For the children

[Redjack]

The two friends tip up their mugs at the Rusty Tankard and take swig of the strong ale before sitting them back on the table simultaneously.
The dark haired man sighs and leans back in his seat then looks at his friend critically.

"You look like shit and swung that pick like a woman." "What was with you today?"

The bald headed man winced at the words before wiping some dust off his face and replied.

"Didn't sleep last night."

"Guilty conscience or something?"

"No! why ya say it like that!"

"You should see your face." "Got something on your mind?"

"Had visitors last night."

Grabs his mug and takes a deep drink before continuing.

"Was sleeping when there was this rapping on the door."
"Woke us both up." "Told my wife to watch the kids while I grabbed my ax and went to the door to see who was knocking at that hour of the night."

"Who was it!"

"Shut up I'm telling you." "Some men dressed in black, couldn't count them as it was dark, but more then one I know that."

"Bandits?"

"Don't think so, at least not like the ones you usually hear about."

"What did they want?"

"They asked for donations."

"What the hells? Donations for what?"

"They said for children and sick people."

"Illimater?"

"Nope Bane and Myrkul."

The dark haired man jumps to his feet bumping the table and almost spilling their drinks.

"Shut the Hells up, You shut up! You are pulling my leg."

The red eyed, dirty faced bald man just glares at the standing man until he sits back down. Then he wipes at his eyes again and finishes the story.

"They said they were fund raising so they could build a shrine so I can pray at it." "They said it was for the good of the people of Sundren, children and the sick people."
"Yep thats what they said." "Donate some coin so us folks can come give thanks to Bane and Myrkul."
"Or I could refuse to make a donation if thats what I thought was best."
"Then the man standing on my door step gave me this big smile, the moonlight glinting off his teeth and they started laughing like it was some kind of joke."

"Thats horrible! What did you do?"

"I donated like any smart man would do." "I have a wife and kids and they know where I live." "I may have never gone to school, but I'm not stupid." "Oh and they said a blessing was on me and my house."

"A blessing! From Bane or the Bone Lord?"

The bald man finishes his drink then stutters his answer.

"D-d-d-does it m-m-m-matter?" "And keep y-your mouth c-c-closed about this."


They both fall silent for a long time.

Then the dark haired man sighs.
"Best I be setting aside some coppers for a donation too."

His friend only nods his answer.

[Gorri]

Local Sundren Bulletin "A farmhouse burns to the ground, entire family perishes!"

A Crypt Carver and a Night Walker slowly stalk up the road between the Crossraods and the Exigo Trading Post in the dead of night. As they come to the first farm, the Night Walker says to his superior:

"We should split up... we can cover a lot more ground that way." A sinister gleam emanates from his black tooth grin under the moonlight.

The Night Walker turns to go up to the last farm house on the road but the Crypt Carver grabs him by the shoulder, barring him leave:

"Remember what I said... smile, be polite, no rough stuff. Think of the children!"

"As you wish m'lord." The Night Walker bows his head solemnly... his left eyebrow twitches and writhes on his forehead momentarily, like the last death throes of a snake that's been beheaded.

The two part ways... the Crypt Carver goes up to the first farmhouse on the road and the Night Walker makes his way about 4 houses up to the last farmhouse before the Trading Post.

After a quarter of an hour or so, the Crypt Carver places the modest donation he's received from the Crossroads farmer into his collection pouch and he makes his way along the path to the front door of the second farmhouse. Before he has a chance to knock, the eerie calm of the night is broken by the horrendous squeal of a pig further up the road.

It makes a hideous shriek as if being slowly slaughtered, and then the night goes deathly quiet again. Not even a single cricket chirps in the next few moments. The Crypt Carver charges up the slightly inclined road towards the Exigo Post, his heavy armor clanking away in the night. As he comes near the last farmhouse on the road, he see's a figure so shadowy, it seems to devour the blackness of the night... leaning over a body.

The Crypt Carver approaches cautiously tightly gripping the handle of black dagger he has belted to his waist. When he is within earshot, he see's the Night Walker carving an "M" into the flesh of an eviscerated large sow in the front yard of the house.

"By the hells! What have you done?!?"

The Night Walker slowly looks up at his commanding officer as if just coming out of a trance...

"He said he'd rather be dead than to give a single piece of copper to our church and our kind... so, I thought he needed a little extra convincing." Sweat beads on the Night Walker's brow.

"The pig didn't say that... Oh no!" The Crypt Carver looks up at the farm house which is so frighteningly tranquil... it seems as though a curse of silence was cast upon it...

The front door slowly creeks open in the mild night breeze. The Crypt Carver gulps and slowly walks to the threshold of the house. Inside he sees a little girl, a little boy, mother and father... lifeless and blood drenched... strewn about the main room. He storms back to the Night Walker in a fury and closed fist socks him on the side of the head.

*THWUMP!*

"Dammit Roman! We're supposed to do this peaceably!... no bullying... no bloodshed! What the #%&*@# is wrong with you?!!!" The Crypt Carver snaps at him holding his trembling tight fists at his side.

"He... he derided the name of our beloved Lord of Bones. H-h-he lost sight of the value of his family and was just so quick to put them all in harm's ways.... I just wanted to teach him a lesson." The Night Walker speaks with quaking lips.

"Uh-huh... and what lesson has he gained the knowledge of laying DEAD on the floor of his house?!? And just HOW does this HELP our cause?!?" The Crypt Carver barks at him and then cautiously looks up and down the road for any witnesses.

The Night Walker opens his mouth to speak "I... I..... "

*THWUMP!* The Crypt Carver closed fist smacks him up the other side of his head...

"Shut Up you tainted fool!!!... Burn it... BURN IT ALL... to the ground.... the pig as well. You had better damn well hope this does not lead back to us and our church! Now we're are going to have to work the other side of the valley far far from here. And I am not letting you out of my sight for a moment!"

"Yesss... Masssttter." The Night Walker humbly looks down and then proceeds to drag the pig into the house... he lights up a lantern that was on the dining table and smashes it to the ground, catching the main room quickly into a consuming blaze which engulfs the entire abode in a matter of moments.

"We'd better cover our tracks, Roman. We do not want to be followed from here."

"Yes Master.... "