Fictler(s) - worshipers and followers of false-gods, the name coming from the notion that these folks honor fictions, that is, false notions of the false-gods. They are typically regarded as a type of sedorner, yet they hold themselves as entirely distinct from sedorners ad outramorines - opoosites in fact, seeking the false-gods to rise up to rid the world of the landed monsters, the true foes of everymen. They prefer to call themselves gnosists, that is, "the knowers" for the higher knowledge they believe they possess, yet are not above the use of human sacrifice in their fervor to summon forth their chosen false-god....- Factotum
The Conduit Vermis
4-9 Calor 1602 HIR
Upon escaping from Winstermill, the party had set off along the Conduit Vermis, the Wormway, the sense of threwdish watching increasing as they went along. On the day following their escape, they can upon a group of boogles at one of the lampposts that lined the road. They seemed to trying to get at the brightlimn liquor inside it. Danny and Avi brought three of the creatures down as they charged the party.
Lorent used a loomblaze to bar the road to the attackers.
A few of the small but vicious monsters made it past the flaming blaze but were done in by our heroes' flashing blades. The party then moved on.
After a restless night in a ruined farm house, the party proceeded. The morning brought a steady rain to dampen their spirits further. Soon, they came upon an abandoned lamplighter outpost. Danny went forward to investigate.
Upon entering, a shot rang out but the bullet narrowly missed him. Within, barricaded behind a stout table, a boy of no more than sixteen peered over his gun. When Danny tried to reassure him of his peaceful intent, the boy, who was hastily reloading his musket, informed Danny that he knew that he was an everyman and intended to kill him for his family's stewpot.
"Are you saying you intend to kill and EAT me?" inquired the Fayelillian lord.
"Yes, me and my brothers!" came the reponse as the boy moved to level his musket at Danny.
Danny flung a dagger at the boy, striking betwixt the eyes. He then rushed out yelling a warning.
Unfortunately, two of the boy's associates had sneaked up on Fransalir who stood at the rear of the party near a stand of trees. Using lassos, they pinioned the big skold, one rope going about his neck to stifle his calls for help.
As the pair dragged Fransalir into the woods, three more of these assailants opened fire on the party However, they had the same marksmanship as exhibited by the boy and so all three shots missed.
Lorent threw a concussive that brought down Fransalir and his captors. The rest of the party charged the three gunmen. In short order, all had been dispatched. It was then that Accural noticed the mark of the Seven Seven sept on one of the deadmen's arms. They had fallen in with a band of fictlers, false-god worshippers.
Despite the rain, Danny was able to discern a trail, presumably leading back to the fictlers' camp. He, Accural, and Fransalir took up the trail, hoping to put a stop to this murderous group. Danny, acting as vanguard, came upon a sentry, dressed in the rags of the Lamplighter Corps, most like pillaged from an abandoned cote-house. He silently disposed of the man.
Danny crept forward by himself to observe the camp. To his shock there were over two hundred fictlers, all of them heavily armed and appearing to lack any aspect of sanity.
Surround by carcasses, they were preparing to sacrifice a horse upon an alter before the image of some horrific false-god.
He returned to his friends and told them of the danger. Realizing nothing but their destruction would be achieved by engaging in a fight with this horde, they decided to slip away before the sentry was missed. However, Fransalir, with a fanatical look in his eye, set several potive traps around the deadman's body.
As they rejoined the rest of the party, they heard several explosions coming from the direction of the killed sentry. They hurried on down the road. Two days went by uneventfully, their threwd-induced apprehension kept at bay but Lorent's calming scripts. The rain had finally stopped on the third day. As they moved through a flooded low point int he road, they came upon a bog-like area in which stood several large muddy tumuli.
These were drying rapidly in the sun. They saw several cracks appear in one near the road. The thing began to vibrate.
Out of a sense of curiosity, Sister Angella threw a stone at the muddy carbunkle which exploded as a huge ettin sprang forth from it.
The party stood in amazement as the thing emerged from the muddy, seemingly confused and blinking from the sunlight. It soon noticed the party and attacked. Summoning all of his strength, Danny worked up his great scathing against the creature's brain and in a single instant killed the thing. However, ill and exhausted the wit lord fell to the ground. Accural realized that they had passed through a mire of gravidic mud where monster were born by spontaneous generation. He now understood the reference found in Swill's ledger - Dr. Corvinus was conducting experiments in a field much like this. But to what end?
The following day, carrying a still convalescing Danny, they felt a distinct diminution of the threwd. In a few hours, they came upon planted fields and soon groups of everymen, some guarding while others worked the farms. They had arrived at The Wight, the town at the midpoint of the Wormway.
Intercepted by a careful but not unfriendly armed contingent led by a wit who bore bandages upon his eyes. He introduced himself as Badger Barkful, a former teratologist like themselves, now in service to the Lady of The Wight. He commiserated with them on their hard journey and assured them of every assistance.
Led into the fortified town, they were to be presented to The Lady herself. A large crowd had gathered to watch and began cheering as Herself appeared.
The grand lady, dressed in finery and attended by several minions, was bouyant in here greetings. She invited them to dine with her as honored guests, who were now so few upon the road since the troubles began. Once settled, she related to them that, before Winstemill's fall, hade been simply Tatty Swiggersby, enrica-d'arma for a wayhouse in the town. As many of the high and might fled the city when the troubles began she took charge and created an oasis in this sea of ravaging monsters. As she spoke, all of the party members began to feel drowsy....
They woke with a start to find themselves manacled in a small room somewhere in the town. A strange woman was chained as well. She was Tanga Skamlindar and a companion of blind Badger Barkful They were bounty-hunting monsters when they came upon this place and like them fell prisoner to The Lady. She used their lazhar abilities (Tanga was a fulgar) to assist in the defense of the town. Their loyalty was ensured by keeping one as hostage while the other did The Lady's bidding. Most likely, she intends the same treatment for the party
Shortly after Tanga relayed this, Herself entered with several guards.
"Ah my pretties, welcome to a noble service. Welcome to the Army of The Wight."
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