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You pay for your own drink, ya freeloader. I dont remember much of this keep. we walked in and saw some little girl wearing the cloak we had been looking for I think. She ran down some stairs and back into the courtyard we had entered from so i backtracked a bit to get back onto the balcony to give myself a vantage point. I figured at least one of us should use some tactics because the oaf surly wouldn't thats for sure. Bane tackled the little girl and wrestled the cloak from her body. all the while the rest of us are urging the girl to calm down. before any of us could react we're attacked by people. Three or four people run into the courtyard and attack my friends... and bane. and two more are behind me on the balcony. one of them kept shooting arrows at me to break my concentration, so i broke his by shooting lighting at him, man I love electricity. i levitate down from floating in the air and take an arrow, man it hurt! right before i could jump off of the balcony to levitate down out of range of thier archer... everything went black, but it wasnt some sort of spell of darkness, no, I was blind! I stumbled back and I remember faling off of the balcony but I dont remember hitting the ground...
but anyway... barmaid, one milk-ale over here.
Yeah, tha kid fallin' offa buildin was pretty funny!, ya'd think he coulda at least gotten one a tha other guys before they got him, 'specially with how powerful he's always sayin his magic is, an how its real useful, but no he did a whole lotta nothin an' left Bane all tha work, not tha' ah mind bashin' a few skulls in mind ya, but still everyone's 'spected ta hold up their own share in mah family, an since tha kid hadn' been doin tha', I figured it was 'bout time he learnt tha' MAGIC IS THA DEVIL! Hell, ifn somebodied turned me blind wit' a spell, I'd be right pissed off 'bout it, I would, but tha' daft lil' brat still thinks it's a good thing for some reason. For all tha' he says he's a smart one, I think he' might be ridin' tha short carriage ta school ifn ya know what ah mean!
The bard looked up from her pondering for a moment, where he had been testing the nib of a new quill with a neatly manicured finger.
"Umm, no actually." He admitted quizziclly, "but it sounds so damned good I`m gonna write that one down anyway. I can just see all the high and mighty nobs in the Free City prancing about with their nose in the air pretending to know what you just said."
He chuckled quietly to himself, before the expression fled from a suddenly pale face.
"Um, sorry about that my troggy friend. Didn`t mean to offend."
He cowers backwards as though afraid of a squirt from the brawlers armpits.
I ain't scary!!! Just cuz' I'm a 6' tall 200 lb lizard, don't make me scary!!! Why are people always walkin' on eggshells aroun' me!!! HEY!!! WAITRESS!!! GET BACK HERE!!! I AIN'T DONE YET!!!! I SWEAR I'LL BEAT THA SNOT OUTTA THA NEXT PERSON THA's SCARED O' ME!!! THIS IS A BAR SO WERE S'POSED TA BE HAVIN' FUN!!!! SOMEBODY GIVE ME ANOTHER DRINK!!!!
I've got bad news folks, Martin (Daria) won't be at the games for quite awhile, he's had to go out of town for the next two months and no longer has Thursdays off, so we have to decide what to do about the game.
I've got bad news folks, Martin (Daria) won't be at the games for quite awhile, he's had to go out of town for the next two months and no longer has Thursdays off, so we have to decide what to do about the game.
Really sorry to hear that. Hope you guys can keep things going. I was really enjoying this journal, and have been happily giggling to myself at "the bards" possible responce's to your characters last post.
Hope things work out.
I've got bad news folks, Martin (Daria) won't be at the games for quite awhile, he's had to go out of town for the next two months and no longer has Thursdays off, so we have to decide what to do about the game.Really sorry to hear that. Hope you guys can keep things going. I was really enjoying this journal, and have been happily giggling to myself at "the bards" possible responce's to your characters last post.
Hope things work out.
Thanks, and don't worry too much, I know that we will continue playing it, I just don't know if we are going to wait for him to get back or not. He has said that it's ok for us to continue, and even offered to leave his character sheet with the DM, either way we won't be playing this week due to a total of 4 of the 7 people being out of town, so maybe it will continue next week... maybe in 2 months, we will see.
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Do you know who will be around next week? I'm sure we can come up with something. I don't want to run this campaign without Martin, but Abe could run something, or Steve could run something, or I have other cool things scurrying about up my sleeve. The sky is wide open on this one. However, if Martin can make it up on any given Thursday, just let me know which one and I will show up ready to run.
Do you know who will be around next week? I'm sure we can come up with something. I don't want to run this campaign without Martin, but Abe could run something, or Steve could run something, or I have other cool things scurrying about up my sleeve. The sky is wide open on this one. However, if Martin can make it up on any given Thursday, just let me know which one and I will show up ready to run.
I think everyone but Martin will be in town next week, so its really anything goes, I don't know how close abe is to being ready to run, otherwise I'm cool if you want to run something else, I guess if no one else is really stoked about running then I can..... I haven't in a long long long time, but it wouldn't be too much of a problem I guess, its too bad that Pathfinder isn't out yet, because that would be perfect. I also don't know what to do if Abe runs his game because Martin and my characters back stories were extremely intertwined, I think I could write it so that we weren't together for awhile, but it might be a awkward for a little bit, though it would make it easier when he gets back to incorporate his character into the game since he would already know my character. Otherwise, if you have stuff ready I just vote for you running something, its too bad we couldn't get together to run Martin's this week, but hey whatever. I think his days off will be Tuesday's for awhile if you want to try to get together with him for a one shot, I know that he would like it, but its really not a huge deal. Anyways, if you are wanting to run something else then just let me know what level character to make so I can be ready by next Thursday. Personally, I'd like something a little higher in level just for a change, maybe somewhere between 12 and 16, with all my recent deaths it feels like I have been making a ton of low level characters, so a little higher level would be a nice change of pace.
Okay, the abe is here...
I decided to post this here because the survival horror game I'm making I'd like to be just as immersed as those first sessions kikai ran in greyhawk...
saying that I've formulated alot over the last two days and I think that in this setting (horror) people die and should fear death, not by battle neccisarily but by situations as well, and people should at least be permanently changed...
Having said that I'm going to need feedback from this asap because it's going to affect everything but in a good way!
Everyone that feels they have made a unsuitable character should not worry It was because I wasn't in any position to think on thurs.
okay... here's the thought, all of you are competent enough to make awesome chars. so make two!!! in this situation you're a group of (eight) forensic-paranormal investigators sent to seek out a disturbing occurrence that is being kept very secret...
Were set in renaissance era city where magic is rare but not unheard of, sort of "Harry Potter" meets "From Hell"
having said that one of your toons should be a battlebot, While the other needs the brains... I'll make sure there's enough of both situation in game... trust me it's going to be rough on me as a noob DM but I think I'm up to it...
GIVE ME QUESTIONS! please, and I'll see you thurs...
new guys add full cash for lv to pot
and levels
amanda 10 / 11
brad 9 / 12
jason 12 / 9
justin 11 / 10
this was my thought
I like it I like it alot.... should be fun, are we going to be trying to play both characters at once, or are we going to be switching?
Well, after coming back to life as an elf I haven't quite felt like myself. I am just ready to be home. We went through the Mistmarsh and nearly lost Van in quicksand. I have never been so terrified. And we finally made it to the keep, and ran into another party looking for the same cloak we were... My scimitars just don't feel right in my hands. I haven't been able to flow with them as I usually do. Van can't be healed by spells or potions, and it just doesn't sit right with me. I think Daria is making out ok in her form, and Bane actually is better in combat as a trogdolyte. But me... I feel like I have to find my place again. I finally thought I had figured out who I was, and what I was good at. And now I gotta start over.
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Believe me when I say that I was relieved to be rid of that acursed keep and back to civilization... or at least back to the fortress where we met Lucien. I was so sick of being blind that it was driving me insane and a little worried. I felt like i had lost all usefulness when I went blind. I couldn't defend myself as well anymore nor could I effectivly aim spells to aid my friends in combat. Daria told me that we fought three trolls in the basement of this keep, b ut i couldn't do a single thing in combat to help. All I did was get knocked out. thats what was driving me insane, the thing that made me worried was that my friends could just see me as dead weight and just leave me and I would be left alone like I was before I knew them but now I would be blind and I would surely die before long. We were trying to find help anywhere we could because none of the restorative magic that Daria could throw at me would work. which started to make me think. how come daria's clerical magic wont work on me, no matter what we try, but the cleric of Iuz's magic worked just fine on me. both magics are derived from dieties arent they?
But you know... whatever.
To tread along the twisted path of destiny, I am forced. What thing has made me, I do not know. The fruition of my diligence and pensive art is but an uncomplicated, personal review. In this a time of confusion and pain, rejoicing and sorrow, I expose a portion of actuality to you, to show the veiled truths, and fill the gaps unspoken.
A dangerous thing it is indeed, to travel the world as adventurers. Even more so as a family bent by pain. Pain in all its forms has beset us at a point. Pain of injury, pain of pride, and pain of loss. In these last weeks we thought our family seperated more than once. Not of abandonment as with my eldest brother and parents, not of a trifle spat amidst each other, nor of a facile chioce of pairing. Seperation of death as it would be, a permanent pain for all of us to bear.
I will not have it.
I have seen my family fall, and I after them, In that garden of calm death. Only to return as a mockery to my siblings, who would be forever bound in forms of flesh foreign to them. And I in my scarred commonplace being would jest at their pain, being almost whole. We weren't meant to be seperated by race, and race will not sunder us.
But death still tries.
In a circuitous squalid swamp, I saw my family set upon. To reach a tower and all but lose my elder brother, the point of all the emotion of our troupe, was but another tug upon the fate we are set at, death. Still I pronounce it as too soon.
Reaching a destination and acheiving a goal, we are set to exalted paths, I can sense it. Or rather I can see it in my house, but no, not at my name will my family be achieved. So I know it to be. Even in his stupidity and capriciousness I can hear the great leader he would be, Bane.
A demons skin is merely a genesis.
Too soon then upon our return, on a simple inquiry of a burned house should he be torn from our journey. Set upon again by mere beasts, we erred. Into the fray he flew, unthinking. Or is it because of thinking he rushed and I but stood.
Once in the fray I can see paths for victory, War and fighting is a game of movement and time, and if I were but faster.
But no.
I can say I've never feared death since I tried it at nights hand, in the gutters of greyhawk. This was the same. In calculated steps I saw my sisters safe and sought my bloods remains, His time is not ended, his story not finalized. I will see him returned, by Pelors light, or by Istus or Nerull's own hand, I will see it done. I know him for more, more than a brawler or simple minded fighter. He will be back.
Even in this darkest of hours, in the weeping of my sisters, at the grace of the lord-wizard, I see light.
Destiny has claimed me, KARN
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Well I remember what happend after that pretty well though I wouldn't ask Bane about it too much. we left blackwall keep and were heading back to Diamond lake to talk to this guy who could help me, I think his name was Allustan. But before we made it back to town we decided... well Karn decided to check out this old burned up mansion that we had passed up on our way to get this cloak. it wasnt far from where we had fought a wyvern on our way to the marsh. I was blind so I dont know what the inside of the mansion looked like but daria told me it was really burned up. The only thing we found at first was three more wyverns that had nested in the chared remains of the manor house. Bane rushed in to fight the Beasts but was quick to fall so I was told. I was tied to Daria during the fight and I remember going towards the fighting but then daria stopped running at the fight where bane was. he had apparently died in the fight and Sasha was still fighting with Karn backing her up. Karn and Daria heard a small girl calling to them behind us in a corner of the house. she was telling us to follow her to a hiding spot.we ran through the rubble to this small door and went down some stairs to a small in-tact cellar. the wyvern that wasnt busy eating Bane was trying to bust it's way into the cellar to get us. It was such a narrow hallway that I shot some electricity spells at the sound and apparently killed the wyvern after us. Karn went back outside to get some peices of Bane. I remember hearing that people could be brought back to life if we had some of their body parts. Karn also got some of his stuff. the wyverns were going to leave but they saw the remains of the other dead wyvern and started eating it. Daria casted some spell on the wyverns and they started fighting each other until one died and Karn finished off the other one.
The little girl was acually an elf wizard. Her name was Amyyr if I remember correctly. she was acually a student of Allustan, who we were going to talk to. we found some cool stuff in the cellar or a secret door I think. I remember casting some identify spells to learn about some of the items we found but they said I passed out not long after that. I think Karn likes that girl. the next day we made it to Daimond lake and went to talk to Allustan about helping me see again. he was very thankfull for bringing back his student and agreed to try and help me. the next day we him and I went into his lab and for several hours he casted spells and things like that to me and after six hours of work he was able to cure me of my blindness. we also found out that the gods no longer care about me for some reason and their good magics will not work on me. but their bad magic will. we spent several days identifying and helping Allustan. we were still yet to find a way to bring Bane back but it was definetly one of our top priorities then. I was just happy I could see again.
oh, I need another milk-ale over here!
