U-turns
in the Snow
16/15/10,121 - Samadum
The five pass a miserable but uneventful night cowering from the howling wind driven sleet.
Whilst heeling spells have been cast liberally Tharla realises that the freezing conditions may yet claim one or more of their number, whilst Brasso is at least comfortable both Tharla & Illyra are reluctant to try & remove the ragged spearhead lodged in Kilite's thigh.
Decision made, the wagons are reluctantly turned back towards Samadum, Molin, having followed the orc's trail some distance, tells, much to the others relief, that the orc's have fled the immediate vicinity. As the wagons slowly creep back the way they'd previously come, Molin salvages what he can of the orc's abandoned arms & chattels, determined to at least get something for their efforts, he does not however pass on his concerns that the orc corpses are little encumbered suggesting that there may be a larger force not to far away. Keeping this to himself Molin spends most of his time scouting away from the trail until, late in the morning, he crests a rise to the East to see a sizable war band of orc's, a thousand plus at least. Dropping below the rise he watches for some time before returning unseen to the creeping wagons where he passes on the good news.
Not daring to rest, the wagons are pushed torturously slow back towards Samadum. Finally reaching its crumbling whitewashed walls, as midnight approaches, the bedraggled party cross the debris filled dyke & enter the city unchallenged. Despite their exhaustion & the injuries to their friends, an attempt is made to alert the city watch to the danger beyond, scornfully however their warnings are dismissed as foolhardy nonsense spoken only by those to stupid to understand the complexities of the world. Having done their best the five pass into the city & unenthusiastically take refuge back at The Bloated Cow. Seeing their injuries, their host at least banks up the fire, reheats left over broth & sends out for a local priest.
An hour later there is a tap at the door, an old priest, a servant of Jirre, presents himself to the party asking how he may serve, Tharla, knowing that without his help Kilite, & possibly Brasso, will not survive the remainder of the night quickly agrees to the priests request for a donation, a very large donation, to swell the ailing churches coffers. Satisfied, the priest agrees to seek the intervention of his mistress to intercede with the servants of Teorris, Master of the Underworld, on Kilite's & Brasso's behalf.
A long night passes accompanied by the incessant droning of the priest's prayers, as morning breaks the sweating priest stands & states that he has done what he can, his mistress has paid obedience for the favour of Teorris.
"Your friends will live of that I can be certain, the dwarf wounds, whilst bloody were not life threatening & my mistress was able to heal his body without cause to trouble others. The human however is a different matter, Teorris's sister, Lyesha-Rai had taken his soul for her own & much has been bartered for its return. Silver alone will not be repayment for my mistress's services this night, your friend will now find a love like he has not felt before, a love like my own for the mistress I & he now serves."
Before departing the priest advises he will return in the morning to give instruction to Jirre's newest acolyte, he is concerned however at the news of the orcish horde & questions as to where the five are to travel from Samadum. Hearing that they travel for Brev he requests, & gains, the their permission to accompany the party to Brev, which apart from the safety of its walls will allow him to further instruct Kilite in the way of his new mistress.
Overhearing the talk of orc war parties their host questions & is soon convinced of the reality of the horde if not their intent, but not wishing to wait to find out he immediately takes steps for he, his family & possessions to be carried to Kara-Est.
As life awakens within the crumbling walls of the city, rumours afresh tell of a vast army of orc's camped only a days ride from the city. The rumours quickly take hold & soon a steady stream of wagons, laden dogs & people afoot make their way through the city gates & out onto the freezing steppes.