Campaign Journals 01-05-08

[Greylen]

Dettricks Journal

Ty was looking a lot worse for wear. The ice from the last attack against her still shimmered on her studded leather, giving it a frosty glaze. What worried me more, was the look of pain on her face, and the blood oozing from two nasty cuts on her arm.

"You OK Ty?" I called, as everyone took stock of themselves and each it other.

"I've been better." she smiled wryly. "Damn magic user actually hit me twice... ME!" she shook her head in disbelief.

I chuckled with relief. She wouldn't be joking with me if she was hurt that bad.

Yev, Jalore and Urdin quickly patched up everyone so we were once again in fairly good health. Oddly enough, this was my third battle of getting only minor wounds. Very odd for me since I am usually targeted first by the enemy. "Not that I'm complaining", I thought laughing.

We decided to continue north on our original mission and started traveling that way. About two hours later, Ty signaled us from her advance position that she'd seen something. I signaled back to check it out, discretely.

A few minutes later, she walked back out of the forest, a wild elf following. Her impish grin let me know she'd probably got the drop on him.

Evidently he was with a group of about 20 elves who were going to defend our tree fort town from an army of Orcs... which while not surprising, was definitely cause for concern.

They also let us know of a post a little south, in the middle of the patrol we'd encountered, that was heavily defended by these Fey'ri creatures.

This was a little too close to home than I'd like. But we couldn't ignore the Orc army either.

I pulled Ty aside. "Ty, our home is in trouble it sounds. Do you think you could head back with these elves and take command of the defenses?", I asked. "Jeeves is a capable fellow, but he doesn't have your experience."

Ty chuckled and nodded. "Your right about that. I couldn't do what he does with the day-to-day administration, but war is not a skill he has. I will go back and see what can be done."

I smiled in relief and gave her a hug, "I don't know what I would do without YOU." I told her. "Be careful, K. No heroics that get you killed."

She punched me on the shoulder, her expression solemn. "I worry more about you." she told me somberly. Then she smiled, "Hell D," she continued lightly, "Your too stubborn to die. So don't, or I'll give you reason to want to stay dead." She winked me, blew a kiss to where Yev'rah was still hiding and was gone with the elves moving silently and swiftly.

Rubbing my shoulder where she'd punched me none to gently. I shrugged at my companions and we were off south.

Towards mid-day, I reckoned we were getting close to the fort, when Yev'rah called out in pain and quickly moved around the tree he had been scouting, and disappeared. He must have been hit hard, as I could see blood dripping from a vicious tear in his armor.

Jalore rode up quickly to cover Yev'rah's flank and hit something invisible, that hit him back. Controlling his horse by voice alone, he struck out with his greatsword, connecting with something.

Rolling my eyes, I swallowed another potion of Invisibility, and looked over just in time for Creeg to get hit by another giant dog-like creature. Swinging wildly, he connected once with the creature, but he was obviously very frustrated.

"Creeg!" I called, "Use this." and riding over to him, I dropped another potion so he could grab it. Then turning, I cast a quick spell, creating a region of attraction between two of the giant dog-things. The third has appeared while I was distracted with Creeg and attacked our new elf companion.

As the lightning arc'd between the two creatures, they howled in pain.

Another noise caught my attention, as a Fey'ri appeared over by the tree I know Yev was hiding by. Shaking my head, I cast another force spell, to try and take him out before he could do much damage. but missed when after forming the ball in my palm, I lobbed it over his head.

Cursing my ineptness, I saw that Creeg had drunk the potion I'd given him and was in process of slicing and dicing the creature next to him, As well, Urdin had moved to help Jalore and the two of them seemed to have everything under control there.

Using a few heat rays, I was able to help the other bring down the remaining creatures, but it looked like we'd been hit pretty hard.

Luckily, Yev'rah had prepared for such an emergency with his scroll collection. Using all our healing, we proceeded at full strength to where we knew the fort was.

We moved quickly to capitalize on our use of the potions we'd already expended and came to the edge of the forest in short time.

The fort was well constructed with tree-top observation platforms and form fitting walls between. Coming up with a fairly comprehensive plan, we had Yev'rah scouted out the place and climb one of the tree platforms. Signaling us with a mirror he was ready, we proceeded to attack.

