Ambinaria

cy 4862 - Oct 3rd - 6th

Taryn Bzar leads the party out of the devastation and up into the mountains of the Olshay Range. The bitter cold of winter surrounds them and the ranger is sceptical that the horses can survive the cold. He casts find familiar on a mountain eagle and sends it forward to scout ahead whilst Prince Antigor casts endure cold on the six horses.

Progress is slow in the blizzard conditions but despite this Taryn teaches them rudimentary survival techniques as they travel. They find shelter for the first night and set three to watch the horses which huddle together for warmth. Suddenly one of them is taken up into the clouds by an unseen predator and the party are instantly awake.

Traumbrenner goes out and sits on his horse and Taryn lays down in the snow to wait for another attack. A creature falls from the sky, an elongated body with wide wings and savage talons, it grabs another horse with its massive claws and tries to lift it upwards. Traumbrenner launches a shuriken into the beast’s underbelly but Taryn needs only one shot. His longbow arrow punctures the dark eye socket and slays the creature instantly. Taryn and Prince Antigor (using speak with animals) calm the horses. The ranger knows he has slain a wyvern – he knows also that they rarely hunt alone.

Four horses remain and, next morning, Taryn continues an easterly path. Later that morning the mountain eagle tells Taryn that he has spotted a snow serpent ahead. Prince Antigor gathers the mounts together and soon they can all see the tell tale ripples in the snow, like a wave on the ocean. The snake is almost thirty feet long and goes directly for the horses. A few speculative arrows have no effect but when the snake raises it’s head to take a horse it is vulnerable and the party strike.

Fuls Brett uses magic missiles whilst the others hack at the creature with hand weapons. The snake is surprised and is soon cut down by the ferocity of the party. Taryn begins to skin the creature immediately realising that the hide is insulated. He creates horse coats and fastens them around the remaining mounts as he takes them further east into the blizzards.

Soon they see a black banner, a battle standard, buried in the drifting snow. As they get closer they realise a hand still holds it aloft. They dig down and find a Darklander – frozen to death – still stood where his master left him. The banner depicts a red sun rising from a dark ocean.

That night Taryn digs out a snow cave and creates shelter for the party. Prince Antigor calms the horses and gets them to lie down together so that they will survive the bitter cold of the night. Soon they see a figure moving stealthily across the snow. It seems to glide over the drifts and moves with a grace that tells of consummate skill. The figure is dressed all in white and its body and face are all covered save for a slit for its eyes.

They decide not to challenge the figure and it moves off to the east.

Next morning they come across a hidden settlement, Ambinaria is home to thousands of Kulraqs – mountain elves – caves and buildings carved into the valley walls give shelter to the families. Soon they meet Ellerak, the elder, Batista can sense the elf is ancient and Fuls Brett senses sorcery on him.

Prince Antigor ensures the horses are stabled well and the hospitality of the Kuldraqs is a welcome respite from the bitter chill of the mountains. "You must stay here," Ellerak says, "for soon all the passes will be blocked. We have more than enough food and would be glad of the company…even the orcs are welcome."

Later they head for the temple where a priestess called Soriel greets them with equal welcome. She struggles with a man who writhes on the altar, a deep cut in his right arm bleeds profusely and she struggles to staunch the crimson flow. The man is a Darklander, he slips in and out of consciousness with the pain of his wound.

Taryn Bzar tends to the man by taking out his shortsword. He makes a tiny yet precise incision next to the wound. The expected fire bubbles from the Darklander’s veins and – to the Kuldraq’s astonishment – begins to fill the wound. As the primal fire licks around the open cut it cauterises instantly, stopping the blood.

The Darklander speaks – albeit in his own tongue – before he slips back into unconsciousness.

The Kuldraqs gather round open fires and Taryn tells them the tale of Viscount Taymar and Damula. The atmosphere is good and their mood is lifted by the elves hospitality. Taryn discusses with Ellerak the possibility to train and be trained over the winter.

They are given quarters, caves constructed from solid rock. Soon Prince Antigor hears a voice, a gentle whisper in his ear from the rock upon which he leans. "Give me the sword and I will leave you in peace."

The party are woken and Batista can spirit sense another large and dangerous spirit in the room. They consider whether it could be the white robed figure they saw the night before but the figure does not reveal itself for the rest of the night.

Next morning they visit the Darklander at the Elenian temple and he is much improved. Batista manages – through his linguistics skill – to communicate with the man. He learns that he was part of a larger party led by his master – Red Sun. The injured man is slow to reveal information but Batista gains his confidence and loosens his tongue.

"The devil back," he tells Batista, "my master knows that the blade is the only thing that can defeat it and he wanted it back."

Prince Antigor cannot understand the words but there is something about the tone with which they are spoken that he does not like. His hand caresses the ivory-hilted weapon as he stares at the Darklander for some time. Suddenly – without warning – Prince Antigor of the Allorin unleashes the katana called the Jewel for the first time in anger. He strikes the defenceless man with all the skill his master taught him; a blow so quick and deadly it decapitates the man.

There is a stunned silence as the elves try to comprehend what they have just witnessed. The priestess Soriel is first to speak, she leans close to Taryn and whispers; "That man has the devil in him!"