Chapter 1: Camp Galfer

Krenmuth turns the amulet in his hands. As far as he can tell it seems to be an ordinary jade amulet. The symbol is unknown to Krenmuth. It certainly doesn't belong to any of the well-known cults of the Forgotten Realms

Turning to Annika, Krenmuth says, "A direct assault like this? Never. First the natives tried to raid our supplies, then they moved to attacking our groups outside the camp. In fact, I was sent here after they killed my predecessor on a foraging excursion. No more small scouting parties now."

He pauses, then adds, "I had a feeling they were just testing our strength before. Bringing in the skeletons was an unwelcome surprise."

Krenmuth hands the amulet to Annika. "Do you recognize the symbol on here? I haven't seen it before."

Annika shrugs. "Doesn't mean anything to me."

Once the combat is over, Melianne wanders over to the boulders she took cover by earlier, leaning over their moss-covered stone to catch her breath and straighten her silks. For all that she performed no physical activity of the sort her companions do, the magic is exhausting in its own way, and the events before certainly don't help now that they flow back into her memory, the fog of battle-induced adrenaline clearing.

The woman sighs, then inspects her horn to see that it is still in peak condition, moving it back to rest in its place in her satchel. She then surveys the battlefield, briefly closing her eyes when they land upon the bodies, and pushes herself upwards with a resigned determination. Almost deliberately, the dancer circles the field to avoid approaching the fallen foes and allies, only closing in when she gets near the human mage.

She squats down, inspecting the man's attire for a second, before plucking the herb pouch off his belt. "Maybe you are the one who shouldn't have played with these powers," she murmurs to the body before standing up and glancing towards Krenmuth. "You sure lead dangerous lives out here, captain. Thank you for your assistance earlier... and right now, of course." The dancer looks back at the fallen workers. "Hopefully these lives were not lost in vain. Rest in peace."

Her word said, Melianne looks around some more and, after finding nothing of interest, walks back over to say her goodbyes for now. "Well, seeing as we are welcome in the camp now, I'm in dire need of some rest. And a bath, though I doubt the latter is in my immediate future. I shall find you later around, Annika, Korrin."

Korrin does a quick count on the contents of his quiver and asks Krenmuth if there are any fletchers in camp to replenish his dwindling supply of arrows. Before heading into the camp, he keeps his eyes open as he makes his way though camp to see what the marketplace carries as he goes.

Krenmuth thinks for a few seconds before responding to Korinn. "Hmm. I've never done business with him, but they tell me Pumnoff is the best fletcher here. You'll find his tent on the south side of camp."

As you wander through the camp you catch glimpes of the life here. Most people live in tents here. The tents have various sizes and shapes and although most of seem to be rather primitive the camp provides most needs that a humanoid being could have.
There are various hot tubs next to the river, a market where you can buy goods, field kitchens where you can get a meal free of charge and a variety of artisans.
There are very few solid structures, one of which is the building which houses Korsak's office.
It seems as if the excavations until now only uncovered some small buildings. Most of them seem to be living quarters of some kind.

As Korrin scans the market he notices the meager range of products that's being offered. As he asks one of the traders, a female dwarf peddling tools, he learns that most of them placed orders that should've arrived onboard the Jolly Wanderer. The next ship will take a while to arrive so until then the traders can only offer a limited range of wares.

He heads to Pumnoff's stand as suggested by Krenmuth. The halfling beams Korrin, apparently cheered up by the fellow halfing and presents his wares

Annika will spend her time poking around the dig site and talking to any scholars who have theories about the ruins. She still has no idea why she's here, but she's a passable student of history.

Sardonius elected to stay behind and catch his breath after the fight. As much as he was loath to admit it, this battle almost took his life. This was not honorable combat where lines upon lines of men fought side by side against the enemy, commanders bellowing out orders and the day won through superior tactical prowess and strategy as much as martial strength. This fight was messy, chaotic. There was magic involved. True, battlemages were employed on many armies but the magic involved was fire, ice, and lightning and its variations. Here, necromancy was involved. Or it seemed to be judging by the skeletal soldiers that attacked them so suddenly.

This was an adventurer's fight.

Do they always face things like these every day?

At that moment, something shook the core of Captain Sartorius Tenebra of Chessenta. It was fear, not of death, but of the realization that there was a life much more than the ordered cadence that he lived. That his life as a mercenary was meaningless and the exact reason why he left as a lad in the first place. ''The worthless preening dalliance'' was also prevalent in the Society of Swords. He was just blind to it through the decades of drill and order ingrained into him.