Casting a lightning bolt, I blew a hold in the wall for the fighters to get through. Looking up, I could see a shadowy creature beginning to dive on Yev'rah's location, and casting a quick spell, tried to intercept the creature with a Hail Storm in mid air. Successfully hitting it, it disappeared in the storm.

Urdin had already cast his plant growth according to plan, and as I reached the wall and dismounted, I readied my other spell for immobilizing anyone inside.

But as I dismounted, a HUGE fireball like spell hit my companions and me. Luck was with me, in that I was only hit by part , due to the wall, but it just about made me pass-out anyway.

Gasping for the breath that had been blown out of my body, I cast the Evard's spell that had always been a boon when we needed to immobilize foes. Hopefully that worked.

As Jalore and Creeg ran in and released the prisioners that Yev had signaled us about, the diving creature reappeared and pulling up, hovering, it cast some beam spells at Yev's position.

He seemed hurt, but I couldn't quite tell, until a figure suddenly loomed over him and raising the biggest sword I'd ever seen, struck him once. He dropped like a limp puppet and I knew he was hurt bad... IF he was still alive.

Anger seethed in me and looking up, I cast a big fireball of my own, fueling it with all the anger and frustration I had. The resulting inferno cased the flying figure to slump and fall about two hundred feet to a sickly "Thump" by the outer wall. I grunted in satisfaction.

Seeing the figure disappear from the wall with a burst of light, I cast about for where they might have gone. Urdin called out he was heading to tend to Yev'rah, but as he rounded the wall, caught sight of the sword creature on the ground.

Seeing where he was, I cast another fireball, but just a normal one in that location. Then moving out through the wall, I ran to that area to see what was happening.

Our companion elf, also did a fireball of his own, but the figure with the sword closed with Urdin, striking another mighty blow against him.

Withdrawing, Urdin attempted to go around the attacker, to get to Yev'rah. For my part, I used some more of my Heat Beams against it. "Fall, you spawn of the nine hells!" I yelled in frustration and obligingly, it did.

Whew! That was close. Taking stock of the situation, we now had a bunch of old and young elves being led out of the stockade and Urdin came back carrying the body of our companion Yev'rah.

"I tried to get to him." he mumbled as he sat him on the ground. "But there wasn't anything I could do."

The elves looked around them in the disbelief of the newly freed. Their stamped in hopelessness starting to fade.

Seeing as how there wasn't much else to do and being concerned with Ty and our home, I asked Jalore to escort the prisoners back to our town, while Creeg, Urdin and I forced marched our way back.

Moving quickly and with the healing help of Urdin, we managed to get back in time to help mop up some of the larger remaining Orc bands from the siege. Ty had arrived not a moment too soon and change the tide.

Hugging we excitedly told each other of the various feats that we has accomplished in the past two days. I also informed her of Yev'rah's death.

Her smile vanished and I could see she was a bit more upset than I had anticipated. "Don't worry," I reassured her. "We are not going to let him rot. Not after all he's done and the good friend he's become."

She shook her head and looked at me. "It's not that. I know we will... I just thought... well the two of us seemed to just be invincible when we were out scouting ahead." She shrugged. "I can't help but feel if I'd been there... I might have saved him." Tears in her eyes, she looked away. "I've got to hunt." she said savagely. Running away, I let her go, knowing some Orcs were in for a bad day... and knowing she need to grieve in her own way.

What a couple of days. Now all we needed was a High Priest and one hellishly expensive diamond. But hey, it's just money. Who cared now that our home was a safer place and we could get back to finding Turlang.

Despite the loss and the pain I smiled to myself happily... "Haven't had this much fun in Months!" I sighed contentedly.

[Greylen]

Tymora's Journal:

The battle was over, the last foe felled... As I fired my last arrow, I realized I was still shivering. Looking down my armor was still frosted with the last ray that blasted Mage hit me with... Walking over, I kicked his body for good measure.

Dettrick called to me asking if I was well. I was not, but I'll be sent to the nine hells before I admit it. Making a flippant remark back to Dettrick, I saw him relax a bit with my ruse.

