Bane the Barbarian – Session 9
DAY 22
The next morning Krallovar requested our presence at a special breakfast in a private room he had arranged. I knew not for what purpose, but Az said that he had spoken with the fellow and was convinced that we should attend. So I went.
When we arrived, there was a huge banquet layed out on the table, with the cloaked and hooded figure of Krallovar sitting there smoking a pipe.
“Welcome friends” he began, “for friends we must be to travel the long road together…”
A little presumptuous I thought. Friendship has to be earned, it doesn’t come from having to travel together.
Krallovar continued.
“… I must apologize for my rather abrupt behaviour last night. I have had an opportunity to speak with Azannyrovar and I realise that some form of explanation is in order.”
He paused before continuing, apparently for effect.
“At one point in time I had the honour to be called Kormaikovar Havintakovar Krallovar Helliekovel Khorflintov of the Stoneforge clan. I have however left the clan and am now simply Krallovar. First, let me answer the obvious question, why did I leave the clan? I am as you know a priest of Wee-Jas, however my devotion to the Goddess goes beyond that of your typical priest. Wee-Jas has blessed me with her touch, and I am her disciple. I am not boasting, it is the simple truth that I have been blessed by her hand. However as I am sure Rae can confirm, the blessings of Wee-Jas are sometimes a double edged sword.”
“Actually, I can confirm no such thing” Rae contradicted. “My strength, which I am granted through Wee-Jas, only cuts one way. I do not consider it to be a ’double edged sword’ as you put it. You know very little of me Krallovar, do not presume you understand my relationship with Wee-Jas.”
Krallovar appeared to reconsider for a moment. I had the impression that his flow had been interrupted and he was somewhat taken aback by Rae’s barbed response. Well, if he was going to be travelling with us he would have to get used to it.
“My apologies, I don’t presume to understand your relationship with our Goddess Rae. That relationship is a very private matter. I do however know Wee-Jas, and her gifts are seldom granted without some constraint. I cannot elaborate on the gifts that Wee-Jas’s touch has blessed me with as I am still growing into them, and with this growth will come knowledge and a deeper understanding of her divine wisdom. To quote an old proverb, I am simply a traveller on a long and winding road, although night has fallen the moon cast shadows light my way.”
How quaint.
Krallovar walked to the table.
“Come, eat and drink. I will answer your questions as best I may”
Rae seemed unimpressed.
“If you cannot elaborate on the gifts that Wee-Jas has bestowed upon you then perhaps you can tell us what price you are paying for them? I for one would very much like to know what that is” she pressed.
Krallovar’s discomfort increased a little. I suspected that his nicely prepared speech was not going exactly as he had planned. After taking another moment to gather himself he responded.
“Wee-Jas’s touch has imbedded a sentient presence into my body, which dwells quite separately to myself. And the reason why I wear armour and a hooded cloak is because of the scars that cover my body. My appearance is not what most people would find pleasing, which I think is an understatement. I am not a wanted man in any kingdom and have no obligations to complete.”
Oh well, if that’s all it is I feel much better!!!! Are you kidding me!! This guy has just told us he’s possessed!!! Hello, Is that OK with you?
Az did seem a little concerned about the possibility of the “thing” inside Krallovar taking over at some point but, after Krallovar had assured him that it was not possible, he relented. I wondered how Krallovar could be so certain the entity was incapable of controlling him when he knew so little about it. Apparently none of the others found it particularly unsettling though. An uneasy acceptance of him steadily grew within the group.
Funny, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between how Krallovar was handling this and Rae’s approach after the death of Tangrel. Both of them had attempted to gain trust by revealing that they were tainted with evil. I found it a little hard to understand why they were surprised when the result was not what they sought. Could they really expect any different? Honesty is laudable, but do you feel any more trusting of a viper when it admits that’s what it is? I certainly did not.
As the breakfast continued it became clear that, despite everything, Krallovar would be travelling with us. Rae and Muratis felt that we needed a cleric to aid us in our fight against the Enemy. In fact that had been one of the reasons Rae had gone to the temple of Wee-Jas in the first place. I made no mention of my personal concerns, but I intended to keep a very close eye on the fellow.
THE NEXT FEW DAYS
The next few days were uneventful for me. The others continued with their business in Verbobonc and I waited for them to finish. I passed the time as best I could, though I was impatient to be going.
The only event of note was a second meeting with the Med-Jai, this time arranged by Rae on the group’s behalf. Nothing new came of it however, other than clarifying the distinction the Med-Jai drew between the servants of “He Who Must Not Be Named” and the worshippers of the Elder Elemental Eye. They did appear to be trying to cooperate but they offered little of value and the meeting deteriorated when Rae declared that they were “Wasting her time.”
On the fourth day we finally departed, leaving for Rastor. Three days after that we arrived in the small township of Brindinford.
For Rae and Muratis it was a return to where they had started. It was apparent that they were quite the celebrities there. As we rode into town the people came out to welcome them warmly, and that night we had dinner with the local Baron. It was all very cosy… but only really served to delay us still further from the task at hand.
The people were so friendly we stayed there for two more days.
Blah…blah… travelling … blah… blah… social event… yada…yada…yada
DAY 31
Finally, after a further three days travel from Brindinford, we arrived in Rastor. It was a muddy, ramshackle, little outpost nestled on the edge of the mountains, comprised of twenty to thirty, dingy and decrepit dwellings in which there resided a strange mix of Humans, Half-Orcs and Dwarves. It was not a pleasant place to live, which was in stark contrast to Brindinford. I doubted that anyone would come to this bleak spot if not for the mine. Two trails led up into the mountains, and some distance beyond a strange tower could just be made out, rising between the peaks.
We took rooms at the flea-bitten, dingy and draughty inn and discussed our next move. My opinion was that we should go up into the hills that very night. I did not fancy staying where we were an easy target. After all it was quite unlikely that our arrival would have escaped notice. In any event, we had tarried too long in recent weeks. There was no telling how fast the Enemy’s plans were progressing.
In an attempt to gather more information before we decided, Az went for a scout around town in the hopes that he could talk with some of its Dwarven inhabitants. When he returned he told us that he had spoken with a Dwarf called Hammersong who had been the original owner of the mine. Hammersong had provided Az with a rough map of the area in and around the mine head and had told him the story of how, some months ago, the Dwarves had been forced out of the mine by strange interlopers who had used dark magic to overpower them. Some of the Dwarves had died and many had departed. Only a few remained. Now there was a lot of activity up at the crater. Something strange and unholy was going on there, though what exactly none could say. No one went up there any more except groups of armed men or carts carrying supplies which would periodically pass through Rastor on their way up to the mine. They seldom returned. The mines had become an evil place.
In the end it was agreed that we should not spend the night in the rooms at the inn. We slipped out under cover of darkness and went up into the hills. There the others concealed themselves in Muratis’s “rope trick” while I hid outside.
Night passed…
