Seven Kingdoms Session 4

Session 4:
After action report - 4th session of 7k.
Players: Alaric (Iago), Bill (Kiri), Dave (Perceval).

Prequel (Perceval)
Perceval has been tied up working for Valerian, his master, both on his studies and on tasks assigned him as apprentice.  In spite of the fact that the past couple of days have been very eventful for his friends, Perceval hasn’t been permitted to participate....

May 26 cont’d
Iago has changed his position on the book(s). He’s keen to find out what’s in them that might be of help in dealing with the situation they are in, given the infernal nature of the aura he detected earlier.  He argues with Kiri that he can construct a spell to warn him of influence.  He says he’ll stay behind to read the books while Kiri and the others go back to town to enlist aid.
    Iago puts up a ward of protection on the door (specifically against undead).  He then creates his warning circle and goes to work reading the book.  Almost immediately he’s warned of magical influence -- some sort of spell woven into the written word.  Iago sets that page aside for future study and reads on, confident that he has resisted the magical influence.  
    Around the time he thinks that the others might be heading his way, he gathers up some leather scraps and hides the pages of the books.  He takes the bindings together with the leather and burns it, keeping the page he wished to study.
    In the meantime, Kiri, Sokar, and the two fencing students make their way back to town.  The fencing students stop at the first grog shack in the caravansary to boast of their “great battle” and congratulate themselves for their skill and bravery.  Sokar and Kiri go to see Valerian.
    Valerian is most disturbed by what they tell him.  He dispatches Perceval to retrieve Madge -- gently if possible -- and sends Sokar with him.  Valerian regrets that he cannot accompany them to the hamlet, but he is in the midst of a project that he cannot interrupt further.

Kiri goes to the temple to enlist the aid of other clerics to desecrate (i.e., deconsecrate) the demonic altar.  The temple sends two priests who will hire guards to accompany them.  hey, too, are much disturbed.

GM Note: The temple guards aren’t “paladins” and their mission is really to protect the temple, not fight zombie hordes.  As a bonus, hired guards are “throw away” people whose lives can be used to cover an escape.  They will be prayed for if they give their lives for the temple.

    Perceval heads out to see Madge.  He wants to approach her “honorably” and give her a chance to come peaceably, so he leaves the brutish Sokar to his own devices.  Madge greets him and he tells her that Valerian wants to see her.  She asks why and he tips some of his hand.  She offers him a drink; they share a draught from the same pitcher.  Suddenly he feels good.  
    She proposes that before they go, she show him an “invocation” -- part of the magic that the Grey Circle is “disdainful” of.  He elicits a promise from her that she’ll come without resistance if he tries it.  So she shows him how to do it.  He follows her instructions and reads the words she scribbles down for him on a wax tablet.  And...  Something comes forth.  She tells him to cast a spell.  He does, and it’s easy, free of effort.
    He thanks her.  Then decides that they should discuss this with Valerian.  She tells him “after you.”  He heads for the door.  She touches him.  And he awakens in a dive of a brothel next to Sokar, who has just finished.  Sokar says he went looking for him and found him there, unconscious.  As long as he was in the room, Sokar decided to make use of the services provided.  Perceval and Sokar leave together.  Perceval still feels good.
    Perceval and Sokar inform Valerian what has happened.  All of it.  Valerian warns Perceval not to use the power granted by the invocation, tells him not to cast more than he has to.  After that, they manage to catch up with the clerics and together they head for the hamlet to desecrate the demonic altar.
    In the meantime, Madge arrives in the Hamlet.  There is a brief confrontation with Iago, who decides to whack her with his staff not once but twice, knocking her unconscious.  He ties her up and waits for the others.
    When they arrive, Perceval and Sokar take custody of Madge.  The clerics remove the evil consecration.  There is a very brief and almost incidental zombie attack -- inconsequential save for the fact that Perceval is involved and uses the magic provided him to power a flame jet.  He finds that the magic is enticing.  They’re concerned, but that doesn’t spoil the fun -- they burn the hamlet and make their way back to the town, Madge in tow.
    Valerian is pleased to get his hands on Madge.  He uses magic to interrogate her.  They discover that she’s a member of a 3-mage cell, the 3d member being in the hamlet where patient zero lived.  They also discover that the main idol is located somewhere in the caravansary.  Unfortunately, that’s not a big help, as the caravansary is a confused warren of shops, stalls, rooms, stables, etc., so finding it could prove difficult at best.
    After the interrogation, Sokar tries on his ring in the presence of Iago and Perceval.  His eyes become a solid gray, and he has a distinct demonic aura.  Iago is very concerned, but Sokar says it’s okay, he feels fine.  Powerful even.  Iago asks him to take it off.  Sokar shrugs and removes it, but refuses to give it up for study -- it’s his ring after all.
    Iago decides to tell Valerian about the book.  He mentions that such a book might be worth as much as 2000 silver to himself and other members of the Grey Circle who have a scholarly interest in demonology.  Valerian accompanies Iago, Sokar, and Perceval as they head out in the dark to retrieve it.  (Kiri, who would object, isn’t a party to any of this.)
    En route, they encounter a stranger in the dark.  Iago tells Sokar to “get” him.  Sokar charges him and kills him swiftly.  They’re all a bit shocked, and tell Sokar he can’t simply go around killing people.  They make him dig a grave and bury the man.  Meanwhile, they gather the pages of the book.  They return to Darkwood Towne late, exhausted, and go to sleep.

