akylios, the false dragon god, bestows mastery of water magic to his worshippers in the Abyssal cult.  Yet, they’ve somehow corrupted the pools with death magic, creating the Tidal Aberrations.”

6.07a - Rhotip

Panting slightly from the exertion, but glad she had spent many years climbing on high branches, Anneleigh reached back of the platform in a matter of seconds.  She looked around for a mechanism that would allow her to bypass the main floor and travel directly to the walkway between the towers.  She could see the large chains that pulled the platform, but the lift seemed to run of its own accord.   Anneleigh thought of her parent’s clock at home and wondered if the lift ran on a similar pulley and weight system.  If it did, she could not see the counter weight.

6.06a - The Labratory

Anneleigh crept quietly to the edge of the Exiles Den and looked out over the entrance way of Icewatch outpost.  Where scores of Guardian and Defiant soldiers had once learned to tolerate each other for the defence of Ironpine Peak there now stood countless cultists who turned a blind eye as the werewolves of Stillmoor moved into the snowy north.

6.05a - Exile's Den

Anneleigh waited at the Oathbound Pass for three days, each day passing more slowly as the desire to warn Icewatch Outpost grew.

“Shouldn’t we set off to warn them?” Anneleigh asked when frustration got the better of her on the third day.  “Bavik will catch up with us.  She’ll know where we went.”

“We’re sending regular updates with messenger hawks.  They know we are on the way, and they know to keep a closer watch on the cultists.”

1.04g - Kirna's Arbor

Gwenllian returned to Hartigan and Talvar.

“So Gorvaht yet lives.” Hartigan said in a whisper.

“Who is Gorvaht?” Gwenllian asked.

“The tales say he’s a satyr who was possessed by a deamon just as the power of Regulos consumed this region two decades ago.”  Hartigan said.

 

 

6.04a - Breaker's Mining Camp

Anneleigh returned to Whitefall, as instructed, but staying clear of Sanctuary also made it difficult to find an assignment.   Night after night for a week she haunted the tavern, hoping to discover citizens in need of her assistance, as she had her first day in the village, but the residents seemed to avoid her gaze and left the room if they found her listening.  At week end, she decided to post a notice on the tavern public board and leave, hoping that someone would seek her out in a less public atmosphere.  Her assumptions paid off when a small dwarf found her in her quarters the next day.