Session 4: Ivasar

*"War is a disaster for winner and loser alike."*

We were finally free of that pestilent cave where we were forced to put so many rats and Ratlings to rest.  Meeting back at the mill and after a tearful reunion between the brotherly bards and Anna and Milton, we decided to escort the pilgrims to the gate, despite our best efforts to persuade Milton on a different path. The small minds of zealots are rarely open. However, Ember had a unusually powerful call from her patron to investigate the Acolytes of the Fallen Fire further and that sealed our plan. For safety we convinced an apprentice of the Amethyst Academy to join us, Schmendrick, who well, let's just say he'll remain an apprentice for a long time. I hope whatever he was tasked with was not a valuable one. Striking out south, I tried to avoid trouble, leading them towards a shortcut through the ruined estates in the southeast outskirts of Sacena.

But not all goes as planned and the city grows more overrun by the day.  We were ambushed by a pack of Gnolls and Death Dogs as we passed through the marketplace.  They were fast and vicious and a poor woman took a spear to her throat before any of us could react, but I was able to stabilize her. We could not run they were too many, and we had too many with us. We had to fight. I tried to reason with them but zealots come in all shapes, with baying cries to their dark god clamoring for blood. When my vines and charms failed I was forced shift shape and defend our party, lest we be overrun, but thank Eldath I wasn't forced to kill.

Despite Milton protecting Anna, she took to throwing rocks, hurling them at the Gnolls and dogs, hitting then square on their snouts. I can understand, it is only instinctual but it saddens me to see the young forced into violence. Viter with this quick thinking created an illusion of a massive Gnoll to lead some of them astray.  I have to give this wizard more credit, although unorthodox, I can't fault his results. Though I've never seen any wizard use a sword so well as he, perhaps it's some sort of Caspian practice.

   One of our party was not so fortunate and when the cries died down he lay quietly at our feet. There was no time for anything but a quick prayer as the howls in the distance warned us of more coming, a price of my mercy.  We were exhausted and wounded, but I imagined to conceal our escape with the last of my reserves.

We finally arrived at the gate controlled by the Acolytes of the Fallen Fire on the southern edge of town. I had heard of their camp, but had yet to witness the teeming and stinking mass of humanity before me, pilgrims of all sorts.  They had lots of hope but not enough hands.  After some consultation with their leaders we decided to help and in doing so help ourselves determine more of what Sigrun's interest was. Trying to get the attention of a Caspian Hedge Knight, Altair, who was in charge of providing security for their relief efforts, I was promptly elbowed in the face by one of the pilgrims.  I swear if Sigrun did not have such an interest in these people I would leave them to their fate.

It fell upon me to make the inquiries as my two companions were keen to conceal themselves from their fellow Caspian. We agreed to go looking for the supply caravans who had been missing since this morning, and despite my feelings, no one should have to starve. We struck out south with some borrowed horses and came upon a massacre.  But this was no pack of wolves or hungry bandits.  Deep gouges covered the area and one of the drivers had been dragged away.

As we explored the area my suspicions of the unnatural grew.  We decided to proceed with caution and thanks to Viter's boisterous singing a massive Kruthik appeared from its lair nearby.  They are unnatural fey beasts created for war and although I do not seek it, I will not mourn their passing.