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We spent about a week at diamond lake if I remember correctly and after handling all of our financial needs and trading for some of Allustans items we set off for greyhawk, but first we had to stop back at the town where we met the crazy people who kicked us out of their town. I cant remember the name of the town for the life of me though. They were apparently being attacked by gnolls. Daria thought that we should help them but I was a bit hesitant to say the least after what happened there last time we helped them. Well we went in anyway and we had guessed right, there was probably ten to fifteen gnolls attacking the church of St. Cuthbert( serves em' right, Van mumbles under his breath) they either didnt care or did see us so we had a little time to prepare but at my earliest convinience I attacked the gnolls with all I had only to find mor gnolls hiding behind some buildings and even more gnoll archers on the roofs, maybe three or four of them. Karn hid next to a building and waited for an oppertune time to attack them from behind. Sash ran in and got right into the fight. Daria stepped forward and casted an obscuring mist spell to narrow the troops and provide cover from some of the archers. Lucien ran to a nearby building to gain cover and fire his bow from a distance, lucky for him he found four more gnolls that gave him his own problems for the duration of the fight. I levitated up a bit and kept shooting lightning and missles at them as they charged us all. once all of the gnolls had reached us and the fight was well under way. Karn was busy helping Sasha fight better and vice versa when even more gnolls come out of the smaller buildings and join the fight! I thought we were going to be overwhelmed by gnolls so I grabbed up one of the wands that we found and I used it to charm one of the gnolls to tink it was on my side. I had him attack his friend to try and create some dissarray among the gnolls and it worked. the other gnoll started to attack his partner and the gnolls around them lost any sense of order and helped our side out a little bit. By this time the gnoll leader had appeared and started throwing flames at Sasha but to no avail. A crystal that we had found earlier and affixed to Sasha's armor was keeping most progetile weapons away from her, including magic.
The fight raged on for several more minutes we were killing most of the gnolls but their sheer numbers was taking it toll on us. all of ust were taking som hits and so we changed our plan a bit. most of us retreated into the mist a bit to try and throw the gnolls off. I was flating in the air and fending off a gnoll when i saw som magical energies flying from the cloud of mist. I was a bit surprised because it was a magick that i hadn't ever seen before. the gnoll i was fighting dies and so i float down to look for my next target only to find that in the mist with me is a person... That I dont know. He doesn't say anything but just keeps fighting the gnolls so I wasn't complaining. we were down to our last bit of gnolls and i was about to retreat to a better position to fight when the crazy gnoll that I was fight hits me really hard and i fell to the ground and was starting to black out and i remember just before i went under the strange man that was helping us runs up and stands over me and was protecting me i guess because i went out about then.
For anyone still wondering, Bane is dead, I will not be posting until he is once again alive and kicking, right now I am helping the DM by providing little ..... 'projects' ..... for him, such as the strange arcane energies that were shooting out from the fog that Daria had summoned and that only the kid seems to have noticed.
As a side note, thanks Abe for the beautifully written eulogy for Bane, it was awesome.
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just for the record, Van doesn't care too much for the church of St. Cuthbert. this would probably count for him not recalling the preist during the fight, not because he didn't notice, but because he doesn't really care.
What would the preist do for Van if he found him crucified upside down. most likely the same thing Van did for him... nothing.
The gang moved on wile i rapped things up with my duitys at the patrols. appointing new leaders, and making sure most everything i have had in order is keeping up to par are oflty busy things... though i cought up with the small gang of misfits that were not to the naked eye a family or humans... an intersting story for another day. the older brother, the reptile, had passed in a bloody frenzy bless his slimy heart and the others were mornful but optamistick still of the adventure ahead. it was brought to the attention that as soon as i arrived we would leave town and ride to a village to the south to investigate... some strange activity to the south. to be hinest when they exsplaned every thing to me i was still wiery from travil so i nodded and saddled back up... mistake. trotting into town we first saw that the town was not as hustling as it should... aproching the site the most disterbing thing came about, a few villagers tied to indivedual wooden X's and crusifide.... i nearly vomited and was nearly sicked at the sight... even worse one was still twitching... though i kept my reserve when just ahead a large group of knolls were throwing chemical fire at the temple! we haddent been seen yet and one of the boys had all ready taken cover by a small house. i looked to my right... a small house as well, i thought, if i can get to it and create a flank there numbers will count for less i suppose. as i turned my horse to speak to the other party members the little one.. Van... oh sweet van... how i love it when you cast a spell into the bulk of them (magic missile) and catch there attention before we take a stratigic action... ok i was slighty upset with the little welp. at that i darted to the wall and dismounted quickly to press aginst the wall of the shack. it smelled of the odor of death inside and was creeping out to the out side... discusting. sticking to the wall i looked around the opisite side of the house looking at the targets... one had started to make its way twoards the party and the Karn kid was not in sight... well hidden i suppose. very good. i drew two arrows and commeted to my target... breath... steady... FIRE i let go of the arrows and i knew i haddent taken a good shot, one missed and the other grassed his kneck! the knoll got the attention of the big two big ones standing next to him and the three large dogs made there way to myself!
meanwile more gnolls attacked the party but the elf/ human/ girl was swating them like flys crossing and jabbing with her sword with a sheer look of death in her eyes she unleashed her might on the beasts! i take aim again accross the way though before i commit the cleric girl, daria, created a mist effect to help there combat. wonderful for them but not for me at the moment and two more gnolls are quickly theying to sneak behind the church! think fast! so i climb on the house near to me and duck down... out of sight and i have a great idea. i crawl slow and quiet and slither down the other side just in time too i coult smell the horrible sent of the gnolls fur... the odor still came from the house and the whole are smelled of death. knowing the danger from multible combat traning missions i knew our flanks had no hope and i must regroup. looking back though the silly stinking beast were still looking for me on the roof. perfect. i creep to the edge of the mist and fire two more arrows at one of the gnolls as i deal a solid blow to his upper chest and neck he pulls the arrows out snarling at my direction. he hops down from the wall and starts aproching me. wam-bam! two more arrowns for you and he goes down as i pop off two more at another. he and the other start walking to my location to shut me down.. i suppose they were upset when they didnt find me on the roof. ha ha!
Van was shooting spell after spell at a preticular gnoll and it was gaining on him looking at the other two zeroing in on me i made a dision... i eliminated the gnoll on Van so he might retreat or save more spells... slowly i turn back to my current objective to retire my oppentes only to find they had cought up to me. one, two, three claws to the face and chest i srolled back nearly falling and i knocked off two more arrows at the growling foe... with that though he rushed and slid a sharp claw deep into my neck and face... I awoke to daria the young dwaf/ human chiled of Palor and gatherd my things. we had won... this time. thanks to a wirling girl and her trusty weapon of mass distruction with her brother Karn and the young dwarf to heal the cunning though reckless team of friends a family.
i never was told what the EXP was for this session.
thanks. sorry bout thursday Ki i got ur text but then was informed by Abe and Amanda we were NOT playing. so i fallowed threw with other oppointments. LATER gang.
BTW id love to run a game. i know ive said it many times but i must say im rather tired of being a player and am dieing to be the story teller.
keep me in mind!
BTW id love to run a game. i know ive said it many times but i must say im rather tired of being a player and am dieing to be the story teller.
keep me in mind!
Steve, post this kind of stuff here....
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/community/gaming/connection/theOrderOf TheWishingWellk, thx, buh bye
*thick Russian accent*
I... am... Makibex Darking...
Son of Archimus son of Daried son of Kryn son of Risel son of Yerick.
Since long before Iuz became our neighbor to ze south, our line has vandered ze northern lands of Blackmoor, into ze deepest reaches ov ze frozen tundra known as ze Black Ice. Ve, being ov ancient Suloise descent, holding ze deep magics vithin our veins, gives us ze confidence to fear neither Iuz, ze monsters in the Black Ice, nor ze Orc King who has begun taking over Blackmoor. None ov zese things matter to us, for the Darking name has been feared since ze Suloise invasion nearly a millenia ago. Now, those ov my line who are left continue our ancestors vork, ve search ze ice for ze city ov ze gods. Fabled for its lost knowledge ov magics, it vould give us ze power to rule zis land, and I am ze first zince Risel to have glimpsed its walls. However, I vas too veak ven I found it, and vas unable to enter. For as I approached its gates, the primal magics reacted to my own ancient suloise heritage, and I fell to my knees unconscious. I am unsure ov how long I lay in front ov its gates, but ven I avoke, I know zat at least vone day had passed....
For now, I have left Blackmoor, traveling far and vide in search of a vay to rid myself of zis nightmarish fate, all the vile seeking ze boy. Making my vay from city to city as a bounty hunter by trade, I earn enough of a living to continue. My journey has taken me trough some of ze most dangerous and bizarre places a man can imagine. Trough ze lands of Iuz, ze Volf Nomads, Perren Land, Ket, Veluna, and ze Kingdom of Furyondy have I vandered, till finally I arrived at Greyhawk. As I drew ever closer to Greyhawk, my curse grew as vell. I have been driven to ze brink of insanity, and delved into dark arts to seek relief from vat not even my families sorcerous magic can protect me against.
Stolen power from demons now lays in my control, and yet as I entered through Greyhawks massive gates, I felt little closer to my task zan before. I had come here in search of a bounty, as vell as knowledge, a man named Dorian vas vanted for an assortment of crimes from larceny to racketeering, rape, assasination, torture and murder, however he vas not an easy man to get to. For, he travels vith many guards, and is under constant protection. Zis made ze bounty high enough to travel far and vide vithout vant for money of I should catch him. However, I learned zat he fought in ze Arena under an assumed name and vith the promise ov a chance to fight him in ze Arena myself, I took employment from a man named Turin. He is a man ov great importance in ze city, and ze best source ov info, if you are lucky enough to be in his good graces.
Zis man sent me to find ze family Daern who vere attempting to retrieve a cloak from some nearby ruins and had run into some trouble in zeir
travels. I found them near Diamond Lake and quite to my surprise ze boy vas vith them, and half my search vas over, but I needed to learn much much more before I decided vat course ov action to take. So I follow, and I vatch, for the boy must not be misled and he must be kept safe...
*I have left out parts of the back story that I gave the dm, due to the fact that the party does not know much of it*
After finding the family Daern near Diamond Lake, I followed them, vatching from ze shadows. For I must learn ov how zey treat ze boy, and ov vat kind ov character zey possess. Ze oldest sister, a priest ov Pelor seemed to be ze moral compass of ze group, and it appeared zat she is also vas ze leader. Yet, ze boy named Karn, also vas trying to guide ze family much more zan my original information from Turin would have suggested. I found zat ze oldest brother Bane vas dead, and zis may have had something to do with Karns sudden proclivity for leadership. Also vith them is a ranger, who it seems is their guide.
After nearly a day of travelling out ov sight, something zat vas much more difficult to do zan I had originally thought due to the emergence ov the elf guide. Zat man has very very keen eyes, and dodging his gaze vas not easy in the least. Ze Daern family reached a long house vere ze had apparently rested once before. Zere zey met two men from a village called Blackstone. Zese men informed ze family ov an attack by Gnolls upon the small mining town, and zat ze vere very vorried about ze other villagers.
Daria, immediately promised to help ze village ze next day, and to send vord to zem ven it vas safe. Zis didn't set very vell vis ze rest of ze family, yet ze agreed to help after a bit ov prodding by Daria.
The night passed quietly, yet I slept little. Dreams and visions kept me avake, and ze bush under vich I slept vas not ze most ideal ov beds, yet I vas unvilling to reveal myself to ze family yet. Ze next day zey made zere vay tovard ze town. Ven I arrived just out ov sight ov ze family I saw a terrible sight ov four villagers tortured and hung from X's sitting just inside of ze town limits. Only vone still seemed to be alive, a Cleric ov Cuthbert. He started making a gurling sound as ze family approached, vat I now know must have been a varning zat he could not pronounce vithout his tongue.
