At 8:30 a.m., the party arrives at the cave's entrance, and looking out into the valley below, Cel exclaims, "Oh my, looks like Silvanus has had some fun while we were away." A thick blanket of snow, in places 20" deep, covers the land, as a cold wind blows in from the northwest. "This will certainly make travel pleasant," she says with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Well, let's go, nothing we can do about it now."
So the party heads out toward the forest edge, just northeast of the hills.
It takes about 2 days to get to the edge of the woods, and then another 6 days to reach the Northride. Lucky for our adventurers, there were very few encounters. Oh, there was a small skirmish with a wild wolf and then that ... well, never mind, nobody got hurt bad, just a few minor scrapes and bruises.
At the Northride, the party meets up with a small group of travelers heading north. The party joins them and finds out that they are a group of militia from Tilverton, who, at the request of Lady Shrae, are heading to Voonlar to assist in what Lady Shrae claims is "... a tense situation indeed. I fear that violence will break out soon if something isn't done."
The leader of the group, named Kathrynn, a female human Ranger from Tilverton, is accompanied by a couple of male humans, Derik and Norm the Eagle Eye, a male cleric named Golthwen Haltharin, a human male, named Trenth, as well as a young female elf named Arwen Ravenwood.
Everyone agrees to travel together, and continues to Voonlar.
After another 2 1/2 days of travel, Derik yells out, "It's just ahead, I can see the smoke curling up from the chimneys." Kathrynn looks ahead and then remarks, solemnly, "not from the chimneys, Derik, from the buildings!"
As the party approaches with a quicker pace, they see what Lady Shrae had feared. A number of buildings, the temple of Chauntea one of them, are smoking from the aftermath of what must have been a major battle. About a half dozen smaller buildings are completely destroyed, the general store and its residence badly damaged, and the north wing of the Bounty of the Goddess, is still burning, as dozens of temple clerics and townspeople are struggling to keep it contained. Across the street, also damaged by fire, though not as bad, is the temple of Cyric, with a group of Cyrists yelling out across to the opposition faith, "Cyric rules. There is but one god, and his name is Cyric. Hail Cyric."
Lady Shrae, covered in black soot and ash, and stained with blood, is tending to the injured nearby the entrance to the temple. As the party watches in horror, a mounted party of Zhentarim approach from the center of the town. They stop just long enough for one of them to make an announcement to Lady Shrae. "This day shall be remembered by all the citizens of Voonlar as the day of purging. Those who swear allegiance to the Dark Sun, and wear his bracelet of enslavement, shall be protected, and provided for. You, and those who follow you and reject the authority of Cyric, shall face dangerous times ahead. With no one to protect you, or your children, you shall all surely perish. Soon, all of Voonlar will come to know the power and greatness of Cyric. Soon, the lands from the Moonsea, west to the Thunder Peaks and beyond, will bow down to Cyric and his followers. Yes, my sweet Lady Shrae, protect your precious temple. Soon it will be rubble under the feet of my army, your blood will stain my sword, and your head will adorn the gate of our temple."
As they ready to leave the town, heading the party's way, someone approaches the message post, just off to the right, and with a small dagger, press the large parchment onto the post over all the existing messages. Tiron and Delf examine the scroll, looking intensely interested as a way to avoid the uncoming Zhents:
From this day forward, under the order of Buorstag Hlammythyl, all citizens of Voonlar are to comply with the following:
- A town tax of 20% shall be paid to the town treasurer on the first day of each month, beginning with the current month. As it is the 2nd of Alturiak, you are all already late, and the 5% late fee shall be imposed. Those who cannot pay the required tax will have their property seized and sold.
- All weapons are illegal within the boundary of Voonlar. Those caught with weapons shall be fined 50gp for the first offense, and jailed for the second. Third offense carries the penalty of death.
- All citizens are to be registered at the town magistrate's office. This registration shall commence immediately. You will be notified of when you are to arrive at the magistrate's office.
- There will be NO toleration of religions other than Cyric. Those who wish to remain believers of those other than Cyric can leave Voonlar by sundown on the 8th. Those who remain will be given the silver bracelet of Cyric, symbol of their enslavement to our god. Only those with the bracelet will be able to buy and sell within the town's boundaries.
- Attacks against the ruling members of the Zhentarim will be punishable by imprisonment of no less than 5 years. Attackers against the priests of Cyric will be publically executed.
- Those entering Voonlar are required to visit the magistrate's office immediately upon entering the town.
Other rules will be posted here. There is no excuse for ignorance!!!
Signed,
Xerces the II, chief overseer of Voonlar, assistant to the bron, Buorstag Hlammythyl.
As the Zhents approach, one yells toward you, "Good. I see you are reading the post. Pay particular attention to item 6." And with that, they leave town, heading south.
Our heroes head toward the temple of Chauntea, and make their way to Lady Shrae...