Blackgrave

Before the sun rose the Witch Hunters all ate breakfast, checked their gear, and discussed the plan for the day. They would track the werewolf back to its den. The Bryarsmen had told them they left it nearly a mile north of town where the swamps turned back into woods.

When they arrived, Lord Gremmelt could see the faint Arcane trail left behind. It was translucent, and red in color. It looked like a slow moving stream of wispy water. It followed everywhere the werewolf went, even through the trees it ran into. The trail was thick, so he knew the beast moved slowly. They followed it through the woods until it led into a cave with a large mouth that dipped into the earth before twisting to the right.

“We should find ourselves a man with a fractured skull somewhere in this cave, but we can’t trust that our assumptions are right and that he is alone. So be on guard,” Lord Gremmelt told them.

“Should I send Everdeen to check?” Akecheta asked, but Lord Gremmelt shook his head.

“If it's a pack of Wolf Clan in there, they will know Everdeen is a spy. I’d rather us launch a surprise attack than give them time to transform.” Lord Gremmelt pulled out his silver dagger and scanned the other Witch Hunter’s gear.

“Without Ronso’s halberd this could get dicey. Remember to stick together, and if you find yourself alone, get to an ally, but don’t turn and run. You’ll be dead before you even take a step.” Lord Gremmelt raised his shield and led them in.

Naja manifested a bright light on the tip of her sword as they stepped around the bend and entered a cavern. The first thing they saw was blood - on the floor, on the walls, and soaking the scattered remains of half eaten men. A fingerless hand, a big toe, and a bloody torso in shredded leathers surrounded a naked man who lay shaking in a pool of blood.

“Shine that light this way,” Lord Gremmelt said. The light hit the back of the cave with no other paths out beside the way they came.

“This looks to be it. The trail leads right to him,” Lord Gremmelt examined the man. One of his eyes had been stabbed out, and the other looked up at him. The man tried to speak, but could only moan. He poked at a wound on the man's leg with his dagger.

“Unfortunately for you, wounds from silver don’t heal when you change back.” Lord Gremmelt looked at the man’s skull. It was bruised around the eye and up the forehead.

“We’ll end this man’s suffering. Search the cave for anything. I’d like to know what happened here.” Lord Gremmelt closed his eyes. “All paths that begin, must end.”

He held down the man’s mouth and quickly slit his throat. “Perhaps your next path in life will be less cruel.”

They searched the cave and found a few steel weapons and an iron shield with the emblem of the Redguar mercenaries: a red and brown colored coat of arms bearing a sword, spear, and mace all thrusting upward.

“According the the Speaker, there were three Redguar when they first came to town,” said Lord Gremmelt. “They came here to kill their friend, but he must have overpowered them. One of the Redguar survives because he gains the curse. Full moon rises and they both change.”

“Then the one we fought on the road must have been the one who bit the first Redguar,” Ronso added.

Lord Gremmelt nodded. “Precisely what I was thinking. He attacked us before the moon showed its face, so we know he was from the Wolf Clan, or else he wouldn’t have been able to transform without it.”

“Why attack the village though, and how did they get into town so quickly?” Ronso asked.

“Freshly cursed Shabetsu—especially those not among the clanfolk—are all instinct when they first change. Until they have fed on every colored moon they are nothing but beasts. Quick beasts, but beasts nonetheless.” Lord Gremmelt rubbed his chin and looked around. Clearly he wasn’t satisfied with his own answer.

“Whatever the reason, it’s over now. Grab the weapons and shield. We can either sell them or make use of them.”

“Idiots!” Ronso scoffed. “Three weapons, no silver. What did they think was going to happen?” She furrowed her brow. “So stupid.”

She grabbed a steel dagger and sheathed it in her belt, shaking her head in disgust as she did. Akecheta strung up the iron shield on his pack, and Kangee grabbed the spear.

“Do you think this could be connected to the Daughters of Chaos?” Naja asked him as they left the cave.

“Hard to say,” answered Gremmelt. “We only know that Benard had been looking into them. There was the hex bag back in Eddlesreef, but this could just all be happenstance.”

“I think not finding a hex bag here means it was just happenstance. Strange and out of place an occurrence as it was, it is Chaos after all,” Ra'Selas added.

“Just because we didn’t find one, doesn’t mean there isn’t one here,” Lord Gremmelt replied.

They left the cave and made their way back to the road before heading north towards the copper mine. The road led them through the woods, directly to the mining site. There were a few large tents put up, the foundations of a few buildings, and a fortified wall - though it was completely abandoned. Operations were halted due to the spirit.

“Wellers said the Redguar and the Witch Hunters got into an altercation somewhere out here. I’d like to confirm that for myself,” Lord Gremmelt said as they entered the campsite. “Blood, burn marks - anything that stands out to you, call me over.” They walked to the center of the camp and could see into the mouth of the cave. As they did they heard a melody being played from within - the same melody they heard in the tavern.

“You all hear that too, right?” Akecheta asked.

