Journal of Niccolo Morwynion

Game One

January 26, 2002

Introduction inscribed on the interior cover of the thin, leather-bound journal, finely etched with the initials NM. The language throughout is Thesh, though is written backwards to further complicate anyone recognizing the text.

“This is the travel journal of Niccolo Morwinyon, son of Catalano Morwinyon and Mistress of Dreshal, Master of Heralds, Savia Morwinyon; Philosopher and Student to Master Umberto Eogan.”

The first small percentage of the book includes notes of the lands within the boundaries of Valduran, highlighted by small, hastily traced sketches of local wildlife, both alive and through layers of dissection. Inks of red and deep blue assist in rendering some pictures, separating textures, constructs and organs, as well as hypotheses of tissues and systems. Most animals detailed are small: squirrels, birds, fish and even larger insects. The most recent additions to the travel journal are still fresh, a dusting of powder still caught in the binding of the pages.

“This afternoon I followed the hermit, Geldamar’s advice, attempting to meet him in the tavern of his choice, The Unicorn. I followed typical measures for venturing to town, spending a deal of the morning bartering over fresh vegetables, a quiver of arrows to replace those lost this past season, and a fresh bundle of parchment for my recording. As noon approached, I settled my debts and made way to The Unicorn adjusting to the smothering atmosphere of the crowds and the chatter of the masses in my ears.

“Arriving early, I took a table close to the door, keeping watch as the persons of the tavern moved throughout. To my surprise, a whore of The Rose, a young redhead by the name of Roxanne, entered taking little time to notice my nod and approach my table. Geldamar mentioned wanting me to meet “friends” of his, yet my surprise mounted upon hearing that she, too, was to meet him this day. “The women of The Rose infrequently come to me for aid; a common illness which interferes with their income by making their already bed-ridden station an inactive one; an infection brought through their art; a wound brought on by a drunken patron; an accidental pregnancy sought to be fouled. Often times I accepted their favors in place of silver, though this Roxanne I had crossed an eve or two while staying over in town during business. She was discreet, as she was to all of her clients, sure as I was that they took hushed notice of her presence with tension. She offered herself a seat at my table and set loose a babble which nearly provoked my purse to empty to her profession in hopes of an hour of her practiced obedience. This was banished by her tale of her acceptance amongst the priestesses, regardless of her garb staying the same trend of The Rose.

“We spoke only a moment before the next room-startling figure entered, a mountain woman by the name of Maggie. She was well-armed, chainmail and axes adorning the female giant. Her family was known in town, and though I had little reason to deal with them with any frequency, his reputation was polished. She and I have conducted business on occasion – during her travels further from town, she finds particular herbs and skins which are not native to the surrounding soils of the town, and I pay her well for what most consider weeds and withered petals. Admittedly, I had always been mildly intimidated by the woman, her size and demeanor carrying its own peculiarity, though the possession of a violet stone “eye” has puzzled me for all of my time knowing her. I have yet the appropriate time to ask, though her words mentioned later that afternoon makes me believe that she gained this stone through the magics of Geldamar. She mentioned a favor owed to the meddler and I know of his talents with life-magic. Along with the imposing woman strode in a mountain lioness, bristling the already shaken crowd to a dampening quiet. It curled beside her, eyeing the patrons of the inn who refused to put aloud their thoughts in fear the woman may act on them.

“Roxanne approached Maggie and I kept my place at the table, reveling in the briefest of moments of quiet as Roxanne’s chatter was directed elsewhere. As their idle chat continued, the door breached again, this time a choke of silence strangled the inn as the stocky, smoldering outline of a dwarf stomped heavily across the boards. He rode in on a jingle of mail and what little sunlight struggled its way through the smoke reflected from the assortment of weapons he carried with him. His face was blackened, and at first, I did not recognize him as a dwarf at all. His beard was scorched and singed, though its braids were yet to fray so were the attention dedicated to its perfection. The inn’s reception of the dwarf was cold, regardless of the local association with the dwarven reign of growing prosperity. He approached the bar and again, Geldamar’s name was spoken loudly enough for the lot of us to be drawn to his voice. With that, the four of us convened at the table and the inquiry began.

“Between the four arrivals so far, none had more information about Geldamar’s askance to join him this day. The dwarf, by the name of Günter, was sent as a representative of his king to assist the mage. Maggie claimed to owe him a favor, by my guess, her “eye.” Roxanne said she owed him as well. I, on the other hand, simply knew him as a reclusive wizard, calling me out for a drink to meet some of his associates. It would have surprised me less had I arrived to find him sitting at a table alone, speaking with the empty chairs around him. That itself would have caught less attention of the remaining crowd that what walked in next.

“A hulking brute of a “man,” though I would have first used the term loosely, entered, wearing a mail suit and bearing the growing trend of large weapons. He was bald, though his facial decoration of patterned dots and exotic moustache merely accented the strangeness of his green complexion. He paused long enough that one might assume it was for a dramatic sense of terror, to wait for all in the room to take in his sight. Then from behind him peeked a blond “child” casually striding across to the bar, his companion in tow, and yet again, the name of Geldamar rang out.

“The dwarf across from me tensed visibly, as did Maggie. They readied their weapons even as the pair approached our table. It was only then I realized were a fight to erupt, I had not a weapon on me. Though my skill with a blade has never been tested, my confidence in the instructors of my youth assured that I could make it out of the simplest of scrapes. But at the imagined weight of the massive axe blades slowly surrounding me, my rapier seemed a needle. I continued to flip through the book I had brought for Geldamar, casting a suspicious eye at the growing gather of people at what once my table.

“What I thought was a boy was merely a young looking twenty, and introduced himself as Quinn, a performer now traveling with his fellow performer, a half-orc named Morak. The orc’s blade hit the table and the knuckles of the dwarf clenched white amongst the soot of his hands.

“The one-time crowd around us began thinning, the oddities of the day exorcising their appetites in favor of preservation. I was ready to excuse myself, thinking this motley group to break into conflict at any moment, when Geldamar himself arrived. The last of the patrons pursued sights elsewhere.

“He claimed that we were all present and asked to retire for the moment to my home. As a favor to him, I allowed this, though admittedly my suspicions grew as to why this band of tavern fear-mongers would be put together and asked to take meeting in my laboratory. I gathered my horse, tied the bundle of goods down securely, and we made way out of town. I was the only one with a mount, and I rode alone, ready to spring away from the group if necessary. The only time in the journey I felt at unease was when, somehow, the great cat following Maggie set flame to a slab of meat cast aside. The cat itself is unusual, though obviously granted some form of intelligence, though I fear along with its oddity, the ability to expel fire. With time, perhaps, I may be allowed to study the throat of this animal. The talent of “fire breathing” is known in circuses, but to my knowledge, was not present in natural animals. Perhaps its gut creates a natural gas, or the bile of its stomach is like the mythical alchemical fire. Another look at the cat made me realize even a chance to study the animal may take more than just passing interest for me, and I do not know if I have the dedication to look so closely within the cat’s mouth.

“On the rode we met another traveler. A wizard-apprentice, apparently of wealth, by the name of Rafezzi. He claimed to be traveling back to his school, though Geldamar seemed less that convinced. Admittedly, I have little knowledge of wizards, but Rafezzi both met and dissolved my stereotyping of them. His lofty manner and arrogance seems only matched by his hedonism and extravagance. Geldamar seemed pleased enough to have run into him on the road, and Rafezzi seemed equally pleased to be diverted from his return to the school, so he joined us in our trek to my home.

“Geldamar’s purpose was partially exposed. He had reason to believe that my neighboring homeland of Thet would come to claim this land within the next two years of time. Sabotage of the landscape had been suspected; a well had been poisoned in a town some distance away; people in the land had been disappearing. These could be completely unrelated, but Geldamar seemed not to believe such. My companions’ shock at his suggestion that they would eventually make way to Thet reminded me for the first time since my settling here, the distrust, mystery, hatred and fear expressed towards “my people.” Geldamar would have us investigate these events previous to moving against Thet itself.

“We stabled the horses, though Rafezzi seemed unsure for the moment of how to handle the animal without a stable hand to take the reigns. We followed Geldamar to my door, beginning to speak of the task he was handing to us, a prophecy ignored by the Augers. The door opened and appeared a staff, striking him center breast. I shudder as I write this, though the sounds of breaking bone and tearing tissue sickened me unexpectedly. Very little can unsettle me, having witnessed battle wounds, the removal of limbs, still births and victims of plague, though this will live with me for some time. The man shoved the strange weapon, a composite of metal and wood sections, seven in number, through the wizard, casting him to the ground. When the weapon was removed and the shock of the moment subsided, I looked at the monster. His armor seemed tailored by perversity. The chain and plates depicted carnal pleasures and horrors, glinting wickedly even in the shadows of my unlit chamber.

“I dove for Geldamar, hoping to staunch his wounds and secure his health in hopes that his reputation for life-magic could hold true that he might aid himself. The scene around me blurred. Quinn attempted to maneuver through the armored man, managing only to find the blades of his unholy carapace. I missed the intruder’s final words, looking up from the sucking wound of Geldamar’s chest long enough to see him disappear at the tap of his staff’s tip.

“The next moments are too hurried for me to accurately describe the events in completion. Geldamar died in our arms and at our feet as we surrounded him. The condition of the wound was too severe for me to even begin to close and his blood poured from the severing of his heart. As death overtook him, his words were lost in the distraction of my mind as I raced to think of anything that might succeed in stopping this. One word alone caught in my mind: Manslayer. This too accurately described what had just occurred.

“Solemnly, we pressed through the fright and carried the wizard’s body to my laboratory that I might dress him for travel. A figure as this would need provisions of the wizards and his family, were he to have family. My mouth ran dry as I imagined a horde of Falling into the calming drone of habit, I worked at wrapping the wizard’s body, removing his valuables and placing them aside. It was then I realized he appeared older that I had first imagined. The hair on his chest, slick with blood and intruded upon by fragments of bone, was white with age. His skin was mottled; it felt as thin paper as I caressed the cooling flesh. The others in the room ceased to exist to me as I watched age envelop Geldamar in a span of heartbeats. His clothing began to cling to his deteriorating tissue. I carefully wrapped him within a shroud, his body growing lighter and more compliant with the folds of the cloth, and I tied it carefully before placing the bundle within a sack. His possessions, two rings and three amulets which I assume represent his affiliation with the wizard schools, I placed within a box, also put within the sack.

"Before gathering my things and investigating the security of my home, I noticed the <insert Theshian word for creature> had been moved. It was rare that I took it from its place on the shelf, and the dust at its base had been recently unsettled. I tensed further, expecting there to still be enemies lurking beneath the tables surrounding me. Swallowing down my fear, I accepted Maggie’s invitation to join me in a surveillance of my home.

“I packed clothes for the road, a courtly outfit in case of a funeral service, and donned my armor and weapons, feeling safer in being able to defend myself from attack, regardless of its outcome. Before we left, almost as an afterthought, I wrapped the <creature> within a cloth and placed it in my pack. We headed to town for the night.

“At first I question going with the group. It would be easy enough to decline and carry on with my work the next morning, to try to ignore the day completely. For the moment, though, I do not think I could stay the night alone. Part of me wants to avenge Geldamar’s death, but that is an issue for heroes and adventurers. I have spent too long studying life to have mine taken too easily. I justify my leaving to myself by saying I may learn more through travel that in my home.

“The journey there was quiet. The sun was amidst its decent. It was decided to invest in a wagon and draft horses to carry the group most effectively, while Rafezzi and I would ride along beside the group. Maggie knew the merchants in town best and she would barter for us. Roxanne wished to stay at the temple, though we all hoped she would not share the events recently occurred with the priests there. The rest of us would stay in a tavern, our choice The Flying Griffon.

“Upon arrival at The Flying Griffon, we purchased rooms for us all and I was asked by the bartender if I were Geldamar. Suspicion caught me for a moment before I cleared my throat and continued. He claimed the man in the corner had been waiting for some time for him to arrive. The others and I spoke momentarily before approaching him. He was another well-armored man, though perhaps on the opposing spectrum of both the others and the figure we all feared bore the name Manslayer. Upon his shoulder was the mark of Voltuminous, though engraved in red, not the common gold of the area.

“We introduced ourselves, explaining that we were friends and associates to Geldamar and would like to speak with him. He claimed that he, too, was a friend of Geldamar and owed to the wizard his life. He had waited here, mistakenly confusing the names of the inns in town and missed his appointment with Geldamar at the time we met in the afternoon. Although suspicious, we waited for the others, Maggie and Rafezzi, to arrive before we took our conversation somewhere more private. We were unsure to trust this new individual, though again, how could we trust one another when we had, for the most part, only met this afternoon? We had undergone a grave situation together today, to which only we were privy to the information involved. I suppose that much desperation cements us together. The man wore armor of Voltuminous, seemingly assuring his trustworthiness, though for the moment, there was no certain agreement. Upon their arrival, Rafezzi attempted to use magic to address our unease of the man’s tale of Geldamar. Upon seeing Maggie, the armored man, claiming the name Alexander Crownguard, made a formal introduction, presumably dictating such noble behavior on the basis of her being a woman. I have, of course, seen this behavior before, though it is usually saved for the court, and at the very least, someone more ladylike than Maggie. It was dropped and we soon made way to the rooms upstairs.

“Under oath, we swore not to share the information to others outside of our circle. Alexander was brought into light of the details and expressed an interest in accompanying us to the wizard school that we hoped to investigate this disturbance which Geldamar spoke of. We agreed to set out at sunrise. It was then that something occurred to me, triggered by something Alexander had said. Geldamar made note that we had all arrived. Had Alexander not been invited after all? Certainly a wizard of such apparent power could have found anyone missing, and would he have set off without one of those invited? I fear it will take much for me to trust him. We will sleep two to a room tonight; watchful of each other’s back and in turn, our own.”

“Under candlelight I sketch my nightmare. I am doing my best not to wake my companion. I believe it to be an hour before dawn and already I am dressed and ready to witness the sunrise.”

“Tonight we camped next to the roadway. It is my watch, the third in the evening. I find it hard to sleep out of doors, and images of Geldamar’s death still haunt my closed eyes. I sit close to the fire, focusing on the light and paying not enough attention to my duty of watching the dark. Maggie and I tried our skill with hunting for the group, adding substance to our rations. I admire the woman’s skill, bringing in a deer when I saw not a single animal. In the future, I hope to hunt alongside her, that I might understand her technique better.

“I still watch Alexander. I took this watch particularly for that reason. He asks of my family, claiming to note my noble status. I give enough information to answer his questions, but leave enough out that he not know too much. He claims to be from another land altogether, called Coramia. That in itself is not unbelievable, and it would work to explain the emblem of his faith varying slightly via cultural differences. His innocence bothers me more than would his silence. I am going to walk the perimeter of the camp. Distancing myself from him will hopefully keep his questions from being aimed too well.”

“We arrived at the city tonight and headed to the five spires of the wizards’ school. Rafezzi seems adept at slipping in and out of his school grounds, and the guard, of a name which slipped by me, probably receives more money from Rafezzi than he does in payment for his duties.

“Before entering, Alexander’s horse began reacting strangely, though our animals did nothing of the sort. It is possible that it could be because of the magical effect in the area of the school, but I fear it was an all too convenient excuse. I believe Alexander wished to avoid scrutiny of the wizards, knowing they might see through whatever guise he projects. This is all speculation, but it is heavy evidence against his trustworthiness. He said he would meet up with us at a later time. I secretly hope he becomes lost in the crowd and fails to find us.

“From the reaction of his professors, it would seem that Rafezzi makes a poor student. He claims to be of an intelligence that does not require his attendance in his classes though there is no proof presented so far to support either argument. As I entered the school, I began to wonder – would this affair be taken away from us and placed into higher hands, considering none among us has experience in investigation. We were taken to the Headmaster of the school where we were questioned, admittedly with the most politeness, on the events of Geldamar’s death and the circumstances he spoke of prior to his murder. During this inquiry, it became apparent that the wizard had cast a spell to prevent us from lying, as Morak admitted to his name being Theodore and Quinn was found to be younger than his admitted age. The Headmaster’s pleasant demeanor itched at the hackles of my neck and I grew nauseous as I stayed in the room with him. Wizards have never had a good effect on me, and this one epitomized everything I distrusted in them.

“We were told we could stay in Rafezzi’s chambers overnight, setting out to further investigate this service in the morning. Rafezzi then returned to the Headmaster for a personal conversation, I predicted for his absence and lackluster performance in his studies. Upon his return, he flew into a frenzy, collecting his belongings and ranting of the Headmaster’s ire. There was a knock at the door, to which a student, older than Rafezzi, offered a message, which I advised Rafezzi should be suspect to magical scrutiny. I hope that my growing sense of paranoia will continue to be so sharp sighted. Fortunately, the note was mundane, having no enchantment, though was just as barbed. It insisted that Rafezzi take part in an inquiry investigating the murder of Geldamar. Failure would mean his expulsion. We sleep tonight in his chambers, planning to assist in any way possible with this inquiry, in hopes of not losing our connection with the wizards completely. We need to seek out the diviners.”

"This morning, the inquiry went poorly. I attended to reinforce the truth of Rafezzi’s statements, but I fear that the wizards may be at odds with our investigation. When the possibility of Thet overrunning the area, the professors seemed not to care. My suspicions are coming unpleasantly valid – it would seem the wizards do not care for the dwarven rule of the city. One professor went as far as to say it would be better if Thet controlled the land, for at least human nobility would once again be in place. This is not proof that they are involved with Geldamar’s unnamed enemy threatening the land, but they seem not to oppose it. We have to collect everyone before we can leave, and I am unsure as to the fate of Rafezzi. Half of the party has yet to hear of the events which went on in the school, but we must find everyone quickly.”

Game Two

February 9, 2002

“I attended errands with Rafezzi this afternoon. He seems to be pressing a front of carrying out his father’s business while exploring the possibility of finding an Augur, I believe by the name of Gayla. She is the daughter of a wealthy merchant of the town, and upon visiting, Rafezzi propositioned the import of his country’s goods, though in exchange for what, I do not know. This merchant seems to thrive on the stone trade of the area, understandably heightened by the dwarven occupation. The day went along quite uneventfully, though I continue to accompany the wizard in hopes of understanding more about these cult institutions of mage-craft as well as staying at the forefront of Geldamar’s demise.

“The evening went along smoothly, the plan being to stay within the merchant’s confidence by an elaborate dinner to which the merchant himself did not attend. Though long since I have be a part of stately affairs and formalities, the seneschal performed well under the stress of the odd assortment of guests. An impressive feast was placed solely at our hand, ignored by the occupants of the estate save the servants sent to perform their respective duties. Rafezzi again applied his skill at edging information about the daughter from the seneschal, hoping to draw her out to dine with us that we may inquire as to her knowledge of Geldamar and his prophetic warnings. Though certainly having his stumbling moments, I admit a great deal of respect for one so silver tongued as he. Initially I thought I had misread his skill in manipulation, believing that the seneschal would see through his thinning veneer, but he recovered well and led no further suspicion to his true purpose. An awful temper is in bloom along with his arrogance, but he has yet to show an overstepping of boundaries which he has not been able to evade so far. The seneschal mentioned the children of the merchant and scant details of the daughter-wizard’s location, and silently I hoped he would not press the issue further for offending or alerting the seneschal to our ulterior purpose. He says that the daughter seeks solitude for her contemplations and studies, and for a moment, I long for the silent chambers of my tower. My hope was well placed, as Rafezzi conducted negotiations well. Instead he turned his attentions to the serving girl, though true to the eye, who played for us, and it appeared these attentions were well-received. Proof in my words is this writing. Though uneventful and having little to record, I am awake by candlelight as the bellows from next door seem relentless.”

“This morning the two noble officials met in an impotent flourish, each succeeding impressively at doing and saying nothing at all. We took our leave of the merchant’s home, our stay being a bump in the road of formality, neither side winning or losing a thing. Though I lay restless in my bed, the others were apparently at work, sifting information from the servants as the household overseers were fast asleep. As we left the breakfast table, I pocketed some fresh fruit – surely the household has an abundance, and its keep while on the road will be savored along with our rations. Alexander is mentioned as an afterthought, though in retrospect, I believe my initial suspicions to be over-developed and hastily unfounded.

“We moved under the directions of the merchant’s staff, finding what we believed to be the Augur’s home, a spacious dwelling for a single family, let alone a lone woman. Are wizards such that they need this much room for their experiments? Perhaps having such a large home would buffer the dangers one works with the arcane from harming the surrounding townsfolk, while granting peace that intrusion and interruption are infrequent. The door was found unlocked, though I believe this is more to Quinn’s stupidity than to his courage. Tales spun to me as a child and through witness of wizards’ power, such as Geldamar and the Headmaster have already earned from me an enormous amount of respect in the wizardly arts. Perhaps it is for this I grant Rafezzi so much admiration, though his magic seems far more subtle that the stories dictate. Rafezzi inspected the door through his magical sight and it appeared to be safe.

“Venturing inside, we came upon a courtyard where sat a lovely young woman, her mind displayed in terms she could barely even grasp. I recognized the pipe from which she smoked, to my nose, a sharp narcotic, likely intermixed with another, undetectable substance. Her eyes stared through us and her laughter to greet us as we closed around her. Reflecting back on the entire conversation with Gayla, I remember very little. I am unsure whether this is a side-effect of the divination she performed or simply the incoherence of her speech and manner. Once again, my reluctant speculation of magical theory is becoming a more frequent necessity as it becomes such a commonplace inquiry. Highlights of the conversation included that she was one of the diviners responsible for training Geldamar in his studies, and she herself studied in ‘Oridahl.’ Gayla is supposedly a minor figure in the arts herself, yet she was a teacher to such a force as Geldamar? The hierarchy between these schools bears such complexity. To be at such aims with one another, is it really so rare to have one bridge gaps between multiple guilds? She claims her master was one Rusalos, again in Oridahl. Moments of clarity stained her lack of sobriety, though, and while she barely noticed us there most of the time, in sharp seconds of time she gained a look of depth to her stare. She recognized my name and profession though I suspect that not a great feat this close to the area in which I am known to practice, though she apparently shocked Maggie when she foretold of her death some time from now. This was not such an upset as her confusion as to Quinn, whom she claims is unaffected by fate. None among us understood this, and although it is dismissed for the moment, the persistent nature of the world trying to shock me as of late has every crumb of prophetic information ringing with immediate attention.

“At our request, she performed what I believe to be an example of her guild’s power, addressing the fish within her pond for answers to our questions. I watched behind the others, quietly intent on absorbing whatever arcane secrets she was to unfold. Amidst the pool she observed the episode of the troupe initially following Geldamar to my home, screaming for him not to open the door, then shrieking upon the scene of his death. She then looks to us in fear, claiming that the monster had somehow ‘seen’ her through her spellcraft and was coming for her.

“None of us were more unsettled by this than Quinn, who voiced what all of us were thinking, that we did not want to tangle with this opponent again. Gayla assured us that she would not die for another five years, and though this settled some, Quinn wanted very much to leave. Seeing an opportunity to save the boy’s anxiety and save us time, I sent him and Morak to retrieve the horses and wagon to meet us here. They left without need to ask twice. The rest of us set out to the temple shortly after Quinn’s exit.

“Apart from her water pipe, she produced a flask, which she drank from greedily. It took little effort to persuade her to allow me to inspect the flask, which I believe held absinthe, contributing to her narcotic haze. While turned away, I absently pocketed the flask and ignored her pleas for its recovery.

“In hopes of reclaiming her focus, Rafezzi used a spell of sorts which I assume removed the effects of the drink and smoke from her body, bringing her, for the moment, back to reality. She did not seem pleased, for this would be the first time in two years she had reached such a sober state, and that time had been an accident on her part in planning. Unfortunately, she seemed less apt to assist us while not intoxicated, and insisted her flask be returned to her (for which I assumed the role of a mugger), and she left for her home. I returned with her in hopes of directing Quinn to meet with the rest of the group. “Let it not be said that noble birth dictates good manner, for the woman was a curse through the streets, insulting me in multiples; had I a stronger direction of my pride in this manner, I would find note to strike such unbecoming speech from her lips, though I am not as hot-blooded as my Tribesmen. Coolly, I continued on until coming across Quinn, Morak and our horses. Walking back alongside the horses, I brought him to speed on our somewhat shaky investigation of the Augur. Not long away from where we left her, Gayla chased after us. Upon hearing her steps pursuing us, I spun with my hand on my blade. Although I am less experienced in the ways of steel than my companions, I feel little hesitation in prompting my own defense. To my surprise, Quinn moved between me and the irrational seeming woman. Pausing to access the three of us with our mounts, she asked for me by name, to which Quinn responded with a lift of his weapon. I give the boy credit; he could seem intimidating when the need arose. For a frantic, somewhat frail looking woman, at least. She claimed that ‘the first piece is in Zaubersturm,’ whatever that means. With that, she left us with far less fire in her eyes, wandering in the vague direction of her home.

