>There is a village, deep in the wild High Moors were nothing civilized should be known as Falconrest. I discovered it while ranging and upon investigating it closely I found the town was impossibly peaceful. Despite the fact that they should be fending off globlinoids, beasts, and barbarians almost every month, they have only one constable who does not seem to have any martial training that I could tell. Yet I have never seen so much as a wolf come within three mile of the town. That was until last night. While hunting I finally saw it, a barbarian raiding party heading straight for town it’s from sheer size it the town would have fallen in meer moments. However what I saw next explains the passiveness of the townsfolk and filled me with horrible dread. Fiends, appeared from the air and slaughtered the barbarian’s. As quickly as they appeared they simply vanished. >I do not believe this was an illusion, there was no trickery, fiends are appearing in Falconrest. They seem to be protecting the town, however I am not certain as to why yet. I need help to investigate this. Please find and send aid, I will wait for them on the at Gerrick’s dock on the south shore of High Star Lake for the last ten-day of Summertide. Do not let them delay, dark things are afoot. >-Korick the Rover The halfling Korick sat on the ruined beams that was known as Gerrick’s dock smoking from a stubby pipe. The rotted ruin of an old fisher’s pier that was now simply another landmark for the ferry-men who traveled the crystal clear waters of High Star Lake. Behind him Beth, a 900 pound bear, waited patiently for him on dry land. He kept his eyes trained on the water for boats, and glanced at the shore to either side of him often. Breaking up the monotony of his vigil with the occasional puff. The smoke helped keep him awake while keeping him calm as he waited for people to arrive.

Markul looked down at his map, he was sure that he was close to Gerrick's dock and even if he got lost all he need do was walk around the edge of the lake to get there. He rolled up the map and continued walking, sure that he would see the dock soon. Sure enough an old, rotting pier came into sight. Markul stopped when he saw a massive bear standing near, but he also saw the small individual on the pier and the bear seemed to be perfectly calm. Still, it paid to be cautious, so he moved forward carefully, keeping an eye on the bear. Hopefully this was the person he was to meet with and not a trap laid by those who would do ill.

Korick saw the half-orc quickly. His orcish appearance was enough to make Korick start reaching for his sling but Markul's dress was enough to stay his hand. *No tribesman would dress like that.* He stood up to full height and waved to Beth for her to relax, but in reality the bear showed no signs of ever being tense. "Hail there, and who sent you?" He asked, trying to understand which of his contacts actually acted on his letter.

The lake was still, therefore the only ripples that formed on it were from the little row boat, that paddled across the blue surface. He had hired the little dingy from an equally little settlement on the other side of the lake, and was being taken across by an old man that didn't sat much. Apparently he had known where the dock was, he had worked there when it was open, it had been a fishery long ago but he said it was "in ruins now." Vis was sat in the front of the canoe, looking out across the lake with his eye peeled, looking our for the dock in question. Soon it came into view and it truly was in the state of disrepair that the old man had described it, missing planks (lots of missing planks), rotting timber and the husks of long decayed warehouses overlooking the piers. Scanning the dockland, he noticed a man on one of the better condition docks. Vis pointed to it and the man nodded, steering towards it and stopping with a bump as it touched the log beams. Climbing off Vis flipped a silver to the elderly boatman and he proceeded to row away. "I'm assuming you are the contact," Vis said, his voice sounding winded because of the chunk of cheek missing, "nice bear."

"Hail," Markul responded, glad that the Halfling had signaled to the bear what seemed to be a sign to relax, "I come from Luruar and one named Aluntel Brightmere told me that mysterious things were afoot here. It piqued my curiosity and so I resolved to come here, and he said to look for someone waiting at Gerrick's dock, I assume that is you." he held out his hand, "Markul Ferrn, though you may call me Mark if you wish, many do."

It was not often that Batches activities deviated from her main objectives, when she did however it was with exceptionally good reason. News had travelled south of a village that should not be and protected by beings not of of mortal realm. While her Master was not one for performing dark arts himself, a means by which he could perfectly defend his private chambers would certainly be of interest to him, he very much valued his secrets. It was the very reason Batche was created after all. Be the source of the Fiends an artefact he would have certainly brought it back for scrupulous examination, although if were packs with ancient Gods he would not be so inclined to get involved. She wouldn't know till she were there, and neither would her Master. This was the sort of event her Master put to paper, the sort of muse he sought out. Following the path he took had always left the Golem 10 paces behind, it was time to take risks on new curiosities if she wanted to be by his side again. _By his side again._ Batches Reward Circulator Matrix kicked in and she felt the closest approximation to a warm fuzzy feeling a construct could feel. Voices. Batche awoke from her slumber and stretched awkwardly in her container. After a quick massage of her neck leathers, she started putting pressure on the front of the box. Slowly she eased the few nails that held her in out of their resting places until there was enough room to negotiate the act of stepping out onto the pier with the grace only a machine could in such a situation. After dusting the remaining hay that had adhered to her crystalline body, she offered a delicate curtsy to the first person she saw, the large Bear. "Its lovely to make your acquaintance, noble Druid. Pray tell, where are the others? I do wish to meet them." After a short pause of the Bear saying nothing, Batches continued slightly flustered, "Oh please forgive my rudeness mighty Druid, my name is Miss Batche but you can just call me Batche, if it pleases you... what should I call you?"

