The Journey to Bluescar

Eyre 12th-13th, 998 Y.K.

Eyre 12th - Zor

Anvil, unable to convince the alchemist to loan him his workshop for any longer heads to the forge where he is hoping that the smith will allow him to cast Unseen Crafter in order to begin work on his shield that will one day become his weapon familiar.
Upon entering the forge Anvil notices the crest of house Cannith emblazoned across the forge hood, and after admiring the craftsmanship in the warforged's physique he gladly allows Anvil to use his forge for 5 gold a day. He seems honoured that he would ask it of him.
Anvil responds, "I will speak of you highly when I return to Sharn, thank you for your kindness," handing him 25 gp.
"Should I not be back in 4 or 5 days my unsen servant will stop working and I will pay you for any trouble that is caused by the space that my equipment takes up."
After a hearty breakfast, and a few more ales for Loric, the party head out east along the coast, to Bluescar. They judge that they should reach Seaview farm by nightfall and hope they will be welcome enough to rest there overnight.

As the day draws to a close they see the weathered sign by a gate-post that reads "Seaview Farm".

Here they meet Trocard and Jerot Hairal, the farmer and his wife. The group are made most welcome and are offered a rich stew and barley wine.

Trocard confirms several of the rumours with regards to Bluescar.

He himself saw a glowing blue fog-bank roll in from the south on the night of the tragedy, which he can date as the 6th of Olarune 998 Y.K.

He walked out to the cliffs to take a better look and claims that it sat over the waters but never crept on to the land.

He claims that the day after the tragedy, Bluescar had a couple of visitors. They had found bodies by the roadside with their backs clawed and raked, and their eyes clawed out. They said that the hamlet had been left in such a hurry that meals were half finished, everyday jobs had beeen abandonned uncompleted. They said that livestock was unharmed. And finally, there seemed to only be a handful of bodies.

Since that time, as far as he is aware, Trocard claims that Bluescar has had no visitors, at least that he has seen.

He offers the group shelter in his hayloft overnight, or if they wish to pitch tents they may do so.

The night passes with gentle conversation, the farm couple ask questions about Sharn and city life, it is a world away from the life they have been born to.

Eyre 13th - Far

The group head out on the road once more. The day passes without event and as the sky begins to grow dim the land before them drops into a river valley and the houses of Bluescar can be seen in the distance by a golden beach. The massive slate-blue cliffs of the headland provide a grand backdrop, dwarfing the hamlet, giving it the appearance of a collection of toy houses and tiny fishing boats.

As they descend down the slope into the hamlet Ajax and Kapek notice something by the roadside. As they push the undergrowth aside the smell becomes all too apparent, rotting flesh. They uncover the body of a human man, he is in an advanced state of decay and his injuries are difficult to discern. His back has been torn to ribbons by clawed hands and his eyes have been removed, although it can't be determined when this was done as much of his soft tissue could have liquefied or been eaten by scavengers such as gulls.

The cursed hamlet of Bluescar lies ahead in a vale gradually becoming shrouded by twilight.

The group begin to scout into the silent hamlet. No signs of life here except for the occasional cow seeking shelter from the wind or the sound of dogs fighting over scraps of meat.
No home fires are lit, no fires burn in the hearths, many front doors swing open in the gathering winds there is no one here.

As they wander the streets Kapek and Ajax keep an eye out for tracks, there are none to be found, it has been over two months since the night that the blue mist was seen. They cross the river and spy a tavern, so they head there in search of any life.
Kapek comes upon some strange tracks that lead into the "Rusty Anchor" tavern, it looks like someone has dragged a sack or something into the bar, only there are no footprints, only hand-prints.
Upon entering the dark and still bar, the smell of stale beer and pipe-smoke hangs faintly in the cold air, the fire has not burned in many weeks and many of the tables are over-turned, some still have half-full tankards sitting on them along with half-eaten meals.

Ajax notices that the tracks lead around behind the bar, there is blood in the marks of what is being dragged. He heads around the bar to investigate, everyone expects a monster in the cellar scenario, but to Ajax's surprise he sees a human, its legs appear to be torn off and it has no eyes. The mutilated corpse bares it's teeth in aggression, the semi-decayed flesh beginning to tauten and dry out, it wildly thrashes out with it's broken, sharp nails. With one blow Ajax puts the thing out of its misery.

The group begin a house to house search of the hamlet.
They find empty scabards, within the houses, half-eaten meals, sprays of blood and the occasional dog-chewed corpse.
In time they come across a house where Lorric hears a low rasping exhalation or groan from within. Anvil knocks loudly with no response before kicking the door off its hinges and stepping in.
By the light of a dim everbright crystal, they can see the figure of an old man sitting at a desk slowly turning the pages of a book before him. Shelves of books line the walls, Lorric moves into the shadows and moves into a flanking position. Anvil tries to communicate with the figure but it simply turns its head slightly when it hears his voice and the continues reading, the alarm is raised and the rest arrive.
Ajax approaches the figure and sees the the dead flesh of the figure, lips tight and drawn, its eyes are simply dark cavities, he decapitates it with one swing of his sword, the old man falls to the floor, revealing that he only had one leg, and it appears that he was thus diabled in life.
Anvil begins to study the books lining the walls while Ajax looks ate what the creature was "reading".
The book is titled "The Writings of Wilgrim the Sage" and in thin spidery writin is the tale of Yberiggan.
Brief Synopsis:
"Decades ago Yberiggan the widow threw herself from Bluescar headland after her husband was lost at sea, as she fell she hollered a curse to The Devourer. As her body hit the rocky shore The Devourer cursed her in return, forever to serve her in the deep."

Anvil takes several books of local lore and interest, then the group continue searching the village before heading to the forge to rest for the night.
The forge is cold and, much to Anvil's disgust, many of the tools are begining to show signs of light rusting. Katerina goes round the building closing the wooden shutters that are beginning to bang in the gathering wind while the rest of the group make camp for the night.
The wind gathers as the night deepens, a storm blows in from the Thunder Sea, the sounds of wind and howling dogs are they only sounds through the night as Anvil and Lorric settle down to read some of the books they have collected.

*Anvil Comments
While the rest of the group sleeps or take they turns on watch, Anvil does what he does every night as his companions sleeps, he takes there weapons and armour one at a time and with great care and thought cleans, polishes and sharpen them where needed. (Kapek being a fine warrior and skilled craftman in his own right needs no aid with this). Then he turns his attention to the forge and once again with care and being as quiet as possible so as not to upset his sleeping companion, begins to clean the forge, sharpen rusted blades and prepare the forge to be lit by the next blacksmith. During these hours he pauses from time to time as one of his sleeping friends moans or jumps or moves in they sleep and he wonders what it is like to sleep and to dream.....