Hunting Slaves

Head Druid Grover Tackett

The head druid of the grove, the wildman Grover Tackett, got busy straight away with the vial of Most-High Priest Igor Lightmouth's blood. With suitable dilution with unguents and elixirs, dancing, chanting, urination and copious mixing, he turned the single vial of blood into a whole cauldron's worth of potion concentrate.  Moonlight [Chris] ended up filling one thousand vials with slightly pink water, late into the night. Grover took an armful "for the grove" and Moonlight got the rest: 550 vials. Not a bad haul. 

_________________________________________

Priestess Rita arrived the next morning with the sad news that Igor had died during the night.

The time of death was during the Head Druid's cauldron mixing. Coincidence? Surely...

A Detect Evil and Detect Magic was cast over Moonlight's collection of vials. They all radiated magic! And there was no evil.

Lammy [Kevin] took one vial to the Wizards' Guild and paid for an expensive Identify (one COIN). It turned out that the only magic in the vial's liquid was "magic for magic's sake" (i.e. doesn't actually do anything except radiate magic). The wizard's scathing comment "very much like Nystul's Magic Aura" and mocking laughter rang in Lammy's ears as he trudged home.

That night, the two vampires, Carmilla and Magda, returned. They weren't particular insistent on feeding nor even coming inside, but sounded very pleased with themselves. They had heard of the death of Igor (this news had spread around Scabport like wildfire). They now wanted a vial of number two's blood, Most-High Priest Joseph Bullock. 10 COIN.

"You didn't pay us last time," said Huilam.

"So, piss right off," said Madagascar.

_____________________________________________________

The next morning Rita arrived again. She had more bad news. Igor's body, which was lying in state in the main temple, had risen as some foul undead. It didn't get far, as the paladin guards, whose raison d'etre IS undead destruction, made short work of it, but the shock of this had some how had affected  Joseph Bullock (the new REAL head), and he had taken ill. He was now resting at the Panadines to recover. Bullock's deputy, Most-High Priest Richard Dial, had taken the up the reins.

The group wasn't particular interested in this turn of events. They went out to reconnoitre the Elwins

They spotted an Elwin's wagon doing a corpse run - taking corpses from a warehouse storage to dump them in the Scab river. This wagon had two of the runaway slaves that they were hunting (the male fighter 8X21 and the female thief 08K4) and two Elwin elves.

With a clever use of fighting tactics, magic from both Madagascar and Lammy (Spook, Sleep, et al), and trickery, they captured the two runaways. No party member was significantly hurt, the two Elwins were not harmed, and in fact didn't even know how the two runaway slaves vanished, and Tylin [Ian] did not even break his relationship with the Elwins.

The two gagged captives were delivered to Agnes Thames of Simon's Slaves, and the 4 COIN recovery fee was paid.

Tidying Up

Some more book-keeping was done:

Huilam [Jamie] did his Downtime.

The group got four cohort guards with the two coins saved from not moving base (see last entry). Cohorts are obtained via the Downtime "Acquire Asset" activity. Quality is the group's Tier (2). These cohorts are temporary and only last until the next Downtime.

They can be made permanent if done as a long-term project (or a Crew Upgrade). This would be the plan.

Faraday Cage

The Faraday cage got livened. This required a scroll from the Wizards' Guild, which consumed a party COIN. First Lammy [Kevin] tried, assisted by Madagascar [Darryl], but he failed. So, they had to buy another scroll (with a second COIN). This time Madagascar cast the scroll, and Lammy assisted. And the process succeeded.

The group had two magical communication devices: the Wizards' Guild conch and the Blue-tooth skull (from the vampire). Despite not shifting bases, they still elected to store these two items on the notice board of the Luscious Pixie tavern. Lammy tested the now-active Faraday cage by trying to use it inside the cell. As expected, there was no reception, and he could not contact Sly Dunbar (of the WG). Even so, they did not want to risk storing the conch and skull in it. So, back to the Luscious Pixie it went.

____________________________________

8X21

The group decided to get back onto the slave recovery job (one of the few outstanding jobs left). They knew that three of the four (male fighter 8X21, male scribe A724, female thief 08K4) were working for the Elwins. No-one had any idea where the child slave was. But the slavers didn't seem to care if a full compliment was delivered or not.

 

Only Tylin [Ian] actually knew where the new base of the Elwins was, but he did not tell the group (but they did know that he knew).

____________________________________

Tylin observed the Elwin base the next day, while others of the group were scouting around the district to try and see if they could spot the runaways travelling about on the Elwin wagon.

Ampersand [Shane] and Grey Wacke [Jeff] failed, but Tylin (with his intimate knowledge) spotted and followed the wagon as it did a delivery run (three escapees and two extra Elwin guards).

__________________________________________

That night, Carmilla and Magda arrived. Huilam, expecting this, wasn't in residence that night (he was appropriately worried about the drinking situation). Madagascar cowered in the far corner of the Faraday cage, shaking in his wizard boots, while the rest of the group put on a brave face and hoped the drinking would be kept to a minimum.

Carmilla offered the group another job.

"Use your REAL contacts to get me a cup of blood from Igor," said Carmilla bluntly. "We know he still lives. It will pay 10 COIN."

After this, Carmilla had good drink from Tylin, and Magda enjoyed Ronnie [Deacon]. 

When it was over, Tylin begged to get a night's rest. So the two vampire girls agree not to visit the following night.

____________________________________________

The next morning, Huilam, Grey Wacke, Tylin, Lammy, Madagascar, Ronnie headed to the REAL temple.

Ampersand was not so keen on this, so he mooched about on the docks. Here, he spotted the escapees (a good SCOUT roll)  driving down along a random street. He followed them to another building (not the Elwin base).

REAL temple

At the temple, the group met up with Priestess Rita. Huilam had a long and thorough chat with her, and attempted to convince and fast-talk her that they might be able to help Igor if they got some of his blood. Like, two cups would be good. Moonlight and they druids could do some magic organic tricks in the grove. She put a Detect Lie on him; intent is always true if you use qualifiers like "try" and "attempt". [And he did a good SWAY roll.] 

Rita said she would talk to the other REAL crew, and see what she could do. She seemed excited!

Then the group headed off to the Funken Wagnall temple to research vampirism. Already Tylin and Ronnie were showing effects. Like aversion to sunlight, and teeming with lustful thoughts.

[It was briefly discussed if vampire members of the party could function. True, they could only work at night. True, vampires are evil incarnate. That said, the BitD system can handle multiple characters per player. And the "neutral" status of the group was already compromised (e.g. the cold-blooded execution of Michael Stringfellow, and the delivery of half-elven children to the Canker temple) But, in the end they piked.]

