Voice in the Mist

Voice in the Mist is the first episode of The Broadswords.

Summary

Three strangers join a travelling Merchant caravan heading from Waterdeep to Immilmar, capital of Rashemen.

Synopsis
We begin in the evening. Our adventurers are part of a traveling caravan heading to Immilmar, which has been hired by some pilgrims to go to the Moss Stones of Immil Vale. They set up camp for the night, prepared to arrive at the Moss Stones tomorrow.

Yllairies asks for a bath to be drawn and gets into a mild altercation with Gris. She eventually relents and goes to have a bath in the hot spring. Mépris loudly offers to help anyone in the caravan, but ignores Yllairies asking her to draw a bath. Keilah looks for something to stow away and manages to snag a pouch with no one the wiser.

Gris, hearing Mépris' offer, refuses her help saying that they have plenty of people helping. Mépris goes off to help some people despite his refusal. An elderly woman, the pilgrim's Matron, accepts her help.

While Yllairies is bathing in the hot spring she hears a rustle in the bushes nearby. It seems ethereal, but when she calls out there is no response. While dressing she finds one of her stockings is missing. She pockets her other stocking and heads toward the sound. An owl hoots as the sun is setting. The mist seems to be thickening. Unnerved, Yllairies heads back to camp.

The camp firepit is sputtering as if in a high wind. Keilah and Yllairies notice that, although the fire seems weak, it isn't cold out. Yet there are a few men in the group who seem to be very cold. Keilah asks a blonde man if he's cold and he says that its pretty chilly. His wife looks at him strangely and says that its not cold at all. Further investigation reveals that hair colour and gender seem to be the same for the people who feel the strange chill.

Yllairies goes to Gris and asks if he has traveled this route before. He says that he does it frequently, about twice a year. When she asks if anything strange ever happens, he laughs and says that strange things are commonplace in Rashemen. He says that the spirits walk all over. Yllairies asks if any spirits have a stocking fetish and Gris grins and says that all ghosts were once men.

They eat dinner and the mist grows heavy. An eerie singing can be heard on the air, and at this even the locals seem to become wary. Mepris learns that the whole land of Rashemen was once part of a battleground which is steeped in a goddess' essence. The spirits that wander here are more than human and all are given honor and respect by the Rashemi.

Keilah sees a figure at the edge of the clearing. Mépris and Yllairies agree to investigate. Keilah reluctantly accepts their aid and asks if anyone else will join. The pilgrims huddle closer to the fire.

Yllairies makes it clear she views herself as the leader of the group and together they head into the mist. Keilah realises the song sounds like a lullaby, however this song seems like a much older version. The realisation unsettles her. Suddenly they hear a shout from camp.

Hurrying back they see a panicked man. Gris tries to calm everyone. Nervously, they disperse to their sleeping quarters.

Keilah meditates, Mépris settles in the ground on her sleeping mat, and Yllairies goes to her quarters alone. Throughout the night the singing continues and everything about the woods feels restless. Nobody sleeps well. Mépris, Keilah, and Yllairies wake up with a point of exhaustion.

In the morning sunlight, the mist thins a little and everyone gratefully prepares to leave.

They travel for three hours. Exhausted and riding with the caravan, Yllairies begins to nod off.

Locations

 * Immilmar
 * Immil Vale - warm and fair location w hot springs and moss stones often filled w fine mist

Main

 * Yllairies
 * Mépris
 * Keilah

New

 * Gris Brom (NPC) - Caravan leader- portly man with large waxed moustache from Waterdeep
 * Jory (NPC)
 * Pilgrim Matron