He shook his head. This was no time to dwell on unimportant ''epiphanies''. He has a job to do. Sartorius noticed a movement in the corner of his eyes and whirled toward it.

SOLDIER!! Take some people with you and take anything that will identify these people to their next of kin and give it to me. After that gather the dead bodies around and line them up properly on the ground.

Then call Krenmuth and every priest, cleric, or holy person we have on the camp...let's give these poor bastards their last rites and bless their bodies so they won't be used to rise up against us...

As for the bodies of the Gnolls, those skeletons, and that sorcerer, he pointed to the now stiffening corpse of the human who summoned the undead soldiers.

Burn them.

The soldier shifted his foot from one side to the next. He was also slouching.

A-all the clerics sir? E-every--

EVERY ONE!

With that, the soldier stumbled almost head over heels to do as he was commanded.

Sartorius finally sagged his shoulders while leaning on his halberd. He was feeling all of his fifty and eight years.

Krenmuth was exhausted and still in pain. He heads back toward camp but can still hear Scags shouting orders. I hope they pick a burn site away from camp. Then he sees a soldier running in his direction. Krenmuth raises his hand to slow him down.

"Master Krenmuth" says the breathless young man. "Captain Tenebra orders ALL clerics to gather for a last rites ceremony."

"Yes, the captain knows what to do," Krenmuth replies. "I am heading to my tent for my ritual candles." He was not well acquainted with everyone in camp. "What is your name, soldier?"

"Verrit of Boarsbridge, Master."

"Verrit, together we'll rustle up my neighbor Master Tivalun. He is probably tending to any wounded in the camp. Remember, graves must be dug before the ceremonies can begin. We have a lot of work to do."

Krenmuth steeled himself for a long afternoon, but is eager to hear if Korsak's investigation results in any new information. He would prefer to take the fight to their enemies.

Korrin and Pumnoff hit it off well, both Halfling's dropping names to see who they may both know, or may be related to. Krenmuth was right about the quality of the arrow as Pumnoff hard for sale and made a purchase of one quiver full of arrows... better to have to many than not enough it seems with the shortage of supplies since the Jolly Wanderer was lost.

After making his purchase he inquires about getting a bath and place to lay his head after he grabs a hot meal from the kitchen tent.

Melianne investigates the herb pouch while she wanders through the camp. It contains herbs that have been bundled into small bunches. Annika meanwhile finds a tent where a group of scholars stand around a table that has some artifacts placed on top of it. When she asks about the ruins they gladly share their knowledge with her.
Until now only some minor buildings have been uncovered. All they found were household items and clay shards that have been inscribed with strange writings.
One of the scholars, an old woman called Astrid, presents Annika one of the shards.
The writing is quite remarkably as it isn't comparable to any script we know. Fascinating... she tells Annika.
Other than that no mayor discoveries have been made until now. Annika doesn't find anything that would justify her presence here.

Scags oversees the burning of the the attacker's bodies.
The soldiers put 12 gnolls, 3 humans and 11 skeletons onto a pyre. The other two humans are wearing the same jade amulet with the triskelion, that you've found one the one you defeated.
Scags lights the pyre and soon a thick column of smoke rises into the sky. An umistakably warning to not attack the camp again...

Krenmuth leads a ceremony for the fallen workes. A small graveyard is located near the camp. Four graves are already there. Three more are to be added.
Krenmuth places his ritual candles around the bodies while some workers dig the graves. A cleric called Brandt, along with some acolytes accompanies him.
When the workers are finished the two clerics recite prayers. Brandt prays to Lathander, Krenmuth to Valkur.
When Krenmuth finishes his prayer a lightning lights up a cloud on the horizon.
Seems like Valkur has heard your prayer...

---

In the evening you all meet in front of Korsak's house. He already awaited you and guides you into his office.
Thank you for coming here. I have.... he is interrupted by Rada, Raskell, Solra and Phann who come into the office.

