Torchbearers+Chapters

In Chapter One, the party arrived in Klagenfurt, the capitol of the Duchy of Carinthia, in the hopes of finding work. Taking rooms at the comfortable Red Bell Inn, you were able to refresh yourselves from the long journey and then become acquainted with the town and its immediate environs, including the Worthersee, a long and large lake bordered by forest and boasting four prominent islands. The patronage of the Duke has drawn many entertainers and artists to Carinthia and a number were on display during your exploration of the town. In addition to the many musicians and singers, Mary admired the Kasperle puppet show not far from the Dragon Fountain in the grand square. Aerosis visited the thriving market where he made an important contact with the turnip merchant Wiegand and his wife Brigitta. Kylix chatted with an elderly gentleman named Paul who was enjoying the Kasperle show with his grandchildren, and who satisfied the magician that the fountain sculpture was likely the only dragon in town. Dragoslav and his Borzoi Kyrilu (sp?) explored a stretch of woodlands along the lake, identifying one set of wolf tracks among other evidence of wildlife.

After another delicious dinner, you enjoyed the night life of the town centered on the Grand Square and made small talk as you tried to determine how to meet your contact. Mary led the way, though not literally, in entering the large town house off the square where you met Johann of Rainer zu Harbach, the wealthy mine owner who put out the call for torchbearer help. His home was richly appointed, but most of greatest interest were the many and diverse artifacts that decorated the place.

During your conversation with Rainer and his associate Hermann, you learned that the miners working for Rainer in the nearby mountains were being preyed upon by someone or something that was abducting and murdering them. There was evidence to suggest that the crimes were the work of a pagan sect dedicated to the guardian of beasts, the goddess Pechta, that were believed eradicated some years ago. Hermann voiced even more chilling worries that the person behind the attacks, even if indirectly, was the famed Spanish Muslim physician Avenzoar, once a member of a secret society dedicated to preserving knowledge and but cast out for the practice of necromancy. Rainer and Hermann are members of this society and have reason to believe the ancient surgeon may be out for revenge.

Rainer offered a reward of 500 gold each for the identification and elimination of the culprits (stressing the identification portion), and arranged to have his employee Englebert and two members of the Golden Harts mercenary company (Swen and Soren) escort the party to the mining valley near his works at Mt. Petzen.

You retired to the inn to discuss the offer and debated for a while. Ultimately, you agreed to rendezvous with the escort the next morning. The day's travel took you through the beautiful alpine landscape to the forest village of Grunwald, a rustic place to be sure. There you were introduced to the matron, and Dragoslav discovered that someone had been spying on the village. When it was pointed out that the village's veteran woodsman Rolf had not yet returned though it was nearly dark, Dragoslav, Kyrilu, Aerosis, and Kylix went into the woods to look for him.

Mary remained in the village to look at the matron's diseased arm and to meet her grandchildren, one of whom turned out to be a lost Italian boy of 7 whose name was Roberto.

Dragoslav found Rolf overlooking a sheltered dell where half a dozen filthy men in cloaks seemed to be engaged in occult activity. He attempted to get the forester's attention before drawing back and soon thereafter a terrible deal wail arose from the forest. Rolf soon appeared, running for all his life, and the others followed him in haste back to the village. Roused by the wail, the villagers were awaiting their return.

Soon the cultists appeared at the tree line, staring menacingly into the village. Then they began to chant. This provoked an attack by the party and in the ensuing arrow and crossbow bolt fire a number of trees were damaged, Dragoslav and Kyrilu combined to kill a cultists that had broken from cover, and Kylix astonished everyone with a crack shock bolt shot. The prayers of Mary were a comfort to one and all, and Aerosis rushed in to capture the stunned cultist Kylix has partially electrocuted.

The prisoner was taken back to the village for later interrogation, and the party returned to the sheltered dell where they found a dead young man and one that was tied up but alive. They brought him back to the village as well.