"Ahh, frac this. I'm going back to my bunk to get some kip," says a man in his early fifties with an impressive physic and long mane of bone-white hair. He snorts and rubs his nose as he wanders out through a different door to the others.



"Hmmm," mutters Vorsh. "Flin, I thought I told you to flush his powdered zzonga root down the privy."

The smallest figure steps forward, his hood already down and revealing a wizened old Halfling. "I did Larcos, but he just keeps buying more of it. It is as cheap as dirt in this shithole of a city."

The old man seems to remember Logan is still there. "Oh, but in other ways a very charming place. Um, well, I am Master Flin, druid of the Five Shires. And that was... err, he just calls himself 'Flash'. He was a gladiator in Thyatis before he joined us I think."

Logan whirls about as each person speaks, struggling to make sense of the shouted introductions as Vorsh tries to demand information from him.  "I....that is...."  Finally, he turns to Vorsh when the room has quieted.  "What's wrong with Tessara?  How come so many people know so much about my family, about my father, but hasn't paid any attention to her?  Or to me?  Ever since my father died...maybe got killed, she's been sliding downhill.  Now she's catatonic, barely moves or says anything.  Except that no matter where she is in the city, she stares right at this place.  The clerics - yes, I've gone to them, they can't help - noticed it first.  That's how I found this temple.  Wheeled her around the city to pinpoint this place, then snuck in after doing some disreputable things with a half-ogress to try and get more information - and all she could tell me is that you apparently house giant chickens!"  Logan finishes his rant, red-faced and panting, staring at Vorsh for help.

"Well I don't know what is frakken wrong with her kid, why do you think it has anything to do with us?" Vorsh pauses, and considers the rogue's words. "You say she keeps staring towards THIS building. Really? No matter where she is in the city and even if she can't see it? That is really..." he turns to Lady Silvermane. The rest of the temple occupants have moved off to the breakfast room, leaving the three of them alone. "...unusual. Lady Silvermane, do you have any idea of what is going on?"

The silver haired elf-like woman shakes her head. "That is very strange. Especially since we have only been here for about a year, although I think this was actually a 'whirling fury' safe house for many years before that. Well, quite a mystery, but not much we can do about it," she adds rather briskly and starts heading out of the room.

"Err... Lady Silverman, you could commune with the Whirling Fury and ask for information on this matter?"

"What? Disturb the goddess over something so trivial? And for someone who is not even a follower? I don't think so?"

Vorsh looks at Logan. "Well I hate to think of the spouse of one of our own not being looked after, especially the wife of the great Theodric Merrion. Perhaps you could do it on my behalf?"

The elven featured lady scoffs. "Larcos. You have fought alongside us for many years I hear, but you are not a follower of the Whirling Fury and therefore not eligible for such assistance either. It is simply out of the question." She leaves, not following the other by going out a side door.

"Ah well lad, don't worry. We'll figure out a way to get to the bottom of this mystery with Tessara, come and have some breakfast and we'll talk about it... and your father if you want." He leads Logan into the next room where the morning meal is getting started at high volume with almost everyone around the table talking at the top of their voices - trading barbed comments, bragging, joking...

"Oh, and about the giant chickens...You need to meet someone..." adds Vorsh.

The figure entering at the far end of the room removes his hood. It is a large humanoid with avian facial features, feathers and chicken-like legs.



"Lord Buzzbeak of the Gyerian Nations at your service young man!" says the strange man as he makes a clumbsy bow at the waist. He then takes a seat and starts pecking at some coarse grain on a plate.

OOC: Sigh. It is not something that us Mystara fanboys like talking about much, but giant warrior chickens are in fact cannon in this world, so here we are...

Logan is somewhat mollified by Vorsh's response to his frantic query, and quietly tries to take in the conversation around him.  A thousand question still fill the half-elf's mind, but at least he has made some progress towards an understanding.

The rogue maintains his silence until the introduction of Lord Buzzbeak, and Logan stops still.

"What in the frak?!  She was actually telling the truth?  I was convinced Bertha was a little drunk, either when she told me or...but there are actually are people here that could be mistaken..."

The rogue clears his throat.  "Ah, excuse me, Lord Buzzbeak.  Nice to meet you."

