he ark ateway - art I

"We have a slight problem." Said Ako after they had been flying for a couple of hours. "I am not sure what is the best way back to Darokin."
"Now you tell us!" said Jodotha. "Why don't we set down at a village and see where we are, that might give us some clues about which way to travel."
"Seems reasonable." Agreed Colloran who was anxious to get the lamp back to his order. "I see smoke rising from the west, perhaps it is a village."
Ako banked the Phoenix around and flew over the clearing. True enough the smoke was rising from the chimney of a moderately sized inn. There were a number of smaller buildings all surrounded by a tall wall which in turn was encircled by pasture and farmland cut out of the virgin forest.
"That patch of pasture by the road seems a good place to land." Said Trimus. "We could then walk in as if we were normal travellers."
"What's our story?" asked Jodotha.
"We are agents for a powerful Darakonian merchant. We have to get a message to him." Suggested Colloran and the others agreed.

After Trimus had wizard locked the invisible skyship's door they proceeded to walk along the wide track that ran between the dark forest to the north and the farmland to the south. The track soon left the forest edge and became a sunken lane between fields. The roots of trees and hedges could be seen worming their way through the rich red soil and wild flowers grew in abundance on the steep banks. After walking through the open wooden gates of the town they made their way to the inn they saw from the air. The Traveller's Rest like the rest of the village was clean and neat. The barkeep Albo, a cheerful man in his late twenties with long pale brown hair and widely spaced grey eyes, greeted the companions and ushered them towards a table, in front of a wide clean window.
"How can I help you gentlemen?" he asked politely, wiping a small spillage from the table with a clean cloth.
"Can you tell us where we are. We appear to have got lost." Said Trimus, before expanding on their story.
"This is Kotsmar, the nearest town, Jekspar, is about two days south east of here. Can I get you some food, something to drink, rooms?"
"Two rooms, food, wine and ale please." Said Trimus. "And is there somewhere I can have my laundry done?"
"Of course, sir. Leave it outside your room and I will have it done for you sir."
Trimus pushed a small pile of silver coins across the table which Albo collected and poured into his pouch before returning to the bar and calling the order through to the kitchen. The inn was empty apart from the companions though a few people could be seen walking and riding through the streets.

After they had finished eating Albo came over himself to clear the table. As he filled the tray with the wooden bowls and pewter plates he coughed theatrically.
"If I may be so bold, can I ask a boon of you?" he said quietly.
"Certainly." Replied Trimus answering for the others.
"One of my serving girls went missing two days ago. I don't suppose you have seen her on your travels?"
Trimus shook his head. "We saw no one on the road until we got here." He replied truthfully.
"We've looked everywhere for her, even the ruined tower, but found nothing."
"The ruined tower?" asked Trimus, leaning forward his interest piqued.
"Yes. A wizard used to live there." The innkeeper looked a little edgy.
"We are in a hurry to get to Darokin" said Trimus looking across the table to Colloran who nodded. "But we will take a look for you."