The literature said that a blessing and sanctification from a goody-two-shoes temple would be required, plus the injection of bleach, catheterization for holy-water back-flow and a honey enema. The best place was REAL, but Panadine also did it.

They returned to REAL.

"We can't help you with this kind of problem," said Priestess Rita. "You reap what you sow. And anyway, the internal political temple strife is too much at the moment that I won't be able to find you a priest, or a paladin. Try the Panadines."

The Panadines agreed. They could do the daily treatment sessions. 

"We infuse our honey with Lake Placid Elderflower," said the priestess. "But we can not ensure your protection overnight. We are a peaceful religion with no temple fighters, so if the vampires strike, we can not defend you. Go see REAL. They have paladins."

REAL refused them again.

But Rita had some good news. She had some vials for them. 

"This is Igor's blood," she said. "Use it well! May your druid friends be fruitful."

She also gave them a bandolier of ten holy water vials.

One vial of Igor's blood was delivered to the Druids Grove. This was to maintain the lie.

________________________________________________

That night, all was quiet. Then someone remembered that Tylin did ask the vampires to stay away. So Huilam used the Blue tooth skull and summoned Carmilla.

"But they are not coming inside tonight," demanded Madagascar. "Our new guards can earn their keep, and deal with them outside."

Huilam gave the vials of Igor's blood to the guards to give to the girls.

Soon enough there was shouting outside. 

One of the guards poked his head through the door and said "Two vampire ladies. ... want to come inside, sir."

"No way!" squealed Madagascar.

The guard headed back outside.

Then there was some more shouting. Then a dull crump on the heavy iron door. Then a heavier crump, and then a solid bang. The door smashed off its hinges and sailed across the foyer, embedding itself, a hands-span depth, into the far wall.

The guard's head, sans body, soon followed, and bounced across the floor like a ball.

A vial of holy water was hurled back outside through the opening.

Carmilla's voice.

"Sank you for zee blood of Igor," she said. "Ees good and genuine. But we want to come in... to pay you."

This cliche about vampires having to be invited inside was actually a myth. She was just being polite. Well, that, and holy water does burn like acid.

"Uh... leave the money with the guards."

A second head rolled inside.

"What guards? I see no guards. So you do not vant your payment? No drink, no pay."

"Uhm.. Then keep the money and stay away please."

"Ees your final word."

"Y..yes"

All was quiet outside. They waited for ages. They were gone.

_________________________________

The next day Ronnie and Tylin began the "purging" treatment in the Panadine Holy Cell, with intravenous bleach and honey enemas.

Victory Somewhat

Back on Prison Island, Sorrow [Jeff] and El Cid [Shane] had work to do.

Teleport glass

Earlier in the week, Sorrow, clad in the stone-look camouflage cloak that Mrs Campana (Burrito's mum) had made, had smuggled the Teleport hourglass from the jetty, over the wall and into the prison, to avoid the magical detection field around the main gate. 

[Post-game DM check: It turned out this had not actually been done! So, rather than rewind time, which would have made a narrative mess (because so much depended on this), I just allocated 4 stress between the two. Which El Cid took.]

The past week, El Cid had been debasing and shaming himself by being Second Lieutenant Sharples' little bitch. This was to try to get into her good books ... which he was achieving remarkably.

They also spoke to Michael Stringfellow himself. It turned out that he was in the prison to protect himself. He was threatened by several parties in Scabport, and the prison provided some protection. No-one would be brave enough to harm him here...

______________________________________________

Just before light, they burst into his cell, screaming. 

"There's an attack!" screamed El Cid. "The prison is under attack! Quickly, hold this, and break it. It will make you invisible."

 [Shane rolled a 6 for COMMAND.]

Michael Stringfellow, dopey from sleep, grabbed the hourglass from Sorrow's sweaty hand, and broke it in half, as instructed.

There was a loud BANG! and a concussive whomp as air rushed in to fill the void where Michael Stringfellow was.

El Cid and Sorrow sat around, their ears ringing.

Across the water, in the Adventuress and Bugbear inn, Tylin [Ian] and Ronny [Deacon] were just thinking about breakfast, when, suddenly,  there was an all-mighty BANG,  and a concussive blast at their end. Michael Stringfellow materialized in the room. 

(When someone teleports, the mass transfer from source to destination occurs at relativistic speeds. Consequently, and so there isn't a big explosion or violations of Pauli's exclusion principle at the destination, the teleporting person needs to materialize into a true vacuum, therefore all matter that is in the target space needs to be pushed out of the way. This volume displacement is designed to happen as fast as possible, so ends up being at the speed of sound of that medium. So, there is a loud bang.)

Michael was a little stunned from his trip, both with shock and physiologically (he gets the "backwash" from the concussion blast in his ear-drums), so he stumbled about drunkenly.

Ronny recovered faster and launched himself at the poor soul, and dropped him down with a single blow to the head.

Then Tylin went back to the party lair, fetched Carte Blanche and then they both smuggled the unconscious Stringfellow back to their lair, and put him into the unfinished Faraday cell room. 

Back in the prison, El Cid and Sorrow swept up the few bits of stray glass from the broken teleport glass, and then secreted it, and the stone-look camouflage cloak into one of the prison guard's lockers. They chose guard Hopeless Henry, in an attempt to frame him.

Then, just after light, the normal daily exercising of prisoners began. Michael Stringfellow's cell was on the end of the block, so he was normally first to be exercised. So, it wasn't long before he was discovered missing, and the alarm was sounded.

Second Lieutenant Sharples was furious, as expected. She summoned all the guards, both the sleeping and awake, and then everyone thoroughly searched the entire prison. For hours.

The Morning boat arrived, so she reluctantly sent back dispatches telling of the dreadful news to the Knives.

.

This was not good. A missing prisoner, and under her command.

_____________________________________

Rita updated the group with news from the REAL temple.

But even she could not get accurate information about Igor Lightmouth. The Tier Two priests were caring for him, and they weren't revealing his exact status. But even in the REAL temple, rumours abounded: Igor was either vanished, insane, sick, dead, his mind gone, or his soul had been consumed and he was now just a mindless husk.  But it was not looking good. 

The squabbling had already started for Igor's replacement. Igor's favourites High Priests Joseph Bullock and Richard Dial were likely contenders to be the new Most High. The third Tier Two, High Priestess Lilli Caswell was not in the running.

Around lunchtime, Lieutenant Anton Chung summoned the group (via the Luscious Pixie notice board). Tylin, Huilam [Jamie] and Grey Wacke [Jeff2] went to the Scabport Town Council HQ visit him.