“We found the others and brought to them this new cryptic. There was initial tension as Alexander arrived with Quinn and Morak, and even I was to ignore his place at our side in travel though the look in the good man’s eyes assured me of his worth. Against several harsh looks, I shared with him this information as well. At length, we discussed the group’s options of travel. Now given multiple places of inspection, we had to choose which best suited our purpose, both the concentration on the investigation of Geldamar’s murder, as well as continuing the quest granted to us by him before his death. Rafezzi, who I feel aids in the direction of the group by presenting which is best for him at times, seemed most opposed at going to Zaubersturm, the home of the Order of the Sword, a militaristic guild of wizards. Again, I feel this is because of his personal bias against communication with guilds outside of his own unnecessarily. I find this perspective of his limiting, though perhaps the politic of this is beyond my comprehension for the moment. He argued the pertinence of this ‘piece’ Gayla spoke of. At last, I brought out that perhaps this ‘piece’ was to be the first piece of information which could further direct us most appropriately. With this, he was satisfied and we set out. ”

“I record the unfortunate events as I sit by the side of our companion Quinn. His wounds are mending quickly, though I still fear for his stability. I get ahead of myself, and there is much to say.

“We arrived at an inn amidst a ‘y-cross’ in the road, its sign painted with a mug of ale and an ‘x’ behind it. The weather was turning for the worst, so even Maggie decided it best to retreat for the night. Entering, the place seemed under the influence of a strangling gloom which retarded the sound of a heartbeat itself. The patrons stared into their ale and gruel, the bartender sullen and unenthusiastic, even at the acceptance of new patrons, and even the whore gave a lackluster performance among the crowd. Quietly we joined them, the lingering, emotionless cold seeping onto us as well.

“I will admit, Maggie and I were suspicious, peaked by the usually sturdy half-orc retiring early. I first dismissed this as an illness, perhaps, as the travel takes its toll on us all, including myself, as I have lost a small amount of weight from the more limited food while traveling. As the others began to act peculiar as well, Maggie and I withdrew to watch in well deserved doubt of our situation.

“It appeared at first that only Maggie, Alexander, Quinn and myself were unaffected by what I will describe as a chill. Rafezzi left to accompany Günter and Morak in the beds upstairs while the rest of us lingered a short time longer, for various reasons. Seeing the strange circumstances arising in the inn this night, I sent Alexander to stand guard outside of our doors, and he agreed readily. Maggie and I were suggesting bed arrangements to one another when a fair woman entered, looking perhaps more out of place traveling alone than any of us might. She sat alone, though for only a short amount of time before she was accompanied by Quinn, seeking a companion for the evening, obviously. She and I shared a look at the interest the two were garnering in one another and tried to intervene upon their move upstairs.

“Even Roxanne turned in for the night, no one at her side, to sleep in one of the empty rooms. At this point, Rafezzi slumbered soundly at the side of the dwarf and the deposed half-orc would sleep aside Maggie when she retired. I would take my turn at watch, relieving Alexander, and take place in the room with Roxanne. To tribute Alexander’s manner again, he would not share a bed with Roxanne, settling on the floor at her side only upon keeping the door open. All beds being warmed I stood patiently in the hallway, quietly carving an apple to hold my drooping eyelids at alert.

“This was when I heard a shuffle of noise from aside me, descending the stairs leading to the third floor. I curse myself still, but I turned only long enough to witness the figure briefly before darkness overtook me. He or she wore a long, dark cloak, behind which it wore black leather, patterned with spikes throughout. At its side was an axe. Its face, however, was indistinguishable. Not shadowed so much as there was no detail to the face. With that, I was unconscious before hitting the floor for I remember feeling nothing.

“When I awoke, it was to Maggie’s shake. I looked around, barely able to register that she had found Quinn wounded in his bed. Alexander had fallen near me, also taken by what all of us believes to be dark magics. Moving to Quinn’s side, I noticed the lightness of my step and sleepily and quietly cursed the lack of my armor and weapons. I knew my necklace would be gone as well, and I did not even check. Alexander would show a similar loss of his weapon and symbol of his god. Realizing the priority of the situation, I put my material loss aside and tended to the boy.

“He had been stabbed from behind, the blade passing between the fourth and fifth ribs and puncturing his lung, thankfully missing his heart. Whoever was responsible for the injury paid much attention to his wounds, as they had already been carefully dressed. This did not leave him out of danger, as the wound was extensive and would take days to heal to the point I would believe him safe. Morak was raised and brought to guard him while we attended to alerting the rest of the inn.

“Inspection of the taproom would show all of the patrons in the same mysterious slumber brought on to those in the level above. My own anger got the best of me for the moment and I kicked a sleeping drunkard from his chair, smacking the tabletop with a fist to alert those still asleep. They jostled awake, blinking away their week long curse and fighting to explain their actions for the past days. The merchant and his men had been here for a week, and even the bartender could not explain his ambivalence towards his guests and their care in the past several days. Foul magic still hung in the air as we sat in disappointment and humiliation.

“Alexander was sent to intercept the thieves, who had made off with our horses and shattered the fore-axels of our wagons. Only he on his horse had a chance of finding them before making it back to the city, but Günter, Maggie and Rafezzi set off on foot. I stayed behind to watch over Quinn’s recovery, Roxanne as well, and Morak could not be forced to leave his side.

“After they left for the chase, Roxanne and I searched the rooms above, the barkeep having already alerted the patrons of their situation. The third floor was our suspect, and we found what we believed to be the room of the thief. The dank air smelled of an unclean brothel chamber, heavy with sweat and sweet with lust. The sheets were coiled in a pile and beneath them a note, signed to thank us by ‘Rothgapharius,’ our assumed wizardly bandit. Swallowing my initial reaction to tear it asunder, I showed the note to Roxanne and the owner, who allowed me to keep it as evidence of the criminal, and I carefully folded it amidst this book. If fortunate, I hope to use this letter to track the criminal down and retrieve our items, or at least bring him to justice. I now go to tend to Quinn’s wounds. The bandages still seep with lost fluid and his breathing still comes shallow and quick. I insist the room be kept warm, for I fear infection of his lungs would do the poor boy in quicker that this thief’s blade.”

“Today the group sent off to address the criminals returned. From my missing belongings I am returned my armor and a sapphire, apparently removed from the hilt of my blade in attempts to break down the sale price. I give them credit due, they tracked him well, and I thank them the best I can, though I fear now I am traveling penniless. Maggie allowed me to borrow a dagger, apparently sentimental in value, though I hope no protection within the walls of this inn will be needed again. Still I continue watching Quinn, though his face gains more color and his breathing less irregular. Morak stays loyally at his side, watching me work as if ready to stay my hand should I perform the slightest touch he would object to. I do not believe I have seen him sleep, or even leave the room to stretch so far, though I bring him food when I retrieve fresh bandages from the taproom. It appears we will rest here for days to come before setting out. My hands and mind grow idle.”

“Maggie brought to me the remains of a deer she killed not far from the inn. It is good we have her with us, for the barkeep insists that during his bewitchment that he had forgotten to order more food, and while the gruel is nourishing, the meat is an added variety I had missed. Glad to be at work, I record the muscles of the deer’s neck and spine and still yet to understand the work of the eye and its surrounding tissue. Though my eyes are sharp, the vessels throughout are beyond my examination. Morak seems not to take well to my interests, though I do not wish to leave Quinn for more than a short moment. Though I have not expressed my concern to the others, particularly Morak, it pains me to see one so young to be wounded in such a manner. The dwarf, Maggie or Morak I could expect to dress such an injury, perhaps even Rafezzi, were his mouth unable to get him out of trouble. But the boy is good spirited and sought only to be a boy. Though never would I mention this to the others, having a hard enough time allowing such words to be born on paper by my hand, I avidly seek out the bandit which brought this on him far more intently than the one responsible for the missing possessions. I return to my work.”

“Quinn awoke this morning, to everyone’s delight and for once, Morak was allowed a moment’s relaxation to leave the stagnation of the room. Though he seems insecure about the situation, understandably so, it seems he will make a full recovery. As the others gathered in, he brings light upon the last threads concerning the events of the night. The ‘thing’ which seduced him, he claims, was not a human woman, but a shapeless thing, capable of assuming the feminine form. It was this inhuman that stabbed him amidst their tumble and his sensitivity brought only few questions from the rest of us. We left him with food, under Morak’s faithful watch, and returned to other duties.

“When away from the room, I was approached by Günter and Maggie and to my honor, granted a gift. In losing a silver dagger picked up along the road to my current home I was awarded a beautifully crafted dagger by the both of them, the fruits of their reclusive labor coming forth. Etched along the blade is both the dwarven rune for chirurgeon, on the other side the personal mark of my estate. Rarely do I possess an item for sentimental reasoning, though knowing the pride the two take in their work, particularly it seems, working together, I carry it with an equal amount of pride.

“Rafezzi elaborated shortly on mage-craft and the guilds. The topic of magical subterfuge which the bandits may have used to plunder the victims as they slept was analyzed, though I have a feeling that Rafezzi hides twice as much as he reveals to us. I wonder if he does this believing we are incapable of understanding the complexities of the guilds, whether he is unallowed to speak of such, or just thinks that it is unimportant for us to know. Not wishing to sound conspiratorial, though it seems he hordes information to keep his place of value among us. I am unsure how to interpret this behavior, though he is aid enough not to dismiss.

“The wagon has been fixed, supplies in place and we await Quinn’s recovery to be complete before we move on. It would be possible to travel with him now, and again, were it one of the warriors among us that were wounded, I would not hesitate allowing them to mount and continue, but I must be sure that Quinn is sound before I allow him a foot out of the door.”

“Rafezzi experimented with the ‘trinkets’ he claimed from Geldamar’s body upon his death. At some point in the past, it seems, Maggie traveled with Geldamar by use of one of these items, the exact one I am unsure. Upon claiming that he could release the command phrase from her memories, Rafezzi used some technique I am unaffiliated with to draw this information out of her. Leaving her in this befuddled state, he vanished. She recovered soon after, though we have yet to hear a sign from him. Quinn should soon be well, and if Rafezzi does not return soon, I fear he may be left behind. None of us mention that he might not be able to return aloud, though I am sure we all think it.”

“This morning Rafezzi returned, though under strange circumstances. He appeared to have been placed elsewhere in the cold, claiming it to be the mountain stronghold of Geldamar. He spoke little of the details, though brought with him the very prophecy Geldamar had mentioned to us upon our first gathering. Though we believed it to be a glorious moment, reading it brought only questions, suspicions and fears to us all.

<Prophecy written as a whole>

“If the date on the parchment is correct, this prophecy is over two thousand years old. Each part seems directed towards the foe which Geldamar mentioned, and each seems directed at one of the seven traveling members of our party. Morak, it seems, goes unmentioned, though perhaps he is part of ‘the rest’ (“…unlike me, who plans to stick around through the campaign’s entirety.”) that is mentioned at the bottom. “The first seems most appropriate for Roxanne, the recently converted priestess of Betshaba. She still has yet to strike me as much of a ‘priestess.’ Still she moves from man to man, and little does she perform in the way of miracles, or even worship. I have yet to hear her speak even of her goddess. While I, myself, have little dependence on the gods, I do believe. I would hope that those considered most loyal and dependent would be far more vocal or active in participation of their god’s ideals.

“The third is perhaps one of the more cryptic, speaking vaguely of no one. The only hint at who this may be is the prophecy given to us by Gayla, mentioning that Quinn was a person of no fate. He claims to have parents, disputing the prophecy, though perhaps something of this is meant to be metaphorical for something we have yet to understand?

“The man of stone is little mystery, sounding very much like Günter. I do not understand what it means to ‘become one with bone.’ Even further is that his task will be to do harm. Everyone in the group seems to think that this harm is directed towards the opposition we move against, and I dare to mention what if his task will do harm to us?

“Rafezzi mentioned directly to be a descendant of Raifes, and the claim to nobility seems appropriate. He seemed quite proud of the idea of becoming king, though apparently ignored the last part in which he ‘will fall by the Enemy’s decree.’ Enemy at this point is capitalized – could this symbolize a greater evil?

“Cub of the bear could indeed point to Maggie, who seems in touch with nature, though could it have been a bear which took her eye? She is said to forge a token from which to kill the enemy, though her body broken? Could this refer to the damage done to her eye, or something far greater?

“The last part mentions an arm of strength, in his mind comes magic, being cloaked with lies. Initially we believed this to be directed at Alexander, but he has told us nothing but the truth, and shows no magical talent so far. Perhaps it applies to Morak? Or someone yet to be discovered?

“The third part of the prophecy, I believe, without explanation to the others, is posed at me. ‘Hail from the dark,’ I assume bears my upbringing in Thet, where we believe this evil is seated. The mention of physic certainly narrows the field down, as does the ‘child of Tribes,’ another mention of my Thetian heritage. Part of me grows cold with the last line. My own kind could only mean my people of Thet. In truth, I do not wish to return there with the intention of searching for harm, for although my people are not as charitable as the people I am surrounded by now, they are not an evil race. The people of this land vastly misunderstand them, though I dare not preach to them other than what they believe lest I fall under attack from even my own traveling companions. If indeed I do fall amongst my people, let it not be against them as a whole, but to the one which Geldamar claims nests amongst them stirring this evil forth.

“Alexander seems as confused by his proclaimed part in this as we do. I believe in his sincerity that he holds no ill will towards us, though I am unsure the others find him so trustworthy. Until he proves otherwise, I will argue to continue his appointment on our errand.”

“Another length of travel behind us. Soon we will reach Kreuzing and not long until the Order of the Sword itself. I was given the opportunity to restock my possessions. The filthy merchant who distributes common wares as if made of gold chiseled away at the amount of money afforded to myself by selling Rafezzi my remaining sapphire. I am at a loss for the silver he parted for it, but I owe him for the money spent on me this far, so I do not protest. Acknowledging the loss of my equipment and the initial reaction I found myself going through, I believe I will try carrying less conspicuous possessions on the road in the future. Looking back now, I understand that persons such as myself and Rafezzi are inviting the criminals to drive us down and live well from what we carry so openly on our side. I will seek to find methods of hiding my things more carefully along my person. For the first time tonight I sit by the firelight, my pack half opened as I write this and inspect the monster for damage it may have suffered in our travel. The thick jar has not a new blemish along its surface, and the crude face inside still bears the same grizzled expression of anguish. After I down the last of my ale, I will retire for the evening alongside the dwarf. Tomorrow we reach another town.”

Game Three

March 9, 2002

“This morning, we crested the hill overlooking Kruezung. Approaching the walled city, we ran into a large array of colored tents, setting both Theo and Quinn at evident ill-ease. Though Quinn seemed to adapt to the idea of crossing through what was evidently his former employers, Theo expressed resistance. It was the first time he had mentioned anything more than his position of ‘strongman’ with the show. The half-orc had been a part of the ‘freak show,’ catalogued with them as an exotic wonder, to be tormented and feared by the paying public. Though not unfamiliar with servitude and slavery, the concept of someone I had come to know as a friend put into such a role chilled me. In accordance to his wishes, we set out around the perimeter of the encampment, receiving occasional looks from the passed staff.

“At the gatehouse, Rafezzi once again took command of the vocal functions of the group as a whole. With this, he proclaimed himself ‘master’ of the troupe, and strengthened my dislike of his command. While this may ease us through particularly sticky situations, I feel his domination of the group’s image to the passerby is unwarranted and I feel as the group begins to open up and trust one another, this is becoming less of an issue as more of us begin to speak up in turn. The once silent dwarf and Maggie are now speaking their mind when their place comes in a conversation, accepting a role in the direction of the group. Still feeling out of place in the center light myself, I try to remain quiet unless I feel directly needed to oppose or support the plans and predictions of the group’s future. With every agreement and acceptance of my own input, I feel more inclined at the next question to step forward.

“Deciding it best to stay in town for the night and relax our guard, we took way into the Drowning Cod, though as we entered, our hopes of relaxation were shattered by a dark figure addressing Alexander. The two conversed in a language I had never heard, though the figure spoke a heavily accented version of Alexander’s name, so I knew the two of them were familiar with one another. Alexander was to explain that the man was a former criminal, in servitude to his father for redemption for his crimes. While Alexander was away, his father, displeased with his quest, set out to find him and was charged with the heresy of believing his deity to be king among all others. An unfamiliar custom, particularly so if Alexander’s father was to openly admit it in such a foreign land where our faiths run dissimilar.

“Although we discussed the matter intently, he would accept no aid in this matter, claiming it to be open only to his family. He would rejoin us at a later time, once his father had been liberated. The prophecy, he claimed, would run true its course and bring us together again. Would he have allowed it, I would have ridden by his side to his father’s release. As he left, Maggie, to which I assume was distrustful of his suspicious companion, followed them out, making an obvious excuse which I cannot remember . I was intent on allowing her absence but Quinn then followed, with ‘Morak’ in tow, off to sort out the night life. With him involved, I feel that enough of the group had been misdirected towards this following of Alexander and his friend and I too excused myself.

“I stepped quietly through the streets, easily mingling into the alleyways and distancing myself from Quinn’s movements by the steady, monolithic pace of the half-orc. Easily tailing the pair by their silhouette, I followed them until Alexander and the other made way through the gate, and Maggie paused to speak with the guards. Quinn and Theo went down another roadway, so I sat out to follow them to their questionable night out.

“They arrived at a building which I can only describe as a warehouse in a rather unscrupulous area of town. They knocked and were allowed in under the scrutiny of a doorman, so in my interests, I rested patiently against the wall in view of the door. For the better part of an hour I waited, finally weary, and set my return to the inn. After finishing this, I shall check the taproom once again then call it a night.”

“This morning I found Quinn and the others in the room below, slowly gathering together for what we thought would be another morning towards our goal. Quinn and Theo conveyed to us that their night out had brought into their laps a new source of information. By speaking too loudly in the tavern, Quinn had alerted a former source of Geldamar’s, who questioned them about their connection to the wizard. In a fit of what can only be explained a drunken release, he confided in the man our tale so far in promise of bringing new light into our situation. Whether or not this is favorable to the group has yet to be determined.

“He was to meet this contact tonight at the same bar, only he and Theo, where a place of exchange would be set into practice. Evidently, I had problems with this, being that this would be an idea plan for an assault on the two of them apart from the party, but as was pointed out to me, would ill be directed at them, it would have already been set in motion in their intoxicated stay last night. We agree that all of us will follow, and I acknowledge that I have previous knowledge of this meeting place. Quinn seemed surprised (?) I had followed them so far into their evening.

“We decided to stay for the night, agreeing to the pair’s plan of their clandestine meeting with the rest of us lingering in the background, watching the man whom Quinn apparently trusted. After time spent in such a circle on the road, our nightly divisions rarely seem enough for our personal solitude. I can understand why we each need these moments apart from one another. I too feel this way, though apart from my studies, rarely have a destination outside of the inn. I waited within, rereading one of the few texts brought with me.

“Midafternoon, the two approach me as I sat. We took a walk, in which they jokingly directed aggression towards me of my having followed them the night before. Although I forced a smile, I admit that the orc’s wide grin did little to ease the joke’s tension. With them I swore not to share with the others the true location of the meeting in exchange for knowing that they would be safe going alone. This was sponsored by Theo, who believed them to be in no danger. This contact of Geldamar’s was truly a former contact of Quinn’s, though truly wanted only the two of them to show or he may be spooked. Trusting in Theo more than the decision of Quinn’s, I allowed them this misdirection and assisted them in rearranging the group for the evening.

“We broke into two groups, Gunter, Maggie and I, and Rafezzi and Roxanne. The three of us left first, followed by the others, and Quinn and Theo left last, as not to cover their trail. I followed their directions to the Rolling Turtle, a dive of a bar, and moved into the empty corner away from the bar. I initially figured there would be less attraction to this area in the dim light, though we were almost immediately approached by a scrawny whelp of a boy in creaking new leathers. He boasted himself an adventurer in need of a new party to patrol ‘dungeons,’ though I bet him recently off his family’s farm. The three of us quietly surveyed him behind a shared guise of laughter.

“Eager to both please and misdirect the kid, I sent him off to fetch drinks for the table while we spoke among ourselves of our newest attraction. By the time he arrived, so did Rafezzi, Roxanne arm in arm. They headed to a table across from ours’, opposite corner. Thinking of occupying our time, I sent the kid over to address their table, hoping to gain ‘information’ about the ‘strangers looking out of place.’ He did so with a sneer on his determined face and a promise of coins.

“Apparently Rafezzi, keeping with his cover, decided to play the act of a mage from Thet. This both alerted the kid and promised him to the legion of our corner. He hurried to us, informing us of their ties to the evil Thet. Another round later, be brings me back a bead, claiming its poisonous touch to the drink sitting before Maggie were he to follow his dark master’s command and drop it into her ale. I quickly pocketed the bead, for evidence he was assured, and I sent him off on one final errand – to bring back the city guard and ferret out the evil that lurked in the bar. He did so quickly, if outright conspicuously, and ran for the streets.

“Maggie and Gunter expressed their worries of the joke befouling our meeting with Quinn and the informant, though knowing that issue was safely occurring elsewhere, I continued with the prank. Seeing the two of them dropping their stoicism for even a moment to enjoy a complex annoyance directed at Rafezzi made me for once feel somewhat more accepted by the two of them. I sat in thick, choking silence, awaiting the guards’ arrival.

“In due course, the guard charged in, ordering the ‘whore’ aside as they dealt with the evil at her side. I waved her over to me, cradling her as I watched the show unfold, bubbling with pride and swallowed mirth. They took him away, not a single dark incantation muttered in his defense. “Shortly thereafter, the kid returned, his name Hank the Black (though he wasn’t really black, he insisted), to retrieve his payment and seek employment among us. I realized we had to get rid of him, lest he follow us until becoming a permanent addition, one which I fear would end in disaster. Another ruse concocted between Maggie and I convinced him of the poison’s effects as they coursed through his veins. Only a poultice and blessing of a priest would cure this potent, Theshian threat. We sent him to find a puddle, and if not that then, the river. And a priest, of course. He ran from the inn, hands clenched to his chest in panic. “Almost as if the play was unfurling in each sequential act, the kid ran screaming back into the inn, hounded by the dark mage, Rafezzi. After floundering through the bar, he collapsed somewhere in back and the party slowly rejoined itself once Quinn and Theo followed soon behind.

“The contact would be transferred through The Rose, Roxanne’s former place of employment. The information given at this time was mirroring that which we already had, but the possibility of having access to any shred in the future was worth one more night in this town.

“As I am about to put my pen away, I begin to think – in part, my joke on Rafezzi was indeed for amusement of myself and the group, yet to me it was more. Daily I am surrounded by the hatred and scorn of these people towards the nation of Thet, and though propaganda stirs the unfamiliar into enemies abroad, my own understanding that Thet is a nation beyond mere ‘evil acts’ allows a wounding of me at mention ill against it. My attempt at punishing Rafezzi for supporting such beliefs that the land is full of dark wickedry is likely petty, though I hope it does not grow beyond mere defense of my pride.”

“As we traveled today, we came across a chilling curiosity that puzzled even Maggie of the things which crawl through these hills. At the sound of a call for help, we broke from the road to pursue the calls over a hilltop. Rafezzi and I were the first to arrive, cautiously navigating the rocky edges and weeds to see the tail end of a large, black animal making its way into the brush. Initially, I assumed it a predator, attacking a hunter away from the city, or a local of the area, and fired a shot into the brush where I last saw it move. The others reached the hilltop as I maneuvered slowly down, searching for evidence of an attack and finding nothing. Maggie followed, claiming whatever it was, it was large. I returned to the hill, sending my horse down with Rafezzi to watch Roxanne and the wagon and bringing Theo and Quinn with me to pursue the animal.

“We found my arrow, missing its mark by only a foot, by the animal scampered deeper into the wood, no trace of a person to be found. As we searched further, it slowly dawned on us that it may have been for the better that this thing was not found to begin with. We headed back, nearly having to drag Maggie with us. While I understand her questions and overwhelming curiosity, it is not a matter for which I will lose my life.

“As we prepared for sleep, there was a brief disagreement about shifts in watch. Neither Quinn nor Rafezzi seem ‘available’ for their duties to the group. Quinn is able enough and Rafezzi’s spoiled nature begins to shine through and his pampering of feather mattresses is apparent in his whining and backpeddling through reasons for more and more sleep. It is not yet worth an argument, though in the future I hope the support of the group in the equal sharing of tasks and danger.

“Though Rafezzi’s argument cannot be disputed, as the rest of us are too unfamiliar with magic to know the exact truths, my attempted revenge on Quinn is hollow. I shall forever support that his ‘hands looked dirty.’

“As we rode further, we came upon six patrolmen of the area. They forecast the lands directly ahead of us, and clarified the mystery from the day before. The beast we encountered was likely a leucrotta, capable of mimicking speech and known for being a large creature, luring the unsuspecting to death. I felt somewhat better that the guard seemed to think it was intimidated by our group enough that it ran away. This may be gross misevaluation of our otherwise inexperienced group, but it does good for the morale of us all.

“As morning pressed on, we came upon an inn, to which we stopped for a morning drink. Fond of whiskey, I was about ready to drink from their dwarven stock when warned by Gunter that it had adverse affects on the human body. With this advisement, I found it beyond my limits to currently test, and accepted this as a reason enough to pass it down the bar.

“By the firelight, Maggie, Theo and I were all surprised by the intentional rattle behind us caused by, what Maggie called a ‘Rover.’ This man was part of a league of rangers, reknown somewhat mythically throughout the area. Though their conversation was mostly lost to me, she seemed both impressed and confused by it, particularly when speaking of her cloak. When I asked her of this after the man had departed, she said that it was left with her at birth by a stranger. Furthermore, she was born in a noble’s castle. I should inquire as to where, and what noble. She claims the cloak has no specifically special abilities, but to be such a badge of status and be a normal article of clothing seems bizarre. I do not think I shall mention this to the rest of the party. The approach of people while I believe myself to be at my most attentive is disturbing enough to me alone.”

