Paths to Chaos: Through the Drakwald (part 3 of 3)

As the sun rose next day, the townspeople were almost ready to leave their hometown of Untergard, searching for the protection of Middenland’s greatest walls, those of the capital, Middenheim. The party consisted of three ox cart, two caring a few goods for their subsistence and all the wordly belongings they managed to put on them. The remaining cart had Granny Moescher and her orphans. There were around 85 townspeople on foot, and a few Watchmen to guard them.

As the retinue left town, Captain Schiller ordered one third of his Watchmen to guard the front, one third the rear, and the last third to spread on the flanks on either side. Woodsman Hans Bauer scouted ahead in the forest, assisted by the Thorne, the young Hunter. Both of them were closed followed by the Roadwarden Magnus “Nightwalker”, who knew the roads better than most. Chades, the Verenean Initiate, helped Father Dietrich and Captain Schiller maintain order and the spirits as high as they could. He also spent some time with the children Granny Moescher tended. For it was clear to anyone who had eyes to see that the whole party made an obvious target, if they were unlucky enough to find someone with the disposition to attack. And, as those were dark days, there were no lack of creatures with that kind of disposition…

So, it seemed luck as they came to the end of the first day without having any encounter. They had travelled very slowly, something like twenty kilometers. When Captain Schiller ordered them to stop and make camp, Thorne went to the woods to search for some prey or anything that would help them eat better, as their food was lacking. The young man did manage some roots and two squirrels.

On the middle of the second day, the retinue arrived at the outskirts of Grimminhagen. Smoke was still visible from the city, but somehow it didn’t looked like the smoke from ovens. Without speaking a word, Hans Baumer started leading the party around the city. Untergard and Grimminhagen’s people disliked each other for more than one hundred years, since those who founded Untergard left the larger city to escape the absurd taxes of their Graf.

But, being a follower of Verena, Chades Knigway could not let this chance pass. To him, even if the city was a ruin, it was better to look for help there than just pass by. And they had to warn the people of the warherd too. So he pleaded the good people of Untergard to pass through Grimminhagen, only to hear shouts of hatred and disbelief. Captain Schiller heard him, but didn’t find that going to the city was worthwhile. So he decided the party would move very slowly, and anyone wanting to go with Chades could do so and catch them while they made their way around. Thorne and Magnus went along.

The three of them found only the cities remains. The ruins were in very bad shape. That were people still living there, though. But when they asked for help for the Untergard folk, everyone shouted or even threw small rocks.

When they warned the survivors about the warherd, they were sent to the Bailiff, a man called Gunther. He acted as Bailiff for the Sternhauer family, who ruled the city. He was representing the Graf in the rebuilding effort, and the three outsiders quickly learn why: the Graf and his family were safely locked in their keep, which was miles away. They had gone there before the battle, to guard themselves.

Gunther dealt seriously with the threat of the warherd, promptly sending scouts to the south. But when Chades and Magnus tried to make him hear about the Untergard people’s situation, he hardened and sent them away.

Frustrated, the three went back to the retinue, and told their friends what they heard. No one was surprised about the behaviour the people of Grimminhagen and Gunther the Bailiff had showed them, and many showed their contempt for the Sternhauer family, declaring them as cowards and worse. Granny Moescher was one of them, though she kept her swearing to herself to spare the children.

The rest of the second day passes without any other incident. At night, the caravan make camp at a clearing besides the road. Guards are set up as normal, and Thorne went out to put some animal traps. As he returns, there are children going everywhere in the camp, asking for Granny Moescher. Someone saw the old lady living camp in the direction of the woods. Her trail is easy to follow, and within ten minutes, a search party with Thorne, Chades, Hans Baumer, Magnus and some Watchmen find Granny, standing with her back to them, holding some fresh herbs in her hands. The party comes near, and suddenly everyone stops. There is movement among the trees.

Everyone was struck with awe as the source of movement becomes clear. Wearing cloaks that almost become one with the leaves, and appearing to have a changing shadow os mistery rounding them, the forest dwellers are elves! Just a few had ever seen elves before, and that in the heart of the greatests cities in the Empire. Never had anyone seen elves in the woods… specially not with their bows ready to shoot.