Shaking, I tried to get out a potion of healing, but had trouble with the stopper... when I felt a soothing warmth spread through my body. A calm voice chanting a healing spell I turned and saw Yev'rah reading a scroll, just before it burst into flame.

"Thanks" I smiled at him, "Though I really could have done it myself, I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth."

Yev'rah just about smiled, and moved off to the next person.

We started North again, Yev'rah and I out in our customary scouting position. After awhile, I felt we were being watched, but Yev thought otherwise...

A few minutes later, I noticed some shadowy figures around us. Stopping and pointing them out to Yev, I signaled Dettrick of our prediciment. He signaled to check it out, so I sneaked around the side and finally got a good look at one of our shadowers.

They were elves.

Stepping out of the brush, I said "Well met". Startled he looked me over, before finally stepping forward. "Well met." evidently there were more of them and he wanted to talk with us. I could also tell he was impressed that I was able to sneak up on him.

After finding out who we were, they identified themselves as wild elves from Evereska, who were going to our Fort Tree to defend them against an Orc army.

Dettrick felt I should go as well. Can't say I blame him, since we didn't leave too much in the way of leadership for war.

As he hugged me, I felt a chill, but I forced a smile and punched him. "You'd better not die, or I'll give you a reason not to come back." I threatened. He laughed and I blew a kiss where I knew Yev was still hiding and left with the elves.

We travelled very fast, but I kept pushing the elves, knowing I could travel faster, but also knowing the dangers of travelling alone.

The elves seemed as eager to get back as I, and I found that they also had loved ones living in our humble town. We ran through the night.

By morning, we could hear the sounds of many creatures moving quite noisily through the forest. Evidently we had caught up with the Orc army. Looked as if they were on the verge of Fort Tree.

Making plans, we decided the elves would harrass the army from without, while I broke through the lines and found out what was happening.

That all worked perfectly, the Orcs never even knowing what hit them.

I don't think I've ever seen such a happy man as Jeeves when I showed up at the main tree. Quickly taking command I devised a plan and when the Orcs attacked, we routed them easily, killing most, then hunting down the rest.

During the mop-up, Dettrick made it back with Urdin and Creeg. Overjoyed to see him safe, we swapped stories. Then Dettrick told me of Yev'rah. I couldn't belive it and felf a pang of guilt that I had left when I did.

I knew it was necessary and probably saved our home, but I couldn't stop thinking I had somehow failed Yev. Running away from Dettrick, I gathered my weapons and went Orc hunting to try and take my mind off the whole situation.

They would pay for taking me away from my friends, I vowed... and they did.

[Greylen]

Yev'rah's Journal

These abominable elves keep frustrating me. The Fey'ri are some-what akin to me, but their ability to go into ethereal both angers me and causes me some jealousy.

The battle over, I can see many of my companions are hurt. Sighing to myself, I feel I must go help, though most of thier wounds are as a result of their own incompatence.

Tymora looks a little worse than I've seen her before, however. Watching her closely, I see her hands shaking as she tries to drink a healing potion.

I owe her much and admire her ability to keep up with my stealthy recons, so I walk over and cast a heal from one of my scrolls on her.

Her body relaxing and she smiled at me... Her teasing remarks to me, make me laugh inside, but I mearly nod and walk to the next person. Other than Jalore, she is probably the only one I have met who could understand me.

Again we are off and Tymora and I are in the lead. It is not long when she stiffens and asks if I saw something. I have not, I tell her solemnly. She shrugs and we continued on.

Soon she stops us again and points out a dark blur in the trees. "Do you see that?" she says again. This time I do. Again I am amazed at her skill. Signalling back, she moves off for a closer look. I cover her from my position.

I turns out they are elves shadowing us. Tymora walked them back to the main group, while I kept an untrustful eye on them and our surrounding area.

Then I see Tymora leaving with the elves. She blew me a kiss, but I was worried about what she was doing. Wait, yes, I was worried about her. Hmmm, odd. I don't remember ever feeling worried about anyone but myself before. A very uncomfortable feeling.

Continuing on, I again was surprised by one of those twisted elves... How does this keep happening. My god will not be happy with my stealthyness lately.

