The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4)

by Garrett Robinson

  17 Octis: Pantu is recruited by Dellek to run odd jobs. The vampire attacks continue for several weeks.

  NOVIS

  12 Novis: Albern of the family Telfer reaches Northwood, along with Loren, Gem, Annis, and Xain. They meet Mag and Sten and stay at the Leeward Shore.

  Kaita, Rogan, and Tagata learn Trisken has been slain. They plan their attack on Northwood.

  Near Lan Shui, a vampire kills a farmer named Zhanu.

  13 Novis: Constable Yue investigates Zhanu’s death.

  19 Novis: Loren decides to leave Northwood.

  20 Novis: Mag, Albern, and Sten help Loren prepare for her journey. They see Rogan. The Shades attack Northwood. Loren and her companions escape. Kaita kills Sten, and Mag nearly kills her in return. Albern is knocked unconscious, and Mag drags him out of the battle.

  Rogan orders Kaita to lead Mag and Albern north to Tokana.

  21 Novis: Albern awakens. He and Mag burn Sten’s body. They pledge to hunt down Kaita. Mag recovers her spear, and they set off west.

  DEKTIS

  1 Dektis: Mag and Albern reach the Shade stronghold in the Greatrocks. They ambush a pack of satyrs and capture one named Greto. From her they learn that Kaita traveled into satyr territory.

  2 Dektis: Mag and Albern ride west after Kaita.

  Kaita reaches Lan Shui and reunites with Dellek.

  4 Dektis: Mag and Albern find the trail of the Shade army moving north. They reach the foothills of the western mountains.

  6 Dektis: Sergeant Ertu and his Shades return to satyr territory. Satyrs gather to hear their judgement.

  7 Dektis: Mag and Albern come upon an abandoned satyr village. Albern names his horse Foolhoof.

  A vampire kills most of the Ton family to the northwest of Lan Shui. Their youngest son, Liu, escapes with their wolfhound, Oku.

  8 Dektis: Albern and Mag save the satyr elders and learn that Kaita has gone to Lan Shui.

  13 Dektis: Mag and Albern reach Lan Shui. They meet Dryleaf.

  Loren reaches the High King’s Seat and warns High King Enalyn about the Shades in the Greatrocks. Enalyn does not immediately take her at her word, but she does send messengers to the nine kings warning them to be on the lookout for the threat.

  14 Dektis: Mag and Albern slay the Shades in Lan Shui. They rescue Liu and Oku from the Ton homestead. They kill the vampire that slew the Tons. Pantu adds more magestones to the ritual flame. Kaita kills Pantu. In Pantu’s form, she tells Mag she has gone to Opara. Mag, Albern, and Dryleaf discover the Shade ritual. Six more vampires attack Lan Shui, and Mag kills one.

  15 Dektis: The people of Lan Shui lure the vampires in and do battle with them. All of the creatures are slain, and the Shades’ ritual is destroyed. Mag is injured in the fighting, but she hides it from Albern. Yue is also injured, and she must rest to recover.

  16 Dektis: Mag and Albern ride for Opara. Dryleaf and Oku come with them.

  28 Dektis: Word reaches King Taka in Calentin of the Shades’ reappearance. They send word to all the Rangatira warning them to be on the alert.

  YANIS

  1 Yanis: Word of the Shades reaches Rangatira Conrus of the family Matara in Opara.

  2 Yanis: Word of the Shades reaches Rangatira Ditra of the family Telfer in Tokana.

  3 Yanis: Kaita reaches the Shades in the stronghold of Maunwa near Opara.

  5 Yanis: Trolls first attack a human settlement in Tokana. It is a small village well within the trolls’ lands as described in the pact. Over the following weeks, trolls continue to attack human settlements with greater frequency, moving closer and closer to human lands.

  6 Yanis: Dryleaf falls ill in the town of Shainlu in northwestern Dorsea. Mag and Albern pause their travels.

  10 Yanis: Dryleaf fully recovers. Mag and Albern resume their journey.

  16 Yanis: Mag and Albern reach Opara and stay at the Ugly Squirrel. Word of them reaches Kaita. Riri refuses to act against them. Kaita advises the other Shades to flee to Tokana.

  17 Yanis: Mag and Albern visit Victon.

  18 Yanis: Victon brings Mag and Albern to Rangatira Matara. The Rangatira assigns Tuhin to help them find Kaita. Dryleaf finds out that Mag and Albern are Loren’s friends.