Just then there was a disturbance in the street outside the inn. A boy was talking in a very excited voice and pointing back towards the woods while a small dog danced around his legs barking excitedly. As they watched an older woman strode towards the boy.
"What is it Tog?" she asked in a stern voice.
"I think I've found something." He said excitedly. "Well Tog has. I was walking him in the woods looking for mushrooms when for no reason he started barking and yapping at nothing. Well nothing I could see anyway."
"Perhaps they've found Dolly." Said the innkeeper drying his hands and opening the door.
"They've certainly found something" muttered Trimus to Rellan. "I think we had better go and explain."
By the time they had got out of the inn the older woman, Aldo, Tog and a few other villagers had congregated by the west gate.
Trimus bowed and introduced himself.
"I am Trimus D'Alberon. I think I may be the cause of this disturbance. Your dog, Master Tog, was barking at our skyship the Phoenix. We make it invisible when we leave it in case anyone tries to steal it. However your dog's sensitive nose has detected it. I am so sorry to put you to any inconvenience and if there is any way we can repay you please ask."
The older woman crossed her arms under her amble bosom and looked at Trimus with a severe glare.
"We have had more than enough trouble with mages in this village. But you seem to be far more polite and kindly than Solamel. Aldo tells me that you have offered to help with the search for Dolly. That aid will be sufficient. The sooner you leave the better for all concerned. My name is Rhesa, Elder of this village."
"Can you tell us any more of this Solamel?" asked Rellan.
"It is a sorry tale." Rhesa replied. "One hundred years ago, a wizard had an abode near the village. He liked the seclusion. The villagers were scared of him and his acts and one hot midsummer night a crowd of drunked villages went to throw him out of his tower. There was an argument and they killed him. With his dying breath the mage cursed the village. 'May a shadow fall upon Kotsmar and wipe it from the land'. The villagers burnt the tower and built a wall around the village from what remained of the ruins. The curse has never taken effect, in fact we have done quiet well with the traffic on the road since the mage died. Now the tale is just used to scare children."

Once the villagers had dispersed Colloran asked Albo where Dolly had last been seen.
"I sent her out into the woods south of the village looking for mushrooms. She should have only been gone a hour or so." Replied Albo, sadly, twisting the hem of his apron in his hands. "Its all my fault."
Ako comforted the innkeeper while the others decided what to do.
"Jodotha and I will go visit the ruined tower and se what we can find there. Darkhawk if you could fly around the area and see if you can spot anything unusual. Colloran and Rellan you check the woods to the south, Ako and Cain head north just in case she went that way."
The companions agreed that they would meet up at the inn before undertaking anything dangerous. They then split up and begun their searches.
Ako, Cain and Darkhawk returned first having found nothing of interest, though Darkhawk had seen Jodotha and Trimus clambering over the tumbled ruins of the wizards tower.
The mage and the rogue were the next to return but they waited for Colloran and Rellan to sit down and wash the dust from their throats before telling of what they found.
"The tower is pretty much ruined." Began Trimus. "Vines and other plants have finished the work that the villagers started. We found a few things. Possibly the remains of the wizard half buried beneath a block of stone along with a few melted coins but no hidden entrances. It doesn't look like Dolly went there."
"What we found was much more disturbing." Said Colloran. "He laid out a plain blue dress, white apron, a pair of scarlet ribbons and a pair of leather sandals. Alongside he laid a trug containing a dozen or so mushrooms. Aldo gasped when he saw the clothes.
"Those are Dolly's" he cried and ran to fetch Rhesa.
"Is this how you found them?" asked Jodotha quietly.
"Yes." Replied Ako.
"Interesting. Notice that the ribbons are still tied in bows, the sandals are done up and the laces on the back of the dress are still tied as well. There appeared to have been no sign of struggle?"
"No. No footprints, aside from Dolly's." replied Colloran thoughtfully. "Something strange is happening here."
"You don't think it is the curse?" asked Darkhawk.
"It could be." Replied Trimus. "Some curses can take time to act, they need to collect power and grow, especially if they are powerful ones like this one was. I will try and contact Rintrah and see if he has any knowledge of Solamel, or of any strange disappearances similar to this."
The mage clasped the amulet about his neck and silently sent his mind into the ether to call for his patron. To his surprise he got no reply. Not even the sense that Rintrah was busy elsewhere.
"That is most disturbing. I will try again tomorrow morning." He said to the others.

They ate a large supper in the inn and were almost continuously pestered by the locals who wanted more and more tales of the adventures they had been on until eventually Rhesa had to order them to leave the companions alone.

