Mogrin

I know not if this letter will find you well. I hope it does. I found others. My family, if you can believe it. My wife and son, they are alive. I want you to know this.

But there is something else you must know. Neverwinter is not as we envisioned. It is not as they promised. The city is no more. I lost a dear friend I met on my journey there to learn this. His name was Alenn, and a centaur no less. He was a good man, who did not deserve his fate.

I implore you, do not enter the city. It belongs to the dead now.

We are camped a few miles north-east, up by a lake in the woods outside the city. One may see it on a map. It is with great hope you will find us, but be wary. Last night walkers came to the woods. We lost many good people in the ensuing battle.

Godspeed, Mogrin. Take care of your child. I will write to you again tomorrow at dawn.

Rillick

Giving a solemn sigh, Rillick put the quill down, rolled up the paper and tied it with string. Upon his shoulder, Dio was sleeping, his head tucked into his wing. he gently riled him awake and lifted the small dove and tied the message to his leg. Feeling a little guilty of disturbing the bird, he simply placed him on the ground to let him fly off on his own volition.

Without a moment's hesitation, Dio fluttered off towards the rising sun.

He pulled his fur cloak tight to him as a gust of cold wind hit him. It was not as cold as last night, at least. As he watched Dio disappear over the horizon, his thoughts turned to the plague. Who created this... walker? And for what reason? He needed answers. Perhaps he can somehow convince the camp to leave, to find them, maybe even find whoever controls them and put a stop to it once Mogrin and Duhane arrives.

What did Duhane say? Something about a wizard tower? It would be a good place to start.

Lorelai lowered beside Anderea, who still clutched tightly on her sister's lifeless hand. For a long while she sat in silence. there was nothing for her to say, but at the same time it needed to be said.

"I am so sorry." She began slowly. "She's gone. You must let us... take her." Those two words sickened her. "We all cared for her and I promise we'll be as gentle as we can."

She said nothing, as expected. Lorelai rose to her feet and left her to her grieving. There was nothing she could do.

All around her, settlers shuffled back and forth trying to gather themselves and lick their wounds, while others gathered up the remaining, terrified horses. She easily spotted Dar among the crowds with a spear, piercing the heads of corpses while Gelnen and Ty-Varaz carried them over and heaved them onto a burning bonfire.

When she joined Shaan and Dall by the campfire, she spotted Rillick coming down the hill and her spirits lifted somewhat. She moved over to him when he arrived, who looked over to where Amee and Anderea lay.

"She still won't move?" he asked.

"She won't even speak to us. She has been there all night. What will we do?"

"We mustn't leave Amee like that." Said Shaan. "We must deal with it same as the others."

Rillick gently pried Lorelai's arm from around his neck. "I'll tell her how it must be."

Every step closer to Anderea felt like an eternity. There was nothing he could say which could make her feel better. He knew this. When he finally reached her, he lowered and reached out to touch her shoulder.

"Anderea..."

There was a sharp ring of steel, and before he could react, he felt the point of a blade at his neck. Anderea looked right at him, her eyes warning.

"Technique doesn't matter if he is unarmed." She said calmly, though Rillick could recognise the poison in her voice.

At that moment, he felt incredibly foolish. He knew not what he expected. He thought many times what he would do if his family perished, but for it to actually happen, and to happen to the last of her blood, he could never imagine the harrowing sorrow she was experiencing.

He backed away slowly. "OK. I apologise. I'm sorry."

When he was at a comfortable distance, she sheathed her shortsword and turned back around.

As expected, the moment Rillick rejoined the others at the campfire, Dar protested against his hesitation, walking over wielding the bloodsoaked metal pike.

"You lot can't be serious." He said. "Let the lass be? The dead girl's a threat to us all."

"Then what do you suggest, pray?" Rillick asked him.

He took a few steps towards him, keeping his voice low. "Get over there and take care of it. Clean, in the brain. Hells, give me a bow and I can do it from here."

"No." Lorelai snapped. "By Bahamut's shield, let her be."

The ire in her eyes even gave Dar pause, and they decided to obey her. Though Dar's frustrated grunt as he stormed off showed his stance on the matter.

"They don't need to know." Muttered Ghim as he walked slowly in circles. "It isn't-"

"Hey, Ghim. We've work to do."