May 27
In the morning, Iago examines the runestones.  Finding them to be of no use to himself, he sends for a nice wooden box, places them in it, and goes to see Valerian.  At Valerian’s, he presents the runestones as a gift.  It is well received.  
    Valerian and two of his colleagues are poring over the book pages to determine their worth.  Valerian is very interested in solving the problem, but is more interested in examining the book, especially since it might hold the key to that solution.  He sends Perceval to the temple to be cleansed of the spiritual dissonance he has been acquiring from casting using the power provided him by the spirit he contacted.
    At the temple, he is cleansed.  He’s also told he shouldn’t cast for a week.  Further casting would require a new cleansing and put him more in danger.  At the temple, they get Kiri and prepare to head for the other hamlet.
    In the hamlet, they find one very nice house.  Iago, who has been here several times, finds it odd that the villagers now claim that a hedge-wizard lives there.  They formulate a plan: Kiri will go alone and talk to Fredigar, the hedge-wizard, and try to draw him out.  Sokar, Iago, and Perceval will hide in a nearby stand of trees lying in ambush.
    Kiri goes back into the hamlet and knocks on Fredigar’s door.  She’s let in.  She claims to have a donkey that has gone lame just down the road.  Fredigar agrees to come and have a look -- after he finishes a project.  In the meantime, while she waits and watches, he offers her some refreshment.  She has tea.  He finishes some incantations, then a straw man -- a magical construct made of straw and clothing, rises from his bed to do his bidding.
    That being finished, the three head out of the hamlet.  Once he’s in position, the others jump out to confront him.  There’s a brief fight, which includes setting the straw man on fire, they subdue him.  They find that there is a heart in the midst of the straw.  Iago and Perceval are somewhat intrigued.
    The villagers, attracted by the fire and commotion, gather.  At that point, they as much as admit that they are cultists and prepare to attack.  The party tries unsuccessfully to intimidate them, and a brief fight breaks out.  A flame jet, courtesy of Perceval, a vial of acid bursting above them, courtesy of Iago, and a couple of villagers severely wounded by hatchets, courtesy of Sokar, cause the villagers/cultists to scatter.  Sokar kills the two villagers he wounded in the process of retrieving his hatchets.
    Sokar wants to loot.  They go into the Fredigar’s house carefully, search it, and find another altar.  In the process of looting, Sokar, outside, is confronted by another villager/cultist.  He kills him.  Iago admonishes him not to do simply kill them.  Sokar protests that it’s a battle, and on a battlefield, dead enemies are better than live ones.  He’s clearly not getting it, but he’s equally clearly trying to.
    After thorough looting of the village, the party prepares to head back to town to retrieve a squad of clerics for the purpose of desecrating the altar....