"Good work, you lot," said Chung. "I won't ask where Stringfellow is, but send me proof of death. Then we can sign off on your fee."

Lieutenant Anton Chung

Huilam nodded.

"The entire guard of the prison has been replaced by interim forces," Chung continued. "It is not every day that someone escapes from Prison Island. Whatever is the world coming to? Second Lieutenant Sharples and the other prison guards are all down in our cells now, getting a good 'debriefing'. Including your Black-eyed Creep and Mister Thicky."

"Sorrow and El Cid," said Huilam.

"Quite," said Chung. "I'll make sure they don't get too badly beaten."

Chung continued.

"Last night. Last night it was quiet in the Graveyard. The REALs and undead didn't cause any trouble, so the bosses upstairs have authorized a couple of wagon loads of silver for you lot, for that job. But if the war relapses, well, we won't be pleased. Best you don't leave town.

And I don't want to send Mr and Mrs Spank on another trip to Bottom land. Or Mr and Mrs Cudgel to Knee-cap land.

Next, I want you to ask your Rita to see if she can pressure the REALs to get Lilli promoted to be the REAL top-dog. You lot just might be able to achieve that."

Huilam smiled rather thinly.

____________________________

Back at base, in the new Faraday cell (which was yet to be commissioned, so wasn't actually detection-proof yet), a few of the party "questioned" the hapless Michael Stringfellow. They managed to get out of him that yes he was a scabotanist, and yes he had developed the yellow scab, and yes, it wasn't too hard to do.

Huilam, Tylin and Grey Wacke arrived back. And so the death order was issued.

Moonlight agreed to do the deed, so he humanely executed Michael Stringfellow (using toad excretions to minimize any pain), and then decapitated him.

The head was sent to Chung. That ought to be proof enough.

Later that afternoon, Sorrow and El Cid arrived home. They were both sporting black-eyes, and swollen lips. El Cid nursed a broken collar bone and Sorrow's knee cap was smashed.

And then the three treasure wagons from the Knives arrived. A total of 36 COIN. (25 for the Wraith King-REAL war and 11 for Michael Stringfellow).

[ So we had a Downtime.

The group decided to increase their Crew's Tier. From Tier 1 to Tier 2. In game mechanics, this costs 8 times the new Tier level. i.e. 16 COIN.

Huilam's Faraday cage was finally completed but it needs to be ensorcelled - requires aid from the Wizards' Guild. And they also got a new extended Vault - now able to hold 16 COIN on premises - sort of like a treasure room.

They also talked about getting a new Hidden Lair (since the current one's location was known to Rita, the Elwins, the Insular Rogues, and the vampires). But this idea had to be abandoned, because it would mean both of the Vault upgrades and the Faraday cage would all need to be started over again from scratch. Those things are all permanent fixtures of a building, so can't be shifted when you go to a new lair.

We also had a hearty (player-driven) discussion regarding the participation of multiple characters per player, and how missing a week or two or three would affect treasure and experience distribution at the end. ]

Wraith King 4

 There was a loud knocking on the Budgie Smugglers' secret door to the alley.

"Our base is far from secret now!" muttered Madagascar.

Two of the Elwins were there: Elrick and Elfonse.

"You 'ave contact in the REAL temple named Priestess Rita. To please arrange a meeting? Zere is some  important news of Wraith King for REALs."

REAL Priestess Rita de Klerk

So, Rita was summoned to meet with the Elwins at the Luscious Pixie.

She arrived with one paladin guard, and they had a long chat with the Elwins. The Elwins wanted to meet with Igor. They had acquired a powerful anti-undead relic of REAL, and they thought they could make a bit of money by selling it to REAL. And REAL could use it to destroy the undead, and maybe the Wraith King. Win win. 

Rita said she would try to get him.

When Rita had left, Madagascar smelled a rat, and he scurried after her to try to dissuade her. He succeeded enough to make her think twice. But being a goody-two-shoes, she had to return to the Luscious Pixie to give the Elwins fair warning that she had changed her mind. But the rest of the group was still at the inn, and they and the Elwins argued her back into her task [and also Andrew didn't want to have an animated NPC conversation between the NPC Elwins, who spoke with an outrageous French accent (Elvish), and NPC Rita who spoke with a soft South African accent (Specularum)].

So, Rita returned to the temple and easily convinced Igor of this. He and his bodyguards would meet with the Elwins at two bells at Matey's tavern next to the Stone Bridge.

_____________________________________

Straight away, Tylin scurried ahead and secreted himself inside Matey's.

At three bells (one hour before two bells) Igor sent four paladins first to scout out the way. They checked out Matey's and environs.

The three Elwins from the Luscious Pixie and an extra one went were there with some of the party following.  On the way, Grey Wacke and Ronnie checked out various targeting sites; like, places where a crossbow sniper could secrete himself for an aimed shot. He did find a good rooftop site, and even sighted-in a practice bead on some paladins himself with a scoped finger. "Pew pew."

The party was spread.  Grey Wacke was on the adjacent roof, and the other party members were lurking in the vicinity of the Matey's, but not too close.  Most-High Priest Igor himself, escorted by another four paladins and four generic guards headed to Matey's too, and he arrived with no incident. All was quiet; a false alarm then?

Most-High Priest Igor

The meeting took place. It was Igor and his entourage with five Elwins. Tylin overheard snippets of the conversation, but he did not want to risk breaking cover to get closer. But he overheard things like "Great sword equal of heaven", and "can destroy the powerful undead", and "we talk, back at the temple".

Eventually the whole group, Elwins, Paladins, and Igor, left to travel up to the REAL Temple.

But a few seconds down the road, there was a loud explosion a way ahead on the road - like a fireball (but it was no where near enough to harm anyone). Nevertheless, everyone scattered or dropped. The paladins kicked to life and rushed close to Igor to shield him and shepherd him back to Matey's.

But the roiling spot around Igor, with paladin shields and guards, was suddenly shot at by black streaks. Four Dark Bolts were fired, from a spot near to where Grey Wacke was reconnoitering. Maybe the firers were invisible, because four new furtive figures had appeared and they slipped down to the ground and scurried away. Grey Wacke and Ronnie were too high up to engage them, and no-one else was close enough. The party was scurrying themselves to catch up from their assorted positions of loitering.

The bolts landed noisily, like a heavy weight dropped from on high. Four times. They landed with enough power to physically throw the paladins and guards into the air from the impact. There were screams and cries. One definitely hit Igor. He was quickly carried into Matey's. Another paladin was writhing on the ground with this black lance protruding from his chest. A black miasma around him.

