Bumps in the Woods

Welcome to New Senedar

 
We arrived the next morning at the elvish city. Bright and shining, the city of white stone gleamed like an impossible stone.
 
We were met at the white-wood docks by a single elven woman. An announcement of our business, and a fee of ten gold, and we were in harbor. The city of New Senedar is noticably more (publically) magical than other cities: with the help of animated, magical statues, we got directions to the market area of town. The marketplace seemed almost like a stuary, which many more of the animated statues everywhere. in the middle stood a huge sculpture adorned with gems and jewels: an armored high elf with a crown of pure silver, holding an outstretched hand of crackling green magic-fire, and hanging from the other hand the head of an orc. A cartographer's shop was found, and the party entered (with Fathom and Brom staying outside to window-shop).
 
INside, the party learned that the most well-charted city to the north Nanecad is not terribly far, but modern history has stricken the city with plague. Nanecad was abandoned as a result. He suggested Hempsem, to the west of Nanecad. Though not idea, it would take us two or three days on land to reach the Withering Woods from there.
 
Rohrouk did doubt the cartographer (as any good customer he and Cassandra discussed (before agreeing) to message the Northerners. Their response was swift: "Do. Not. Go. To. Nanecad." Fifteen gold later, and we had charts.
 

An Introduction

 
We made our way jovially back to the ship. On the way, a few of us spotted someone following behind us. Between messages and whispers the follower was explained to everyone. We chose to duck down an alleyway, Brom hiding and Eragon turning Fathom invisible. We laid in wait, but as time passed it seemed that our trap would not be sprung. Cassandra sent Margerine to investigate, who was shot donw by the unseen figure on the rooftops.
 
Our invisible Fathom leapt from wall to wall, practically running vertically to make the rooftop. Our stalker was there, who saw Fathom despite the magical illusion -- only to pull out a knife and move to take his own life. Fathom reached out to "save" the figure, but was too slow: the man began to slump over lifeless... only to disappear into smoke and nothingness. As Fathom regrouped, Cassandra and Eragon guessed that it was a kind of necromancy. Eerily familiar to his magic.
 
"It's him," Cass explained. "Binding spirits to his will, with bright eyes of coal."


 
As we discussed, more quiertly this time, Cassandra brought up an interesting idea: maybe he doesn't have another person to read the cards. If that were the case, then he would be following what we do now, to take our work or open a passage, etc. Then again, Aeliliah's timely sickness is probably a sign that his plan is going... well (for him).
 
 

The Northern North

Thankfully, heading north was a bit easier than we anticipated.
 
We sighted land after a day, and headed west to find Hempsem (again, not difficult). The town's docks were empty, and no people were in sight. Cassandra tried a door -- the inside was dark and shadowy. Rohrouk, shoving through, investigated. There was damage inside, and still no people. Still no further, Cassandra messaged Ivanka directly.
 
"A plague that makes beasts of men. Bloodborn. They hunt at night, and fear fire. Head north to Tirioten. Hi Eragon."
 
Heeding this advice, Cassandra and Eragon stayed aboard the ship to prepare magics for the cold ahead. Rohrouk searched the village with the rest of the group, finding warm clothes and lantern oil. Brom and Fathom searched for clothes as well, As they traversed the village, Brom (and col) found only one body: killed by a crossbow bolt through the neck and slumped against the door to one house. His face was long and gaunt, and covered in coarse fur. This person's limbs seemed stretched as well. "We have to tell the rest about this," Brom resolved.
 
When they brought the entire party back (on their way out of the village), Cassandra was able to tell that the body had been dead for at least three days.
 
Against the party's wishes, Rohrouk set the body alit (with the help of lamp oil).
 

Cold wilds

And so we left the village. Though our trek was largely undisturbed, the odd grumble or rustle from beyond vision in the woods kept the party largely restless. There was no peace for us as we hiked, worried and cold to the bone.
 
That first day was quiet, but as night fell we feared for ourselves. As we searched for a spot, having decided to make camp, Rohrouk spotted a dead horse a couple dozen feet off. "Something's... hulking over it." On the whole, we tried to creep off the road, towards the shelter of large boulders nearby.
 
But a loud crack from Cassandra underfoot broke the deathly silence. In panic, Eragon snapped his fingers, and a even louder crack ripped through the trees from the opposite direction. Quickly, he pulled harder at the weave, to cast an invisibility on the offending Cassandra.
 
"Is that someone...snoring?"
(as the creature snarled)
 
With dark brown fur, crawling on four legs in the vague guise of a human, the creature moved towards our position. Its lips pulled back to snarl, revealing humanoid teeth on its mangled face.
 
Panicking, Cassandra cast silence on the creature, breaking her magical invisibilty. The creature immediately noticed her, adn as it moved to lope towards her, eyes blinked into existence amidst the trees. Growls, rumbles, and low howls echoed as the creatures revealed themselves. All humanoids were vaguely beastial, some dragging pitchforks, axes, and other improvised weapons.
 
We could hear larger, heavier footfalls from the road onwards. Something bigger was coming.
 
Thinking quickly, all jumped to action:
Brom cast black tendrils, summoning the Hollow Spirit to impede and thrash the foes
Cassandra cast scorching rays to fell several trees and corral our attackers
Eragon cast slow to prevent attacks as we moved to defensive positions
Fathom slapped a few of the beastial figures before covering our movements
Rohrouk cleared the way for the rest of the group to surround him
 
From the path onwards, we all looked up as the steps grew louder. Larger than a house, a gigantic beastial humanoid lumbered towards us. It took a huge leap, claring dozens of feet, to land ever-closer. But quick to cast, Eragon whipped out his staff and pointed with a shout. A wave of psychic energy rippled from the creature, hitting several of the creatures... as well as Fathom. All of them took the brunt of the attack, save the giant.
 
As, slowly, we began to hold the tide, Eragon spotted a women amidst the chaos. Black hair and pale, naked skin nearly hidden against the snow.... with long claws and blood dripping from her mouth. She sauntered over towards Eragon, pointing a gnarled finger at the wizard to wrack him with pain. "Eragon!" Brom called, shattering the limb of the Hollow Spirit to reduce the wizard's pain.
 
In the middle of the pack -- and the allies -- Brom shouted to Eragon, pointing in retreat. Grabbing Cassandra, he called to the Hollow Spirit to allow them to travel up and away, but in his horror Eragon and Fathom still stood in range of his thundrous step[/i[. He dealt damage to them, and to the attacking pack, he and Cassandra popping atop the nearby cliff. To be met by the murdrous wolf-woman; she reached out to caress Cassandra's cheek, and rip the life from her veins.
 
The party jumped to defense: Rohrouk cleaned up the remaining infected. Fathom scaled the cliff, jumping to our defense as Eragon cast polymorph on the attacking wolf-woman to make her a snail... which Cassandra subsequently put to sleep (along with the infected attacking Brom; unfortunately for him, that spelled his death).
 
And thusly, we fled. Minutes passed before we heard loud roaring behind: the woman had snapped back from her snail-sleep, and the giant reappeared on this plane from his banishment.