On our return, Fogrog was delighted to hear we cleared the area of undead and found Eldora. Fogrog paid us and offered to help fund our future endeavors. He told Elisha to see him for whatever we needed, including supplies for our trip. We thanked him and requested maps of the area, specifically of towns closest to the Kryptgarden forest. Of the six towns listed; Yartar, Westbridge, Everlund, Mornbryns's Shield, Longsaddle, and Red Larch, we knew she had to be in Westbridge because it's about 4 to 5 hours from the Kryptgarden forest perimeter.
Swift, Elisha, Israel, and I have a ten-day trip to Westbridge, first south back towards Waterdeep, and then turning northeast up the Long Road. Adrala and Yukouth have commitments to the Thornhold guard and can't join us in searching for Eldora. I'll miss Adrala's constant cheerfulness and huge smiles and Yukouth's protective nature and fatherly advice.
True to his word Fogrog supplied us for the trip and secured us a spot with a trade caravan headed to Waterdeep.
We plan to leave tomorrow. So tonight was spent having fun with our friends! Because that's how you spend your last night with friends you have to leave behind.
Elisha had already secured us a table in the tavern. He was sprawled out across three chairs. He smiled and waved to Swift and me when we came in.
"How is it you always manage to save us a table all by yourself?" I asked while sitting in one of the empty chairs.
He laughed, "It's because of my handsome face, amazing charm, and ability to stretch out across several chairs at once."
I let out a hearty laugh. And heard Swift chuckle when he slipped into a seat next to me.
Elisha sat up a little when he saw his brother and Adrala step in the door holding hands. We looked at each other, knowing how much those two will miss each other. When Israel is with Adrala he opens up and I can see more than just his quiet persona. Despite Israel's and Adrala's attachment, the brothers told me that after discussing it together they believed in my cause and were honor bound to help me see this quest to its end.
Israel and Adrala made their way to our table. Elisha smiled but didn't move his legs off the chairs he was lounging on. Israel playfully pushed his brother's legs off the chairs and then pulled out a chair for Adrala to sit. Her usual smile became ten times bigger as she sat in the offered chair.
Adrala excitedly told us she finished the rituals to bind her axes to her so they would return after being thrown. They had taken the axes to the practice yard to try them out. And it was an overwhelming success. She was beaming! And Israel smiled down at her.
While Adrala and Israel regaled us of the tales of axe throwing in the practice yard, I spotted Yukouth come in and I waved to him. He waved back and made his way to the bar for a mead before joining us.
He sat down next to me and said, "Hope I'm not late. I just got off watch. It's nice to get off my feet and have a bit of mead."
"Not at all. We've all just arrived," I smiled, happy to have us all together for a night of fun and shenanigans.
I caught a server's eye and she came over to get our dinner and drink orders. When she returned with everyone's drinks, I paid for what would be the first of many rounds of drinks tonight. Our dinners arrived shortly after. Of course, we kept the drinks flowing after enjoying a delicious meal together. And when the music started we joined in with the dancing.
I love to dance with Swift. He is incredibly graceful. And it's always entertaining to watch when Adrala gets Israel out on the dance floor! Yukouth's younger sisters and their husband joined us. It was enthralling to see the throuple dance together. And of course, Yukouth took me out onto the dance floor. I will miss him so much. He has given me a little taste of home with his fatherly advice.
Elisha had several women ask him to dance but he showed no interest in them. Adrala pointed out a shy dwarf to me, who she said had been eyeing Elisha all night giving coy smiles whenever he thought Elisha was looking. But we both knew Elisha only has eyes for Amnel.
It was long past dark when a guard came into the tavern looking for us. A male half-elf had arrived at the front gate and despite the gates being closed for the night, he was yelling about zombies and calling my name. The guards had no choice but to open the gates and let him in.
He claimed he and his three traveling companions had been attacked by a hoard of zombies south of Leilon. He barely escaped and made it to the Carnath Roadhouse, but the hoard killed his companions. He said he ran instead of staying to fight with his companions when he saw a symbol burned into the undead creatures.
"I want nothing to do with that kind of evil," he told them and shuddered.
After telling the people at Carnath his story they sent him here to Thornhold and said to ask for Zira Townsend and her companions. The guards were immediately sent out to find us.
The tavern quieted as the patrons listened to the guard talking. When the guard noticed the entire tavern was listening, he spoke up, "I understand you have questions and concerns. I have shared all the information I know. I need Zira and her companions to come with me immediately. We will update you with information as we get it. We are safe within the walls, but I'd advise folks to head to their homes for the night."
He looked at me, but I was already heading out the door because I feared Eldora had sent a horde of undead after us.
We followed the guard to the main entrance to talk with the half-elf. He looked road-wary and jumped up when we walked into the room.
"Hi, I'm Zira Townsend. I'd like to ask you a few questions," I said.
"Certainly, but I already told the guards the whole story," he replied.
"The guards said you saw a symbol burned into the zombies. What can you tell me about it?" I asked.
"Well, it's Velsharoon's symbol," he responded, nervously.
"How do you know? What did it look like?" I questioned.
He answered reluctantly, "I joined the church of Velsharoon in Red Larch. I didn't know what they really are. I started volunteering at their clinic after they helped my brother. After volunteering for a month I got to know many of the congregation, and I joined the church. You see, the cult presents itself as an inclusive community committed to helping the greater community and the poor receive free medical and burial care. But once I learned of their necromantic practices he left. I'll never forget that symbol and it's horrible laughing skull," he shuddered.
I drew a picture of Eldora's mark and asked, "Is this the symbol you saw?"
He looked at it closely and said, "It looks mostly like Velsharoon's symbol, but it's been altered slightly. Right here." He pointed to the spot that had been changed.
Well at least we knew Eldora hadn't sent a horde after us, but that didn't mean someone else from her cult hadn't. We knew we had to take care of the problem before we left. Yukouth and Adrala were given leave to join us, and Fogrog insisted we take half a dozen guards with us.
We are stopping to rest the night at Carnath Roadhouse. In the morning we will make our way north to find and exterminate this horde of undead terrorizing the land.
I am both nervous and prepared to face the abominations created by Velsharoon's agent.
Z