There was no sign of any Elwins.

Tylin, still in Matey's, sneaked close enough to be in earshot of the REAL group. There were panicked whispers, and plenty of "after you", "no, after you", "I insist", "tis only a flesh wound".

Eventually, another contingent of REAL arrived from the temple, and escorted the wounded back via cart and wagon.

_________________

Night fell. 

Magda Romanov

The group stayed in their house. There were no fireworks visible above the graveyard. They were about to send out a scouting team when there was a soft knock on the door.

 

Two female vampires were there: Carmilla and a second one. They were reluctantly invited inside.

"This is Magna," purred Carmilla.

The two vampires reported that there was no sign of any REAL forces and so the Wraith King was quite happy not to send any undead out to prowl. 

"...Except us two of course," said Carmilla. "Vee haf come to dine. Dine with our friends."

The group reluctantly agreed. So, Magda drank the delicious elven blood of Tylin and Huilam. Then she rounded it off with a rough-and-ready human vintage from Grey Wacke veins.

Camilla supped upon Madagascar, and then she took Ronnie into the bunk room for a drink and some carnal time.

The rest of the night passed quietly.

___________________________

In the morning, Tylin went to watch Elwins move lairs. But he let them know that he saw them shift and that he knew the location of their new base.

The whole group (sans Moonlight) went to see Chung.

As there was no undead or REAL fighting during the night, Chung was impressed.  But he would need another quiet night before he would organize any reward.

Ronnie and Tylin went to the hired room in the Adventuress and Bugbear to stay the night. According to the schedule, this room needed to be manned, by at least two, at all times from now on. Technically, Michael Stringfellow could arrive (via teleport) from the prison at any time.

Wraith King 3

Moonlight

With all this talk of undead and vampires, Moonlight [Chris] went into the Holbein woods to collect natural garlic.

 

The rest of the  day passed quietly, and everyone else (Huilam [Jamie], Tylin [Ian], Madagascar [Darryl], Lammy [Kevin], Grey Wacke [Jeff], Ampersand [Shane], and Argile [Richard])  crossed their fingers, waiting for dark, hoping that Carmilla's pledge (to get the Wraith King to stop sending undead into the city) would hold.

Ronnie [Deacon], Lammy [Kevin] & Dee Dee [Steven] marmaladed.

_______________________________________________

Night fell. The group waited a while to see if there was any movement on the streets; any sign of undead. It was quiet, so they ventured outside and looked in the direction of Skull District. Searchlights and fireworks could be seen in the distance - so REAL was still at it. It was ironic that the Undead had the moral high-ground in this case.

So, the whole party (sans Moonlight) headed into Skull district, and to the graveyard, to get a closer look.

Serial disinterment

The forces of the Knives,  with some TGP support, were stationed at the gates of the necropolis and at some of the larger wall-holes of the huge perimeter. They were at stand-offs against groups of REAL troops: paladins, soldiers, militant supporters and hangers-on. But, the necropolis is not a very easy area to defend, and plenty of REAL priests, paladins, et al. had got inside. And they were wreaking havoc in the name of all that is Light and Good. They tore open tombs, broke into mausoleums and dug up graves. Here, they shined REAL's purifying Sunray onto the remains of any interred that they found. Pure and uncorrupted corpses, skeletons, and less-intact remains were fine, but if there was any trace of corruption or undead taint, the remains would be destroyed, utterly - if it didn't try to scurry away.

The Wraith King's sway over the undead was impressive, and the order was absolute, because all the lesser undead encountered (ghouls, ghasts, shadows and below) showed no measure of self-defence. When a nest of them was discovered, they just stayed immobile, only to be destroyed in flashes of light and smoke. The REAL Sunray spell is, after all, the same strength as REAL's light during the day. No undead can withstand that.

The more sentient and powerful of the undead (wights, wraiths, spectres, et al), did make some feeble attempt to escape the forces of Light by burrowing deeper into their tunnels or crypts. But few got away, and they, too, were consumed in the righteous light, fire and zeal of REAL.

The very powerful undead, like the vampires and ghosts, were not seen at all - as expected.

Most-High Priest Igor Lightmouth was there in person, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. But it was noted (by the more learned) that he did not have access to some of the very powerful spells (like Flamestrike). Was this a holy seal of disapproval? Or just par for the course with the fickle and mercurial REAL? Who would know.

Blue-tooth skull comms

After watching massacre for a while, the party returned home. Here, Madagascar dialled up Carmilla with the blue-tooth skull.  He reported that the plan was working, and that the group really did appreciate the Wraith King's efforts in restraining the undead within the graveyard. Carmilla's sarcasm was tangible and scathing, and she did not seem very happy, but she reluctantly accepted the argument that maybe REAL's attacks would lead to greater internal unrest and the eventual overthrow of Igor.

Madagascar and Huilam tried to encourage Carmilla to see if the Wraith King would continue his “truce” for the next night or two, while things came to a head with REAL. She hissed that she would try to assuage him. 

______________________________

Tylin, Huilam, Madagascar and Grey Wacke went to visit the Knives at the Scabport Town Council building.  Madagascar went to the busy Night Sergeant, and and wrote a message for the Scabport Town Criers, to put out their anti-REAL propaganda for tomorrow's news: 

"Who'd have thought? Undead hold the moral high ground." 

"The dead's rest violated. Sanctimonious atrocities performed by REAL."

"Goody Two-shoes? More like Goody Jack-boots stomp in your grandmother's grave."

While Madagascar was dealing with the Night Sergeant, Tylin, Huilam and Grey Wacke asked for Lieutenant Chung, and they were shown down a passage beneath the Council Offices that they had never been to before. 

In a chamber, they found Chung and two no-necks. And hanging from ceiling, by her wrists, naked and bleeding, was one of the triumvirate witches Dalila Hornsby (the one that the party captured from Fort Eugor). Chung was lashing her with a scourge. She was sobbing and pleading.

Chung frowned at the group, hurriedly went over to them, and guided them out.

"We better hope," he said. "That our ... guest ... does not remember your faces ..."

But Grey Wacke was too quick for him. Grey rushed back in to the chamber, snatched up a single-tail and started to lash at Dalila. The two no-necks interceded, and frog-marched him back out to Chung.

Chung took them all into a room off the passage.

"I take my hat off to you," he said, happy to change subject. "The undead have stayed in. But, I see, REAL's not playing ball."

________________________________________________

Later in the night, the group got hold of Rita, and they encouraged her and the Anti-War faction to send out priests to survey the undead situation through-out the town, to prove that the undead had, indeed, stayed in. The plan was for them to report their findings back to the rest of the priests in the REAL temple. This was important for the whole PR narrative.