“As we arrive in the next town and everyone settles in, going their own separate ways, I realize several personal errands I can attend to while enjoying my own personal time. The first is unattainable, at least until I replenish my funds. While not being of warrior instinct, I feel an innate understanding of the body’s functions that I feel I could take advantage of in the next threat towards the group. To best capitalize on this, I feel that my knowledge of simply, paralytics could be used to end these conflicts quickly, if not allowing the person to survive in the end. Before I can buy supplies for these toxins I will have to search for appropriate merchants of these rarities, along with finding money to support my research and distilment. Secondly, I will continue my less than aggressive search for this ‘Rathgapharius.’ With luck, a great deal of it, I may find leads to him crisscrossing the landscape. He seems a quick traveling fellow and if the tales are true, nearly impossible to find. I am dedicated to one quest, why should I not follow another so long as it does not deter me from my more important goal? As expected, no one in this town has heard of him. This is my first attempt, so for that, I feel is almost relieving.”

“We sleep along the borderlands, secure within the stone tomb of this keep. I don’t understand how the dwarves manage to live so long, so deep within the earth. Without a window, I feel somewhat trapped and stagnant. I look forward to being out of this confining room and to Zaubersturm, where, with an enormous amount of luck, we will be granted passage, handed over this ‘piece’ and be given spacious, luxurious accommodations to make up for our travels.

“As we were allowed into the keep, it registered to me that my family’s name may be noticed this close to the Thet border. Though improbable, and easily explainable as being distant, if not relatives at all, it was best to avoid using it altogether. My lies may be shallow, but until I am suspected for hiding the truth I am likely to be unnoticed amongst the others.

“Before bed, we were knocked aware by a man going door-to-door looking for Roxanne. He apparently needed confession before setting off into the ‘evil’ lands of Thet to secure the faith of Betshaba through conversion by sword. I suppose I should wish him well, but the conquest he seeks feels so directly opposed to the grain of my homeland that I do not foresee his success in anything but bloodshed.”

“As we traveled the last legs of our journey today, we moved through narrow passes, nearly charged through by, what could only have been, a messenger. We came upon a path, which we believe he used and believed was a shorter method to Zauberstrum. There was some confusion whether or not to take the path, as the wagon may not have made the narrower, perhaps confining roadway, but I expressed a belief that it appeared to head in the right direction and after devising a method of scouting ahead in the questionable areas by horse and reporting back to the wagon, we moved ahead.

“As we exited the path, we came upon the fortress of Zauberstrum and for the first time felt both elation of reaching our first goal and the distress of how to gain entrance. It was a common feeling that expressing the information of Geldamar’s death and his quest may gain interest enough in us to buy us some time inside, but too much information, our connection with the prophecy and this ‘piece’ for which we search for here, we may gain their suspicions as well. I believed it another time to allow Rafezzi to maneuver us in, though admittedly his words fell weaker than normal when we met the gatesman sent out to speak with us.

“Algar Neff is a thick man, bearing a massive sword across his back and no armor to weigh him down. He broke the news to us first that the castle would soon be under siege by the armies of Thet, though our admittance was decided by his superiors. After assurance of our usefulness, he still seemed unswayed. “We waited patiently outside, and knowing that we were being watched, I dismounted and attended my horse, inspecting its hooves and legs, and smoothing its coat. I wished those watching us to observe my attentiveness to the animal, hoping my practicality with time spent would earn us additional favor. “We were allowed admittance and led to a superior. Herded into a small office, we sat quietly while awaiting the attention to the man shuffling through the paperwork on his desk. By chance, I looked to Theo, who’s complexion had shifted a full several shades of pale. Before I had a chance to ask him, my questions were dismissed – the two were acquaintances from the past.

“We bargained best we could with our skills which may be considered useful to the siege upon the castle. We tried initially to barter time spent inside, searching for clues to this ‘piece’ we so eagerly seek. As I looked around and though, I sincerely wished to stay to assist the mages here in their defense against the upcoming armies. I would not so easily fire a shot or strike a blow against my own countrymen, but I would heal the wounds of those men they sought to kill.

“Theo explained later than he was once among this Order of the Sword, a war mage, saved from an attack during his youth and raised with stern understanding of a human father. This more fully explained the mystery of the final prophetic verse found in Geldamar’s tower.

“We lapsed again into how to uncover this ‘piece’ or even information leading to bringing this thing to be more tangible. It was then that Maggie offered that perhaps this thing is to be brought by the armies of Thet in its attack on the castle. Perhaps she is right about this thing being part of the weapon which the thing which we have collectively linked to the name Manslayer used to kill Geldamar.

“In our inspection of our limited reach throughout the castle, Rafezzi and I, inspired by the warring of the courtyard, momentarily sparred together. Despite his self-praise of his bearing of weaponry, I am fairly confident he is incapable of harming anyone other than himself by something more than an accident. Though I am no skilled fighter myself, it would appear he learned to fence by way of a disjointed manual. If he boldly lies about his finesse with a sword, what else is he hiding?

“Our match was interrupted by another mage-soldier. Recently, while continuing construction, the mages uncovered a vast system of ancient catacombs netting beneath the current castle. With the written history of the area being only 600 years old, and the dwarves claiming the original occupation being within 6000 years, he claims that the former wizardly powers may still prove a potent force below. He wished to enlist us in exploring these reaches and bringing back word of its end, if we can find it. If there are other entrances into the castle through these tunnels, we are to destroy them, and if we cannot, we come back and get someone who can. We have two days after the siege begins to return, or else we are to be entombed in here until the siege is finished. That gives us approximately four days to conclude our investigation.

“I have given my bow to Quinn, hoping it will keep him out of the direct danger that we might encounter within the tunnels. We also fear among us that if we return amidst the siege, we will be forced into defense or thrown out to the wolves of Thet if we prove useless. While most of us boast some particular strength capable of serving the Order, Maggie and I worry that Roxanne’s ‘services’ may not prove applicable to battle unless the back of her head is acting as a codpiece. We have to earn her keep here as well, or she will not live through our forced stay here in search of the ‘piece.’

“My crossbow has arrived before we depart. I’ll have to hope this ink dries quickly as I haven’t much time before the others may start looking over my shoulder and have to close this book. It looks as if my spacious quarters will have to be a luxury of dream.”

Game Four

April 6, 2002

“We entered the tunnels this morning, following the more recently constructed halls for the dead of the Order above us. Each of these rooms had walls lined with tombs and lit with torches fueled by heatless flame, spreading a cold, eerie flicker of shadows across the peaceful chambers. I checked the torches, hoping that they may be removable that we have more light among us than a single lantern, but they were fastened tightly to the wall and of sturdy construction not to be broken by my hand. Raffezi has stayed behind, wishing to research possible vital information on these tunnels we are to investigate. I believe it may be that he does not wish to risk being trapped down here with us, though I do not wish to judge him so, as his strengths do lie in research rather than exploration. Then again, none among us save perhaps Maggie and Gunter have had such experiences so he would be no further behind than the rest.

“As we moved through these rooms, each flared to life as Quinn proceeded from one to the next. Again, I did not feel confident at having the boy so close to the front, but he seems adamant and Theo is not far behind. The rest of the group is assembled as follows: aside Theo is Maggie and her cat, of which she claims she would rather have towards the front, being somewhat uncontrollable and unpredictable when in conflict. Theo and Maggie act as a steel wall where Roxanne is tucked in the center of the group. She aims her crossbow at the echo of sounds along the walls as if she knows what she is doing, but I am fearful of what her aim is really like. Behind her walks Gunter and myself, both observant in our guard of the rear line. Quinn grows more confident between rooms as each is seemingly unchallenging. After several floors, we come to the breech in the wall mentioned to us by the Order. It opens through their construction into what appears to be a hallway, stretching out into two directions. To one hall, webbing blocks our sight, and to the other there is a strange assemblage of spikes further down the hall, a strangely sloped ceiling, and a seamed edge, which looks as if there has been a bit of wear.

“With Gunter’s warning that the stone was crumbling throughout the hall, we considered binding ourselves together as a group that if one area were to fall, the others among us could anchor and catch us. Also debated was the restriction of movement, and if this place were as trapped as was expected, independent motion would be important. Gunter and I both considered the idea of linking us two-by-two, but even that might hinder the other too much in a situation requiring quickness, so it was dismissed until a situation better suited us being bound.

“Quinn wished to experiment with the spiked area first, instead we sought to burn away the webbing, hoping to discourage whatever might be lurking inside of it from attacking us. Though carrying no fire amongst us, Maggie’s cat was urged forward by her example and directed to huff its flame against the webbing. As expected, the webbing itself quickly burned away. Unexpectedly, however, there was an unleveled dip in the floor just ahead, filled with some sort of combustible liquid. On contact with the flaming webs, it ignited like nothing I have before experienced, filling the hall with a roar of ignition. Quinn and myself dropped quickly enough to avoid it, but the others were not so fortunate. Maggie had put herself between the cat and the starting point of the fire, though later we realized that the cat has at least a mundane resistance to flame and it suffered no ill effect. The others were scorched, but Roxanne took a full exposure to the fire and dropped into shock from the eruption. I hurried to her side to extinguish the remaining flames only to have my cloak also catch. Quinn helped in rolling her unconscious body to extinguish the flames and I quickly set to work at bandaging her injuries and slicking the burns with balm in hopes of drawing out the heat before it exhausted her. Moments later, she was revived, suffering from little more than a bad sunburn and scorch marks on her clothing. I routinely checked each of the others, applying the same attention to their burns, and we continued on towards the second tunnel from the entrance.

"Though I have had little experience than tales of traps guarding ancient places such as these, I know even less of how to avoid or disarm them. Quinn seems to be a little more knowledgeable, so I follow his directions. We initiate the trap by Theo and Gunter throwing a large boulder onto the surface just past the worn edge. In an instant, the entire floor spins towards us, pivoting midway through the passage, dropping the rock down, the spikes from the far side now facing down before us. From the apparent crash, we believe that the rock then begins to drop, as expected, into a pit. Only moments later, though, the rock somehow falls ‘up’ into the spikes and crashing against the floor before us. Through speculation, of which Theo is the more knowledgeable of magic, we believe that there is a magical effect, which reverses the drop of the rock that it falls ‘up,’ into the spikes. Gunter claims that the rock around us is limestone, very soft and apparently not used by the dwarves for their construction because of its short-lived use in such buildings. Quinn wished to climb across the strange pivoting platform and investigate the other side. Having already set off the previous trap of the fire, we decided to investigate that area first, moving only past the platform trap if we had to. I had hoped there would be a way around it, or some switch of some kind to disarm the trap.

“Continuing down the hall where the webs burned away, we came to another door, which Quinn inspected carefully and, with Theo’s assistance, shoved open. In a flash, a long, metal blade, similar to that of a scythe, swung through the door, Theo and Quinn spinning to either side of it just in time. The blade continued to swing, slowly coming to a half in a hanging position at the door’s center. It appeared that every few feet so far we had been met with some sort of lethal greeting that could have easily killed any among us. “The next room merely seemed eerie at first, several doors leading out and in its center a marble statue of a mythical minotaur. We checked the room over carefully, initially I worried about the statue being some part of a trap. It was then that Roxanne, recovered from her earlier quiet, brought up a story of statues coming to life, enchanted by protective magics. Mechanical traps are one thing, something I can easily decipher and counter, but something animated by magic is something else altogether. Theo confirmed that it was possible, and I cautiously approached the statue to examine it more closely. There was text inscribed along the statue’s base, in a language I could scarcely recognize even in form. From what little I believed I could determine that it was some sort of curse, or ward over the area, which only heightened my worries that it could spring to life at any moment. To further darken our moods, Maggie found tracks scattered and jumbled around in the dusty debris of the floor. The tracks were small, the group theorizing that they could be the boots of hobgoblins in the tunnels. She was unsure of how old these tracks were, but they could be anywhere from a week to years, showing that whatever it was down here, they likely knew their way around.

“We crept to one of the doors, myself and others watching the statue warily for movement, and Quinn opened the door to leave the room. Nothing happened and we continued forth. Not far down the hallway we chose, only to be greeted by the clanking sounds of metal. After a moment, we retreated back into the room with the statue, while Gunter entertained and frightened us with stories of ‘nockers,’ legendary menaces to the underground, which could collapse tunnels around you if you looked at them. He claimed that the noises we heard were the sounds of metal against stone, and somewhere there could be excavation or an attempt to collapse tunnels. Again, we pressed on, trying a new tunnel, only to be met with the same sounds.

“We finally chose the first tunnel as a starting point away from the room. The sounds echoed through the tunnels wherever we went. I conferred with Gunter, and we believe it a possibility that these winding tunnels could be a distraction, as someone not taking care to map the area could easily lose their way while tiny workmen devilishly collapse the tunnels behind them. At first I only entertained the idea by imagining it as a children’s warning not to wander in local caves, but as we curved into a tunnel’s end, the sounds stopped. Just past that point we came across a skeleton, deteriorated to bare recognition. I carefully gathered the remains, searching for some sign of affiliation or age. His only surviving possession was a heavy corroded dagger, which was rusted into its sheath. Offering it to Theo, it snapped easily as he tried to dislodge it. I tucked it away as well, hoping to date the metal in the future.

“We wandered for what seemed like ages, finally coming into a small room, if it can be called that, and at its center sat a humanoid skull filled with, at the time I believed, mud. Not wanting to set off another possible trap, we skirted the room carefully, bringing the skull out of the room last. I handled it carefully at first, only prodding it with my knife, but after removing it without effect, I carefully began excavating its contents. Maggie then pointed out that it was filled with dung, to my guess, by the small dwellers of the halls here. Finding nothing of interest, I placed this skull in the same bag with the other bones I had collected previously. I cleaned my dagger and we set off again.

“We wandered again, stumbling quietly through the lantern-lit world below, finally coming across another of these small rooms. In the center of this one was a stone circle, amidst which was a metal plate with a handle. At its side was another skeleton, one hand resting on the metal plate. Careful that the metal did not discharge electricity or some magic force, we tried removing what we thought of as a plug by cording through Quinn’s silk rope and as a group yanked, breaking the handle. We investigated it further, for it was possible that this could be some sort of switch or apparatus to illuminate new possibilities of these tunnels. After cutting through mortar and limestone with her chisel, Maggie and Gunter believed in agreement that it might have been another time wasting tactic of the designers to stall us. I further investigated the skeleton, noticing a crack along the skull, which could be evidence of a head wound. The person could have suffered from a concussion and worked to pull the same plate for a length of time before finally passing out, or he could have died from the wound itself. I collected these bones as well, the assortment now so mixed that I would have a lot of work ahead of me to sort them out again.

“It was then that we heard a roar deeper within the halls, signaled by a stopping of the incessant tinking of metal on stone. A rush of wind, carrying dust, came first from the south, and then followed shortly after through the other halls. There had likely been a cave-in, probably towards the near south, which could mean our worries that someone indeed knew we were here and could be trying to trap us in this area. Worse yet, Quinn brought up that it was not until moments before the crash that someone mentioned the name ‘minotaur’ for the first time. Until now, we had only mentioned the thing as a statue, not what it represented. Perhaps our mention of its name revived it from its sleep. I felt even more distressed about going on, but it seemed as if the lantern was getting dimmer so I swallowed these fears and said nothing to the others of my uneasiness.

“We approached the room with the statue in silence, preparing to find a stone giant waiting for us on the other side of each corner. We collected at the door to its room, Quinn and I checking the door for sounds and trapped hinges and handles as we had been scanning the halls together through most of this puzzle. At the silence of the room, we flung the door open, finding the statue patiently waiting for us, unmoved from its center.

“Finally accepting that to continue, we must get past the platform trap, we agreed in using the minotaur’s statue as a block, to catch the platform on its swing and prevent it from moving. Still careful that the thing could become ‘alive’ at any moment, we used a rope to bind it about the neck and in unison, pull it from its concrete base to come smashing to the floor. Surprisingly to me, it did not shatter as I had expected, nor did it move in protest. With some effort, we pushed the thing into place on the trap, its chest to block the path of the platform as it descended from its swing.

“Instigating the trap into action by another boulder, it was successful in capturing the platform’s edge. We carefully secured it from swinging in the opposite direction by pitons placed at intervals along its upper edge. Quinn then tried climbing carefully along the wall, though its crumbling surface rendered this impossible even to his small stature and agility. He fell several times, once injuring himself along the farther spikes. One by one, we crossed the platform, and when on the other side I again tended to his wounds. I took stock of my supplies; we the number of injuries being so common, it would not be long until my herbs and salve was expired. I would have to be more careful and cautious of its use as we continue.

“We continued on, confronted by yet another trap, this one designed to deploy against someone coming from the other direction so it was not quite as lethal. It was designed to shove the victims into a pit, by the swinging of another panel from above. These were triggered by panels disguised as part of the floor stones, something I would soon begin to become familiar with by experience. In dealing with and disarming this trap, Quinn suffered a minor injury to his head, which I bandaged the best I could. As small as he is, at the very least, he can take a lot of punishment.

“We finally came into what is likely some sort of entry-room. Up a set of stairs are stones, likely placed from the outside to block an entranceway into the tunnels. As all of the traps would be approached from this point, this is likely the main door into this ‘dungeon.’ This could be a possible way out for us, or a way in for the Theshian army. We decide to explore the side corridors first, moving down the hall with caution once again.

“Quinn and I moved side-by-side, carefully watching every footfall and touch of our hands against the stone of the walls. We found another panel on the floor and carefully skirted it, watching even the areas to the sides of the trap to initiate some sort of ill towards everyone. The hall opened into a small alcove, including a statue of what looked to be a mage with an outstretched hand towards the adjacent hallway leading up an incline. Careful not to bother the statue, thoughts and fears of it becoming animate, this time possibly capable of flinging spells at the lot of us, we carried on up the incline. Reaching a doorway, Quinn and I notice the lack of mortar in the brickwork. Signaling the others to move behind us, we place ourselves in the center of the door, expecting the blocks of the wall to fall or fire out around us. Our logic was quite flawed, unfortunately, and the door exploded towards us, a boulder shoved through the wall directly where we stood. Fortunately, though, he and I are both quick on our feet and managed to dive aside, the rock rolling past us until it reached the statue, which showed us its magic intent on casting the boulder back into its housing, the wall reknitted into place behind it.

“We decide to rest for the moment here, to which I agree, for along with my aching body, my mind is exhausted from the hours of patternless struggle through the earlier maze. We rest at a strategic point in the tunnels, our back to the statue of the mage and our eyes focused past the traps further down the corridor.”

“As we continued our exploration of the halls, we continued down the other side passage, hoping to complete some sense of symmetry to the plan, which would make things much easily in what we also hoped was the last legs of our journey down here.

“Perhaps I was not quite awake, or possibly just becoming confident myself at being able to recognize the traps as they unfolded through our paths, but I missed a plate in the center of the tunnel, activating the bars of a cage to spring up around us. Luckily for me, Quinn was there to pull me back from the bars, which tangled my legs and threw me harder to the floor than I would have liked. I tried to apply appropriate herbs to the purple streaks along my thigh but it had little effect. I may limp for a day or so, but at least it is not life threatening. To get past the bars was a chore. We used a silk rope, wetting it thoroughly to hold its strength, then wound it about the bars to bend them enough for each of us to go through. We left this tied behind us in case of a quick retreat. Roxanne claims this was something she learned from her religious teachings, though I will confess, I believe it more likely through experience of being tied herself.

“We discovered another trap along the newest corridor, this one activated by someone stepping on a plate with small holes, which then would fire spikes up and impale those standing on the plate. Before even finding the larger plate with holes, we found a smaller one, which turned out to be a ‘safety’ plate. As long as it stayed depressed, the larger plate would be safe. This was determined by Quinn’s initial crossing, then the rest of us crossing one-by-one. Maggie ran into some difficulty, though Theo reactivated the safety switch. As was evident with these traps as we continued, those in this hall that were meant to be passed over more frequently, allowed passage by knowing the particular points that would temporarily deactivate each of the traps. I found a second plate on the other side, which triggered the safety as well, further reinforcing this idea. It was at this point which I believed we were on the right trail, as the other passages were dead ends and traps meant not to be crossed.

“The next door we approached was badly affected by age and wear, its structural integrity lacking. We fastened a rope to the door and gave it a tug, resulting in the arch’s partial collapse. I don’t believe this to be so much of a trap as time taking its toll on more of this structure. What this does mean, however, is that this area is likely unexplored and interfered with by the ‘hobgoblins’ of the previous section.

“The next room was more open, and on the opposite side were three statues, again looking like wizards. As we stepped into the room, Quinn stretched his arm out against my chest, stopping me from going any further. When I looked at him in question, he explained his notice of how some of the floor’s stonework looked untouched, while other parts were showing the same similar disrepair as other parts of this area. Further investigation showed that the newer looking areas were an illusory image, projected by the statues to disguise a pit beneath us, having the same familiar spikes as before. Beneath, also, were skeletons of its prior victims, which I believe we should examine before we leave. But time is of the essence so we press on. We are also brought to notice that the ‘bridge’ across the room has suffered as well, showing a broad crack could make it difficult to cross again if we antagonize it. We took care in our crossing and plan on putting as little stress as possible on it when we return.

“We progressed through the doorway and into the next chamber, another long room filled with similar torches as before. As we entered, we found another pressure plate at the doorway, though Quinn and I carefully went around it, moving carefully through the room to check before the others entered. Making it most of the way through the room, there was a soft ‘click’ which I had come to dread since coming underground. Fire shot from the torches, blinding me for a moment as both he and I dove to the side, out of the way of the flames. He and I quickly made our way to the end of the room, backs to the wall while Maggie counted aloud the time between the torch gouts. We quickly examined the door for traps, finding none in our brief search, and returned to our places. Our plan for the moment was to set the door open and allow each of them to run a gauntlet of the flames into the safety of the door. Gunter drew tired of waiting, an impatience I was surprised to see in a dwarf, and stepped on the plate we had pointed out, ceasing the flames. Searching the doorway again, there were no traps, but another pressure plate was in front of this door as well. The symmetry of the design was showing again that this place was likely commonly transversed.

“Through the door led a set of stairs, going down. We tied rope around our waists, anchored to Gunter and Theo, and slowly descended, checking each step in turn until we reached the pitch-black bottom. We waited for the others to safely arrive and illuminate the hall before noticing the twin, black marble statues of women at the end of the hall. Beyond them was a door, but at approaching the statues, I noticed their eyes flicker open and they began to speak in a dialect I am unfamiliar with entirely. Chills ran along my body and for the first time, I truly felt reason not to go forward. Almost as if taunting our earlier speculation, here stood not one, but two of these magical statues raising weapons and ready to attack us. They seemed mounted on their perch, though their weapons looked dangerous enough.

“At one point, it seemed as if the statues were counting, likely awaiting a response so that those understanding what they were asking could respond and pass safely beyond. Having heard a click when we first entered, I advise that perhaps were we to enter again, we could reset them and make a break past their blades and to safety beyond. We retreat above for a half an hour to break and hope that our speculations would come true.

“Just before returning down the steps to see what choice we had, I heard a similar click from below. Conferring with Roxanne for a moment, she agreed that I hadn’t just been imagining it, so we continued down to find the statues once again at rest. Quinn, in his usual daredevil display, decided to try it first, and I supported his agility over mine. He ran for the doorway, diving through into a roll, dodging both of the blades they raised in defense. Along with their weapons, the statues crooked back their heads and sent out an alarm that blotted out all but the loudest of speech.

“Knowing that if I hesitated too long it would take the others to force me through the dark women I followed Quinn’s example, breaking for the door and imitating his leap the best I could. I felt one of their blades slide across my shoulder, cutting through my cloak but rebounding from my armor, but the second blade was nothing more than a rush of air by my side. I tumbled through the hall, aided to my feet by Quinn who advised me to wait out of sight, I assume in case something responded to their cries.

“The others slowly approached the statues, as best I could gather, Maggie and Theo planning on confronting them directly that Gunter could assist Roxanne through the guard of the women. I turned away long enough to pull my pack from my shoulder, a slosh of liquid in the thick, continuously heavy jar tilting it back and forth for a moment while I searched for a pack of herbs and bandages, readying my supplies for if one of them was injured by the stone blades.

“When I looked back, one of the women was missing the blade of her sword, the other still attacking Maggie. Gunter had guided Roxanne through the hails and they came to stand aside me as we waited for the last two. Theo crushed the first statue with the edge of his axe, hefting it again to approach the second. Maggie dropped her defense at a bad time, trying to end it quickly and received in turn quite a bad slash across her stomach, tearing through her armor. I started to ease out towards the fight, hoping to dodge through the melee while Theo held the creature at bay, but she still stood, so I figured it looked worse than it was. In short work, they finished the last statue and I attended to the wound in her side, unfurling nearly two rolls of bandages across her stomach and chest to hold stitching and a thin packing of moss against her clotting wounds. After making positive she felt fine, we continued. I cast a side-look to Theo, marveling in the fact that he had hewn through the stone with his axe so easily.

