Breakfast and a walk

The next morning we set off at a brisk walk for the old church. We left later than planned as Flimbarji staff included some very good cooks and I was enjoying my smoked cod breakfast with fried new potatoes. Apparently it is all a local speciality. They sprinkle chopped parsley and garlic leaves over the potatoes and drizzle it with hot butter. Delicious.

Forgive me but I have been travelling for four years and surviving on rabbit, berries and trail rations for most of that time so a good meal is something of a luxury for me. The last few months on Aerenal did little to quench my culinary requirements. Apparently the bland food they serve there is 'subtle'. That is apart from the food that is downright frightening. Until you've had to drink pomegranate juice mixed with beetle essence from the shell of a giant beetle you won't know the horror of a traditional elven meal. Give me potatoes any day.

Back to my tale. We set off on foot to the old church and could clearly see it through the sparse trees. I had packed an oilskin bag with some spare fish and was discussing the benefits of being able to eat with Cajole, our 'forged companion when Kaith silenced me. Ever the warrior she said that she had heard a noise. Well what was a changeling to do but join the scouting party? We decided to look around the church grounds before entering the crumbled old building itself. We didn't want to get caught by bandits or something worse with no way to escape.

What we discovered was quite horrific. At the site of the old graveyard we found many empty tombs. Coffins had be opened and the bodies stolen. We feared that some foul necromancer had visited recently. Indeed the earth was freshly turned so we knew that someone had been here within the last few days. Having fought the Karrns in the Last War I have a particular dislike of necromancy and the undead. However I was not afraid. True, they are tough to destroy but common undead lack even basic intelligence and are easily fooled.