_____________________________________________________

Canker Priest

The next morning, as soon as it was light, Madagascar and Grey Wacke surreptitiously left the party base and headed to the Elwins warehouse on the party wagon Carte Blanche. They had a dark mission to do and did not want the rest of the group to know. The route was clear, and so the finicky wagon did not play up.

Elrick, an Elder of the Elwins, met them at the entrance to his base. The two had a chest of silver in the wagon which they unloaded for Elrick [ one COIN ]. Elrick went inside and returned with two scrawny half-elf children, roped together, wrists tied, and hooded. They were lifted onto the wagon and secured.

Then Madagascar and Grey Wacke drove to the Canker temple. A Canker guard lead the two unfortunate weeping children away into the awful darkness of the temple interior.

"Your debt is cleared," hissed the hooded priest.

The two returned home, with new stains on their souls.

"Business is business," muttered Madagascar.

"Naughty half-elves," said Grey Wacke.

"Best that Sorrow and Huilam know nothing about this," said Madagascar.

Grey Wacke nodded solemnly.

________________________________________________

Ampersand, inspired by the Town Criers spouting the party's anti-REAL sentiment,  wandered around the town, and collected some renta-crowd mobs, and he guided them to the REAL temple. 

While the party (and Town Crier) narrative of the "mean REAL going against the poor Undead" was good at first blush, it did not hold much water if you thought a bit deeper. Sure, grandma's tomb might be ripped open and her skeletal remains cleansed (or "violated") with REAL light or bathed in holy water. But, isn't that a damn sight better than grandma walking around as a summoned undead corpse, or her rotting body used as the desiccated plaything of some Canker priest or a lustful ghoul? 

Well, luckily for the party, the renta-crowd mobs, the perpetually outraged, and the anti-REAL crowds didn't "think a bit deeper". So, they were quite happy to protest outside the REAL temple, waving placards, chanting slogans "ULM: Undead Lives Matter" "Support your right to keep grand-mother interred", and setting fire to things. 

Also, there was the more pragmatic narrative of "More of us are being eaten by undead than last week, and it's all because of REAL".

The rioting and general mayhem outside the REAL temple gave Rita and the other Anti-War priests (lead by Tier Three Priest Jimmie Sanford) a perfect opportunity and excuse to work upon the vacillating priests. They managed to turn one more Tier Three to their cause early on: Priest Mario Ransom. But their real coup was getting a Tier Two priest, High Priestess Lilli Caswell across to their side. That was enough to give pause to Lightmouth himself.

Rita gave the party another box of six holy water vials.

___________________

Esme was keeping a watchful eye on the Luscious Pixie party jobs board. Charles Denton, of IMAG, contacted them again. So, to humour him, a few Budgie Smugglers went and met with him. He said that IMAG was keen to help the group "in their greatest hour of need". His help consisted of more offers of Arrows of Darkness. They politely said "no".

The rest of the day passed.

_________________________________

Tylin and Grey Wacke went to graveyard before dark, and secreted themselves near the main gate. There were no substantial forces of REAL, so the only troops present were the Knives. They were all facing outwards, obviously preparing for the arrival of REAL. 

But the REALs did not turn up. That was a good sign.

Night fell.

Almost instantly, streams of lesser undead (skeletons, zombies, shadows, ghouls and ghasts), came

Wraith King

swarming out of the graveyard,  in a big wave, past the Knives (who were surprised, and basically fled), and past the "hidden" Tylin and Grey Wacke, and into the surrounding streets.

 

Madagascar used the blue-tooth skull to talk to Carmilla again. She told him that "my Lord" had decided that there was too much loss last night, and that he would "right the ledger" tonight in an orgy of wanton destruction. Madagascar squeaked like a girl, and pointed out, with a wavering voice, that this would be a bad idea. 

And after much to-ing and fro-ing, and begging and pleading, Carmilla agreed to try and change her lord's mind. The skull-call went dead.

Back at the graveyard, the mass streams of the undead had stopped by now. Tylin and Grey Wacke were about to leave when they noticed that there was more movement in the graveyard. Unlike the first wave, these ones were floating, less corporeal and more horrific undead; the type they had not seen earlier. Two of the foul creatures approached the superbly hidden pair; as if they were not even hidden. The temperature round them dropped, and their breath appeared in clouds of steam. The half-skeletal, half-see-through creatures suddenly launched themselves at the two. Tylin voided his bladder in a spasm of terror, Grey Wacke his bowels, and they both shrunk back deeper into their hidey hole, [Tylin made a Resistance roll] BUT the creatures passed.

Within the hour, the lesser undead, that had streamed out earlier, started to return to the necropolis, in large waves, being shepherded and cajoled by the non-corporeal undead.

When there was a loll in the traffic, Tylin and Grey Wacke left their hiding spot, and headed back to the party lair.

High Emissary Carmilla

The rest of the party, back at base, was planning to head to the REAL temple. They were worried that Igor might have a change-of-heart and launch a late attack after all, and thus they hoped to stop this, if possible. But, when they opened the alley-way door to leave, Carmilla was standing there.

"May I enter?" she asked in her Luln accent. Madagascar nodded meekly.

She sat them all down, and then offered them a phylactery. This was a magical cursed amulet which, if brought close to a REAL priest, would silently absorb and destroy the heart of said priest in the space of minutes.  She suggested that it would be an superb solution to the Igor problem. However, they would need to lure the priest out of the temple grounds because there was no way to get the phylactery past the Temple detectors; it was high magic and evil.

"But you are resourceful," she mused. "Maybe you can get it in."

The majority of the party was not keen to take it, so they said "no" to Carmilla. But Ampersand was happy to take it. After all, he had a black arrow from IMAG, so why not a phylactery from a vampire too? While he didn't promise to use it on a priest, he didn't say no either.

Carmilla saluted them all, and then left.

_______________________________

Out on Prison Island, Sorrow practiced with his new camouflage cloak, in preparation for collecting the Teleport glass from its hiding place under the prison jetty. El Cid would be act as the spotter for Sorrow when they executed the plan. Once smuggled into the prison, it should be an easy matter of getting the glass to Michael Stringfellow.

The agreed plan was to spring Michael Stringfellow from no earlier than in two more mornings. This would mean, from that point onwards, that the rest of the party would need to man the hired room in the Adventuress & Bugbear 24/7 in case he teleported in.

There was also the matter of not being able to guarantee that Stringfellow would actually agree to use the item. But, they would cross that bridge when they came it it. 

You can lead a leopard to water, but when you want to run it up the flag pole, it can't change its spots.

