AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

((This will be the new Caraigh topic. Post here from now on, thanks! Old topic for reference: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=57086&p=1186863#p1186863))

The familiar sight of the First Knight's Lady can be seen more often on Caraigh. One particular night, at least, though she seems to be on a mission. Arriving in the port along with the Thane, she makes her way through the town... looking for.... something. A visit to the Asylum seems to be what it is, though it's very short, before she is off again with a steely glint in her eyes as she rushes off into the wilds of the lands once more.

Oddly, or not, the next sighting of her would be right outside the Thane's “house”. No “Capt'n's Hat” and actually wearing a dress, she looks recently cleaned up and at least appears to be the Lady she's supposed to be. She doesn't linger long there either, portaling away with the Thane following close behind.

Hours after first arriving by ship, she returns again the same way. This time she looks much more tired and … sore, but still in the dress she last left in. She again doesn't stay long, though she does smile, a heartfelt expression of pure gratitude and happiness, if only briefly, when approached by a young farmer carrying a small baby. After a short conversation and another with a worried, certain man, the Lady once more takes her leave, by ship again.

All signs of the brief happiness gone, Darby looks mostly just exhausted and keeps rubbing at her head as she finds a comfortable spot on the ship for the return trip to Wiltun. It's clear that whatever her business on the island, it's taken her toll on her and yet she doesn't seem any less driven in finding whatever it is she seeks.

However, she isn't seen again on Cariagh, that night at least.

A darkly robed woman of average height and proportion stalks the isle, a Wraith following her, guarding her from the less intelligent being who stalk the isle, and against the undead. She returns periodically throughout the tenday, studying points of interest, and less interested in the Undead themselves, taking notes and studying the dwellings.

After much research and labor regarding the notes. spell books and objects of power found in Blackmoors hidden lair, that vile edifice of foul power that now lay buried under enough rock to crush a titan. Tazlin Kenlyl the acrid and self assured drow magi was finally content to send off a group of notes regarding his discoveries and theories regarding what was known.

Though unbeknownst as to why the Skull found in Blackmoors den of black magic was currently residing in a lead box with in a circle of protection from evil. As the rest of the dark knowledge was being processed by the wizard many of which was added to his personal collection of Codexs, tomes and dangerous lore he deemed to destructive for anyone of a mind and will weaker then he to possesses. All of which sat next to a bizarre collection of curios the center piece of which was a black lump inside a bottle of chemical preservatives.

Knowledge he mused to himself was only dangerous in the hands of wizards to weak to control it.

The simple folk of Ceyren’s Mill have begun to speak, in hushed tones, about the dark nights growing even darker. They speak of strange sounds, dark shifting shadows and growing numbers of ‘walkers’. As the sun sets the folks quickly make their way indoors, closing the shutters, locking the doors and making warm bright fires to ward off the long, cold, dark nights.

*A hooded figure, not completely unknown in the mill shows up one day after a long while. He speaks to the residents regarding what they have seen. When night falls, he ventures out into the black night to see what he can learn*

The Thane hearing of the increased 'walker' population goes on patrol a bit more often to keep it down, if they are much like the others they don't stand much of a chance.

A very familiar face to Ceyren's Mill can be see once again coming and going from her old home there.

The Copper Dragon Disciple Emilly is back and sometimes can be see holding a baby taking some walks around the Mill.

The night of the new moon...

It's dark outside, and like most nights on Caraigh, the rain is falling. Several of the folk gather in the Singing Sun warming their hands by the fire and their bellies with drink. In hushed voices they speak about the 'walkers' that people have seen or heard.

"People been saying they walk in bigger numbers" one hushed voice says.

"Aye, and some say they aren't the same 'ny more. They say these ones don't fall so easily." A second man replies as two of their friends nod in agreement.

Outside the town guards stand watch at the gates, crouching as best they can under their hooded cloaks. Rain rolling in sheets off the treated wool. One guard startles as something touches his leg. "Ah, sheesh bugsy, ya nearly scared the...." he goes silent quite suddenly when he is interrupted by a sinister cackle that cuts through the dark, wet night like a knife cutting through so much butter.

"Gods.. what the hells that?!"