“We opened into a room, perhaps an office or something similar. It had two desks, murals, and other furnishings of a strange, black wood that even Maggie could not identify. One of the paintings behind the larger desk was enveloped by a curtain and in places its image flickered and faded. Quinn and I slowly searched the room as everyone seemed to let down their guard in a more welcoming surrounding. I checked the larger of the desks, seeming a simple construction with no drawers, though on a whim, I raised the top of the desk, as a lid. Within, there was a strange book, surprisingly in good shape, and a thin rod, at the tip of which glimmered a red stone. Knowing we had intruded into the lair of a one-time wizard, I asked for Theo’s advisement, to which he was also unsure of the things. Testing each item with a cautious touch, I flipped through the tome first, and though the language seems alien, I believe that in time, I could comprehend what it held. I pulled my pack from my back, trying to make room for the book and the rod amidst my slowly growing collection of things. I still had a couple of empty bags, but one already brimmed with dust and debris from the collapsing bones of those I had found in the earlier halls. I tried to make sure they were secure in my pack, particularly the rod, which I believed might fetch a good price to the wizards above, and if not, the gem itself could be worth something.

“The other desk and paintings had nothing hidden within them. We continued on, Quinn and I quietly joking of our techniques as we scoured the halls ahead. I must admit, I felt more at ease in this place than the chambers before. Perhaps it was the furniture, or just having large rooms, but I felt as if we had reached an accomplishment, something more akin to a real structure rather than claustrophobic passages with no destination.

“The next room we checked was small, though peculiar. In it was a bed, on which was stretched beneath a figure of a man, covered with a thin sheet. Also in the room was a freestanding arch, drawing the eyes of all of us in its strange placement. Following what was growing common to us, Quinn and I slowly searched around the perimeter of the room, though the others seemed to draw into the room behind us without our advisement. As we drew in further, the figure from the bed rose, sitting forward and dragging the sheet from its body. It appeared to be a human male, though horribly rotten and disfigured with decay. Streams of deteriorating cloth spun from its limbs as it slowly rose to its feet and approached. My mouth ran dry and my fingers tingled cold, almost causing me to lose grip on my weapon. I slowly crept behind the thing as it advanced on the group. The oddest thing to me was the thing’s mask, a greenish tint to the metal forming the thing’s face drew me to strike it, though my weapon bounced harmlessly off of the thing’s shoulder and neck. I turned to the others to shout a warning only to find Gunter, Quinn and Roxanne staring at it in horror. I did not even see the cat move, but I heard a familiar hacking cough of fire at the foot of the monster and as if it were constructed of tinder it flashed into a shambling pyre. Maggie and Theo confronted it face-to-face while I stabbed and hacked at the thing in springing steps from behind. It ignored me completely, focusing through the flames on the other two and the cat. Theo’s axe crossed through the creature again and again, sending it only once into a real stumble even a hair to one side. Maggie’s blow from her hammer set it against her and it responded with a sharp punch across her head, sending her back several steps from which she valiantly recovered and responded in turn with another bludgeoning strike.

“Again the cat breathed and the fire grew more intense. Quinn sprung from his place, his color returning and soon after Gunter and Roxanne were amidst the lot of us trying determinedly to bring the thing to ashes. Finally, after absorbing punishment and the feasting of the fire, the thing collapsed to its side, the rest of us setting upon it like wolves on a fallen victim. I stomped away at its decayed head, kicking the mask from the flames and dissembling the skeletal remains under my boot.

“As we caught our breath, I turned to the bed, looking at the molding mattress which I regarded with several stabs of my sword, considering for a moment also setting it aflame. It was then that Theo drew my attention back to the group, to Maggie’s bleeding face. I sheathed my blade and drew out a roll of bandages, only mildly worried about what I thought was a simple punch. As I inspected her, I was surprised at the thing’s force, which under different circumstances, may have broken bones and teeth. Instead, her cheek was split across the bone and her temple was swelling. A thick bruise surrounded the area of sticky, bloodied flesh. But within was a strange discoloration, something which I had seen only in long neglected wounds from drawn out infections. A mold or filth had worked its way not only onto the wound, but also seemingly into it. It was almost as if the very-most beginnings of decay had set into her tissue. I tried not to look too alarmed, though in truth, the mere occurrence of something I was so radically unfamiliar with in possibility made it difficult for me to even speak. I carefully cleaned the area, even aggressively scrubbing at the infection to remove as much of the foreign material as possible. Her wince told me that the wound indeed hurt, despite her lack of protests. She was sturdy, but I had seen the most virile and robust of warriors fall prey in days to plagues and infections of the most simple of wounds. I would need to get her to the wizards above quickly, in hopes of finding someone more knowledgeable in the possible causes and cures of this injury.

“The others continued to search the room as I finished the dressings of her facial injuries, and I pointed out to Gunter the mask, which he believes to be tarnished gold. At least our journey down here isn’t completely without finance. Also hanging from the wall was another golden trophy, and Theo pointed out, ‘not to be money grubbing,’ that the fixtures of the room before this one were also of gold. We decided to retire after stripping our payment from the unique wood and gathered together in safety, to nurse our aches and hunger. We had been down here little more than a day, and our exit would be expedient in comparison to our exploration. We had to return soon, before the infection in Maggie’s face spread further. With luck, the thing we killed will be the only remaining ‘resident’ in this place. Perhaps he is the remains of the guards the wizards put into place and the traps we evaded thus far were the first and last line of defense. Before I rest, I will change Maggie’s dressings, both her midsection and face, and confer with her probably herbal precautions she may have to try in combination with my own at halting the infection. I hope that I am exaggerating what could easily be some dust mixed in with her wounds.

Game Five

April 20, 2002

“We decided not to sleep, but take enough of a rest to catch our breath and settle our nerves. We continued on, standardizing our movements into our predictable sweep of every corridor in particular order. These last chambers and halls no longer seem riddled with the same methods of trapping every entrance and hallway, and for this I worry that I will drop my guard by becoming accustomed to finding nothing.

“The next room we entered seemed some sort of study. It contained desks and shelves, which Quinn and I methodically checked throughout the room and the furniture before allowing the others to assist in our inspection. After finding the previous desk to contain things of value, even I admit a streak of curiosity and hopes of finding further payment and justification of being down here. Though I found nothing within the desks, along a shell were several aged scrolls. Feeling as if everything in this damned ‘dungeon’ is cursed or waiting eagerly for me to touch it that it can cast me a cinder with some wicked mage’s spell, I gingerly puffed a breath of air across the rolled pages, and nearly all of them crumbled under the weight of the air. One remained and I carefully removed it, unfurling it to find that it was beyond my ability to read. The others had appeared to be lists of some sort, though not knowing the language, I cannot tell whether it is as complex as a wizard’s component list for an incantation or a simple tally of supplies needed for the kitchen.

“I placed the scroll within the pages of the book I found previously. I scanned over the interior of the book again, the sigils snaking in my mind for a moment, letters beginning to make sense until I turned to glance to the sound of a desk being tapped for panels. When I looked back, it was once again gibberish. I stowed it carefully away, a glimmer of the lantern’s light striking the scratched glass of the jar also within my pack.

“The room following was suspiciously similar to the room in which the undead creature rose from the bed. This time we approached far more cautiously, though I warned the others not to waste what little lamp oil we had left in our reserves. I expressed a possible need to ignite it in combat against these abominations at some point later, though a good part of my wishing to keep it in reserve was the uncomfortable thoughts of being left here to find our way out in the dark.

“Unlike the previous creature, this one did not move at our approach. It wore a similar mask, slumbering on a similar, stone bed. Roxanne seemed confused by the body, and what to do with it. The skull was sent to the floor in a tumble, and was returned to its place, though I, personally, refuse to touch these possible dangers. Collecting the bones of, what I believe to be, victims of this place is one thing, but bothering the remains of the previous mages is another completely. The desk and the cabinets seemed clean of device, though after removing one of the cabinet’s drawers, I realized there was some sort of skeleton concealed behind the cabinet, in an alcove of the wall beyond. Pulling the other drawers out, the skeleton was more visible, though I am not completely sure if that was a positive thing.

“Under closer scrutiny, I noticed that the skeleton had been part of some sort of carving and in places, the puncturing and severing of bone fragments from the whole. This was done with some sort of instrument, or perhaps magic, which allowed the bone to be cut very cleanly, to the point of allowing visible shapes. The others, particularly Roxanne, seemed quite bothered with this, though I admit I was not completely at ease myself. At first, I debated telling them that the body showed evidence that the woman, for I believe it to have been a female, had been alive and allowed to heal, at least partially, from some of the wounds inflicted upon her. Believing it best to inform them of everything I mentioned this as well, though by Roxanne’s drop in complexion in the flicker of the light, that too might not have been the best idea.

“I believe this skeleton was part of some sort of ritual torture or experimentation, concurrent to the strange, arcane dealings evident with the practice of the necromantic arts evident in the former occupation of this structure. The strange ways these bodies were placed on these slab-like beds means it could be a form of a tomb for these people. But then why the offices towards the entrance? Some connection to requiring them in the afterlife?

“Throughout the next halls we continued to search for anything meant to stop our advance, though as before, it seemed as though in this inner area, there were no traps awaiting us. Perhaps, they believed, that if intruders had made it this far, they would have been able to handle them themselves. As we opened the door to the next room, a harsh, biting scent of ammonia poured through the doorway.

“The height of the ceiling is undetectable with our current light, and the walls were coated with a thick, probing fungus. Silhouetted in the corner was a large group of mushrooms, a peculiar color as the lantern briefly concentrated on them. To one wall was another statue, something else I had grown to suspect and fear.

“The others believed, and I had no reason to dispute this, that the ceiling may be a haven for bats, which would explain the cave-like nature of the room – the dampness of the air, the coolness despite being underground. I predict there is some sort of opening above, or the waste of the proposed bats (which could explain the stench) would have filled to noxious levels. After recognizing that our lantern had not set the room ablaze, showing that though these chemicals could possibly be ignited, I thought we should fire a flaming arrow upwards, hoping to see just how far it stretched. The others did not believe this necessary, though I think it may prove another entrance for Thet to make their way into the lower levels.

“Our advancement into the room was halted by a scuffling of feet coming from behind us. It seemed as though Roxanne noticed this as well and I turned with my blade readied as Rafezzi stepped around the corner, his torch leading the way. As a matter of precaution, we moved back out of the room and into the previous hall to regroup.

“Rafezzi had found little to assist us in the libraries above and returned to us to warn us that the siege would be coming a day earlier. Our time limit was even more limited. Pausing for reestablishment of our group’s order, I offered the wand, book and scroll to Rafezzi for his inspection. He gave a practiced jumble of words and stared at the items intently, showing an expression of interest which grew as the moments passed.

“He seemed interested in the scroll, explaining that he could eventually learn the spell scribed upon it (something to immobilize an opponent, he said?), though it was currently beyond his learning. When confronted about this, he tried to explain that he was indeed up to snuff, but backpedaled his way out of saying he was ‘inadequate.’ The wand he believes to be an attacking weapon of some sort. As the ring he acquired from Geldamar, it seems as though he needs to know some sort of initiation word to call on its magic. Still, I believe it best used in his hands rather than on my back.

“The book he tried explaining as having the capabilities of changing the reader. It was indeed magical, though he said that part of its power was that anyone could read it. He claims that there could be danger involved, but again my interest is perked at the possibility of experimentation with magic. After my run-in with Rathgapharius and whatever spells he cast upon me, any further understanding of magic could come at an advantage when I finally confront him. When we have time to settle, I will inform him of the results of the book’s contents. Judging from his interest in it, I suspect it to be potent and I safely packed it away in my pack once again.

“Upon reforming at the door and beginning to enter, we paused at the doorway, slowly collecting to debate our next action. Rafezzi had not been with us through the previous trials, having not the frayed nerves we had been gifted by multiple incidences of danger. An example of this was exhibited by his launching his torch skyward, trying to discern the ceiling, but the torch tumbled through the air in an arc, falling between two of the large mushrooms. I was about to chide him when from somewhere in the room was issued a shrieking scream. I first turned to Roxanne, then to Rafezzi. Noticing neither of them screaming, I sought out exactly what was causing it, only to discover that the mushrooms themselves were calling out.

“Screaming to try to understand what was happening Gunter seemed to believe these were a form of alarm system, but for what? Perhaps for the bats they mentioned earlier, or something else we had yet to encounter. Gunter seemed genuinely afraid of what might respond to the shrieking so we drew our bows and fired upon the mushrooms, though it seemed as though the arrows had little effect. Gunter, in apparent unconcern of what he stated previously, charged the mushrooms, axe bared. Roxanne and myself also moved forward, though not arriving before he had rebounded from the mushroom’s head once already. While I analyzed the fungus, Roxanne assisted Gunter in finishing the job, turning one of the mushrooms into a deflated huff of spores and the mush part of the mushroom. Having no dealings with these sorts of fungus before, I tried warning the others that the spores could present some danger, though they cared little for my precaution. I backed away as they hacked away at the things until dead. Though Gunter claimed that my worries over the spores were for nothing he left the torch behind where it fell after the spores had gathered on it. Damn dwarves.

“As our hearing returned and our voices settled, we began inspecting the room, eyes watchful of the closed door in case Gunter’s earned paranoia proved to present a new enemy in response to the ‘shriekers.’ I worried more about the bats’ return above, as we would be easy targets were they to exist and swoop down upon us from above. From our calculations, it was night and they were out hunting, so it was feasible that we were in no danger, but I feel that any worries I have in this accursed place are well-founded.

“Towards the center of one wall stood a statue, perhaps 20 feet in height and cloaked in the same fungus which coated the walls. I carefully worked away at the fungus, trying to keep as much of the debris from collecting on my gloves and blade as possible as I carved chunks carefully aside. After close consideration to the base, I found a small drawer. Prying away with my dagger and trying to avoid any sort of trap on the drawer itself I resorted to directly pulling it free, finding within a small coronet. It was tarnished, but Gunter claimed it could be worth quite a bit. I passed it to the others for safe keeping and we continued on. Maggie’s approach to ‘helping’ to clear the fungus from the statue was with broad swipes of a grapple. This ended with tossing chunks of fungus throughout the area of the statue and spraying it across me and the others. I think this is an excellent representation of precision versus brute thinking.

“The next room we came across was suspiciously decorated. It had three open corridors and along each of the three walls were four skeletons, human, I believe, and outfitted with rusty weapons. It appeared, at first glance, that some ill fate had sent them crashing to the walls from the center of the room, left behind to rot and post this danger to others who visited. Rafezzi moved forward to inspect the room but Quinn and I halted him from entering. Again, Rafezzi had not been through these tunnels with the succession of dangers and did not foresee the same dangers we anticipated. Unfortunately, for us, we did not foresee this one either. Getting half-way through the room, the bones began to rattle and the skeletons began to rise. I had time to raise my weapon, call out to the others for alert and try to position myself in front of Quinn, but he did not see them in time to respond to their approach. They moved so much more quickly than I anticipated. My only experience with confronting the undead was the one previous specimen and these were completely different. Before I could react, they were swarming around us.

“In a flash of motion, the others tried pouring into the room while the skeletons slashed their rusty weapons at the two of us. Quinn fell under the slice of a bent blade and Theo quickly maneuvered himself through the room to brace our lines. In trying to protect Quinn I had left my back to one of the creatures, hoping that my previous damage done to him would slow him. Unfortunately for me, it did not, and I felt the tip of its blade slip along the inside of my arm, dangerously close to my chest. Seeing blood congeal along Quinn’s wounds, I flipped backwards into a roll past a skeleton’s blade and tucked beneath Theo’s axe-swing, coming to kneel not far from Quinn. The others rushed to surround the two of us, preventing the undead from further damaging Quinn or myself. I worked quickly, hoping to revive him that he could further retreat back into the hallway, though he would remain unconscious for some time to come.

“The others worked, successfully though injured, to knock aside the rest of the skeleton army. After the last bones scattered and broke across the stone floor, everyone caught their breath, slowly lowering their stances and we established a vigil in the previous corridor. I bound the wounds of the others, realizing with each stretch of bandage and application of oil and moss that my supplies quickly grow short. I sit here now, my back to the wall, Quinn at my side yet again as I nurse him to health. Throughout the night so far everyone seems to be recovering and Theo serves as a safe, yet silently dreary companion through the night. Maybe I will catch an hour or so of sleep after all.”

“Quinn is awake again, though not moving as fluidly as his normal stride. After my insistence, he remains in the center of our moving column. Though it is advantageous to have him assisting me in searching the halls, I fear his health is still far from recovered. We back our bags and continue on again.

“Our first discovery of the morning was a privy. I do not know how the others felt, but I was quite torn; on one hand, the first time using a true, modern allowance yet I feared that something dwelling inside would compromise my insides the moment I sat naked atop that hole to Hell. Corners would have to do for some time longer.

“The next room we came across was actually quite interesting, if not the most serene I had felt since entering these horrid caves. After some inspection it appears that the room was used to view the heavens while being deep within this earthen sanctuary. By placing one’s hand atop a black, obsidian globe, the room darkened artificially, staunching all light, to project the constellations, as we believe, they would be seen in the night sky above. We considered trying to take this globe with us, though Rafezzi seems to believe this entire room itself was magical, and removal of this one piece would destroy it. Quite sad, actually, as I would have loved to added this sort of chamber to my tower.

“In leaving the observatory, we found a set of stair leading down. We still had areas on this level to explore, though our search had to remain focused. It was possible whatever we seek is in those rooms, but we all feel it more likely that it is below, as the protections seem to raise as we further our explorations. Carefully, I maneuver down the steps and the group follows behind.

“When looking down the hallway in this level, it is exceptionally decorated when compared even to those above, which were if anything, more sparse and simplistic. Coming to two doors, I check them both, and we entered what looked to be some sort of coat room. It was small, like a large closet, and had metal rods which stretched the length of each side. Dark blue tatters were piled in threads and moth-eaten sections, though presented nothing within when checked.

“As I opened the door to the room across from the coat room, I could have sworn I heard the sounds of struggle of some sort. The clash of armor and weapons vibrated distantly through the halls. I conveyed this to the others and some believed to hear it, though again we were not sure. Straining, I could have sworn also that I heard a voice, but still far too indistinct. The noise died off into silence and left me wondering exactly what I had heard if anything at all.

“The room appeared to be some sort of bath or small pool, the walls caught in the creep of an algae or mold. I dropped down into the ‘pool’ to support the idea by finding some sort of covered drainage. Climbing out, we continued on, slowly and quietly in case there was indeed some sort of armored danger ahead.

“At the intersection of the hallway, I caught wind of voices from one end. Slowly creeping down the hall with Maggie and her companion, we overheard a strange language from behind the door there. We moved back to the others, explaining to them it may have been some form of dwarven. Gunter assured us that there were no ‘forms’ of dwarvish, only the one language itself. Not being an authority on things of that race, I accepted his word, though doubt anyone so sure of anything.

“We all approached the door this time, and miraculously, despite Gunter’s assault of his feet to the stone floor, it would appear as though the people inside would take several moments before they approached the door. When we thought they would open it and we would lose our element of surprise, I flung the door open, dodging to one side to allow Maggie and Gunter a better run of the room.

“Within were seven gray, thin, sickly looking dwarves, and among them as well a Theshian officer, easily recognizable by the distinguished armor of their post. The first of the dwarves charged through the door under the command of the officer. As we watched his approach, he began to grow in size, from the stature of a dwarf to that of a normal human. As he raised his axe and came out swinging towards Gunter, I pivoted beneath his outstretched arm and jabbed my blade beneath and between the plates of the underarm, the point jerking against the muscles of his chest as it ran through. He dropped loudly at our feet, causing me to quickly twist my blade to keep it from being taken under with him.

“The others hesitated and under the direction of the officer withdrew from sight of the doorway, their backs to the walls. We dragged the dwarf from the doorway, over to Roxanne, who stripped him of his armor and coin before we threw him back in, clothed in one of my spare shirts, hoping to distract them that they would unload there daggers into him and detract from their available resources. This plan failed with flair and the officer mocked our attempt, showing her confidence.

“Patiently we waited, trying to think of a way we could enter the room without being swarmed by their number. While readying to charge in, Roxanne expressed surprise and pointed to the doorway where an appearing gray dwarf raised its axe in attack. Again this one fell under a hail of attacks by us and again we pulled him back that he could be stripped of his belongings.

“After this failed assault on us, we looked into the room to revise our situation and saw that one of the dwarves was making his way down the tunnel. In a moment of decision, we charged the room and the rest of the dwarves appeared. In a blinding moment Gunter took a heavy strike from one of the dwarves’ axe, sending him back a step, though coming forward again strong in retaliation. Maggie, too, was cut deeply by one of their axes, almost impeding our advance through the doorway.

“I had barely stepped within the room myself when the Theshian officer slipped out from her hiding space and drove her sword through Gunter’s armor from behind. He face paled and eyes rolled back as he lapsed to his knees and slumped forward, leaving the officer to sling the blood from her blade to one side. Seeing that the battle may have finally turned against us, I had no choice but to reveal my lineage to my companions.

“Finally making it into the room, I shouted for the officer to call off her troops and announced my affiliation with the Court of Thet, stating my mother’s title in hopes of, at the very least, causing them a moment of hesitation to work to our advantage. My surprise of her response was equal to her surprise at the mention of my name. She barked an order to the dwarves who then mirrored her moment of confusion, though they ceased in their attacks, and I, in turn, ordered our group to halt as well, and though Maggie and the others seemed to wonder my intention, and of the fact I could communicate with the officer, they did not ignore my questionable demands. (OOC: I’d been waiting for that moment for ages…)

“The woman removed her helmet and it was nigh impossible to ignore my surprise in the realization that our opponent was one of my younger sisters, Salvaza. When I had left, to my knowledge, she had no part in the military. She was athletic, and ambitious, perhaps, though I had no clue that she might have joined the legions there. I sheathed my weapon, giving a side-look to my companions that they might do the same and moved to join her as she also put her blade away. As I moved to speak with her more privately, I made sure that Maggie saw me place my pack, which held my medical supplies, next to Gunter, hoping she would pick up on the hint.

“Salvaza would confide in me her mission: she had been sent on an errand for Manslayer, recently appointed advisor and military commander of the approaching army of Thet. I now had proof that the Fell King was indeed allied with this malevolently prophesized force Geldamar had warned us about, and I admit, was disheartened. I quickly summed up our current quest, mentioning only relevant details of our mission from Geldamar, supported to her by my respect for him and a small misdirection to her that he belonged to a minor tribe of our people, to stop the Manslayer (not Thet, specifically), from bringing ruin to these lands (to which I also included Thet, a worry of mine previously unmentioned to the others for obvious reasons). She told me that he had arrived to the Fell King’s court, bringing with him black elves and these sickly dwarves, supporting him in a small army of his own, to pledge himself as an advisor and military arm of Thet. She was sent here to find a vague item which would ensure his victory over the keep above. Though I may not stand in the way of Thet’s advances, being it a political nature that the nations themselves should develop, the Manslayer was an outsider and I would not allow him and his forces to do so. I denied her further access to these tunnels, for we too were to find such a vaguely mentioned item and, now in my mind, keep it from this very chaos. I desperately tried to convince her that our goals were not different, that by leaving this mission unfulfilled for the moment and proving that my suspicions were correct in this Manslayer being dangerous to both sides, she could better serve the Fell King by proving Manslayer had ill intent against our homeland. I also believe, though kept to myself, that by gaining the alliance of the Fell King against Manslayer, we would keep his armies his own and the balance between the two warring nations could be kept at a standstill.

“She agreed to accept my tentative alliance and commit herself to traveling with us for the time being, though there was still the matter of the two remaining dwarves in the room, eyeing the others are they worked to seal their wounds, and the other dwarf which was still fleeing down the tunnel to bring reinforcements. With a smile from her, we agreed to dispatch the closest two and worry about the third when we had time. This sudden turn against her own, though shady, companions worried me slightly – her allegiances shifted with her motivations and perhaps my familial connection to her would not be enough for her trust and cooperation. I would have to worry about that later.

“In a smooth return towards our companions, she ordered them to turn and face away from us, leaving us plenty of opportunity to easily drive our weapons through the armor at their backs, my own sword finding its way between two plates of the lower back. In unison, the two fell as we cleaned our weapons and returned them to their scabbards. The explanation to the others was not so easy.

“I worked to revive Gunter and bind what wounds I could with what little supplies I had left. My cloak, already showing a great deal of damage from our pitfalls through the tunnels would do as make-shift bandages, and Gunter was revived, though barely so. He could move, but primarily through assistance. We distributed his gear to the rest of us to afford him as much movement without risk to his injuries. I then packed up what remained of my supplies and stood to speak with the others, who eyes Salvaza cautiously.

“It took work, and careful maneuvering of words to convince them that it could be beneficial to all of us to allow her to travel with us. In an unsure promise to the others, she would not harm anyone with us as a favor to me. While I want to believe she will honor this, I am even unsure that I am safe in my sleep. She may not kill me, but she might slow me down enough to make an effective exit. I believe they only finally accepted my offer for her to join because they were in no condition to protest and one more strong sword arm would be welcomed.

