Chapter 8: Black Knights and a trip to Igor

From the Chronicles of Brother Jacques

24/5 Sir Zacharias approached Keruna, and offered to accompany / escort her to Igor.
She agreed - we left after a few hours.

Meanwhile, (N) Norman supplied us with a little bit of extra information:
Gissan (a beggar) was with Darmon the Shoemaker when he found Jerris' corpse. They saw a boot, then a leg, then a body floating in the water. They pulled the body out and checked for life. Darmon became very angry (I suspect because of the fake Kali strangulation).
Note that foreigners might not know that the water gates prevent corpses drifting out of Senacran with the tide / current.

We left Senacran; Sir Zacharias (and Marcello and Olivier), Sir Jean-Marc / Erenion, Soro, Darianne, myself, Baroness Keruna, Lady Fardema (who I think is Captain of the Igorian City Guard) and 9 (or Keruna's, not City) guards.
Fardema at the front, looking preoccupied, J-M / E at the rear, trying not to be recognised by F, his ex-lover.

After fording a river, we approached a wood, but not too closely; we set up camp a bowshot or so outside the edge.

I tried to DETECT EVIL / SEE SPIRITS; the wood is not evil, being, I assume, the domain of an Angel (though not an Angel of God). I entered the wood alone, and conversed first with some sort of Tree Spirit (or possibly an animated tree / tree-like being).


It was a being of considerable power, but it summoned Beorn; another being more suited to conversation (I'm not sure what Beorn is).
I asked Beorn if the Dagger had passed this way - the answer being yes, carried by a single, very evil man, about a day before.
I said that I would destroy it if I could.
Furthermore, Beorn stated that the Dagger is a Demon.
This all has several implications:
The Dagger is probably on the way to Igor (Keruna) or Ravens Bluff (Alabar).
The Dagger is a Demon, or incorporates a Demonic Spirit. Normally a Demon cannot survive for long in our world.
We still don't know if the dagger is created by Demons to further their aims, or Demonologists to control Demons (but I sort of favour the former).
I (pretended to) flee from the forest, pursued by snatching branches and such.
This somewhat incited the Knights to attack the forest, and I had to admit to my fallibility and hubris. Strangely, Keruna said something about not seeking conflict with Beorn at this time.
The rest of the night passed uneventfully.

25/5 We continued towards Igor; a crevasse to the right (West), mountains riding to the left (East). We burried some Goblin skeletons (smaller than Human) on the grounds that they might have had Souls. I'm really not sure as we don't have them in Valon.

Soon before Igor we saw that the road was blocked at a pass, by a Black Knight and 2 companions. Keruna had mentioned this possibility, and remained aloof, smiling slightly, throughout the encounter. I think that it was a test of some sort, but have no idea by whom.
I BLESSED Sir Zacharias, and he rode to combat. Sir J-M / E followed.
Sir Z noticed that there were in fact 2 Black Knights (and later, that they were all Undead; some sort of Intelligent / Skilled Zombies).
Our Knights prevailed with style, but to my mind the contest was too close for comfort. Sir Z had to crush the headless body of his opponent before it stopped fighting. Sir J-M / E recieved a wound that I cauterised and HEALED later.
We burned the bodies (I don't think that this was necessary, so I deliberately offered false advice).

We went to Igor Castle, and moved into our rooms.
Later, there was a banquet of sorts. Notables included:
Sheriff Sir Talamius Endraco.
Lord Justice of Assize (mobile court) Zachmahin Endraco.
Lord High Justice of the Barony Digoril Asarios (Keruna's righthand man).
Scribe / accountant Kiri Indel (f. Gnome).
Collector of taxes Isledore Toral.
Lord High Sheriff Sir Maldrathos Toral.
Armourer Vor Zekar (Dwarf).
Royal Commissioner of Custom & Excise in the Barony Calaceth Eswin (also, a mage).
Lord Mayor Indra Fellin.
Captain of Mercenaries Sir Anarai Treowegefa.
Sir Z talked with Vor Zekar and others, and we retired to a reading room.
One of the servants was bleeding from his shoulder, I really don't know why.

26/5 We went into Igor town, with Brandon (a servant / minder) as interpreter.

We should consider going on to Ravens Bluff today, as Keruna is doing so.
I think that the Dagger is going there (and if it isn't, we cannot get it anyway).