Cory does his best to calm the people so that he can speak with them and get a clear reply

"I have noticed myself a increase in the number of undead and increased resilience so I ask again, have you had a town meeting to speak on the project you all wish done for the good of the town.

It's been a few weeks since I have dropped off supplies to the mill so that you could all do work around your homes and I have not gotten a solid answer as to what the town project should be, such as the stone walls and gates, with some locations for scouts and archers. The supplies are waiting to be used once the town agrees on what to do we can all work on the fortifications and get them up quickly if that is what the town wishes."

Emilly and Lord Cory go on a patrol around Caraigh this night. Once they enter the Haunted Forest, Emilly gets surprised with the Ghost creatures and they charge to attack them, but she gets even more surprised by the magical power of the Witch and not being properly prepared she ends up killed by its spells.

After Lord Cory disposed of all the Ghost creatures and rising Emilly back to life they resumed patrolling.

The Drow wizard appeared on the island from one of its nodes, set on his destination. He had been involved closely with matters relating to the purification of the abyssal taint that haunted the island and more importanily to him he had taken it upon himself to prove his superiority to Blackmoors magic and undo both his wards and Everlasts key. His research had been going slowly at best gaining insights into Blackmoors mind but not the way the wards on the key worked.

Rather than waste magic to ruin the dangers of the island he traveled hidden from sight to the dank ruins under the village where the ward and key lay. There he stared at them focused, intent and unwilling to let this beat him. He had promised a lunatic and given him his word on his magic he would avenge the souls left tormented in the wake of Everlast. He was not by any means a good person but even he considered some things unacceptable.

There was a certain skull in a lead lockbox in his lab, now in Triumvir that had answers and as Tazlin believed it held the answers he wanted. Soon enough he would have to pit his will and his sanity against the power of the Black Skull. The Drow smiled, he relished the challenge of it all.

The wizard spent his time diligently in research studying dizzying array of topics related to Blackmoor, demons, abyssal taint and dark rituals. His only reprieve from that dangerous lore was a side project that if anyone knew of it in his new home the Triumvir they would have called it more dangerous by far. Regardless the wizard was not going to inform anyone.

As he worked diligently he paused to consider a map of Carigah and the location where Blackmoor had called down the rite with Everlast that had seeded the island with the touch of the abyss. The wizard slowly began to consider that the circle, the arcane glyphs and symbols that had to comprise a working this complex could be vastly larger then merely the place where Blackmoors body lay impaled and untouched. He grumbled quietly and hoped his fears were simple paranoia. Though soon enough he would delve into Blackmoors crystal sword and the Black Skull and he would either have answers or be driven to maddness.

A night of planned merriment at the Singing Sun tavern turns dire and dark deep into one particularly dreary storm. The community had gathered, with special guests from House Avadon and the Lord Thane of Caraigh, to celebrate small victories that had been made--clean water, the eradication of dirt floors in the poorer homes. Old heirloom instruments were dusted off and liquor bottles brought up from the cellars around town, as the women prepared a feast of mutton, wild game birds, and goose. The merriment is interrupted with an entity breaches the tavern unknown to the Iron Guard yet stationed outside, and two causalities occur between two of the two fixtures--Trave Deepwell and Xander Crenford. Quick thinking brings them back to consciousness, but wariness gets the better of the Mill.

The next two days, no work gets done. The lumber mill is closed, along with the trader, and certainly the tavern. People stay home as the rain continues to fall heavy, and lambs are slaughtered in their fields--their blood used to paint the thresholds of homes and businesses.

The familiar sight of the half elven Lady Darby can often be seen on Caraigh and around the Mill now. She often just walks around the town, chatting with the locals and guards but not getting in the way of their work. However, despite her casual friendly conversations, she seems to be on alert for ...something.

Sometimes it would seem she has left but if one has sharp enough eyes they may notice her standing quietly in the shadows, a frown on her lips and her hands near her blades and pouches. When not out patrolling the town she can often be found in the pub, either taking a quick nap or just getting out of the weather for a bit, flipping through a small notebook with a furrowed brow. Her breaks never last too long before she heads back out to the Mill.

Occasionally she'll head back to Wiltun or elsewhere, mostly during the day when things seem at their most quiet. But she always returns to the Mill before nightfall, watching both the people and surrounding darkness. Her purpose there is clear, she's doing her best to keep the people safe from whatever it is that may threaten them in the night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Death.

