Brief Recap: Last turn, in the southern continental city of Ura, Blade, Fyona, Ghotu, Mog, and Bibi met Lady Gayrlana and were surrounded in an inn. They had been drugged, resulting in their capture. Meanwhile, in Galay, Humphrey made a pact with Shwolv, and is now imbued with the Hellfire.

Flashback...Pastille, several months ago.

Bruce stands amid the smoking ruin of his house, the morning sun just beginning to peak its head over the buildings to the east. The air is crisp, winter still in the air. Blade and Fyona are doubtless in flight from the city by now, he thinks. His home, and nearly everything in it, is gone. Though he still has his means to make money, a large part of his accumulated wealth has been taken from him. Not to mention that Blade and Fyona nearly killed him.

In the next few hours, Bruce does many things. First, he meets with the captain of Pastille's city guard, Gragan. Captain Gragan knows of Blade, and takes Bruce's word that Blade and Fyona are responsible for this. They will have a mage inspect the place to verify this soon. The captain assures Bruce that Blade will hang if he ever sets foot in Pastille again, and that the other Free Cities with friendly relations with Pastille, which is most of them, will also put a warrant out on Blade. The captain points out that the two assassins must have slain another two of his guards, who lie dead beneath the balcony where Blade and Fyona exited the villa. One of the guards obviously died with his back to his enemy, notes the captain. These murderers, captain Gragan swears, will be watched for and hunted with all the resources he can muster.

This does not satisfy Bruce, but he thanks the captain graciously. Bruce returns to the inn he is now staying at and drafts a letter to his agents in the other free cities, including Galay, where his secondary headquarters is located. He instructs them about the events that just occurred, and that Blade now has a 10,000 gold piece bounty on his head. This amount is nearly unheard of, and Bruce hopes it will send droves of bounty hunters after Blade. He instructs his agents to post posters about Blade and the bounty, and the requirements that Blade (or his head) be presented to Bruce for payment. He also instructs them to warn others that Blade will likely be traveling with a one-armed female named Fyona. She is wanted too, though Blade is his true goal.

Bruce also hires the best tracker he can find on short notice, as well as twenty fighters. He tells them to seek Blade's trail on the roads out of town, possibly toward Trajia, possibly to the north-- anywhere Bruce suspects Blade might try to go. He pays them up front with more of his remaining gold. Their share is a small part of what he has left, but he has plans for the remainder.

Bruce then consults the local priest, asking where someone would go to have their arm regenerated. The priest informs them that none of the local churches can accomplish such a feat, that the magic of the priesthoods of the free cities has not been that potent for many generations. After further questioning, the priest mentions that there is one in the deep south said to be capable of such feats--the prophet. He is said to have miraculous powers of healing, and that he freely helps any who ask. He dwells in the ancient city of Ura. Bruce spends several more days asking other mages and priests about the possibility of regenerating an arm, and making ready to leave Pastille. After less than a week, he is satisfied that eventually, Fyona is likely to seek out the prophet--there seem to be no others who are reputed to have the ability to grow back a limb. And where Fyona goes, Bruce suspects Blade will follow.

Later, after the time it takes a carrier pigeon to reach Galay, Sylphie appears at the inn where Bruce is temporarily staying. Though the two have not lived together for many years, she is still a faithful ally and wife to him. She vows to help in any she can.

He describes Fyona's cloak to her, and sets her to the task of finding a way to counter it. She says that she knows of a solution, but it is an expensive one. Bruce tells her to pursue it. With Sylphie's help, Bruce has a mug shot of Blade drawn. He hires a mage from the guild to reproduce the drawing, having a hundred copies made- -at yet more expense. These he sends by carrier pigeon to the cities friendly with Pastille and to his agents, and to King Ozrik, as a wanted poster and with a letter explaining Blade's and Fyona's attempt on his life--a failed assassination at his very home in the dead of night.

When all is ready, Bruce gathers his remaining resources, sends final instructions to his agents, and meets several fighters he has assembled at the docks. With these his most trusted men, Sylphie, and most of his remaining worldly possessions, he takes Ship to Ura, where dwells the prophet, to watch and wait and put word out of the bounty on his old friend, Blade.

______

Captured...

Bruce meets Gayrlana at the designated place, inside a dark warehouse. Bruce sees only a single body sized bag, and wonders what happened.

"You didn't say Fyona was my daughter," Gayrlana begins. "That changes everything. I brought you Blade, but not Fyona. I won't sell you my own daughter. And the price stays the same, or you don't get Blade either." She kicks the dufflebag none too softly, then bends to pull the bag open at one end exposing a head of blonde hair. Bruce sees the unconscious Blade, his mouth gagged.