**End of Session**

Seven Kingdoms Session 3

Session 3: The Shadow Falling
After action report - 3d session of 7k.
Players: Alaric (Iago), Bill (Kiri).

May 23
Iago and Perceval look about for sites to place catalysts.  Iago begins creating them.

May 24
Kiri is working the temple.  She is approached by a foreigner seeking assistance with an injured comrade.  She rushes to the caravansary where the man lies wounded.  It’s bad; he has been severely wounded in a knife fight.  She tries and fails to save him.  
    The foreigner asks for help in burying his comrade (the cemetery dubbed “Boot Hill” near the caravansary).  As the two dig, the corpse moves and attacks his former comrade -- zombie!  Kiri sees the shambling horror and realizes there is but one option -- run!  She flees the cemetery shouting for help.  A few curious souls come out.  Hearing the tale, only one returns with her.  The mysterious stranger makes short work of the monstrosity.  He then quarters both men, leaving their bodies at the four corners of the cemetery and their heads at the gate.
    “A dark shadow is fallen upon this place,” the stranger says.  With that, he gathers his things and rides off to the West.  Kiri is disturbed, goes and consults Iago.
    Iago completes analysis of the blade used to wound Haley.  He may now use it to develop a new potion.

May 25
Iago and Kiri go to see Madge.  There’s something recognizably “off” about Madge, so Iago takes a hair and a trinket from Madge.  The consultation yields little information.  Madge and Iago predictably don’t really get along.
    After the consultation, Iago casts Aura on Madge.  She’s suffering from spiritual dissonance -- the result of magical commerce with spirits.  The nature of the spirits cannot be determined at this stage.  He also investigates the history of the item he stole; it was present for years, a minor item used in the casting of magic and dealings with spirits.

May 26
A one-eyed man by the name of Zobrick comes to the temple, exhausted.  During the night, his caravan had camped beyond the caravansary to save money and speed travel in the morning.  One of his men was ill and died.  But he rose from the dead and attacked with a vengeance.  He fled in panic.  The temple and the town guard both plead that they are not prepared to deal with this.  

Iago and Kiri tell Valerian, who upon hearing of it recommends that they investigate, but tha they bring backup.  He puts them in touch with Sokar, a half-ork tough who has worked for him in the past.  Iago also goes to Valarian and Perceval’s fencing academy and manages to goad two young men into accompanying them to “test their skills” against whatever might come.

They travel to the campsite.  They find a couple of mangled bodies and evidence that multiple people headed toward a nearby hamlet.  The five enter the hamlet and are set upon by zombies.  The child zombies are the worst -- terrifying.  With some difficulty they manage to fend the zombies off.  One of the fencing students has been bitten, however.

Iago works on treating the bite, worried that he’ll soon have another zombie on his hands.  Sokar wants look and begins searching the houses.  Another small pocket of zombies attack and are beaten back swiftly.  Then they find a house with a glyph on it.  Iago is intrigued -- a glyph of warding.  They knock.  The man refuses to come out.

They threaten to burn his house down (their new plan to deal with any more zombies in the village, as Iago is less than confident that they’ll be so lucky in another battle against zombies, especially if there are more than a handful).  He comes out, identifying himself as Brodrim.  He claims to be a “Friend of Wisdom” (a hedge wizard) and a colleague of Madge.  

He then requests to leave.  Iago and Kiri, backed by Sokar, refuse.  He invokes something and attacks  -- he proves unnaturally strong.  Sokar is stronger.  Much stronger, and Brodrim dies quickly.  Sokar takes his ring as booty.  Iago tells Sokar not to put the ring on.  Sokar looks at it, shrugs, and puts it into his purse.  

Kiri and Iago go into his hut.  They find a demonic altar and a chest.  Inside the chest are three volumes of a book, apparently on demonology, a blood-stained cup and a sacrificial knife.  