*When it rains it pours.* Korick mused, nine days his ass was planted on this dock, no one came, and now they were coming out of the spongey wood work. He couldn't exactly blame them he supposed, storms had been ravaging the south shore and they only broke this morning; meaning until recently travel wasn't safe. "Aye, I'm Korick, I sent the letters, and you're here, and who are you?" he asked the scarred man, before he took a nice long drag from his pipe. As he exhaled he turned his head to Markul, " Aluntel, knew he'd come through, how is he?" He asked. The Beth took a good long look at Batche. She didn't seem to be a thread, she wasn't food, and she didn't smell like anything. So Beth just tilted her head a said, "Grrroowl?"

Noticing that his face and scar was still exposed, Vis pulled his scarf up over his nose, covering his lower face. He had pulled it down during the boat ride, feeling comfortable that the old man wouldn't react. "Vis," he answered, the 's' coming out as a 'th' because of the hole in his mouth, "Vith Thtarkweather," the 'th' sounds coming from his speech gave him great uncomfort, "The letter wath forwarded to me by Duke Fezeaux, from Thorik (Sorik)." He decided that would be the last thing he would say, waiting to be asked a question or talked to, his voice was embarrassing him.

Markul shrugged, "He caught something that's going around but it isn't serious, just gave him a small cough. Other than that he seems to be doing well." Markul looked at Vis, wondering why he was wearing a scarf. It didn't feel cold enough to Markul to be wearing a scarf. But then again, maybe he just liked wearing scarves. After all, everyone has different tastes.

Korick took another drag from his pipe as he considered Vis's news. " The duke, it's good to have his support I was worried he wouldn't take my request seriously," He said calmly, " Well it's good to have you Vis, you too Markul, gods know you are needed. I uh, set up a small fire pit over there, got some dry wood stacked and tinder, so make yourself comfortable, or you can keep watch with me, either way we'll be here till nightfall. But before you go tell me what it is you do, and how much you know of the situation."

Larris sat quietly near the front of the boat the crewmen casting nervous looks at the armored man who sat before them. They all knew what they were about to do and it terrified them they were a superstitious lot and they questioned the captain about what would happen to them if they robbed a man of religion but the captain denied their fears and told them to get back to their work, finally as they neared their destination the captain uttered a few simple words. "Do it." He said and his men nodded they drew their blades and approached the paladin. "We apologize but we be needing yer gold and things." One said, "Yeah we gots children to feed." Said another. "Gentlemen we can resolve this issue, i assure you when we land i will give you all the money i have, i do not wish to turn your wives into widows and your children into orphans." Larris said his hand reaching the hilt of his blade. But the men just shook their heads and proceeded one went for a swing to the throat but in a heartbeat Larris had his blade drawn and parried, something in his head seemed to reach out to him whispering. *"Kill them all feed on them, bathe in their blood!"* The voice distracted Larris and one of their blades cut him on his left shoulder shaking it off Larris wrapped the man across the knuckles with the flat of his blade causing him to drop it, kicking the blade behind him the paladin proceeded through the men disarming them where he went by the battles end Larris was the only one who had been hurt and their weapons had been thrown overboard. "We're sorry sir we did not want to our captain said so!" A crewman said and Larris just shook his head. "You are forgiven, but i fear we are running late so can you please get back to the oars?" Larris asked, the crewmen nodded and once again the ship was moving through the water. Eventually the craft made it to the run down docks and there was a variable array of people who sat around them, the gangplank was deployed and Larris threw a large sum of money on the crates of the ship and departed. As he walked across the rotted planks one of them snapped under the weight of his armor and he nearly stumbled his hands went to his helmet to keep it on and he was afraid he looked like quite the fool as he pulled his foot from between the wood. "Please excuse me, i'm normally not that clumsy, but does anyone have a bandage? i fear i suffered a small wound before i came here." Larris said, straightening himself and looking at the gathered array of his companions, upon viewing the massive bear Larris shifted so he was upwind from the bear so it couldn't scent the fact that he was slowly rotting within his armor easily.