In ze center of ze town vas a group ov gnolls, throwing rocks, sticks, and bottles at ze Church of Cuthbert vere ze other villagers vere hiding. It seemed very strange to me zat ze Gnolls vere simply trying to keep ze villagers contained rather than slaughtering them all. But, ze Daern family seemed more intent on charging in. Vell, tactics do not seem to be zis families strong point as zey immediately scattered in vat I can only guess to have been an attempt to surround ze Gnolls, even zo ze family vas outnumbered. Vell, it did not vork vell, since Lucian, ze Ranger only found more Gnolls to ze right, vile Karn vound even more to ze left. It vas very clear zat ze vamily had vandered into a trap set just for them, or more correctly, for ze boy. Daria quickly checked on ze cleric before joining ze fray. Sasha, ze younger sister, followed Karn to ze left, and zis left ze boy all alone. Not a good start in my opinion, I vas very disappointed to see zis lack of protection for somevone so important. Yet, luckily, Daria has a very good head on her shoulders and immediately created a fog bank to hide ze family in. Zis vas very fortunate, as it made it possible for me to slip into ze battle unnoticed. Moving near ze boy I did everything I could to keep him safe, yet ze silly little tart thought it vould be best to float nearly out of ze fog, and vas finally brought down by vone of ze beasties. Ven zis happened, I quickly stood over him so zat I could keep him from being taken. I'm pretty sure zat Daria at least vas able to get a glimpse ov me in ze fog, but it vouldn't matter in a bit. For vone zing, zese gnolls vere much stronger, and much better equiped zan any I had ever heard ov, even in Blackmoor it is very rare to see gnolls zis hearty. But, it doesn't matter in ze face ov ze Darking family. Lucian and Sasha vere both knocked unconcious as vell before it vas all said an' done, but ze gnolls vere finally driven off. Just as ze fog vas drifting avay, I started to make my exit before ze family could ask too many questions. Ze gnoll leader, who appeared to be half-fiendish, shouted at me zat I couldn't protect ze kid for ever, but I felt zere vas no reason to reply to a coward who vas fleeing ze field of battle, and snuck into ze forest. I vould have hunted down zeir leader if I could have, but she vas flying, so I vas unable to track her. Vanting to make sure zey vould not be coming back, I followed the tracks ov vone of the archers who had fled as vell. He met up vith three or four more who had also ran, at vat seemed to be a predetermined meeting place. Zey quickly headed avay from ze town, so rather zan engage in a fight I vasn't sure zat I could vin alone, I decided to head back to ze town. Feeling confident zat zey vouldn't be returning any time soon, I didn't vant to leave ze kid unattended for too very long.
As I neared ze town I saw zat ze family vas doing everything ze could to help ze injured townsfolk. Zis vas very endearing to me as it showed a great maturity, as vell as ze highest of moral values. It allayed some ov my suspicions about vether I could trust ze family vith ze boy. I fashioned a quick disguise and slipped in among ze villagers to do vat I could to help, while keeping a close eye on ze boy.
It took about a veek, but Daria used her considerable pover to create plenty ov vater for ze village since zeir vell vas unusable after ze gnolls had dumped ze dead in it. She also summoned a large amount ov stone from ze earth to fashion a vatch tover in ze center ov town. Ven zey vere finished, zey said zeir goodbye's to ze townspeople and continued tovards Greyhawk. On ze vay zey made a quick stop at a nearby tover zat zey had apparently passed on ze vay zere. It had something shiny, zat Karn vent to check out inside vile ze boy floated up to look in ze upper vindows. Vell, zey had valked into another trap, and ze boy immediately had a bunch ov nets thrown at him. However, it did not appear zat it vould be a difficult battle, so I stayed hidden and vatched as ze Daern family slaughtered their attackers. As zey slept zat night, I reflected upon how far I had come, and dreamed ov home. For vonce, I slept contentedly... something zat vas very rare zese days.
Ze next day ov travelling vent smoothly, as I still maintained my distance, staying out ov ze vatchful gazes ov Karn and Lucian. Ven zey stopped at a very vealthy looking inn, I decided zat it vould be too dangerous to let ze boy go in vithout my protection. So I cast a minor spell allowing me to better disguise myself, and bought room and drink for myself, vatching ze family from ze bar. Zen, vat happened next, clarified ze danger ze boy was in, and ze power ov his enemies. Two Yugoloths suddenly appeared in ze middle of ze crowded inn, turning a couple of patrons into piles of goo if zey got in zere vay as ze demons stalked tovards ze boy. Even though it vould blow my cover, I could not let ze boy be taken by zem so I attacked ze closest vone as it valked by. Unfortunately zese bastards are very strong against arcane magic, especially zere own magic, vitch I had stolen from zem, making it difficult for me to hurt them. Luckily, Karn and I vere able to slow one down vile Sasha and a very rich elf killed the other. Ze kid blasted avay at zem, but his magic vas nearly as ineffective as mine. After killing the first, and seriously vounding ze second, it finally ran and left the bar in peace. Daria, as I had suspected, recognized me and started to introduce herself to me. However, fortune smiled down upon my head as ze elf introduced himself to Sasha. He seemed quite taken by her, and ze family suddenly turned all zere attention to him. In zis moment ov chaos, I silently slipped out ze back door and cast my disguise magics vonce again, and not a moment too soon either. For just as I had finished ze spell, Karn vandered out through ze same door I had just used. I thought for sure he had seen me and knew who I vas, but I thought I vould test him a bit just ze same. So, I struck up a casual conversation, dropping hints to mutual acquaintances in Greyhawk, such as Turin. Yet ze boy didn't seem to be able to see through my disguise, so I felt confident in returning to ze bar to vatch over ze situation. Sleeping in a bed for ze first time in veeks vas a very nice change, and by morning I vas as vell rested as I have been in ze past several months, even though sleep often eluded me zat night as vell. Ze next day, following ze family, zey finally finished zere voyage to Greyhawk, and returned into ze city and zere home....
Very vell zen, let us continue. Vell, ven the family Daern finally made it back to Greyhawk, they seemed a bit disorganized. Zey wandered around town tying up a few loose ends here and there. Arranging for ze resurrection ov zeir brozer, zough, zis vould take a bit ov time it seemed. Zey also delivered a letter to ze church of Cuthbert from ze cleric ze saved in Blackstone, and made a stop at ze library to find out about zeir research on ze spiral pattern zat zey had found on ze gnolls clothing. Zen, zey apparently had not acquired a way to get into contact vith Turin, and so zey started to vander home to see family and friends. At zis point I stopped folloving zem, since I had business vith Turin myself. Of course Turin already new zat ve vere all in ze city, and had dispatched couriers to let us know vere to find them. By the time ze Daern family arrived to meet vith Turin, I had already been
talking vith him for some time. Apparently, my mark, Dorian, had gone to ground and vas no longer participating in ze Arena. For my efforts, Turin, generously compensated me vith 100 gold pieces for ze safe return of ze Daern family. As ze Daern family arrived, I finally introduced myself formally to zem, and zey seemed a bit surprised at my appearance for what zey thought was ze zird time. To vitch Turin and I had to chuckle a bit. Ze younger brother, Karn, especially seemed a bit vary ov me, but zat is just him I think.
Ze Daern family returned ze cloak zat zey vere after, zough I'm not sure I could hand over such a powerful thing so easily. Apparently, Turin had promised to answer zree questions upon completion. Zey wanted to know about ze young boys past, vat happened to zere family (apparently zere parents have been missing for a very long time), and also vat ze spiral symbol from ze gnolls signified and belonged to. He told zem zat he vould let zem know all zey had asked ven he had gazered all ze information. Turin zen helped zem to get very good prices on zer goods, and zey graciously included me in ze loot, giving me a very beautiful Silver Wargod Amulet from ze old kingdom. A very precious zing indeed.
Since I did not believe it to be a good idea to leave ze young boy unprotected, I asked if perhaps I could lend my assistance to zere work, zough I did not tell zem zat my fate vas intertvined vis ze boys. Zey gladly velcomed me into zere home, and gave me a comfortable bed to sleep in. However, not all vas vell upon returning to the household, for zeir brother Drake, and Bane's girlfriend Sofie vere not home, and did not return zat day. I did everything I could vith my meager netvork in Greyhawk, but could not find a single trace ov vere zey vent. After nearly a veek ov searching a note showed up on ze front door saying zat ve vere to trade ze young boy for zere friends in ze Theive's Quarter. Vell, zis vas definitely not an option. Luckily, Turin had also caught vind ov vat had happened and appeared on ze families doorstep, disguised as a cleric zat very same morning. He gave us ze location ov vere ze two had been taken, and a general layout ov ze exterior.
It vas a giant varehouse, zat vas more like a fortress zan a varehouse, vith a Tventy foot high vall vith a four foot high spiked fence on top. At vone end vas a gaurd towver and zere vere regular patrols on top of ze valls. Unfortunately, zeir vas about thirty feet betveen ze valls and street and ze gaurds vouldn't let anyvone even near ze compound. Vell, ve quickly hatched a brilliant plan, vere Daria vould paralyze ze gaurds vith her spells vile Karn snuck onto ze vall to finish zem off and Lucian supported him from ze dark of a nearby alley. Ve thought it vould be too difficult for Sasha to sneak in, and my magic as vell as ze boys spells vere outlawed in ze city, so ve didn't vant to make a big scene.
Vell, ze plan vas a good vone, however, it is also very true zat a plan is just a list ov zings zat don't happen. Karn vas able to succesfully sneak up to ze vall, however he vas zen spotted as he vaited for a guard to go back inside on his patrol. Luckily, just as ze guard saw him, Daria quickly held him in place and told Lucian to svitch targets. Lucian, ze expert bowman he is, only needed zree arrows to take his man down as he sunk zem deep into ze mans lungs. As Karn zen used some levitating boots to float up to ze top of ze towver, he also vas able to somehow distract ze two guards on top ov it by throving his voice I think. Vell, Daria tried to hold another vone ov zem, and told Lucian to shoot at ze other. Karn took a vicious svipe at vone from behind, but stepped in betveen ze two. As soon as zey noticed him and turned tovards him, ze fired zere veapons into him from point blank. Vone had a crossbow, and nearly ripped out half ov Karns kneck vith his shot, and ze other put two arrows in his back. If it had not been for a magic shirt, Karn vould have been unconscious right zen and zere. However, he vas still barely standing, zough it vas obvious zat he vas only barely able to move at zat point. To make zings vorse, I noticed zat vone of ze ozer guards vas running along ze vall on ze other side of ze gates. Vell, ze whole goal had been to prevent an alarm from being raised, and so far ve had been succesful, so I let off a shot of magic and ze kid cast some magic missiles tovards him as vell. Daria vas able to paralyze ze vone zat had shot a crossbow into Karn while Karn heroically used ze last of his strength to take a svipe at ze other vone as he passed out from ze pain. Lucian kept firing into ze vone vith ze bow. Sasha also started firing vith a crossbow, however, ze gods vere not favoring her zis day, and her veapon broke as she cranked a bolt into place. As soon as Karn vas down ze guards turned zere attention tovards us. Ze vone I had shot, shot back at me, but he vas veak, he vas able to nearly hit me tvice, an accomplishment in itself, but he only created a small scratch on vone arm, and knicked my side vith another, barely even draving blood from ze second. Too my dismay he vistled and shouted to his comrades zat zey vere under attack. Daria immediately cast a silence spell on him while running tovards ze vall as Lucian killed ze other bowman who could still move. I also made my vay out into ze street, telling ze kid to keep close. As I valked out, I cast a spell to mimick ze mans voice and tried to fool his friends by exclaiming how he had already killed ze zreat. If only it had vorked, but oh vell. As I vas valking I also grabbed a rope from my pack. I cared little about ze next arrow zat ze man fired at me as it barely grazed my cheek. Ze kid stayed right on my heels and did a good job continuing to fire magic missiles at the same man. Lucian finished him off with a vell placed shot. However, more guards vere arriving from ze alarm and ze kid started using a bit more flashy stuff zough, and soon ze street vas clear as everyone fled. At zis point I saw no reason to hold back and let out an enormous blast at vone of zem hitting him square in ze chest, slowing him to nearly a halt, then quickly tied my rope into a lasso. Again, Lucian blasted into him knocking him clear off the vall. Daria had reached ze vall at zis point and vas vainly trying to climb up its slippery rock face, unable to even get a handhold, I think her vorry for her brother vas clouding her mind. Really, in all my years, I've found zat cool, calm, and collected vins ze battle, running about like chickens vith zere heads cut off does nothing. But, to each his own, I guess having alvays fought alone, it is different for those concerned about zeir family. So I valked up to ze vall vith ze kid in tow as he kept firing at ze remaining guards and so vas Lucian. Daria had given up climbing by herself and vas trying to help Sasha climb up instead. I threw my rope up and looped it around ze spikes, but it didn't get a good hold and I brought it back down for another try. Ze next throw vas much better and I started an easy ascent. As I hopped over ze fence I saw zat zere vere only two guards left on top of ze valls. Both Van and Lucian vere still firing at zem, but vone of zem had just drank a potion. I calmly strode across the vall and turned my eldritch magics into a glaive slashing him across the chest, spilling his innards onto ze cold stone valls. Sasha had managed to climb up next to me, but I vas in ze vay for her to actually get onto ze vall. So after anozer slash, nearly chopping off an arm of ze man in front of me. I pulled her next to me, and smelled ze sveet scent of battle on a beautiful voman, enough to drive any man crazy. Vanting to let her ply her trade I lept from ze top of ze tventy foot vall to ze hard pavement below. Rolling to my feet, I didn't even hit hard enough to bruise due to ze protection from my infernal magics. Valking to ze gates I threw my shoulder into zem, opening zem vide enough so zat ze ozers could get inside. I knew zat zere vas little time for us to find zeir friends now. Ze city guards vould most likely have already been alerted to our magical use, and ze battle vould also have surely warned zose inside of our attack. Our surprise vas lost, and zere friends and family vere now in even more danger.....