Logan and Vorsh sit down to eat with the rest of the group. "So, you're probably trying to figure out who we are? Well the sign on the front door is correct, this is the Church of the Whirling Furry. We are committed to hunting down and destroying demons and those who act to increase demonic influence on this world. You father was one of us back in the early days. In fact, he was the best of us and quite a legend."

Logan shakes his head.  "What, no?  My father was a...a merchant, a trader.  Not some demon-hunter."  the rogue looks around the room.  "But...if what you're saying is true...and that's a big if, does it have anything to do with his death?  I can't imagine a demon-hunter could be killed by a runaway cart.  Was the whole thing a frame?  Assuming, of course, that you're not just trying to pull one over on me.  Am I supposed to take your word on all this?"  Logan looks down, not knowing what to think.

"Pfft! Merchant! Run-away cart! Who told you such nonsense? He was a demon-hunter alright. And Logan? And this is the important bit, it was not confirmed that he died, he just disappeared." Vorsh shrugs. "Those who serve the Whirling Fury are an unpredictable lot."

A suave looking man in an embroidered blouse interjects. "My good fellow. Not all of use are so unpredictable." He turns to look at Logan. "Cronwyn Thraddan of the Republic of Darokin at your service." He twills one end of his moustache theatrically.



"Vorsha-san," says an oriental man with a just as impressive moustache. "The young-a man-a has a point-a," he continues in heavily accented common tongue. "Are you indeed-a talking about-a the same man-a?"



"Yatsu Hoshimoto, I can assure you that I knew Logan's father very well. We fought alongside each other for several years before Theodric Merrion just up and disappeared one day. Not such an unusual event, you are a very chaotic bunch..." he looks at Cronwyn. "...on average I mean."

A man at the far end of the table rises and Logan sees that he has kept his face hidden the whole time that the rest of been eating. The man bows and walks out of the room without saying a word.



"That was... uh, well, we don't actually know his name because he doesn't speak the common tongue, but he comes with good references. We asked him to write his name down once and he finally seemed to understand what we wanted after an hour of explaining it. He wrote it down in that crazy flowing script they use in the Sind Desert... writing from right to left. Anyway, we got it translated and the scholar said it meant 'Lion of Perfection' so that is what we call him." Vorsh shrugs. "If he can use the scimitar as well as he keeps his eight pack in shape then he is no doubt a skilful warrior."

The last whirling fury pounds a clenched fist against his chest and then speaks up. "I am 'Fights-with-Lightning'. What about you Logan? What do you stand for? And what do you know of the Whirling Fury?"


OOC: Whew! That's it! With Vorsh and Lady Silvermane thrown into the bargain that is 12 Whirling Furies ready for action.

Logan's head spins with the continued introductions and information about his father.  "What do you mean, unpredictable?  Are you saying my father might have just left us?  Left his son alone with his wife, who descended into some kind of deep depression because of the loss of her husband?  How is that any better?  It just makes my father a fracking callous frack instead of someone who experienced a terrible accident.  If he's 'unpredictable', then where has been all this time when Tessara and I were scraping by in Shadowshore, little better than starving?"

He looks to Fights-with-Lightning.  "I guess that's my answer.  I stand for surviving, and it's mighty hard to do that when you're on your own, taking care of your sick mother in Shadowshore.  I suppose, I might say that I'm against those who try to steal from the downtrodden, though, as Vorsh knows, I don't usually ask a lot of questions if I'm hired for a job.  Can someone tell me in straight words, what exactly this Whirling Fury is?"

"Out fighting demons lad! Out saving the human race from demonic enslavement. I would say that is more important than anything else."

"Skål!" yells out Torin Freddricksdatter, and waves a large earthen jug in the air.

"Aye, I'll drink to that," answers the dwarf Brue Skullhat who is sitting by his side. They clink glasses.

He looks to Fights-with-Lightning.  "I guess that's my answer.  I stand for surviving, and it's mighty hard to do that when you're on your own, taking care of your sick mother in Shadowshore.  I suppose, I might say that I'm against those who try to steal from the downtrodden, though, as Vorsh knows, I don't usually ask a lot of questions if I'm hired for a job.  Can someone tell me in straight words, what exactly this Whirling Fury is?"</quote>

"The Whirling Fury is Gwynharwyf (gwin-HAR-wif), one of the eladrin and patroness of barbarians." The old warrior has to pause as another round of rowdy toasts breaks out at the mention of the goddess' name. "And her church is devoted to opposing the influence of demons on the Prime Material Plane. That is what we do," he looks at Logan sternly. "And that is what you should be a part of as well. It is in your blood lad."

