Early
Morning Blues
3/3/10,122 - Brev
As Illyra, Tharla & Kilite make last minute adjustments to their gear, Molin quietly slips back into the chapel, knowing that he may face the wrath of Kilite he shrugs & wraps the two silver candlesticks from beneath the alter under his cloak. Nonchalantly he slips back into the yard, Illyra & Kilite continue to pack their gear unawares however Tharla can't help noticing the bulging package that Molin hurriedly stuffs into his saddlebags. Alerted by her suspicions Kilite mutters a curse concerning protection of the church's contents but takes no further action.
Paying her last farewell to her family Illyra joins the others in the early morning damp cold streets as they head for the city gate, however following a heated discussion the four separate, Tharla & Kilite turn to the North East gate, Molin & Illyra the North West gate, with little traffic to hold their departure. The four soon reach & pass under the city walls unquestioned, Molin however does catch the eye of one of the gate wardens, Molin realises that the watching guard is the sergeant of the patrol who he encountered following his escape from the city Governors shackles several nights earlier. Failing to place Molin's face the sergeant of the gate turns to the next departing merchant missing Molin's departing wink.
Skirting the walls they turn into the chill southern wind & begin their journey towards Athalau. Progress, despite the endless backtracking to avoid the numerous sulphur-ridden gullies, is good & they make fifty or so miles over the first three days.
Molin puts his falcon to work on the trail & rabbit becomes their staple fresh meet for the next several days, Illyra looks to her bag of summoning, however her suggestion to use the of a giant eagle cause the others to shy away remembering her last encounter with a rider-less eagle from the sky city, mumbling that she would be in empathic control this time, the others smile politely & change the subject.
As morning of the fourth day passes several of the party spy a small encampment away to the West. Kilite, on foot, cuts across the rutted terrain, intent on bartering for fresh food or water, as he nears however it appears the hovel is long abandoned, a quick search of the collapsing huts confirms this is the case. As the others make their way into the leveled area, Kilite checks out the well, casting a stone into its depths there is a squelch rather than a splash & a pungent sulphurous odour envelops, coughing he shakes his head to the enquiring group advising of the abandonment of the hovel.
After a brief rest they move on, however seeing the obvious trail they are leaving, Molin conceals himself within one of the huts intending to watch their path for followers. An hour or so later he is confident that they are free from pursuit & heads off after his departed friends, he is disappointed to see that despite the teaching of his craft the trail they are leaving is obvious to one & all. Astride his bear he quickly gains on the group, perhaps however his confidence that they move without pursuit dulls his wits for he fails to notice the shadow that rises as he cuts across his friends winding path & scrambles across a particularly deep gully.
To late the bellow of Gunter alerts Molin to the danger behind, an icy chill slashes his back & repeated waves of tiredness rack his body, exhausted he hefts his axe & turns, his eyes widen however as he faces not a concealed scoundrel but a wavering bedraggled apparition, striking, his axe passes harmlessly through its form & yet a further wave of tiredness courses through his soul.
Unaware of the events a few hundred yards to their rear the friends push on however the caterwauling of Molin's bellowing bear hurtling towards them makes clear that all is not well.
With the last vestiges of his strength Molin drags himself out of the gully, dropping to his knees the cold clutching hands around his throat slip away & the wraith slides back into the lengthening shadows within the gully.
Remaining with the sled Tharla watches as Kilite & Illyra assist Molin to his feet & half carry, half drag him towards her, glancing over his shoulder Kilite can see the strewn contents of Molin's pack, momentarily his eyes alight on one of the silver candlesticks from the temple of Jirre. Temporarily he dismisses retribution from his mind & continues to assist Illyra with carrying the thief back to the sled.
With sunset rapidly approaching & Molin obviously unable to continue they decide to make camp where they stand. As Kilite & Tharla drag thorn bushes in to form a perimeter around their fire Illyra administers to Molin's recumbent form, no wounds are visible but his breath is deathly weak & his skin cold & clammy. Forcing a precious healing draft between his lips she lays him back & covers his sleeping form.
After a brief consultation Kilite, carrying his staff before him, strides across the landscape accompanied by Tharla, a spell of light cast about them. Quickly they gather Molin's strewn gear, including the stolen candlesticks, & return to camp. Replacing Molin's dropped gear in his pack he does not return the candlesticks & prepares to sit first watch.
Awaking to a freezing dawn Molin, exhausted still, is strapped across his saddle, over the next few days he slowly regains his strength.
Finally the foul smell of sulphur falls behind & the ground begins to rise towards the mountains ahead, a few stunted trees are cut & gathered for firewood against the gathering snow. A small spring is discovered allowing them to replenish their dwindling water supply, whilst it has a faint smell of eggs, the dogs seem happy & lap greedily at the steaming pool. The following morning, the ninth day of the first month of spring, snow gently drifts from above, over breakfast it is reluctantly decided to again remove the stopper from Erimmes flask. Slowly the mist gathers & Erimmes bows gracefully before the party enquiring as to whether Tharla has yet sampled the delights of fornication with her comrades. It is immediately noticeable that whilst still vaporous his form is relatively substantial, the four are no longer able to see through his gaseous body. Reaching forward Illyra places her palm against his outline & pushes, she is surprised to "feel" some resistance, it best being described as damp candyfloss. Erimmes is delighted, he cavorts around the four singing a bawdy ditty abound virgins & donkeys.
Eventually he calms & surprisingly is open to their questioning, gaps are filled regarding the history of Athalau, the fallen ones, how/why he, Erimmes, exists as he does & the wars of the powers however he is as mystified as them as to why or what Synalon would want with him.
Both Kilite & Molin argue for taking Erimmes no further however Illyra & Tharla eventually convince them, at least temporarily, that he should remain with them & more, to Erimmes delight, he should be allowed him to remain outside of his jar, with the decision made all five look to the snow covered foothills & icy mountains beyond only a single days travel beyond.