*to be continued in two weeks duh duh duuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh*
Hello Kikai13, guess who :)
Yep your friendly DM in the SW corner of the state.
I wish you guys had a remote option for your campaign.
Heh, at least I didn't accidentally delete it all and have to rewrite it this time!
Roeder,
Dude you have to watch the new Holy Diver cover and Video from Kill Switch Engage --it made me miss your old bedroom which was a shrine to 80s heavy metal...ah the good old days man..
Sorry to hijack this thread.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=14 620102
Someone send me Roeder's email and i'll post him there next time. Kikai come the heck out and respond.
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Roeder,
Dude you have to watch the new Holy Diver cover and Video from Kill Switch Engage --it made me miss your old bedroom which was a shrine to 80s heavy metal...ah the good old days man..
Sorry to hijack this thread.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=14 620102
Someone send me Roeder's email and i'll post him there next time. Kikai come the heck out and respond.
Actually, I did respond on your other thread. I think I still have your e-mail, and I'll send you something.
Vell, zen, liszen up and gazer round children to hear ze glory ov Makibex, ze strongest of ze suloise mages, for ven I had let ze rest of ze group into ze courtyard outside of ze varehouse I zen rebarred ze gate, as ze ozers removed ze bodies from ze valls so zey could not be seen from ze street. Ve quickly regrouped in front of ze massive doors to ze varehouse vith Sasha and myself in ze lead. As ve opened ze doors bolts and arrows zipped past from ze men who vere vaiting on ze ozerside. To make zings vorse zey vere all ztanding on top ov crates about 10 feet in ze air. Vell, zis made no difference to me zince I could shape my formidable magics into ze shape of a glaive, and I charged in taking a big chunk out ov one of zem. I figured I vould try to be ze main target vor zem, since my magics vould protect me ze best. Zere vere many many archers on top ov ze boxes, and at ze bottom zere vere some sneaky bastards as vell as a few trained soldiers in full plate vith heavy shields. Heh, as if tventy men is enough to stop Makibex! Vell, I set to ze slaughter as ze group vonce again splintered into multiple directions. I did my best to keep an eye on ze boy as he scaled ze boxes across from me vith ze help of Lucian. Zis is vere Karn had gone as vell, however, zis only made zem targets for more archers zat vere standing deeper in ze varehouse. Vell, unfortunately Sasha got herself surrounded as I vas finishing off my third or fourth and from ze sound ov her grunt ov pain I knew she vas hurting. So I vheeled around ze boxes she vas next to and sliced ze man who had stabbed her in ze back clean in half from head to toe, using all ze magic pover at my disposal to freeze him in place in ze process. Unfortunately, as I did so some sneaky little bi*#h jumped down off ze boxes running tovards me. But I used her momentum against her, exploding my magic into her side. Ze only problem vas, the voman zat I had left in order to help Sasha zhen slid in behind me. Up to zis point I only had some minor scratches from arrows and bolts, but zis whore slipped each ov her two sickles betveen ze joints ov my armor. Just as ze vone who ran in did ze same vith vone ov hers. Vor ze first time in a long vhile I felt ze exquisite beauty ov pain. As my own blood ran down my sides I finally felt alive once again, and found ze joy ov battle zat I had missed for so very long. Ze two b@~$&es became numbers zix and zeven bevore ze might ov my magic. Utterly disappointing after such a strong start. So I put my back to Sasha to try and keep her from being surrounded once more. Ve vere in a narrow alleyvay betveen boxes. I heard ze scream ov one ov ze armored bastards as he fell from her shot, and saw anozer archer creep up on ze ozer side of ze corner ov ze box I vas next to. Taking a giant sving, I blasted through the box, and through him as vell, taking down ze last vone zat I vould for ze fight as ze vere nearly all dead at zis point. However, I had lost sight ov ze boy vith my vorry for Sasha. As I heard ze last vone next to her fall, I ripped around ze corner to get out ov ze vay of Karn who vas rushing in vith a potion for Sasha and dashed to ze last place zat I had heard his voice from ze incantations for his spells. I made it just in time too, he vas a bloody mess, zough from ze looks of ze valls, crates and bodies around him, he had given better zan he recieved. Just, as I vas nearing him I saw vone last archer notching an arrow. I vas still a bit high from ze pain from zose shots I took earlier, and vas hungering for more, so I threw myself in front ov him just bevore two shots vould have found zere mark. Yet, ze deflected harmlessly off my armor, thudding into a crate next to ze boys head. Svirling my cloak to ze side to give ze boy a clear shot, he ripped a spell through ze man and I blasted him vith my eldritch magic from a distance razer zan charging him. Zis allowed me to deflect two more ov his shots before Van brought him down. Vell, finally thinking ze battle vas over, ve vent to rejoin ze ozers only to find Sasha and Lucian unconcious. I don't remember who finished off ze last ov ze enemy, but it vas only vone archer. It vas either Van or Karn. But I bent down and gave Sasha ze unused potion zat she vas still holding from Karn, and she voke back up. Lucian vas quickly up as vell, and Karn let Daria in. Apparently, at ze beginning ov ze battle a svitch had been thrown, closing ze massive doors, and mechanically locking zem. Karn, also reported zat he had found a set of stairs to ze back ov ze varehouse. Surely, zis is vere ze family Daern's friends vere. Vith Daria back, ve now also had very many potions, and vere feeling much better. However, Van and Daria vere nearly out ov spells. I remember vehn I relied on such veak magics, but now I hold ze power stolen from demons, and relish ze thought ov ze upcoming battle. For now, ve vait, but soon, perhaps I vill get to once again feel zat I am alive, so zat I know zat zis is not just anozer dream....
*Next game THURSDAY THURSDAY THURSDAY*
Standing tall I valked down ze ornate stairs ve found to ze back ov ze varehouse, vith ze others folloving me vone by vone. Down down down into ze earth ve valked, not knowving vat avaited us next, or ze cruel fates zat zis basement vould hold for us. At ze bottom ov ze steps vas an octagonal room vith beautiful, smooth marble floors and valls. The side ov ze room opposite ze stairs had a large set ov iron doors. On each ov ze ozer six sides ov ze room stood a marble statue vith arms outstretched. Karn quietly checked for traps and found none at ze entrance to ze room. Zerefore, he vent over to ze set ov double doors, at vich point ze fore-arms ov each statued turned into vrithing inky black tentacles. Luckily, Karn vas able to avoid zeir attacks and made it back safely, however I vas a bit too close and found myself bound by vone ov ze tentacles. Luckily for me ze kid and Sasha each quickly attacked ze tentacles and hacked me free. Realizing zat rushing in vas a bad idea, ve all backed up ze stairs just slightly, and I concentrated on ze innervorkings ov ze magics in ze room below. Realizing zat zey had been summoned to zat place, zey vere actually creatures extending out ov ze statues. However, zey also vere regenerating, ve discussed a bit to see vat vould be ze best plan ov action, and decided to let ze kid clear a path vith his area spells. After he had scorched zem back on vone side, Sasha stepped down and threw a flask ov acid zat Karn had given her at vone ov ze statues. Zen, Karn rushed in, as ve planned to try and destroy ze statues zemselves. He vas able to hit vone but did little damage, before tentacles from anozer statue had him held. Zen I stepped down and tried to use my eldritch power on ze statue, but found zat it seemed to do much less damage zan normal. It vas becoming clear zat destroying zese statues might not be an option, but I vanted vone more try at it, so Daria tossed me her mace. Lucian, Van, and Sasha all continued to beat back ze ozer tentacles, vile I stepped in close to try and break a statue. Unfortunately, even vith being ze strongest in ze room, and Daria's mace I vas only able to chip away bits and pieces ov ze statue. So, I threw Daria's mace back to her, and decided it vas best to just get out ov ze room. Karn, ze slippery little bugger he is, had gotten free by zis time and moved to ze set ov double doors to look for more traps. I vatched each statue intently and directed ze attacks of my comrades tovards ze healthiest tentacles as zey regenerated. He also noticed zat zere vas an ornate locking mechanism on ze door, but zat it vas on ze side ve vere coming in from, as if to lock vat ever vas down here in.
I rushed ze door on ze right and threw it open vith my shoulder, stepping through only to see three guards in full plate vith heavy shields before me. Heheheh, my favorite kind ov opponents, zose zat really too heavily on zere equipment. It does zem no good against my pover. On ze valls ov ze hallvays vere incredibly beuatiful paintings. However, ze subject matter left somezing to be desired. Each mural depicted scenes from ancient times ov beasts ve did not recognize, black tentacles reaching forth from each.
Ze rest ov ze group rushed through ze doorvay escaping the clutches ov ze trap. Daria vas first, and she tried to cast a spell to command vone ov ze guards to drop his veapons, but failed. Ze guards zen charged her, but only two vere able to cover enough ground to reach her. Vone svung vildly, missing her completely, vile ze ozer slashed a deep cut into her thigh. Van vas ze next through, and he pulled a vand from his pocket, vaving it tovards ze man zat Daria had tried to command. Sasha vas next, but she vas having trouble finding ze creases in zeir armor. Karn, had no such problems vith his keen eyes, and rolled around to flank zem. Sliding in from behind, he slipped his Kukri betveen ze plates ov one. Dark, nearly black blood ran down his blade, signs ov hitting a kidney, and ze death ov ze man. Van, had by zis time calmed ze man he had cast a spell on, and had convinced him to no longer attack us, and seemed to be trying to get him to attack ze ozers. However, it didn't matter much, as it only took a couple more svings to bring down ze ozer vone. From vat I know magic, it vas obvious zat ze kid had charmed ze guard, and ve now had an ally to help us.
Thinking quickly, I cast a small prestidigitation spell to vhip out a business card, zat showed us to be from ze dungeon vorkers guild, and convinced him zat ve vere zere to inspect ze premises to make sure zat ze employees vere being vell treated. Vith his help, he explained for us ze layout ov ze compound, as vell as ze number ov people in each room. Ve also found out, zat an Illithid vas a regular visitor to ze temple. In fact he had recently left, taking a young voman vith him. Ve zen drug ze bodies ov ze deceased into a nearby guest room to attempt to avoid discovery as vell as to plan our next move.
Daria's main concern vas for zeir little brozer, and to some extent to zeir older brozers girlfriend Sophie. Having met neizer, and having a connection to zem only through ze family, I vas thinking a bit more rationally. She vanted to completely clear ze entire place ov ze scumbags, searching room by room till ve found zem. However, I knew zat zere vas much more important things to vorry about, including ze health ov ze party. Van especially vas in bad shape, and vithout any vay to heal him, more combat vould be especially dangerous. He vas far to important to risk. Zerefore, I thought ve should rest, but Daria vas insistant zat zere family didn't have time for us to be vasting. Vith zis I had to agree, but I also knew zat ve could do nozing for zem dead and zat ve had exhausted many ov our resources. Zus, ve struck a deal, and decided to head to ze torture chamber, vere zere vere many cells as vell. Ve had asked ze guard about ze Daern family friends specifically, but apparently, many captives vere brought down to zis hellish place. Luckily, he did varn us ov ze torturer, a man bigger even zan ze descriptions zat I had heard ov ze families older brozer Bane. However, zis man seemed to be a massive mound ov fat and muscle, not ze rippled musculature ov zere brozer. It also seemed zat zis torturer vas not ze smartest ov men. Zus, ve decided zat it vould be best to use ze last charge in ze vand zat Van had to charm zis man as vell. In ze hope zat he vould be a great asset in ze fights to come. Vell, as soon as I opened ze door, Van used ze van, and voilla ve had a new fat friend.
Grabbing ze keys from him, I began to make my vay through ze cells, opening each vone and letting Daria cast a healing spell on ze person inside. Ze first vone, vas a halfling merchant, who didn't seem to trust us at all, until Daria told him she vas a priestess ov Pelor. A small spell, and he vas feeling somevat better. Even through ze dirt and grime, blood and broken rib, I could see zat ze next voman vas incredibly beautiful. She said her name vas Isidora and zat she vas a bard by trade. A voman I vill have to get to know much better later. Unfortunately, it vas obvious zat ze torturer vas very skilled, and had left her on ze brink ov death. Daria gave her a potion, zat seemed to help mend ze rib sticking out ov her side a bit, but she still vas hurting pretty badly. So, I pulled ze stopper from a bit more potent potion zat I vas carrying, and poured it slowly over her head, letting its cool liquid flow gently over her supple body as she ran her hands gently through her hair... then through my hair... At least zats vat I envisioned, in reality I simply handed ze potion to her, letting her drink it, vich brought her back to being much much healthier, nearly fully healed. Ve then gave her a svord just in case zings got messy, even zough she said she couldn't fight, it vas better zan leaving her defenseless. Ze last cell held a man who claimed to be a caravan guard, and who knew how to fight vell. Zerefore, ve gave him a set ov ze guards full plate, a tover sheild and a sword. Yet, ve still had seen no sign ov ze Daern family friends.