Bruce squints at Gayrlana through the darkness, making out her hip boots and a long rapier at her side, and her mass of red curly hair. He has several men posted outside, but suspects she does as well. He also knows she has at least one mage in her employ, and he suspects she has several. The two are alone in the warehouse--Sylphie, who is also outside and scrying on Bruce, assured him no one else was in the warehouse before he entered, and that no enchantments had been placed on the building.

[What does Bruce do? He has the money with him, in his pack, as they agreed--a hundred Trajan Medallions, large gold coins that are each worth a hundred normal gold pieces, totaling the 10,000 gold piece reward.]

"I didn't know that Fyona was your daughter," Bruce says. "Also, let it be known that I would send no mother to capture her own child, no matter the crime. Still," he says, "You are powerful here in these lands Garylana, I know that. I too am," he pauses, "influential. I control or have a hand in a small but important part of the commerce that takes place here and in the Northern Kingdom, as you know. It will do neither of our reputations good if I pay you without receiving what I am owed, or if you fail to deliver on your end of the bargain. But perhaps we can come to a compromise of sorts if we wish to save our business relationship? Yes?" He waits for her reply.

Gayrlana's face is unreadable as she says, "Compromise?"

If it is sensible, he then goes on to say...

"If you will sign a King's oath that you will do two things, I will set free this second, less consequential part of our bargain. The oath would state that you, nor any of your company will pursue me and my prisoner as we make our way back to Pastille, so he may stand trial. The second part will say that Fyona has become part of your company and she will not follow either. Will you sign the oath, binding you? If so, I will drop my requirement for the girl. She is your daughter after all, and I would not want to disrupt our future business arrangements." Bruce smiles.

Gayrlana returns the smile. "A King's oath, eh? You would trust a scoundrel like me to keep my word? It doesn't matter," her smile turns hard, into a grimace. "I won't sign any such oath. You're lucky I don't gut you where you stand, for having put a bounty on my daughter. How would it look for my reputation if I let that little detail go unnoticed, hmm?" The anger leaves her face, and she is all business. "Our earlier deal is off. I have Blade," she kicks backward into the dufflebag again, "and he's going to cost you ten thousand gold."

"I, like you Garylana, don't like to be crossed." He thinks for a moment. "Very well, I will take your deal." When she agrees, Bruce calls in some of his men to take Blade back to his house. He then leaves with him and when he gets back, he locks Blade in a cell and begins making preparations for his journey to Pastille. Incidentally, he has tripled the watch and the gaurd at his home. Sylphie is there as well.

Gayrlana smiles once again and says sarcastically, "See, I'm always open to compromise." Taking the gold, she leaves.

At Bruce's apartments, he puts Blade in a cage he bought for these purposes. Blade wakes up after being locked inside, without weapon or possession. Blade notices another cage like this one, empty. Bruce is standing near the cage, inspecting Blade's possessions.

"You truly are a bastard." says Blade. " I first thought it was you, but then I gave you the beenfit of the doubt and blamed it on Vingrot's son. He's taken up his father's vow or revenge against us you know. I suppose you still blame me for your house burning down, even though it was you who started the fire. But who I am to lecture about personal responsibility? Let's end this. Kill me now. I tire of these games. "

"Yes, I do blame you for that and for costing me my life's fortune. No, I won't kill you not yet. I haven't even decided what I am going to do with you. I might even take a fancy to you and let you go, one can never tell. For now, you will just have to hope for luck." Bruce laughs.

_____

Fyona wakes up in a dark room. Her head is pounding. She groans feebly, trying to clear her vision. She hears someone moving nearby, then blinding light fills her vision, causing her to close her eyes once again. When she is used to the light, she realizes it is only an open window, and she sees Gayrlana standing next to it, smiling at her daughter. Fyona is lying on a couch. The first thing she notices is that her sword is not there.

"I'm sorry things worked out like that, Fyona. But you're better off without Blade, anyway. He'll only leave you when the mood strikes him. Believe me, I know." She moves to sit in a chair across the room from Fyona.

"I have your sword, don't worry. It's a very good one, I'm proud of you for having killed its previous owner. From what Bruce told me, you paid a high price for it."

"Proud of me?" Fyona's sarcasm is thick. "Are you sure your my mother." Without waiting for a reply "And as for my sword may I have it so that I may get out of here."

Gayrlana says, "I had hoped we might make some kind of amends, considering I saved your life. I was paid 10,000 gold to capture you, and I broke my word to save you. Though, to be honest, I didn't realize it was you that my employer was after. His name is Bruce Tyrlan, he's a merchant, and he plans to take Blade back up north to stand trial for something. You'd be with Blade, prisoner, were it not for me.

