The End of the Castellan

Orders given and put to action - a task force created...a party of Zhentarim heading to the last known location of Castellan Castle to learn his fate. The man had been missing for several days, after leaving to patrol Fox Ridge. The small group was comprised of the Black Fang, her father Fidhellis Unterminox, Recruit Salen, Recruit Love, and a woman named Gwen. They moved with efficiency, allowing the imposing figure of Fidhellis to lead, with the Black Fang guarding the rear. It was not long when they found the remains of the soldiers who had accompanied the Castellan, as well as adamantine arrows stuck in the ground. Blood was everywhere and trailed east. The group followed the blood trail into the heavy forest, encountering some resistance along the way. Attempts were made to question the rebels, but their resistance was too strong. Eventually, death was handed out quickly, and effectively.

Finally, the party came to a small clearing, filled with several rebels talking and laughing, completely oblivious to the band of Zhentarim watching them from the ridge. A plan was made, then enacted as the large warrior charged into their midst, backed up by the divine might of Bane flowing from the hands of his priestess daughter and the spells of Recruit Salen. Gwen was not far behind, swinging her scythe with the fluid ease of a practiced fighter and Recruit Love was battling the rebels from the shadows with her songs and sneak attacks. The battle was over in moments, the rebels strewn about in a bloody mess. Fidhellis looked around the camp before seeing a set of armor up the hill. An angry growl alerted the rest of the party as he stated he would know the armor anywhere. All that remained of what was thought to be the Castellan was bits of flesh stuck to the gear and a few bones that rattled within. The Black Fang decreed that rebel sacrifices are to be found to pay for such an atrocious crime while her father reverently gathered the remaining bones and the great man's armor to take back to Shadowdale.

The journey back to Shadowdale was made in silence, the entire party grieving and grim. Just as the eastern watch tower came in sight, a tiny hin came out of the shadows and began stabbing at the party. Audrey simply slammed the hilt of Chalice, her Morningstar, on top of the hin's head, effectively knocking him out. He was then taken to the temple dungeon to be sacrificed the next day during the sermon to memorialize the Castellan.

The temple was filled to capacity with farmers, peasants, adventurers, and the faithful as the Black Fang delivered her sermon. The overall theme was urging everyone into action, demanding revenge for the horrible death of Victor Castle. She painted the picture of a great man, dedicated to his service to Bane, who was captured and maliciously killed by the rebels. The rebel hin was shackled on the altar and gagged as the dark priestess stood over him, opening his gut and disemboweling him, tossing the gore into the firepit before pushing him in after. She called for rebel blood to paint the walls of the temple, and to make her point clear, she scooped the blood of her recent sacrifice and smeared it on the wall. The legacy of Castellan Victor Castle will live on in bloody retribution....the rebels beware.