(G4 02/05/08 OR)

day 3 cont...

Well, it all started to get even more exciting after that. I don't like needless cruelty to
animals, naturally as I am a druid, but when Shesara whacked the horse she was sat on with
her axe, it stopped the hearse dead.

Raz then galloped over and started to lob limbs off our attackers and seemed to make short
work of them. Umbril, the shifty one, also joined the fray.

I had the foresight to order the two surviving guards to go block the two bridges off the
graveyard island, but in the end it didn't make any difference.

My next move was an attempt to join the melee by the hearse but my horse was attacked by a
zombie that had lurched out of some forsaken crypt nearby!

I gave the blighter a good crack with my staff, but it didn't seem to do much so I easily
avoided it and joined the fight by the hearse.

It seemed like Raz and Shesara didn't need much help though, as they both appear to be
War God worshipping, axe wielding psychopaths...

After the battle there were seven dead thugs, in bits, and one still alive but unconscious.
We started to debate our next move. My first thought was to burn the bodies and claim later
that we had burned the body of Crimson. I tried to appeal to the groups greed, although my
real reason was of course, my long held desire to test the body of a murderer to see if it
holds magical properties. I think not, but has it ever been tested, other than by quacks
and charlatans?

We did not get a chance to attempt any subterfuge though as we were again attacked, this time
by three grey robed cultists. Immediately Raz and Umbril turned on their heels and fled. I can
only assume it was as the result of a fear spell cast by said cultists, as I had not seen
cowardice exhibited in either up to this point.

Then Shesara fell into a deep sleep (magical I assume) and I was alone! I had already been
injured in the earlier fighting so my first move was to awaken the cleric with a splash of
summoned water on her face. We then set about the cultists. I fetched one a knock as he tossed
a jar into the hearse, but another struck me with his club ...
and that was all I remembered until I was, in turn, revived by Shesara.

Apparently what happened was this ; the jar had some sort of magical shrinking oil in it, that
shrunk the corpse down to the size of a doll. A raven then flew in and with the corpse held in
its claws, made its escape!
Raz was back by this time and threw his axe, but missed.

When I awoke all the cultists were dead and the body gone, although their story seemed unlikely,
I took it to be true. Mr Badgerington seemed to think it was true, he certainly had the sort of
expression on his face he gets when he sees birds.

After a few moments, Constable Puddy-puddy (I may have his name wrong) turned up and tried
bossing us around and take away our prisoner, but I was having none of it.
I had been knocked about and treated most roughly so I did not have much mercy on the one
remaining bounder that had attacked us.

He didn't want to talk at first, but I find people are much more likely to be chatty when the have been debagged
and a badger has their naughty bits held in its teeth.

He told us that a mysterious lady had hired them at the Gulls Nest, just last night, to disrupt the funeral. He
told us a few more details about the woman, but he didn't appear to know much about anything.

I then handed him over to Constable Puddy-puddy, whom seems a decent enough sort, but with ideas above his station.

I then talked to Puddy-puddy about what his next move would be. He seemed to think that his duty lay only with trying
to keep the city calm now that the body of Crimson had gone!

What about investigating the crime? Tracking down these cultists? Or looking for this mysterious woman?

He seemed to think we should do that! Very well my good man, I said, on whose authority will we investigate?
(We have big axes! pointed out Raz. Bless him, poor illiterate lad, he is handy in a scrap, but has no idea of
diplomacy or due process.)

Puddy-puddy didn't seem so sure so I directed him to either deputise us or provide us with a seal or even better
a city official to come with us on our investigations. He said he would see what he would do. I can't say I have
been terribly impressed with the way this city is run so far.

In any event, that was that. Despite my wanting to move while the trail was still warm, I did see the sense in
taking a short rest and perhaps stocking up on some equipment we might need if there was another scrap.

We went back to the merchant quarter, and I purchased a leather jacket and a scimitar, as it seems like one way
or another, I might have to defend myself again, and next time my staff bounces off a zombie I might not be so
lucky! The other made purchases also.

That evening we followed a lead to the Gulls Nest Inn - a brothel really - that our prisoner had been
recruited in. The lady that had hired them had been in the inn for a while so Mr Badgerington picked
up the scent. I followed him but he lost the scent in the next district. Raz had followed me too,
but he wanted to get back to the Gulls Nest to talk to the girls there.

Well, I found one girl whom new a few things and I *ahem* pumped her for some information - purely
for the greater good of course! Raz did a fair bit of pumping too - in fact he staid all night!

(note : Raz turned up at the Bent Goblin in the morning, the stop out, with wild stories of having
intimate relationships with 5 and a half girls!)

We are now back at the Bent Goblin. I have just checked the creatures, and am writing this. Mr Badgerington is
asleep on the bed, taking up more than his share of the pillows - as usual!

I must say though, this city seems to suit him, as he seems to be having the time of his life. The more people he
bites, the happier he is. Not the most genial of attitudes I must admit, but such is the way of badgers.

DAY 4

Has it really been only four days? So much has happened already.

Well, this morning, an old priest came from the Temple of Lafender. His name was Father Varal Estrin
and he implored us to help the city and find the body of Crimson before it was used for some evil purpose.

We were going to do that anyway, but he helped us with some healing potions.

A little later, our official letter from the city arrived. It was certainly official looking, but I am not
convinced of its value. It basically says the bearer can snoop about if they like, on the cities orders.

Like I said, it may just be worthless paper, but it might come in handy.

Anyway, the first place to search seemed obvious, the slaughterhouse out of town. The cultists we killed
had had manure on their boots and blood on the cuffs of their robes.

We rode out of town and approached the slaughterhouse. I started to get a bad feeling about the place, it
seemed a dark horrid building, squatting in the jungle, near the road. I think the others did too, because
Shesara and Umbril took off round the back while myself and Raz rode up to the door.

We knocked and presented our offical warrant. They didn't seem that impressed but they agreed to let us
look around. I was starting to feel even more uneasy, but kept up the offical sounding pretence and
brushed aside the protests of the slaughterhouse people.

I got their names : Vander Anderhoff and brother. Not locals, from up north somewhere, as they had
white skins. A very disagreeable couple of ruffians by the look of them, although one was better
dressed than the other.

(At this time, I am told later, the other two were sneaking about upstairs.)

They lead us down into the cellars and we snooped about a bit. Raz opened a door. There was a zombie
behind it. Just as he went to shut the door a knife plunged into his back. Another quivered in the
woodwork beside my head. I turned...