OOC. Membership of the Church of the Whirling Fury requires very little - just an agreement to assist the other members when demonic incisions are detected. And there is the deal that if Logan succeeds in becoming a full member then Lady Silvermane would query what ails Logan's mother. Becoming a full member gives access to the Champion of Gwynharwyf and Holy Avenger prestige classes...

...unfortunately these prestige classes all suck, but we could put our heads together and make a homebrew version.

If Logan wants to join, he'll first need to prove himself in a battle against forces from the Abyss. Good luck with that. :D
This message was last edited by the player at 15:22, Sun 04 Sept 2016.

Logan thinks it over.  "Defending against demonic threats?  Does that sort of thing happen frequently?  On the streets in Shadowshore, I've mostly seen evils of a more human sort.  And the business with Aubreck, though that was caused by humans at the root, too.  I don't know how much I could help against demons, though I'd jump at anything that let me find out more about what's ailing my mother, aid the city, and uncover anything I could about my father.  What if, what if I had a conflict?  I'm working for Lavinia Vanderboren, and it's only with her patronage that I can afford to keep Tessara in halfway decent housing.  I wouldn't want to jeopardize that."

"You'd be surprised lad, this city is at the center of something big - demonic influence-wise that is. And that is why so many of us are gathered her."

"We've got all the major noble families of the city under watch and Lavinia isn't up to anything bad, so I can't imagine there being a conflict. Her little brother, Vanthus, on the other hand was a bad egg. Probably just as well that he has disappeared."

"Well now, let's make a deal. If you see or hear of anything that would be of interest to the Whirling Furies then let us know straight away. Likewise, if we decide to make a move on anything I will also get in touch with you. That way you have a good chance to prove yourself and then Lady Silvermane will have no excuse for not getting in contact with her goddess and finding our what is going on."

OOC: And this is where we have to pause a little bit until the other players catch up with their character arc storylines.

The day after the events in the House of Porphyry Logan returns to the Church of the Whirling Fury. After having his sight restored, Lady Silvermane announces that she considers Logan has proved himself as an enemy of demonkind and an ally of Gwynharwyf. She is willing to cast 'commune' and ask the questions that Logan needs answered.

Logan is silent after his sight restored, his usual attitude replaced with a more somber one.  First, the eerie silence of the Church of the Whirling fury is imposing, after the festive atmosphere now absent with the death of so many of its members.  Second, Logan finally might have the chance to discover what exactly happened to his father and mother, something that might help explain everything in his life.

"Uh...I know I've had time to think this over, but now that I can actually ask, I hardly know where to begin.  First, thanks to you, Lady Silvermane, and for any help that Gwnharwyf can actually give.  I guess I'd like to start at the beginning of this: What actually happened to my father?  How did he die?  Strike that, did he die?  What happened to my mother?  Why is Tessara able to locate this building in Sasserine, even when she can't see it?"

OOC: I forgot to mention, but at Karthack's insistence, Logan's mother is also present for the questioning. The old dwarf calmly sits the now totally comatose and unresisting elven lady down on a seat and waits for the proceedings to begin.

Lady Silvermane holds up her hand. "Please Logan, patience, patience! We will see how much Gwnharwyf knows and how much the whirling fury is willing to share."

The cleric gets comfortable in a seat and then begins the long process of casting the high level spell that will allow here to communicate with her goddess. The casting takes a long time - around ten minutes - but eventually Silvermane's eyes roll back in her head and her breathing becomes so shallow that it seems like it almost stops.

"Oh Whirling Fury, consort to the Court of Stars, beloved of barbarian champions of light, bestow your presence upon us."

This seems to work because a few seconds later she begins with Logan's questions.

"What happened to the father of Logan Merrion of Shadowshore?"

Silvermane's breath catches in her throat. She speaks again, but the voice is not her own. More melodic and deeper.

"He left when duty called."

Silvermane continues, her voice her own again.