His malaise vanished as the fury of the wraiths' onslaught overwhelmed them. Wards were thrown up frantically. Those, along with shadow and steel, were the only things between him and certain death.
But he couldn't feel any of that. He wondered, idly, if they didn't scream before they fell, or if he simply didn't hear it.

Thunk. Hiss.

His mace connected with the ethereal matter, a pulse of disruption rippling through. He could not pause for even an instant - more spirits slipped in and out of view, claws reaching to tear his life force away.
One on the left. He ducked, swinging the unwieldy weapon. It flew unerring, seeking the tainted matter it was made to eradicate.

Thunk. Woosh.

He barely felt them coming before the claws were upon him, but he danced fluidly out of reach. One grazed his shield - even the near-touch chilled him to the bone. He whirled around that his mace could answer.

Another pulse.

In a furious dance of shadow and steel, the last vanished. But the images remained. The grip of terror. The sense of loss.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

One dark-clad elf is seen around Caraigh now and then - however the frequency of sightings and the speed at which he appears and disappears may suggest that he is around far more often than he's seen - at least, to those who know him. He does make an effort not to alarm the locals, questioning them inobtrusively whenever he needs information on the goings-on. Always, he watches the woods nearby, especially to the south...

He often seeks Lady Darby's company when she's around, but he seems to be far less socially outgoing than her and much more intent on keeping a look out.

corypx wrote:

As the sun rises on Caraigh and the people of the Mill wake up to start the day, Cory is busy at work remarking sections of land with spikes. The people all come out to help on getting the wall started that they had agreed on some time ago under Elder Seamus.

Cory starts getting work in order for everyone to get them all moving.
"I will just start shouting out what should be looked after with some suggestions, what ever you feel comfortable doing head over and start at it. I have to make one thing clear though, as soon as it starts getting dark you stop what your doing and head back inside the town, the wall is to help protect the people no point risking lives for it."

*Cory looks around at the people then the town*
"The tree outside the north east gate by Yatic will need to be removed for the wall because the east section of wall will be pushed out to get us more space"

*Cory then points south*
"Same with the south section of wall, that's all being pushed out for added room"

"We need to dig down to make a base foundation, I will be using my gift to change shape to aid with pulling a plough to loosen up the earth as to make removing it less work and quicker, so we will need a group of people digging and a group managing carts and wheelbarrows to get the dirt out of the way, it can be dumped in the south east in the water by the kick in the wall so we can square that section up, or north east behind Yatic."

*Cory looks and points west*
That will be the tricky part as the palisade is so close to the tree line we don't have room to work on the outside of it to make preparations to the area befor we lay down the stone slabs for the new walls, so I suggest once the south and east sections of the wall are more or less finished we can divert most of the people to working on the west side as we can start laying the wall almost immediately because the digging is already done because where the palisade is driven into the ground.

*looking over the people once more who may not be sure of a assignment*

If its looking to crowded to dig or move soil, stone from the western mill could be moved and piled around town for when we start assembling the wall, if not do your best to switch out with other people to give them some time to rest.

I will do my best to make sure everyone who helps with the wall is compensated, as well see to that all lunch meals for workers during the project are provided by the Singing sun tavern and paid for by me.

rafaelmacgyver wrote:

Emilly gets all the tools needed to work then seeks out Cory and tells him shes ready to begin at anytime.

Cory would tell her right now the best thing to focus on would be the collection of supplies to make mortar as she can venture outside the safety of the town to get them.

The townspeople are slowly cajoled back into their usual routines, coming out of their homes more regularly since the attacks on the Mill. They heed Cory's direction, for the most part, on constructing the walls around the settlement, with the encouragement and help of their representative, Trave Deepwell.

When each day dawns Cory has been busy clearing the trench for the foundation for the walls by pulling a plough back and forth in his minotaur form in hopes of speeding up the work much like how he had done in the past when clearing trees for the port and farmland for the people.

A red haired man follows the copper-kin Emilly through a portal. After being shown the numerous projects around the Mill, Loynis and Emilly head home to see their two daughters. The following day, following the groups of people who go to Cory to seek direction, he follows suit, asking him if there's anything he can do to help...

