Lady Ceiling's Journal
Lady Ceiling’s Journal, The S Bend Incident
It had been a tiring day’s
march so we were ready for bed early. Some Restday it had been! However I was
not alone in worrying over the disappearance of the Cherub Natalie. Had the Imp
inflicted on Vaggson killed her in the mysterious Flaches? Then there was the
strange illness that had now struck Pouth as well as the two Verdini nurses. Was
it contagious and were we all doomed to take it. At least, according to Yameh,
we had seen the last of Beevil’s attacks. Or so we thought! At around the second
hour of Startday 22nd of
the Fourth Moon we in the ladies tent, were awaked by Vaggy the trumpeter
blaring away! Grabbing our shields and daggers we hurried outside. It seemed
that an enormous undead giant was attacking us from downstream! A Placki
horseman had seen him coming and had warned the Verdini who were on watch.
Though some were petrified with fear, enough stood up to fight him, to save the
rest of us. Sir Shure exclaimed, “The undead fear fire! We should set fire to
the tents to frighten them off!”
“What all the tents! Rather just one of
the males tents!” retorted Lady Shalaka.
“Do you know just how much they cost and
how hard it was to keep buying them a secret!” added Princess Griselda.
“The Verdini seem to be keeping him
occupied, so we do not fire the tents as yet!” declared Graf Silth. “You Ladies
help herd the steeds away! Men, we have to fight these skeletons coming from
beyond the stream!” And indeed there were a mass of these undead creatures
swarming towards us. Most of we dvaus did as we were told but the Graffin and
Melda the cook stayed with the warriors. From later talks I understand that some
skeleton bowmen had tried to silence the upstream vedette. They had failed and
the trumpet blasts alerted the rest of the Placki anyway. They all mounted and
lined our side of the stream beyond the rise. They and the skeleton bowmen
exchanged fire, whilst more skeletons armed with spears and scythes waded
through the stream to get at us. Beevil appeared hovering behind them and was
nearly hit by two quarrels loosed art him! Whether he was in the real world or
the Gheist Flache we knew not. The fight was fierce for a while with our
warriors holding the gap between two tents. There were half a dozen a side and
the unarmoured skeletons had the worst of it, with the Graffin herself slaying
one. From my studies I understand the term should be destroyed, as the undead
are already dead! Alas our mace warrior Kinder was killed during this but soon
only one skeleton remained this side of the river! Meanwhile the Placki had
remained firing their bows, rather than charging over the stream. Yameh
explained that whilst his men had no fear of the undead, their horses did. Since
he had double the number of bows in action, he was getting the better of the
exchanges. In fact his only casualties were two horses wounded. Since he had
four spare steeds this mattered little. With as many as nine Verdini fighting
him the undead Giant was destroyed and the skeletons having lost perhaps a score
of their number, began to flee. The Placki advanced across the stream after them
but with Beevil and two of his Imps hovering above them they then halted. Who
knew what evil spells he had at his command! With the enemy gone Graf Silth
ordered us all back to bed. He said that we should clear up the battlefield in
the daylight.
After dawn we first had
breakfast which we ate looking at the Black heap of the undead giant. Druid
Barbver said that he had detected bad magic in the creature’s massive sword
which lay nearby. I told him that I had read that the undead often carried
Neruth weapons that turned those killed or wounded into undead in turn.
Fortunately the giant had not managed to injure any of the Verdini who fought
him. Princess Griselda was worrying about what to do about burying poor Kinder.
Normally back in Neradh he would be buried in a fine wooden coffin but that was
not possible in these treeless lands. Graffin Zilch suggested that he be
surrounded by the wooden parts of the weapons left by the skeletons. Cook Melda
said that she had hoped to save them for her next cooking fire but Graf Silth
declared that they should be used in Kinder’s grave.
He thought that this should be dug on
the southwest end of the rise, facing towards Neradh.
Then one of the
Verdini shouted “There is someone coming!” His comrades all grasped their new
bows. We all turned to look and there was this small figure approaching across
the grass. It was a small woman dressed in a russet curt frock and bearing a
staff. “Hold your fire! She looks harmless enough!” ordered Graf Silth.
“Be cautious though she may be one of
Beevil’s minions!” warned Druid Barbver.
“Ask her who she and what
she wants with us!” Graf Silth ordered me so I did so in my best Jedonese.
“I am Gabriella, a fata of
Opita Dam. My friend Zena and I have
been ordered by the Lawic Council to work for justice in these northern lands.”
She replied in Simnith, which most of us could understand. “I think I have some
claim to have ensured that Beevil did not attack you last night!”
“What!” roared Graf Silth. “Look at
yonder black carcase, look at the body of poor Kinder. Look at the scattered
bones of the skeletons we slew last night!”
“Oh I am sorry. It seems that Beevil is
more resourceful than I thought! I went round all the Hun tribes warning their
women of your victory at Lo-Li. None of them would agree to attack you as a
result. Assuming that you are pursuing virtuous endeavours I am prepared to help
you in any way that I can?”
“Can you find out what has happened to
the Cherub Natalie. She was assisting us as a lookout but we fear she may have
been slain by the Chieftain Vaggson’s Imp.”