“With Salvaza at my side, we continued down the next hall, hoping to end this expedition soon, that we could exit not only before the Thet reinforcements arrive, but the reinforcements from above came below with Rafezzi to find us in cahoots with a Thet officer. In tandem, she, myself and Quinn checked the door, her assistance coming when we provide information about the traps in the levels above. The room beyond the door held yet another statue. As I entered, Salvasa drew two blades, what I believe to be a more common style of swordplay in Thet than in this land, though it still seemed strangely uncomfortable for me to imagine wielding. We entered the room, searching the statue cautiously and again finding a drawer in its base, and again finding a coronet hidden within. I handed this one to Quinn, wanting to prove to him that we still needed him to be useful, despite the fact I would no longer allow him towards the front of the group as a point running scout. With luck, this will keep him safe until we leave.

“Again, we found another statue, and again, this one had a coronet hidden within its base. This one, however, is described to me as a Goddess of Magic, which seemed in place here in this mages’ hall. We continued on, slowly checking each step, in hopes of finishing soon.

“We continued our search, uneventful for some time until coming to yet another statue, this one in a long, broad hall. We carefully approached past high-rising columns, to the statue of a massive man, with a hammer and anvil in hand. It carried the same carnation symbol, representing this Goddess of Magic again, but seemed unfamiliar. Again, it had a drawer in its base, though this time the coronet inside had disintegrated, deduced to having been made of wood. The emerald was still inside, and Quinn pocketed it quickly before we inspected another hall leading off to one side from this man hall.

“We checked the door, as we had done countless times before, and upon opening it we found a circular room with yet another statue, this one of a woman with a staff and wand. In the center of the room, however, was a winged beast, both hawklike and catlike at once. It was large, though we speculated that it could fit in the hallway if it needed.

“We formulated a plan to lure it out into the hall, containing it while we drove the creature down. It would be difficult, since many of us still ached from our wounds and Gunter had trouble staying on his feet, much less brandishing a weapon. Quinn and myself planned to fire at it from the doorway, hopefully damaging it enough that it would charge out into the hall so the rest of us could incapacitate it quickly, before damage could be done to anyone else.

“Our initial barrage was effective. I caught it cleanly centered within a soft spot towards the bottom of its beak, one of Gunter’s dwarven crossbow bolts, wrapped in flaming cloth sunk deep into its head, yet this wound which could easily drop a man barely made the thing flinch. I moved back, allowing Theo to close in when the thing leaped forward, catching Quinn in its beak and crushing him into two. As I was about to reach out to him, he fell into a pool of blue ichor. Much to my surprise, Theo seemed barely worried, more inconvenienced. Yet he pushed on, saying we needed to hurry…?

"Theo was also wounded badly, and retreated back, trying to allow the next group to come forward. Maggie sent out an arrow, remarkably, through the crowd of the hallway, to find its mark in the creature’s body. Again, it seemed more irritated that damaged. Salvaza then strode forth, weapon in each hand and engaged it squarely in the doorway. I was about to move back, inspecting Theo’s wounds, though I worried that if I moved too far away, their missile attacks on the creature would go unhindered, with only her standing between them – not mattering to whomever missed the creature and struck her in the back. I stayed with her, between my sibling and the possibility of attack from behind us.

“Much to my surprise, she shrugged off a wound by the thing’s beak, though her armor seemed to bent and scratch under its pressure and continued her attack, finally dropping it to its side in a frenzy of several deft slashes. When encountering her in the room with the dwarves, I thought I could detain her if necessary, though now, in witnessing her abilities more closely, I had to reevaluate my lacking capabilities.

“She sheathed her blades and we ushered everyone into the circular room, the strange carcass of the animal already beginning to thin and wear away, much like the effect of Geldamar’s death on his corpse. I busied myself with the wounds of the others, a tall statue looming over us from the other side of the room. I eyed Salvaza, not wanting her to be the first to inspect the statue and discover whatever might have been so closely guarded by this creature. The others gathered around the puddle formerly-known-as-Quinn, watching it burble and reform into … well, Quinn.

“Once again, I searched the statue, this time finding within the drawer a lead coronet, though unexpectedly, showing no signs of aging. The others so far had either been tarnished, or in the case of the wooden one, destroyed by time, yet this one had not a fleck of rust or discoloration. It was determined by the group, though Roxanne believes not to be the pinnacle of our search that we do, that this one was magical as the others had not been. It was at this acknowledgement that the group began to bicker once again with what we were to do with ourselves and my sister. As they debated, I realized that wherever I went in the room, the statue seemed to turn and watch my movements. This was all the confirmation I needed to believe that we had found what we were looking for. To myself, I wonder, having little knowledge or experience with things of spiritual nature, does this mean the Goddess herself is watching over the crown of lead?

“Negotiating our next action, the group, seemingly as a whole, was opposed with Salvaza going further with us. I believed that with her intercession with the previous combat that she proved herself as at least a possible ally for the time being. The rest of the group distrusted not only her, but seemingly myself for approving of her word. With this, I removed myself from the exchange. Gunter seemed most adamant with wanting them to take the crown of lead with them to retrieve Rafezzi that we could meet outside somewhere. I was in agreement with Salvaza, and even Theo mentioned it possible, that if the crown were to be noticed by the wizards above, they may take it to aid in their war against the oncoming armies of Thet. The bickering went on without my interaction until Maggie finally decided to leave it to me, and my opinion by this point had been stated. She handed me the crown and I placed it securely in my pack, though secretly, I worried about being the one responsible for carrying it. Maggie and Roxanne set off, with plans of destroying the shaky bridge once they were past, and meeting us outside with the wagon and Rafezzi.

“Reflecting on the moments before they left, I was deeply offended by the dwarf’s attitude towards my word. In short, he believed that my sister would murder us all given half the chance, yet I can see in her ambition, the greater reward for services in honor to the Fell King keeping her in line with my accord. To hell with the dwarf and his flimsy sense of family honor.

“As we made our way through the corridor, Salvaza and I continued our conversation. I knew that if she were to return without the crown, she may be executed at worst, to lose her position at least, either of which she could not afford to herself. I promised her that I would not allow her to leave empty handed, though even I do not know how to reach this conclusion. If I could not find proof that Manslayer was indeed dangerous to Thet, as well as this land, then I would have to give her something of equal worth. I would face that decision when it was necessary.

“We waited for the others to return to the cave entrance, though they did it from behind us – the first cavern had already been collapsed from above. They had destroyed the bridge, further hindering the Thet armies from making their way into the underbelly of the keep. Maggie continued out to the keep, retrieving our wagon and horses, and we set off to find a settling place out of the oncoming army’s way for the night. Again I stay up to look over the others, this time against Maggie’s wishes. I can rest tomorrow as we travel, though if I sleep, I worry about Salvaza’s safety.”

“When we rose in the morning, I had to persuade Salvaza to remove her armor, as being seen with it in this land would be asking for death. While changing into fresh clothes myself, I slipped to her my mail shirt, easily concealable under her own tunic, and I will go without protection for the remainder of our travel to a new resting place. I could go without the weight of the armor for a while, anyway.

“Salvaza also refused to accompany us on my horse, believing the small mounts of this land to be inferior to those of our own, and with good reason. These simple riding horses are mere dogs compared to the well-bred steeds of our land, but they will go more easily through the countryside and cities than a more conspicuous warhorse which she desires.

“I plan to sleep all day and awaken when we find the cavern system Salvaza mentioned as a safe haven. With luck, nothing will go wrong while I am resting.”

"We reached the caves here, and they do seem safe for the time being. Quinn is finally awake, though still very weak. Upon regaining consciousness, he was immediately questioned by the others about his strange ‘condition.’ While I did not believe it wise, the rest of the group seems intent on their inquisition of secrets among us. I believe that there are some things that need not have attention drawn to them unless they are necessary, though they seem to think that we should have all bared our souls upon first meeting. Enough of that, Quinn seems to believe that he is immortal, in a sense, though Theo commented that he had ‘nine lives.’ How does Theo know more about Quinn’s condition than he does?

"In the time we spent resting further, we theorize the abilities not only of the lead crown, but the others we have found. Quinn, after hearing that I had no luck with a response from the lead coronet when I tried it on, tried on the silver one, though this time we were visited by a flash of light.

“A man, clad in blue robes, appeared, claiming his name to be Rexar, a mage of Abaris. This was quite coincidental, considering we had just infiltrated what could have been one of her temples and stolen many of its treasures. He said that his attempts at ‘scrying’ were foiled by our presence in his crystal. I assume this is similar to the diviner we left behind some time ago.

"We questioned him about the coronets, after discussing it among ourselves to do so, and he remarked that only the lead one seemed to hold some sort of power. He then tried explaining, confusingly, a different sort of magic, one stemming from the mage’s mind more than a magical incantation. This lead coronet would render that wearer immune to this sort of mage craft. Why then is it important that we find this before the Manslayer? He claims that in this age, since this magic all but died out in the Second Age of Man, this was all but useless, save to collectors.

“Before leaving, he looked skyward, saying that his attention may have been placed on us by someone with mysterious ways. Is he speaking directly of this deity of magic, Abaris? A group such as us having caught the attention of the heavens? In all honestly, I do not know if this should be a comfort, or further strain.

“As he left, we spoke little among us, confused by this portent and still unsure of our next step. I, for one, would like some time to recuperate, perhaps in a town small enough that we not draw too much attention, though large enough for us to properly supply ourselves. We will decide the next course in the morning, after our wounds further heal and we can travel safely.”

Game Six

May 4, 2002

"We have decided to rest in the cave for another night. There are preparations to be made before we set off for the next town. Gunter has taken it upon himself to melt down the Thesh gold into a less recognizable currency. Between those coins and the treasures we liberated from the depths of the mage-hold, we should be worriless of our financial status for some time now, even with such a number among us. Lacking real direction, we all speculate our actions upon reaching town. For myself, I wish to purchase a new mail shirt for myself, along with certain other “requirements” I seek for my continued travel while carrying the Lead Coronet. Aside from me, it is my responsibility to clothe Salvaza in more inconspicuous attire as well. Although I trust in her ability to blend in with the people of this land, much to the degree as myself if given time, she has been thrust amidst the cultures of this land without time to prepare for it in a much more tense era. We must work on hiding her accent a bit more effectively, though she can remain quiet when she needs to. Apart from her voice, I worry more of her temper and open disdain for the people here.

"After her hunt, Maggie returned to the camp to find me alone, securing my belongings before turning in for a few hours of sleep. She awkwardly apologized for insulting me earlier when she made it apparent of her distrust for my word. Although I still felt as though suspicion outweighed their words of trust for me now, I calmly accepted her apology and we went back to our places, letting the issue dissolve into silence.

"The group, after resting to full health, has decided to return to Eisenstaad, hoping to revisit our good fortune with the prophetess Gaela. It will take some time, and we will have to pass near several other towns along the way, but hopefully Salvaza will contain herself long enough to arrive without incident. While staying there, however, I feel that simple hopes alone won’t be enough to keep her stable.

"As we passed across a scrub plain I sighted movement amidst some bushes and boulders ahead. The hills and brush made it difficult to distinguish what it was we saw, and the group’s paranoia speculated everything from monsters lurking in the brush to Maggie’s obsession with the Rovers. While we debated, I knew that whatever awaited us ahead had even more time to plan for our approach. I dismounted, believing that Salvaza would do the same, though to my surprise she trusted her abilities to lead her horse into whatever conflict we would meet. We strode forward until a green cloaked figure slipped from behind a large rock, his bow strung in wait.

"He announced some sort of tax on the road, an obvious ploy of aggression to exploit money from passerby. Lucky for us, before we were too hasty in meeting his insult with force, we were recognized by Hank the Black, the most infamous nobody of Valduran. At telling his commander that we were former associates of his, an entire army of bandits raised from the ground in unison, grudgingly marching over a hilltop in search of their next score.

"Hank had propositioned us earlier, seeking employment and danger in the dungeons of legend. Not wanting harm to fall upon the unseasoned buffoon, we sent him along his way in a round-about fashion. It would seem as though he found a place amongst these bandits to establish himself among the adventurers he dreamed of. I do not quite understand Maggie’s reaction to his newfound profession, for though it is not the safest or “legendary” as he would apparently like it to be, it was his choice to be made.

"Strangest of all, Maggie has decided to allow Hank to travel with us, claiming to know a place in which he will find an adventuring company through which to link up. Salvaza’s reaction later would mirror my own, not quite understanding why we invited a stranger into the growing danger of our apparent destiny. Although the idea of Hank attending our travel did not sit well with me, he claimed that one of this group’s scouts had noticed a lone traveler which matched Rafezzi’s description some days ago. This could point us in the right track to where he was going, though at this point, I saw chasing after him somewhat pointless.

"Although the butt of the joke in our introduction to Hank, he was soon mocked by everyone. While staying with the bandits, he had performed medial tasks in exchange for a piece of the action, training, if one could boast it as such, and what appeared to be substandard equipment. In his quiver were six rather warped and poorly crafted arrows, to which the response of the group was to laugh and chide him. Maggie’s manner of handling his insistence that these crooked arrows was to snap one of his preciously held weapons and hand it back to him, claiming that magical arrows could not be broken. Although I think she is even less knowledgeable of magical arts than I, her approach did not seem very conductive to persuading him to accept assistance from the lot of us. I, for one, did not want an encounter during our travels to end with one of his crooked arrows flying astray and into my back.

"My attempt to calm his fervor for his magical arrows was to lead him aside, explaining to him my best understanding of magical weapons, which was this – as time wears on the weapon’s enchantment, the subtleties of the magic wear away, giving away its true properties. In the case of these arrows, their ability to shoot around corners was shown in their shafts twisting slightly. To reinvigorate these arrows, he would need to saturate the wood with the healing properties of a moss found outside of our camp that night. After being properly treated, the arrows would straighten themselves to conceal their magic once again.

"My plan was put into motion with the assistance of Theo’s cooking, mixing in some herbs to help sedate Hank while he slept. After he was fast asleep, I simply switched out his arrows with some borrowed from Maggie’s quiver. To emphasize the change in the arrows to their true, whole state, I retied the bit of torn cloth which held the two sections of the broken arrow together around another whole arrow. With luck, this will silence the uproar of attacks on the young man’s beliefs.

"As the camp awoke this morning, half of the group had fallen ill. Gunter, Hank, Roxanne and Theo had all been taken by some malady, likely tainted meat picked up along our travels. I believed it would pass in a day or two, but Gunter seemed to be affected far worse than the others. While he is a sturdy enough fellow that I think he would pull through even on the road, I make it known to the others that it could be dangerous to him to do so, and we turned back towards Gefechtsburg, which we passed yesterday. We had originally wanted to ignore civilization until we reached Eisenstaad, in hopes of limiting Salvaza’s exposure here. It would appear that was impossible now.

"After securing ourselves an inn in town, I sat out on my own for a couple of hours. My intent was this – to find a metal worker talented and perhaps cheap enough, to create a facsimile of the lead coronet so that, in the direst of circumstances, Salvaza or someone else who might have an interest in the item might steal it away from us. If this should happen, they would steal the false crown and be well upon their way before realizing the mistake. In the case of this being Salvaza, her own treachery against me would prove her downfall, as I am sure that if she were to return with a fake, she would meet an unpleasant end. Were this to happen, I would not be responsible for her poor decision.

"The quote I received was three-hundred silver, far more than I had hoped to pay from the party’s funds for my ruse. Though, in the end, I would have gladly paid more with the hopes of protecting the “First Piece.” Before I would commit three hundred coins to this venture, however, I wanted to try bargaining with the man. However, my skills are lacking in these dealings, so I called in a favor owed to me by Quinn. I had kept his secret meeting with his informant in a past situation, and his deception to the group on that meeting a secret, and in turn, he would do the same for me in this. I brought him to the metal worker, where he managed to talk the man down some two hundred coin. However, this would require using one of our emeralds, found amidst the remains of the possible wooden coronet. I gave him the money from Gunter’s pack and handed it and one of the other coronets (* Sorry about the mix-up during the game – I thought Quinn had one of the coronets, but apparently Roxanne had them all – is it safe to assume that in her rough condition, while going in and out of her room, Niccolo could have snatched one from her things without her having noticed?) to use as a pattern, and sent him off to have it replicated. This would work well within our time frame, since Gunter looked to be off his feet for another few days.

"During our stay, I am surprised to find that Salvaza complies with staying indoors. Unless she’s been slipping out without me knowing, which I suppose is a possibility, she has remained so silent as I commonly forget to check in on her. I hope this will remain a constant until we can provide her with the evidence she seeks. The Fell King as an ally in our endeavor would far surpass any in this land we could convince to assist us.

"This morning everyone, save Gunter, was feeling much better. Still slow to move, they seemed to have shrugged off the worst of the resulting illness. I checked in on him again, bringing him another bowl of thin broth to sustain him, before Salvaza and I headed out into the streets to find more suitable clothes for our travels ahead.

"Although I had grown accustomed to the rather plain travel clothing worn outside of Thesh court, having been more a part of the normal world in my travels with Umberto and part of living amidst the people of Valduran in my role as reclusive physic to the surrounding people, though Salvaza was irritated in the substandard clothing we could afford at the moment. After finding her suitable attire, I found miscellaneous clothes for myself, including a broad-brimmed hat, which would later work into my disguising scheme.

"The rest of the day passed uneventfully, Salvaza remaining in her room while the rest of us settled in the taproom for dinner. At this time, four dwarves entered, addressing our table, but focusing on ‘Magdalena.’ We were summoned by the ruling dwarf of the area to attend him for reasons unexplained by the dwarves present. After some discussion, we thought it best that Gunter stay behind, and Theo stayed to look after him – a notable decision, really, as a half-orc likely would raise some thick, mop-like dwarven brows in their own halls. I was surprised, however, that he allowed Quinn to go somewhere without him. I’ll accept this as being more trusting of the group to protect him.

"We rode within a dwarven war-wagon, fashioned curiously different from other dwarven transports I had seen before. This would be an excellent example of the assimilation of the dwarven and human cultures we would be exposed to in these lands. This was also prevalent in the design and maintenance of the halls we would pass through on the way to meet this ruling dwarf. The squat nature of the keep seemed more human in design to me than the grandiose buildings of the dwarfs I had seen so far. We were informed as what to expect with our meeting by one Wilhelm Rath, I believe his name was, who briefly instructed us in dwarven policy and etiquette. The dwarf himself, the Herzog Kormar Goldenthrone (they’re always ‘insert metal’ – something, usually supplemented with a loud noise or dramatic appeal) seemed unsure of his gruffness in accordance to human interaction, which I suppose is something of a compliment to both us and the humans of the area under his control.

"The Herzog asked us of our investigation into the death of Geldamar, the strangeness of the towns, such as that of the poisoned well, and the threat to the nation by the advancing armies of Thet. This was a reminder to all of us of our original purpose, to which it would seem we had been apart from for quite a while, considering our preoccupation with exploring the mage hold earlier.

"It was during this conversation which I believe Roxanne again tried too hard to make herself useful. I can understand that she is dead weight for most everything the group has accomplished and that she would feel this uselessness as a just burden, but flaunting your nature as a whore seemed a bit out of place amongst the seemingly prude dwarven court here. She believes we should have The Rose be our conduit for information from the dwarves because of its policies of keeping ‘secrets.’ Though the dwarf seemed stoic about the idea, I could see where anyone may have been insulted by the suggestion. I also expressed my voice against it, as I feel the place would be insecure for information pertaining to our quest, as it is a matter of utter secrecy not only for our safety, the safety of those keeping this information until we arrived and parted, but also vital to both kingdoms to which it was connected. Such a place used for the exchange and bartering of secrets I feel would just be waiting to hand over whatever information passed onto them by whatever source.

"The dwarves seemed capable of accepting our silence on the finer details of our quest so far, though with the arrival of Gunter and Maggie’s incompetence at allowing something to stay unsaid, a great deal of detail was allowed to slip into people outside of our circle. My opinions on our quest remain my own alone, apparently, as it would seem the others will share dangerous tales and information of our accomplishments and support of our intentions to damn near anyone.

"The dwarf did say he would look into the mages’ intervention with our investigation, though it is unlikely that his power will reach into the mage guilds. I think their issues stem from the same cauldron as Rafezzi’s arrogance. Quite simply, the see us as having been inexperienced and out of our element. For one, I can not blame them, and as long as they do not actively stand in our way of progress, I care little for what they think.

"I have retrieved the false coronet, making a very minute mark in its inside edge that I can distinguish them apart if needs be, and had the true coronet sealed within the edge of my hat. Once in a while, I make sure the others note it still being in my pack, especially Salvaza. She has yet to make a move, and we are getting further and further from Thet. Perhaps I can trust her for a while longer.

"In reaching Kruezung we were stopped at the gates by a suspiciously acting guardsman. His style of wasting our time was evidence enough of something conspicuous going on, but the guard charging away from the tower was reason enough to force our way past him. We tried skirting the town the best we could, but before reaching a safe point we were approached by armored horsemen, and surrounded by archers along the walls. Luckily, they seemed to care little about Salvaza’s retreat away from them, as Maggie first suspected them being after her, though I could not think of why – she had been very careful in our travel together so far and no one could really notice her nationality by a passing glance.

"We were taken for questioning in a series of murders which followed in our last stay here. Put into cells, we waited for a dwarven investigation team to arrive. During this time, Roxanne got very vocal, almost to the point of there having been a third murder in this unsolved series.

"The details of the murders were gruesome, though I felt that they could have been leaving out crucial details by not allowing us to see what remained of the victims after being found. Each corpse had their flesh flayed from their neck up, and in the case of the man who accompanied Alexander out of town, he had been stabbed with a long blade, seemingly poisoned. What could likely be Alexander’s horse, its spine had been severed, and it too poisoned.

"The second victim of this murderer was a mage guildswoman of the Iron Band, which I believe was connected to Rafezzi’s questioning involving our joke with Hank at the bar. While only Rafezzi and people involved with his questioning that night have absolute evidence of this, it seems a logical leap. While our apparent connection with these two people is not concrete, it certainly connects us with these murders, though does not incriminate us to their deaths.

"The third victim was revealed to be the informant, Hector, that Quinn spoke with and tried so hard to conceal from the rest of the group. At this point it was rather evident that our group was the sole connecting link between the three victims.

"Perhaps strangest to me, was the priest’s reaction to the speaking gentleman’s informing us to all of the details. I can understand the need for keeping some of the more gory details from the commoners, or the incriminating details aside until the criminals have been apprehended, but with others involved in the investigation of a similar nature, they were hesitant to give forth what they knew entirely. A last detail was that the hoof prints from, what is assumed to be, the assassin’s horse were scorched into the ground. These prints mysteriously disappear after being tracked for some distance. Given the supernatural possibilities of this, it could be that the mage guilds are somehow involved. Perhaps this is why they are so uncaring as to whether we succeed or not.

"The group decided that it would seem as if someone was eliminating those people in town which had an affiliation with us, and it would not seem unbelievable to assume that it could be the same in the other towns previous to this one. We set the guards to retrieve our horses that we could be on our way more quickly. I asked the guard there to grant us

"It was then that another disagreement erupted amongst us. While I agree, speed was an issue, the killer of these people had weeks of travel ahead of us. It was very likely that getting there a day sooner would help us in any way. After some discussion, and the “loss” of an emerald to use as payment, it was decided with my abstaining from the rest of the arrangement of travel. Gunter divided the gold bar into half, offering it as payment for a whole herd of horses to help us travel that much faster. After they were gathered, we set off, collecting Salvaza along the way out of town. She revealed to us that similar murders had been discovered in Thet, since the Manslayer’s arrival. I hope that perhaps in investigating this coincidence in both nations we might discover something for Salvaza to take home as proof of the Manslayer’s involvement and its dangers towards Thet as well.

"We stopped briefly in the inn between Eisenstaad and Bilesburg, for I wanted to see if trouble had followed our path through here, having stayed for several days, though the others seemed slightly miffed that I wanted to stop at all. Salvaza followed me in, and the place seemed as dismal as ever. The bartender informed me that the previous bartender here had been murdered in a similar fashion to the growing trend discovered by our retracing of our steps. We hurried off to Eisenstaad, though I believe we will be unable to prevent these things from continuing.

"When arriving in Eisenstaad, we quickly questioned the guards at the gate, who informed us of another murder bearing the same circumstances as those on our previous ride back through the lands here. A whore, someone who Roxanne claims to have had a conversation with during our stay here, was found dead, her face flayed as the others. However, this only happened two days ago, which could mean that the murderer was still in town, perhaps still lurking and finishing up its rounds.

"Salvaza and Roxanne accompanied me to Gaela’s residence, Quinn and Theo went off to check on other affiliations of theirs and the rest of the group went to rouse the guard to the possibility of the murderer still in the town. As we entered Gaela’s home, there was a strange scent in the air, damp and out of place, and were greeted by a huddled, thick-clothed man who insisted that Gaela was busy. I ignored him at first, believing him to be a street savage, perhaps sharing intoxicants with Mistress Gaela, moving past him to confront Gaela about the possible dangers ahead. It was then that the man drew forth his staff and nearly toppled me to the ground with a strike to my legs.

"Needless to say, I was miffed. Hitting someone with a stick is simply asking to be put down, but I held my blade and directed Salvaza to do the same, though she seemed confused by my expression to do so. The man, who would introduce himself as Xorin, claimed I had been rude, and apparently needed a good sticking. This would be further emphasized when a large tree, explained to me later to be a ‘Dark Treant,’ would tear through the roof and give the three of us a threatening scowl. It would seem the dwarves’ dislike of wood was founded on good intentions.