The half-orc's passing voice jolted him and he quickly gathered himself and followed him to the piles of bodies around the bonfire.

He passed Morralees, struggling with a corpse, heaving it onto its back, then side, then front. Dar heaved the body over his shoulder and headed towards the bonfire. But not before Gelnen leapt into his path.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" he exclaimed. "This is for gluttons. Our people go over there."

Dar looked to where he pointed, a wooden makeshift sled, then glared. "They're all afflicted."

"We do not burn them!" he yelled. Dar backed away in surprise. He took a breath to calm himself. "We bury them."

Dar stared down at the elf intensely, but Gelnen did not budge. Finally, he growled and turned, hefting the heavy corpse on his shoulder.

"You reap what you sow." He grumbled.

"Oh, shut yer bloody mouth!" Morralees exclaimed as he passed.

"You lot left my brother for dead!" he shouted as he dumped the body onto the pile of unburnt corpses on the sled, and gestured around him with his free hand. "You had this coming!"

Ghim looked on as he stormed off. "Aye, that is true." He said. "I know how he feels."

"You say something?"

He turned around in surprise, to see Ja'qi looking at him quizzically. He coughed nervously.

"What? Oh, nothing. Don't worry about-"

"Wait, are you bleeding?"

She turned her gaze down to the blurred red seeping from underneath his clothes. Ghim's heart skipped a beat as he tried to cover it.

"I just got some on me from the bodies." He stammered.

"The blood is fresh." She demanded. "Were you bitten?"

"No. I got scratched during the attack."

"You were bitten."

"No, I'm fine."

"Then show me!"

He reached out to her with a pleading hand. "Don't tell, please."

Alas, she immediately spun around. "A walker got him." She shouted. "A walker bit Ghim!"

"I'm OK..."

A crowd of settlers approached him, shock in their eyes. Dar walked up with him, his spear reddened from the heads of corpses.

"I'm OK..."

Ghim felt his hands wrap around a shovel. Everyone around him backed away nervously. Both hands now gripped the heft, and pointed it forwards. He heard distant voices from every side of him. The world spun wildly.

"I'm OK..."

Next thing he knew, the ground was closer to him, the shovel disappeared from his hands. He was unable to move them. He felt a sudden coldness on the side of his torso. The area that hurt the most.

"I'm OK... I'm OK."

Dar dropped Ghim's shirt covering his large bite mark and stepped back as Ty-Varaz released him from his grip.

Rillick looked on in horror at the sight. He did have in mind a clear idea what to do when it happened, but now, with such a scenario before him...

Some surviving settlers lead Ghim to the fire while Rillick considered his options, searching frantically in his mind.

"I say we spear him and the dead girl and be done with it." Said Dar.

Shaan shot him an accusing glare. "Is that what you'd want if it were you?"

"Aye." Dar returned. "I'd thank you while you did it."

"I hate to say it," all eyes turned to Dall, "I never thought I would, but maybe Dar's right."

"Ghim's not a monster, Dall," Rillick said somewhat forcefully, "or some diseased beast."

"I'm not suggesting-"

"He's a sick man. We start down that road, where will we draw the line?"

"The line's mighty clear." Dar answered. "Zero tolerance for walkers or them to be."

He decided now to reveal his plan. "What if we get him aid? I heard there was a wizard working on a cure."

"A Red Wizard of Thay at Silverymoon. I heard that too," Shaan replied, "I heard a lot of things before the plague hit and everyone was killed."

"Surely the wizard is still alive."

"That's a stretch right there."

"Is it?" Rillick said excitedly. "Spellcasters can protect themselves more than most. Especially those of the higher levels. If he is working on a cure, then what civilisation is left, they would want to protect him at all costs. Shelter, protection."

"You want those things. I want them too." Shaan looked away, hands on hips in contemplation. "If anyone can find out who did this, it'll be the Harpers. If they are alive, they'll be at the Twilight Hall in Berdusk.

"That's a hundred miles back the way we came." Lorelai argued.

"That is correct, but it's away from danger. If Berdusk still stands, it'll be heavily fortified. We'd be safe there."

Rillick considered this. He could see Shaan's reasoning, but he shook his head regardless. "Berdusk is not easily fortifiable, even with the Harpers' help. The tower is our best choice and Ghim's only chance."

