Adventure Three, Session Seventeen

EXT. ZEKE AL BAJAN'S LAST HOPE - DAY
When we last left our heroes...
The party just arrived, out of the desert, at the foot of the Wyrmcrest Mountains, where they came across the small frontier town named "Zeke al Bajan's Last Hope." After Teffa scouted the town and found it devoid of much activity, the party decided to stride in, using the town's "main street" as a thoroughfare.
As noted by Teffa, the town seemed nearly deserted. In fact the only visible activity was the quick shuttering of the blinds covering the window of the general store. Someone cautious was watching them. However, the party continued to the place Teffa previously saw a man cross the street and enter... the constabulary.
They stopped before the thick wooden door of the jail house and knocked. Their summons was soon answered with the sliding open of a tiny peep hole slot. They were confronted by the town's butcher, a man named Randall Forrean. Randall questioned them on their business and intentions, to which the party answered that they were just traveling through and were wondering what happened. Randall wasn't quite forthcoming with his answers, however he was soon shoved aside (from within) by an elderly woman covered in runic tattoos. This woman introduced herself as The Lady Telmont, and she quickly informed the party that they were in danger outdoors. After a moment of convincing on Telmont's part, Randall conceded to allow the party into the constabulary.
Once inside they saw the meager inhabitants... the last remaining "survivors" of some cataclysmic event. They included but a few commoners, a corpulent man covered in gold - who turned out to be Zeke al Bajan himself, and the cosntable Hylan Rook. Zeke al Bajan blurted out something odd. He was shocked to see a minotaur amongst the party, as he thought they were all dead. This didn't make sense to the party, but they dropped it for now.
Telmont explained that their settlement was a mining town, operated by forces loyal to the Grand Hassir of Varuum, and dedicated to "vapor farming." The vapor mines at the end of town, previously spied by Teffa, comprise the entire justification for the town's existence. As the locals employed many migrant and transient nomads as miners, they thusly needed some of the accoutrements of a larger town. Which explained why such a tiny settlement would have a butcher, a fletcher, a blacksmith and a constabulary.
Telmont then explained that several days ago a few strangers entered town and went to the ironically named tavern, "The Winter Wolf." Here they sat and ordered nothing. When questioned, the men (entirely clad in black) simply said they were awaiting friends. Some time later, after subtlety freaking out the small town locals, the men suddenly stood. They went to the window, out of which a dark storm cloud was closing in. However, this cloud hung much lower to the ground than what would be considered normal. No, this was no regular storm cloud. It was thick with blackness and seemed to absorb all the ambient light around it. It also seemed to be on a collision course with the town.
The cloud shortly entered town, via the main street... it seemed to roll through as if on foot. And indeed, upon closer inspection, it appeared to contain PEOPLE. The cloud masked the procession of an entire troop or legion of armed soldiers, also dressed entirely in black. Any townsfolk who stepped outdoors for a better look, or who simply crossed their path, suddenly disappeared, as if absorbed into the cloud. The procession was disintegrating all who came too close as it passed through town. Beyond that, the marching soldiers seemed to have zero interest in "Last Hope" in the least. It appeared to simply be an obstacle in their journey north.
As the cloud-concealed army passed through, they seemed to absorb or siphon off all light in their path, almost as if the sunlight was being PULLED towards them, turning day to night.
By the time the cloud of phantom soldiers (indeed the "men" inside the cloud seemed to be spectral in nature) finally exited town via the north road, they had "consumed" over half the residents, turning them into little clouds of black vapor, leaving behind only a small pile of ashes and their clothes.
Telmont also mentioned, almost in passing, that the soldiers were wearing black armor branded with the heraldry of some unknown nation. The silhouette of a "dragon walking on two legs." This instantly shook loose a memory in Temerity's mind... In the bizarre "mass dream sequence" that she and her companions experienced, the one in which they witnessed the creation of The Tapestry of Meeros Tilva, the invading army from Methanok wore similar armor... with the same heraldry.
But this wasn't the last of their encounters with the phantom brigade. For no more than five hours later, a second wave, much like the first, entered town from the southwest, heading north. More foolhardy residents and miners were consumed by the second black cloud, further dwindling the town's numbers. After this second wave passed through, absorbing all light in their path (and thus "turning day to night"), true nightfall came and the processions stopped.
The respite was brief however, for as day broke a third wave entered town. This would prove to be the most recent procession of the shadow army, and it occurred nearly five hours ago. Telmont expected a fourth... and any time now.
She also noted that the last group of miners to enter the vapor mines never returned. This could be due to the extremely volatile and dangerous nature of the mines themselves (which included hot gas vents that seemed to fire off at irregular intervals), or possibly tied to the march of the dark army.
Around this time, the party saw how injured and sick the constable seemed to be. Hylan explained that he had attempted to confront the first procession, and narrowly escaped being absorbed himself. However, ever since, his condition had been deteriorating. Once a large and solid man, now the constable seemed withered and infirm.
