Something Ghoulish
Everyone settled their responsibilities in Ubersreik. We were at Morr’s Field by sunset. It looked more peaceful than I remembered. The last time was the night Ilsa was murdered and her body disappeared. Not a hair left behind. Shadrach was there, staring into the setting sun, and droning on, glacially, about something. Finally, I could no longer stand the sentimental drivel and prodded him to show us what had been concerning him.
A number of graves were unearthed; the plots reserved for the belly of society. The other areas, and certainly the mausoleum, looked diligently maintained. Small wonder these had been disturbed as the Priests of Morr let the wall on the northern side fall into disrepair: a large crack, clearly visible, and wide enough to accommodate even the portliest of persons. Shadrach leaves and we continued to investigate the area.
Katia, Riverwynd, and Crespin decided it was a good idea to leave the grounds. Something about a magic trail leading into the woods. Preposterous idea and I said as much. Whatever the trouble is makes its way to this site every night. Why hunt a chicken when the bird will be served to you baked? Anyway, the favor was to babysit this damned graveyard, not scamper off to find other dangers.
Against my warning, the three of them followed the trail. Grüngar and I stayed in the Field. The light blue haze of twilight gave way to darkness as Grüngar alerted me to the sound of voices from the gaping rift in the wall. One sounded familiar. Sure enough, in the dimming light, it was Falko. He was trudging alongside a mountain of a man: Holst Roginstock, or so Falko said. Another Falko scheme: 10 shillings per body if delivered to someone over at the Physician’s Guild, Dr. Croup. I wanted them out of there as soon as possible. No more liabilities. Truth be told I have a soft spot where Falko is concerned, saved my neck during the squig incident, so Grüngar and I help Holst and Falko exhume a body on their word of a cut of the money and that they would leave the dead in the ground from now on. They agreed. Falko owes us.
Falko and Holst made their way back through to the other side of the wall, as a shrill scream curdled the air. It sounded like Katia. I locked eyes with Grüngar briefly and we bolted for the opening. Grüngar saw a small form in the distance. It was Katia running fast and almost stumbling in her haste. She motioned to us to follow and we did.
Katia led us several paces into the woods. I saw bright flashes ahead illuminating the trees. Disturbingly, a moaning that was at once rattling and deep seemed to drift through the forest like a fog. Another flash of light revealed seven blue-tinged humanoid creatures with exposed bone and rotting flesh. One of them was particularly bulbous. Glints of sharp yellow teeth protruded from their gaping mouths as if ready to feast. I could just barely make out the forms of Galthananhu and Crespin, each hiding behind a tree.
Molten rage surged in my guts as I saw the scene. I feckin’ knew they’d get into trouble. I charged. With some combined effort the largest fell, but the ghouls still advanced. I looked over my shoulder: Grüngar was swarmed by three ghouls. The ire in me burned blue. I felled all three, each in one swing, my axe slicing through the last ghoul with a moist crunch and a gush of black sludge.
Grüngar and Galthananhu were severely injured. Katia tended to them, but I don’t know what difference it made. As I wiped my axe clean, we agreed to collect evidence for Shadrach. He took our evidence with less gratitude than I liked and made sure we knew to come back to deliver the special letter as part of our deal. Pretentious old goat.