  Trolls attack a village north of Tokana. It is the first village they have attacked that is unquestionably within human territory, according to their pact with the family Telfer.

  19 Yanis: Mag, Albern, and Tuhin slay the Shades in Maunwa. Mag is injured in the fight but hides it from Albern. They learn Kaita has traveled north to Tokana.

  20 Yanis: Mag and Albern set out from Opara for the land of Tokana.

  21 Yanis: Word reaches Ditra of the trolls’ latest attack on one of her villages.

  24 Yanis: Dotag slays Chok and takes command of the troll pack. He demands the Shades bring back Gatak.

  Shades and the kingdom of Dulmun attack the High King’s Seat. Enalyn and Loren survive the attack. Enalyn sends word to the nine kings to inform them what has happened.

  Two sellswords and a Mystic reach the High King’s Seat only to find it burning.

  FEBRIS

  4 Febris: Kaita reaches the Shades operating in Tokana.

  5 Febris: Yue’s healers declare her convalescence at an end.

  9 Febris: Word reaches King Taka in Calentin of the Shades’ attack on the Seat. They immediately send word to all the Rangatira.

  11 Febris: Trolls attack the town of Ahuroa, close to Kahuanga.

  12 Febris: Word of the attack on the Seat reaches Rangatira Matara in Opara.

  13 Febris: Word of the attack on the Seat reaches Ditra in Tokana.

  14 Febris: Mag and Albern reach the city of Kahuanga in the land of Tokana. Kaita receives word of their arrival.

  15 Febris: Mag and Albern ride out from Kahuanga for the town of Ahuroa. They discover Kaita stalking them in the wild but fail to capture her. Rangers arrest them and bring them to Ditra. Albern learns his mother died. Ditra gives them permission to hunt Kaita, but secretly assigns Maia to find her first.

  16 Febris: Mag and Albern set out to hunt for Kaita in the wilderness.

  Kaita, as the troll Gatak, persuades Dotag to increase his attacks on Tokana.

  20 Febris: Mag and Albern return to Kahuanga to learn more villages have been attacked, and the trolls are now killing villagers.

  21 Febris: Mag and Albern resume their hunt.

  30 Febris: Mag and Albern face their first troll in the wilderness. Mag is horribly injured, but she conceals it. Maia saves them from the troll. Albern learns the weremage’s name is Kaita and recognizes her. He confronts Ditra. She imprisons Mag, Albern, and Dryleaf. She and Albern have their first conversation in her chamber, where she learns Albern knew about Romil’s death. She sends him back to his cell.

  Kaita and Dotag plan their final assault on Kahuanga.

  YEARSEND

  1 Yearsend: The trolls attack Kahuanga. Kaita’s Shades attack Ditra in her keep and kill Maia. Ditra’s troops repel the trolls at the wall before being driven back to the keep. Kaita’s deception is discovered by the trolls. Apok kills Dotag and takes command of the troll pack. Kaita escapes from Mag and Albern.

  2 Yearsend: Apok and Ditra begin to rebuild the pact between the trolls and the family Telfer.

  3 Yearsend: Dryleaf and Oku return to Kahuanga.

  THE YEAR OF UNDERREALM 1313

  MARTIS

  1 Martis: Yue, confident Lan Shui will remain safe, decides to give up her post as constable to seek out Mag and Albern. She spends nearly a week turning over her duties to Ashta.

  5 Martis: Albern sings his song about Jordel to Dryleaf for the first time.

  9 Martis: Shades dressed as Dorsean soldiers attack Feldemarian homesteads in the forests west of Dahab. Word takes three days to reach the city, whereupon messengers are sent to the Feldemarian king.

  10 Martis: Yue rides out of Lan Shui, making for Opara.

  11 Martis: Mag and Albern leave Kahuanga for Opara.

  18 Martis: King Alim
of Feldemar dispatches diplomats to King Jun of Dorsea, demanding reparations and a cessation of attacks by Dorsean troops along the Skytongue River.

  21 Martis: King Alim’s messengers reach King Jun in Danfon. Negotiations between the two kings begin, with King Jun denying any involvement in the continuing raids along Feldemar’s southern border. King Alim threatens to bring the matter before the High King, who has forbidden any Dorsean aggression while the threat of the Shades persists.

  28 Martis: Shades dressed as Dorsean soldiers attack the Feldemarian town of Kuni across the Skytongue River from Dorsea.