During the night Ako was awakened by a scream followed by the sound of a horse galloping beside the inn. Ako rushed to the window and was soon joined by Cain and Darkhawk. By swinging the window open and looking down they could see a horse stamping in circles, his forelegs tangled in its reins. Of its rider there was no sign. The window of the room next door opened and Colloran stuck his head out. After surveying the scene the paladin looked across to Ako and shrugged. The in door opened filling the street with light from the lantern carried by Aldo. He gently calmed the horse down and led it away to the stables after untangling the reins.

The following morning Aldo approached the companions after he had spoken to Rhesa.
"Most unusual occurrence last night. The horse that galloped in was not owned by anyone in the village. Rhesa sent some people to see if they could find the rider, he may have been thrown off and injured when his horse got spooked, but they came back not having found anything."
"We shall take a look." Said Trimus. "I would like to check upon our skyship in any case."

After breakfast they ventured west along the road until they came to a spot where the dusty track was much churned by hoof prints. They split up and scanned the ditches and woods on either side of the track. After a few moments Jodotha whistled and everyone came over to see what he had found.
"Clothes." He said simply, moving them gently with the point of his sword. "And notice they are all neatly done up, just like Dolly's. It is as if someone or something just sucked them out of their clothes like an oyster from its shell."
Ako cast a spell of magic detection but could find no residual trace of magic anywhere in the vicinity. Confused and frustrated they return to the inn.

"We need to set a trap for whatever it is." Said Colloran.
"We need a volunteer, a victim, bait." Said Trimus looking at Darkhawk. "Someone brave, fearless, strong."
"Stupid" added Jodotha in a low voice.
"What do you want me to do?" asked the fighter.
"We will get a shielded lantern from the store and have you walk up and down the forest road while we watch from a distance. With Rellan's ability to see in the dark we should be able to spot any assailants and tackle them before they get near to you."
The plan was agreed and they spent the day resting and looking around the small shops and services in the town. Ako had a recalcitrant buckle on his mail fixed while Jodotha purchased a dozen new quarrels for his crossbow.

Once the sun had set and most of the town were abed, Trimus and the others walked out onto the road where the horseman's clothes had been found. While Darkhawk pretended to be lost, wondering aimlessly up and down the track, lantern shuttered, the others hid in the trees and the roadside ditch. For the first hour or so nothing happened. Darkhawk was getting tired of walking along the road and the others were getting stiff limbs from their confined positions and enforced stillness. Just as the moon set the area around Darkhawk became much darker, like an inky fog rolling along the track. The fighter open his lantern which held a gem enchanted by Ako and swung around. The light in the lantern flared briefly before going out. Seeing this Darkhawk changed into the form of a Celestial Knight, his armour even darker than the inky blackness that surrounded him. The others leapt from their concealment and ran towards him. The darkness was split by a bolt of energy from Darkhawk's hand which briefly dispersed the cloud. The bright light also illuminated shadowy, grasping, humanoid figures within the darkness. Jodotha lit a torch and held it before him only to see the light sucked off of it like water down a drain. At the same time he felt cold, drained and tired. Guided by Rellan's infravision they attacked the figures within the cloud. Again Jodotha felt a cold clammy touch upon his arm and he found it hard now to lift his weapon, Cain too seemed drained by the attacks from their insubstantial foes. The rogue fumbled in his pack and swigged a potion of defence hoping that would make it harder for them to attack him. Colloran and Trimus attacked the figures, seeing little but small grey points of lighter darkness where their foes eyes were. Trimus sent three magic missiles into one of the figures fraying it into shards of night. Trimus could hear Ako calling upon Normanus to dispel the shadowy figures but either his immortal could not hear him or could not help as the figures kept attacking. Jodotha lit another torch and swung it before him keeping the grasping fingers from touching him.