Sporting a wound from their tale, I quickly move around the tree and hide in the grass under the branches. Readying myself, I wait and sure enough, the Fey'ri moved around the tree the other way. Luckily, he was visible as he rounded the tree and rising up, I was able to hit him right under the arm with a bolt. He was hurt.

Our group was able to finish off the rest of the creatures attacking and while we were hurt, we were alive. I used more of my scrolls to help the others... I must be starting to go soft. I am growing attached to my companions in ways other than as tools to my own ends.

We moved quickly from there to take advantage of potions we had already consumed. Reaching the outpost, it looked well defended, but without any movement, other than some invisible creature flying around above it.

Coming up with a plan, my role was to be scout and signal what I saw inside the compound, when in position. I made it easily to my assigned spot and signaled back to the others the prisioners inside and the almost deserted state of the place.

They began their attack and I readied my my crossbow to take out any response. As the lightning hit the wall, blowing a hole in it, and Jalore and Creeg ran to free the slaves. a head popped out of one of the huts.

I hit it.

In fact, I don't think I've had such a shot more than a handful of times in my life. However, it didn't seem to stop the armored figure, as they fired a bolt that exploded onto my companions.

I changed targets, getting ready to hit the invisible creature diving at me from above. they must have seen my crossbow shot. The creature was hit mid-air by an Ice storm, but quickly flew through it and hovering hit me with some sort of ray... the shock was a hard one, but I was lucky and it only caught me a glancing blow.

As I lined him up to fire, a figure appeared out of thin air next too me. It was the armored figure from below and it had a HUGE sword I saw decending toward me.

Trying to block with a crossbow does not work well, and the sword connected with me, releasing a burst of energy into me that made spots appear across my vision and I felt myself falling. Hitting the platform, I heard the figure above me utter another spell and disappear.

I could still hear the battle raging near me. Spells and the smashing of swords on armor kept me barely conscious, but I could feel myself slipping away, as I lay there bleeding.

As the blackness took me, I could see a figure in it, his face covered in a cold, black, supple leather mask.

As I slipped away, I found myself on a plane of everyshifting terrain. Clouds of grey and sliver swirled in the air and I could hear lamenting all around me.

Standing, I could see a keep in the distance, seemingly made entirely of bones, and on the plain, many, many people of all races on their knees praying, or wandering aimlessly.

Wryly I thought, so this is what death is like. "I've had worse" I grinned thinking of how tame this area was. Then I remembered my quest and anguish took me. I had failed in my task.

Then I saw that masked figure again. And striding up to me, I could see the keen intelligence in his eyes as he appraised me.

"Come with me, Yev'rah" he said, his voice confident and soft and he strode off into the plane again.

I followed, intrigued and knowing this was my god, Mask, who had come to claim me.

We seemed to walk forever, when he stopped, seeming to listen. "Oh hell," he sighed, as he pulled out a huge sword, with something written in a reddish, glowing infernal script on the side.

"Here Yev'rah," he said, as he handed me a Rapier of astonishing workmanship. "You'll need this in a moment. Stand ready to aid me." As I grasped the hilt, the power of the blade came to my mind and I know what it could do.

"Of couse, my lord." I replied reverently. "But how can I aid a God?"

He laughed, a low musical sound. "Just hide there and keep your eyes open for an opening. It seems an old foe has found me again." His wry smile was an interesting contrast to the concern I was starting to feel. "But don't worry, he continued. "I've got a little surprise this time around." and he patted the blade he'd just drawn.

Suddenly there was a loud howl and a nightmarish creature bounded out of the aether to attack Mask. I am sure my god blanched as that hound came bounding toward him.

It's eyes were a malevolent red and acid seemed to seep out of his jaws, while his pelt and ratty tail seemd to shift continuously.

Seeing Mask, he again howled triumphantly, but as he neared him, the sword Mask held burst into red flame. This caused the hound to pause.

"Greeting Kezef." smiled Mask. "You wouldn't be thinking of attacking me again, would you?"

Kezef the Chaos Hound? I thought to myself amazed... no wonder he blanched, but why did the hound pause. From all I'd heard, he was the one who had chewed off Tyr's hand. How could my lord defeat such a creature.

