Ali 1.02- History Lessons.

“Ali?  Alisandrina?” says a woman gently as she pats my forehead with a damp cloth.  I try to sit up, to look around, but the throbbing of my head holds me down just as securely as the woman with the cloth. 

“Don’t try to speak.” She says in a whisper.  “Just listen.  There will be time for your questions in a few moments, but you need to understand what has happened first.” 

I try to sit up again, suddenly alarmed, but she looks at me with concern and holds me down to the bed.  “Be calm child.”

7.4a - Kain's Decent

Anneleigh did not return to Thalin Tor as instructed, but instead continued to search for the others.    She was beginning to lose hope when she heard scuffling from behind one of the large gravestones in a cemetery she was investigating.

“Oh thank the Vigil you are here, Anneleigh!” cried Dame Levitia Voyla when Anneleigh rounded the stone.  “I only pray you are not too late.”

“What has happened,” Anneleigh said as she knelt to address the gash on Volya’s leg, “Where are the others?”

“Don’t worry about my wounds, madam!  Captian Ledisko is here in this cemetery, buried in a shallow grave!”

6.03a - The Forge

((To make up for the delay - a longer than usual segment - Happy Christmas))

Anneleigh left the observation spot and made her way along the known trails, watching for signs of the courier or his dark package.   Before too long she found his resting space, undeniably death touched and impossible to miss.  As she approached the courier, she thought he saw the hint of a smile on his face.

She came up and stood just outside the perimeter of the planar reach.  The courier watched her for a few moments, panting with exhaustion, sometimes grimacing in pain.  After a few minutes of silent observations, on both the part of the courier and Anneleigh, he finally spoke.

6.02a - Redsnow Courier

The third husband walked Anneleigh to the place he lost track of his wife’s footprints in the snow.  From there, she was able to use her hunting skills to track the woman.  Bent branches here and there as well as a few disturbed piles of snow lead her to the third husband’s wife.  Curiously the other two women were with her.  They were huddled in a small clearing, surrounding a few candles, some of which had burnt themselves out, others had been blown out by the wind.  Hanging around the neck of each of the deceased woman is a Couldbourne Ice Necklace.  The men had described the trinkets as a protection against evil, but it seems these victims did not reap those benefits.

6.01A - Cloudbourne Protection

Anneleigh walked through the quiet village until she came to Kain’s command at the far end of the settlement.  Though she was shivering with the cold and blowing snow, she remained out in the open to observe.  Kain was in conversation with his soldiers and she did not want him to see her in cover and think she eavesdropped on a private conversation.

“The work you’ve been doing here has not gone unnoticed.  Cyril himself has sent commendations, but I’ll dispense with the pleasantries.”

5.07a - The Shrine of Thedeor

Anneleigh walked towards the old, gray-haired, and bearded sage, who was grinning ear to ear.  After the day’s events, it was a relief to see he obviously had good news.

“Thank you for your assistance against the Shatterbone cultists, Anneleigh.” He began as he led her to one of the worship rows to sit down.  “Nothing can repay the debt our order owes you, but perhaps this may aid you some.”

5.04 - Heart of Mathos

On her way out of the Lord’s Hall, Anneleigh kept a watchful eye on the disrupted debris of the now silent chambers.   She found several artifacts that she believed might be worth collecting and pocketed the items; a tarnished heavy chain with a Mathosian engraving, a jagged object that emitted a strange purple glow, a clasp or tie of silver, a cracked gem mount.   Strangely, many of the pieces seemed to fit together, forming some sort of amulet; complete, though damaged, aside from the missing gemstone.  Anneleigh tested the glowing artifact in the empty place, but it did not complete the set.

1.12 - The Shade of Regulos

Anneleigh approached the Messenger at the end of the presentation platform and knelt at its feet.  It took several moments for the Messenger to speak.

“This place is a nexus where the power of the five Gods meets.  It is where the Vigil can reach out its hand to those who seek them. “

The Messenger nodded and Anneleigh rose.

“You have done all the Gods have asked.  Now they ask for so much more.  You must be prepared to give your life to push Regulos back through the Ward. “