_________________________________________

The next day dawned. 

Ampersand went out to do some more agitating for his renta-crowds. He wanted to keep the pressure on REAL. He wanted more protests and demonstrations.

The group also had some extensive discussions about snatching the slaves from the Elwins, but no actual plans were made.

Tylin stressed that this would have to occur, but that the Elwins must "never find out it was us!"

But that would need to wait. They just needed to get through another night.

Wraith King 2

The suspicious warehouse had two storeys, and had a large front door. The door was open, and there were some obvious guards, all Elves, lounging around.

There was a blind alley leading behind the place, so Sorrow [Jeff] lead the group (Ampersand [Shane], Huilam [Jamie], Moonlight [Chris], Lammy [Kevin], and Madagascar [Darryl]) down there. He had spotted a rear door here.

(Argile [Richard], Ronnie [Deacon], Dee Dee [Steven] were marmalading.)

In a (stressful) flash, Sorrow had the door picked, and he slipped inside followed by the rest, into a small kitchen. The group certainly was anything but quiet, and Ampersand, bringing up the rear, spotted movement at the mouth of the alley; so they must have been heard. He shot at an elf, and then slammed and bolted the kitchen door.

 

There was an internal door from the kitchen into the rest of the building, but now no-one was brave enough to continue any more. This decision was confirmed when lamp oil started to pour under the door into the kitchen. They knew they were discovered, so Huilam ... just ignited the oil. 

There was a small table in the kitchen, so Moonlight and Ampersand grabbed it, they threw open the outside door, and fled down the alley towards the street, using the small table as cover, with everyone else clambering behind this, head down. A few arrows thunked into it, and the group got to the road. Here, they fled into the morning crowds.

"Well," said Ampersand, as they got back to their secret base. "That was a fat waste of time."

"Rest assured," proclaimed Sorrow. "We were not followed."

Then they balked in surprise. Tylin [Ian] was here!

Tylin regaled them with his tale: 

When I left you lot yesterday, after spotting the escaped slave woman on that cart, I followed them to a warehouse. The same warehouse where you just came from now. I sneaked after them inside. I thought I was unseen, but apparently not. The alarm was sounded and I had to flee upstairs. I hid, and managed to trick them into thinking I'd escaped out a broken window, but it took them a long while to take the bait. By then, it was near dark and the place was pretty well locked-up and guarded. (I could not use the broken window room upstairs because it had a ballista, and was manned at night.) So I stayed. But I did take a risk to explore a little.

 

Three (of four) escaped slaves are there, and are working for the the Elves as employees (not slaves). But I never saw the the fourth slave, the young girl. They have a big cage full of Half-elves. Wonderful to see. These Half-elves are slaves, or to be enslaved. They also have a room of corpses: ex-undead and fresh ones. Not sure why. 

"This morning, first light, I slipped out and returned, but none of you were here," Tylin said "So, I just waited. And, well, here I am!"

Just then, Esme entered the room with a bit of paper.

"This was stuck to the secret door," she said. "That will be yet another group who knows our secret lair's location. 'Not followed' huh, Sorrow?"

She gave the note to Huilam who read it out loud:

"We need to talk. You know where we live. E"

So, Madagascar, Tylin and Moonlight, the three full Elves of the group, went back to the Elves' warehouse.

Elric Elwin

At the warehouse, they were greeted upon arrival by an Elf called Elric. This group called themselves the Elwins. They were an all-Elves band, were all named with E (leader Elrick, Eric, Edwin, Egbert, Eustace, Ernest, Edward, Edgar, Ezra, Elias, Ethan, Edison, Easton), and they were slavers. They specialized in Half-elf slaves: "half casts", "half-arses", "halvers" and "halvies". Tylin was delighted! Elves after his own heart. The Elwins captured Half-elves via citizen arrests, vigilantism, or plain thuggery, and enslaved them, as Tylin had noted. 

With the recent undead incursions, the Elwins now had a second job. They worked for the City Council to clean the streets after each night's undead activity. They'd pick up the bodies of the destroyed undead and the bodies of undead victims. They would store these corpses in their base, and then dump them in the river later in the day. Scabport City ordinance rules only allowed a certain number of bodies to be dumped, per hour, into the Scab river. So, by storing the corpses, they could avoid exceeding the limit. 

_____________________________________

The meeting with the Wraith King or his mouth-piece was scheduled tonight at midnight. It was at Statue Park in the posh Mansion district, which was across the river from the Docks. Rather than risk travelling over the dangerous streets after dark, the group thought it might be prudent to setup shop near Statue Park.

After a brief search, they found an unoccupied dwelling and used El Cid [Shane] to break in (the subtle entry failed). "Breaking in" involved the destruction of the door's hinges, and the splintering of the architrave. Luckily, Lammy's Mending spell came to the rescue and fixed the door, good as new.

The group was careful not to make a mess, soil any food, clean the toilets with tooth-brushes, or put jam in anyone's shoes. They relaxed and rested until near midnight. Statue Park was only a short walk away.

Great Oak of Statue Park

An hour before midnight, they ventured into the park and headed to the centre by the Great Oak. This long-dead tree, a former oak, was just a skeleton of bleached wood. But it matched the colour of the statues that filled the park. The statues were all superb renditions of people and animals in life-like poses of surprise. Rumour had it that they were all caused by a vindictive medusa in days gone-by.

The park was quiet. People did not risk heading out at night due to the undead, of course. That said, this side of the Scab river was not troubled by them because the seven Scab bridges were blocked each night by the Knives and TGP.

However, four figures approached the group, and stopped a stone's throw away. They were dressed in shroud-cloth  robes, so the party guessed they were Canker priests. When Canker priests walk over vegetation, it goes brown as if sprayed with glyco-phosphate. There were a few tracks like this in the grass of this park.

Wizards carry accurate chronometers. Lammy glanced at his one: dead on midnight. 

In the sky above them, they could hear the flapping of leathery wings. And then it suddenly went cold. Frost formed on the ground and on the boughs of the dead oak. And their breath came out in clouds of steam.

Then a slender figure just fell into their midst.

High Emissary Carmilla

It was a striking young lady, with jet-black hair, pale pale skin, perfect lips but wicked protruding canines, and cruel timeless eyes. She was, of course, a vampire. She was dressed in some kind of deep purple, velvet, long dress which clung to her as if it was alive; or maybe it was just the remnant jiggling of her bust from the drop.

She gave a formal curtsey.

"You must be the Budgie Smugglers," she purred in a strong Luln accent. "Please allow me to introduce myself: Carmilla Romanov, High Emissary of the Necropolis..."

