Chapter Five
Continuing West along the road that will take them into Bretonia's & probably Grayhawk's, largest ever built citadel, Gran Breton the road increasingly becomes busier & busier. Traders, patrols & all manner of people are travelling towards the capital of the troubled realm, it is obvious to all that the nearer to Gran Breton they get the more prevalent are the yellow eyes of the inhabitants.
Stopping as night falls at another of the many wayside taverns on route, they are informed that a curfew has recent been imposed upon the masses, absolutely no one is allowed in or out after dark, besides whispers one of the taverns residents,
"You really wouldn't want to walk the streets of the citadel after dark"
Next morning, the fourteenth of Octarius, Krei follows the others into Gran Breton itself, covering her face Krei is immediately struck by the filth and stench of death and decay, it pervades everything, even in the Artisans Quarter there are bodies left to rot in alleyways, rivulets of their rotting bodily fluids trickling into the main drains.
Stepping warily around the fetid remains of the dead it is agreed that they must mind a tavern or similar where they can safely leave their horses etc before trawling the citadel for information regarding the source of the evil Amarsh & the whereabouts of Korvin.
As they pass a secluded alley however, Lexian, Priest of Balance, notices & moves towards a symbol of the dragon carved into a door, wanting to go alone to investigate, Mohimas insists that they should stay together as there is safety in numbers. Approaching the door en mass their knock is answered by a priestess of Jarik, Cerosnor, who explains that she runs a hostel to try & feed the poor & those that suffer the early stages of Yellow Lotus addiction, Krei is impressed by her dedication however only Lexian is moved sufficiently to offer financial aid to her cause, in tears the missionary priestess thanks Lexian profusely for his gift & offers him & his friends lodging, Krei horrified at the thought of staying in this foul place & silently is most thankful when the others decline the priests appalling offer.
Some time later, bathed & refreshed in the relative comfort of the Bow & Shaft, a tavern, in Krei's eyes, acceptable only for the fact that it refuses entrance for Yellow Lotus addicts, Krei warming herself before the fire listens as the task before them is discussed. Krei questions the others as to Lexian's absence, Turbulane advises that he has taken the surplus horses to the market & should be back soon.
Watching Kareida out of the corner of her eye, Krei can't help being suspicious of her whisperings with Mohimas, perhaps, she mused, the old bastard fancies rutting in the woods with a wolf, after all the thought appealed to her. It soon becomes apparent however that other matters are afoot, something to do with the affects of the moon phases on Kareida's ability to transform. Announcing that she, Kareida, will spend the night out in the open, away from the citadel, Mohimas and the others decide to accompany her; Krei however has other plans & declines to forgo another night under the stars for the comfort of a warm bed.
Once the others have departed, under promise of where they will meet the next morning, Krei, attired in dark warm clothing slips from the inn & goes in search of Zelth, sure that she has glimpsed him within the confines of the citadel walls.
After several hours of hoping in & out of shadows Krei eventually catches sight of the Rosan deep in discussion with a unwholesome looking crew of vagabonds outside a tavern, questioning a passing street urchin, Krei, for a few coppers learns that inn has a reputation for trouble where the life of an unfortunate is worth no more than the cost of a cheap whore. Unable to discern the outcome of Zelth's plotting Krei decides to continue shadowing his movements trusting that the conversations with the street ruffians is of little consequence.
Several hours later, curfew avoided, Krei sits astride her bed unable to sleep, time & again she runs Zelth's movements through her head but making no sense of the matter she lies back, her arm draping over the naked buttocks of the, now sleeping, stable boy, perhaps with the coming morning matters would resolve themselves.
The next morning, the sixteenth, Krei dresses early & playfully pushing the youth from her bed slips out onto the street, heading towards where she now knows Zelth is hiding Krei munches on fruit whilst she waits for the pig to emerge from his sty, eventually he emerges & heads towards the Noble Quarter of the citadel, guessing that something is afoot Krei continues to track his movements.
Sometime later Krei is taken aback as she spies her several erstwhile companions huddled around a fountain conversing with a couple of pointy ears, of Hillan & Kareida there is no sign, with Zelth unaware of her presence Krei declines to reveal her self not wishing to prompt Zelth to act rashly.
Loosing sight of Zelth, Krei follows her friends & the strangers into the Noble Quarter, as Krei slips unnoticed through the gate she notes the glint of coin passing from Lexian's hand into the hand of one of the supposedly loyal gate guardians, inside the walled quarter things are very much different to the rest of the citadel, no corpses, no yellow eyes, no filth marring the tree lined avenues.
With still no sighting of Zelth, Krei hurries to catch her friends without drawing attention to herself however when she steps around a corner greeting them cordially it is clear all is not as it should be.
Quickly Mohimas explains that they stand before the tower of Korvin, glancing over Turbulane's shoulder Krei can see two guards bearing swords identical to that wielded by Hillan, reminded of the missing Hillan & Kareida, Krei queries their absence only to be told of the attack the night before & the subsequent death of the their comrades. Appalled by the tale, Krei bites her lip, as the description of the Bretonian thugs who attacked is to close for comfort to those who the night before she saw deep in conversation with Zelth.
Stifling her anger she listens as Mohimas tells of the blind wanderer, Silin & his wolfish companion, Gwaellin & of Urul, the Wolf Lord. Finally she is introduced to the two elves with which her remaining friends have joined forces in pursuit of Korvin & the source of the polluted Amarsh.
Putting aside her growing hatred for the Rosan dogging their moves & her grief at the loss of her friends, Krei looks to the others as to how they intended to enter the tower of the despoiler, Korvin.