The party offered to heal Hylan, in exchange for some supplies and a map to navigate the mines. They explained that their path ahead would lead them through the mines themselves, seeing as the mines sat square amid the mountain sides in the narrow pass between them. Hylan explained that they had guides to lead the mining expeditions, but all of them had been consumed by the dark clouds. The party would have to proceed on their own.
Tesken decided to leave at this point, to look into the blacksmith's shop in search of a shield. She found a suitable one there, after she slammed the locked door inward. She also found a pile of ashes with clothes around it. Likely the cremains of the blacksmith.
The rest of the party, with the town's blessing (if not Zeke al Bajan's specifically), went to the general store to find supplies. As they searched the general store, suddenly a crossbow quarrel shot into the wall just beside Tesken's head. A moment later, the attempted sniper, an eight-year-old girl, emerged.
Just then, the first signs of the next wave appeared on the horizon. A black cloud was advancing in their direction. Tesken grabbed the little girl, tossing her over her shoulder, and the entire party returned to the constabulary to make a plan.
Warren used his raven familiar to scout the army and also noted the black armor and heraldry previously described. Telmont also explained that the army was commanded at the rear by two soldiers who "seemed different, more corporeal" than the others. The party decided that if the army simply marched passed, as they had before, they might be able to capture one or both of the commanders at the rear.
The procession soon crossed the town boundaries and marched (silently, it should be noted) down the main street. Indeed, they were followed by two men just outside the black cloud. Men also clad in similar black armor. They could now see how ancient the armor appeared... and how ghostly pale the two men appeared. They had withered visages, as if undead, but with eyes that possessed an intelligence not commonly found amongst those raised from the grave.
The two men suddenly halted before the doors of the constabulary, as if perhaps they heard, or felt something. They proceeded to approach the door, tugging at the handle. Everyone huddled towards the back wall. Warren then cast an Illusion, forming an imaginary false wall that covered the party and the survivors, making the room appear just slightly smaller. Warren's raven watched the two commanders from outside.
One of the commanders pulled a black vial from his pouch and smeared a sticky black substance all over the door. The substance dissolved the thick wooden door in moments, clearing their way to enter the constabulary.
The men entered... Once inside, the party noticed something more about the two. They both wore small cloth pouches around their necks. Pouches that reeked with a magical aura. They formulated a plan. They needed those pouches.
As the commanders closed in, suddenly the party struck. Tomison launched a Lightning Bolt at them, shocking both commanders, but not dropping them. Guy attempted to use the Arcane Attractor to wrest one of the pouches from around the closer commander's neck. Unfortunately, the volatile device finally gave up the ghost and shattered. No more Arcane Attractor. For her part, Tesken rushed the two men, slashing at them with her battle axe (which she had coated with the Oil of Sharpness), knocking both of them to the floor.
A moment later, the minotaur managed to yank the two pouches from around their necks. She tossed them to Temerity, who opened one of them. Inside the pouch was a course white powder.., could it be human cremains? And buried within the powder, an ancient silver coin, stamped with the same heraldry.
The commanders stood once more, closing in on the party (now revealed from the false wall) once again. Temerity quickly poured out the bone powder from both pouches, spreading it on the floor. This had an instant effect on the commanders. They both fell to their knees, visibly weakened. Temerity pulled both coins out as well. Suddenly the commanders seemed as if awakened from a long sleep. They were confused... disoriented.
Then they spoke. "The coins...." They begged the party for the two coins. The PCs parlayed with them, asking who they were and where they came from. The two seemed unwilling or unable to recall. It soon became clear they were ancient soldiers pulled from the very battle of Meeros Tilva witnessed "in dreams" by the party. They explained they were headed to a place called "Altribar" to unearth or excavate a lost city at the site. They referred to the lost city as "Balhallad," though they said it once went by a different (but forgotten) name.
They also revealed that they were summoned from the grave by their new masters, the Lentokki, who they referred to as "the easterling conquerers."
Feeling that they gained enough information from the commanders, and seeing as the marching army didn't return to address their capture, the party asked what the two wished. They desired their coins so they could "return to the earth." Temerity returned the coins to the "men" and the two slowly exited the building. Once they hit the sunlight, once again shining since the departure of the dark army, the two commanders disintegrated into dust.
The party knew they were losing precious time. And now with the Lentokki invading from the east, they knew they needed to inform others. They needed to get to Sage , and fast. The mines. They would have to pass through the vapor mines. And without a map.
Just before heading out, Warren used his telepathy to commune with his underworld contact back in Lentokk, to check on this possible invasion. He was met with nothing. It's as if his contact no longer existed... The same contact who had previously warned Warren that the Lentokki were tying up loose ends and purging informants and those with knowledge of their activities.
Telmont gave one final word of advice for the travelers before they left... "Tread slowly. And with patience. Only with patience will you survive the mines."
As soon they would find out...