The Ghosts of Paws

From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki

By Gwendolyn

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, I went to Trinsic to attend the Council Meeting. I had heard reports of strange ghosts haunting the lands of late and I hoped to learn more. These ghosts apparently were cursing people and someone even told me that the new town of Elysium was cursed. As my guild had put a lot of time and effort into creating Elysium, I wanted to help in any way I could to remove the curse.

I went to the Trinsic Meeting Hall and found a number of people already there. A few more came in after the meeting began. I counted thirty-one people in all. There was even a seer at the meeting, Seer Nikademus. I found this interesting because I have seen a green-robed seer only once before. The attendees included: Christian of RAV; Lenknat of KOP; Fizban; Magus Draco; Arturius of C^L; Zeromus; Alma Beoulve; several members of the Trinsic Council; some representatives of the Yew Militia; Gargish Dragon, the Mayor of Yew; Dyluck Blade of WYS; Aleph Aeirs of 2ST; and several members of my guild, the Knights of Sosaria.

Orchid, the Mayor of Trinsic, began by telling what she knew of the ghosts and their mysterious messages:

"It was brought to my attention that the strange events we have experienced began not last week, but actually some time before when an oracle of sorts visited Dalriada. He said of some forthcoming troubles he saw between Yew and Trinsic. Recently, as we all know ghosts started appearing - Sir Simon, Belle, etc - carrying messages speaking of curses upon Trinsic because they supposedly did not aid in their time of need. Who's time of need? Apparently The long since destroyed town of Paws. Paws was attacked and destroyed by Orcs long ago, and it is true that Trinsic apparently did not show up in time to prevent it. In fact, only one survivor remained when they finally came. You may recall Crawworth. He was the survivor. Now I know not the reason why it took Trinsic so long to get there. It was long since before my time and there is nothing I could have done to aid. Apparently though, now they want revenge. But why now? What have they waited so long to seek vengeance upon us?" "It is the ghosts, of those I assume to be deceased citizens of Paws that want revenge. Last night, I am told they came with a message more frightening than any before."

At this point, several people told Orchid of the ghosts who appeared to them last night. Fizban said, "Last night every ghost along with a few new ones appeared before WYU." SunWolf was also a witness: "Ma'am Mayor, these ghost of some sorts had visited Abbey. Also Serpent Cross Tavern. They stated Trinsic Council will pay for their deeds at the meeting at next sun rise." "I fear we may be in grave danger, though I am still not sure from what," replied Orchid.

The discussion continued for some time, when, all of a sudden, I felt a chill behind me. I turned towards the door and saw a ghost walk into the room. His name was Sir Simon. The communication crystals that were set up for the meeting allowed us to understand all of Sir Simon's speech. I faithfully wrote down everything he said:

"In a chest hidden by the best of thieves...this letter shall rest an eternity"

"false paladin....stole...my letter"

"the others...do not know...the truth"

"they will not....listen"

"they must...have peace"

"Paws...destroyed"

"I failed"

"false paladin...stole...my letter"

"they blame...Trinsic"

"the spirits...will not...listen"

"and neither...will He"

"follow"

At this point, Sir Simon left the room. We all scrambled to follow before we lost sight of him.

Sir Simon led us out of Trinsic and north along the road. We hadn't gone far when he stopped and moaned something. Lenknat interpreted for us: "In Vain I died here." Sir Simon then continued north aways. He led us east through the woods and stopped at a graveyard near the swamps. He began reading the headstones to us. It quickly became apparent that the people buried here were killed by the orcs that destroyed Paws. This is what he said:

"Belle....daughter...of Samuel..."

"child of Paws..."

"Poor Tremain...guard of Paws"

"Marianne...baker...of Paws"

"Sir John...Mayor..."

"Polly...Paws tavernkeep"

"only survivor"

"Farley...foolish drunk"

"he will not listen"

"Farley knows...the way..."

"Farley will not listen"

"foolish drunk..."

"seek Farley...he lives near"

"only survivor..."

"Tessa.....my Lady Tessa"

"My lady Tessa...I miss her"

"our son...Crawworth...all dead"

"all gone now"

"the spirits...will not rest..."

"Farley will not listen..."

"foolish drunk..."

"seek him"

Sir Simon suddenly disappeared, leaving us to speculate who this Farley person was. Sir Simon said something about him living nearby, so we began to search all the houses in the area for any signs.

We split up into groups to search the area faster. I know not who first found it, but we soon gathered in front of a small wooden house. The sign read: "Farley's Hunting Shack - Go Away!"

After discussing what to do next, we decide to wait in front of the house in case the owner returned soon.

A strange looking fellow wearing the shiniest plate armor walked up and asked why we were gathered about the house. His name was Stratege. Lady Nova told him that we were waiting for a man called Farley. Stratege told us about someone he met a few weeks back in the woods who was trying to fight off a few ratmen near a chest. Stratege said that he helped kill the ratmen and that the man gave him part of the treasure, 500 gold pieces. He seemed to think that the man was named Farley, but he couldn't be certain. Stratege seemed to be amused by our explanation that we were waiting because a ghost told us to, and he left with the words, "back to smithing."