They plan to burn the books, saving the bindings, and piss on the ashes.  They also plan to burn the hamlet to the ground...

Seven Kingdoms Session 2

Session 2: Bottled Love and Zombie Flu
After action report - 2d session of 7k.
Players: Alaric (Iago), Bill (Kiri), Dave (Perceval)

May 6
Perceval decides that his job as a temple scribe is beneath his station.  He asks Valerian if he can become his apprentice full time.  Valerian seems pleased and accepts.  Perceval begins moving in with Valerian.

Iago arrives in Darkwood Towne.  Being a university trained physician-wizard, albeit in the less popular ritual magic reminiscent of the Low Elves, he presented himself to a respectable member of the Grey Circle.  He briefly meets Perceval.  Valerian is intrigued by Iago’s magic, and gives him friendly advice as to whom to see and where to go to set up shop as a physician.

Iago begins the process, goes to acquire financing, a location, an official writ from the temple, etc.  After that, he retires to the Boar’s Head for dinner.  At the Boar’s Head, he observes The Gnome, who is up to his old tricks.  The Gnome attempts to dose Perceval and a young lady’s drink.  Iago sees this.  Iago’s not sure what’s going on, but decides to intervene.  He lurches in mock drunkenness to the table and knocks it over, preventing them from drinking the potion.  He also takes a sample of the potion/ale mixture for later analysis.  

Neither he nor Perceval actually recognize one another, having only met briefly and in an entirely different context.  Perceval is angry, but Iago provides him with a new drink, hits the head, then returns to his table.  After finishing his drink, he goes to talk to The Gnome.

He suggests to The Gnome that it was a tremendous waste of money to use the potion and he “apologizes” for ruining it.  After a brief exchange, Iago asks about the whereabouts of an alchemist.  The Gnome refers him to Getchel, his alchemist cousin.

Kiri, meanwhile, has been at the Boar’s Head eating dinner.  She sees The Gnome (as well as the commotion) and decides that it is time to leave.  As she gets up, she notices that a man near the door is swiftly finishing his ale.  She realizes that he’s following her.  She runs down the road, turns into an alleyway only to encounter an accomplice -- she’s blocked!

Her initial pursuer is closing in fast.  Kiri casts Mental Stun, then dashes past the man blocking the narrow alleyway.  She runs as fast as her short legs will carry her, arriving at her boarding house with the pair hot on her heels.  She pounds up the stairs as fast as she can, opens her door and tries to slam it shut.  But her nearest pursuer is too close -- he gets an arm in.  Much larger and much stronger, he forces the door open.

“We can do this the hard way, where we kill you, then find what we want, or we can do this the easy way where you give us what we want and you just get roughed up pretty bad.”

Kiri isn’t buying.  She pulls out her smallsword (practically a rapier for her).  She casts Mental Stun again.  While her would-be assailant is stunned, she attacks with reckless abandon, wounding him severely.  Even as this is happening, she hears something in the hallway.  Not having time to think about it, she stabs at her attacker twice more and he falls to the ground, never really having had a chance to defend.

In the hallway, Haley is struggling with the other pursuer.  The two go rolling down the stairs to the landing below.  Kiri follows and gives Haley’s assailant the same treatment as the other man, stabbing him until he’s well dead.  Then she turns to Haley, who has been stabbed.

In very short order, the other residents and the proprietor are about, shouting for help on the street.  Iago, who was wandering the street, hears the commotion and offers his services as a physician.  He finds one of the men dying and takes a bit of his blood -- blood of a dying man for alchemical purposes.  After that, he “pronounces” the assailants dead.  Then turns to Haley.

The town guard arrive, determine that this was a “justified” killing (two men follow a female halfling into a women’s boarding house, attack her and another woman, die in the process; yep, they got what they deserved -- have a nice evening).  Perceval is also drawn by the commotion, finds out that it is Haley and comes to try to help.