Dar grunted in frustration and grabbed his spear as he marched over to Ghim. "You go looking for old men in pointy hats, do what you will." He shouted over his shoulder. "Someone needs to take care of this bloody problem!"

He poised the spear, ready to plunge it into Ghim, who scrambled backwards in fear. But Rillick reached him and pressed the tip of his longsword at his back.

"We do not kill the living."

Dar stopped, turned around, and laughed mockingly. "That's funny coming from a man with a sword at my chest."

Shaan planted himself between Ghim and Dar, with Dar between him and Rillick. "We may disagree on many things, but not on this. Put it down."

Dar glared at both of them in turn before slamming the spear downwards into the ground and storming off.

"Come with me." Said Rillick, pulling Ghim to his feet.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere safe."

Dall stopped beside Anderea.

"I, uh, came to pay my respects." His voice was shaky.

No answer. She was dead still, as if paralysed.

"Did I ever mention how I lost my wife?" he asked, trying to find something to talk about.

"She fell ill, did she not?" he could barely hear from her.

"Aye. I dragged her to every healer, every cleric and priest. And after all the divine magic and potions... she was ready. But I never could." He could feel tears pushing against his eyes. "I spent the last few years so angry. Since then..." he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You girls were the first people I cared anything for."

At last, Anderea looked up and at him with a smile. She returned his caring touch with her own, covering his hand with hers.

There was a sickening squelch as Dar's spear plunged into yet another corpse's head. He was still not used to that sound. He reached Eddard and rose his spear, as he's done countless times before, except this time, a hand stopped him. He turned to see Cralo.

"I'll do it." She said, her face ashen. "He's my husband."

She took the the spear Dar handed to her and pressed it against Eddard's head. Though she was clearly grieving, Dar noticed an unmistakable burning rage inside her as she ever so slowly pushed the spear through her late husband's eye.

As Rillick approached the ox cart to check on Anderea he heard a sound. That sound he knew all too well. It was quiet at first, but grew louder as he neared. By the cart, he saw Anderea holding down her sister, now reanimated.

"I'm sorry for not being there." Rillick heard her say. "I always thought there'd be more time."

Should he intervene? He knew to not approach a grieving family member, but she was in danger. His head spun in conflicting circles, both scenarios he was trained to do, but his training didn't cover something like this.

"I'm here now, Amee. I'm here."

Amee responded to Anderea's voice as she pushed against her harder. Her raspy growls grew louder, which began to draw a crowd.

Thankfully, Rillick's internal battle of instinct was resolved when Anderea drew her sword and positioned it under Amee's chin.

"I love you." He could barely hear her say, before the sword shot upwards and Amee stopped moving.

Rillick's hand moved away from the swords at his belt. He tore himself away from the heart-breaking scene.

It was a few hours later, but the memory was still vivid in Rillick's mind. No one should need to go through that, to lose everyone they love. He heaved another mound of dirt from the hole he created.

That moment gave him new conviction. He had to go to Silverymoon. He had to end this plague.

Looking over to Shaan, he noticed his face wrapped in frustration, driving his own shovel more aggressively than needed. Rillick sighed. He had been like this ever since his return.

"Say it." Said Rillick, leaning on his shovel.

Shaan looked up at him and paused, hesitating.

"OK." He said at last. "I'm thinking if you stayed here, if you had looked after yours. Instead, you went off. You took half our men with you." He continued digging. "I'm thinking maybe our losses wouldn't have been so bad. Satisfied?"

He thought as such. Shaan blamed him for the tremendous loss from last night. He could not blame him, he had thought the same on occasion.

"If we hadn't brought those weapons back, I think our losses would be greater. Maybe the entire camp." He repeated the words he had told himself.

Before Shaan could respond, Dar's wolf emerged from the crest of the hill, pulling a wooden sled piled with bodies. Dar pushed the sled from behind. Further down the hill, the rest of the mourning settlers made their journey upwards.

"I still think it's a mistake not burning the bodies." He said once he joined the two. "It's what we said we'd do, yes? Burn the lot, wasn't that the idea?"

"At first." Rillick muttered halfheartedly. He had no patience for the half-orc or his constant whining.

Unfortunately, Dar wasn't done. "The pixie gets all emotional, says it's not the thing to do, we just follow him along?" he rose his voice for all could hear. "These people need to know who's in charge, what the rules are."

