Poppet

The Myste-Hass Calender

02/12/2021

Berticus is rowed along the estuary to the east of the Eastern Swamp. Here he rides across the land, heading to the Tower of Dariss. On questioning from the Helvettian's, Berticus challenges the Helvettian. The Helvettian sends for reinforcements and then goes to seek aid. Lori emerges and fights Berticus hand to hand, knocking the paladin unconscious. Lori vouches for Berticus, bringing him into the Tower of Dariss,much to the discontent of the Helvettians.

Nazzak and Ehecatl are wrestling when a ear-piercing scream is heard. A crowd gathers around a pale-faced man, chest pierced by some blade and blood trickling down his front. Kit speaks with the man's traumatised wife, who explains that her husband went out late the night before and never came back. She found him like this in the morning. Kythor and Nazzak break up the crowd so that Sylleth and Ehecatl can investigate. A small sack doll is found beneath the hand of the corpse, and a man in the crowd begins shouting about witches.

Ronae, the Helvettian on patrol in the tower, leaves Ehecatl in charge of dealing with the body. Ehecatl determines the man died at some point during the middle of the night. His ribcage is also damaged. There is a pin in the dolls chest.

Kit chats with people in the crowd, namely with an individual called Parkly. Parkly knows where to get alcohol in the Tower of Dariss. He says he is going to determine who the witch is and inform the Helvettians. The victims wife admits to Kythor that the man may have been seeing another women, possibly the witch.

Berticus is brought into the autopsy tent, his intent to lay the body to rest. Sylleth determines there is no magical influence on the body or the doll. Sylleth produces a black amulet with white antlers upon the front. Berticus informs Sylleth that the amulet is devoted to Mordon. Placing the item on the creatures head, Sylleth shudders and then man awakes, draining a little energy from Sylleth. The man awakens grunting the words "master, master, Morden". Berticus kills the man.

Kit goes to talk to the merchant, Chapman at the brick-a-brack stall. Here he finds out about the cursed man who was destined to sleep for 10,000 years. The merchant says that the witch woke him in return for his soul. He is also selling six of the rag dolls.

'Til speaks to Engaro, asking him if could recognise a women via scent. Engaro informs Til that the women he is looking for is called Bethany, and she is in love with a man who is not available. Bethany can be found near the entrance to the catacombs.

Nazzak determines the man's wife was called Zari. Her husband was called Mason, and he was a hunter, bringing food back regularly. He was a good provider and a good man, but he strayed, staying out later and later. Zari worships whatever god is suitable at the time.

Suspicious of the womens tales, the group, now joined by Elanor approach Zari's tent and discover she has run off, taking her belongings and leaving Mason's. Nazzak discovers Zari purchased one of the dolls from the merchant.

Til speaks with Bethany who is terrified that Zari is going to have her killed. He leaves a reliquary around her tent flap.

It appears that Zari has run, so the party chase after her and manage to get the truth. Something emerges from the column in the cavern on a regular basis, it flies down and then skewed a man and flew him off. Zari drugged her husband, Mason and left him by the column. The creature flew down, forced its stinger into his chest and then left him to die.

The group struggle to decide whether the women should be trialled or not, and eventually Nazzak picks up Zari and runs off with her. Kaythor trys to trip Nazzak, but Kit trips Kaythor in return. Kaythor strikes Kit with his mace, instantly knocking him unconscious. Elanor takes Kit's pouch and then the Paladin of Alaie heals him slightly before walking off. Til shouts that if Nazzak returns, Til will see him turned over to the authorities. Berticus runs in on J'esus, cutting them off, but Zari runs for the hills, leaving Nazzak to face Berticus. Berticus runs on to Zari, putting her to sleep and returning her to the Helvettians. The Helvettians call for Gallow to deal with the issue, but Berticus requests that her trial waits until Harbinger, Corym and Dramos return from their adventures in the far north.

Berticus keeps hold of her. 'Til asks the guard to arrest Nazzak. Sylleth casts invisibility on Nazzak and himself and then they run.