Lofty and Galdor decide to find Agatha the Banshee and ride out of Deadwood together, while Astrid and Sildar head-off looking for Cargmaw Castle, the location of Gundren and the Map to the Wave Echo Cave,
Lofty and Galdor go to the Townmaster’s Hall and spot a notice outside:
“REWARD—Orcs near Wyvern Tor! Those of a mind to face the orc menace should inquire within.”
Lofty enters and enquire about the Orcs.
The Deadwood Townmaster’s assistant is very rude and does not think much of the Rogue or his capacity to complete the Orc bounty.
TRIBOAR TRAIL – AGATHA THE BANSHEE
Deadwood lies in a part of the North known as “the Triboar Trail,” “the Triboar Cut-off,” or “the Cony Gap.” This stretch of foothills and roiling, sparsely wooded plains extends between the Sword Mountains to the south and Neverwinter Wood to the north.
The area gains its name from an old trail that runs from the distant town of Triboar to the east, winding westward about one hundred miles through the abandoned village of Conyberry, then running north of Deadwood on its way to the High Road along the coast.
Lofty and Galdor head North out of Deadwood and at night hear noises in the dark which turn out to be an Undead Dwarf. Lofty and Galdor follow the creature and end-up at the Old Owl Well, which appears to be a ruined Watchtower.
Here there are many Zombies all either working on repairing the walls and Tower or removing items from within the Tower itself. Lofty and Galdor head down to investigate and they see a figure commanding the creatures to do his bidding.
Kost is a stout, red-robed figure with sallow skin, a shaved scalp, and a black tattoo on his forehead.
One of the Zombies is a Dwarf and on closer inspection turns out to be Tharden, one of Gundren’s brothers. Why was he killed and Who killed him?
The Red Wizard, Kost, explains he is looking for trinkets and a Spellbook and if Lofty and Galdor help he would reward them for their efforts. Coincidently, it was also the location of Bowgentle’s Spellbook.
Red Wizard, Kost
Lofty and Galdor head off to deal with Agatha the Banshee and eventually find her home made of a dome of woven branches. After much parlay, Lofty figures that Agatha the Banshee has lost her mind and if it wasn’t for his charms and the Jewelled Silver Comb, thing would have gone every badly for the 2 Heroes.
Agatha the Banshee tells them that she traded the book to a Necromancer named Tsernoth from the city of Iriaebor more than a hundred years ago. She does not know what became of the book afterward. She is at peace now and leaves this mortal world.
Agatha the Banshee
Lofty and Galdor ride back to the Old Owl Well and claim their prize from the Red Wizard Kost. Lofty is given a Ring of Protection for his help. Lofty and Galdor take Tharden’s body back to Deadwood so that Sister Garaele can talk to the dead.
As the 2 lone adventurers are leaving the Old Owl Wellin the late evening, Lofty notices an extremely well-hidden figure shrouded in black in the trees some distance from the two of them. The figure appears to sense that they had been spotted and they disappear among the trees. Lofty attempts to track the mysterious spy, successfully tracks the assailant, and finds the tracks are of a slight man or a woman and very light of foot. They eventually mount a horse and depart in the direction of Deadwood.
Lofty chooses not to eat that evening, as his stomach was upset and he has a slight head pain.