"After some deal of negotiations, I managed to talk Xorin into allowing me to see her, for a brief moment, to determine her scale of health. He would not allow the others to accompany me, and I admit, at this point I still thought he could be of little danger, separated from sticks of course. I was escorted into Gaela’s garden, which I am assured, is no longer her garden at all.

"Xorin had done a bit of remodeling, as he put it, though it was obvious that the enchanted tree waiting for us through a hole in the wall wasn’t the only plant under this man’s command. It would seem as if a swamp bog had seeped in through the ground and overtaken the area. It pulsed with life, and it even seemed as though the plants themselves were twitching and writhing at his passage, though I am unsure their ‘intent’ as it may have been malice they showed towards him.

"Across the garden, Gaela sat in a most abominable state. She was under the influence of numerous drugs, perhaps brought to her by this Xorin. As I sidled up to her, kneeling down to check for signs of life, Xorin crept about behind me, pacing always out of the corner of my eye and keeping me distracted. She appeared to me faint of life, though before I left, seemed almost conscious.

"As I tried to arrange it for her to ask me for assistance, that I had good reason to carry her from this place, she was just as easily persuaded by Xorin to stay, having some sort of errand to perform together at some point. With this, I grew suspicious, having already some idea that this man could have had the power to kill those people along his way here, but that this appointment could simply infer to her upcoming death as well. I tried reasoning with Xorin, trying to encourage him to allow me to come back and take better care of her, but he assured me she would be fine.

"It was then that things took a turn for the worse. Gaela piped up, speaking of the guards arriving soon. I had hoped they would storm in at any moment and occupy this freak long enough for me to remove Gaela from the garden, but the man’s threats seemed real enough, of me not leaving the garden alive. I tried to change the conversation to mean that her words spoke of ‘his’ guards, the trees along the outside he mentioned, though he did not seem convinced. While he watched over my care of Gaela, I entertained the idea of what he needed her for. If indeed he is responsible for the murders, why had he not killed her yet? Was this all necessary for some sort of ritual purpose? Were all of these killings part of some larger plan, and if so, what would happen should I end her life before he was given the chance?

"I was again escorted through the garden, where we paused for a moment before I rejoined the others. Xorin informed me that if I were not successful in keeping the guards away from here, that I would “be the first against the wall.” With a force of these Dark Treants and an aching leg, I felt obliged to try to help with his predicament.

"The guard waited for me as I returned, and after a brief discussion, they seemed to disbelieve much of what we claimed. The tree certainly seemed normal enough, and a little old man was unlikely a threat to a troop of soldiers. They waited patiently for the arrival of the priests and mages also summoned. Meanwhile, strange sounds played from within the garden, sounding like the twisting of wood similar to when the Treant came upon us. I was reminded at this time of my limp and took a short moment to dress the deep bruising across the side of my knee.

"The Malachite League arrived, immediately taking their place as the directors of everyone around them. The mages detected magic from the strange, dead tree looming through a hole in the wall and set out to eliminate it as a threat. One of their number, surprisingly a heavily armored man, moved to the orders of the Headmaster, approaching the tree with his sword aflame. He and the guards attacked it until it sprung into motion, smashing one of the guards away but in the end succumbing to their assault. I returned to check on the downed guard only to find him beyond help. I was surprised that only one of them fell to the Treant.

"After dispatching the tree creature, the mass now assembled was ordered to invade the main garden, though I felt uneasy about charging into the middle of this somewhat animated swamp. When I returned into the garden, Xorin and Gaela were nowhere to be found. In their place was a large, thick oak, recently sprung into existence amidst the center of the garden. The All Knowing magus tried to scry on the Mistress, but found her to be unavailable to his visions. With that, he ordered the tree cut down – another idea I can say I did not agree with. The guards worked and the tree fell, I believe with our hopes of finding a connection of where this strange tree might have taken them. The magus again tried finding her, though this time he witnessed what we have feared throughout the travel’s entirety. What we believe is the Manslayer now had Gaela, and again broke the laws governing magic by viewing back through the wizard’s scrying glass. He recovered swiftly from his mistake, but it was evident that this had shaken him.

"At this point, Maggie and the mage had words. She expressed, quite violently, her opinion which was countered by the mage’s more rational, logical disagreement. His claims of opposing her are not as hollow as I believe she thinks them to be. Trying to draw attention from Maggie and utilize this mage’s final days after having drawn the attention of Manslayer, I offered a formal report to him to address the details of our travels thus far, that he could determine what importance it would lend to him without having to deal with us face-to-face. Although he seemed a detestable sort, it was better to have him prepared for what was coming for him, and hopefully expose some new leads for us as well.

"We will rest again tonight, hopefully uninterrupted for the first time in what seems like months. I suspect we head back further along our path’s beginnings, securing our starting point, for I know Roxanne and Maggie have concerns of their ‘family’ there. I would also like to retreat into my tower for some time to review what has happened so far and to try to look through what we know so far, in hopes of finding something we have missed."

Game Eight

June 1, 2002

"We met outside of the Rose, tension still evident in the group from the occurrences over the past couple of months. Though Quinn had made it back, it would seem that Rafezzi wanted to remain wherever he had holed himself up the past weeks after his ordeal with the group’s response to his liaison with Simone.

"As we traveled, we caught Gunter up on what he had missed during his trials among his people and the Order, and his response that he did not want Rafezzi to come back at all. I, on the other hand, would love to have him come around for a night or two, especially if he were to bring us our money. Let it be written that I am not a greedy man, though I wish to be rewarded for my accomplishments, particularly since the road ahead is to be a long one, and not cheap.

"Quinn and Morak pulled me aside for a moment, wanting to speak with me about the insecurity of The Rose. Through their infinite number of informants, it had come into their hands that The Rose was under the ownership of Naderans, a country known for its precision in information handling, and was offering information of Valderan to its neighboring enemies, of course primarily in their minds, Thet. While I understand that there were likely spies throughout the countryside, and understanding that information makes its way across all borders eventually, I truly am only concerned with the details of our travels and our quest reaching Manslayer.

"The three of us agreed that it was unlikely that Roxanne was privy to this sort of information, though represented a serious security leak from our party. Her casual tales of our accomplishments could have marked the murders along our trail away from here previously, and certainly the funneling of information through The Rose to reach us simply sets up a net from which to snare from us what we think is secure and private.

"We decided to track down Hector and have him send his messages through another route from now on, as not to have the truth of his being alive known to the world just yet. We have considered using my tower as a place from which to leave packages from our informants, and though Simone is not completely trustworthy, I feel safer with someone wanted in this land with few places to run than in a whorehouse full of foreign spies.

"I shall stay in my tower tonight, making final preparations for our departure and seeing to my final mail before I leave in the morning.

"Last night was an interesting one. Simone, after the others had fallen to sleep, brought wine to my room, wanting to sit a while and talk before bed. Through short stints of small talk, I learned a little more about her whenever the conversation ran into matters with more substance. It was good to speak with someone who seemed to care little that I and my sister were from a neighboring nation at war with this one, though I expect she rarely meets another who is unshaken by her profession of killing. She grew up on the streets, while I was tucked away with my parents or gallivanting around with Umberto. She seemed somewhat impressed by Salvazia and my abilities to sneak up on her when we first arrived here to find her. Though I said little more about it, coming from an assassin of her self-proclaimed worth, I felt somewhat bolstered by the claim.

"To end the night, I offered her to share my room, “as not to bother the others downstairs,” of course. I was somewhat surprised when it was a very non-sexual encounter, rather than a simple night of closeness. It seemed almost too innocent a moment for either of us.

"Saying our goodbyes I once again left her in charge of the tower, joining the group on our way to Eisenstaad again.

"On our arrival, we went to the Flying Stag where we decided to stay on business in town. On our way through, one of Roxanne’s friends seemed a bit paler than I remembered. I pardoned myself from the table for a moment to speak with her, though it appears there is little anyone could do for her at this point. It appears through <the proverbial deep dickin’> that she had been exposed to syphilis, which was setting in quickly it would seem. Though she was beyond my care, I offered her some herbs which might ease the discomfort she would expect while infected.

"I spoke with Quinn in short about staying elsewhere other than the inn. I had a small, growing sense of paranoia about staying in public places while our secrecy is compromised. Once again, through his connections, it would seem he always had a haven to turn to when in need. Unfortunately, it seemed he had little ‘room’ to share, so I allowed the matter to drop, though in the future I hope he may find a ‘larger room.’

"The next morning, we negotiated for the sale of some of our spare horses, of which I still believe were a bad investment to begin with. Quinn was immediately the one we chose to represent us in the field for bartering, perhaps due to his ability with people over a group made up of misanthropes, a hooker and a dwarf. I believe he was somewhat successful, and we kept one of the spare war-horses for Salvazia, who managed a small amount of thanks at the gift.

"Upon returning to the inn, I changed into my seldom worn finest, getting Gunter to join me on a trip to the wizards’ school. I was curious of a couple of things, one of which being my report left behind for Winthrope to peruse, and the second being on whether or not they could help us track down Rafezzi. Surprisingly, we were well received, to the point of a hurried acceptance into Winthrope’s office and a pleasant exchange with the wizard himself. It would seem that perhaps Rafezzi’s fame extended to his companions, though I owe a small part of it to my poise and dress.

"He could not answer for Rafezzi’s disappearance, or where he might have kept our money, so we traveled back to the inn, to change into something less constricting. Shortly after our arrival, Roxanne faced the city guard, placed under arrest for her suspected association with Naderan spies. I had a guess as to who charged her with this, but I wanted to go along myself, in case she bungled up something or managed to blurt out the more sensitive nationality of two members of our group. This was likely the dumbest idea of mine yet.

"In short, several mages, those of the Iron Band, questioned her on her affiliation with spies thought to be filtering information from the surrounding lands and into Thet. Though tense, they seemed to focus on her contact with Nadera rather than Thet, lest I be strung out in their court before I could have moved to stand. She was found innocent, but this brought to my attention just how sloppy we had been with covering our tracks and how public a great deal of our information had been through our travels. I will have to suggest a more stern cover as we travel, perhaps even using aliases to impede anyone following us so easily.

"Later, Gunter took the dwarven artifacts, along with some other trinkets, to the antiquarian seen earlier by Roxanne and Rafezzi. In place of the gold and silver promised, he offered us an exchange of a magical bag, which could carry much more than its size or weight would expose. I agree this is a clever item to have along with us, benefiting both ourselves and this grizzled wizard, but at the moment we were in need of hard currency for the beginnings of our trip, and Rafezzi had yet to deliver our share of the wealth. The trade was made, with a small loan thrown in to be taken out of our later returns, and I was offered some of the group’s silver to replenish my equipment before leaving the area completely.

"Before we could leave, Maggie wished to speak with the Herzog, which as far as I was concerned was unnecessary. It prevented us from leaving early and not only gave us nothing of use, but further spread about the details of our current goals and suspicions that information was being leaked. I believe it better for us to move quickly at this point, without interaction from people unless necessary.

"On the road to Futterschard, I advised Quinn and Morak not to say anything to Roxanne, as I believed it would cause quite a stir within this suspected spy network, a stir that might end violently for either her or us. They went against my advisement and continued with their plan, carried by their bedamned consciences. Her reaction was as expected, not pleasant, dismissed as false, and further decayed the morale of the group to the point of breaking. Roxanne strayed from the road and into the riverside to carry out some time-consuming ritual to slow us down further.

"Everyone decided to wait for her, of course, patiently allowing her tantrum to take up a significant part of the afternoon. I wanted to ride ahead of them, trying to reach Simone before the rest of them met at The Rose so that I could see if she knew anything about these spies, but they seemed not to want the group to split up any further.

"At this point, the seams of the party burst, with sarcasm, secrets and mockery drowned our dependency on one another. Before leaving, Roxanne and Quinn debate about the name Kane Brannock, who is apparently an untrustworthy figure that Roxanne threw out in hopes of disarming Quinn and Morak’s ploy at secrecy. Yet another time I wanted to backhand her off of her horse, simply based on her expression and tone of her voice.

"At this point, she wanders off to pout, drowning her sorrows in a river just as I had wanted to do the same to her.

"After a badgering from Maggie and Gunter, Quinn explodes into exposing whatever secrets he can come up with the tilt the scales back into balance. He was apparently created by a wizard, named Tam, which exposed part of his prophetic lines to the group. Morak was sent and trained specifically to guard him in his travels, showing his importance to the mages.

"Salvazia assured the group that she still wants their deaths at her hands, which was comforting, at least to me, that she wasn’t growing too tired of assisting me here.

"Maggie ranted about this and that, but I didn’t pick up on much of it. It made her sound like an adolescent.

"Gunter and I remained silent. Perhaps for the same reason, of not wanting to share what is not important to the group at the moment, or simply because Gunter has nothing to hide, which I find even more suspicious than keeping one’s own secrets.

"Our waiting was rewarded with the reappearance of her Highness, the sponge. We remounted our horses and set back off. Once arriving, I set off to my tower as Roxanne went into the temple for the night to pray.

"I spoke with Simone briefly, who surprisingly offered her help in the matter. I feel by this point that we have had enough problems with people assisting us and being killed, and in her precarious position in this land, I decided, however valuable her help may be, to not enlist it at this point. She cared little for the more treacherously known nationalities being sprinkled across the land, and the spies had provided her with information before, just as they had provided for countless others. I agree with her that little can be done to stop someone so charged with their mission as to integrate themselves with the surrounding people to the extent that they have, and if this is indeed a hub for a spy conveyer of information, attacking them outright will likely end poorly for only us. Before heading back, she and I settle for a short drink, calming my nerves before a flicker of an urge to expel Roxanne from the group entirely crosses my mind with any real seriousness.

"Upon arriving back at the temple, the others still waited outside like trained dogs. The guard had approached, informing them that loitering, despite having a good reason, was illegal, and since no one else was making a move, I walked into the temple to leave a message for the priest to alert Roxanne when she was finished, and to meet us before she made any other actions. I had hoped that she would listen out of respect for the group rather than behave like a child with hurt feelings and go against us out of spite. Salvazia and I returned home for some rest, awaiting the return of the group for us to restock and finally leave this town for an extended period of time. Some headway towards our goals would do us all some good, I believe.

"Roxanne seems convinced by her people that they are in no way allied with the Naderans. But I simply must point out that spies would likely never reveal themselves to anyone, particularly some street urchin they took in so many years ago. If ties among these people are as strong as the stories say, then no wonder she was told such rather than a darker truth, if in fact it is the truth. At this point, I cannot see the Naderans being a problem of ours other than what Quinn, Morak and I spoke of – in that we had been filtering information through The Rose about our quests. As long as word of our movements was removed from the establishment, I could care less how the brokers pull in money for what they know. I cannot see us ridding this area of them to any real degree, and I do not believe it relevant to what we are supposed to be doing.

"We stopped in with Maggie’s grandfather once again, and in gather silver between myself, Salvazia and the others, I purchased a pair of swords and a mail shirt I had eyed for my time spent here. He had already sat it aside, which made me wonder again at the strange relationship between the old timer and me. His particular fondness of me was puzzling, though I accepted it readily, for he seemed a staunch ally to have rather than to be ignored like most of the world.

"Strapping on my equipment, we took a short dinner break and finally, it appears, we can set off again – tense, distrustful of one another, words strained and priestess soggy. Three months and we were in worse shape than when we had arrived needing rest."

Game Nine

June 15, 2002

"We disembarked from Maggie’s grandfather’s ‘inn’ this morning, heading off through Futterschard towards another rendezvous in Eisenstaad. I’m not sure how this lead into the land of the hobbits will assist us in finding more about Manslayer or the death of Geldamar, but we seem to have few other leads at this point.

"Tensions still run high – the entire lot of us seems quiet and brooding, not much like the somewhat merry trips when we first started. I stay here in the tower tonight, finishing up affairs which don’t really need my attention at this point. Simone has informed me that Rafezzi has made amends in the best manner that he could be asked, that of paying her a somewhat deflated amount of what she originally asked. She also let him go, I believe, in the hopes of him one day actually ascending to the throne, and her not being far away when it happens. I can only assume she means to have a more fortuitous payday by his gain in status.

"Spoke with Salvazia this morning before we left the tower. I wanted her to know that Simone had paid Rafezzi off and that any vengeance she might have left in her towards him would likely be better directed were she to have personal reason rather than to simply finish what Simone never started. Though, I must admit, was she ever to need cover for killing him, it would be simple to concoct any number of stories to explain his demise. Being a Crown Prince is a risky affair when so far away from one’s entourage. At this point I think Rafezzi may simply be using us as a bodyguard service until he can find another way home. Salvazia still seems intent on ending his life, but for the moment, I need my coin back and his life means little to me either way.

"Traveling past the Inn at the Crossroads, outside of Eisenstaad, we ran across a series of three wagons, merchants selling weapons. Before even having a chance at small talk, Rafezzi decided to appear in all of his magical glory. His reception was a chilly one, with not even Roxanne moving too quickly to greet him. People bristled at his approach, yet everyone remained silent. I have let everyone know that I could care less about his attending us in our travels. I, for one, though never to admit it aloud, would like to be present for when the world catches onto his lucky stumble from bad decision to bad decision. I have no reason to harm him myself, but I will not stand in the way as I would, for example for Quinn, were he in danger.

"Funny that – sticking up for an immortal boy before saving the life of a decidedly mortal Crown Prince. He claims to have our money with him, but I didn’t ask to see it – I’m trying this strategy of trusting those in the group, and by expressing this trust, hopefully rebuilding it towards myself. Of course, as I turn around after speaking to him about the money, everyone looks at me in shock as having not wanting to see the silver expressly. This is why I live in a tower alone.

"Just earlier tonight, Rafezzi and Roxanne were off trying to tidy up their relationship, I suppose. Not wanting to be too trusting all at once, I signaled Quinn to assist me in checking up on their activities – a potential spy in our midst with the obviously untrustworthy wizard with the ability to teleport himself away at will and scry on our conversations from afar. Quinn, of course, managed to foul things up a bit, catching their attention with an unlucky step. After they shouted out, I broke to one side, hoping Quinn would do the same, yet he charged right ahead after waiting a moment, managing to catch their suspicions. At least my misdirection displaced me, even after Salvazia tried covering for me by accepting blame. We leave them in peace to do whatever it is they do when they think no one is watching.

"This sparks a debate on trust within the group from the others. In short, it was long and unnecessarily complicated. They know where I stand; at least, in trusting them to do what they consider appropriate to the law they follow so strictly here, even if that means protecting Salvazia and I while we travel together.

"Salvazia’s complaints of me losing myself to the Adan are obviously barbed in an attempt to get me to leave with her for home, but I can’t help to think there’s a growing amount of sense in this. This quest is going nowhere. I’ve promised her that she will not go home empty handed, if it takes me arriving in court alongside her.

"Managed to get a couple of hours of sleep at least. Roxanne brought to my attention that Rafezzi had yet to catch word that Salvazia and I are citizens of Thet, Salvazia in particular being an officer in its army. Out of decency, and to avoid future complications among the group members saying we were hiding things, I believe it appropriate to tell him of our origins. Salvazia agreed, though for darker reasons. I suspect she wants him to know, for one to instill fear in him, and for two, in hopes he might try something in betrayal, to set up his own fall and keep her in the clear. We decide to take care of this first thing in the morning, but Salvazia has another question she wishes to address.

"We woke Maggie, hoping to set up a proper reaction to a possible situation involving Rafezzi’s use of magic towards members of the traveling party. Salvazia, and at this point, likely everyone in the party, is suspicious of Rafezzi’s magics, especially if they can control someone’s mind to an extent that the person cannot completely answer on their own. She hoped Maggie would understand that if something of the same that was used against Simone were tried against her, she would retaliate with violence. Maggie seemed to understand, but openly suspects that Salvazia may try to stage a situation for this to occur. Maggie believes it is best that if this were to happen, that the proper authorities were contacted. She is obviously under the assumption that people of his diplomatic clout are affected by the law.

"This broke into several paths of conversation. The first being an issue of trust and how the group needed something to bring it back together. Rafezzi is obviously a destabilizing factor, but I believe he can be dealt with at a moment’s notice, so I worried little about keeping him in the group. This leads to another subject, dealing with the magical items acquired from Geldamar’s body in his death. Rafezzi had kept them under his own protection thus far, and had been the only one to utilize them. Understandably so, in my opinion, because to this point, he had been the only one capable of unlocking their abilities. However, if in the future, these items, which were obviously property of the party, were to be dispersed, or Rafezzi were to go his own way, then the secrets should be shared with the others of the group, primarily the other mages. Lastly, they questioned my neutrality in the issue of Rafezzi’s companionship. I have little to explain to them of my personal affairs, but Salvazia’s pressuring is beginning to bother me.

"Maggie and Salvazia both agree that the group needs direction, leadership and a driving force to keep everyone together. Of course, Salvazia would like for me to take this sensitive position, and perhaps I am best suited by way of trust within the group of dealing with this matter, but I will have to give it some consideration, as even I am unsure what course of action we should take next.

"Tomorrow morning I will question Rafezzi about the ring, handling it in someway, I hope, that will not make it look too suspicious. Then, if the group as a whole can find their way to Geldamar’s sanctuary, I will announce there that Salvazia and I are from Thet. For now, that is the best start I can come up with.

"Before setting off, I brought up the tower and Geldamar’s possessions to the group, explaining to Rafezzi that it could be used to benefit us all if we were in trouble and needed a fast escape. We have decided to perform experiments along the road. I volunteered to be the first traveler Rafezzi takes with him, considering telling him alone in the tower about my heritage. Later, I remembered that Salvazia would never let me live it down were she not there to join in.

"We arrived in a library, dizzy but unharmed. The books around us look to have been sorted through already, to which Rafezzi admitted to, but one collection of texts caught my eye. Some of the books of anatomy and vivisection made me dizzier than the teleportation itself. These were tomes long thought lost to me and many of my contemporaries, the number of which still exist in the world being too few to bother counting. I dared not even take most of them from the shelves they sat on, and I dare not explain to Rafezzi what I truly thought they were worth. They might be the next target in a series of attempts to gain gold for his father’s coffers.

"I borrowed one book, which I believe to be a more modestly priced book I have yet to read, to take with me as a sample and we continued to explore the tower. On the floors above, there was a lab of sorts, alchemical concoctions and tables set up around the room. Just under casual inspection I noticed an assortment of materials I could easily use for medications, or worse. But these things would take time, which I did not have today. But in the future …

"Rafezzi explained that he thinks the tower is set in another dimension. To me, it simply looks isolated. Perhaps the absence of wind and cold from the surrounding mountaintops is simply some sort of magic shielding it from the elements?

"The floor which contained the mirror which Rafezzi says he scries through seemed the most simple of the floors. Below this was a bedroom, around which we found several piles of stone debris, in which were small, cut sapphires. Under inspection these sapphires look remarkably like the cut of stone which Maggie has in place of her eye, which if not mistaken, she says was placed there by Geldamar. I suppose then that these, too, are his former creations.

"We returned to the mirror, for which I am sad to say I had little success in using the way Rafezzi instructed me. Whether he was simply not telling me the truth or I just had no ability to use it, I had to rely on him to get me out of there, which worried me immensely. After some length of time, we arrived back with the group, feeling a bit shaken, but no worse off than before we left.

"Rafezzi claims that carrying someone with him makes the travel more difficult, as it seems to have become second nature to him in the past months. While this does present a problem with carrying multiples of us at once, it still could be used in times of emergency to escape, or even get into more heavily guarded areas unseen.

"We then continued the experiment by having Morak try using the ring, another wizard in the party necessary in case something happened to Rafezzi. After some instruction, he seemed capable of utilizing both the ring and the mirror in the tower. Now we only have to find out if one must be a wizard to use the ring at all.

"After their return, Salvazia and I took Rafezzi aside for a moment, to address him on our nationality. At first, he seemed quite shaken, though I suppose it dawned on him that the rest of the group had lived so far by traveling with us. Were it not for Salvazia purposely complicating the situation by direct attacks on Rafezzi’s confidence in us, it would have gone much smoother, but it was obvious to me that she was goading him into making an action against us in hopes of being able to silence him. I did my best to disarm her words, but I don’t think it had the permanent result I had intended. Though it may come down to his death at some point, I would rather it go without error until then.

"Before joining the rest of the group, we took this time to settle some previous affairs. He questioned why I was granting solace to an admitted assassin, and I explain in the best way possible without incriminating myself further. This just stored more information for him to use against me at some point, and resulted in his knowledge of this being more of a liability. I was both arming him and marking him for death all at once.

"He and Roxanne addressed the party by saying that Rafezzi planned on repenting for the sins of his youth and being baptized by the Betshabans. His sudden grasp onto religion is likely because of his father’s own steadfast grip into their god, and perhaps to better gain acceptance from Roxanne, who already seemed overwhelmed by his return. I am unsure how well accepted this is from most of the group, though it seems that at least Maggie is not the only one unconvinced so far.

"We plan on reaching the next town in a few days time, and once there, we will divide our money, with some of us showing an interest in directing it into merchant guilds, and use some of the coin to find out more about Geldamar’s magical items.