To ze back ov ze cells vas anozer room, ze actual torture chamber. In ze center ov a grated floor to allow ze blood to flow unhindered vithout cleaning out ov ze vay ov ze torturer vas a fire pit. Ze valls vere caked vith blood and from ze ceiling hung a plethora ov chains, creating an intricate system zat I'm not sure I could master vith a year ov study. Over ze bed ov hot coals vas a cage vith vat I could only assume vas an elf in it, slowly roasting over the open fire. Affraid zat I vould drop him into ze pit on accident, I retrieved ze our new friend ze torturer, and instructed him to bring ze elf down unharmed. Zis man refused to trust us until I sent ze torturer avay, and even zen he only did so begrudgingly, believing us to be in league vith him. Vell, a hurried explanation and a couple ov potions later, he vas much more villing to believe zat ve vere against ze owners ov zis place. As ve vere talking to him, Karn began searching ze torture room for his stuff. Ze elf introduced himself as Kaelin and he seemed to be a monk (this is a new PC, I will let him post a description, bringing our group to six pc's when we are all present) All he vas able to find vas a rope, vich apparently vas his only possession. However, more importantly he also found a secret door to ze back.
Inside ov zis door vas a horrific and hellish sight to behold. A gangvay encircled ze entire room vere ve entered, more zan tventy feet from ze floor. I say more zan tventy feet, because it vas about tventy feet to ze top ov ze enormous pile ov rotting bodies below. Zere vere so many it vas impossible to see ze floor. As soon as Sasha entered she let out a wail ov despair. Unable to calm her, or coax an explanation from her, she merely pointed to a body in ze pile. It vas zat ov a young boy, who appeared to be nearly her age. He had dark black hair, and soft facial features. Ze rest vas indescribable due to ze blood and bruising from ze torture, and around his temples vere four holes, shoving ze absence ov a brain. Her tears not slowing, I looked to Daria for help, only to see her crying as vell. It vas clear zat zis had been zere brozer. Kaelin lept into ze pit, wading through ze filth as ze rotted corpses threatened to svallow him and grabbed ze boys body. Ve zen threw him a rope, and pulled both him and ze young boy up. It vas obvious zat ze group never had any intention ov trading zere friends for Van, and zat zey had been attempting to set a trap for us. Ve then, believed zat ze girl zat had been taken vith ze illithid earlier vas most likely Sophie.
At this discovery, even Daria, ze beacon ov light in ze group vas becoming very enraged. Now zat ve had a small army vith us, ve decided it vould be safe to try and clear ze place out at least a bit. So ve split into two groups. Van, myself, ze bard, Daria, and ze torturer vere in vone group. Vile, Sasha, Karn, Kaelin, Lucian, and ze caravan guard vere in ze ozer. Ze charmed guard ve set at ze end ov a hallvay to varn us if anyone came out ov ze entrance to ze temple or tomb zat vere located down here. Ze ten remaining guards in ze two barracks, dining room, storage rooms and armory vere all pitifully veak, and not vorth mentioning here. Zere are two exceptions to zis however. Ze first ov vitch vas ze betrayal ov ze group by ze man who had claimed to be a caravan guard as he attacked Lucian vile their group vas fighting in ze cafeteria. Ze second ov vitch vas that ve fought a strange bird like humanoid (Kenku) in ze second barracks zat my own group cleared. In it ze silly vizard vith him cast invisibility on ze birdman, but vas unable to fool my vision, eyes stolen from ze demons zemselves! Vith zese rooms cleared and searched ve prepared ourselves for ze last two places. Unfortunately, ze guard thought zere might be as many as tventy men in ze temple itself, so ve vere going to have a rough fight in front ov us.
-next week: The Temple and The Tomb-Evil Confronted!
Ze darkness zat is in ze hearts ov mortals had began to overcome ze party as ve vandered ze forgotten halls ov zis unholy place. Vith ze death ov zeir brozer ze Daern family had lost hope and vas spiraling into despair and insanity. Daria vorst ov all. Having seen ze dead body ov her brozer had sent her into a rage zat befitting ze follovers ov Kord. Unconsiously abandoning her faith she vas ready to storm ze temple and and slaughter all she found zere. It vas obvious zat ze evil in zis place vas overcoming her senses.
Luckily, having had to control my own demonic pover for so long, and having known neizer ze brozer nor Banes girlfriend, I at least vas still zinking clearly. So, I grabbed vone ov ze sets ov mastervork manacles out ov my bag zat I used for my bounties, and looped zem through ze door handles to ze temple, locking zem shut. Daria vas beginning to become unruly at zis point, as she refused to listen to reason, not able to see ze grievous vounds zat ze party had suffered. Furzermore she vas growving louder and louder as she argued for rushing ze temple immediately. Though I hated to do it, I vas forced to tackle her to ze ground, pinning her arms behind her back and affixing my remaining pair ov mastervork manacles to her vrists. I zen drug her into ze guest room ve had found and quietly explained a few zings zat I knew about ze boy, and why ve must not let him fall. Even more importantly, I could not let him see a priestess ov Pelor be corrupted by evil and fall from ze vay ov righteousness.
Finally, vith her calmed and under control I released her and ve returned to ze ozers in ze hallvay. I zen affixed ze manacles I had used on Daria onto ze doors ov ze tomb so zat ve vould not be ambushed vile ve vere resting. To my dismay, ze big oaf ov a torturer zen said he remembered seeing ze head cleric enter ze temple, but leave from ze dining hall, meaning zere vas a secret passage. Ve searched everyvere for ze passage in ze dining hall, but could find nozing. Ve could not take ze chance ov being ambushed and zerefore decided it vould be best to rush ze temple after all, zen at least ve vould have surprise on our side. I zen removed ze manacles from ze temple doors and placed zem on ze doors into ze dining hall, so zat zere vould be no escape from us.
As ve burst through ze doors to ze temple ve saw zat zere vere many enemies in ze room. Ve had hoped zat a good number ov zem vould have been prisoners zat zey vere trying to convert, but to our misfortune only three ov ze tventy or so in ze temple vere prisoners. Ze Daern family, poor tactics vonce again to control as ze all scattered to attack different targets. I placed ze kid in ze rear at ze entrance vith Lucian, ze bard, and ze charmed guard to protect him. All, he had vere vands ve had found, but ze vould be enough for him to keep a good several ov ze enemy casters from using zere magics. Lucian as vell vas focusing his efforts into disrupting ze head cleric. Ze rest ov us started fighting our vay tovards ze front ov ze temple.
Fatigue and exhaustion vere coursing through my limbs, my arms and legs feeling like lead as I moved sluggishly through the battle. Yet, again and again I miraculously found ze strengz to summon forth my magical energies, to slash down through armor and flesh alike, carving through my foes like butter. Alzough I vas svinging vildly vithout ze normal control and composure zat I normally use to my advantage in battle, it vas causing my blows to do massive amounts ov damage to my enemies.
Ze battle vas going vell for us despite Daria, bless her heart, vas trying to harness her anger vonce again to attack ze men before us. Yet, Pelor had not given up on her, and kept her from landing blows upon ze mortals facing us, as time after time her mace glanced off ov zere armor. Sasha vas her normal flurry ov slashing bladed death, vile Karn slipped behind ze people zat vere forced to focus on her so zat he could slide a dagger betveen zere ribs. Our new monk friend, Kaelin, vas also proving zat he knew his vay around ze battlefield as he pounded our foes into unconsciousness vith his heavy fists. And ze torturer vas rending flesh from bone vith his spiked chains.
Ze head cleric, however, vas not about to give up and he slipped a strange mask over his head. Sewn from flesh ov ze deceased, it had a spiral pattern zat overlaid his face. As soon as he did so, I felt magical energies trying to invade my mind. Suddenly, I saw my dreams and nightmares beginning to overlay ze real vorld, or maybe it vas ze ozer vay around. If I hadn't seen him activate ze mask, I may not have been able to resist its affects. Yet, I vas somehow able to concentrate on ze task at hand, and my dreams suddenly recessed back into ze dark areas ov my mind, ready to assault me again at a moments notice. I glanced to my right and noticed zat ze torturer had a strange look in his eyes as he charged tovards ze caster. Seeing ze magical energies and his actions I knew zat it had been an area Confusion spell. Luckily, ze monk and Daria who vere close to me, seemed to be unaffected as vell.
Zere vere few left at zis point, but all vas still not vell. Ze cleric activated ze mask vonce again, and both Sasha and Karn started babbling incoherently. As ze torturer fell, Kaelin and I finished off ze remaining opponents. Karn had charged ze caster as vell and dropped him to vithin inches ov his life. Not vanting to let him die so zat ve could qvestion him later, I somehow forced my legs into action, running to his side to try and stabilize him before he died. Unfortunately, Karn vas still not in control ov his actions and jumped on top ov ze man, stabbing over and over again.
Now, ve had anozer problem, Karn and Sasha both vere still acting out of control, and Sasha nearly killed Daria in a flash ov steel. As ve realized zat ve vere going to have a problem vrestling Sasha to ze ground, Daria smacked vone ov her svords out ov her grasp vith her mace. She zen cast her fog spell, at least making it more difficult for ze two ov zem to attack us if ze should so become inclined. Sasha zen sprinted out ov ze room and all ze vay up to ze varehouse. Vile Daria followed her, I quickly grabbed ze mask and a staff ov fire zat ze cleric had vithout anyone noticing. Ze staff I had planned to use to try and disarm ze ozer two, but ze mask I vas not villing to let Daria turn into her temple quite yet. Finally, ze spell ended and ze two vere back to normal, vith everyone still alive and kicking.
Ve then took our time exploring ze rest ov ze encampment vithout any more battles. Ve found ze secret passage vith a little vork, and I vas able to obtain a large packet ov documents from ze clerics desk. I vill have to take a look at zese in greater lengz later. Inside ze tomb vere a dozen caskets vith more ov ze strange artvork on zem of tentacled creatures, all created from polished dark black marble. Zere, a palpable drop in temperature inside ze room, and ze cold suddenly reminded me ov home. At ze end ov ze room vas huge orb from vich I could sense the dark magics it contained vithin, as vell as ze souls ov previous priests ov ze Doom Dreamer. Zis seemed to be a vay ov passing on knowledge to ze successors ov zere faith. I decided to try and take some rubbings ov ze artvork from ze caskets vith paper and chalk. As I vas doing so I felt myself getting more and more tired, and slowly saw ze creatures vithin ze artvork begin moving. Before my eyes, my nightmares vere starting to come to life as ze cold vas permeating my entire body. Down into ze depths ov sleep I vas falling, but vas unable to vake. Suddenly, I vas vrenched back to consciousness by Karn viciously shaking me. My arms lay at my sides, having dropped both chalk and paper. Zat young man, had just saved my life, for I do not think I vould have ever avakened from zat dream. Acutely avare ov ze evil in zis place, ve left it be, and locked it vith not only my manacles but vith locks zat Karn vas carrying as vell. Ve agreed to let clerics from Daria's temple consecrate zis place later.
Zen, Lucian and ze monk zen started gazering all ov ze magical items into bags to take vith us, as I broke open crates up in ze varehouse to see vat vas in zem. Zere I found enough arms and equipment to outfit a small army. At zis point, ve split into groups to get everything done as qvickly as possible. Karn and Sasha vent to see Turin so zat he could empty ze varehouse, and returned vith some voman who obviously knew Karn very vell, zough she seemed a bit demented as she took pleasure in causing him pain. Oh vell, to each zere own. As she saw ze amount ov crap in ze varehouse, she said it vould take a day to empty it. Time ve didn't have since Daria vent to retrieve clerics from her temple to sanctify ze temple under ze varehouse. Ve dispatched Sasha and Van by horseback to stop Daria, vich ze apparently accomplished. Lucian and Kaelin took ze magical and mastervork equipment to ze Daern house, vile Isidora and I set up vatch at ze gates to ze compound. Zat vomans voice is divine, vether speaking or singing, it eases my soul. Daria, apparently, vas held up for some reason at her temple, and vould be there for three days. Vile Karn, his new friend and Sasha vere emptying ze varehouse, Isidora took Van and I to her house for some rest.
She originally offered to take only Van, yet I vas not villing to let him out ov my sight. Her beauty nearly blinded my judgement as she nearly conviced me to let her, yet I knew I could not let myself trust anyone I had just met. So, I prevented ze boy from going. However, ze boy vas very disheartened at zis, and I thought zat if she vas as kind as she I hoped she vas, zen perhaps it vould be good for ze boy. Zus, I agreed to let ze boy go as long as I vas vith him. Unfortunately, she seems to have misunderstood my intentions for going along vith her, as she told me zere vas only vone bed. I said ze floor vas fine vith me, I just vanted to ensure Vans safety. She seemed to be as distrustful ov me as I vas vith her. Though, I suppose vith her beauty, she is most likely used to ze scum ov zis town oggling her daily.