"I'll give you your sword back, on one condition: You we both drop our grudge. I'm not saying we have to have dinner every Sunday night, Fyona, but you're my only surviving child now. Jessun died last year, killed by bugbears up north." Jessun is Fyona's half-brother, whom she hasn't seen in many many years. "I'd like it if you didn't try to kill me when I give this back." She reaches behind her chair and picks up Fyona's rapier, the Vingrot family sword, still in its scabbard. She offers it to Fyona.

"Deal?"

Fyona reaches out with one hand to grab her sword and then covers her eyes with the other as she feels the tears about to fall. Jessun was the only person Fyona ever really considered as family. Since her mother refused to tell her who her father was.

Seeing Fyona's distress, Gayrlana only sits quietly. After a few moments, she stands, wiping her own eyes, and says, "The rest of your equipment is downstairs. I think Bruce intends to leave soon. If you want to go after him, you'd better get going. I believe he's chartered a ship already." She walks out of the room, leaving her daughter alone.

Fyona goes after her. "Can you help me?"

Gayrlana stops but doesn't turn, and says, "I wouldn't be helping you, I'd be helping Blade. And I'm not willing to do that. Let him suffer his fate, Fyona. Whatever he did, I'm sure he deserves what's coming.

"Instead, stay here. Join my company. I'll make you captain, second only to me. I haven't had a good captain since Jessun died. You were always quicker than he was with a rapier." Fyona doesn't know if Gayrlana is sincere, or merely playing on her feelings for her half brother. Gayrlana still stands wtih her back to Fyona, head down, waiting for an answer. "This isn't what you think it is. Blade and I are not lovers. He is my friend and he has been a very loyal one and I was the one that killed the count. So, I cannot leave him to this fate." Fyona pauses to see if she's get through. "I'm sure you were told you were looking for a one armed woman, I was that woman. But Blade took care of me and got me here to be healed...I must go." Fyona turns to be on her way.

______

Later, in the inn...

Ghotu, Mog, and Bibi awaken in their room of the inn, severe headaches pounding in all their skulls. They hear another knock on the door, and the innkeeper's voice tentatively calling, "Hello? Please awaken!" Mog rises and opens the door.

The innkeeper says, "I had no choice, please don't kill me! Lady Gayrlana has strong influence in the city, and she had enough of her men with her to take control of the entire city block. I tried to get a message to the Brothers [the city guard], but her men must have intercepted my boy. I've kept all your equipment safe, and I know where she took your friends. I've been trying to wake you for hours now." The innkeeper waits wearing a fearful frown to see what the groggy adventurers do to him.

They remember Gayrlana having confronted them the night before, but the conversation is a blur. They were knocked unconscious by the smoke or some means of poisoning. Bibi replies to the innkeeper with an urgent tone "Well, show us the way."

The inkeeper looks glad he won't be killed, and says, "I heard one of her men talk about the warehouse at Vine and Dune streets." He gives them directions as to where this is located--in the dock quarter. The party gathers their equipment and goes there.

They arrive at a building near the warehouse, trying to see if anyone is inside or notices them. Mog changes to bird form and flies into the warehouse, and returns to tell the others, "It is empty. It looks as though someone was inside last night--there are tracks in the dust.

The party goes inside, and indeed, it looks like there are tracks in the dust of the warehouse, which has not been used in weeks. The tracks look like something was dragged in one door and out another. The party can't tell anything else about the place.

[Any other plans?]

Bibi "We should split up. Mog and I can search from above. A group as large as that shouldn't be that hard to find."

Bibi flies in the air, soaring above the city looking for a large group of men-at-arms. She does not see the mercenaries, and decides to try focusing closer in to try and find any individual mercenaries of the group, or even if finding Blade.

Her search seems in vain, and by the day's end she is worn out and ready to head back. Then, just as she is about to give up, she sees someone she recognizes--Bruce. Though she had only known the man for a short while (immediately after the Chief Nosra adventure), she knows he and Blade are now enemies becuase of Count VIngrot's plots. Bruce has an entourage boarding a ship, and there appears to be a large covered box with them--easily large enough to hold a human.

___________

Bruce Tyrlan looks around his ship. It is full of most of his personal possessions, most of his capital and his prisoner. Alongside him stands his top commander, Gwelen, and Sylphie. "Blade's companion's are crafty and powerful. When they find out where we are or where we are taking him, they will definitely attempt to spring him. The orc is a shapeshifter, I know, and the druid as well, so we must be careful of them especially. And Ghotu Graver, though he might see the justice in what I am doing, will still not take kindly to having been drugged in pursuit of Blade. Tell the men to get their things loaded and get this ship to sea. The sooner we are gone from here, the better our chances. Gwelen, don't let anyone, or anything on board that hasn't been expressly invited... and I do mean anything.