  29 Martis: Mag and Albern reach Opara and stay with Victon.

  30 Martis: Mag and Albern speak with Rangatira Matara, seeking information about Kaita. Rangatira Matara suspects the Shades are hiding in northeastern Dorsea.

  ARILIS

  1 Arilis: In the traditional annual ceremony of the Spring Turning, the throne of Calentin passes from Taka of the family Tapu to Amahu of the family Emere.

  2 Arilis: Mag and Albern leave Opara, heading for northeastern Dorsea.

  4 Arilis: Yue reaches Opara. At the constabulary, she inquires after Mag and Albern and learns they left the city only two days ago.

  5 Arilis: Yue leaves Opara before dawn, riding hard to catch Mag and Albern.

  7 Arilis: Mag and Albern enter the Sunmane Pass.

  9 Arilis: A landslide blocks their progress through the pass, requiring them to find another way around.

  Yue enters the Sunmane Pass.

  12 Arilis: Mag and Albern come down out of the Sunmane Pass into northeastern Dorsea.

  Shades dressed as Dorsean soldiers attack farmers near Tombi in Feldemar.

  14 Arilis: Yue comes down out of the Sunmane Pass and begins to search for Mag and Albern in northeastern Dorsea.

  15 Arilis: Kaita reaches the Shade encampment near Dunfen Lake to find Tagata has just left. The Lord speaks with Rogan. Rogan sends word for Kaita to join him. He also issues orders for Wojin to proceed with their planned rebellion.

  22 Arilis: Mag and Albern reach the town of Taitou and meet Kun.

  MAIUS

  5 Maius: Wojin stages a coup to steal the throne from his nephew, Dorsea’s King Jun.

  6 Maius: Word of Wojin’s coup reaches Taitou. Kun orders his Mystics to be on high alert, and he begins to recruit a force of militia.

  7 Maius: Troops loyal to Wojin accost Yue on the road, but she escapes their grasp. Word of Wojin’s coup reaches the town of Huzen.

  8 Maius: Mag and Albern reach Huzen. Fighting breaks out in the town between Wojin’s troops and Jun’s loyalists. Mag and Albern flee the town. Dryleaf advises them to ally themselves with Kun.

  Rogan’s summons reaches Kaita, and she sets off to find him.

  9 Maius: Mag and Albern ride for Taitou to join Kun.

  Yue reaches Taitou and learns that Mag and Albern were there. It is her first solid lead in weeks. She leaves the town and begins to search for word of them in nearby towns and villages.

  10 Maius: Mag and Albern reach Taitou. They make their wager with Kun to train his troops.

  11 Maius: Kun introduces Mag and Albern to Tou and assigns them to their squadrons.

  13 Maius: Kaita reunites with Rogan. He gives her the magestones and tells her to join Tagata.

  17 Maius: Kaita finds Tagata. Together with their troops, they begin a long march west for the Sunmane Pass.

  18 Maius: Loren of the family Nelda deposes Wojin of the family Fei from the throne of Dorsea. The capital city of Danfon is thrown into chaos. Word of this development is slow to spread through the kingdom.

  19 Maius: Yue encounters the Shades in the Brackenbough Wood. She sets off south to warn the Mystics in Taitou.

  21 Maius: Kun’s trial. Dibu defeats Tou. Kun announces they will march north the next day.

  22 Maius: Kun’s force marches north from Taitou. Yue finds them and reunites with Mag, Albern, and Dryleaf.

  23 Maius: On Yue’s counsel, Kun turns his march northwest to skirt around the Carrweld Forest.

  25 Maius: Kaita’s force reaches the River Marsden. They lose a day’s time sneaking across the river in order to avoid the town of Kuan Shui.

  26 Maius: Kun turns his march due west.

  28 Maius: Kun’s march reaches the town of Kuan Shui on the banks of the River Marsden. He learns that Wojin has been removed from the throne and deliberates traveling to Danfon, but decides to continue his pursuit of the Shades.

  29 Maius: Kun finds signs of the Shades’ westward march.

  30 Maius: Mag and Albern guess the Shades are making for the Sunmane Pass. They devise a plan to catch them in the Greenfrost, and Kun approves it. Tou’s company splits off from the main force and marches hard to catch the Shades.