“Cherub Natalie is a servant of
sorceress Matrigna who was seduced into serving Beevil! I think she may have
been serving you false!”
“I always suspected her of being a spy!”
declared Druid Barbver. “The Verdini nurses and now Pouth have become ill since
she joined us!”
“Ill you say? Fetch them here and let me
examine them!” So the three were brought to us and Gabriella felt their
foreheads in turn. “They are not ill as such. The Cherub has inflicted them with
Amazon pregnancies! Doubtless Beevil thought this would cause considerable upset
when this became more obvious. Disputes over who was the father for instance?
Centuries ago the at the request of the Queen of Thalia the Maghe
Opita Dam and
Artesia
created the Amazon pregnancy spell. Cherubs and other Magh wielders were
provided with it. Amazon pregnancies last only half as long as normal and always
result in the birth of daughters! Natalie accompanied Queen Ancalime’s amazon
force when it came to join the Lawic Army a few years ago. ”
Graph Silth looked utterly
appalled at this, “Is there not way of halting these curses?”
“Yes, Mistress Pouth, I take it you have
no desire to be pregnant?”
“The Maghi preserve me no!”
“Then stand still!
Frigidantrum! There that should do it
I hope!”
“Could you rid me of this pestilent
Imp?” asked Chieftain Vaggson.
“I can try but I need a little time to
build up my magic reserves, especially as it will need a Zealth spell, of which
I can only cast one a day.”
“Madam, I purchased a
Frigidantrum scroll spell. Perchance
I might use it on one of the nurses?” suggested Druid Barbver. However whilst
Pouth felt much better, the nurse Poma actually vomited, so we guessed the
scroll was a dud. Meanwhile the rest of us took down the tents and cleared up
the battlefield. The Undead Giant was lighter than he looked so the Verdini
rolled him down into the stream where he floated away downstream. They were
rightly reluctant to touch his sword. This had the name Druzak carved into the
wooden handle. Eventually four of them lifted it up on their spears and levered
it into the stream as well. One sword, bow, three scythes, five spears and a
bone drum were found by the skeletons scattered bones. We cut the metal parts
off and threw them in the stream with all the bones. Looking at some of these I
realised that from the large pelvic bones some of our assailants must have been
female. The sword wielding skeleton had worn a long brass chain, which Yameh
kept as a souvenir. As decided we buried Kinder with the bow and all the wooden
shafts plus his own mace and shield.
By the time that this had
all been done it was time for a brief early lunch. Gabriella had failed in her
attempt to break Vaggson’s curse but promised to try again tomorrow. She had
some trouble curing Lema and Poma but declared them free eventually. Princess
Griselda told her that we were going the Aroar for a wedding, so Gabriella said
that she would contact the boatmen on the River Eorwine. They would be eager to
earn some money conveying us over the river. Most traffic now went over the
bridge at Hamormaz or the Hickwood-Homath Ferry. Then she disappeared before our
eyes!
We marched northwards and
reached the river in the late afternoon and found Gabriella and three boats
waiting for us. Graf Silth was worried that Beevil might have raised a force to
stop us landing on the far bank so we crossed as soon as a steep price was
agreed.
We were sad to be leaving
our Verdini and Placki friends behind but the agreement was only for them to
escort us across Hunara. From now on in Hamora we would be on our own. Gabriella
stayed with the Verdini so that she could have another go at free Vaggson from
his curse. Less than a myle across the river was a small wood of oak trees so we
went there to camp for the night. It was wonderful to be amongst trees once more
even if it did rain all night! I reckoned that we were maybe only thirty myles
from Aroar. We debated whether to head for the main road which passed beside
Homath Castle or carry on cross country bypassing it to its east. Homath Castle
was known to be held by Sir Daubs Thortful a knight originally from the
Alpenais. He had been friendly towards King Granbold when the latter passed by
there in the past. Graf Silth thought it better to avoid any contacts until we
arrived at Aroar. We kept a good watch through the night but nothing hostile
developed. Apart from some trouble with a herd of pigs whose home it was.
Perhaps Beevil had given up attacking us. Or, suggested Druid Barbver
perhaps he is concentrating his efforts against the Verdini. Although we
thought we might have made Aroar in a long days march, Graf Silth decided that
it would be more sensible to do about twenty myles and then have an easy stage
coming up to the castle.
In the morning we marched
onwards, tending to head from one small wood to the next. The countryside was
still mostly grasslands with herds of cattle tended by Hamorans who drove them
away from us. In the late afternoon Graf Silth had declared that the next wood
would be our camp site for the night! Since we were a good four myles from it at
the time this did not fill us with joy. As we wearily neared it a horde of
wolves, some with goblins on their backs swarmed toward us. Beevil was not
finished with us yet!
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NOTES
Natalie
Flies 9” Fa 20/40, TR 3, SR 5, D-3, C -2, W -1.
A +3, Me -4 -3 = -7 st -2 stun 4.