Remembering what Sir Simon said about Farley being a drunk, Orchid went to search the taverns for him. Some of the people in our group left to search other areas. I left for awhile as well.

When I returned to Farley's house, there was still a good-sized group waiting. A few minutes later, Orchid returned from her search of the taverns without having found anything. A discussion began regarding what we learned about the ghosts and Farley, speculation as to who the master thief is, and how all this relates to Trinsic. It was feared that all this was a ruse to get us away from the city and that Trinsic was under attack. Callisto Gabriel rode to Trinsic and returned to report that all was peaceful there.

A few of the people waiting had taken to summoning elementals and sparring with them to practice their skills and help pass the time. While all this was going on, it was almost easy not to notice a small, gray-bearded man walk up from the west. Lady Nova was the first to say, "There he is!" We all turned and were glad to finally see Farley, the Treasure Hunter.

Farley walked up to his house, mumbled under his breath angrily, and said, "Get ye away from me house." Lady Nova and Orchid tried to ask him some questions, but his reply was, "Ask ye questions to the swamp." After muttering, "Away from me doorstep," Farley went inside his house and locked the door behind him. We continued to wait outside his house in case he changed his mind about talking to us. We could hear him drinking.

Some minutes passed before Farley stumbled out onto his doorstep. He muttered, "Ye best be off, fore I get angry." But we were not so easily shooed. Lenknat asked, "Can you help us?" To which Farley replied, "No one can help ye as no one can help me." Orchid said, "We need help obtaining a letter sealed in a chest hidden by the best of thieves." We tried to explain briefly why we were there and asked Farley many questions which he did not answer. Someone mentioned a test, and to this Farley responded: "A test I give thee. No one can best me in the hunt. I shall devise a test. Only I am able to find the treasures that others hide." He then tried to scare us away with a feeble attempt at magic by muttering, "Corpus Por," "Corpal Por," and "Corpy Pory." This, of course, did not work.

We asked Farley again about the test. He said, "A test I give thee. Ye shant pass test, give up now." Someone mentioned the ghosts, and Farley muttered, "Evil spirits. The spirits haunt me dreams. I shant have thee cluttering me mind with these lies." Orchid told him, "We can stop the spirits, but only with your help." Farley said, "This map I give thee, ye not find treasure," and then asked who was the leader among us. We told him that it was Mayor Orchid. Farley continued: "Ye not find this treasure, even me unable. If thee finds this treasure, me give what ye ask. Bring to me the completed map along with all gems and drink. If thee do this, me take to fake orc chest." Orchid replied, "Its a deal." Farley gave Orchid a tattered treasure map, muttered "Now begone from me hut," and went back inside to resume his drinking.

We discussed what to do next and how we were going to find a treasure hunter. Lenknat's father, a master cartographer named Maximun, came to see if he could help. Maximun tried to read the map and then announced, "Tis too difficult." He told us that only a grandmaster cartographer could read the map. From this we knew that it was one of the most difficult types of treasure maps in the lands and that getting the treasure would involve fighting several of the toughest monsters in Britannia.

Several people sent messages via pigeon to friends to help locate a grandmaster cartographer, without any success. It quickly became clear that finding one could take awhile. Several of us went to the Wandering Wisp tavern to discuss the situation further over a good drink. Orchid decided that we should continue our search for a cartographer and return to the Wisp in two hours.

I went home get supplies for the hunt. When I returned to the Wisp, no qualified cartographer had yet been located. Callisto Gabriel soon had a lead and gave the information to Orchid. The Mayor contacted this cartographer, and he agreed to help us. Orchid brought the cartographer, named Cotton Picka of LoT, to the Wisp.

Cotton read the map and told us that the treasure was buried on a small island between Britain and Trinsic. We located two boats and then went to Leiah's Rune Library. A rune was found to a nearby island so that our sailing time would be shorter. We gated to the island and then boarded the boats. Most of the people got on the first boat. I boarded the second boat with a few of my guildmates. We tried to keep up with the first boat, but managed to get lost. I was able to get the coordinates of the first boat via pigeon and then we were on our way again.

When we caught up with the first boat, they were already at the island and the treasure hunt was in progress. The corpses of several monsters lay on the shore. I witnessed the deaths of a lich lord and two elder gazers before the treasure hunt was over. All the loot was gathered, and we then gated back to the Wisp.

Mayor Orchid let each person chose one of the magic items from the loot as a reward for helping with the quest. She then asked us all to meet back at the Wisp tomorrow night at 8 o'clock to see if we can locate Farley again and show that we have passed his test.

This Sunday proved to be a very long day for me. I was glad to go home and get some rest, though it was an adventure not to forget!

-Gwendolyn