That who appears to be their leader demands to know what a witch is doing in their lands. Chades and the others have a hard time explaining that the so called “witch” is the town’s healer, afamed for taking care of the orphans, and a person most needed in the community. The tension diminishes, but not completely. The elves were still wary when Chades told them about the great warherd to the south. Then, the mood changed. Suddenly, it was obvious they were going to leave, even if none of them had made any movement yet. The leader said some words to each one of them, and then all the elves disappeared, as they were never there.

Next day began early. Some people seemed to believe the elves were going to fight the warherd just then and there. It was much the better for Captain Schiller and other practical minds.

In the middle of the third day’s afternoon, the scouts came back with most disturbing news. There was a manslaughter at a crossroad ahead. Captain Schiller decided that some would go ahead and try to clean things up a bit, while the others (specially old people, women and children, along with some watchmen) would stay and rest for the while. None was happy, for the Drakwald was dark and grim.

The men went along to clear the way, with Father Dietrich with them to make burial ceremonies. Soon it became clear they were some type of caravan, going to or coming from Delberz. Nine of the corpses were male, six female. Two had, though torn and dirty, clothes of excelent quality. There were two wrecked wagons. Aside from a dented shield and a quiver with 10 crossbow bolts, every corpse and wagon had been striped of their values.

Apparently, everyone died of many black, small arrows. Some had feathers and little rocks attached to it. The strongest guess was that what they were seeing was the scene of a goblin ambush.

The crossroad was formed by the main road, in which they were all travelling, and a narrow track that was wild and overgrown. Granny Moescher appeared, coming from the way everyone else had moments before. As men were dragging the corpses, some beginning to dig holes, Granny seemed absorbed, looking at a raven that perched on a faded sign that pointed to the small road. As Magnus and Thorne came closer to her, they heard her speaking, as much to herself as to anyone who could hear. She said “Fahndorf… My family came from there…” Then she looked to the ground. “My father died there.”

Magnus was very touched by the declaration. As he asked the old woman about it, she told them that Graf Sternhauer’s soldiers had killed her father. “All he did was hide some food from the Bailiff”, she said. “He didn’t want us to starve in the wintertime. They burned him to make an example for the rest of the village. Damn nobles. As if this life wasn’t hard enough without their boot heels on our throats.”

Magnus and Thorne almost had no time to feel sorry for Ganny. At that exact moment, a shout was heard loud. Father Dietrich had disappeared among some bushes! As everyone ran, they saw that in fact the good Father had fallen at a trap. He laid at the botton of a hole, large enough to hold a man. Several pointed stakes pierced through his body.

With his last strenght, Father Dietrich looked up, searching for someone. His eyes stopped at Chades, the Verenean Initiate who had becomed his friend. Father Dietrich moved his arm, as to ask their attention to his closed hand. “I die with a relic of Blessed Sigmar clenched in my hand”, he said. “For that at least, I can be thankful. But do not leave this holy icon in this wretched place. Take it from here and deliver it to the Temple of Sigmar in Middenheim. Swear to me that you will do this!” As Chades swore, tears running down his cheeks, the Sigmarite Priest relief was noticeble. He said “Praise the Heldenhammer”, all of his body relaxing, and then died, leaving the world to meet his lord.

Initiate Chades wanted to dig another grave for the Father, but Granny Moescher convinced him that the place where he died was as good as grave. A Sigmar Priest would honor the place of his ultimate battle. And besides, they didn’t had time to lose. All had a moment of silence. Some prayed. The icon was recovered without much difficulty, and the labourers filled the pit, making it a grave for the slain Priest. And, sad as they were, it was time to move on.

By the evening, the caravan had made to Immelscheld, another town that was sacked and laid in ruins. Captain Schiller ordered all to make camp outside the fallen town. The mood was very low. Everyone felt the absence of their Priest, even if they did not knew him for long. They also worried about an attack of the same vile creatures that killed those people found at the crossroad. But at least that never happened.