With a gravelly, unholy growl, Kezef looked Mask over. "So" he growled. "my prey has aquired a tooth." He seemed to pause. "We shall see how well you can use it." and with that, he pounced on my lord mask.

But Mask was not there. and I saw out of the corner of my eye my lord appear and slice down on the flank of the beast with the sword.

Kezef howled in pain and spun around his six inch claws swiping at Mask. He parried and again Kezef howled in pain.

"Not so easy to hit me, is it Kezef." smirked Mask, "how about you run along and I'll forget this even happened."

Kezef growled in rage as his pelt seemed to come apart and engulfed Mask in what I could now see were thousands of maggots.

That was it! I could see my opening, and quickly I thrust the rapier into the jet black ribs of the beast, while it was undefended by it's ing pelt.

The beast howled even louder, and jumped back, nearly wrenching the rapier from my hands. There was a sudden burst of red light from where Mask stood, covered in maggots, and the maggots went flying off him, and scurried back to the wounded hound.

Mask moved again to strike the hound, but he bounded back a ways, glaring at us both. I shivered as fear flowed over me like a dark, thick, smothering blanket.

"I shall not forget this, Mask." he growled. "I shall not hunt you for now, but you had better keep that sword close, as I WILL come for you again." and with that, he ran off trailing maggots and a dark, black blood from the puncture wound I'd given him.

My lord just stood there, his head cocked to the side, as he listed to the hound retreat and finally shook his head and smiled.

"Well done, Yev'rah. You did exactly as I hoped you would and made that much easier to get that blasted hound to stop chasing me." He relaxed and sheathed his sword. I could see now the words were "Houndsbane" written on the blade. A good name, I thought.

I went to hand back the blade to my lord, but he raised his hand, "Possession is 7/8ths ownership, Yev'rah." he stated solemnly. "Keep the blade and use it well."

Use it well? I thought... "But my lord, what would you have me do?" I asked of Mask. "I am dead and in your service."

Mask cocked his head at me. "Why finish your quest, Yev'rah." He said looking at me closely. "I shall look forward to watching you finish it."

As he said those words, I could hear my name called from beyond, and looking my thanks to Mask, I allowed it to fill my body and instantly I was transported back to the world of Torril and the land of the living... my hand clutched the gift from my God.

Joel, feel free to edit this... I took a few liberties

[Boric Glanduum]

January 5, 2008

We were fortunate indeed, I thought as I looked over Tymora’s wounds. Yev’rah, Jalore, and I had quickly moved among our companions, tending to each other’s wounds and injuries. I wrapped one final bandage around her arm and stood, patting her twice on the cheek. As I walked away, Dettrick moved to her side to speak to her. I went to Jarguk’s side, cinching up my saddle, listening to the mage and Tymora talking quietly together. There is love there, between those two. It is not a romantic love--at least I do not believe so--but it is something stronger than a simple friendship, or camaraderie. I fear I shall never enjoy even that again.

Tymora laughed then, and Dettrick joined in. That laugh made me close my eyes and grip tightly to the saddle straps to stay upright. The laugh was as a dagger through my heart. Ah, Kliess -- my Kliess Whurdral! How I miss you. For you, I curse Boric. Aye, of course I curse the orken that took you from me. Mostly, though, I curse Boric; the fact that he still draws breath galls me and fills my mouth with bile.

***
1344: The Year of Moonfall
Eleasis 1
The loneliness is unbearable today. I have found myself dwelling on the sights of that last battle: my friends falling to orcish blades and arrows. And Kliess. My dear Kliess. It may not be dwarkar remarn {dwarven opera}, but my bursting heart must vent itself on this page:.

