Session III

With scheduling difficulties finally overcome, the players...all 3 of them! Nacho McChumpie has a name now!...managed to get together this Sunday night for some mayhem.

Kaloei and Sol were set to join an Orien caravan traveling from Fairhaven to Sharn, as asked by the mysterious Urik Rorham. Note, by the way, that Fairhaven to Sharn is a long way, especially by trade road. The caravan would be making many stops, bringing on new wagons and leaving others behind. Of particular note in this caravan was a small group from the Raincaller's Guild of House Lyrandar and a group from House Sivis, maintaining an appropriately gnome-sized wagon and serving as the mobile communications center by carrying a speaking stone.

The caravan was headed up by one Joreth d'Orien, an extremely well-dressed, extremely well-fed, extremely slimy sort. His head of security was Milaya d'Orien, and the players also met one Cyria Laiqua d'Lyrandar, who was traveling with the Raincallers.

The first several days were uneventful, until arriving at the town of Lathlear. A rather nondescript place, except that it is the home of a renowned Aundairian artist, the reclusive but brilliant sculptor Haradeen. The entire reason for the caravan coming to Lathlear, in fact, was to pick up his two newest pieces for transport to passage, where they would be taken by Lightning Rail to Sharn.

The two large crated statues were accompanied by their own security detachment, as well; a group of six, mixed of humans and half-orcs, led by one particularly enormous half-orc with grayish skin, keenly intelligent eyes, and an enormous longbow slung across his back. A few of them were sporting visible Dragonmarks, and it was assumed that they were a group of Tharashk mercenaries hired to provide security for the artwork.

That night there was to be a celebratory dinner on the greensward just outside the town. It wasn't every day, of course, that new works of Master Magecraft Sculptor Haradeen were unveiled. A large silk pavilion was erected, servants were liveried, etc. Due to introducing herself to the caravan master, Kaloei was invited and told she could, if she wished, bring along her 'retainers.' (Sol and Cyria were perfectly happy to melt into the background that way). Upon arriving, each guest was announced, and of course the leader of the Tharashk contingent was invited. And announced as Iyerke d'Tharashk.

Naturally, Sol and Kaloei remembered this name; it had been given to them by Urik Rorham as someone he believed connected to the rash of disappearances in Fairhaven. It being a party, there wasn't a whole lot they could do about it.

"Hello, Iyerke. Charmed. I'm Kaloei. Enjoying the wine? Kidnap anyone lately?"

See? It doesn't work.

At any rate, at the party, the new works by Master Haradeen were unveiled. The town of Lathlear itself had a few on display, including a prominent statue of Queen Aurala in the town square. They were quite lifelike. And the two statues newly unveiled were incredilby detailed. One was a farmer, good Aundarian type, wearing simple homespun and burlap and carrying a hoe slung over his shoulder. The other was a curious piece; a warrior, with shield and sword upraised, wearing Cyran livery and rank insignia. The sword itself looked so real a viewer might swear it would cut if touched.

Kal, Sol, and Cyria oohed and aahed over the statues appropriately. Also while at dinner they met the head of the caravan's Sivis detachment, Derrin Leyn D'Sivis, notably for his courtesy, erudition, and for being just about the only male at the party (besides Sol) who didn't stare at Kaloei's cleavage (remember the discussion below about being the rare zaftig elf), if only because he wasn't tall enough.

The next few days were more or less uneventful, with Sol offering his services for the caravan's security to Milaya d'Orien, especially as regarded the guarding of Haradeen's statues.

About halfway to Passage, there was some commotion one morning; one of the caravan's scout/sentries was found, about 1oo yards to the west, with his throat slit. Milaya, Sol, Cyria, Iyerke, and most of the other Tharashk mercenaries went to investigate. Neither Sol nor Iyerke were able to find any solid tracks leading away from the body, indicating the deed was done by someone with woodcraft.

Meanwhile, Kaloei had stayed behind with the bunk wagon they'd been staying in, which was on the east side of the caravan, near the wagon carrying the statues. She noticed, though it was nearing dawn, that it was suddenly much darker on that side of the caravan...as though, perhaps, a magical darkness was spreading from the treeline.