By zis point, I vas far too exhausted to set her straight and slid down ze vall near ze end ov ze bed so zat I vas close by. Ze boy curled up next to her, and fell into a deep slumber vith her arms around him, a big smile on his face. As he slept contentedly, my heart couldn't help but pity him, he most likely had never known ze love ov a mozer's embrace and zis vas ze closest he vas likely to get. I felt better about my decision to bring him here, and hoped against all hope that she vas sincere for ze boys sake. Unfortunately, as I tried to sleep as vell, ze nightmares returned. I do not know if it vas due to my proximity to Van or something else, but I could not sleep and sat in a state half avake half asleep, seeing visions ov ze zings to come. Ven ze bard avoke hours later, I vas even more tired zan I had been before. I had asked a favor ov her earlier, to find a magical item for me in ze city vich she said she vas going to do and offered to take Van vith her. I vas not ready to let him out ov my sight yet zough, and hated to ask her not to take him vith her. Yet, I could not in good conscience put her at risk vithout being zere to protect zem both. So she vas kind enough to agree to cast a sleep spell on me before she left, and gave Van a deck ov cards to occupy himself vith ven I explained ze danger zat followed us.
Ze next day or two passed qvickly, as ze varehouse vas emptied and Daria vas at her temple. Van and I spent an increasing amount ov time vith Isidora. She seemed to get as much pleasure from seeing such an innocent child as Van did from being vith her. She told him tales ov long ago, and sang and played for him. I sat, avay from zem, using ze item she had acquired for me to study ze magical items ve had found. I also read zrough ze massive amount ov papervork I had found, looking for any clues zat I could find. It vas ze closest to peace zat I had felt for a very long time, and I couldn't help but zink zat ven zis vas all over, it vas somevere zat I vould very much like to return to.
Ven Daria returned she told us zat zey had discovered a vay to deciphet a map zat she had found on zeir travels. It apparently pointed to a lost oracle to Pelor. Ze reason she had taken so long, vas zat she vas helping to prepare for ze arrival ov somebody very important. Some major spell vas to be cast. At zis point ve all gazered togezer to decide our next move. Vere ve to go and see zis oracle, or track down ze Daern families parents vith information from Turin, or should ve follow ze trail ov Adamarcus? Zis vas something zat ve must discuss....
Friendship.... comaraderie.... zese zings are foreign feelings.... it has been long since I have not traveled and searched in solitude, yet I find myself drawn more and more to zese people. It is not uncommon for ze men of my lineage to be drawn such, yet usually it is near ze end ov our lives. Ven ve are about to pass on, and need an heir to inherit our knowledge. Rarely is it about compassion or love zat ve find ze companionship ov ozers as desirable to travel or settle down vith. So vhat are zese feelings zat I am experiencing? I find myself drawn closer and closer to ze Daern family and ze young boy Van.
Vile staying at Isidora's I had taken ze time to thoroughly inspect all of ze magic items zat ve had found... a fortune to be sure, in my opinion more zan 100,000 gold orbs vorth. Enough zat ve could settle down and live out our days in peace, and more zan enough for most adventurers to call it qvits. However, zings vere not zat simple for us. Unfortunately, ve still did not know anyzing about zis Adamarcus zat vas after ze boy, and ze gods vere definitely not going to leave zis alone. Theruzdan vas on my tail, and Pelor had summoned Daria to ze Oracle. Furzermore, Sasha and Karn dearly vanted to find zeir parents, a search zat vould take us near ze Scarlett Brozerhood. So razer zan using our new found fortune to settle down, ve reequipped and made preparations for anozer journey.
To do zis Daria, Isidora, Van, and I took a large amount of ze veapons and armors to ze temple of Heironeous. Zere, apparently vas ze Daern families older brozer Bane, recently resurrected. According to Daria he had stopped by ze household vile I vas in ze basement inspecting ze magical properties ov ze items. Zough vone vould have though zis to be a joyous occasion I detected a hint ov sadness in her voice, and upon pressing found zat he had agreed vith ze Clerics of St. Cuzbert to fight for zem on ze front lines of ze Var against Iuz, and vas to set out ze folloving morning vith a caravan from Heironeous. Just as ze family finally had seen a ray of hope vith his return, ze had quickly lost a brozer vonce again. Vat more tragedies could befall zis family.
Vell, Isidora vas enchanting as alvays, and vas able to get us a great deal on ze goods vith meager assistance from Daria and myself as ve pointed out and deciphered divine and arcane magical properties upon ze items. Ve vere able to get better zan half value for ze items vich vas good, and used a small share ov zat to acquire discounted potions and elixers for ze upcoming journey, vich ever vay ve might decide to go.
Karn and Sasha vent to visit Turin and ze elf zat Sasha had met after ve fought ze Yugoloths. Ze took ze remaining portions ov ze loot zat vould sell better to zem to get ze best prices. Ven zey returned Karn handed me a gift from Turin, apparently for ze emptying ov ze Varehouse I vould guess. A shiny new cloak. I vill have to zank him later, and zanked Karn for his generosity. I zink zat it may have been ze first present I have recieved in nearly tventy years, and it vas greatly appreciated. I now vear it vith pride. Ve zen did some qvick shopping, before hitting ze sack.
Ze folloving day vas Brewfest, and Karn and Sasha vere very excited about zis holliday. Van vas as vell, zough I got ze impression zat ze boy expected he vould be drinking liqour along vith ze rest ov ze city. I did not zink zat vould be a good idea. Instead, I offered to take him around ze carnival along vith Isidora. Daria and Sasha also accompanied us, and I felt strangely important vith three beautiful vomen vith me, vell two and a dvarf zat vaguely resembled a beautiful voman. Meanvile, Karn wandered off vith his new masochist friend, she seemed to already have made plans for him. Van is clearly in awe ov Isidora, and is coming to look up to her more and more every day. I too find her to be more trustvorthy as ze days pass, she has quickly become an invaluable ally, and I vorry for her safety now zat she has begun associating herself vith us. Yet, she seems less concerned zan I. Vile ve vere out, I treated everyone to some hot cider and sveet cakes to munch on as ve vandered zrough ze streets. Zen I took zem to ze High Quarter, vere zey saw buildings of a beauty unlike any ze had ever vitnessed before. Ze amount ov vealth in zis part of za city vas palpable, and could be felt radiating from every stone, every brick, every little detail on each building. Soon ve reached ze destination I had been searching for.
Ze Menagerie.
I had not personally vished to see zis place, zinking zat more pleasure could be discerned from mastering a skill, or knowledge, or even ze perfection ov a mundane chore. However, I vas vith humans, and zere ideas of recreation are different. I also doubted zat Van had ever seen a place like zis, and vanted to try and give him a memory ov a normal childhood experience. His life had previously been fraught vith peril, tragedy, danger, pain and death, I vanted to begin to show him some ov ze good zings in life that day. I thought ze tasty treats vould be a good start, and having Isidora zere helped.
Vith each new creature ve passed his eyes lit up a bit more. Seahorses in zere own salt vater acqvarium, a displacer beast zat appeared to be not quite vere he actually vas, a four headed hydra, and many ozers. As Isidora held his hand and lead him zrough ze amusements, I couldn't help but smile to myself a bit, she seemed to be enjoying zis nearly as much as him. I'm not sure vhy she has become so attached to our group, but I am glad for it. I still don't completely understand vere all ov zese feelings I am having for zem are coming from. However I feel closer to zem daily, and I find myself becoming more and more interested in Isidora. As ve valked she vould occasionally turn and smile to me, nearly causing me to stumble ze first time. Zere is a serenity and calm about her zat vas spellbinding, and yet a vildness zat vould drive lesser men insane. I had known she vas beautiful ze first time I had seen her even covered in filz and grime in ze dungeon, and zus had immediately dismissed her as just anozer voman who knew only how to get vat she vanted zrough her beauty. Nozing more zan anozer vapid bimbo zis vorld didn't need. Yet, ze more I got to know her, ze more I found she vas much more zan zat. Quick vitted she vas anyzing but stupid, and her kindness varmed even my cold norzern heart.
Vell, ze menagerie passed in a blur, and ve vere soon exiting to see many of ze more common animals zat vere kept in petting zoo's and pens for sale. I saw ze young boy playing happily vith some small creature I had never seen before. It looked like a small squirrel or chipmunk, but had zese strange membranes betveen its legs zat vould allow it to glide. Even I had to admit zat it vas cute. Van laughed as he played vith it, its small feet tickling ze back of his neck as it ran across his shoulders. I zink zat it vas ze first time I had heard such a pure and innocent laugh from ze young boy. And I vas finally able to see him for ze truth of vat he vas. A young child who had been robbed of his past, and his childhood, who vas thrown into a terrible vorld zat had given him nozing but hate and loazing. It vas no vonder zat he often used his qvick vit to bandy about insults, ven zey are probably about all he has ever heard directed at him. Zis realization made me vant to bring at least a small amount of joy into his life. So, I bought him ze little rodent as a pet, to which he squealed vith joy. Furzermore, since I had alvays preferred solitude before I had ever met ze Daern family, I had never attempted to bond vith a familiar. Van, also did not have one, zough it seemed to me zat he vas incapable razer zan zat he chose not to have one. Zus, I performed ze ritual for him, giving up a portion of my own magics to create ze bond between him and his new pet. A small sacrifice to bring joy to a young boy who had rarely seen kindness in his short life.
Ze day ended uneventfully, vith Karn returning vith news zat if ve vanted to travel on ze vatervays tovards ze oracle zen ze last boat/barge of ze year vould be leaving in two days, since it vould soon be vinter. A velcome change of season in my opinion. Zerefore, everyone split up for ze day, vith Van vanting to spend vone last day vith Isidora who said she vould not be coming vith us. Ze ozers vent to purchase supplies, and Karn and I made a B-line straight for ze library. I could see his eyes light up vith ze first sight of ze long shelves of books. He looked like a kid in a candy store, not sure vere to start. Vell, I motioned to several ov ze librarians for assistance and soon ve had half a dozen ov zem shuffling to and fro pulling and finding books for us. As we built a small wall of books around ze tables zat ve had commandeered he attacked zem vith a passion and ferocity zat I had not previously seen in his eyes. He vas looking for information on ze town vere close to ze Brozerhood zat ze contact vas in who knew about ze Daern families parents. Vhile I researched Theruzdan ze Doom Dreamer. As I read passage after passage about ze dark god zat had been imprisoned by ze ozer deities, I noticed Karn slowly inching in to see vhat I vas studying. Zerefore, I tried to nonchalantly draw him into ze research zat I vas doing. Trying to casually ask him qvestions about his experiences vith ze boy before I found zem. As ve talked and read ze heckles on my neck began to stand on end, and my excitement.... and dread.... began to rise from ze pit of my stomach. Ze research and qvestioning vas soon no longer casual, but rose to a fevered pitch. I found myself very glad to have brought him vith me. His mind is amazingly sharp, and ze connections he made vould have taken me ten times as long. It vas due to him zat ve got as far as ve did. Ze Daern family is much more amazing zan I had originally zought. Karn especially, had von my respect zis day. His dedication to knowledge and mastery of it is somezing zat everyone ov my race holds dear. I found myself regretting zat he vas already a teenager. He vould have made a perfect candidate to receive ze knowledge zat I hold vith my final vords. Vell, if I should fail to find ze city of ze gods, zen perhaps I can bestow my final utterance upon his son, or his grandson if I should survive zat long. In ze end ve stayed at ze library till ze kicked us out for closing, having made many discoveries into ze history of Theruzdan. Tired from ze long day, ve left upon zere request. As ve valked home, I began to dread vat I might encounter in my dreams zat night. Perhaps Isidora vould be around to cast sleep again. One last night in a good bed vith sound, uninterrupted sleep sounded divine.... vich reminded me.... divinity....I had vone last errand to run before we set out for ze Oracle of Pelor....
I BE BACK!!!! Raised from tha aftahlife!!! Once again in mah propah form!!! GRRRRRRAAAAAAAAHHHHHH it feels good ta be meh!!!! F$%KIN RIGHT DOGGIE!!! Gimmie an Ale!!! Nah, make tha' six!!! Ah tha's a good pint!!
