Pro Bono

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Summary

Adventure: Pro Bono
GM: Keith Smith
Session: Winter 815
Night: Thursdays
Location The house of Smith
Level: Low to Medium
Rules: ?

Mission

Fixing up the land, after the ravages of War and Darkness, to get it ready for Spring.

The Party

• Kerry – dark celestial mage and warrior. - Helen.
• Brigetta – shamanic loremaster and master troubadour. - Jacqui.
• Pierre – part Earth mage, part Illusionist and all cookie maker. - Ian
• ? - ?
• ? - ?

Chapter 1: To market, to market...

Rather than in one of the meeting rooms, we met in the Guild Commons, with our employer, a Guild adventurer named Basalic, whom we found waiting at the bar. He explained that he wanted us to restore the land as much as possible, before the spring planting. Damage had been done by the wars, the darkness, by misguided magic, and through the deliberate poisoning and salting tracts of land. This repair work would be done in company with a trio of witches we would meet at Silverstream in Ranke. We agreed to meet him early next morning, and went off to get ourselves organised. Basalic, being an Earth mage, took care of our lesser enchantments. We got cut price greater enchantments from one Aaron the Ferret. Then we flew to Slippery Rock to get some restoratives. Where we found the market in full swing, busy with hawkers trying to see us all sorts of rubbish, and assorted entertainers – I failed to resist temptation, and put on a performance, with Pierre’s assistance. It became immediately apparent that “travelling entertainers” would make a great cover story for this expedition. We met a Halfling dressed as a fairy, one Katarina Tenderfoot, who invited us to the Inn she managed with her husband, but we declined. She was concerned for her missing brother Rufus, whom she feared had got into necromancy, and asked if we could look for him.

In the morning we met Basalic outside the Guild. He was driving a farm cart with a pair of shire horses. Pierre cast his movement spell (it was more effective than mine in terms of speed). We headed north for three days, the last part on a barge up the river. At Silverstream, we met with the Baron, Helmuth de Honore.

Chapter 2: Something in the Water.

As we took luncheon with the Baron, we discussed where he wanted us to go. There was an incursion of undead up the Bluewater, and a lack of fish in the river. There was also talk of goblins and of Drow. We were interrupted by the arrival of an elderly human woman dressed in black, with a tall pointed hat and a cane. Two other witches waited by the entrance. The woman introduced herself as Granny Beeswax, and was plainly disappointed to see that there was only three of us.

The Baron explained that the rumours of gold-bearing lakes could account for what was happening up the Bluewater, past Avonhithe. Nobody went to those headwaters, because the area was said to be haunted – or magical. Granny commented that she was sure something foul was going on up there. There were stories of zombies, but not shambling as they usually are, these jerked and twitched… The Baron asked Granny when she’d like to leave. She insisted that it would be in the morning after a nice cup of tea. “And at least one breakfast”, added Pierre. So we stayed for dinner. Next morning, we got up early, and after our morning rituals, a messenger arrived, inviting us to the witches’ cottage for tea. There were cats. And broomsticks. Tea was served, after which we set off in the wagons. Basalic turned off when we reached Avonhithe and headed eastwards towards Dottery. We drove up river, and came upon a campsite. There were three people there, who appeared to be repeatedly washing dishes in the river. I used ventriloquism to have the dish say “Good morning”, and he jumped in a gratifying human fashion. It became apparent that they were actually panning for gold. We approached and were told to be careful heading north – there were creatures in the night. Not many fish in the river. We should not drink the river water. According to Kerry, the water was faintly magical, with hints of transmutation. One of the men was fishing – eventually he caught a fish – but it didn’t look right. The man wasn’t right either – he was being slowly poisoned according to Pierre’s healer empathy. We warned them not to eat the fish or drink the river water.

As the witches did their rituals, I consulted with the spirits. Something was coming down river that shouldn’t be. Nothing else odd was going on… then it said that something tingled. It seemed that the witches had finished their ritual. But Granny wasn’t happy, it hadn’t gone as well as it should. She asked the youngest witch, Margarite, who was an alchemist, to test the water, and she reported that there was indeed gold in there – and some other substances. Lead, quicksilver, and something weird.

As we continued upriver, it appeared that there had been little traffic on the road recently, and such farm buildings as we saw were abandoned. We were fortunate to find a barn to camp in. Kerry and Pierre went hunting for supplies, but there was little to be found. Then they had a conversation with an owl, who told them the two-legs had packed up and left before the long dark. After the pointed eared dark-skinned two-legs had been and gone. There had been some of the small green two legs, and some of the dead ones that walk. After they got back, I spoke with the spirits and asked why the people had left this place. The spirits answered: for safety, following rumours of invaders. So I asked who or what had been here since: many animals, birds, bats, goblins, orcs, one undead, a troupe of fairies, and a single reaping angel.

At breakfast, Granny said that she had seen a barrier across the road ahead about an hour ahead. We scanned it using a crystal of vision. It was yellow, and read, “Stop! Quarantine in effect!” Beyond, there was a large tent with somebody watching the road, with a crossbow in hand. We discussed the alternatives and decided to try to talk our way through this. So we approached the man, who told us to stand off, because they had the plague. I announced that we were here on authority of Baron Honore, to fix the problem. That worked, and we explained that it wasn’t plague – that the river was poisoned and they shouldn’t drink the water. The guards led us to the village, which was heavily fortified. There we found a local priest of Chantris ranting at the people, about how their sins had brought the plague on them and so on. So I cast ventriloquism, and a voice from above told him that he needed to repent of his unkindness, and go on a pilgrimage to Seagate, seek out Bishop Rowan, and confess his sins. This worked remarkably well. He was packing in no time.

We learned that the local wiccan had died, which meant they were short a healer as well. And his apprentice, Rufus, had gone missing. Last spring, when the Drow were about. Yes, it was that same Rufus Tenderfoot that we had been asked to find.

We set about dealing to the problems… Pierre went to fix the water supply issue. Granny, Kerry, and Margarite were on healing duty, starting with the children, and then the elderly, those being the most vulnerable. Fanny went to help with the animals. And I yelled at people. A lot. If you want to organise people it helps being a military scientist with logistics (and a loud voice).

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Stuff for the Times

Quotes

Pierre: “Some people get scared witchless.”

Brigetta: “If they really want to, they can pray to one of the individuals responsible.” Kerry: “Don’t encourage it.”