Then, suddenly, a group of nearly 30 riders burst from the treeline and began a made ride towards the wagon carrying the artwork. The alarm went up, but most of the guards- and the best of them- were on the west side scouring the woods for sign of who had killed their sentry.

As Kaloei watched, the riders immediately formed a wedge that was pointed directly at the wagon carrying the statues. They bore themselves with military precision and clearly had training; no ordinary bandits, these. Many of them were horse archers and began peppering the camp with arrows, working mostly as a kind of 'suppression' fire, trying to keep folks heads down. The Tharashk mercenaries, to their credit, immediately assumed firing positions around their wagon and began returning fire, but the two left behind were quickly cut down. Meanwhile, the group of six riders at the front of the wedge performed a running dismount, and stormed towards the wagon that was their clear target, swords drawn.

Milaya was the first to intercept them, 'bamf'ing into a position in front of the wagon. Iyerke, just on foot, wasn't far behind her, and began peppering the bandits with arrows from his enormous bow, though his aimed seemed off.

It figures; introduce a recurring villain and watch him completely crap out when it comes to combat.

Eventually Sol caught up and began hurling axes, then engaging in hand to hand. Kaloei had, in fine bard tradition, slunk away from the combat, but then found some courage (without any alcohol to hand, either- definitely a departure from true bardic form) and returned to engage the bandits with her trusty rapier.

Eventually, Milaya was felled by the man who seemed to lead the bandits, though he had help. Meanwhile, a group of horsemen had peeled off with unsaddled horses and seemed to be making to hitch them to the wagon to lead it off. Cyira then entered the fray and showed fine combat instincts, attempting to Entangle the bulk of the bandits, and she was in large part successful.

Kaloei and Sol joined together to try and guard the wagon holding the statues; two bandits managed to break down the door, but Sol dropped one with an axe to the skull, and Kaloei pursued the other to the interior, engaging him in a duel. Sol came face to face with the bandit leader, and they began fighting.

Curiously, as the bandits fought they often uttered short warcries, such as "for Cyre!" Sol eventually noticed that the leader was wearing Cyran insignia, of an elite unit known as the Queen's Blades. They spoke. The leader made some bold claims.

Namely that the statue in the wagon was, in fact, a petrified Cyran officer, their captain, and they were fighting to get him back in order to save him.

This revelation brought the fighting to a standstill, with Sol unwilling to attempt to kill his opponent, Milaya out of the fray, and neither side with a clear upper hand, as most of the guards had now been able to engage the attackers. An uneasy and undeclared truce was enacted.

The caravan master emerged and dismissed the Cyran's claims as ridiculous and unfounded. Sol asked if a wizard could be brought forth to prove or disprove. Joreth summoned the caravan's wizard. Milaya, healed of some of her wounds by the field medics, approached, as did Iyerke.

The first statue's crate was opened. All marveled at the detail of the Cyran warrior. Suddenly, Joreth reached, touched the statue with one hand, Iyerke with the other, and all 3 vanished.

There was stunned silence. The Cyrans were furious. Milaya was furious. The Cyrans retreated. Milaya told Sol that he and Kaloei were no longer welcome with the caravan, having aided and abetted bandits, and would be put off in Passage.

Cyria put in a call to her father, a highly placed Lyrandar diplomat, asking if bookings could be made for 3 on the Lightning Rail from Passage to Sharn. (Favored in House feat at work, for those keeping score at home). She got a message back that yes, it could be, but not in first class. It would do her good to mingle with the great unwashed.

Kal, Sol, and Cyria pondered things. Was the statue really a person? That'd be a great way to transport prisoners. Derrin Leyn D'Sivis came to talk with them. He was interested, as well. He didn't know much, of course, but he'd heard rumors about a half-orc matching Iyerke's description being wanted in many cities between Fairhaven and Sharn. He announced he'd be going out for a walk, and that he was a clumsy sort and may drop something.

He did. A small envelope, with one piece of paper; a copy of the bills of lading for the statues, and the names of who they were going to in Sharn. One to someone named Cavallah, the other to Lord Admiral Lyrien of the Lhazzar Principalities.

The caravan approaches Passage; the intrepid heroes await the Lightning Rail and Sharn.