"Once in Kruezung Rafezzi and I, after a stop to clean myself up, made way to his contact here, hoping to receive more information about the items, while others waited so that we could split up the gold and silver appropriately afterwards. He seemed to worry that I might come across too strongly as a noble and cause problems. While I do not think I would have a problem coming up with a convincing story in a pinch, it was enough for him that I had at least an education in direction of nobility and could act the part when necessary. For the time being, I played the role of his servant, which pricked my soul to no end the entire journey.

"The wizard there could perform the tasks needed, but at a steep price. Rafezzi seemed to think that this was quite cheap, so I truly dread the expenses of these wizardly folk. It was no wonder that the Regents could toss money around so freely.

"We would have to return to retrieve the items in several days time. Once reaching outside to inform everyone of this, Quinn shared with everyone that he had a potential step forward in his career. Unfortunately, it would require him staying here for two weeks. A month ago I would not have batted an eye, but after the conversations and dragging of feet along the way here, even Quinn suggesting it made my hackles stand. I decided, for the group, that it best that we keep our situation fluid for the next several days, until we find out if this ring can work the teleportation wonders we hoped it would, then we could travel towards the hobbit-home, allow Quinn his time here in town, and come back for him after his performance was over. Surely I couldn’t suggest him being forced away from participating in something that could advance him as far as he seemed to think this would. We all have lives past this “quest” and I do not want anyone losing their identity as simply part of a prophecy without detail.

"On the way to the inn I purchased a bottle of whiskey and am now well on my way to draining it. I suspect that tomorrow there will be little written, as I will likely be bedridden.

"Upon arrival to the contact once again, he informed us of the powers of the wand and the ring, the second ring Rafezzi seems to think is unworthy checking into for the moment, but I have my suspicions. The command word for the wand seems to be Keltelak, and it apparently discharges some sort of simple, magical attack. The ring, however, seemed to be of great interest to both Rafezzi and the other wizard. It was apparently created by a man called Mordenkainen, supposedly from another dimension or world. They spoke of it being able to recall places, or something to that extent, and that it could even transverse the Barriers which separate the boundaries of the world. Not knowing the exact importance of any of this, I kept quiet and tried not to look too bewildered.

"It appears that we can indeed come back for Quinn and Morak when we need to, so they are left behind and we once again sleep out here in the wilderness while they are, undoubtedly out having a good time. Why do we not use the ring to get us to this place to begin with? I will have to address this at some point in the future. For now, the ride seems long, uneventful and still very, very quiet amongst us.

"The hobbit-home is a waste of our time. I won’t even bore myself with listing the inane details of the place. Holes with doors. That sums it up well. The humans present there claim to have at one point been responsible for connecting this small village with the rest of the civilized world. Unfortunately, the ‘plague’ stopped them. This plague is apparently something that attacks the vines on which the grapes grow, having no effect on the hobbits themselves, only their economy. They, of course, blame the humans, who could only benefit from them not having the plague hit their crop.

"We’ve wasted six days in travel, and now everyone is considering going on ahead to investigate this Way-something or another because of suspected treachery. I cannot begin to understand exactly why Manslayer and Thet would want to sabotage the wine crop here, but I am sure they have very good reasons.

"One small note of interest – these hobbits mentioned druids being able to save their crops. I tried following this up, hoping that it might grant me more information about this person called Xorin, but I found it unhelpful.

"Rafezzi believes, and I was quick to agree, that we should continue on through these rat people and into Oridahl, where he hopes to find Geldamar’s teacher, the diviner. Perhaps there, at least, we can find a real goal to achieve. It will likely take us another week to arrive there, giving Quinn enough time to finish his show before we go back to retrieve him. This stands as another reason why not to allow anyone to kill Rafezzi just yet. I am hoping this lead proves productive, or I fear through boredom alone the group will eventually grow listless, uncooperative and finally disband.

"My only question to myself is if that were to happen, would I stay here, continuing to hide amongst people who will likely one day discover my nationality and react accordingly, or do I return to Thet, Crown in hand to become a hero in the downfall of Adan?"

Game Ten

July 14, 2002

As we gathered this morning to continue our travels, we were once again struck with the absence of Rafezzi. After all of our talk of responsibility, part of which was about the magical items left behind by Geldamar, he’s managed to run off yet again, without a goodbye or a hint that he would leave.

This sparked further debate between the group, and his only real supporter, Roxanne, on whether or not he could be trusted to continue on our quest. Obviously Geldamar saw something in the boy, but I hope that it wasn’t to further be a cause of complication and discord. While I do not have a real say in whether or not he continues with us, reclaiming Geldamar’s possessions from him will limit both his usefulness and his liability. It will also make him more vulnerable into accounting for his own actions, which I hope he will then learn that someday everything catches up with you.

The group has decided to stay and further investigate the plague on the hobbits’ fields. I can see it being a possible plot to discontinue the construction of the road, and in all actuality a clever one. While they visited the “Grand Duke” hobbit, I ventured out into the field to examine the diseased vines. Under closer scrutiny I realized I had encountered this before, back home in my youth. A competing noble poisoned the vines of another noble with a Naderan concoction known as Graperot. This sours the grapes themselves, though disappears after several years in which the vines work to repair themselves. The toxin could have easily been distributed by a single person, taking perhaps four vials of poison and distributed further throughout the field by the rains. The only catch is that this toxin is expensive, hard to come by and only reinforces my worry that this could have been brought about by Thet. I wound up one of the vines and stowed it away for later, though found out later this afternoon that I am not to leave town with it in my possession, and it is a grave crime were I to do so. I consider the possibility of it being overlooked in my part of their trial.

Maggie and the others took time to examine the cast made of the footprint left behind in the rows, now washed away by the rain. She believes it to be made by an armored human male. This further supports what I conclude of the Graperot distribution possibilities. I announce my case to the elder hobbit, though this only works to further bring distrust to the humans and the workers constructing the road from Oridahl. Without being able to prove which nation, if not a specific individual, construction with cease and the support road into Valduran will be incomplete.

Although at this point I greatly wished to leave, the hobbit asked for my participation in their trial of humanity against the hobbits’ vines. I decided to stay only to reinforce the trust of the group in me, as it had been wavering along with everyone else’s connections over our past month of travels. By my presentation of the evidence of Graperot I argue both my loyalty to the group and my “hopes of saving Valduran” while my lack of evidence only condemns humanity in the area. I do not wish to tip the scale one way or another at the moment, so I decide to take my studies into my room at the inn, which I managed to bargain as being free while staying here for their trial. I have proved my worth and now am allowed my well-deserved solitude.

The only accepted human currently in town is a bard from the North, an entertainer with a bond to the little thugs. He claims that they can be righteous warriors, and according to the tales spun in Thet about their defeat when coming into Valduran, I can only guess the stories hold true. I could really care less. It’s not that I dislike hobbits, really. I think everyone should enslave one.

After speaking with the tracker (if he could be called such – he seemed as lazy as I had imagined the whole town to be and as incompetent as twice my expectations) he revealed very little other than what we had already gathered and that the tracks led out of town towards the south, further incriminating Valduran. The rest of the little pecks retort with anti-human commentary and inflammatory accusations. Again, the only reason I stay to help with this whole ordeal is so the rest of the group will stop looking at me as if I’m hiding something.

To make matters worse, for the humans in the area at least, is one of the only human representatives left behind here is a traveling merchant. He’s plotting, unmannered and disinteresting. While I think little (no pun intended) of the hobbits, he seemingly has it in for them. His distaste for them is so strong that he actually seeks out causing problems for them, no matter how trivial.

I spent the majority of the day “studying” in the tavern. When feeling too lethargic, I even challenged Salvazia to a sparring match out of doors, only to have her decline my offer, not wanting to “offend the hobbits.” At first I was surprised by this, but I believe it to be one of two factors involved in her refusal – either she has an appreciation of the hobbits’ combat prowess of legend or, what I truly believe, she believes her fighting style may be noticed as Thesh in origin by the older soldiers of the area and bring attention to the two of us.

The group, without too much protest from myself, believes that the merchant may be involved in the unrest of the poisoning of the vines. While it would fit into a scenario in which the merchant guilds of Valduran would have organized the fall of the hobbit wine trade, it required much evidence before it could be proven. We began to engineer a plan which would allow us to search his room at our leisure this evening. Roxanne seemed the perfect instrument, of course, and as I should have expected, she failed wonderfully. When sent to retrieve information on the room he was staying in, she managed to botch up such a simple inquest that I suppressed an urge to strike her. At this point she couldn’t even whore correctly.

Not knowing how we were to find his room amongst the other patrons’, we waited idly for opportunity to fall in our laps. Which, fortunately for us, particularly her, it did. She managed to inspire a brawl amidst the construction workers and the merchant based on, what would later come out, the merchant himself dabbling in setting the workers at one another. Using the distraction, I hurried up to the rooms above and checked through each one until I found what was certainly the merchant’s room.

I quickly went through his things – several bags, a wardrobe of clothing and finally, his mattress. Amidst the bags, I found a purse of 100 silver coins, which I dumped into my own pouch. Beneath the mattress however, I found a small pouch of seeds, which I could only assume were taken from this town. I pocketed these as well and withdrew from the room.

Hurrying back downstairs, the fighting had only escalated, so at least I felt safe that no one noticed my absence. The workers had brought down the merchant, who seemed unconscious, and had now turned on my compatriots. Maneuvering behind two of them, one working on dislodging a table leg to be used as a weapon, I snatched up two tankards and sent the two of them to the floor while Maggie and Gunter worked on “calming” the others.

After the skirmish was brought under control, I looked over the merchant, who was alive though would not feel so by the next morning. I believe his skull may be broken around the eye socket, and his right hand seems to have been accidentally stepped on, breaking several of his fingers. I offer to take him up to his room, following one of the hobbits up to show me where it was. Roxanne was to follow, for some reason I couldn’t fathom. She has no skills at aiding someone injured and tends to just get in the way. To keep the calm in front of the hobbit, however, I did not protest with her joining me.

After assuring the hobbits that he would live, I asked them to look after him now and then through the night. Such head injuries could take a turn for the worse, though in this case I doubt it. I continued back down where I sought to treat the others’ injuries, primarily the workers and a sling bullet that Gunter caught when he tried leaving the inn. I must admit, to dent his armor and his forehead must have taken a grievous amount of force. I looked after him, though I can’t see what could hurt a dwarf by hitting it in the head. I may have to speak with the hobbits on their tactics against them in the future.

Maggie had arranged the construction crew back into fixing things around the inn, though they still flinched with the bangs of the moving furniture. It appears that the merchant may have been trying to further sabotage relations between the humans and hobbits by instigating this sort of fight in front of them.

After we gathered together again, I showed the seeds to the others, sharing with them my opinion that they were likely from this area and how to best deal with returning them without too much ruckus. We went to the Duke, “giving” him the seeds and trying to negotiate my release from having to explain how I found them (“They must have fallen out of his pocket during the fight”). He claims he is incapable of leaving me anonymous in finding the seeds, giving me yet another story to perform in front of their council in the coming days.

In the morning we will speak with the merchant, hopefully finding out how he got the seeds and his intentions on delaying road construction. His involvement makes me think less and less of Thet’s hand in this matter.

After a conversation on the interrogation of the merchant it dawns on me that no one in the party will be willing to coax information out of him without Roxanne’s seductions (and I had seen how they had failed recently) or Rafezzi’s spells. When we confronted the merchant, a man by the name of Cassidy, while he admitted to his crimes, he refused to step forward in front of the hobbit council. It was at this point that my sibling and I voted for our assistance to bring him to our understanding. Maggie left the room, and Gunter shortly followed suit. As he left, the little fuck merchant took advantage of his dwarven heritage and asked for his protection from me. With a look to me, Gunter swore to him that I would not harm him. Roxanne followed the two of them out and Salvazia took the liberty of blocking the door with a chair before returning to the task at hand.

He seemed adamant at first, not wishing to join our cause for anything, even after I kindly applied medication to his hand to numb the pain of his broken fingers. I had considered applying it to his face as well, as the wound obviously bothered him, but numbing him of all pain may have been counter-productive to what I had in mind. Were he not to have a reference for his pain he might be able to better ignore what was coming.

After another protest of him assisting us, then mentioning that I could not harm him under the protection of the dwarf, Salvazia took her cue perfectly and stepped forward to drive a dagger’s tip through his paralyzed hand. This was more abrupt that I had planned for and had not yet taken the time to gag him so that his yelp wouldn’t resonate through the whole damn inn. To myself I chided her for her impatience, but it did seem to rattle him enough to get him to talk. Before he would testify he would have to talk with the dwarf. I agreed with this, spent a moment repairing her damage to his hand and went out to find Gunter, leaving her behind to watch over him.

Though all of this I wondered why Salvazia was even assisting me, as it seemed as though she may uncover a plot engineered by the people of Thet. I had hoped she would miss this point while being caught up in her role as an instrument of torture. Speaking of this, her methods rely too heavily on shock and drama, and in my opinion caused too much residual damage for this sort of thing. Were it to come out to the hobbits of what we did, we may be exiled for it, but Cassidy would have little to stand on were he to claim I broke his hand, as it were already broken. As I said, Salvazia and I have much to talk about subtlety. My plan had been for her to gag him while I re-broke his already damaged hand, slowly asking him questions about his operation here between the crackle of bones. Although he would feel nothing, I had hoped the sight of his own hand breaking, along with the expected pain to set in as the medication drained away would break his resolve. Had it not, I would have simply moved onto the other hand, after the threat of doing so, of course.

Roxanne waited for me in the hall, claiming to have some sense of morality and that I promised her he would not be harmed. As far as I was concerned, the promise had been held – he hadn’t felt an itch of pain and the information was already flowing like a fountain. Were she more capable as an information gatherer I might not have had to resort to what we did, so I feel that she can only blame herself for my actions.

I went into the street to find Gunter and Maggie, bringing Gunter up to the room where he alone spoke with the merchant. Salvazia waited in the hallway after Roxanne made a fuss. To use a term once placed on me in anger, she will be the second against the wall were things to go afoul. Cassidy wished to deal with Gunter, respecting him as an upholder of the law, and would hand over a pair of shoes which could be worn by a hobbit and used to make human-sized prints through the fields in exchange for his release before the trial. Were he have to made this deal with me, he would have been more apt to have a response than with the dwarf or Maggie in releasing him from the trial, but he never gave me that chance. Surprisingly, Gunter agreed that he was willing to let him go if he could prove that it was one of the hobbits who performed the poisoning of the vines. Everyone was gathered once again and we went to find the shoes.

They were hidden between two communal grain silos, and fit his description perfectly. He claims he had found them while snooping around looking for the seeds. Maggie took them back to the Duke to compare them to the cast while we went back to get the merchant’s belongings and send him on his way before the hobbits, in a mad, three-foot-tall rage decided to exile him, which was exactly what he wanted anyway. It was then that I passed the coin I had taken from the merchant (how many times had he offered it to me as a means to let him escape today?) to Salvazia, my adoring sister, who seeks any opportunity to provoke the ire of the party while keeping me out of trouble.

The shoe apparently fit the cast perfectly, showing the perpetrator to have likely been a hobbit after all. After we sent him on his merry way, scampering for the border, we rejoined with Maggie to find out that they were holding a community meeting at the tavern and all made our way over there. This is where things get particularly wishy-washy.

The blame was to fall on Moody, the tracker, who was rounded up and admitted to poisoning the vines to get revenge for the hobbit marrying some hobbit wench that he apparently had a fancy for. Another complicated issue in the history of the world created by a woman’s involvement. He tries to cast blame from himself, of course, by saying that he received the poison from the merchant, who was sent for, but Gunter sheepishly mentioned that he was making a run for the border (also known in some of the Southern lands as pulling a “Tahko Belle”). With a look to Salvazia the two of us hurried to our horses.

Both Maggie and Roxanne tried keeping up with the two of us, and Roxanne managed for some period of time. Maggie was soon left behind and, though Salvazia was pulling ahead of me quickly, her horse took a dive and she came up, dagger in hand to punish it for its mistake. I stopped by her just long enough to ask her whether or not she wanted to ride with me or if I were to go on alone, but in all honesty, I didn’t want her riding with me at this point. She needed some time alone with her knife. Must be a girl thing. Not long before I caught up with the merchant, who was trying to flee harder than ever, Roxanne also crumpled behind me. I considered stopping, but part of me hoped she had broken her fool neck. I knew the others would understand my decision to continue chasing Cassidy. It was for the good of the hobbits, of course.

After finally catching the little bitch, he drew himself to a stop to speak with me, blubbering his innocence. At this point I wasn’t really in the mood to deal with someone who couldn’t hold themselves together. Though I don’t really recall, I apparently hit him a few times. This came out in the trial where they told me I wasn’t supposed to hit him. I just thought it’s what people do in that sort of situation, you see, it calms them down and focuses them, right? I dragged him along with me after explaining the charges brought against him bringing a new light into the whole investigation.

On our way back to town I collected Roxanne, who was actually hurt pretty badly from the roll. She would heal, but in the meantime, it would hurt. We made it back to the meeting, Salvazia having made it back and claimed she was unharmed enough to go without the attention of her brother, so I rejoined the trial in progress.

In short, being that I dislike describing law and politics, particularly stupid ones, Cassidy was exiled after claiming that he hadn’t given the seeds to Moody, nor had he been in town at the time this supposedly happened, though Moody still claimed he was the human who did it. Moody was to work in the fields he disturbed until they took pity on him. It would likely take a week knowing the softness of the people in this town. They wouldn’t even allow us to take Cassidy’s horse to replace one of the two we lost in his pursuit.

In the end, I volunteered to take him to the border, so that we could speak of things along the way. Roxanne complained about wanting me to stick around and help her with her wounds, but I assured her she would be fine. Part of me considered for an unspeakably short moment how easy it would be to explain to the others that the internal injuries she must have suffered in the fall had caused her death in the middle of the night while Maggie was away, not the “medication” I was serving her in her food over the next couple of days. Maggie being the only other healer in the party which might diagnose me as being the cause of Roxanne’s untimely death would be out of sight, and by the time she returned Roxanne would likely be six feet in the earth. But that was only one unspeakably short moment, you understand. Not a long, thought out caper at all.

We passed through the first border-towns of Oridahl today. I think I have decided to dislike it here. Everything revolves around the expenditure of money, and only their money will do. In passing the gates, we had to pay for admittance, something not too uncommon, but were then given medallions to mark us as “adventurers,” which loosely translated into “charge them more.” Maggie fell prey to the homeless in the streets, passing them some coin and skins from the wagon before we finally managed to escape the greedy people of Karlast.

Tonight we stay at an inn, which cost us far too much simply because I had to make an exchange of our coin into theirs. Paying more for Maggie’s cat seemed like adding insult to injury, but I figured making a fuss over a few coins at this point would be unnecessary. Maybe tomorrow.

The taxes here are astounding. Literally for any activity or item there is an additional fee of simply being a part of said activity or carrying said item. I’m glad I purchased what things I needed in Valduran, that whatever remaining coins we carry can be spent on existing. It was here that we changed some of our previous silver into their minted coins, making it a little easier to manage in this forsaken land of greed. I was also told that we could be reimbursed for our medallions if we didn’t wish to travel as adventurers. This only made me hate the first guard more. And this country. Its towns. Most of its people. Perhaps I need a holiday.

Maggie contributed to the beating of a street-merchant when she purchased his apples from him and brought attention of the guards to his presence as a beggar without a license. We continued on through the streets, bruised apples being distributed to the should-be-slaves which gathered around us when Maggie thought we weren’t looking. Finally, we found a temple district, in which Roxanne felt very proud that she got us in without having to pay. I don’t know why she felt proud – I didn’t plan on praying. Knowing that she claims she’s a priestess only makes me challenge the gods’ sense of sanity further.

We finally made it to the Adventurer’s Guild where we were told we could get lodging that would accept Maggie’s cat. This was where the night became a joke. Not only were we charged five silver a piece, but we had to come up with a name for ourselves. I won’t even begin to explain every twitch I felt at every possibility offered by the group. They finally decided on something and offered it to the gentleman at the desk who also inquired of our leader. I believe it was Roxanne who decided it should be Gunter, thinking she was doing well at noticjng his trustworthiness as a dwarf. Had she really been observant, she would have noticed that it didn’t seem to matter in this country. I personally don’t see that the group has much of a leader, though allow the dwarf to wear the name for now. As I was once told by an officer in the military back home, the leaders are the most common targets on the battlefield, and who was I to yearn being a target?

After hearing more of their imbecilic laws, this time about ‘adventuring,’ and seeing I had to pay just to spar my own sister, with my own weapons, I talked for a short period of time with a recruitment officer who looked as if he had been chewed up and spit out by something large, with big teeth and claws, then flossed with for good measure. The opportunities seemed phenomenal if one had a dislike for one’s own limbs.

We finally managed to get to the Mage Guild hall this afternoon to see our contact here, if he could be called such at first. Rouskalos offered us a quick entrance, though his reasons for us being there seemed a bit different from what we believed them to be. Apparently Rafezzi had the capability of communicating with him through the medallion which he took from Geldamar’s corpse. He cleared up several matters which only managed to confuse us further. One, we all wanted to beat Rafezzi again – it was an endless ride of ‘beat him, don’t beat him.’ He had further lied to us again. That could be handled, were we ever to find him again. Secondly, he claimed that Gayla was safe back in her home. This would of course come to us only when we were on the other side of the blasted countryside. It raises many questions with me, though, as to why would Manslayer tuck her back into her home after her abduction? Unless she was always truly in league with him and could come and go on her own wishes.

Lastly was the subject of Geldamar, who Rouskalos believes could come back from the dead through his magics. Apparently were he to do so it would have already happened, so after some explanation about magic, he says that the item or the person which killed Geldamar may have imprisoned his soul, which would halt the regenerative process of his body. If we broke this item or killed this person, it being Manslayer and his staff, then his soul would be freed and he would return. It was, of course, suicide, but we seemed to be good at that sort of thing.

As we left, we were given a new mission by this mage. Were we to return the amulet which Rafezzi carried with him, we would be granted citizenship of this country, drastically reducing the fees throughout and giving both Salvazia and I an out in the case of magic detection of our citizenship of Thet. All in all, a valuable asset. We’re also supposed to take one of Geldamar’s rings, the one which allows teleportation, to a mage named Mordenkainen who is not far from Rafezzi’s homeland.

All we have to do now is find Rafezzi and we can be on our way. Finding Quinn and Theo wouldn’t be a bad start either. I don’t think either of them would want to miss trouncing Agni.

Game Eleven

July 27, 2002

Something worthwhile of note was a conversation Maggie instigated while I studied the night in the Adventurer’s Guild. She brought to me a cup of tea, which she claimed was a family recipe which would calm me and help me focus. Why she would think I needed this is beyond me, but I suppose I should accept it as a gesture of friendship and acceptance, though I think she is going a bit out of her way to prove a sense of trust. At this point, everyone is over compensating for our mistrusts of one another. I personally do not understand why the lot of us has to agree and see eye to eye on everything for us to travel and work together. While on the topic of the group’s future, I shared with her my thoughts on leadership – that I think declaring the dwarf as a leader might get us into trouble in lands unfriendly or at the very least, less accepting of dwarvenkind, and Gunter himself has rarely set a decision into motion which hasn’t been previously declared by at least two other people in the party.

She also seemed to think that the concept of slavery is innately ‘evil.’ Apart from trying to explain the worth of certain ranks of people being useful for nothing else, I tried sharing an understanding of the usage of intimidation and physical torture as a means of extracting information. She seems to steadfastly believe that the people of Valduran would be above the usage of both torture and spying, which I see as showing how naïve she really is.

Before leaving, she expressed just how uncomfortable Salvazia continues to make her while traveling with us. I hadn’t planned on them growing accustomed to her, per se, but I had thought that they would at least try for a bit of common ground by now. I must admit, the presence of my sister has brought out the realization of the weaknesses of these people and just how deluded they are in their small part of the world.

She left the tea on the table, untouched. Although I should trust her, it being far too underhanded for her to put anything troubling in the drink that would harm me, I can’t help but feel she has ulterior motives to putting me at ease.

We set out towards Strongholme, the home to Mordenkainen, this afternoon. As we were preparing ourselves, we ran into Quinn and Morak on our way through the town. He apparently was as flustered and frustrated with this forsaken, greedy land as we were. In catching up with him, he had another encounter with Manslayer, who made short work of him and left him once again liquefied. Both Morak and I admitted freely that the crucial nature of his part in the prophecy would mean that neither of us would leave him alone, knowing that Manslayer could show up at any moment to double the time it took for him to reform. On our way to Strongholme, we have decided to take a detour through Halguard, so that Quinn can look for this Tam person to find out more about his creation. I must admit, I am curious to meet this person myself, as the creation of life, whether magically or perhaps, showing his body’s ability to reform from liquid after death, through alchemy, is enticing.

On our way out of town, Gunter stopped by the mage’s guild, hoping to find some directions and passage through the country with less of a tax. We initially had hoped to be magically teleported, as we were once capable with Rafezzi, but it would appear that this would be even more complicated, likely requiring a teleportee license before we could arrive safely somewhere. In his attempts he was successful, finding both the directions and passage through without further taxing.

On a side note, my irritation with Rafezzi grows with every morning that I have woken up in a strange bed or on the side of the road. Knowing that he could have arranged our travel in a brief moment, or that Quinn was put further into jeopardy with his unexplained absence has placed a negative value to his commitment to us. We, as a group, need to reclaim the items left behind to us by Geldamar, for use in the remainder of our travels together. If he is to join up with us again I will not allow him the chance to disappear in the night.