In the middle of the night, though, the cry of a child wakes the camp. Soon there was more than just one. It was obvious that those cries came from Granny’s ox cart.

The first to get there was Magnus, closely followed by Chades, Thorne and other curious or preoccupied people. Chades was able to calm the children, but none knew where Granny Moescher went. One dreamt of a black raven inside the wagon. Other said that she had become withdrawn after the ambush site.

Finally, the oldest child, a girl of almost 10, made a disturbant declaration:

“Granny Mo’s been funny all day. Since we stopped by the broken carts to rest the Oxen. She cried. I saw her! She said it was just dust, but I know it weren’t true. She was crying about Fahndorf. She said it was Soldiers what did the burnin’ but it was Graf Sternhaur who had bloody hands. She said lots of bad words. She said what’s power for if you don’t use it. She said the bird told her it was the right thing to do. I heard her say it, and then she was all scary looking. Like when Captain Schiller chopped up that beastman who killed Frau Becker.”

Everyone was perplexed. A search for Granny Moescher began at once, but no one saw her living the camp, nor did anyone find any track. It seemed she had just disapeared!

So, Thorne thought about searching Granny’s wagon. Eventually he found a note. As he couldn’t read, he passed it to Chades, who read it aloud:

“To Captain Schiller

Captain, I apologize for leaving the children in this way. Please try to find decent homes for them in Middenheim. They are good children and I pray they receive Shallya’s mercy after all the suffering they have endured.

I go to settle a debt with the Sternhauer family. I do this for myself and the people of Untergard. The price is mine alone to pay.

I wish you success in Middenheim. May Sigmar watch over you and all the people of Untergard. I am going home one last time. Perhaps we’ll meet again in Morr’s kingdom.

Granny Moescher”

Captain Schiller was in distress after the reading. He said that he vowed not to lose any other in his care, but he couldn’t leave the caravan. He wouldn’t set anyone else to look for Granny, in fear they might be lost as well. He ended up saying to the three outsiders that it was their decision to make.

The three of them felt very sad, but Chades and Thorne thought that the old woman had made her choice, and it was her path she was following. Both felt it wouldn’t be right for them to tray and stop Granny.

So, as they went to sleep, Magnus was left alone with his doubts and worries. The Roadwarden had grown found of the old woman, grumpy as she was. At least she had the trouble to help anyone who asked something for her, and she did take care of the children who had anyone else.

Magnus decided he would come back alone. He took his horse, probably the faster one of all the caravan. And started to make his way to the crossroad.

He had left hours after Granny, though. He thought that he should be able to catch with her, being ahorse. But if he didn’t, at least he would pay his respects to her.

Right before sunrise, he saw something most disturbing. Apparently near where the crossroad were, but still far away, a bright red light emerged from the trees, rising fast to the sky, leaving a red trail as if it were on fire. And then, it just disappeared!

Magnus made his horse run. At the crossroad, he turned to the narrow road, knowing exactly, from the ligth he saw, where he should go. The sun was about to appear when he arrived at the exact spot. He could hear the sound of wolves in the woods.

Granny Moescher laid lifeless in the middle of a circle of stones, in front of what should have

been a great fire. It was not apparent what had took her life. But Magnus felt goosebumps everywhere.

He dug a grave for her, and made a prayer. He also found an old book near where the body laid. Having no desire to read it, he took the book with him, to show Chades, the Verena Initiate.

And so, near midday, he made his way back to the caravan. There, his friends awaited. Some guards had seen the same light he had, but from a greater distance. He said to all that Granny Moescher had fell for Morr’s embrace. And, to his two closest friends, he told the whole story.

Chades didn’t know the language that the book was written in, but vowed to show them to his

superiors in Middenheim. Maybe they could learn something about Granny’s fate when that happened. And he still had Father Dietrich’s icon to deliver. So, they went along with the goof people of Untergard. And, a few days later, they all saw the great walls of the greater city, capital of Middenlad, standing on top of Ulricsberg. The signs of battle were evident. But it had passed.