"There are no rules." Rillick replied, trying to stay calm through clenching teeth.

"That's a problem." A voice reached them. He turned to see Lorelai. "We haven't had a moment to hold on to anything of our former selves." She said frustrated. "We need time to morn and we need to bury the dead. That is what people do."

Once again, Lorelai's words and tone ended any argument that may have been.

Ghim's eyes peeled open painfully at the sound of a woman's voice. The voice of someone he knew all too well.

"So you went and got yourself bitten, have you?" she scoffed.

Suddenly, violent flashes of the previous night battered him.

"Oh, no." He groaned deliriously. "No, no, no, no. Please not this."

The images got increasingly more vivid. He grabbed his reeling head and looked around.

He was inside the ox cart, with benches jutting out the walls and various crates and barrels stacked orderly in the corners. He himself was lying on a bedroll, several blankets lined the floor to his side and over his legs exposing his bare chest. Since he felt hotter than a blazing fire, he had thrown them of him.

"You remember this?" she asked.

He was attacked with another series of images. The screams, walkers surrounding him. Cold, slimy hands digging into his skin.

"No, no, no," he cried, "no, no."

He felt an agonising pain shoot up from his side. The same feeling when the creature bit into his side.

"You have failed me twice now. Now you will become one of them."

"WHO ARE YOU!?"

All was silent.

The funeral had commenced. Rillick looked on, his wife and son in his arms, as one by one the settlers stood over their loved one's graves. Rillick could only recognise Cralo with Salpha in her arms, and Anderea struggling to drag her sister into the grave, refusing any help Dall offered. Hours passed, and soon everyone started down the hill, heads hung low. Rillick, Lorelai and Chorrol stayed back from the group. All at once, painful regret seeped into him. It almost drove him to tears. A burning question surfaced in force. What if Shaan was right?

"Burying other people is bad enough." He said, desperate to say anything to take his mind off the awful feeling. "But the thought of one of us..."

Lorelai shushed him before he could utter another word.

"Are we safe now, father?" Chorrol asked him. "Now we're together?"

He lowered himself to his level. "I will not leave you again. I promise you that. Not for anything." His vow was sincere, but he knew it wouldn't last. "Now give me a chance to discuss some things with your mother, OK?"

Chorrol nodded reluctantly and ran off down the hill.

The regret returned in full force as Rillick took Lorelai's hands and faced her.

"Shaan blames me for not being here." He said shakily. "Do you?" he waited for a response without an idea of what he wanted her to say. After a while of silence, he continued. "We have swords now. Fine quality steel. We're stronger."

"And we have fewer people. That makes us weaker." Her words cut him deep. "You want me to say you were right? I understand that." She thought a moment more. "All I can say is neither one of you were entirely wrong. It's the best I can do now."

Not entirely wrong. The words circled in his mind. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than it could've been. He took a breath. Now for the real reason for this meeting.

"What about the wizard?" he asked, waiting for her protest.

"Rillick..."

"We have an opportunity to find who did this." He exclaimed. "To put a stop to this. We need relief, we have a sick man who needs help. Why do people not see that?"

"Look at their faces." She replied with a shaky breath, threatening to cry. "Look at mine. None of us are adventurers. We are all terrified. If one of us suggested, based on a whim, that we head towards that city... you have no part of it." She choked. He could clearly see the fear in her eyes. He did notice the fear in everyone's, He just never acknowledged them until now.

"Tell me something with certainty." She whispered with desperation.

Rillick racked his brain to think of something. They couldn't stay here, he knew that. But he could be wrong. Silverymoon was a long and dangerous trek, and it could be best to not go. They have proper steel to better defend the camp, but perhaps it wasn't worth the sacrifice. Was Shaan right? Or was he himself?

"I love you." He said at last. "That's all I have."

She looked up at him and smiled, as if to say 'it will do.'

"I love you too."

Rillick and Lorelai entered the ox-cart to the smell of fresh wood. It was reassuring that, at the very least, the cart would remain strong. In one corner, Cralo sat beside Ghim, pressing a wet cloth along his forehead.

"His fever is worse." She said sadly.

"Do you need anything?" Lorelai asked Ghim.

He thought a moment. "Water. I could use more water."