Bak bha then Ekde Taerin.
Gordul! Bak bha then. Bak bha crag then.
Kurs bak sabrakmos. Azandinkel ang.
Glosdinkel splendarr.
Aekel klan.
Dorkel dek.
Kuldarenkel narn.
Bak velnae Ekde tor, mosk bak bha deldaraugh.
Bak bhanae kurs ged alaghel vel Ek kurs bakde achen fednae runedar.
Erb Ek masnae bak val Ek bha hren, nos dag zel erb hrenged.
Ekde samman! Bha lan gelm, Kliess. Ek fod lan kurs samged klat bakde guth.
Bakde hrunnar bha Ekde torlkel nosh. Ekde herbakkel taerin dorgrum.
Ek bha her bak lan var, Ekde Belaja.
***

I must confess to losing myself in reverie for the rest of the morning; I awoke only when Tymora returned from her scouting, bringing a group of elves with he. These elves were traveling to Teuveamanthar. Apparently an army of orcs had circled around from the North and had happened across our home. These warriors from Evereska were on their way to aid Dettrick’s men and the citizens to defend against the foul creatures. The men are skilled, but could certainly use this help, I thought.

To Dettrick’s credit, he immediately asked Tymora to travel with the elves to lead the men in their defense. To Tymora’s credit, she did not hesitate a moment before she agreed. I said a quick blessing over her for safety. Dettrick does not need to feel the pangs of loss that rise from my soul.

We decided to continue traveling southward; the elves also alerted us of a Fey’ri post. They warned us it was heavily defended, but that the majority of the recent kidnap victims were being held there.

It was only a few hours’ travel until we reached the Fey’ri outpost. Our travel was marred only by yet another Fey’ri attack. This one was alone, but caught Yev’rah by surprise. We quickly dispatched the fiend and Yev’rah healed himself with a draught. The outpost itself was surrounded by a tall wooden fence. From where we stood, we could see several observation platforms around the perimeter. The wall itself was well-constructed -- for wood -- and the segments of the wall fit together fairly tightly.

Yev’rah climbed to one of the look-out platforms on the side and began relaying to us the general layout within the walls, signaling to us with a small mirror. I hastily prepared a spell which would cause the undergrowth, grass, and other plants within the walls to grow quickly. My plan was to hamper the movement of any Fay’ri within the walls while we tried to free the prisoners. Yev’rah signaled us to point out the prisoners’ location; they were right on the other side of the wall from where we stood. Our plan was ready.

Dettrick called down the power of the storm; a lightning bolt tore through the wood like a dagger through butter. The resulting hole was just large enough for Creeg and Jalore to get through.

Dettrick yelled a warning--there was a creature flying in the air above us. As I looked up to see it, it began to dive toward Yev’rah’s position. Again Dettrick demonstrated the power of the storm, causing a hail storm to appear around the creature, causing it to disappear from view. It’s too bad he’s a mage. He’d make a good druid. Turning back to the hole in the wall, I could at last see inside and cast my spell. Unfortunately, I’d misunderstood Yev’rah’s signals--there was not nearly enough undergrowth where I focused my spell to cause much of a distraction for the Fey’ri.

I was pushed a step or two backwards then, as a fireball exploded just within the hole in the wall. It caught Dettrick, Jalore, and Creeg in its effect. I dropped from Jarguk’s back well away from the hole. He was a dumb frus, but he was my dumb frus, and I don’t want to spend any more money on dumb frusen than I have to. As my last spell had not done much, I cast another spell inside: one that would cause the roots, briars, and seeds hidden in the dirt to spike upwards. Any creature walking on those would be hampered and wounded, at the least.

Creeg pushed in front of me and started through the hole. Jalore stopped him with a hand on his shoulder and whispered something to the half-orc. Creeg grinned and stepped aside, letting the paladin enter the stockade first, then stepped inside himself. Out of the corner of my eye I saw twin beams lance from the sky to strike where Yev was hiding. I couldn’t see Yev, but saw a figure standing with an enormous sword upraised. Dettrick yelled something I didn’t understand and the flying figure dropped from the sky. The sword-wielding figure vanished in a flash of light as I watched.

Knowing our roguish friend certainly needed help, I called out to Dettrick. “I will tend to the Rogue; cover the prisoners’ retreat!â€

[Boric Glanduum]

Creeg’s Journal -- January 5, 2008

Creeg is very tired of these strange elf creatures and their invisible pets. Creeg wants Creeg’s blade to taste of their blood, rather than feeding their hungry steel with Creeg’s blood. The others are calling these creatures “Fey’riâ€