Iago discovers that Haley is already infected with a disease as a result of the wound.  Perceval cast his very minor healing spell.  The Iago asked for energy.  Perceval obliged.  Iago took the energy and stored it in a bead, tricking him into thinking it was part of a cure.  Iago casts Succor, but is concerned about the disease.  Haley’s still in bad shape, and Iago doesn’t think he can immediately cure the disease.

May 7
After a nearly sleepless night, the trio take Haley to the temple for a Cure Disease casting.  After that, they take her home.  Iago has a brief audience with Valerian, then finishes out his day working on obtaining his shop.  The others attend to their duties.
    Iago analyzes The Gnome’s potion, finding it to be something like a fertility potion, possibly with something else or gone wrong.  He then meets Getchel, introducing himself as a matter of professional courtesy.  Getchel seems respectful, even pleased that they have met him.

May 8 - 10
Iago obtains his shop.  Perceval discovers that he’s really going to like being Valerian’s apprentice: Valerian insists that he learn swordplay, and also takes him to a brothel.

May 11
Kiri has performed a couple of rituals (i.e., standard religious services) for The Gnome and other members of “the brotherhood.”  The Gnome comes to her and proposes that she use her talents for fun and profit, and that they might be able to help her in that.  She says she’ll “think about it,” though she’s a bit leery of it.
    Iago has his very first patient -- a man comes is sick with a mysterious plague.  Iago’s tests determine that he is rotting from within, but the tissue isn’t simply dying -- it is becoming undead.  Meanwhile, he determines that the knife used to stab Haley is in fact somehow magical.  It somehow vastly speeds up the progress of disease, making for a swift killer on a stabbed victim.  Iago decides to destroy it in order to attempt to invent a new potion.
   
May 12
Religious holiday.  Fun is had by all.  Except Kiri, who works her butt off in the temple.  Iago takes the opportunity to visit the settlement outside of town to see if there’s an obvious cause of his patient’s illness.  Finding none, he decides to create a “magical catalyst” to analyze the aura in the area.

May 13
Iago purchases 3 cheap pigs.  One is a control, one is given a dose of untainted human blood.  Another is given blood from his patient.  Iago goes to the temple complex to talk to the priesthood, warning them of an “impending zombie plague.”  Perceval receives a letter from his family which disturbs him -- they’ve heard a bit about his problems.

May 14
Iago visits Getchel to tell him about the zombie problem and ask for his help.  He proves to be less than interested, but wishes Iago well.  Meanwhile, Haley asks Kiri for her love potion.  She arranges for Perceval to come to her room the following day.

May 15
Perceval arrives to see Haley and is surprised to find The Gnome there as well.  Haley offers them both some water.  They drink.  The Gnome expresses his undying love for Haley.  Haley thanks Perceval for his kind offers of support, but says she’ll be just fine with her new “lover.”

May 16
Haley and the Gnome leave for parts unknown.  Kiri, in the meantime, has tried to warn her that this seems like a bad idea.  Haley assures her that she “knows what she’s doing.”
    Iago takes more samples from his patient.  In the meantime, he has other patients.  His business is getting off the ground!  At the same time, with his ritual space fully consecrated, he makes an attempt to cure his patient.  It fails.  He resolves to try again.  His patient is getting worse.

May 17
Iago tries again a cure yet again; fails.

May 18
Iago tries yet again; it seems to work.

May 19
Perceval runs into The Gnome, who tells him he “got over” Haley.  Where is she?  He chuckles and says “she’s been taken care of -- don’t worry, she’s ‘fine.’”  Perceval can get nothing more from The Gnome.  Unconvinced of her safety, he decides to blow a silver on Madge.  Madge promises her typical Augury -- come back in the morning.

May 20
Madge tells Perceval to head towards Blytheton, to the north.  Perceval receives Valerian’s leave to go and sets out.
    Iago’s patient returns -- he’s dying.  Iago is at a loss -- it seems that the disease was cured, yet the undead tissue is taking over.  The pigs are fine.