Lorelai nodded. "I'll get some. Cralo, will you help me?"

She led Cralo outside, leaving Rillick alone with the sick man. He knelt down. As soon as he did, Ghim began to cough violently. He quickly handed him the metal bucket at the foot of the bedroll. He grabbed it and spat drops of blood into the bucket. He leant back, breathing heavily.

"Watch the sahuagin." He said, staring straight ahead. confused, Rillick glanced over to where he was looking. Who was he talking to?

"Their tridents will gouge the boat. You know this, yes? Amee is there, at the edge with her spear." Ghim slowly turned to face him. Though not at his eyes. "You'll protect the boat from them, yes?"

Unsure of what to do, Rillick just nodded.

"I'll watch the boat." He replied. "Don't worry."

Outside, Lorelai was leaning on the wall of the cart while Shaan spoke to her in hushed whispers.

"Look this thing with the wizard... Lorelai, it's a mistake." He stopped, studying her. "So you take his side?"

"What else? He's my husband." She reminded him.

The words struck him. "It may be time to play the dutiful wife, but you can't tell me fixing your marriage is worth putting others at risk."

She glared at him with contempt. "Folk here make up their minds without bringing my marriage into it. A habit you'd do well to cease."

Shaan looked away a moment, then back to her. "I guess I'll add it to the list of habits I'm breaking, whether I like it or not."

"What habits?"

They both sharply turned and saw Rillick exiting the cart with a quizzical question. Lorelai had a brief shock of panic before Shaan spoke.

"Just talking about our need for a plan, friend." He said quickly. "So do we leave or no? Maybe you lot may want to stay here. We can set some more traps-"

"We can't stay here." Said Rillick. "We both know this."

"I was telling Shaan," said Lorelai, "I think we should trust your judgement."

Rillick looked at her in surprise.

Shaan sighed and clapped Rillick on the shoulder. "Come, lets go on our patrol."

The two former guardsmen strolled through the woods, weapons at the ready. Rillick wielded a spear, whilst Shaan held their only bow. The forest was quiet, thankfully. Well, almost.

"I tell you, friend. These people, they're not swayed. You go to Silverymoon, you may be on your own."

Ever since they began their patrol, Shaan had not stopped talking, berating him about how foolish his plan was. He had blocked it out a while ago.

"You'd do well to consider whether you want to put Lorelai and Chorrol in such a position."

"I must do what is best for my kin." He said, absent-mindedly.

"Best for your kin? What, expose them to all kinds of danger?"

"As opposed to what, prey?" Rillick exclaimed, his fumes of patience had run out. "Crossing miles of hostile territory?" they climbed a hill. "We need sanctuary. I say we run to the nearest portal, not further into the Plane of Shadow. Why will you not side with me?"

Shaan sighed in frustration. "See, I want to. It's just... I don't see it."

"If it were your family, you'd feel differently."

The moment those words exited his mouth and made themselves known, Rillick froze. He had uttered them without thought. A heavy silence landed on the two, as Shaan stopped behind him, and he could feel his eyes burning into the back of him. He turned around slowly.

"What did you say to me?"

His tone stabbed him like a dagger. He had to remedy the situation, and fast.

Shaan continued. "I kept them safe. I cared for them like they were my own."

"I did not mean it that way."

He strode up to him. "Then how did you mean it?"

"I..."

"Go on, then. How did you mean it."

"You mishear me. You have it all wrong." Rillick scrambled. "Listen... You know I can never repay that debt."

A twig snapped. Just like that, their discussion ended, and, with a knowing look, they split up and toward the sound.

Shaan crept around to an elevated position and nocked an arrow as Rillick went forward, his spear poised to strike. Shaan could see him clearly through the trees, moving forward cautiously.

Then it hit him. An opportunity, the perfect opportunity. They were alone, and no one would know.

His body moved on its own. He drew the string back, and trained the arrow at Rillick.

This had been the moment he had been waiting for. No one around, no one would know. Ever since Rillick arrived there's been nothing but grief to the camp. All he had to do was straighten two fingers, a simple act to end this farce about leaving, to return things to how they were.

To bring Lorelai back to him.

The string of the bow began to creak from the strain, his arm burned. A long time he lingered, head spinning. At last he lowered his bow. No matter how hard he tried, he could not kill his best friend.