"How did he die."

"He did not die."

"What happened to Logan's mother?"

"She stayed in Sasserine."

"Why is his mother drawn to this building in Sasserine?"

Several seconds pass... much longer than with the other questions. Finally Silvermane's head jerks back and her whole body arches. She cries out in pain and then flops forward.

"Ugh... I am sorry Logan... <gasp> Our goddess broke contact. <cough> Something important must have come up. She left in a hurry..." 

Logan stayed quiet while the ceremony began, and then sat in stunned silence for a few seconds after it ends.  He looks from Karthack to Silvermane and back again.  "What kind of frackin answer was that?!  'She stayed in Sasserine!'  I hardly need the aid of a goddess to tell me that!  'He left when duty called'!  That's not an answer!  That's a meaningless platitude."

The half-elf gets up, and paces back and forth, and after pounding on the wall, seems to have recovered some control over his emotions.  He turns back to Kartchack and Tessara, face flushed, and his excitement is evident, as well as a rising anger.  "But he is ALIVE!  Where has been, though?  What duty is more important than this."

Logan returns to his mother's side, bending down to kiss the top of her head.  "I'll find him, mom, I promise.  I can't imagine what would have kept him from us, but I'll find out."

Logan's mother responds to his touch and looks up at him - the glazed over look in her eyes is totally gone.

"Logan. Don't fixate on him. That was my mistake." Karthack jumps to his feet in surprise.

She looks around the room and then at Logan again. "Where are we Logan? What am I doing here?! This isn't Shadowshore."

Logan stumbles back, his expression mirroring Karthach's look of surprise.

"Mom....what?  How?  What happened?"

Logan's gaze flies around the room, looking from Karthach, to Tessara, to Silvermane, and finally back to Tessara.  Finally, he gives a shaking exhale, and tentatively steps forward, reaching out his arms to encircle his mother, glad to feel a response from her.

Completely forgetting his fervor over finding his father, Logan addresses Tessara: "I don't understand.  What happened?  Where have you been the past three years?"

Looking around, he gives a nervous laugh. "Yeah, we're not in Shadowshore anymore.  I, uh, took a job helping a noblewoman solve some problems, and was able to put you up in a temple.  Karthach over here is one of your caretakers.  He's the one who noticed you were staring...well, exactly where we are now.  A rather new temple in the Cudgel district, dedicated to some demon-fighting cult that Dad was part of.  Still is part of?"  Logan shakes his head, leaving in to give his mother another quick squeeze.

"Ugh, oh Logan. It is a long story." The elven woman draws her son close. "But the main point is that when your father left he said something to me. That..." she hesitates. "That made me act like that."



"Yes, yes, your father was a demon-hunter Logan. I'm sorry I wasn't more honest about that, but... I couldn't be, you see..."

Logan relaxes as Tessara holds him, for the first time realizing how much he missed this simple part of being a son.

Then, mulling over his mother's words, Logan stiffens, drawing back.  "Wait...so, you knew about Dad and the demon-fighting cult?  I thought that was a secret, even from you?"  Logan huffs: "Or just a secret from me?"

He stands, drawing more space between himself and his mother, the earlier feelings fleeting: "Why don't you start at the beginning, and fill me in on everything you've kept me in the dark about?"

"No, no, it wasn't like that Logan! You were so young, we couldn't tell you back then. And then... after your father left... I just *couldn't* tell you."



OOC: Gee, when did Logan get so pissy?

Tessara reaches out to her son, then lets her hand drop. "Okay Logan, I will tell you. Even though it is breaking my word to your father, I think that he would understand."

"Logan, as you may have already worked out, your father was not a merchant. He was a demon hunter and a champion of Gwynharwyf. We met here in the city and fell in love, and tried to live as normal life as possible - he loved you very much Logan and spent all the time with you that he could."

"<sigh> But then one day he said he was going away on a mission. He looked at me... very firmly, locking eyes with me... and said, 'Wait for me, watch for me, and tell no-one'. Well, at first I did just that, but after a while it was strange, it was like a compulsion." Tessara shudders. "I couldn't stop looking towards the safe house where I knew he always came and went from - that is this building we are in now. And even when I tried to tell people what I was doing... <choke> the words just wouldn't come out!"