May 21
Perceval finds Haley.  She’s in a dingy roadside inn, having taken up the doxy’s life.  Perceval pays for her services and tries to talk to her.  She seems extremely disinterested in anything but the business relationship, and though she knows him, it doesn’t seem to matter.  Disheartened, Perceval goes back downstairs.  The innkeeper tells him he “bought her” from the brotherhood, though they still get a cut of her proceeds.  Perceval is angered, but doesn’t know what to do.  So he leaves.
    Iago takes control of the “zombie” portions of his patient.  He wonders if, when his patient dies, he’ll be able to control all of him.  It appears that he won’t have long to wait until he can find out.

May 22
Perceval, walking home, is attacked by a zombie.  Flame jet destroys it.  He leaves its smouldering remains in the road and hastens home.
    Iago’s catalyst comes home.  The aura is “deep”, is undead, and may well have a demonic source.  He resolves to test to see if he can determine the extent of the aura -- how far does it extend.  He enlists Valerian’s aid, who gives him Perceval as a grunt.  
    Revelation of the second zombie has everyone wondering if Iago isn’t right -- could it be a plague?

Iago

Iago was born in the family of a small town carpenter . At a young age he showed signs of magical ability and the local vicar suggested that the child be shown to the abbot. The latter took notice and before long 12 year old Iago was being sent to the provincial center with a bunch of other talented children, to be seen by the bishop. Unlike the rest of them, two years later he was on the road again, this time to the capital city. With him he had the bishop’s letter of recommendation as well as a personal letter to the rector of the Arch Duke’s Academy for Promising Boys. While the first letter carried a seal of the diocese and was written in the dry and official language that any bureaucracy tends to gravitate towards, the second one was a lot less formal and much easier to open. Iago, who thought nothing of reading it, discovered that the bishop and the rector were cousins, and that some 45 years ago their lifestyles were quite a bit less proper.

While it was hoped that all of the magically talented children discovered by the church officials would one day take the cloth, it was also understood that this is not the likeliest outcome. Iago himself felt that the life of a clergyman is as good as any other, so he prepared himself for it by exhibiting a reasonable degree of piety all throughout his schooling. However, during his fourth and final at the academy an epidemic swept the central provinces and before anyone knew, five per cent of the population were in the ground, including Iago’s father and sister.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the disease was natural or magical, but as Iago was upset and looking for someone to blame, he dreamt up a renegade afflictor and passionately vowed to stop him. As it was the time for those students who went on to the university to declare a future course of study, he requested to be sent to the College of Benediction. A few months later an official investigation concluded that there was nothing suspicious about the illness, and a slightly ashamed Iago, who wasn’t really all that interested in the healing arts, kicked himself a bit, but decided to stick it our for a while so that he wouldn’t look foolish in front of his peers.

The first year proved interesting enough, although, as he suspected, the act of healing didn’t do much for him. It was about as rewarding as any job well done, but didn’t carry any special sense of achievement. On the positive note, the “old BenCo” was traditionally populated mostly by women, so the day to day life was pleasant enough. By the end of the third quarter, Iago discovered that he is actually rather interested in the mechanics of the transfer of life force. It was much more concrete than most other aspects of being a healer.

The forth quarter introduced a new lecturer, an afflictor who was supposed to introduce the students to plagues and methods of disease control. Although initially dismissing the discipline as something dirty and unpleasant, Iago was soon won over by the professor who was genuinely excited about his subject and the opportunity to teach. The theory proved to be quite fascinating, and when the time came to apply the knowledge, Iago was surprised by how naturally it came to him. He began dedicating more of his time to the research, as well as the experiments, and by the end of his first year concocted a disease  that left not a single living paper louse in the university library. This was done with the help of his instructor of course, but was no less impressive for it.

At that point it was more or less apparent to everyone what his future career will be, and for the next four years he was learning all there was to learn about afflictions natural and magical. Most of Iago’s work was done in his laboratory, but every so often he would venture out to do some field work and test his new knowledge. Beginning in the second half of his third year, he was already teaching a classes of his own — the Theory of Pandemics, and his paper on the Application of Ritual Sacrifice in Diseases for Populations with Low Genetic Diversity was published, circulated among the specialists, and generally well received.