Now, to tha details... I was brought back bah tha most unlikely group, tha church o' St. Cuthbert! Who woulda guessed it. Aftah all tha grief tha' bunch o' hooligans gave us outside tha' city walls! I awoke ta a whole temple full o' them. Now they wasn' to terribly pleased with tha' commotion ah was makin when I woke up from mah death, but at least tha fellahs in Greyhawk seemed to be a lil more brighter than tha' country bumpkins tha' we had met on our previous travells. Apparently, mah sis' Daria, an' tha rest o' tha family had gotten on their goodside bah deliverin a letter from the very same cleric tha' had caused meh so much trouble. Not only tha' but they had save the bugger from a bunch o' gnolls. Too good for tha' bastard, but I ain't tha boss o' mah sis, so knowin tha' she's such a kind hearted lass it wasn' too much o' a surprise. Personally, I woulda let tha Father Kerin hang upside down on tha' cross till he admitted the error in his ways, but, tha's jus' me.
Well, I was pretty weak from tha resurrection, an' so tha clerics wanted meh to stay around a bit to get used to mah body again. They said it was standard practice to make sure there weren't no aftahaffects. Stupid f$#kin magic. Well, there wasn' any, an I think really they just wanted tah preach at meh a bit. But I stayed anyways jus' in case. Well, they made sure there was someone there jus' about 24/7 talkin to meh. Tha crazy thing is, tha' aftah a day or two, wha' they was sayin was startin ta make sense. Now, I ain't joinin they crazy church or nuthin, but I also didn' know tha' they was into the retribution thing so much. Aftah talkin 'bout it for awhile, I knew tha' Iuz was tha reason for all mah families problems, as well as mah own death. Him and tha' d#$ned cloak tha Turin sent us aftah. Tha' meant there was only one way to protect mah family, I had ta killt Iuz!
When I realized this, tha clerics suddenly started talkin about me payin off mah debt to them. Apparently Father Kerin wasn' worth nearly as much ta tha Church o' Cuthbert as the Resurrection spell they had cast ta get meh back, an mah family owed them a tidy sum o' money. Well, I wasn' 'bout ta burden mah family wit' dis an' I agreed ta help them in they war against Iuz. No doubt this had been they goal from tha' start, but since I was wantin' a piece o' tha' bastahd anyways, I didn' see too much o' a problem wit' it. Mah first task was ta be guardin a shipment o' arms goin ta tha front line along wit a battalion o' Heironeous' troops, since Cuthbert an' Heironeous was workin togethah on this. Then, I was ta hand pick a small squad o' from tha peeps on tha' front lines ta lead in tha war against Iuz. I be supposed ta bring a new type a war ta tha bastard, with mah own bit a style to it. Apparently, tha regimented march one foot aftah tha otha straight inta hell, ain't been workin to well. So I'm thinkin, me an' mah crew will show 'em how a fight's really won bah usin' hit an' runs an' harrien' tha enemy! We was to set out in two days time, so I thought I would go see mah family, an mah baby doll, since I had been gone so long, I was definitely feelin .... mah needs.... now tha' I was finally back in mah propah body.
Course, nuthin goes as its supposed tah! When I arrived back at mah house I found tha rest o' tha family there already. Tha look on their faces was priceless as I walked through tha door. As they told me of their trip back home an' tha things they had gone through since tha wyverns, it became clear they was avoidin' tellin' me somethin', but I let it slide for awhile. I wasn' ready ta tell them I was leavin quite yet eitha. Eventually, tha talkin' finally came round ta where Drake an' Sophie were. Dead an' missin'. Anger welled up in meh as I learned mah woman was stolen away as some Illithid's box lunch! GRRRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! MOTHA F#$%IN IUZ!!!! It was his fault I left her alone.... in tha end I just had ta add tha mind flayer ta mah list of people ta kill before I died again. Well, with mah families bad news outta tha way, I had ta drop mah bomb on them as well.
Karn and Sasha took it especially hard. It took meh a better part of an hour ta calm Sasha down. See... her an' Drake was twins, an tha youngest o' us, an she could barely remember mom an' dad. It was Daria an' ah tha' had basically raised her since she was a lil' lass. Ah promised her ah'd be back, an' tha' there was nothin she needn' be worried 'bout. Ah was jus' goin ta make sure everyone stayed safe. Karn was hurtin' jus' about as bad as Sasha, though he didn' show it on' tha outside ah could still tell. I felt awful for leavin 'em for tha war, doin tha same thin' as mah older brotha had done all those years ago. It made me sick ta think I was fallowin' in his footsteps, ah how ah hated him for what he did ta us. But, there was no avoidin' it. Iuz had ta be delt with, an' I was gonna enjoy poundin' his filthy face in!
Van, was still as bratty as ever, an Daria was jus' happy ah was alive. I felt a bit better when I met a couple ah tha families new friends, an elf named Kaelin an a bard named Isidora. MMMMMMmmmmmMMMMM, Isidora was lookin' quite tasty too, I wonder if I could get her interested in Sophie.... jus' how open minded are tha two o' them. I'll have ta find out as soon as ah get Sophie back! She noticed meh lookin, but tha lil floozy seemed ta ignore meh! MEH!!! BANE!!!! As if she could do bettah!! Ah well! I'm sure she'll come around, they always do. Unfortunately, it started gettin late, so ah had to say mah goodbye's, leavin Karn in charge. I could tell tha' boys grown up a lot since ah last saw him, he's becomin' a fine young man. Gonna go places tha' one.
Ah headed back ta tha temple an' started ta prepare for mah journey, gatherin' tha things I'd need. Tha' next day Daria, the brat, tha bard, an some otha creepy guy who called 'imself Makibex showed up. I trust tha' Makibex guy even less than tha' brat. The magic about him was palpable, it oozed outta him like some invisible creature. Washing over me as soon as he neared. I could feel it creepin' up an' down mah skin, ugggghhhh, ah' think ah'd rathah be back in tha sewers than around this guy for any more time than ah had tah. Daria seemed ta trust him though, so ah gave him a lil' slack, but before they left ah whispered to her ta watch him closely.
Apparently, they had come ta sell a bunch a stuff they had found while travellin' since they knew abou' tha arms shipment. Isidora headed up tha negotiations, an Makibex confirmed mah suspicions when he started explainin some o' tha runes on tha magic stuff. They got a pretty good deal it seemed. Makibex surprised meh a bit though. He asked for a adamantine crystal or some such thing tha would protect from damage. An ah noticed one like wha' he was describin, already affixed ta his armor. Which was strange enough in an' of itself. I never heard o' an arcane caster wearin anythin' as heavy as a breastplate! I mean, tha brat won' wear any armor at all. Whoever this man was, he was either incredibly stupid or very powerful, an I was pretty sure it wasn' tha first. IF he really was there ta help Karn an' tha otha's then he'd be a good ally for them. Yet, tha' stupid accent was way too annoyin' ta me. If'n ah had ta travel wit' him he would be dead within a fortnight! Ah well, ah guess I really shouldn' hold 'is language agains' him, but d#$n is it ever annoyin!
Well, they got wha they needed, an then left sayin they good byes once again. I was soon finished packin' an standin' at tha' gates ta Greyhawk wit' mah contingent o' troops. Off we went, ta find Iuz. Ya hear me ya F#$KIN half demon prince!!!! BANE is comin fer ya head!!!! So run an' hide. RUN AN' HIDE!!!!! NOW BARMAID!!! GIVE ME A SHOT AN A BEER!!!!
Vaitress! A good bottle ov vine please, I'm a bit parched.
Vere vas I?
Ah yes, ve had just gotten all ze supplies ve vould need for our trip. Ze next day ve vere all aboard a small boat and heading up river ze Selintir River, and into ze great Nyr Dyv lake. Ze Daern family had obviously never been on a boat before, and neizer had I for a long period ov time to be honest. Luckily, ze rivers vere calm, so zere vas no sea sickness from ze pitching ov ze little craft. Ze crew vas very skilled, energetic, and upbeat. All in all, zis vould be a pleasant trip vile on ze boat. Ve each found vays to pass ze time over ze next few veaks. During vich ve sailed through ze Nyr Dyv... a strange lake, lacking ze ice and lava zat I'm used to, but somehow its serenity in comparison to ze Icy Sea vas somevat comeforting. Into ze Nyr Dyv flowed ze Velverdyva River, into vich flows ze Falls River. As I mentioned vile ve vere travelling zese vatervays, ve each tried to occupy ourselves. Karn started creating tattoos for ze crew, I set about ze ship trying to learn how to sail. Zere is nozing more exciting zan attempting ze mastery ov a new skill! Ze vork helped ze time pass much more qvickly. Van had his new pet to play vith, so he seemed content most ov ze journey. He vas a bit downtrodden at having to leave Isidora, but I'm sure as all children do ven ze start parting vith zere mozers he vill grow accustomed to it. It should make ze time he does get to spend vith her, all ze more special.
After about five veeks ve finally reached ze end ov ze first leg ov our journey. As ve saw ze port ov Thornward coming into view, ze crew started making ready to dock. Ze vere trying to look very presentable, clean cut, and upstanding... a strange zing for a crew zat had been sailing for five veeks. Karn said he had done a little research into ze city, and zat it vas very strict vith its laws. Zat ve should vatch our p's and q's. Zerefore, ve each tried to clean up a bit, a qvick prestidigitation spell and I vas good as new. Before ve vere allowed to disembark, ze harbormaster boarded ze vessel to inspect and qvestion us all. I overheard ze captain saying zat ze had a load ov veapons for ze var against Iuz. It didn't take much to figure out vere zey came from, or vy ve vere given free passage on ze boat, I obviously had vone more zing to zank Turin Deathstalker for. As ve left ze little ship, ve all said our goodbye's and vished ze crew good luck. Kaelin and Sasha headed out to find ze inn zat had been recomended for us, vile ze rest ov us vent to ze oracle ov Pelor. Daria vas able to acqvire guides into ze mountains for us by showving ze priests ze map and holy symbol. I vas able to bargain vith zem for anozer healing belt, zough it vas at a high price due to its usefulness on ze battle field.
Ze inn vas a bit expensive at four gold orbs, and anozer gold orb for ze meals. However, it vas vorth it. After a more zan a monz cramped up on zat little boat, it felt good to sleep in a proper bed. Ze meals vere delicious as vell, a stark difference from ze rations ve had become accustomed to, and vould be eating for a good vile. Little else happened, as ve all tried to mind our p's and q's in zis extremely militaristic city. I zink ve all felt a bit better ven ve left. Several times ze conversation had turned to ze Daern families brozer Bane, and vether he had come zis vay, but no one in town had news ov him, so he must have taken anozer route to ze front lines ov ze var. Ze guides also provided us vith sturdied cold veather clozing, for vitch ve vere gratelful. Ze vinter had set in and as ve began to ascend into Yentil Mountains, I began to feel more at home. However, I vas beginning to miss Isidora just as ze kid, for ze dreams had not lessened. Vat I vouldn't have done for a sleep spell in zat inn, ah vell. Traveling in ze mountains in ze deep ov vinter, is slow going to say ze least. And it took us several more veeks, including a short stop at ze dwarven mining town ov Falwar, to reach a point vere ze guides said zis vas as far as zey had been. For a second I zought ze might turn back, but zey did not, ze seemed to be qvite excited about ze prospect ov finding ze oracle.
Ve continued into ze mountains for nearly anozer veek... or at least vat I zink vas a veek, ze days had become so short, ven ve spotted a valley filled vith shadow. For some reason it seemed zat ze daylight did not penetrate zis place. Zis vas as far as ze guides ver villing to take us. Zey found a nearby rocky overhang, and started to fashion a vall around it out ov blocks ov ice. Ve helped zem build zere small shelter, as vell as dig a pit nearby to cook food in. After sleeping vone more night ve zen headed tovards ze valley, and hopefully ze oracle as vell. Once inside ze inky blackness, it became difficult to see, even my darkvision vas a bit blurry. For ze first time since I had met ze Daern family, I vas forced to reveal my sigils, vitch Karn and Van boz took a great deal ov interest in. Daria used her holy symbol to create daylight as vell, however it seemed to have a much lesser effect vithin zis place. As ve valked zrough ze valley ov ze shadow ov deaz... oh sorry... got a little side tracked. Ve soon came to a ravine vith a stone bridge crossing it. Ze bridge had symbols ov Pelor carved into its posts. A short distance past ze bridge vas a small town, zat had fallen into disrepair.
Zis town had no name, and had been forgotten by history, frozen in time. Zere vere bodies everyvere, and death had surely over taken zis place. Vith ze corpses torn to pieces and gnawed on, by some unseen evil. Tovards ze center ov ze town, a single light shown dimly from ze interior ov vat used to be a tavern. Many ov ze vindows had been broken out, and ze clapboard siding vas falling into disrepair. Ze tragedy zat had befallen zis village had not been recent. Daria said zat ze clozing ze var could have been a couple hundred years old.
