It was turning out to be a cold drizzly day. We had been riding for hours at this point. As I looked about me my companions were pulling their cloaks close to keep themselves warm. To my left was the young Felice di Angelo, a young warrior that could have been either male or female. I hadn’t quite figured that out yet at this point. For now, I will consider Felice a female until proven otherwise. Riding behind her was an old veteran by the name of Calamus. Calamus was the type of warrior that you send on raids into the northlands against the barbarians. You didn’t ask questions of his type, just told them what to do and stood back. Riding behind Calamus was the pagan wizard Nero di Zorzi, who seemed to revel in the cold wet rain as if it didn’t effect him. Taking up the rear was the ascetic young Anthony dressed in a plain traveler’s outfit. In the front was our leader, Fjhull Addertongue, priest of our divine Emperor.

We had been given orders to pacify the town of Irisia before Lord Canatto’s army arrived to claim it in the name of Emperor Vitus. Upon entering the town it appeared as if people were following us from the very beginning. As if the ghosts of those we had left behind were determined to take their revenge. We took up residence for the eve at Lord Benetto’s manor. The Lord was a short man with a slightly shaken look to him.

After diner, we adjourned to our rooms. On the way to my room, the shadows that followed us seemed to gain friends from the inhabitance of the manor. I was clearly being followed through the halls. I wasn’t sure but somehow Benetto had found out I was Fjhull’s assassin. Maybe the ghosts had told him. I played it safe and secured my door from entry with my own methods. It would have been easier to break the door down then to unjam it from the way I secured it. The night was spent quietly sharpening my working tools.

Early the next morning, upon going to breakfast I discovered Lord Benetto had taken this opportunity to leave us for a foxhunt. I was almost certain his eyes had not strayed too far from us. About mid meal a messenger from Lord Canatto had arrived to tell us that his army had been defeated on the plains and the Emperor Vitus was dead. During the meeting, Fjhull indicated that I should secure the room to make sure no unwanted ears were listening in our plight. Upon investigating the adjoining rooms, I discovered one of Lord Benetto’s spies kneeling by the wall. With a prayer to the Emperor, I sunk my dagger deep into his throat. No word of what we had learned was to get to the traitorous Benetto. I proceeded from there to leave a couple of doses of Belladonna in Benetto’s brandy on a hopes to get the traitor before he got a chance to send assassin’s out to get us.

Upon arriving, back to the chambers with Fjhull, the rest of our group had disposed of the body. From here we rode on toward Melfi. As we rode the weather seem to know our plight and changed from rain to snow. With the drop in temperature we had to stay close to the fire at nights. On the third night, a band of orcs attempted to raid our camp. We quickly dispatched them for their intrusion.

When we arrived at Melfi, I noticed the shadows seemed to have finally caught back up with us. About the town, a grim look of depression had settled upon the town. Also, the Lord Inquisitor and his retinue had beset the town. We choose to take a room at the local inn. That night, I secured my room against the shadows that had been following us and sharpened my working implements. The night passed with only occasional scratching at the door, but none of them got in.