As he was preparing for his final exams in the end of the fifth year, an outbreak of an unknown disease began among the sailors in the docks district. The city council appealed to the university, and they sent Iago to investigate. Two days and only a dozen deaths later, he managed to not only find a cure, but also a source, which turned out to be a local brothel. Iago, who was hoping for something romantic, like a derelict ship, was a bit disappointed, but the officials and the merchants were quite happy, presenting him with a letter of commendation, which was useless but pretty. On the positive note, his excursion into the docs granted him his magister’s ring without having to suffer the annoyance of a final examination.

GM Notes: 
Here are the simple details that seem like they would map best (i.e., in the Seven Kingdoms):

The king (a weaker, feudal sort of king with more moral authority than actual power in his own kingdom, but a powerful man in his own right) has two major principalities.  One is more of a backwater, though still along a major trade route.  That would likely be where Iago is from.  The other contains the capital city, which among other things contains the Keltharian's only university as well as the main head of two important orders: the Grey Circle and the Brotherhood of Serena.  The former is the most powerful and magical association in Keltharian; the latter is a brotherhood of male healers dedicated to magical healing in the name of the goddess of healing and mercy: Serena.

There isn't really a formal church hierarchy (at least, none with any real authority); but within the king's own lands, there is such a thing.  There are also hospital/monasteries where men (the brotherhood) and women (the actual clergy) co-mingle in order to do the work of healing.

At the university, Iago would be involved in the brotherhood's formal training in healing; likewise, the lecturer was a practitioner of the "Divisions of Life" style, there to teach some of their insights into epidemiology, etc.  "Divisions of Life" uses Ritual Magic (Book) under "Energy Accumulation" rules, has three books associated with it (focusing on Necromancy, Pathomancy, and Toxicomancy), and emphasizes manipulating the essential "energies" of "undeath," disease, poison, and life.

Kiri Greenleaf

Kiri Greenleaf
Priestess of Kregin

Kiri Greenleaf is a cute, perky halfling with brown hair, grey eyes and an insatiable curiosity. Although somewhat shy around strangers, she genuinely likes people and is inclined to aid those in need. As a priestess of Kregin, she has studied stealth and survival as well as theology and the healing arts and has vowed pacifism towards innocents; in return, Kregin has granted her the gift of extraordinarily good luck.

Kiri grew up in Blytheton, where her parents, Kheldar and Bella Greenleaf, ran a small green-grocery. As a child, her intense curiosity drove her to “investigate” much of the town and the adjoining nearwood, including areas not intended for her: areas such as behind closed doors and inside locked boxes; areas which would have been inaccessible but for her nimble fingers and natural halfling stealthiness. During these “explorations”, she would occasionally filch small, inconsequential items that interested her; just as often however, she would leave little unexpected gifts to brighten people's day.

It was during one of these sojourns that Kiri first met the old cleric. She was examining her latest “find” – a small pewter emblem of a rat wreathed in flames – when she was startled by a brief “Ahem” from behind her. Turning, she found herself facing an old, white-haired human who calmly stated, “That's my holy symbol of Kregin you're holding there. I'd prefer you not take that, as I'm rather quite fond of it.”

“Oh, no! A priest of Kregin!” Kiri thought. Kregin, the Rat God. Kregin, the god of stealth and cunning. Kregin, whose followers were the rogues of the cities and the rough men of the wilds. Kregin, the god of fire! “I am sodead! Literally!!” And she closed her eyes, waiting to be burned to a crisp or gutted with a dagger or at the very least, turned into a toad or a rat.

But the white-haired priest did none of these things. Nor did he begin the tongue-lashing that even the gentle priestesses of Serena would have given her. All he did was pull up a chair and say, “Let me tell you a story.” And he proceeded to tell Kiri the story of how Kregin stole the sacred fire of the gods and gifted it to mortal-kind.

