The mismatched party of 4 hike towards Virellis. As they trudge down the path, they’re struck by the expanse of graveyards stretching out in front of them. The stones stretch as far as the eye can see, graves placed anywhere space can be found. Anyone could see this is too many graves for such a town. Their emergence into the town square is barely noticed over the cacophony of noise that rules the space. Pilgrims chat, onlookers coalesce around a smithy, and the city guard try to make themselves heard above the throng. The audience to the smithy feel the brush of fur past their calves as Stuart slips between their legs, closer to the front. From his vantage point, he sees a female smithy hammering on a surprisingly elegant piece of armour. She is Jaskier Boneheart, and this year she has been selected as the hero who must defeat the demon as part of the festival. But he barely has time to get a closer look before he’s pulled in another direction, as the rest of the party, led by Nyxandra Thalasson, engage Captain Thaylon.
Amongst the noise, one man appears to be trying to make order of the chaos. Captain Thaylon finds himself approached by a sea witch, a mousefolk, an old knight, and a short lady with furry ears. Thaylon implores the group to offer any assistance they can, the city guards are overrun with the influx of people to the city, and now they’ve had reports of bandits on the Northern path into the city. They simply don’t have the manpower to check it out. The group enquire into the attraction in front of the rapt crowd. They learn of Jaskier Boneheart’s fate as the latest in a long line of heroes, some of whom are still alive, including Finley Jugg (the barman in last orders), and Parson (the farmer). With a newfound intentionality, the party venture forth beyond their original destination, seeking to restore order for the travelers of the North path.
As the party heads up the North path, in the corner of her eye Cricket Abernathy spots shapes moving through the woods. The party react to her signals ineffectively, unaware of the location of the potential threat. A stillness falls over both groups, until a small stone whistles out of the woods and lands near the party. Before anyone else can react, Stuart lights up a charge, and prepares for combat, meanwhile, unaware Rhys Greywood tries to de-escalate. At their behest he steps further into the encroaching forest, as Stuart tactfully disposes of his prepared attack. Having abandoned any tactical positioning Rhys Greywood is vulnerable as they demand the party’s money.
Their true intent revealed, bedlam ensues. Suddenly Rhys Greywood finds himself sprawled on the ground, a large white wolf standing over him with Rhys’ blood dripping in its jaws. Stuart Little explosively launches himself onto a rock and fires off a firework charge, destroying the wolf. The acrid waft of singed wolf fur barely reaches the furthest bandit, before a pair of magical missiles tear through his chest. The surviving bandit follows the magic trail back to see the unassuming form of Cricket Abernathy standing with her staff pointed forward. As the bandits eyes go wide, his allies laid bare before him, Rhys, now on his feet again, steps forward and slides his sword between the man’s ribs.
In the aftermath, the party search the bodies, aside from a smattering of gold, they find an amulet and chestplate that seem of note. The amulet is an hourglass with a lightning bolt through it, that someone recognises as the symbol of the shrine of the unquiet souls (the major shrine in Virellis). The chestplate appears to be reasonably well made, and is embossed with an image of a heart with a dog’s bone going through it. When Rhys insists that the party bury them, Nyxandra Thalasson shortens the ceremony by incinerating them in a fiery tornado. This induces a fury in Rhys, who rebukes the party. Proposing that little was known about their motivation, and their killings were based on the condemnations of one man. Unsatisfied, Rhys placates himself by gathering up a handful of their ashes, and spreading them over the cliff’s edge.
Upon returning to town and proclaiming their success to Thaylon, who congratulates them. The party learns that the symbol identifies it as Jaskier Boneheart’s product. Intrigued the party wander into the seemingly abandoned smithy. In a corner towards the back they find Stefan Flint, the apprentice. Stefan’s polite, submissive manner appears genuine and meek, as he denies knowledge of Jaskier’s whereabouts. He last saw her at lunch when she was heading home and he doesn’t know anymore than that. [Cricket Abernathy] detects a half truth. He may not know where she is, but he has reason to believe that she’s in danger. Confronted, Stefan cracks. He reveals a note that details a threat to his mother. The note indicates that she is currently in the “house of final rest” (a place for people close to death), and that if he doesn’t provide the bandits with goods then ill shall befall her. The note also suggests that the monks at the house of final rest are not as careful as they should be. The letter is signed A friend of The Veil. Stefan knows the Veil is the cutover between life and death? But is not sure on many details besides that. He does also reveal that he was responsible for the supply of goods to the bandits. Realising the depths of trouble he finds himself in he also agrees to adjust one of the bandit’s armour’s for free.
The party proceeds to Jaskier’s house where she was heading after lunch, here they find her husband Julien, who seems distraught, understandable given his house as been torn apart since he last saw his wife. The party explore and find no signs of blood but do spot signs of someone being dragged out of the building. In-spite of an intense confrontation with QUESTION FOR PARTY??, his concern seems genuine, and he seems to know no more. He does reveal some more details of the ritual though. He informs the party that, as happens every year, Jaskier will need to kill the demon that will be summoned to let the dead pass through and to their rest. If she were to fail to kill the demon, the dead would remain.
As the party looks towards their next options, they consider between:
- heading to the shrine of the unquiet souls, to learn more about the amulet they found on the bandits,
- Investigating where the additional chestplates may have gone, and if there were more bandits on the road?
- Heading to the house of final rest to find out who might be threatening Stefan’s mother
Names to remember
- Captain Thaylon - The captain of the guards in the city
- Jaskier Boneheart - The master smith and current hero
- A friend of The Veil - An unknown individual targeting Jaskier(?)