"Grrroowl?" The bear that stood before her was not a druid, it was a real bear. Tamed, for it didn't seem likely that a wild bear would be so vigilant in its watch of an old the pier such as this, which could only mean its owner wasn't to far. As she guessed, four gentlemen were locked in conversation further down her pier. It was rude to interrupt them, but she had to make her presence known at least, lest they leave without her. Batche sashayed down the pier towards them, giving a friendly wave to her new party as she went. "Evening gentlemen! It is lovely to make your acquaintance also, I am Miss Batche and I am here about the fearsome flesh rending beasts from another dimension. Did I over hear that someone is injured? I brought Nettle and Skinbane infused bandages for just the occasion your mortal bodies decide to succumb to physical punishment." Batche smiled, already being so helpful, Master would be content.

Lily Beckett was lost. It was, she reflected, not really her fault. The directions she had received were awful - go east, and follow the path laid before you? What in Torm's name did that mean? In retrospect maybe she should have let the man finish before she rode off at Daggerford. And now her old, reliable courser was now hobbling beside her, the rocky hills of the Moor having caused him to throw a shoe. She'd checked the leg, and -that- was okay. But all the magic available to her wasn't able, irritatingly enough, to regenerate his broken hoof. And so they walked, her horse hobbling beside her, Lily offering what aid she could manage to her companion. It wasn't much, but the horse was strong willed. "Can't be much further now, Arafaer." She said to him. "Look, the river." She pointed ahead, and followed the line of it in either direction, letting out a sigh of relief as she saw the massive lake. She knew, at least, that she was on the north side of the river. "Only a little further now." The two arrived a few hours later, a number of others already assembled. She found the odds of so many arriving at so remote a destination with such a broad timespan rather improbable, but if there was one thing she knew it was not to protest coincidence or destiny. She checked her sword at her hip, shrugged her helm on the strap that hung on her back, and regarded the others. A bear caught her attention first, the only other being on four legs, who seemed to either be asleep or simply resting. A familiar buzz began in the back of her mind, a whisper of fell powers or ill intent, and she braced herself, but no one seemed to fit the profile. A large, robed man was speaking to a child - no, not a man or a child. The green skin gave the first away, someone of mixed blood more likely, speaking to a halfling. In her defense she was a good ways away. There were three others nearby - two in ornate, heavy armor and a slender man or elf. She paid them no further mind and kept walking, arriving in proper earshot a minute or so later, in time to hear one of the armored figures request a bandage. "I take it we are all gathered here for the same purpose. Sir Korick, Gabriel Beckett sends his regards, but he's not much for traveling anymore. I'm his daughter, Lily."

Up above, a pair of hawks circled the beach, soaring along the coast of the river. Seemed like there was a congregation accumulating around one of the disheveled docks. One of the hawks gave silent consideration towards the developing predicament. _"Well, the letter said to meet him here...or, I think it's here...right? There's some docks...and that **looks** like a lake, soooo..."_ As high up as he was, his hawk-eyed vision gave him clear sight of the many faces occupying the location, conversing amongst themselves. Also, there was a bear. By this point, the hawk felt the need to see what all the hubbub was about, especially if he was to meet up with his employer here. "SQUAAW! (_Let's dive!_)" The hawk cried before descending, with the other hawk following suit. Soon he landed, coming up beside the bear. One hawk slowly began changing form, morphing through a blob of light into something a little more anthropomorphic. As his posture straightened, and feathers faded, the end result resembled something closer to a dirty hobo than a majestic bird of prey. As Lamont took on his human form, the other hawk took perch on one of his shoulders. He approached the dormant bear. "You're a big girl, aren't ya?" He cooed and he bent to scratch behind the bear's ears before proceeding down the dock. There was a distinct aroma filling the air as he walked, something other than the smell of sea salt. A decrepit, despicable stench, one that put Lamont and Sheeva at unease. A ready hand tightened around his quarterstaff. He approached the group of various characters, taking note of the only one sitting down and smoking. Sheeva gave short regard of the shapely automaton. "SCREEEKK! (_She looks a bit too alluring to be out here, don't you think?_)" The bird of prey queried. "I dunno Sheev...maybe she's one of those courtesan golems? I'm sure those things are built to withstand _anything_." He whispered back, before greeting the folks with numerous questions. "Uhh, I'm here for the job? Something from a guy named Korick? Wanted us to meet at this river?" He looked about the individuals. "...I'm in the right place, right?" He looked lost, while Sheeva looked at the knight in overly ornate armor. "CAHHHWWWW! (_The scent-! That man-!_)" She began to feverishly flap her wings, prepared to go for his eyes with her talons. Lammy managed to hold on to her before she could attack. "Sheeva! Calm down girl!" Even then, he gave a look towards the knight. There was certainly something _off_ about the fellow. "I'm...Lammy...and this is my companion...Sheeva." He cautiously introduced himself, peeling his eyes away from peculiar paladin.