Inside ov ze tavern, ve found a single survivor, a man whose name I cannot remember, for I vas a bit taken aback by his surroundings. Zis man var ze same style ov clozing as ze ozers, however, he had not even taken ze time to move or bury ze dead zat vere in ze tavern, let alone outside. Here in ze tavern, due to a constant freezing and thawving process, ze bodies vere in slightly vorse shape zan zose outside. He told us zat ze valley had been abandoned by Pelor and zat he had been cursed, ze only survivor for ze past two hundered zirty eight years. Upon furzer qvestioning, he had vonce been a cleric at ze nearby temple to Pelor, vere ze oracle still resided. Vile zere he had fallen in love vith a young girl ov ze village who had a miraculous gift ov healing. However, one day a disease set upon ze entire village zat she vas unable to cure. To make zings vorse, demons attacked as vell, killing everyone and kidnapping ze girl. All ov ze priests vere slain in ze temple, and zat is vere ze demons now resided, blocking his return. He seemed to have lost all faith in Pelor, and vas taken aback ven Daria showed him her symbol, ze daylight streaming forth from it, almost as if he vere in pain.
Ven ve said ve vere going to see ze oracle, he asked if he could accompany us, vile varning us ov ze dangers. Ve agreed, and he led us to ze temple gates, a short distance outside ov ze town. Ze temple itself vas dug into ze mountain, and only ze facade vas viewable from outside. Enormous doors, zat vere partially translucent gave ze impression ov ice. Before going in, I appologized to ze man for vat I vas about to do, zen before he could react I had muttered a quick invocation, charming him. I did not zink it vould be vise to completely trust ze only survivor ov such a massacre as ov yet. My pover is considerable, so he vas not able to resist, zis vas good as it told me several important zings. Vone, he held little pover himself. Two, he vas not an undead, construct, elemental, or ooze. Zis is because ze zings are all immune to such compulsions, yet I did not feel my invocation fail, as I vould have against such a creature. Zis heartened my outlook a bit, as perhaps zis man vas simply being tortured by ze demons due to his love for ze girl. If zis vas true, it vas a situation zat must be remedied. Vile I had ze chance, I qvestioned him about his intentions to be sure zat he meant us no harm. Convinced zat ve vere safe vith him around, ve entered ze temple.
Ve started moving carefully zrough ze temple, searching room by room for any sign of ze Oracle. As ve did so ve found not only evidence ov ze priests zat had previously inhabited ze temple, such as diaries and scraps ov chants and prayers scribed on parchment. Ve also found many ov zose zat vere responsible for ze desecration ov ze temple. Demons ov ze foulest sort, Skulkers and Eviscerators, running amuck. As ve fought and fought, ve finally decided zat perhaps, going room by room vas going to be too difficult as ze fights vere getting progressively harder. Ve had found zree sets ov double doors zat ve zought vere ze main chamber, and decided it vould be better to try and assault ze main cause ov ze evil vithin ze temple. As ve valked zrough ze frozen halls to ze chamber ze man vith us, Draelor I think vas his name, vas getting more and more apprehensive. However, I vas not in ze mood to be vorrying about his fears at ze moment, so ve proceeded zrough ze scarred hallvays.
Entering ze ante-chamber ov ze temple, it vas clear zat it had been desecrated by ze evil vithin. Flying above a s#$t covered shrine to Pelor vas a huge Vrock, vith his little minions scattered zroughout ze room. As ze battle ensued ze family Daern finally began using better tactics as ze fought at ze doorvay to prevent being surrounded. However, it vas not long before zis new found intelligent approach to battle broke down, and vonce again ze family scattered into ze room to fight various enemies. Even ze boy left my side to run back around to anozer vone ov ze doors zat entered ze room. He did zis ven a Succubus appeared half vay zrough ze battle and started dancing vith ze Vrock, beginning to open a portal to ze Abyss. To make zings vorse, she appeared to know ze man zat ve had brought vith us. However, he vas not attacking us, nor being attacked, so I vas still not sure vat his true purpose here vas. As ze battle continued, ve finally noticed on ze far side ov ze room a series ov runes around ze hallway progressing into ze mountain. Unfortunately, vith ze tactis having broke down, ze family simply ran for ze hallvay, leaving zere sister Daria and myself cut off by ze demons, unable to get to either ze exit, or Van. Van cast an invisibility spell and vas zus able to make it to ze exit vithout problem. However Daria vas quickly surrounded and felled by ze Demons around us. I vas beginning to tire and had used a large portion ov my magical protection, so I knew zat even my considerable powver might be tested should I try and stay. Even if I vere to vin it vould take too long and Daria vould be lost for good. Zerefore, I grabbed her and shoved her into ze bag ov holding zat I vas carrying and zen activated ze last use ov my cloak, in an attempt to svitch places vith ze man from ze village. Luckily, just as I thought it vas gonna fail he villingly svitched places vith us, making me believe zat he vas not against us. Zen, I dove zrough ze runed entryvay to safety. Once zrough ve pulled ze unconscious Daria from ze bag and gave her a potion to vake her from her vounds. Apparently ze demons could not pass ze runes, giving us a reprieve from battle.
Progressing down ze long dark hallvay ve came to a large shaft ascending zrough ze center ov ze mountain. In ze center ov ze shaft ze vas a set ov stairs spiraling up into ze darkness. Ve climbed and climbed for vat seemed to be an eternity. Tired and exhausted ve finally reached ze top after nearly an entire day ov climbing. At ze apex ov ze stairs vas a vast chamber, vith a large pool ov vater in ze center. Ze chambers valls vere made ov crystal and contained ze previous heroic priests ov Pelor. For zis had vonce been a place vere ze clerics vould make a pilgrimage to ven zey felt zere life slipping avay. Daria zen climbed onto ze rim ov ze pool and just as she vas about to step in I grabbed her. Reckless vench, after she nearly died at ze hands ov demons she's villing to blindly step into a pool ve know nozing about. I svear if I can keep zis family alive it vill be a miracle.
About zis time, a mist had crept up ze stairs and started to coalesce into a form vaguely resembling a person. As it solidified it vas clear zat it vas Draelor. Zen, as Daria continued going over all ov ze chants and prayers zat she knew from her days at ze monastery in Greyhawk, believing zis to be a pool sacred to Pelor. As she vas reciting vone ov ze more obscure passages, a sonnet about retribution, two zings happened nearly simultaneously. First, ze pool bubbled and churned, zen exploded into light as a glowving being, an avatar ov Pelor formed out ov ze pool in front ov us. At zis point ze avatar spoke to Draelor, condemning him for his role in the destruction of ze village outside, upon vich Draelor burst into flames and vas incinerated by ze retribution of ze angry god. As he vas dissipating into dust, Draelor faintly vispered 'Thank you.' Vether zis vas for us or for ze avatar, I am not sure, however, I do believe zat his torment has finally come to an end. Ze Avatar of Pelor zen asked Daria vat she vas villing to give to save ze vorld. First, she answered all her material possessions, zen quickly changed her mind and said everyzing, even her family. At zis point she stepped into ze pool..... and disappeared!
Ze avatar told us ve could each ask vone qvestion, but as soon as I asked vhere Daria had gone, he abruptly left. Damn deities, zey are so infuriating, I svear I vill break zeir hold on ze material plane vone day! Anyvays, I zought it vould be best to try and follow Daria, so I began trying to remember ze chant she had said and asked ze ozers if zey could remember it as vell. Ve had only heard it vonce, so it vas a bit beyond us, but ve got a good part ov it pieced togezer. Zen, I asked Karn to draw a symbol ov Pelor on a piece ov parchment zat he had vith him, according to ze symbols zat vere on ze priests encased in ze crystal. He vas able to create a very beautiful rendition upon vich I zen had Van cast light. I zen placed ze glowving symbol into ze pool at vich point it started to bubble, as it had before. Out ov ze pool ascended a beautiful vinged human, naked as ze day she vas born. I had never seen her before, yet ze ozers seemed to recognize her as Daria, who had been remade into a Half-Celestial as vell as regaining her original human form. I handed her a cloak, vile Karn fashioned some clothes from his set ov cold veather gear. Ve then took our time to rest. During vich Daria mentioned zat she had seen ze oracle, and now seems to zink zat she knows much ov ze information about ze young Van zat I do. I vonder if zis is really true, as it is most largely influenced by Pelor, who is not exactly neutral in zis matter. Anyvays, she vas smart enough to not spill everyzing in front ov ze boy, zere is much he does not need to know yet.
Ze next day, ve prepared for battle as ve vould have to fight our vay back zrough ze Vrock, Succubus, Skulkers, Eviscerators, and Bubao. Vonce ready ve made our vay down ze long flight ov stairs. Zis battle did not go vell for ze party. As usual, ze tactis vere non-existant, as Sasha could not contain herself, and rushed straight into ze middle ov ze room. I cast an enlarge spell on myself, and attempted to block ze doorvay to protect ze ozers. Unfortunately, Sasha vas slain nearly immediately, torn to shreds as she vas surrounded. I too vas surrounded, however, my magics are qvite powerful, and I vas able to stay standing, even after being stunned by ze vrocks screech. However, it vas not vithout taking massive vounds. Daria qvickly healed me zough, and ze battle vas not lost. Unfortunately, Kaelin also died during ze battle, killed by spores released from ze Vrock. To make zings vorse, I vas unable to help ze party for nearly half ze battle, as I came under a spell from ze Succubus. Still, as most ov ze enemy focused on me for a large part ov ze battle, it allowed ze rest ov my companions to pick ze remaining demons apart. Luckily, ve vere able to eventually finish zem all off vithout losing any more comrades. However, ze loss ov Kaelin and Sasha vas a harsh blow to ze party, especially to Karn. Ve zen tried to regroup, and head back to ze chamber above. Ze rest ov my companions hope zat ze oracle vill be able to bring our companions back, vile I have my doubts. Yet, I vant to be as compassionate to Karn especially, and offered to help him carry his sister. Vat a heavy burden to bear after being put in charge by his older brozer Bane. Now, he has only vone sister left zat he is in charge ov protecting... but vill he chose to do so, or vill zis latest tragedy finally break him. For ze sake ov ze young Van, I do not zink I can allow him to falter, such crushing despair is not somezing a child should have to vitness.
Hey, Makibex--
How come your accent is so thick here but we rarely hear it when really talking with you?
Just curious,
DM j.
Because I get too excited during the game and forget to use it.... which is a good indication of how much fun I have in the game :)
Chirs+Giant+club= d-e-a-d
like he can stop it... you know what I say, wraith.
"Dear Bane,
We are about to head out to Prymp to follow a lead on our parents. Since I am sending this with the church of St. Cuthbert I am not sure when you will get this, but I wanted to let you know where we will be heading. I really wish you were coming with us. It doesn't feel the same without you here with the family. I think that you knew that we were going to seek the Oracle of Pelor, for Daria's sake. After trekking through some hellishly cold mountains we did find him. It was me, Karn, Daria, Vaan and Makibex and a monk named Kalen. Kalen and I died by the hands of some demons and we were raised back by the Oracle. I felt ashamed to have been caught off guard by foolishly running into the middle of things. I didn't really feel worthy of being resurrected, or even sure I wanted to be. But the Oracle had already did this transformation to Daria and gave her wings, like the legends of celestial beings. He said that Daria needed a protector and that our family was vital to the fight of good, and if I would guard her -even to the point of dying for if I had to- then he would bring me back. I know that Karn wouldn't be able to forgive himself for my death, even though he's not responsible, so I said yes. I think I acted kind of irresponsible lately. Now Karn is mad because I am trying to stick close to Daria, but it was a promise I had to make. You know how that is. Our trip back home was pretty uneventful, but really long.
When we got back to Grayhawk I went back to visit this elf named Kesra that we met on our trip back from the mistmarsh. I think we may have told you about him. We met him the same day that we met Makibex. Kesra is a master weapon maker. He told me he would make me a scimitar, but it wasn't finished when we left. You wouldn't believe this scimitar! The hilt is encrusted with jewels and when you look at it you can't tell what the blade is made of. It transforms into whatever metal that deals the most damage to the creature you are attacking: silver, cold iron, etc! There isn't any fighter or noble I can think of that has such a blade! I didn't think I could accept such a thing, but he said he had hoped it would be accepted as a wedding gift. He said that he is willing to wait till we get back and understands what our family has to do. I guess that for an elf waiting isn't such a big deal. I think I will have to get used to the time span of things. haha. I told him that I would like to think about it and get to know him better. Once a day I can talk to him through the sword for half a minute. I was really surprised by it all. I thought I liked him, but had no idea that he was that interested in me! He knows all about our family, though, and is okay with all of our eccentricities.
Daria is in a huff about it all, and says we haven't known each other long enough. And Karn is mad about it too, on top of everything else. I just wish someone was happy for me. I am not putting Kesra over everybody else! Even if everyone lives through all the things we happen to get tangled up in I am still going to outlive you all! Drake is dead and the rest of us have all come close enough to it and more! Who knows if we will always be so lucky. Stay safe. I will say a prayer of protection for you. I can't deny that the Gods have blessed us and it wouldn't be wise to deny them!
much love,
your sister,
Sasha"