Within the darkness a greater darkness took shape. A larger figure armed with a long black sword stepped forward and swung at Jodotha. The tip of the blade touched the rogues flesh and suddenly Jodotha could see the figures more clearly. They were humans but their eyes were sockets of blackness as were their mouths and nostrils. Dark vapour oozed from these orifices and formed the cloud that surrounded them. To his horror he found he could now barely see his companions. They had become insubstantial and merged with the darkness around them. Suddenly the whole forest lit up with a flash as Trimus launched a fireball. The cloud thinned and three of the shadowy figures were blown asunder by the light and heat from the blast while all around trees started to burn like giant candles. Colloran attacked the larger shadow, his blade of bright fire clashing with the shadowy figure's dark sword. The cloud of darkness reformed, smaller this time, centred around the shadow leader. Trimus tried to trip one of the shadowy figures with his whip but the leather just passed clean through the creatures limb.

Uttering a fearsome battle cry Darkhawk charged the largest of the shadowy figures. To Darkhawk's horror and surprise the shadow offered no resistance to his passage. Darkhawk just passed straight through the shadow, stumbled over the prone figure of Trimus and stumbled at high speed into the bole of a tree which knocked him senseless for a moment. Rellan was dumbstruck for a moment, then cast a magic missile that shredded the last of the minor shadows. Ako tries to turn the shadow swordsman but again his calls for aid were not heard.
"Magic appears to be our only hope." Called Rellan, "Use spells or enchanted weapons, nothing else seems to have an effect." He followed his own advice by launching another magic missile at their for. The figure seemed to become less solid and wisps of darkness boiled off the site of the spell's impact. Trimus, Rellan and Colloran attack with their magical blades. Each strike carving a little more of the shadow away until there was nothing left. The cloud slowly dispersed, taking much of the fire from the burning forest with it. The last of the flames were extinguished by Rellan who summoned an ice storm.
"A little flashy, but effective." Commented Trimus to the elf as they surveyed the damage.
Darkhawk staggered over holding his head in his hands while Jodotha looked very weak, in fact he appeared to be slightly translucent in places. Ako did what he could with spells of healing but Jodotha still felt tired and weak.
"I could hear them calling me." he whispered as Ako and Trimus helped him back to the inn. "The shadows were hungry and cold. They wanted heat and food and we were what they most desired. It is they that killed the barmaid and the traveller. A few more strikes and I would have joined them, of that I have no doubt I can still hear them calling me, it is faint but it is there, just at the limit of my hearing."

They returned to the inn and tucked Jodotha in bed with a bed warmer and a mug of hot milk which he had barely touched before he fell into a deep sleep. The others were met in the taproom by Rhesa who with the villagers had seen and heard explosions in the forest and guessed that something was up. They repeated Jodotha's story and retold the events of the evening. The Elder nodded her head and looked worried.
"Since the burning of the tower the Elder's have kept a pouch of the wizard's belongings. We have never touched them or let people know we had them. We kept them secret just in case they were needed in some way to break the curse. Now that time has come." She clicked her fingers and a young girl came and curtsied beside her. "Fetch me the pouch from the top drawer of my dressing table. Do not break the seal or look inside." The girl nodded and curtsied again before running back to the Elder's house. She returned a few moments later with a small leather bag which she carefully placed on the table before the Elder.
Rhesa carefully broke the seal and opened the bag. She reached in and withdrew a dagger with a pearl handle, a vial of milky white liquid and two golden rings.
"You will be able to make more use of these than we ever could. But use them wisely." She said pushing the items across the table towards Trimus.
Colloran cast a detect magic upon them and confirmed that all were enchanted in some way and that none of them were evil.
Trimus examined the rings and cast a spell of analysis upon them.
"This" he said holding the first ring between first and second fingers, "Is a minor ring of protection. While this one is a ring of memory enhancement. Ako, I think this latter ring would be most useful to you, Rellan as you have no magical protection."
Meanwhile Rellan sampled the potion. "A potion of luck if I am not mistaken. Darkhawk this may be useful for you as you take a lot of risks defending us. I will take this dagger, you can never have too many daggers." He smiled and slipped the dagger into the top of his left boot.
With this decided they took to their beds to get some rest after their difficult and strenuous night's labours.

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