Markul smiled, people were arriving fast, and he liked company. Traveling wasn't very fun. He turned his attention to Korick to answer to his request, "I'm a wizard, evocation is my specialty but I dabble in other schools. What I know is that there is something quite strange going on out here, something about a town and fiends." he looked out to the moors, "I can't imagine a town being out here though, with all the dangers lurking out here. A mystery to be solved for sure."

Eranah had gained safe passage for a modest fee, she had gravitated towards a ship with a sick crew member. In exchange for healing the man she had secured the trip for little more than the costs the crew would incur taking her across. She had done her work kindly and diligently, even helping some of the other crew members with various problems. Otherwise the trip was uneventful and she eventually stepped off. The land was actually rather lovely she found, with a few people already at the location speaking with who she assumed to be the one who had arranged all of this. Wearing very finely decorated chainmail armor she stepped off the boat with the grace expected of a Deva. She very calmly walked over to the one she assumed to be Korick. She was comforted somewhat by the presence of one who exuded an aura of light and good much as Eranah herself did. At least she was not the only creature here in service to the gods. "Ilmater has heard your request. I am here as his representative. You may call me Eranah." She said simply to the one she assumed to be Korik with a bow of her head. She however got a very unsettled feeling from something else nearby. It was a feeling she often got when confronting demons or the undead, however so far she could not place exactly where it was coming from. She was somewhat dismayed from the feeling actually. A feeling of death of and great pain was setting in.

With the embers in his pipe dead he tapped it out and stashed it away in a pouch before he took a measure of the new arrivals, he looked at Larris first, " How long ago was that? Smells infected, I suppose you should let it, eh, her look at it," Korick said motioning towards Batch, " Greetings Miss, uhm, what exactly are you then." Then there was the Paladin, "Two things, do I look much like a knight? and second, I know Gabriel might not have been the most attentive father but he did teach you how to ride didn't he? Third, I'm glad your here, and fourth no, counting is not my strong suit." The squaking hawk quickly drew away his attention, as a ranger Korick could spot a druid from a mile away which made it obvious who sent Lammy, " Glad to see your parents got my letter, but uh, aren't you suppose to be a woman?" "All hail the broken god," Korick said, lacking piety but earnest in gratitude, "There's still a bit of light out but I imagine that's most of us, but I don't know who actually replied."

"Just being polite, -Mister- Korick." Mister Korick sounded somewhere between childishly absurd and obnoxiously patronizing, but just calling him Korick sounded far too familiar for a man that much her senior. Not that Lily was feeling a bit testy after the long trek from Daggerford on foot with a limping horse. "Arafaer threw a shoe halfway from Daggerford, I was hoping to find a farrier who could fix him up in this town." The buzzing was stronger this close. Familiar and unpleasant. *The tomb.* "There's something nasty around here. It might just be the Moor, Gods know there's enough monsters there." She shook her head. "Nevermind. What else have you learned about this town?"

Larris nodded and spoke. "On second thought i think i will be fine, thank you for the offer though." And he turned to look down at the Halfling that was Korick he opened his mouth to say something about the enchanter who was supposed to be here but the arrival of someone else interrupted him, he chuckled as the cleric confused him for the little ranger. "I apologize miss but i am not who you think. But it is great to see another member of the clergy of Illmater has come to aid this rag tag band." He said, chuckling. Larris moved towards another side of the dock trying to avoid the hawk on the druids shoulder who seemed to be reacting to his presence, if Larris had been living he would be sweating. He fixed his helmet and with the tinge of nervousness to his voice he spoke. "I think i shall go for a walk." And with that the paladin moved down the dock and started walking along the shore.

Vis nodded to Koric's offer of a fire, turning away, he walled towards the other side of the pier, making sure to watch out for rotted planks as he went, not wanting to break through into the green grey water bellow. At the end of the dock was the bear, Laying down on the dirt as opposed to the spongy wood, probably for the same reason Vis didn't want to step on ruined planks. As he walked past the bear, he ran his hand over it's fur, admiring it's size and fluffiness, 'kinda like teddy.' thought Vis. A few yards past the wolf was the fire pit Koric was talking about, it was clear he'd been waiting for all these people for a while because there was layer of ash over upon layer of ash in the pit. Sticking his hand into the pit, Vis grabbed a fistful of ash and pocketed it, turned to the pile of twigs and wood nearby Vis proceeded to pick up the driest pieces and placed them into the pit. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a flint and still and proceeded to light the fire. It started with a crackle and within a few moments was burning away happily, he poked at the fire with his rapier occasionally, shifting pieces of lumber so the fire could get air.