Later, as preparations are being made and the ship is about to head to sea, he delivers Blade's meal to him. Blade sits in the corner. "Blade, my old friend. What am I going to do with you? Where is your lady of Luck now?" Bruce sets a plate of food, filet mignon and mashed potatoes inside the slot of his cage. "Enjoy your meal, you won't be getting too many good ones from here on out. Go ahead and try to escape. Sylphie was sure to protect the lock from your pryings. [Note: Blade is given no silverwear. His food is served in a wood bowl and his water is given in a wooden cup.] "I am truly sorry it had to come to this. We were friends once."

"Yes and I was hoping we could make amends. But it doesn't seem you are willing to do so. Normally I don't enjoy killing people, but in your case I'll make an exception. I'm not locked up in here. Your locked up with me. " Blade says smiling malevelently. Blade thinks that the Lady must bne smiling on him this day. He had been thinking of commandeeering a ship and become a corsair for quite some time now. The Lady was kind enough to present jsut such an opportunity to him. All he had to do was escape, kill everyone onboard and recruit a sewaworthy crew. He figures he could do the escaping and killing before suppertime.

Bruce walks out. When he goes up to the deck, he pens a letter to Gragan, the Captain of the Guard in Pastille. He then sends it via carrier pigeon to his agents in Pastille, alerting him to their arrival and to the imminent rescue attempt by Blade's friends. He then returns to his quarters, straps his one-handed axe to his side, puts his leather armor on, and prepares for the fight that he knows will come. "Sylphie, be prepared. They will come." he says, as he heads back to the deck to prepare the ship for its launch.

______

Bibi finds Mog and Ghotu and tells them of the location. She asks for their advise. She suggests that she land on the ship in gull form then change to a mouse so that she can get inside the crate. Ghotu says he will look for a ship to charter, and for Fyona. They have not heard from her since her and Blade's capture, and they assume she is with Blade on the ship or otherwise in Bruce's custody.

Mog and Bibi both fly back to where the ship was moored. To their dismay, it is just setting sail.

Mog is in crow form (the only bird he can turn into) and dares not attempt to land on the ship. Bibi, however, is in gull form, and she flies down among the other gulls above the ship to get a closer look. She sees Blade on the deck, in a cage that is now uncovered. He wears a loose shirt and breeches, with no other clothes or boots. Two very large men dressed in leather armor with sword and shield and crossbows sit watching Blade intently. It appears Bruce is not underestimating Blade's abilities.

Bibi hears a cry from a nearby gull, and she sees one of her brethren fall from the sky, a crosbow bolt in its breast. She then sees that five fighters on the ship are firing bolts at the flock of seagulls, on order of Gwelen--captain of Bruce's men. "Not one bird lands on this ship, or its a week's pay! And check the sides to make sure nothing climbs on board. Chestun, Ed, Meechum, patrol the rails, nothing gets on board!"

Bibi does not see Bruce or Sylphie anywhere. Bibi squawks loudly as she swoops strait up hoping the other birds will also retreat. Once high high above the ship Bibi changes back to human for but remain at the same altitude thanks to her flying booths. She then swallows a potion of invulnerability and begins casting Turn Wood. As the spell takes effect she lowers in the sky in front of the ship. No longer having to worry about being hit with arrows she moves in but not so close that knives or rocks could reach her. She shouts to the men aboard "Please do not shoot any more gulls, I am the only one out here. I want to speak with Bruce."

Bibi, who is positioned so the ship is between herself and shore, waits for Gwelen to answer. As she nears the ship, the ship begins to slowly move toward shore.

Gwelen and his five crossbowmen level their crossbows at her to fire. At precisely this moment, Bruce and Sylphie emerge from the cabin, hearing her voice. "Wait," he says to Gwelen, "but keep her in your sites. You may come aboard druid, if you agree to having your hands bound during our talks."

[DM NOTE 81-26: I deleted the part where Sylphie begins casting a spell. Brian, you can still declare an action for her after she comes up on deck, read on for details....]

"I do not wish to board. We can speak from here. I have only cast spells to protect myself. I hope that is all the lady is doing for you."

Bibi holds out her hand to show a very large emerald. [remember when Bibi was going to give one stone to the orcs and she decided on the lesser valued of the two. Well, this is the other, I believe that it was valued at 50,000 gold] "I would like to offer you this for the damages to your home and request that you free Blade and inform the courts of your home land that the debt is settled and that the death of the Count was an act of self-defense." Bibi sighs "Bruce, I know he is reckless but he has saved me many times as I'm sure he also did for you."