Now Kiri had heard the story told before, but this telling – this telling was different. In this telling Kregin took on a nobility and beneficence lacking in the other stories, Furthermore, the old man's voice and eyes expressed a deep reverence as he told the tale. All this touched something within Kiri – something within her very core.

When the old man had finished, Kiri looked down abashedly. “This is yours” she said, handing the emblem back to him. “I never meant to take anything that was important to anyone.”

“I know, child,” the priest gently replied. “That's why I told you that story. Now go in peace.”

Kiri walked to the door, but as she reached it, she turned to look again in wonder at the aged priest. 

“Do come back to visit this lonely old man from time to time, will you?” he said to her. “But next time,” he added with an infectious grin, “use the front door and knock, yes?”

With that encounter – though she didn't know it as yet – Kiri had become a student of the old priest. She returned to talk with him often, and over the seasons, she learning the arts of healing, the skills of survival, and the religious rites and rituals of Kregin. In short, she learned how to be a priestess of Kregin.

As her skills grew, she began to take on more and more of the daily duties of a cleric of Kregin. It was fulfilling work – if somewhat less than exciting – and she thought her course in life was set: to take over from the old man when he passed on, and to live the quiet life of a town priestess. But it was not to be.

One day, while listening to her mentor expound upon one of the finer points of situational ethics, three thugs burst in upon them, demanding the old man's holy symbol. His natural refusal to comply was not well-taken by the intruders, and the ensuing confrontation left Kiri injured, the priest mortally wounded, and the holy symbol in the clutches of the thugs as they hurried away. Unable to heal his extensive wounds or prevent his death, Kiri vowed to retrieve her mentor's holy symbol, intending that he be buried with his only prized possession.

It was three days later that Kiri slipped from a back room of one of the less reputable local inns. The thugs had been in the common room drinking and laughing about how much their employer was paying them to retrieve a “worthless trinket,” so she had had plenty of time to locate the holy symbol where they had hidden it in their room. Now all she needed to do was make her exit.

Fortune was not with her however, as the thugs chose this time to head to the local brothel, and literally ran into Kiri coming around the corner of the inn. Recognizing her and the holy symbol in her hand, they let out a roar and gave chase, eventually cornering her in a back alley. Seeing no exit and no escape, Kiri made a most heartfelt appeal to Kregin for aid and prepared to sell her life as dearly as possible.

Suddenly, a not-voice echoed in her mind: “Granted. Nero shall aid you.” The air began to haze, and the form of a powerful wolf appeared before her.

The wolf crouched to the ground and, though it did not speak, Kiri clearly understood it to say “Climb on.” Amazed, but with no other option, she did so. When she was aboard its back, it rose and said “Hang on. We run.” Then, making a great leap over the approaching thugs, the wolf dashed off into the night, with Kiri crouched on its back, madly clutching its fur in one hand and the holy symbol of Kregin in the other.

Once they had gotten well away from the thugs, the wolf slowed to a trot and then stopped. Kiri slid from its back and gave the wolf a deep hug and many words of thanks. She then bowed her head and raised a sincere prayer of thanksgiving and praise to Kregin.

The not-voice again sounded in her mind: “The holy symbol is now yours. You may call upon Nero as you will. You have done well.”

As her adrenaline subsided, the full realization of what had occurred began to sink in and Kiri stood awestruck: her prayer had been directly answered by Kregin himself! This was the sort of thing one only heard about in stories! She had been granted a rare blessing indeed!

A cold, wet touch brought Kiri from her reverie. Blinking, she saw that the wolf – “No, not 'the wolf'” she though, “Nero” – that Nero had nudged her with his nose. One he had her attention, Nero glanced back over his shoulder and said, “They may follow.”

This was no time to dally about, Kiri realized. Those thugs would be looking for her. And if their unnamed employer was that interested in her former mentor's holy symbol then he might send others after her as well. She was too well known in Blytheton; she would have to leave town. But where would she go?

Making a quick decision, Kiri headed back towards her home with Nero trotting alongside her. She had a lot to do before leaving for Darkwood Towne.