Should it be asked, he would state he has very basic training as a stonemason..

When Emilly is back to the Mill after spending some time gathering resources for the construction, she helps Cory and the workers with the foundation.

Cory meets up with Emilly and the red haired man and he speaks with them abit and then get to work removing the tree by the north east gate by Yatic.

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After they all head home for some rest when night hits, Cory heads back out to patrol till the sunrises and work can start again.

Katina heads out from Wiltun, seeking out Father Darian and Ailsa, the woman in the cave.

//Give me a time when a DM is able to do this, and we'll meet up

The shortest of the Jarl Wardens has become something of a common (at at least not-too-uncommon) sight around Caraigh, although the abrupt manner of his appearances and disappearances might suggest that he is around far more often than it seems. In a rare moment of what approaches actual conversation, the dark-clad elf offers brief apologies for an inability to aid in the construction efforts, citing a lack of physical strength and technical skill, but he does what he can to assist as look-out and sentry for the workers.

The young woman takes a stroll among the construction going on, though she is not likely seen by many. She wonders if he will pop up, knowing she will not sense his presence until he decides it so. She thinks to herself that she will return with more coin to aid in the effort, though she isn't certain why. With a confused shake of her head she sighs and heads back to the dock.

Green robed woman can be seen coming and going from the Mill. She assists workers digging up the trenches in the morning. She disappears in the afternoon, coming back at dusk, carrying bags filled with limestone and pure sand. One sun sets down, she goes out for a patrol around the Mill, and then returns to the inn to meditate.

Darby can be seen at her self appointed post during most nights.. though she seems to have been travelling a lot more during the day. Sometimes she can be found sitting by a tree near "her" bridge scribbling in a small notebook.. or leaning against the tree, possibly napping. She sometimes checks on the progress of the wall, but doesn't stay long before heading off again. It seems however she's trying to help it isn't with the manual labor.

Work on the walls moves along at a steady pace in Ceyren's Mill...

The people begin to talk more of 'the things that go bump' in the night. Some speak of the more recent attack of undead, or 'Walkers' as they have come to be called, and of the other times that people report them - the darkest hours of the night. Many begin to refer to those darkest hours of the night or pre-dawn as 'The Witching Hour'. The nights it storms, all to frequent on the isle, are worse than the nights it doesn't.

Cory does his best to keep the number of 'Walkers' down at night as to keep them from wandering into the Mill, if it has had any effect one cant be sure. During the day he can be seen starting to set stones into position for the wall.

In the darkest hours of the night a wild, hideous cackle cuts through the air some when to the south of Ceyren's Mil. Moments later the night skies flash with differi ng colors and the sounds of a skirmish ring out. Then, almost as quickly as it erupted, the skirmish is over and all is silent once more.

Loynis has become a regular sight at the Mill in the past week. Some of the 'early-birds' might notice him heading east-wards as early as dawn. To those who spy him, he would be seen facing east, kneeling down and reciting a rite or prayer as the sun cracks over the horizon; he continues his prayer until the sun is whole in the sky. He then stands and makes his way to the south-east quarter with his tools in tow, and continued helping dig the trench. Stopping only for lunch and finishing when it became dark.

Emilly can be seen making use of her massive strength to carry stone all around from the storage on the western area.

Cory over the past few days has been busy laying rows of granite slowly building the wall up around the mill.

Green robed woman would assist workers with setting heavy stones, showing good aptitude with stonework. She spends half of the day working there, and in the early afternoon she heads towards old port in the south of the isle. There, at the stonemason workshop, she spends hours tirelessly mixing sand, quicklime and water.
Soon, first one hundred batches of mortar are delivered to Ceyren's Mill.

Emilly can be seen working all day long on the wall over the past days and she also keeps carrying stone from the storage all around when needed.

Sir Jerand Whiterose and Knight Captain Abdullah of the Silver Dragon Knights would begin a patrol at the back of Mourn Manor, destroying undead first, but later cold using creatures in the frozen wastes. After they passed through the Snow Beast's lair, the duo would make their way to the Barrows.