He turns to the captain, "full speed ahead, head away from shore."

Hearing Bruce, Bibi returns the stone to her pocket and removes a stone from her locket and begins to pray. She is using this stone to cast metal to wood on the cage that Blade is in. The Pilot, a sea-dog from the Free Cities up north, says, "Matey, I'm tryin' to do jus' that. But somethin's movin' us toward shore anyways."

"She has cast a spell on the boat," Sylphie says. She begins to cast a spell: Telekinesis

Bruce replies, "A spell on the boat! Druid, let go the boat, or Mithra help me, I shall drop him in the ocean for the sharks. Men, get ready to push the cage over. If you don't give up the spell, the cage goes over. I am willing to negotiate, but not while you are trying to control the ship. I am counting to five Druid. After Sylphie completes her spell, she say, I have the cage now Bruce. She controls whether it goes over or not. It teeters on the edge, awaiting Bibi's decision. "Make your choice druid, one, two, three...." Sylphie drops the cage into the water. Bruce's men fire their crossbows at Blade at the same time. [if Sylphie's spell is completed the bibi's should also be.] Bibi begins to cast feeblemind with Sylphie as her target.

Do not trust him Bibi! He is a snake! Call a storm! Strike him down with lightning. Have a million seagulls pick the flesh from his bones! Sink the ship! Do whatever you have to do to kill this bastard once and for all!" Blade yells from his cage.

"Forget about clearing my name in Pastille, I never liked it there anyway! Either kill him now, or free me, so that I can do it myself!" Blade shakes the bars of his cell furiously as he screams to Bibi.

While the soldiers are distracted looking at Bibi, Mog tries to land on a window ledge of a portal on the side of the ship away from Bibi. [I will roll to see if he is spotted.]

Several men on the other side fill him with crossbow bolts.

______

[Brian, re Humphrey's thread, he does make his way out of the house. It is a mansion in a fine part of Galay, high on the western end of town (the city generally slopes upward toward the mountains on the west). Humphrey has no possessions except his torn and bloody robes, and no spells memorized. He found nothing of magic in the mansion, though it was furnished normally. What does he do?]

Humphrey hides until the nighttime. At this time, he heads back to the Inn at which he first encountered Krossus' apprentice. If he sees him again, he follows him. When he can, he comes up to him and says, "you obey me." He does this at a dark alley where he can escape if he is unable to get the attention of the apprentice. If the apprentice does indeed still obey him, he takes him into the dark alley and gives him a set of instructions. [I will go on as I find out what happens.]

It is many days before the apprentice appears again, and Humphrey has had to hide as a street urchin, retreating to areas of town where such people are not noticed, and where he is able to scrounge for a scrap of food. Trying mightily to contain the Hellfire, he does his best to avoid contact with all humanity.

After over a week, Humphrey encounters the apprentice, but not at the tavern. It is in the wee hours of the morning, after the bar has closed and Humphrey is walking across Galay to the dock quarter where he sleeps between barrels in a warehouse. He is in the center of town, about to cross the main street that leads from the keep in the west to the docks on the northeast side of town. Before Humphrey walks into the nearly empty street, he sees the apprentice's corpulent form dart from a side avenue and head toward the keep. His route takes him near where Humphrey hides behind a corner. When the man is near, Humphrey steps out and says, "You obey me." The apprentice, surprised, gasps as he sees Humphrey, and Humphrey is surprised at how hollow the man's features are. The apprentice looks confused for a moment, then says with resolve, "Master."

Humphrey, afraid that the apprentice is under the influence of Krossus, says "Follow me" and he heads, without taking his eyes from the apprentice, down the alley. At the end of the alley, he says, "give me your spellbook. He then waits to see if the apprentice complies.

The apprentice says, "Of course, master." He then begins walking out of the alley, toward the keep.

"Wait! Humphrey says, in hushed urgency. "How much money do you have with you?"

The apprentice draws a pouch from his robes, saying, "Only a few gold, master."

After he answers, Humphrey says, "Give me some money. Then, go and gather your spellbook and meet me back here, as soon as you get it. Also, be sure to grab all of your money as well as both your travelling spellbook and your main spellbook. Put them in a backpack, so no one can see them. Be sure to avoid detection. If someone approaches you and you tell them where you are supposed to meet me, I will be very displeased."

The apprentice says, "At once, master." He quickly departs.

Posting Instructions: The forest is kind of dim, as it is pretty dense overhead.

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