“Aye, let’s check it out,” Lord Gremmel replied. “We can search the area for proof of a fight afterward.”

They cautiously entered the cave in ranks of three. Gremmelt, Naja, and Akecheta took the lead with Naja’s light shining the way. The melody bounced off the walls and at first it was hard to discern which direction it truly came from, but after a few minutes of carefully listening, they found their way to its source.

Sitting beside a lit torch, a bedroll, and a large shaggy hound, was the bard from town.

“Good morning, Witch Hunters,” he said to them as they approached. He stopped strumming his lute and stood up. “I’m glad you chose to come this way. In town there are too many eyes and ears on us to speak openly.”

“What are you doing here?” Lord Gremmelt asked.

“You can feel it, can’t you?” The bard looked around the group, making eye contact with each of them one at a time. “There is a secret in Sossaboro.”

“You never answered my question,” Lord Gremmelt replied. “What do you know?” Lord Gremmelt asked.

“There is a man in prison, but what is his crime?” the bard held up his hands. “With a place beset by a spirit, you would think the whole town would be afraid. But look close, and it isn’t the waters the Blackfeather fear - it's the Bryarsmen.”

“Get to the point, What are you doing here?” Gremmelt’s patience was beginning to tire.

“A close friend of mine is part of the Order. A nameless man known as Benard. He and I met in our youth, and though those days are long since past, we still write to one another from time to time. His last letter told me to meet him in Sossaboro, that he had found something we both had an interest in.”

“Benard… What exactly are you talking about?” Lord Gremmelt asked.

“Blackgrave,” the bard slowly replied. “Have you ever heard of it?”

“We have,” quickly answered Akecheta. “Do you know something about it?”

“They say it’s a fort that was used in the time of Divinity. A dark and vile place where a great malevolent witch forged a bond with Chaos himself and created a coven known as the Daughters of Chaos. A coven Benard had claimed his sister had fallen into.”

“It sounds like he was right,” Lord Gremmelt said in a somber tone. “He met his end in Eddlesreef. We believe they were involved. We found a hex bag bearing the symbol of Chaos.”

“So he is dead.” The bard withdrew in on himself and his glance fell to the floor.

“What interest do you have with Blackgrave?” Lord Gremmelt asked.

He returned his gaze to Gremmelt. “I’m a member of The Inn of the Blue Jester.” He gave a slight bow.

“My Guildmaster has charged me with looking into the Daughters of Chaos and destroying them. I had hoped Benard and I could have faced them together.” His tone was dismal and he slightly shook his head. “But if he is no more, then I must take my leave.”

“And where will you go?” Lord Gremmelt asked.

“I’ll stop by Eddlesreef and look for any clues. From there, wherever the wind takes me.”

“Safe travels bard. If there ever comes a time when we face this evil side by side, I hope you're prepared.”

“Same to you. I am sure my path will cross with many of your kin in my travels.” He turned to walk but stopped suddenly.

“This was meant for Benard, but if he is no more, I suppose you can have it.” He flicked his wrist and a small elegant vial appeared in his hand. It held a clear liquid, and was quarked with wood.

“This contains the Waters of Ay’tala,” he said, handing it to Lord Gremmelt. “They say these waters can turn back a person’s time, though only a day. Some circles say it can even bring back the dead, but I wouldn’t stake your life on it.”

The bard bowed to the Witch Hunters and walked away. Once he whistled, his hound rushed past them to join him.

After the bard left them, the Witch Hunters quickly searched the mine inside and out but were unable to find proof of any kind of battle. “We’ve wasted enough time,” Gremmelt told them after they searched for almost half an hour. “I’m beginning to think we were only told there was a scuffle so we would assume the worst of them.”

“I think Rupert and Divas learned the truth about what he did to Vasha and confronted him alone. Maybe there were lots of Bryarsmen, or maybe one of them got hit over the head. I don’t know, but I think they hobbled Rupert and Divas, stabbed them under their arms so they couldn’t fight, and threw them to the spirit or drowned them themselves.” Naja scratched at the back of her head. “What do you think?”

“That makes sense to me,” Lord Gremmelt replied. “But we don’t have any hard evidence to make that claim.”

“Forget hard evidence!” Kangee yelled. “We should go in there, grab that bastard Altera and dangle him above the water at night. If he killed other Witch Hunters, then it's only a matter of time before he kills us too.” Kangee threw his arms out wide. “How do we know he won’t just try to silence us as well?”

“Look around you. There are six of us. There are only ten of them with Captain Wellers. Eleven with Altera. You think if we go in there and confront him when all his men are out on patrol, that he will be able to do anything?” Lord Gremmelt pointed towards town.

“The whole town got a show of us cutting two werewolves down to size. Do you really think any of those men in there have any thoughts about fighting us after that?” Lord Gremmelt was red hot and fuming.

He took a deep breath and clenched his fist. “We’ll go to the prison first and speak with the man in jail, then we will find out what Altera knows.” Kangee didn’t push the matter further, and the walk to town was done in silence.