Entering each crypt they killed the barrow wight and its companions. After the fifth crypt, the two tired Knights took turns guarding and resting. Sir Jerand, finished with his spell casting first, would head out the door of the crypt, but not before using invisibility on himself. Turned out this innocent enough move saved his life.

Walking out of the crypt he would face no less than six Skeletal Knights, two of them on undead horseback. Stopping in his tracks as he faced the black menaces, he would slowly back up into the entrace of the crypt.............

"Crap! We've got company!" Sir Jerand exclaimed.

"What?" Sir Abdullah asked as he finished warding himself.

"Take a look outside to see for yourself, but we've got trouble out there. Make sure you are invisible before you go," warned Sir Jerand.

Upon returning the two discussed their options. Fighting seemed senseless as they were outnumbered and outclassed. They finally decided to continue through the barrow they were in, concluding it was better to report their findings to Lord Cory in Careigh.

"What are these things doing all the way over here?" Sir Jerand kept repeating and repeating to himself in his head.

*Aeraline could be heard chatting about her deadly encounter after she was brought back to life in disbelief what had happened. A group of skeletal knights on horseback had menaced the area at the mourn manor. She made brief preparations and she and her iron companion went into combat. As her haste failed, so did she. She at least took a few fiends with her. She cursed herself for not remembering to bang on her mythals to get an army of butterflies to help her.*

As luck would have it, Jerand and Aeraline and a young elven female archer worked their way together through the outskirts of the Manor towards the Snow Beast lair. As the Snow Beast reared its ugly head, Jerand cut it off with a huge swing of his Greatsword. At that time the earth started to tremble and shake beneath their feet. With a possible cave-in about to happen the three sought shelter by jumping through a nearby rift, and came out in the middle of a destroyed house on what was thought to be a deserted island.

A storm blew in, with rain and lightning striking hard. What was once thought to be a refuge from the cave in became a battlefield. Skeletal Knights, some on horseback, would appear. Beseiged and hard pressed by the veracity of the attack, the three somehow managed to slay the undead fiends.

The storm left and the island once again appeared tranquil. Spotting another rift the three walked through it hoping to return to more familiar grounds and wound up outside of Blackmoor Keep in Caraigh. Through means of magic the rift was destroyed, if only temporarily and the trio went to warn Lord Cory.

Taking him and Darby Mirth to the site of the once rift in Caraigh, Jerand remembered that the island where the attack occurred had the same climate and terrain, even the same position of the sun, as Caraigh.

What did that mean? No one could be sure. At least the three had survived the onslaught.

//edited for a typo or two

Emilly and a green robed woman can be seen at the south side at the stonemason workshop making a large quantity of Mortar then they depart back to Ceyren's Mill

With the large shipment of mortar coming in Cory gets right back to work with the wall in the day hours with the rest of the Mill folk.

Cory tries to do his best to keep the moral of the citizens up by telling them the wall will be done soon with all the hard work they have put into it, Cory also hopes Trave Deepwell will echo the sentiments to the people.

Work continues on the wall of Ceyren's Mill, with a desperate abandon. The people of the Mill, having been assaulted frequently lately, abandon as much of their daily rituals as they can to work on its construction instead. Debris from the recent wash upriver are used to fashion a makeshift damn in the river. The causalities from the previous assault are largely lost to the storm, but the next day's work involves searching for them on the Wiltun cargo ship docked at the Mill, and the skiffs associated with the shift. Some are found and cremated, while others are yet lost to the ocean and Umberlee.

The town, while in work, is also in mourning as local residents harmed in the assault and storm are moved from their homes and sent to the Asylum. It is a tearful separation for loved ones who are prone to caring for the ill in their own homes.

A rather tired, and still somewhat battered, looking Darby returns to the Mill and goes about checking on the residents. The concern and pain at the losses suffered and people hurt she seems to feel for them is etched on her face as she makes her rounds. She brings some cookies from the No Way for the younger members of the Mill and anyone else who wants them.

Thanking the guards for keeping up the good work and keeping a sharp eye out, she slowly makes her way to the wall and eventually even pitches in there. Mostly helping move small loads or digging, helping where she can.

While she's hopeful enough, her gaze constantly strays to the southeast with a frown, and her hands are never far from her sword pommels. After putting in a few hours work at the wall, she would slowly and quietly make her way to the Asylum to check up on the people there.