Another snap of the twig to the side of him. He shot his head to the side to see Dall, his green scarf wrapped tightly around his neck, and staring at him with wide, fearful eyes.

"By Helm!"

Shaan's throat suddenly felt very dry. He laughed nervously.

"I know." He quickly spun. "We may need to do something to be recognised out here. Blimey." He slid the arrow back into his quiver. Once he signalled to Rillick to follow, he turned back to Dall.

"Let us be off then. Nothing out here."

Dall stood frozen as the two men passed him. It was true he never fully trusted Shaan, but he never thought he would go as far as kill another member of the group.

Back at camp, everyone was crowded around the stone fire-pit. Anderea slept cocooned in furs and Lorelai ran a knife along some sticks to create sharp spears for fortification.

Once Rillick, Shaan and Dall joined them at the fire, Shaan cleared his throat.

"I've, er... I've been thinking about Rilick's plan." He announced. "There are no... There are no guarantees either way. I'll be first to admit that." He looked up at him, and Rillick noticed there was something about him, sadness in his eyes. "I've known this man for a long time. I trust his instincts." There was something else. Anger? Surely not. "I say the most important thing is to stick together. So... those of you who agree, we leave at dawn."

It was surprising to Rillick how quickly he changed his mind, when moments ago, he was so adamant. Regardless, he was relieved, and turned in to prepare for tomorrow.

Mogrin

We are to leave the woods today.

If you got my letter from yesterday, you may be coming here. If you are, we'll be gone by the time you arrive. I will leave for you a note and map behind for you. Look for a sled marked with a red flag. With this, you'll be able to follow our trail.

We ride to Silverymoon, a Wizard of Thay is said to be there. As your son said, we are seeking the wizard working on a counter-spell. If there are anything left, would you not agree it would be there?

I do hope you were right about that place. I need you to be.

Rillick

Ghim jolted awake and gasped for air. His heart was racing, his body in panic. It was only with a soothing voice did he begin to calm.

He did not have long to live, he knew that. He could feel himself slipping away by the second.

"Everyone, lend me your ear!" Shaan shouted atop a crate. The settlers gathered round. "One of the oxen is hurt. She's fit to pull but we'll be slower than normal. Those of you who have, or can ride a horse, do so. You will ride ahead, make sure the way is clear. If there're any problems, return and we'll plan our next move. Everyone else in the cart."

Once everyone agreed and dispersed, Rillick stepped forward. "And those of us who's horse is stolen?"

"You can take Highlander." Shaan replied as they walked.

"What of yourself?"

"I'll be with Dall at the reins."

They stopped as Morralees rushed up to them, his family looking on.

"We, uh... We won't be goin'." He said.

His wife sidled up to him. "We have family in Mirabar. We want to be with our people."

"You'll have to pass by Luskan." Shaan warned. "You won't have anyone to watch your back."

"We'll take the chance. I must do what's best for my family."

"You are certain?" asked Rillick.

Morralees nodded. "We discussed it. Ye cannot change our minds."

"So be it. Shaan?"

"Aye." He handed Morralees a shortsword, as well as a whetstone. "Here. Equal strokes on each side, never the edge, every few days."

He shook the hands of the two humans.

"My thanks, all 'o' ye." The wife cried. "For everything."

"Best of luck to you." Said Shaan.

Everyone said their farewells and took positions in and around the ox cart. While they were setting up, Shaan quickly took note of who was where. Most of the party was inside the ox-cart, except for Anderea, Ty-Varaz and Dar with his pet dire wolf, Harley. 'Companion', he corrected himself. They settled into their horses and took position around the cart.

Rillick was to ride Highlander, but he was nowhere to be seen. Confused, Shaan glanced around, then sighed with relief as he appeared over the hill and ran over to the mount.

And so Dall drove the oxen onward and the cart began to roll. They left the dishevelled camp behind, thinking about the future, plans, wondering if anything will ever be the same again. It certainly wasn't the first time Faerun was threatened.

Atop the hill was a sled, marked with a red flag. Resting on it was a folded map with hastily scrawn words.

MOGRIN

GOING TO SILVERYMOON

THIS AREA

NOT SAFE

Rillick

Covering the festering wound once again, Dall rose to his feet and faced Rillick.

"I said I needed help from your horses." He said, annoyed.

