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The Epilogue of the Prologue

It was a long trek back to Sundabar.  Dio kept worrying about Andrew, Samm, and Gregor.  Each morning, he would pour the blessings of Moradin into them, in an attempt to stave off the disease within them.  It visibly reduced their symptoms but didn't completely cure them.  Dio thought about pouring all of his power into one of them and seeing if that would help but worried if it didn't, he would lose one.  Of course, he also based this on the thought of it only being a three day, four at the most, trip back to Sundabar.  It took six.  

The snows came steady during the day.  The wind came at night, blowing it around and obscuring vision.  It wasn't cold enough to worry about, they had wood for fire, but it slowed them down.  A few days, they didn't even try to move, instead they made their makeshift shelters, tarp connected to the wagons, warmer.  The group told stories, Dio of the Hammers, Samm and Roldan of other trips.  Rolen spoke of his uncle and coming to understand what he had taught him better.  Kaji spoke of Kossuth and kept the inside warm and lit.  Tristan and Molek would start games of chance, dice or random card games that Tristan created.  Were it not for the three who were sick, this would have been a good time.  

While Andrew, Samm, and Gregor continued to worsen, Dio was able to get most of it.  It was not as fast as he first thought and when they started moving again, Dio thought they had a chance of making it back to Sundabar.  He was right!  On the sixth day, when they saw Sundabar, they all cheered and took shots of some whisky someone produced, a fire in their bellies to match the fire in their hearts and making it home!  

It was with bitter sadness that Tristan announced he would be leaving.  "Molik tells me that I have something I must do for my mistress.  I don't remember how much I told you but I pledged myself to her and I mean to make good on it.  There are things-," as Mollek coughed, Tristan trailed off and then started again, "that I must do.  Nothing to worry about, good Dio.  Nothing that Moradin would disapprove of.  As Mollick hinted, though, there are things I cannot share with the rest of you.  And I know that will hurt you, Dio, after wanting to get rid of secrets.  I also fear that will only get worse.  I didn't want to leave before I knew all of you would be safe in Sundabar but I must go.  Raise a toast to me from time to time and if I can, I will return to do so with you.  Just drop my shares and spread it out among the rest of you.  I won't need any marks or crowns where I'm going."  He then passed the whisky around again and raised his glass to all of them.  While they were still a mile from Sundabar, Tristan said his good byes, and then he and Mollak walked off into the snow, seemingly unperturbed by it.  A blast of cold air swirled up the snow and when it settled, they could see Tristan no longer.  

They didn't have long to be sad, though, for Dio wanted to get Andrew, Samm, and Gregor to the temple.  Erik greeted them warmly and was shocked at how well Dio had done.  "I have seen this before.  The reason your blessings couldn't help them as much as you thought is because it's not a disease but a curse.  A curse of turning into an undead.  I know how to fix this."  It took several hours to prepare but when Erik finished, all of them were unsteady but looking much better!  Still, the group held off on celebrating, needing to get the wagons and supplies to Lady Sara.  

When they arrived at her manor, she greeted them warmly.  "It is good to finally meet y'all," she said, in a faint Waterdhavian accent.  "I'm much obliged at returning my property."  She sent the wagons off with some of her people, saying they would tally up what was found.  In the meantime, would they join her for some refreshments?  The group agreed.  Samm, Gregor, Liam, and Dani wren't thrilled about having some weird noble food.  They were quite happy when she had fresh cuts of cooked chicken, pork, and cheeses.  There was a dark bread as well, something they hadn't had before up north but found palatable.  Further, she had some of the best ale any of the group had tasted!  Everyone did well in not stuffing themselves after nearly two tenday of rations and game on the road.  Lady Sara wanted to know all about what happened.  The group told the tale to her over the next few hours, with someone interjecting their side of it, or telling a different point of view altogether!  

Lady Sara darkened when told of what happened at Adgrove.  "Yes, we will need to see to this Viktor but I do worry the weather will allow him to escape justice.  For now," she amended, as Dio started to get angry.  "We will see him pay for these crimes."  Lady Sara then told the group what had been happening in town since they had left.  It felt like a longer month than it had been.  

When she finished, her people came forward with the tallies.  Lady Sara received them and turned to the group, who were waiting anxiously.  "Well, my, my!  All, y'all, did quite well!  I'm tahld that y'all brought back fifteen thousand crowns worth of goods!"  The group couldn't help but yelp with joy, although a few sat stunned.  "I will secure those payments.  I also see, y'all brought back the books I wanted as well.  A'll y'all shall receive the ten crown bonus I promised."  Lady Sara has letters of credit written up so that the group can go to the temple of Helm and receive the coin.  She does entertain the group for another half hour but then the drivers want to get going.  Lady Sara asks if the group would stay back.  

"I do want to help y'all find this Viktor," she starts.  "Perhaps, y'all would consider working for me?  Come Spring, then, I will see if we can't pick up a trail once the caravan routes are open."  

(Here I make the assumption that the group agrees.)  

Lady Sara knows the group will want to rest and there is little to be done during the months of Uktar and Nightal in any case.  The group gets their shares and heads back to the Green Griffon to spend their coin and enjoy the rest.  

The group wondered if what the giant they met had said would happen but while the winter started harsh, the next three months turned into a usual winter.  It was still too snowy and cold to travel much in Hammer and the start of Altariak but mid Altariak, and Lady Sara asks if they would come join her.  The party eagerly goes to see what they can do!

(We will start here next time)

DM Notes 

• If I have it figured out correctly, each share is 833 and a third marks, which means each PC gets 2500 marks plus ten crowns for the books.  
• We can discuss anything the group would have picked up when they had time.   

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