Eventually, she'd show up in town again finding a tree to rest against. She tugs out a small notebook and scribbles in it from time to time as she stares at it, and possibly dozes, until night falls. Once darkness settled over the town she'd keep a close eye on the southern exits, either pacing between them or standing on Cory's bridge. Tired or not, she seems determined to do what she can to try and help keep the Mill safe.

The doors of Ceyren's Mill Traders are opened and any tools in stock are freely donated to help the cause. Shovels, picks, hammers and chisels are lined up on a table for use by any working on the wall. Sam sees to it thatt the people are also supplied with and boots, gloves or other articles of clothing they might have need of.

After the latest battle, Loynis had stayed behind, tending to the injured or getting others to safety. The dawn following the latest attack, earlier than normal, Loynis is witnessed to have headed east out of the Mill, in full armour and gear.

He returned much later, not long after the sun became full over the horizon. He then got back to work, helping the other labourers.

The by now familiar sight of the dark haired Lady from Wiltun seems to be missing one night. There's no sign of her around the Mill or even on the island. The next night though she returns just as the sun falls below the horizon. She's moving rather stiffly and tiredly and finds a tree to sit and lean against, rather then standing on the bridges or patrolling. She seems sore and tired, but determined.

She keeps an eye on the southern exits from the town in between writing in a small book. She doesn't bother with a light of any kind, despite only having moonlight and stars to see by it appears to be enough for her. Once the sun rises again she makes her way to the Singing Sun where she collapses on the bed.

Emilly keeps the hard work on the building of the wall.

Cory seems to be in a state of enraged determination after the careless loss of lives in the mill during the undead attack taking on a number of different tasks.

He gets a empty wagon and drags it to the south west entrance where people stockpiled belongings to barricade the undead, he starts retrofitting the wagon near the back gate latch with some logs spanning the length of the entrance that he cut with saddle notches to get a solid and tighter fit and finishes with large spike nails down the centre of each log at all cross members.

Cory says to any watching him or trying to help "This will act as a easy to move barricade that we will roll into place blocking the opening, then with our many granite blocks around the mill we can toss them into the back of the wagon weighing it down to prevent it from moving, as you can see its simple to make so any who wish to work on making another for the other entrances to the mill can start." Cory leaves a crude schematic of what he did but he has faith in them not really needing it.

If asked about people entering the homes Cory would reply "Use what lumber you can if needed to add door braces to your homes to prevent anyone from entering."

After finishing work on the wagon Cory can be seen entering the now empty workshop of Gond given brother Quin's passing, he looks over all papers he can see laying around be it notes, drawings, or schematic seeing what Quin might have been working on or have made in the past given he commented being in the Mill gave him lots of time to create new things, keeping a eye out for anything of use he pacts them up.

Cory starts clearing off space to work on a desk leaving every now and then to collect supplies, like hammers, chisels, granite, clay, arrows, crossbow bolts as well as ballista bolts. What ever Cory is doing it's loud from all the hammering.

Anyone entering the workshop of Gond as Cory is working away would see for the last few days he has been making negative casting with granite of arrows, bolts and even ballista bolts, Cory has already produced some in clay using said castings with the forge, but oddly they are hollow.

Cory tinkers around at another table with some traps as he waits for the clay to bake and then cool down till he can begin the process all over again.

Many, many days now the Eternal Order has been seen patrolling the area. They seem to have taken up Blackmoors hunting lodge as their temporary basecamp. The Cathedral banner is waving just outside the gate of the lodge right next to the ever familiar witch burning pyre at all times. All attempts are being made to fortify the walls and gate as much as possible against the blasphemous abominations that seem to be ever forthcoming from the bowels of this land.

Darby, who'd likely become a regular sight by now around the Mill, leaves early in the morning as she tended to do. Lately, the last week or so, she'd been arriving later and staying for less time, but she had still been showing up to at least check on the Mill or walk short patrols. However, it seems that for whatever reason, the noble in blue doesn't return one night, or the next day or night, to check on things. Perhaps she wasn't feeling well, or had other things to do. Whatever the case, Darby remains absent from the Mill.

Caraigh: A Dark Frontier

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