A wave of remarks entered Rillick's head, but he thought it best to hold his tongue.

"Can she pull through just a while longer?" he asked in vein hope.

"That's what she had been doing all this time. I'm unsure if she got anymore in her."

Shaan emerged around the corner. "I see something up ahead. A hut of sorts. A witch's hut with healing herbs if we're lucky."

"You lot, Ghim, it's bad." Ja'qi said urgently, "I doubt he can endure much longer."

With a nod, Shaan turned back around. "Rillick, will you keep an eye on things?" Rillick agreed, and he continued. "I'll take Highlander and ride ahead, see what I can bring back."

Ty-Varaz stepped forward. "Aye, I'll come along too and guard ye."

"Keep your eyes open. We will return in haste."

Once Shaan and Ty-Varaz rode away, Rillick entered the cart and sat himself at Ghim's side, leaning his back on the wall by his head.

They remained as such in silence for a long while, neither knew what to say. At last, Rillick spoke.

"We will be back on the road soon."

Ghim groaned painfully. "Oh, no. Gods! My bones... My bones are like glass. Every little bump... By Ilmater's light, this ride is killing me!" he looked up at Rillick, his eyes pleading. "Leave me here. My end is nigh. Just leave me. I want to be with her."

"Who is 'her'?"

"To be honest, I don't know. Perhaps it is simply a phantom dreamt up from my feverish mind. But her words bring me comfort."

Rillick thought a moment. "You have been delirious more often than not. perhaps you don't know what you ask. As you said, the fever."

He shook his head. "If she's not real, then she's not here at present and my mind is clear now. In a moment, she will return, I may not be." He gripped Rillick's arm as hard as he could given his weakened state. "Rillick, I know what I ask. I want this. Leave me here. Now it's on me, and me alone. My decision. Not your failure.

He covered Ghim's hand with his own and looked away. He did seem to know what he asked. He had hoped to save him. It was the reason they were making this journey. He stood and headed for the door as Shaan and Ty-Varaz reached them with a pouch of herbal remedies.

"It's what he says he wants." Said Rillick once he explained the situation to everyone.

"And he is of sound mind?" Cralo asked.

"He seems to be. I would say yes."

"Back in the camp when I said Dar may be right and you silenced me..." Dall began as he applied a salve to the ox's wounded leg. "You misunderstood. I would never so much as consider callously killing a man." He bound the wound with a fresh bandage and stood, adjusting his scarf. "I was to suggest we ask Ghim what he wishes. And I believe we have an answer."

"We just leave him here?" Shaan replied. "We ride away? I am unsure I could live with that."

"It's not your choice. Either one of you."

Once again, Lorelai ended any debate. It was clear to everyone what to do.

They carried Ghim a short ways up a hill and laid him leaning on a large tree. Even between the two of him, he was very heavy. There was a lot of dead weight. Rillick had no idea he was this ill.

"Hey," he exclaimed weakly, "another bloody tree!"

Shaan gently held his shoulder, mainly to keep him upright. "Ghim. You know it doesn't need to end like this."

"No. The breeze, it's nice."

Shaan was about to say that wasn't what he meant, but decided not to. He stepped back as Dall moved in.

"Dall," Ghim whispered, "take care of Ara and Evee, won't you?"

Dall looked puzzled. "Who?"

"The oxen. I gave them names days ago, never got around to telling you."

"Of course I will."

Ghim looked on from atop the hill as the party boarded the cart and mounted their steeds and rode away. Then he heard it, looked up at the dancing leaves on their branches, and smiled.

"Oh, hi there." He said. "You've been gone a while."

Rillick looked back and saw, in the distance, the feint image of a peaceful smile on his face. At the very least, he thought, at least he found solace in his last moments.

No one saw Ghim's smile turn into that of abject horror.

Jeer's Journal

Day 63

It has been 194 days since our studies on the plague and 63 days since it spread to all corners of Faerun, perhaps all of Toril. As of today, I have made no progress worth writing down.

Day 65

I rearranged my spells, taking out some of the more aggressive ones such as Meteor Swarm and Disintegrate, to use the mana to further my goals. I do wish I did it a month ago, but I wasn't sure if I may need it for... obvious reasons. Such is the bane of being a wizard, and not a sorcerer.