She raised a hand as they were all about to speak.

"But first, kindly empty all your flasks, of the ... cursed water."

They all meekly complied, tipping out the six vials of REAL holy water.

Huilam bravely stepped forward.

"Don't tell me," she said. "Huilam Artois? The dashing..."

Quick as a cut snake, she swept him up in her arms, sealed her lips to his neck, and bit. Gristle and vein. Huilam shuddered and squirmed as she drank deeply. He choked out a throaty moan as his eyes rolled back. It felt so good!

But, it was only a short drink. A "drink of greeting". She stepped back and licked the blood from her own chin with a dexterous tongue.

"Now, how may I help you?" she asked.

The Canker priests, having now seen Carmilla, started to approach, gliding over the frosty grass, making no sound. She gave them a withering glance, and they stopped.

Huilam put forward the town's side. Carmilla put forth the Undead's side. The REALs started the war, so she claimed. They invaded the graveyard. They invaded the tombs and desecrated the grave soil. "We just want to stay undisturbed". When challenged about the ghouls and the undead incursions that had provoked the REALs, she just let out a musical laugh and said "Do not believe everything you hear!"

Huilam didn't press this issue, so he then waxed lyrical, perhaps employing a little hyperbole to exaggerate the Budgie Smugglers' influence over the priests of REAL. And, as a gesture of good faith, could Carmilla beseech the Wraith King to hold back the undead for just one night? That would help their cause immensely. Tomorrow night, even, maybe?

She smiled: "I will do my best."

Then she asked, pointing the Canker priests:

"I believe you have a payment owed to my Lord's ... associates over there? Elven blood and ... some volunteers."

Huilam looked over, then back at her and he nodded.

"I will take the blood now," she said.

She gestured to Tylin and Madagascar (full elves). Tylin stepped forward first.

Quick as a flash, Carmilla swept him into a loving embrace, and affixed her perfect lips onto his neck. Gristle and vein. For the next minute or so there was a loud sucking slurping noise as she drank heavily. Tylin quivered and spasmed like Huilam had earlier, as he lost half an elven pint of his blood.

Then it was Madagascar's turn. She drained the same amount from him too.

This time, she made no attempt to clean the spattered mess on her face, lips and chin. Blood had drooled down her neck and onto the expanse of her décolletage, which rivaled even Daisy Crown.

"I do so enjoy the sweetness of Elf blood," she said, sucking her fingers, and dabbing at some of the larger spatters on her chest. 

Canker Blue-tooth skull

Then Carmilla gestured to the four Canker priests. They drifted over. She whispered to one and he (or it) reached into its own tattered hood, and passed her something large. Instantly, there was a rattle of dry bones and the shroud-cloth robe fell to the ground. Now there were three priests. She gave the object to Huilam. It was a human skull, aged and quite dry.

 

"Use this to liaise with me," she said. "To activate, you touch the tooth. The blue tooth. Oh, only at night."

Huilam looked at it. It was cold to the touch, but maybe that was just Carmilla's presence.

"Any questions?"

They shook their heads.

She waved, and then gracefully jumped upwards, into the air. There was the brief flapping of leathery wings which faded fast. And then the temperature rose again.

The three Canker priests drifted close.

"Our payment?" one whispered.

"Tomorrow!" snapped Huilam. And the party headed off, back to the mansion for the rest of the night.

_____________________________________________________________

In the morning, at first light, El Cid and Sorrow went back to the wharves and joined Sergeant Skipper on the prison shallop boat. They headed back to Prison Island for another stint of guarding. Sorrow had his new stone-coloured robe (made by Burrito's seamstress mother), and had the Teleport glass. He told the rest of the party that, in three mornings' time, they should start to continuously occupy the rented room in the Adventuress and Bugbear in case Michael Stringfellow teleported in.

When the boat arrived out at the Island, Sorrow surreptitiously hid the Teleport glass in a secure spot under the prison jetty. He knew that the magic detectors on the prison gate would spot it otherwise.

______________________________________________________________

Via Rita's intercession, the group met up with REAL Priest Jimmie Sanford and the other renegade priestesses Keely and Nancy at the Gibbet and Grape later that morning. Huilam gave them the news about tonight's cease fire. They were impressed he had enough influence over the Wraith King to pull this off. If. Then arranged to meet them again tomorrow at noon.

Madagascar went to the Elwins to ask if they happened to come across two scrawny broken Half-elves, then he'd be interested. These would be payment for the Cankers. He negotiated the cost down to two for one COIN.

Everyone else (not Moonlight) went to see Lieutenant Chung. Like the REALs, Chung said he would be very impressed if they could make the undead stay away. To help with the party's cause with the REALs, he offered Ampersand an Arrow of Darkness (one of the IMAG ones). Ampersand gladly received it.

Lammy and Tylin went to the Wizards' Guild and spoke to Sly Dunbar about the cease fire. Sly Dunbar was mildly interested that the Budgie Smugglers had an information conduit to the Wraith King. He said that the Guild might be interested in exploring that after this had all died down.

While they were there, Tylin arranged to see Daisy Crown. Her interest was piqued about the undead cease fire, but more piqued when he told her about the Elwins' collection of Half-elves.

Wraith King 1

Most-High Priest Igor Lightmouth

The whole group (Huilam [Jamie], Grey Wacke [Jeff], Tylin [Ian], Ampersand [Shane], Ronnie [Deacon], Lammy [Kevin], Dee Dee [Steven], Moonlight [Chris] and Madagascar [Darryl]) ventured to the REAL temple and sought out Priestess Rita. 

According to Rita, the general feeling of the priests in the temple was that the Most-high Priest Igor Lightmouth was doing the right thing, and that this fight with the undead was, if not sanctioned by REAL, perfectly just and good. Undead should be given no quarter, and must be destroyed where ever they lurk. But there were a group of moderates, who were more pragmatic, like Rita, and they wanted the war to be over. It didn't take much to convince Rita that she should arrange a meeting with the moderates. The group would meet them at the Gibbet and Grape in the Docks.

The party duly arrived. Sitting in the corner of the tavern, trying to look inconspicuous, and utterly failing, was a paladin.

Soon, three REAL priests drifted in, and introduced themselves to the group: Priest Jimmie Sanford, Priestess Keely Sawyers and Priestess Nancy Jose (pronounced with the Sancho affectation "Ho-say"). They got to talking about REAL politics and REAL realpolitik. 

The REAL hierarchy worked in threes (three being the number of divine states that the god REAL can be in: "Shining", "Quiescent" and "Aberrating"). The Most-High Priest Igor Lightmouth was classified as "Tier 1". The next rank down was "Tier Two". This was three High Priests Richard Dial, Lilli Caswell, and Joseph Bullock. Below that were nine "Tier Three" priests. 

