Arawn: Huntmaster


14 Alturiak

Having fought a yet again corrupted Bosmos to exhaustion of his wits, the ease and volume of corruption from the elemental plane of rot again reinforces the cosmic significance of the Bloodstone regions of the Moonsea as planar interfaces.

As the heroes take again to the sky, the bright sun is replaced by the onset of gray wisps and clouds, dampening the sunlight and bringing a damp cold back to the air.  Any one posted outside the Gundar Vundark must bundle against the elements.

The Thayvian mage observes groups of dwarves and humans making tracks toward the mines;  initial parties exchanging supplies and equipment for clearing.  Some of that should occur quicker due to Quilro’s plan to defend Bloodstone.  Although, the elf who was remembered for song, drink, and energy before the undead armies approached is now known for slaying Jameson the fletcher in cold blood, under the protection of the Heroes for accusations of affiliation with the Shadows of the Mountain Valleys.

Fyrnlocke provides a background of the whispered about Shadows;  one of the few realms-wide underground networks, with a long lineage of discreet political assassinations and the sale of exotic information available nowhere else, including connections to Kara Tur.

“ye might think that bloke in Cormyr, or Silverymoon has the latest on Thay’s undead armies…  where exactly is a cutpurse in Cormyr going to come into that information?  That’s high level, high coin information.  All the nobles know it…  all the rulers use it.  They certainly don’t want it interfered with.”

As they soar in the frightening craft pulled by two wildly painted carousel horses across the sky, Roberto takes not of a large and powerful human figure observed in a fairly large camp in the valley below.

Standing in front of a roaring fire that marks a camp, an 15’ tall human, crowned in an elongated bovine skull mask with enormous antlers that protrude.  The creature is wreathed in blackened woven armor of something that looks like roughhewn leather.  A bone clasp connects a green cloak, very similar in appearance to the one Bosmos had been armored in his cave.

This creature has an immense spear;  standing to the should a honed black wooden staff of matt darkness held in his arm.  He does not appear threatened;  regarding only the wolves and woodland creatures making their way beyond him to the west.

Kailute and Draxos immediately recognize the avatar of Arawn the Huntsman.  He who culls;  the provider.  Many names in many faiths;  the power serves the masters of death, nature, and life concurrently.  Mostly forgotten in many more advanced societies;  still observed by many who hunt the hills or forests for their keep.

Giant wolfhounds, eyes alight with green sparks accompany the Huntsman, and they're standing around sniffing the air.  Beyond where he stands, several several roaring fire pits are roasting fresh meat and fowl on spits, the savory seasonings enticing each of the Heroes with pangs of hunger.

The enormous humanoid appears not to take any notice of the approaching magical craft, keeping his eyes straight ahead, scanning the dark forest beyond the small herd of wolves that surround feet.  There heroes sense no fear, only confidence radiating from this being, who keeps an enormous spear carved of a single enormous tree trunk at arm's length ready.

DonBrapp instructs the Red Wizard to land the craft unseen several hundred feet nearby.  Roberto manipulates some of the controls and inputs and nodes.

You all clamber outside. Petra makes a symbol of the eye and says I think I will stay in here. I think the Huntsman does not interest me.

Tomas is clearly very interested as he grabs a quill and leaps out of the vundark.

And so as everyone comes out. He continues to stand now more than anything, his back towards you facing uh. And the creatures are moving through the woods, really staying out of the big open space, except for the four war wolves that flank. This tall humanoid figure.

Draxos strides forward, arms outstretched with palms down, a neutral sign of friend approaching.  The giant creature doesn't flinch as he approaches.

Closing to within twenty feet, the ranger hears a voice in his head "Well met, forest friend."

As Draxos further signals with an intricate mixture of body and facial signals, DonBrapp guffaws "Er, Quirlro.  Gonna sit an pee in the forest again."

"So much destruction in this circle…" the voice intones within Draxos' mind.

Recoiling, the elven ranger questions the being of what destruction it references.

"Look around.  Do these woods appear healthy and full of game?  Or do they appear dark and forlorn, out of balance? The poor, wretched, sleeping creature within your flying cart. Exhausted by his attempts to restore the lands here. But he has tried."

DonBrapp stepped forward, questioning: "Did he? Was he attempting to restore the lands or was he under the? Possession of Moander the dead God?"

The Master of Hunt confirmed Bosmos' possession by Moander, and explained that evil chaotic gods were conspiring to take choke off the dead who should enter their post mortal abodes…  leaving their souls for the demons and their bodies for the undead hordes… or the cult of the lord of rot, Moander.

The Huntsman explains to DonBrapp the power small faiths have to honor and power small powers and sub-dieties, and how even dead gods can be resurrected if their faithful grows to a cult, or has access to an aligned relic or portal.  Arawn explains the role of Moander in cleaning the prime of filth, yet the risk of the abyssal lords who can call forth rifts to elemental planes of rot that exist deep within the lower layers of the Abyss.