Alas I never studied divine magic. There are many tests I would like to do requiring that particular field, but with so few scrolls.

Day 66

I'm still unable to sleep well. I can't seem to keep to a regular schedule, and as a result, it now takes longer for my spells to recharge. It is a problem I'm unsure how to remedy.

I feel very lonely these days. That may be the cause of my insomnia. If not, It certainly doesn't help.

Day 67

My live specimens are gone. The tragedy of their loss cannot be overstated. They were some of the first to be afflicted by this mysterious plague, and mayhaps the key to discovering the source. None of the other specimens we captured even come close. They perished prior under different circumstances.

I don't know why I write this. I doubt anyone will see other than I. Will they?

I think tomorrow I'll climb to the very top and launch myself off. I haven't decided. However, tonight. Tonight I plan on getting drunk.

At long last, as the horses and oxen rounded the hill, the town of Silverymoon came into sight. However tired, Rillick drew his longsword once his feet touched the earth. Just on the inside of the walls stood the tower looming over them. It wasn't long when the rest of the party had dismounted and joined Rillick's side.

They stared in horror at the grizzly scene before them. The walls were no more than hills of rubble with only patches still standing. The ground was covered in a sea of mangled, disfigured corpses, pile high, Commoners and soldiers alike. There was a great battle here. It looked as if the entire town was at the gates.

And the smell... It reached him from here, and it could only get worse. He turned around.

"Everyone, keep moving." He whispered so as to not alert any unwanted attention. "Stay silent."

Sure enough, the moment they walked through the gates, the smell intensified, bombarding them so vile that Rillick wanted to tear his nose from his face, but he continued through the rotting corpse laden streets of Silverymoon, determined to reach his destination. The others coughed and retched over the deafening roar of buzzing flies.

From the window, Jeer watched the group scurrying around. Why were they here? He thought. What possible reason would they willingly enter a place like this? The smell alone should be enough to deter a troglodyte, let alone a person.

Then he noticed their path was leading to the tower, and his stomach dropped.

"No. Please turn back."

The party reached a clearing, his cloak wrapped tightly around his face in a desperate attempt to keep the stench out.

They reached the tower's base and Rillick tried the large double-door.

It didn't budge.

"There's nobody there." Cried Gelnen.

"Walkers!" Shaan shouted, raising his shield.

They emerged from the descending darkness like a encroaching wall.

Dar grabbed Rillick by the shirt from under his chainmail. "You led us to our graves!"

"He made a call." Came Dall's voice.

Dar let go, turned and shot a walker approaching them. "It was the wrong bloody call!"

"You shut your bloody mouth!" Shaan yelled. "Rillick, it's a dead end."

Rillick didn't budge. He simply stared at the sky. The others backed away slowly into each other. The walkers' growls edged into earshot.

"Where will we go?" Cralo cried, clutching her daughter tightly.

Lorelai tried to calm herself and put a hand on his shoulder. "She's right." She said with urgency. "We mustn't be in this city after dark."

"Twilight Hall." Shaan suggested. "Still an option."

The growls grew louder.

"We need answers tonight, now!" Lorelai yelled.

"At the window!" Rillick shouted. "Something moved!"

"Ya imagined it."

"Something moved."

Shaan gripped his shoulder. "Rillick, everyone's dead. It was probably a walker inside. Come!"

Rillick struggled free of his grip and pounded on the doors.

"Rillick, there's nobody there!" cried Lorelai.

He banged both fists on the door. "I know you're in there! I know you can hear me! I beg of you, we're desperate! Please help us! We have children, no food, our beasts are tired, one is badly hurt! We have nowhere else to go!"

Shaan swung his longsword through the head of an encroaching walker. "Keep your guard up!" They were almost on top of them.

He rushed forward and wrapped his sword arm around the screaming man.

"If you don't let us in, you're killing us!" he heaved on Shaan's grip. "I beg you, please!"

Rillick's battle wavered as the party began to leave. "You're killing us! You're killing us!"

"Come, my friend, lets go."

At last, Rillick turned around, ready to leave this accursed place. The moment he did, the doors swung open. They spun around, shielding their eyes from the blinding flash of light.

At the doorway was a small figure, his hand aflame, pointed towards them. A ball of fire burst from his hand, past them and exploded in the middle of the hoard.