Normally flies in the
Gheist Flache where it can be seen and heard but not touched or harmed by
missiles. Whilst she holds the Tome of
Mathoth she adds 2 to the spell casting dice & can cast two Zealth^ spells
per Day without penalty. It has a protection spell on it, anyone else touching
it loses D10 +5 – Spell Resistance fatigue
points. This also applies if the book is dropped on them like a handstone
, Range 3” 5+ Strike -4
4th Level
Magician, Spells Flache Transfer, Mouth
Wash, Detect Nubile, Inflict Pregnancy. Charm Spell, Detect Magic, Ease Pain,
Frigidity, Reshape Flesh, Revive Unconscious, Sleep Spell, Sterilise, Strength
Boosting, Double Crop, Nehruth Poison Heal, Reassurance Beams, Sooth Mind,
Strength Increase, Rest Undead, Temporary Wound Nullifying.
Speaks
Simnith, Quenith, Amazon, Kharsh, Jedonese (P) Washa Edin (P). Reads Lerumint &
Tengthin.
Flache Transfer spell @
Maghi 3+ (1+)
Zearth^
used to transfer from the Mondo Morvali to
the Gheist Flache or from it to the Spoinage Flache. D10 = 3+ transfer,
2- Fail. If failing on a third try at the spell in a day test ^!
^ D6 5+ OK, 4 Crackle lose powers for 10 moves, 3 lose
powers for 20 moves, 2 lose powers 40 moves, 1 lose powers 80 moves.
Detect Nubile spell
2MPU 3” (Super spell 4MPU) 3+ to reveal yes or no.
Inflict Pregnancy Spell @ Maghi 3+ (1+) Zearth^
Used to give nubile females an accelerated pregnancy. With the Tome of
Mathoth Natalie can attempt two per
day (or night in her case.)
Previous
19th Fourth Moon 707ATN
Natalie, after talking to Lady Ceiling and the other Dvaus, then waited until
they had all fallen asleep. She then tested them with her spells. She did not
need to do so with the Verdini nurses as she knew them from working in the
Salubral Pond Hospital. With the benefits of the tome of
Mathoth, she then successfully cast
the Amazon Imposing of Pregnancy spell on first Lema and then half an hour later
Poma. She then flew out to the open plain where she found the Imp Nub to make
her report.
On the 20th she
was present at the Lo-Li action. When they camped just outside the walls she had
to be careful because of the sentries. However she tried to cast her Amazon
pregnancy spells on Abigail Bonny and Muletress Pouth. However only the one on
Pouth was successful. In the small hours of the 21st she met the Imp
Nob in the Flaches and gave her report. He, like her, was rather shaken by the
bloodshed of the failed attack. He told her that Matrigna had gone back to the
Forest to open another hospital there. She decided to follow her and Nob decided
to accompany her.
The Fata Gabriella
Gabriella
Fata of
Opita Dam Long Sight
Mo 7", Fa 15/30, TR +3, SR
5, D-5, C-4, W -3, A +3, Ob 2.2 Me +5 -0 = +5 Magic staff stun st 0, stun 8 2nd
Level magician 2 MPU per move max 8.
Spells
Pass Flaches, Magha Punish, Charm, Bestow
Hilarity, Mouthwash, Soothe Mind, Sterilise, Ease Pain, Reshape Flesh, Odour of
Sanctity, Revive Unconscious, Sleep Spell, Nehruth Poison Heal, Reassurance
Beams, Sooth Mind.
Speaks Quenith, Simnith,
Wosha, Amazon, Kharsh Jedonese. Reads Lerumint, Tengthin, Runes.
E5 I6 M5 G5 I6 L6 D5
Weakness Bards stories, Iy
+D10 = 8+ not to listen, 7+ to leave.
19th Fourth
Moon 707ATN
The Fata Gabriella was
visiting the Hospital of Lo-Li when the Huns attacked some visitors to the
Market. Speaking to some of the Placki who brought two of their wounded to the
hospital, she discovered that their party had included some dwarves, who had
earlier bested the demon Beevil. Beevil had cursed the leader of some Forest
Limurans who were also in the party with an Imp. They were en route to Hamora.
As a Fata of Opita Dam concerned
that Beevil had seduced Matrigna away from Lawic practises, she felt it was her
duty to do her best to thwart Beevil’s intentions. Spying from the Flaches she
discovered that the Huns had lost a score of men and the Chieftains Huki, Balido
and Egglis killed. She suspected that Beevil would try to recruit more Hun
tribes to attack these dwarves through the Flaches. She had built up a good
relationship with the womenfolk of these tribes and began a tour through the
Flaches to warn them of the disaster their kinsfolk had suffered at Lo-Li. Thus
when Beevil called on the Chieftains of the various available tribes, they
already knew about how strong the Dwarves party was and saw no point in
attacking them! After four rebuff’s, unknown to Gabriella, Beevil turned to the
burial places scattered over the plains. There he sought to recruit some of the
undead, unhappy souls that haunted such places. They were hard to find, as many
had been recruited and lost at the Brook Pond Mound Battle by Mephista last
year.
Having accomplished what
she had set out to do warning the tribes, Gabriella decided to call on the dwarf
party to find just what they were up to and to see if she could help them. This
she did after dawn on the 22nd of the Fourth Moon.