  YUNIS

  3 Yunis: Kaita and Tagata first catch sight of Kun’s army pursuing them.

  4 Yunis: Tou’s company ambushes the Shades in the Greenfrost. The Shades retreat north to the hills.

  5 Yunis: The bulk of Kun’s force catches up to Tou’s company before dawn. Mag and Albern scout the hills to find the Shades. Second battle between the Shades and Kun’s army. The Shades retreat into the tunnels beneath the hills. Mag and Albern disobey orders and find the Shades. They return to tell Kun.

  6 Yunis: Kun leads his force into the tunnels after the Shades. The Shades circle around underground and attack the Mystic camp. Zhen, Kun’s nephew, is killed. The Shades retreat west. Mag, Albern, Dryleaf, and Yue flee the Mystics. Mag is killed by Kaita but rises again, and Albern learns her secret. Mag and Albern kill Kaita together.

  7 Yunis: Mag, Albern, Dryleaf, and Yue set out to find Loren.

  The Lord resurrects Kaita as a shadeborn.

  NOTES FROM THE SHADE HIDEOUT IN LAN SHUI

  Being a selection of some of the notes kept by Dellek, the Shade captain, in the Dorsean town of Lan Shui during their experiment to summon vampires to attack the town.

  * * *

  2 Septis

  1. I have reached Lan Shui. Preparations have begun ahead of my coming, but things are slightly behind schedule. My first order of business shall be to get things back on track so that we are ready to begin our real work the instant Father gives us the order.

  * * *

  9 Septis

  1. The cauldron has been procured. That constable, Sinshi, nearly ruined everything as we were smuggling it into the town. He came stumping about, asking what was in our wagon. Fortunately, he was witless enough to believe the driver when she said it was only a stack of empty barrels. The people of this town are lazy and careless. They will not be for long.

  The cauldron’s arrival is ahead of schedule, but we are still understocked on blood. What we have now will not even fill it halfway. I have had an idea I wish to explore further. In the lands outside this town, there are many farms and homesteads. They are well away from the walls and inhabited by solitary folk. Often they do not see anyone else for days. With careful study and planning, some of them could be harvested. There is the matter of storage and transport, but we still have our alchemists who created the ritual chamber. The main problem is quantity. Together with the shipments that are reported to be arriving soon, we would need some dozens more. I am not sure so many can be found in this area.

  I will pursue this matter further.

  * * *

  14 Septis

  1. I may have found our first candidate. An old man named Grist, who lives some hours southwest of Lan Shui. He has no family nearby, and he is of an independent kind. His farm is enough to feed him with little left over, and so he rarely comes to town for anything. I am leaving an agent to monitor him and ensure there will be no surprises, while I and some others will look for more.

  After reflecting on this for some days, I believe I may need to start harvesting soon. I cannot be sure when the Lord will give his order, but I suspect the time is imminent. Strange disturbances and disappearances in the area may be suspicious, but we do not have an eternity to wait. With the S
hades at my disposal, we can harvest only a few people each night. It may take as long as a week to collect all the blood necessary to begin the ritual in earnest.

  I will think upon this further. For now I will simply continue to identify future candidates, and learn as much about them as possible. When we do strike, there will be no surprises.

  * * *

  15 Septis

  1. I am going to kill that idiot, Aldo.

  He has been the one in charge of determining the right amount of magestone to use in the cauldron’s cooking fire. We are, of course, rather desperately short on magestones, and I impressed this fact upon him very thoroughly. The Lord has sent word that we should be receiving a new (and plentiful) shipment of them soon, but for now there are only a precious few dozen. It has been Aldo’s job to investigate their properties as they pertain to the ritual. The stones are, of course, exceedingly flammable, but their use for our current purpose is hardly codified.

  Well, Aldo overdid it, as is his wont.

  Apparently he was unsatisfied with the size of the darkfire flames he had built, for he added two more magestones. They burned straight through the bottom of the cauldron. Thank the sky it only had a pint or two of blood in it, or I really would kill him.

  But more important than the lost blood is the cauldron itself. It is completely ruined now. Libet acted quickly and used her magic to shear off the bottom section of the cauldron before the darkfire could spread to the top—and badly singed two of her fingers doing it. Thank the sky the darkfire did not catch in her skin. I would not enjoy explaining to Trisken how I lost one of his alchemists.

  Even though Libet acted quickly, however, it was mostly a useless gesture. The top half of a cauldron is useless if the bottom is missing. And if Askila and Libet tried to reshape the remainder into a new cauldron, it would be far too small for our purpose.