"It just got worse and worse until eventually all I could think about was waiting and watching for him, and about keeping silent. I am so sorry Logan! You grew up so alone because of that. And we ended up in Shadowshore. I swear, I have only faint memories of the last couple of years. I must have been almost catatonic!"

Vorsh nods his head sagely. "I geas. That is what it was."

The eladrin scoffs. "Larcos Dengrin, I can actually cast a geas and I can tell you that is not how they work!"

Logan tentatively reaches out a hand to his mother again, enjoying seeing her active again.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to explode like that.  It's all so much to take in.  I mean, a week ago, I didn't know that dad was a demon hunter, and then I thought it had done something to you.  But then I find out you did know..."  Logan trails off, and sighs.  "I'm sorry.  There's years to catch up on, and we needn't start with fighting."

He turns to Vorsh and Lady Silvermane, trying to keep the irritated edge out of his voice when he addresses the Eladrin.  "I don't understand, a geas?  There isn't some secret ritual of preserving your identity that you practice that might have gone awry?  What, exactly, do you think happened to my mother, then?"

OOC: I think Logan's being jerked around so much now that he doesn't know what to believe.  I mean, everything he's known about his father has been a lie, and then he finds out his mother knew right after she recovered from her catatonic state?  I don't think he's pissy so much as bewildered, but it's interesting to try and think how he would react.

It is Vorsh who answers. "Lad, a geas is a magic compulsion that forces somebody to perform a certain action. For example, like waiting for somebody to come back and..."

"...No, no, no," interrupts Lady Silvermane. "It can only be used for simple tasks, AND it wears of over time - the spell won't last more than a couple of weeks at the absolute maximum."

Vorsh continues on, ignoring her comment. "What was it that Tessara said she was doing? 'Wait, watch and tell no-one.' Well, that is pretty much what happened... The fact that it happened over many years just means that the spellcaster must have been a mighty one."

The Eladrin scoffs. "And who cast this mighty spell, pray tell, Larcos Dengrin? Theodric Merrion was no mage, nor a cleric. He was a tough barbarian and a fantastic demon-hunter but didn't have access to that level of magic."

Vorsh shrugs. "I don't know how this puzzle all fits together but there was something of great power done to poor Tessara Merrion." The ex-paladin puts his hand on her shoulder. "In any case we are glad to have you back with us."

OOC: And that is pretty much where we will leave it for now. We will dig more into Logan's story arc later in the story.

Tessara's revival changes many things. Logan feels that a great weight has been lifted from his heart and starts enjoying life more and more as the weeks pass and his mother continues her recovery. She is still weak from years of inactivity, but she is an Elf and the lost years don't weigh on her as much as they would've on a human. She still stays in the Shrine of Art and Beauty and enjoys her room adjoining the garden very much now (Logan doesn't have the heart to tell her that it is costing him 2,000 gp/month which is his entire allowance from Lavinia), and also joins Logan as he carries out his now busy life.

Vorsh insists on the young half-elf training in the Church of the Whirling Fury. Since they are a little short of barbarians to begin with (they're all dead), the holy avenger himself starts teaching Logan some of the final points of swordsmanship, really raising the rogue's game appreciably. His mother watches the lessons, seemingly impressed by what she sees.

When some replacement barbarians do start drifting in, they also take a hand in Logan's tuition. There is no way that the mellow half-elf is ever going to become a barbarian himself - he just doesn't have the rage in him - but he does benefit from the physical conditioning that they put him through. The wiry Shadowshore actually begins to put some meat on his frame and looks good for it.

On the other hand, Lady Silvermane's attempts to teach Logan some basic arcane spellcasting end in total failure. Despite having a strong heritage for it, Logan is unable to channel the chaotic healing magics of Gwynharwyf and the Eladrin eventually throws her hands up in disgust, saying that the half-elf is thicker than any barbarian from the icy northern wastes that she had ever taught.

Logan therefore does not become a 'Champion of Gwynharwyf', but rather follows his own path. After a few months of intense training he becomes something unique and even invents a name for it - although he mentions this to no-one else. He starts thinking of himself as 'Gwynharwyf's Skillful Blade' and hopes that he might in someone prove as worthy as his father.

OOC: Does this sit okay with you John?

That all sounds good to me!