Ah yes! I think you all know each other Korsak continues
I've investigated the attack and I think the skeleton attack and the attack by the natives here were not causally connected but just happened at the same time. You see... When the natives attacked the digging team was just about to open the door of a large building that I assume to be a temple of some kind.
The skeletons came out of the temple as soon as the doors were opened.
Korsak harrumphs and sits down, placing his elbows on the table and putting the tips of his fingers together.
This changes our mission somewhat. Initally we should just see if we find anything of value here. Not necessarily monetary value but also knowledge. Who lived here? Why are there no stories about this place? These ruins are like a blank spot in all tales I know of.

But now we have not only those natives but also undead at the doorsteps of the Four Cities. We need to know wether this place here poses a threat to Bridgeton and the other cities.
We will form two teams.
Rada, Solra, Phann and Raskell along with some soldiers will lead an exploration campaign. They will try to establish contact with the natives. Maybe we can still settle this peacefully. If this is not possible they will issue a warning to not attack us again. If this is not possible either...
Korsak forms his right hand to a fist and places it into his left hand.
... I will request additional soldiers from the city council and we will drive them away.

Another group consisting of you... Korsak looks at Annika, Korrin, Krenmuth, Melianne and Scags ...will help our archeologists to explore the temple. We have to know what is down there. If an undead army is lurking below us we have to know. Also I can't send archeologists into the temple without protection.
If any of you don't want to go down there I can understand that of course. I just think that you already fought those skeletons so you are the ones who are most prepared here. Do you...
Suddenly a massive thunder erupts and lightnings flare up on the sky. A thunderstorm has started along with rain and howling winds
Korsak turns to the window
Oh, I hope that the storm will subside soon. After all we are still mainly living in tents.
Erm where were I.... A yes! Do you have any questions?

Annika looks mildly annoyed at being assigned a duty as if she were one of Korsak's soldiers. As the wind howls, however, her expression softens to a smile, with a mixture of resolve and relief.

"Very well. I accept. Should we leave now, or wait until the storm passes?"

"I think a day or two of rest and something other than trail rations are in order. And a chance to become familiar with the camp and the other inhabitants, what say you Korsak? We have only just arrived after a long journey and a long delay."

"The archer speaks as true as his arrows. They," Krenmuth says, gesturing to Annika, Korrin, and Melianne, "deserve a rest and the best meals we can give them. They fought hard for our camp."

"We can use the time to talk to the archeologists and have them make a map of the area for us, too."

As long as these newcomers can pull their own weight around here...To tell the truth, I still don't trust these so-called ''survivors'' with them, Scags gestured toward the ragtag group of people that came with the adventurers.

One minute they look to gut us with their sticks and now you are lax with them being here...but I will defer to your decisions of course Lord Korsak.

Melianne lounges in her chair, listening to the conversation sleepily and with barely any attention. Quite predictably, after her departure from the battlefield the dancer was immediately distracted by the presence of hot tubs and had spent a good few hours washing away dirt and dust and swamp mud, as well as nursing whatever small injuries still persisted after the journey. The remaining time before the meeting was promptly dedicated to taking care of her belongings, playing a thrilling game of poker with a random archaeologist she caught by her newly assigned tent and inspecting the herbs - both around the camp and from the battle trophy pouch.

Now, however, she is delightfully exhausted and only wishes to go and rest on some proper... well, maybe not bed, but at least a bedroll. In truth Melianne isn't even sure why she is here - by connection to Annika and Korrin? She's not even qualified to enter a ruin, much less explore it... The dancer hides her yawn into her sleeve and nods a vague affirmation when Korsak glances in their direction. At the very least it'll be amusing to play her music in an ancient temple...

A sound of thunder startles Melianne out of her drowsiness, in time for her to catch Sardonius's comment and frown at him. "Please, like you weren't - yawn - doing the same thing. Threatening them with pointy things..." she pulls her silks closer around herself and blinks to focus her vision on the man. "Maybe you should be proving to us that you can be trusted, mister..." She pauses in thought. "Scags, was it? Captain Krenmuth called you Scags earlier, I think... Interesting name."

Krenmuth stands to draw attention to himself. He says to Melianne, "Captain Tenebra is a brave, experienced warrior. Safety of the camp is his first concern and he doesn't trust surprises, such as the sudden appearance of your group. It is unfortunate that you have arrived at a time of heightened danger to the camp. We are all on edge," he says, glancing at Scags, "but are normally genial hosts. The destruction of the Jolly Wanderer and its supplies is yet another concern."

"Speaking of which, at another time I would like to hear what happened to your ship. I was a sailor before I became a priest."