Jimmie, Keely and Nancy were Tier threes. Jimmie said that the three Tier Two High-priests were very loyal to Lightmouth, so they would get no support from them. And of the nine Tier 3 priests, only Jimmie, Keely and Nancy wanted to stop the war. Rita was defying her mentor because Colleen was loyal to Igor.

The party said that they would try to help.

To help aid in their endeavours, Jimmie gave Huilam a bandoleer of six holy waters.

__________________________________

08K4

After that meeting, the group headed off to the Council Offices to go and see Lieutenant Chung.

On the way, they spotted one of the escaped slaves - the woman (slave ID 08K4) - driving on a non-descript wagon (twin horses) with one other shady-looking guy. Tylin surreptitiously left the group to follow her.

At the Council, Chung's receptionist recognized Huilam and Grey Wacke, and motioned them in to Chung's office, while the rest stayed in the waiting room.

Five-finger fillet

Chung was in the conversation pit with another soldier. Chung's two bully boys were in the corner playing Five Finger Fillet.

Chung was not in a bad mood today, so no-one got beaten up.

They told him that they had a clever scheme with which to negotiate a truce with the Wraith King, but did not let on their contacts with the REALs

Chung didn't want to know what they had planned anyway, and he was dead certain that whatever they tried, they would die. Horribly. But, he didn't have anything to lose, and if they succeeded, very good. 

The 25 COIN offer stood.

Huilam didn't press this point, and returned to the party, and they talked things over.

They needed to get in contact with the Wraith King, and were not sure how safe it would be to wander into the graveyard - at night.

"Can we send him a letter?"

"How will we deliver it?"

"Gnome Post!" exclaimed Madagascar. "Zey deliver anywhere, or 'we drink our own urine'."

The main Gnome Post office was only a block over from the Council, so Madagascar went to ask.

The gnome behind the desk was not very helpful.

"Oh my gosh," he said, wobbling his big gnome head. "We do not be delivering to the dead, sir!"

Back to the group.

"Could one of the evil temples do it? Maybe they have a link to the undead. Leprous by-blow?"

"God of Desolation? Juis suis desole.  Malechai?"

"They would HATE to. How about Spiney Norman?"

"Ignorance? Too thick. 'I got my letter stuck in my eye. I can't see anything.' What about Nuke, god of war?"

"Maybe. Or IMAG?"

"Or Canker! God of Suffering and Death"

"That might work," said Huilam. And he got out his quills.

So, he wrote a letter:

Most Magnificent King of the Wraiths,

Lord of the Undead,

Overlord of the Skull District,

Hammerer of REAL.

With the greatest humility, we afford you with the opportunity of de-escalation, and the humiliating retreat of your greatest foe.

We have knowledge that, with a devious plan by Your Magnificence, the foe shall turn upon itself.

We humbly request safe passage, and Your protection, to discuss this plan with You or Your emissary.

We await Your reply at midnight, in two nights' time, at the great oak in the centre of Statue Park in the Mansion District.

Huilam Artois of the Budgie Smugglers, Docks, Scabport.

He sealed it and with the party seal, then they all headed to the Canker temple in Temple district. 

They all stopped outside the temple. The Canker temple itself was carved as a huge skull, grinning at the world, made of some kind of dark weeping rock. The temple grounds was a graveyard with statues of dead things, and funerary things, and accouterments and memorials to the dead. There was a path of bone fragments running up to the main black iron door in the skull's mouth. A shadow passed over the sun and a cold wind blew. 

"I'm not going in there!" someone muttered.

"Me neither!"

Huilam and Grey Wacke bravely entered the rusty road gate, and headed down the bone path. There were no guards, but they were sure something was watching them. Some things.

A hooded figure in a shroud-cloth robe greeted them at the black iron door, and beckoned them inside. It was dark. They couldn't see his face.

"Follow me," he whispered in a grave-dust voice.

They moved deeper into the complex. The floor was sticky, as if they were walking through a finger's-depth of mud, but it was too dark to see anything clearly, even with Huilam's infravision.  On the edge of their vision things moved on the floor in the gloom; things the size of a corpse, things as small as a torso. They writhed, twisted, wiggled, moved. And there were noises: sometimes a whimper, a groan, sobbing, noisy eating, a clink of chain, a strangled cry cut short, a cheyne-stoking rattle. And the whole place reeked of rotting meat, grave-dirt, blood, and rancid fat.

"So ... you want this letter delivered?" he rasped. "I can get that done. But ... there will be a price."

He paused dramatically.

"A pint of elvish blood, and two living 'volunteers'." It was too dark to see the air quotes, but they were there.

Huilam thought for a moment, and then passed over the sealed letter.

"It is agreed," he said.

Then Huilam and Grey Wacke hurriedly left the place. When they got outside into the light, they realized that the "mud" they were walking in was a mix of blood and fat and crushed bone.

________________________________________

Night fell.

Back at the secret lair, Tylin had not returned. 

"He's often out late," someone said. "Let's hope he's nighting over somewhere safe."

After dark, the undead started to roam the streets as the previous night. The group kept a watch up all night. And no-one was planning to venture out. 

There were unnaturally-moving creatures in the streets: ghouls, zombies, skeletons? And a skittering on the roof tiles a few times. But nothing broke in, and so it was a quiet night.

__________________________________

At first light, Sorrow and El Cid arrived back from the Prison Island. They had completed their trial week. Before they left Sergeant Skipper, they arranged with him to be picked up again in two mornings.

At the prison, for the last few nights, the ballista crews had had good targets to shoot with the bolts. There a few swimming lacedons (marine ghouls) in the water, and they provided ideal targets. The ballista bolts did short work to them. If the bolt didn't kill the creature outright, it would embed itself in the body, and then make it too heavy to stay afloat.

After meeting up with the group and having breakfast with them, Sorrow headed off to Burrito's mother Martha to use her seamstress abilities. He wanted a cloak made of a grey material, the same colour and look as the prison stone walls. With this, he could camouflage beneath it while climbing the walls.

Now, the rest of the crew were worried about Tylin, who had still not returned. So the whole lot, plus the newly invigorated El Cid, went off to search for Tylin. They knew that Tylin had followed the non-descript wagon into the Docks district. So that narrowed the search down to ... about two thousand. Someone remembered it was yellow; yellow and distinctive. So, they went on that.

Several hours into the morning, someone spotted the distinctive wagon, and they zeroed in on it, and then zeroed in on a suspicious warehouse.