Aeilbeth Day 1: Black Veins

My first job in this town wasn't exactly very taxing, few "dire" termites to kill. At least it was easy coin.

Afterwards, I'm sitting with my comrades and sharing a few tankards with the locals. I notice they're fine with Ulalume Albertus and I, but Tanyth and Gnarhan get a few awkward sideways glances. Can't blame them, a backwater town like this can't get many in the way of Tieflings and Dragonborn, and these two aren't the most open of their kind. Gnarhan, has the stoic detachment that comes from fighting far too many battles, and losing too many friends. I've seen that look too many times. Tanyth, however, seems to hold a regal aloofness, not necessarily arrogance, just a seperation from most of us. She makes her excuses and goes to bed.

A shrill scream is heard outside, and I leap outside. The others still there follow. A mother is clutching her child, whose veins seemed filled with darkness. Further screams are heard around
us as more and more parents were discovering their children in similar states.

"Dark magic!" Albertus states unnecessarily. The speed at which it spread and took hold of the children, even with my basic knowledge I knew it was nothing natural, and I'm sure everyone else did.

A meeting is soon called by the town elder in the tavern. I assume it's to try and calm down the situation, more than anything else.

We all decide to listen to the meeting, in the corner so as not to seem daunting. Tanyth has also joined us, but I catch in the corner of my eye not just to view the commotion. She soon quickly and deftly removes some scroll like item from another guest of the inn. The mark didn't even notice, so more fool him.

The meeting itself was the usual affair. Panic stricken parents obviously wanting something done. They decided they were going to make a call for a group to investigate the matter. Finally, Avandra seems to have smiled at us. We eventually offer our services, and the townspeople offer a reward of 100 gold pieces, although for some it was grudgingly. Mentions of bandits holding them at ransom were bandied around, but the elder soon quietened this.

We follow the elder to his house to discuss it further. As soon as I walk in, I can recognise that this is a man with some hunting experience. Stuffed trophies and hunter's weapons adorned the walls. Maybe I'll have to talk to him further at a later date, if only to share stories, though I'm sure he didn't have the same quarries I have had.

He offers a further 50 gold, as he has a child himself and fills us in with everything he knows. Miners of a nearby mine have recently gone missing and a caravan has recently entered town. Usually where one mystery happens, another is not far behind so we agree to investigate the mine in the morning.