[After their encounter with the new Demonic residents of Westgate, Fenrir and his new friend Reinward have gone to Cedarsproke to find Blackthorn the naughty druid of the Night Masks.]
DAY 498(13th Flamerule)(july) ...
Reinward wandered out of the inn in the evening and went to find a tattoo artist. He found a half-elf called Kla the Ink who worked out of his home. It was late, but Kla was happy enough to work for gold.
Ren wanted his run in with Hella to be recorded on his skin so had the red band on his wrist that he had lost replaced with some red lettering which read, in the common tongue but in fancy script:
'Ring was taken by Hella the Succubus, No permission asked or given, 10/10, would try again.'
Meanwhile, Fenrir, Raz and Veddic were in the bar, watching a rich looking noblewoman arrive with her maid and a tough looking footman.
Fenrir had a vague feeling of recognition, but could not place her. As he was in disguise, she did give him a second glance, seeing only a merchant.
Ren returned around ten o'clock, while Fenrir was enquiring after Blackthorn. No one admitted to knowing him. He tried one of the serving wenches, turning on the charm;
'A druid called Rollo, a friend of mine, told me I should visit Blackthorn if I happened to be in the area...'
The girl turning white, said 'I don't know anyone called that!' and fled.
(It was a bit much to use my name I should add!)
Ren, getting frustrated at the lack of success, for some bizarre reason, climbed onto the table and shouted, 'Who here knows Blackthorn!?'
The other three all sighed deep sighs, but the angry looking bar man did say;
'Who's asking for him?'
'Err.. A friend said we should look him up?' replied Ren lamely, repeating Fenrir's line.
'Merchants are ye?' snarled the barman. 'Out of Westgate are ye?'
They all nodded.
'Well, you're not welcome here! Get out before I summon the guards!'
Fenrir jumped up and went over to the barman to smooth things over. Silver tongued as ever he managed to keep the rooms they had arranged and agreed with the barman to meet them privately in them after midnight. Ten gold coins changed hands.
DAY 499(14th Flamerule)(july)
'Look,' said Fenrir, 'I just want to know what's going on.'
'Well, he's a bad one right enough,' said the barman. 'In league with all sorts of evil.'
Doubtful at first, he went on to explain that Blackthorn was no longer welcome in Cedarsproke after the rumours of the company he was keeping - thieves, assassins and worse - had gone around the town.
'We might be able to do something about it,' nodded Fenrir conspiratorially.
'Huh, well, I want no part of that, but you'll need a guide to get to Blackthorn's house.'
Fenrir gave the man some more money and arranged a guide. In the morning, a small fellow called Tulip the Pixie met them for breakfast, then led them a couple of miles into the forest.
Ren, who was still in an odd mood said to Tulip, 'I thought all pixies were female?'
'Oh yeah?' growled the pixie. 'I'll do you at a treat lad, don't worry!'
The young rogue was then called every name under the sun by the furious pixie.
Before the argument could develop further though, the had arrived. It was more of a Wood Shaped cave structure than a house, but the entrance was guarded by four elven rangers.
'Who goes there?' called out their leader.
'Eandhehrt Dige' replied Fenrir, giving his current alias.
Blackthorn was not immediately available, so after half an hour or so an elf maid came out with four glasses and a bottle of wine.
Fenrir was suspicious though and had Veddic cast Detect Poison. The wine was indeed poisoned and as they looked up from the spell the rangers, realising they were rumbled, opened fire with their bows.
Arrows flew, but besides Ren, they were all heavily armoured. As the rangers fled backwards from Fenrir's onslaught of Eldritch Blasts and Raz's axe, summoned Crocodiles and Shambling Mounds came in to replace them.
It was a brutal battle, in the cramped halls of Blackthorn's Manor, but they hero's beat back the enemy, pushing further in, until they encountered two elf druids. Large boars were summoned, but these two were defeated.
Those that still lived, a ranger, a druid and the non-combatant maids and children were allowed to leave. One ranger, mourning the death of his beloved brother chose to end his own life rather than go on alone.
Raz and Ren searched some of the rooms, while Fenrir managed to find a hidden tunnel that led down into earthy darkness.
Assuming that Blackthorn was down there, they regrouped and healed. Veddic stuffed six elf corpses into his bag for later.
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