"Your friend has a noble heart, but he attempted to correct too much, too fast.  Nature moves at it's own pace;  the cycle of the seasons.  Age.  Death.  Rot.  Remembrance.  The dead seek a home;  either an afterlife of reward, punishment, or servitude.  The more powerful they were in life, the stronger their dissonance.  However the gods one think might take the swiftest actions spend much of their time away."  The bovine masked titan turns toward the Vundark, indicating he understands Bosmos is within.

Draxos nods to DonBrapp, indicating reverence and confidence in what the avatar was sharing.

"Nature is possessed of a magic and power we cannot fully understand." The ranger states in elvish.

Flying in a stumbling manner, Quirlo transforms from a harpy into an angry elf behind the ranger and dwarf.

"BONE MASK!?  Got to be fucking evil if he wears the skull of living creatures!" Quirlo shouts, clearly well into a carafe of wine.

Ignoring the impertinent elf, Arawn offers the heroes take safety and rest in the Huntmaster's camp.
Observing Draxos' bow, he asks if he can inspect the magical weapon.  Handling it with care, Arawn grants the blessing of the forest to ensure the bow will be less likely to snap a bowstring so long as it is used within the range of an active druidic circle.

The ranger humbly thanks the forest avatar, and offers his rations in turn.

"Bosmos is my responsibility.  He is a shield-brother, and a dwarven kin.  What advice might ye have in his correction?" DonBrapp asks.

Arawn gathers all around his campfire, and Bosmos is summoned from the Vundark.  Sitting cross legged, the image of a hunter still towers over the heroes, quietly observing.  Shuos whimpers with awe among the Huntmaster's wolves before returning to eat at Kailute's side.

Roast venison with orange and sage seasonings make for a mouth watering meal.  All feel wonderfully refreshed and sated without being heavy;  Draxos believes the sylvan spices may have magically enhances some of the meal.
After all have eaten and a moment of quiet, the Huntsman stands.

"What became of my kettle." He asks in a flat voice.

"It now rests in the heart of Thay, if it is the one we took from the wizard Ampner." Kailute states.

"My cauldron was a means gain access to the dead;  a vessel for communication.  Transmutation.  Rot, you might say.  Dangerous in the hands of some;  all wizards are suspect." He replies, his eyes boring into Quilro, who is too preoccupied with his wined to notice.

"Now the lack of such a vessel has the undead bursting at the seams.  This land has a long path toward balance."  Arawn motions for Bosmos to approach, and the fallen druid curls at the feet of the huntsman and his wolves and enters a deep sleep.

Arawn shares observation of Zhent patrols, and Kailute quickly states his vengeful intent.  He further names the Shadows of the Valleys as having eyes throughout the mountains.

"When your friend awakes from his sleep he will return to the self he was before his corruption."  Arawn states as Bosmos snores loudly.

"The power of the Lord of Filth was too much for him;  he may be forever marred but at least his senses will return.  The woods speak tale of having pacified the Centaurs, and in fact may have turned them to allies."

After some discussion, DonBrapp sees the wisdom of a favor owed the heroes by the Huntsman while avoiding a potential liability.  It is agreed that Bosmos will stay in Arawn's pack until some semblance of balance is restored.

Draxos can establish a connection to Arawn through his companion owl, Ice Cyrstals on Pine Boughs.  Shuos can sniff out the pack. When the heroes need assistance or commune with Bosmos, the owl and war boar can sense the location of the hunt.

Arawn speaks of the power of centaur bowmen;  their utility in hit and run missile attacks while at the same time able to provide mounted shock troops.  Centaurs are powerful allies indeed, if somewhat unreliable given their penchant for drinking.

Tomas scribbles feverishly in the shadows, trying to capture all he can hear and witness.  His scrolls and inkwells are greased with the meat and bread from Arawn's table.

Arawn invites the heroes to enjoy the hospitality of his camp as he must return to culling.

Bosmos awakens;  refreshed and confused. His body is expelling the compounded poison of weeks of corrupted living in a disgusting cloud of aromatic scent.

Bosmos shares his memory of corruption by the green rotmoss, and the shattered visions of what he had wroth.
The Heroes inform the druid that Zengyhi was vanquished.

Bosmos immediately grabs a bottle of whiskey before pondering his recent transgressions.  Fyrnlocke slips the dwarf an unidentified carafe of viscous milky liquid.

The dwarven druid is given magical armor, a dagger as well as an enchanted wooden stave before departing to catch up the Huntsman's pack.
The heroes review their options for the defense of Bloodstone Valley from an Arcatan invasion from the south.
During the discussion, Quilro rants and is visibly shaken.  The time underground fighting demons has shaken him, and his stupor has been near constant during any moment not actively fighting or organizing the defense.

Upon returning to Keldorn's village Khelk, many halflings are observed in the centaur village.  The village promises to guard the southern approaches to Bloodstone Valley with the assistance of the halflings, and enjoin in celebratory hedonism to mark the occasion.  Quilro powers through these festivities, appearing engaging and charismatic while scowling whenever his sight caught the Gundar Vundark.

The centaurs village is alive with intoxicating smoke the entire night.