We traveled through two more of these coin thirsty towns before hitting the bordertown. Luckily, the helmet which Gunter carries as a mark of his guild has allowed us a reduced passage through the countryside and we enjoy the weight of coins in our pouches a little longer.

We stopped outside of Oridal, in a town of Haleland, where the party found itself in one of its stupid, irrelevant, time wasting arguments. This one was provoked by Maggie, who found it of the utmost importance to shoot at animals on our way across this new country. She made a huge deal over contacting local lords, through each territory we passed through, so that she could try for acceptance in hunting on their lands. I felt that this would be a waste of time, since we would not be here long, not be here long, and the inns along the way would not be expensive. And since when has she cared enough about money as to save it? Gunter came across with the point of it being useless a bit stronger than I did, and apparently hurt her easily confused feelings. She then moped around for a while and asked if I thought she was being obnoxious. I, of course, lied and claimed that she wasn’t, then proceeded to explain to her as one would a child, that time was more of the essence than coin. Giving her a light, patronizing pat on the head, I left the matter alone.

On our way through town, I stopped at a stable to find Salvazia a horse, which would later be seen by Maggie as a waste of time and money, but again, who is she to understand the whims of an easily aggravated young woman, set on killing everyone in the group, who’s only degree of calm is on the back of a horse? I couldn’t explain to her that I did it for her own good, as it would only have left Salvazia seeming the evil sibling from the foreign land again.

Oddly enough, this land holds a lot of faith in strength, and that their gods provide it to those who are worthy. So much that, in the negotiations of the horse, arm wrestling settled the deal a bit lower when I firmly planted his arm down first. While she did not get the horse she wanted, the one she did receive was a fine animal and only two thirds its original price.

Unfortunately, the money gained was lost on a wrestling match between Morak and a man who turned out to be the bar champion. Admittedly, it was a lengthy bout, and both contestants nearly crumpled multiple times, but money lost is money lost.

Afterwards I offered to set the other man’s hands back into place, but was declined for he had his own ‘sawbones.’ Morak on the other hand, set out for me to settle his injuries, of which I botched in my haste. It took a it longer to set back into place, and the swelling was a bit more than I would have asked for, but they should mend quickly.

While traveling between towns, we camped out by the road this evening. In the distance, we saw the glimmer of a campfire and spoke of investigating it. While Quinn and I have already taken responsibility of these sorts of scouting attempts, Maggie wanted in on the action too, understandably, but before we knew it, the whole group was insisting going along. It ended up being a complicated affair in which the whole group came into play for a circle of stories around his fire. The man was some sort of cleric, a bounty hunter who was tracking down a person of dissent, going by the name of Drizz’t Piergeron. This Benedict person said he would help Quinn find his Tam were we to help him in his attempt to track down Drizz’t, so the group on a whole agreed, including myself after much attention was brought to me at my absence.

It was at some point during this conversation that Maggie made an enormous production about the damn cloak she’s always cuddling. Her childishness about the whole matter reminds me that she’s still nothing more than a clumsy girl inside an overbearing, smothering mother. Quite irritating really.

This morning we followed the trail that Benedict was pursuing into the woods, leading into what first looked like a natural cave. Falling into pre-planned form, Quinn and I checked for any sort of trigger around the mouth of the cave, and whether or not guards were posted just within. As we entered the caves, we found a human statue, perfectly carved(?) in a horrific position. It has no base, carries a sword and we believe it may have been the result of a beast with petrification. While we crept down the hall, I noted a series of scrapes along the walls, about shoulder level. At this point, there is little evidence as to what this would lead to.

Further down, we found a lit stable, keeping several horses and a carriage. We find large footprints, placing the individual making them to be about ten feet in height, something which must be an error, but after fighting dwarves which can increase their height, anything is possible, I suppose. In the carriage, we also found a small bag of silver, which Quinn and I put away for later. For the tracks to seem the same as those he was following would perhaps indicate that this person had the ability to change shape or size? At this point, we decided it best to give Quinn the bag of holding, since he and I are usually responsible for finding and accumulating the majority of the treasure. With this, I saw Josh cringe and glare, one of his treasures gone, but Gunter gave it over gladly, since he’s lawful and wants to help the party as a whole. Steve was happy with his discreet jab at the ribs of his roommate.

Deeper into the caves we came across a peculiar room, featuring carvings and images of people blending into the walls. Under closer inspection, some sort of stone creature swooped down from above, attacking the group. In a clumsy fight, most of the damage done to us was from ourselves, even though our weapons seemed to have little effect on the monster. Benedict had no real problems hurting it, and admitted to his weapon being magical. Interesting.

Further ahead we encountered a large bull-headed man, similar to the statue we once encountered far away from here. As it charged at us, Quinn and I executed a plan in which the two of us rolled past him, allowing way for others to take him on toe-to-toe while the two of us dropped it from behind. Two well-placed strikes from me finished the creature and it crumpled forward into the others. It carried with it a fine axe, which we passed to Morak, him being the most capable of utilizing it effectively.

After another encounter with one of the stone creatures, which nearly killed Quinn, we decided to rest for the evening. I spent little of it sleeping, as tending to the wounds of the others through the night keep me moving. I am still surprised that so many and so severe of wounds were created by our own weapons.

We continued on, not yet finishing the level of this series of caves rather to continue on to find the source of this expedition. After hearing a grunt, Quinn and I explored a little ahead of the group, only to have Quinn alert something to our presence. This came looking for us with two gaping mouths and a tree trunk in each hand. Some sort of giant, definitely capable of making large footprints, came to the doorway and unfortunately, Quinn nor I could react fast enough to completely evade it. Quinn disappeared beside me in a growingly familiar wash across the stone, while I barely escaped with my life in a lunge past the thing.

After a lengthy fight, the thing died, though not too soon. I am still badly hurt and the others are in poor shape. Maggie is making a gripe about having the two of us scouting ahead of the party, but I assured her that it was our eyes and ears that evaded so many traps and scrapes before, and while Quinn is essential in Manslayer’s death, I intend on staying ahead of the group and continuing to be the first wave in this sort of conflict. While I have no problems with stepping aside to let others have a swing in battle (actually, I prefer it), I do not intend to let them walk blindly and ignorantly through the caves here.

Game Twelve

August 10, 2002

When we awoke from resting, I took to dissecting the two-headed giant while the others gathered themselves. I was curious on how both heads shared or had independent systems and how, although it appeared that the two were in conflict with one another, the two had independent minds. This was interrupted, to an almost predictable degree, by Roxanne’s appearance.

We tried our best to catch her up on what had happened so far, including that we were once again against a shapeshifter of some sort, and that Quinn had died yet again. She assisted me in taking care of him while Maggie busied herself with cutting apart the trunks left behind by the giant to make a stretcher to drag behind Morak so that his hands could be free in a fight.

Gunter and Maggie apparently reached an agreement that Quinn and I were to no longer be a scouting group ahead of the party, in that Quinn’s recklessness was costing us time and my abilities as a healer were in jeopardy with my being so close to the conflict. This would be the first real disagreement of the day. Bickering is increasingly common.

I grudgingly went along with their reasoning, backed by the ever-vocal priest accompanying us through this venture. If Salvazia wasn’t ‘placed’ in front of the group I would hope a trap to explode in their face. I took my rank behind the two of them, ‘instructed’ to roll past them in an encounter so that I could maneuver an attack from behind. This seemed to run contradictory to what the others had in plan for me to begin with – keep me out of harm’s way, but in the middle of a confrontation I’m supposed to dive head-first into the fight and stab the enemy in the back. It sounds funnier when it’s the honorable dwarf telling you how to act in a combat involving me sneaking up on someone. Another laugh-worthy addition is how the group distrusts and often openly dislikes Salvazia but rank her in the opening of our lines by bowing to her superior combat experience. You would think they would offer some sign of respect by now.

We set out, following the new orders, placing me aside Benedict. It’s an irritant I could deal without. A narrow corridor to the west drew the attention of Micah, although it seems to me that she growls all the time. I offered to search ahead, coming back under the first signs of confrontation. Unfortunately, I am not so gifted with night sight as the others in the party, but this is just a small inconvenience.

I felt my way slowly down the corridor, which was only about five feet in width. This presented a difficult approach were we to undertake an assault down this path. About fifty feet in, I heard sounds coming from ahead of me. It sounded like there was a group of … something … laughing and enjoying themselves. Whatever they were, it seemed as though they could have fun in complete darkness, so it was certainly possible that they could see whereas I could not. Before I turned back to tell the others, it seemed as though one of them heard me, as the whole group tried suddenly to be quiet.

I returned to the others, reporting what I had found. There sparked another argument over whether or not we should even bother with the path and go ahead, or worry that whatever was in that hallway would sweep around behind us and cause further problems. I was on the side of examining the depth of this problem and solving it before we went on, not wanting to have to watch both ends of every corridor as we proceeded. I decided it would work best were I to go back into the tunnel, this time with a lantern, and go back to where I had last stopped before opening the hood, trying to gain the attention of whatever it was in the room ahead. This, would hopefully, get them to chase me, leading them back to Micah who would, with some urging, incinerate them.

Finally the group decided to go through with the plan and I went down the corridor slowly, hoping that the pack of them had settled down and relaxed after hearing my first approach. As I got closer, I could make out about seven individuals, wearing leather armor and accompanied by the clink of weapons. I reached past sixty feet or so in the tunnel before feeling the edge of a corner, perhaps the leading turn of the room. It was then that one of them made a grab for me.

I wrenched the lantern back away from them and turned to run back down the hallway towards the others. I considered calling out a warning, but I thought if I started yelling that the things behind me might figure out it was a trap and not follow. As it happened, they didn’t follow any way, they just threw several javelins at me, two of them barely hitting me to one side before I finally dived in with the others, the shouts and chants of the monsters behind me still blaring a challenge.

Again the conversation flared as whether or not to charge down and finish the things off. Neither side seemed determined to sway the other, as it happens so frequently amidst our group. It was at this crucial moment of unrest that Rafezzi decided to join us. Were we not in enough of a problematic situation, I would have dropped him right then and settled the debate on how to get Geldamar’s belongings from him, but as it stood, we might have needed him.

He announced that he could understand the speech being thrown at us from the length of the dark corridor and on top of that, a second voice from the southern corridor which responded to it. He claimed that, while we negotiated a manner in which to charge the corridor, the first group had called for reinforcements and the second responded with calling “The Mistress.”

This urged us to make a decision, and it seemed only logical at this point to move back and reinforce our position that any enemies would be coming from in front of us. The only sure way this would occur is if we were back on the surface – we had no idea if they had another access tunnel into the first level, and could come around and attack us from our previously traveled path. Furthermore, we had no idea what we had left behind us in the unexplored areas of the caves.

Nevertheless, we had Quinn unconscious and a mission to pursue, so the group decided to hole themselves up in the giant’s former room, placing a small group to the portal we entered from and the rest of us gathered around the entrance to the rest of the lower levels, waiting for the massing army to attack. We waited patiently, until one of them came forward as a negotiator, wanting to place terms for mutual withdrawal from this battle. It may have gone smoothly had the thing not lied to us about the whereabouts of Drizz’t Piergeron, which would later be exposed as being this particular shapeshifting creature. Before instigating Theshian tactics of negotiation I corresponded with my sister, having her gauge the situation as a reasonable one before we charged in blindly. She was with me in assuring that we could stop the tall woman from leaving and surround her before anyone else could come to her aid.

With that, we charged in, blindsiding the woman, its name being Alustriel, in what would turn out to be a more taxing battle than I had imagined. The thing was strong, even for someone as large as her, and it attempted what looked like several magic tricks which were largely unsuccessful. We swarmed her swiftly and managed to drag the thing down just as it looked as if it were about to engage in another spell. I, myself, managed several digs deeply into its lower back before it dropped and shifted forms again, nearly dragging my weapon out of my hands as it fell.

The thing which appeared to us after its death was substantially larger, something of a giant itself, with blue-purple skin and long, white horns curving back from its head. Aside from looting its rewards of service in silver from its side, I also spent a moment sawing off its horns. At the very least I figure it would make a good weapon grip, if not a dagger itself, ornamental if not functional.

We fell back into our room to await whatever else the monsters sent for us, heady on the rush of our win. As is always the case, our celebration lasted only moments. The initial challenge taken care of, we immediately fell on one another again. Gunter instigated an argument with Rafezzi over Geldamar’s possessions, hoping to retrieve them before he disappeared on us again. I cannot say whether or not this argument was necessary at this time or not, but it started and was not something to idle in the background while we fought, as it would only ensure that Rafezzi had more opportunity to disappear in a conflict. Had Rafezzi not been so adamant in keeping Mordenkainen’s ring, I would not have been so against him in this affair. Admittedly, I have voiced my belief that the ring should be kept as a group possession, but I did not care who carried it for that cause. Unfortunately for him, no one, including myself, trusted him enough to carry the ring any longer.

I slowly maneuvered myself behind him so that if the need for me to render him unconscious arose, I would be close at hand. Unfortunately, I interrupted my initial closure by trying to reason with him, which had little effect. I won’t make the mistake of it again.

He managed to disappear, just to taunt us in how difficult it would be for any of us to take the ring from him if we wanted to. After he left, I went to Quinn to inspect his wounds further – he was beginning to waver in and out of consciousness at this point and I expected him to be on his feet soon.

Rafezzi reappeared, not too far away from me this time, so I repositioned myself towards him. He managed to spot me this time, casually exposing my deception but then became so embroiled in his argument yet again that I managed to sidle up beside him once again. His cockiness had to be met with an assured response this time, and I had no intent of letting him get away again. There were principles involved with the matter. The only question of whether or not to act violently at this point was how violent a response was required. For a moment, I wondered how dramatic an episode need be of this situation. I could settle it quickly and simply, a swing of one sword and I could remove his hand entirely, claiming both the ring and settling his egotistical ravings in one short move. It would likely end his wizardly career and cripple him for the rest of his life. My only doubt was whether or not my sword would cut through the bone cleanly enough that the ring’s magic would not work should he manage enough voice to call out the command word. Then, of course, there was the response of the others, but this came more as an afterthought once I had already collapsed him to the floor with the pommel of my sword to the back of his head.

Gunter removed the ring and I looked to the back of his skull, bleeding a bit from a small gash. It would heal in a while, but he would be out for a bit longer than I had hoped. Amusing how the others seemed unaffected by my resort to violence in this situation when they are usually so against it. I was even congratulated by Gunter for my good work. These people can be so confusing.

We have decided at this point to wait here for the night. This will allow Quinn to get back on his feet (although he has reclaimed consciousness as I expected) as well as Rafezzi to gain his balance once again. We have arranged shifts for watch and I will look after the others the best I can on what little sleep I have had so far. If anything approaches us during the night we have each shift monitored by one of us who can see in the darkness. I really have to look into that for myself, perhaps some sort of item which gifts one with such vision. ((Speaking of which, Rodney, I’d like a reminder to ask around wizards and priests and the like for a charm or trinket which would allow something akin to low-light or darkvision. I know there are magic items and the like, I just wonder how trivial or exotic they would be and how much they could cost. It’d be neat to have some sort of crystal on a necklace or a veil or something to wear over his eyes which would amplify his vision in the dark – maybe even have some sort of limitation, like if light suddenly got too bright he’d be temporarily blinded … something like that. Hook a brother up, eh?))

We were awakened shortly after we settled in by another request for negotiations. This one was a raspy, feminine voice going by the name of Saddarax. She would not show herself, though who could blame her after we already dropped her other envoy. I had hoped the first creature was the “Mistress” that the others had summoned, but it seemed that this one was their leader, and for that I was a bit anxious.

There was a debate over information, hoping to get as much from her as possible before either arranging an agreement to let her and her minions free or the group charged in to destroy her. She claimed there was no written information, though I had honestly expected there not to be. This seemed to diminish Benedict a bit more, especially since the group eventually decided to let her and her own go free if we could do the same. I cannot say I agree with this, for as Salvazia put it, it is unwise to let enemies free to strike from behind at a later time. Saddarax allowed us a two day head start before she and her people left. This would give us plenty of time to get to the next town and her plenty of time to destroy whatever evidence of her behavior there actually was. This ended up being nothing more than one more involvement of the Naderans which, as we have found, is completely untraceable. The only other information of worth was finding out what the previous creature was – something called an Ogre Mage. She also seemed a bit dismayed that we had already routed a good number of her creatures in the level above. This only cemented my resolve that we should continue forth in her destruction, while she was at her weakest. Without her heavy hitters from above, it sounded as if she was the only one in need of negotiating her freedom. We couldn’t be stopped if she wanted to. On another note, she claimed that her contact with her employer, a dwarf named Stonebeard, was the bartender at the inn north of Eisenstaad. If this were true, then it would likely be the newer of the bartenders there, since the last had his face removed.

Upon leaving, Gunter tries appealing to the group in destroying this menace before it left the caves. Unfortunately, we had the priest with us, and the rest of the group was casually quiet, as per normal. The priest convinced Gunter that it would be immoral to go against their agreement with the woman below and we continued on to the next town without a look back into the evils of those caves.

I can’t believe everyone else is going along with Benedict at this point. This opens us up for a constant vigil at our backs, even if this person does give us two days to get away. Who says that two months from now we aren’t revisited by this Saddarax, her employers and the gods know what else in vengeance for disrupting her plans? And why the hell did they give her back the bar of gold she tossed to us as some sort of proof that she had been paid for the endeavor? Surely that would cover the costs of our diversion into these caves to look for her? Pity on the evil just because the evil got paid to be that way? Salvazia’s evaluations of this group have merit, even if being extreme sometimes.

Today Gunter tried experimenting with using Geldamar’s ring, under Rafezzi and Morak’s directions. Upon his return, it would seem that Rafezzi had been right – it did take some manner of experience in the matters, as it took its toll on Gunter in travel. He had been diverted to Rouskalos’ place, arriving in bad form and taken to the priests there to be healed. In Oridahl fashion, they charged him over two-thousand silver for the miracle and sent him on his way. This would open the door for a new argument amongst the group.

In paying this debt to the church there, I believed that since we needed to go back to Oridahl anyway at a later date to receive our citizenship that we could pay the debt then. We could use the money now to book passage on a ship, and pay our lodgings and fees along the way to Mordenkainen, and back. Benedict scowled at me more gravely than normal and those amongst the group gathered money to assist Gunter in paying his debt now rather than an undisclosed time later. When he left, things between Benedict and I flared.

He, in so many words, challenged me in front of the group, claiming that my immorality was directly opposing Gunter’s sense of ideals. Were I alike my fellow countrymen he would already be dead, but in steeling myself against this insult I explained his ignorance of our travels so far and my intentions were not directed on evading the debt forever, just until a time when it proved more financially capable in the future. He apologized but I remain offended. If he follows through with his claims that we will ‘have words’ should I step over the line again, I will not allow his self-righteous attitude to make the mistake a third time.

At some point during the night, Maggie downed a deer with her bare hands. While everyone else seemed impressed with this mannerism, I found it quite … unsettling. I wonder – is she so bloodthirsty that she simply has to kill along the roadside for the entirety of our journey? Is this why she seems so bent on being involved in combat, regardless of being constantly placed in back of the lines?

After speaking with some of the money-changers and merchants in the town, we have realized that the gold exchange here is much higher than that of which we are accustomed. With this, we have an idea – we send Rafezzi back to Valduran to retrieve some gold and bring it here to have it converted to make a hefty profit. This could cover some of our losses in Oridahl and make Rafezzi once again worthwhile to have around … if he decides to share the wealth along the way, which he commonly seems not to mind.

To do this, of course, we have to relinquish the ring to Rafezzi’s hand once again. Admittedly, there is some risk involved, but at this point it seems as though most of the group seems stable in this gesture of trusting him, particularly Gunter. The only one opposed to it is Maggie, but she is overlooked as the rest of the group seems to give Rafezzi a pat on the shoulder before he exits.

Admittedly, were he anyone else in the party, no one would bat an eye. He claimed he had to tie up some loose ends and collect some things from the tower and his room in Eisenstaad. This all would seem an innocent enough excuse from anyone else, but from him it could have been an elaborate cover-up of a tangled web of lies. And in all of this, he is trusted to return.

And he did return, with a bundle of gold and riches at his disposal. Apart from this, he announces his promotion amongst the guild, for which he has to return in several days time. For this, I maneuver, it would be best if he were to take another member of the group with him, to “watch his back against Manslayer,” and to make sure he returns. I knew upon suggesting this that he would take Roxanne, and I knew that amidst her loyalties to him she would insist he bring her and the ring back to the rest of us in the ceremony’s closure.

This morning Salvazia has set a deadline. I have two weeks to find conclusive proof that Manslayer intends to betray Thet or she is leaving and claiming to take me with her. I am unsure how I can manage this in two weeks, particularly since we are in a lay-over. I worry that I will have to go with her, to prevent the rest of the group from doing her harm or vice versa. If I do return to Thet, however, perhaps I could have an audience with The Fell King to attempt convincing him that this Manslayer means to do him harm. And then there is the question of what to do with the True Circlet. I have money set aside if we do indeed have to travel, and I will need a more trustworthy horse for such a journey. I still have time.

We arranged a commonplace at the Hammer and Mace then everyone went their own ways. Salvazia and I shopped for a new horse, trading my old one in for a more formidable war horse. Upon meeting back with everyone, we had a new addition to our group for the short term, a mercenary-bodyguard named Brag. He is hired by Rafezzi to protect him while in town, and to assist him with the mountain of money he is making.

In other news, Gunter got Geldamar’s second ring identified, showing more than expected. The ring apparently has other abilities than allowing the wearer to melt into stone. These abilities, however, can only be unlocked by him defeating a priest of some evil earth deity, of which most have been long dead. Until then, I suppose, it shall remain in his possession.

Tonight, it seems, we are to meet this Tam person. We are about to leave for his residence now, so I end this to finish my dinner and pack my belongings for The Griffon. Rafezzi has offered to put us up in a more ‘suitable’ fashion after his rounds of converting gold to a mass of silver. With any luck, this Tam can shed light on where to go next.

The night was a blur and I feel particularly cold from it. I am hoping that by setting things down on paper in some sort of order that I can cope with it more effectively. Tam’s assistant led us to him, a rotting, desiccated man claiming to be from another world. His place as Quinn’s father seemed legitimate as he announced details of his creation, made as a weapon against Manslayer, who had wrecked more worlds than just this one.

Quinn was not the first of his creations, but the seventh. The others had all botched or been destroyed by Manslayer himself, so it seemed that Quinn may not be immortal after all. With Manslayer came Rathgapharius, a familiar name and another focus for contempt in all of this.

Apparently Manslayer is also a psychic of great power, exposing why the Circlet is so important to him. This item could protect any one of us against his powers, but again, only one of us. And that still doesn’t protect us from his sword, or the bedamned staff of his.

Tam received his word of the prophecy from another wizard by the name of Elminster, a mage of his world who was apparently at odds with Tam’s people. Another mage, Mordenkainen, is expected to be from Manslayer’s original world, or possibly another one altogether.

One last warning was given before the night unraveled – we have to keep Quinn away from things which dispel magical effects, as magic holds his body together. I am hoping that Rafezzi can handle this, since he is most apt with magical knowledge, regardless of what Gunter claims.

I had hoped to gain audience with Tam in regards with his assistance in aiding me with convincing The Fell King of Manslayers intentions. If Tam could visit him with this same evidence, perhaps The Fell King could become a powerful ally in dethroning Manslayer before he gained too strong a foothold here. Unfortunately, he would strike me silent before I could request such assistance.

While perusing the written prophecy, he paused on me, inquiring of my part in this and sarcastically questioning my intelligence. I assumed he was pointing out that one of ‘my kind’ would be my fall, pointing out the dangers of traveling with Salvazia. Before I could lay his suspicions to rest, he struck her down. I am still too numbed to understand how his spell worked, but before I could turn around to call out to her, she had already buckled to the floor. He claims he saved my life, and although I would never repeat it to anyone aloud, he probably did. I had avoided admitting it since asking her to join me on an otherwise impossible errand. I quietly accepted his ‘gift’ to me and carried her from the room. She was already cold, reminding me how unnatural magic can be.

I had finally found the proof I needed to keep her in check, to have her assistance and company without worrying that she might leave in the middle of the night to meet a certain end in Thet or not to wake up at all as a result of her blade. Now those concerns were put to rest, as had been the temptation to leave by Tam.

I continued to carry her on to the inn, where I sought to reclaim her belongings before carrying her outside of the city. Somewhere along the way, guards intervened, but I remember very little of the interaction other than continuing my trek. While in the inn, I gathered her things and mine, carrying them in loads down to our horses where as a curious side-note I realized that by looking ahead and buying a more capable horse, I now have two. After loading her body and things on her horse, I escorted her outside of town for the last time.

Maggie wanted to follow to ensure my security, and I wanted to tell her that at this point whatever seeks to make me feel insecure would have a challenge in its duties. I assured her I would be fine and asked her to stay out of sight of me. I found a place uncommonly traveled and set out to finish the night.

The ceremony was silent and practical. The pyre burned through the night and shortly after dawn I buried the remains of Salvazia, her armor and the weapon marking her as an officer. It was a remarkable blend of a goodbye and disposing of incriminating evidence of my allegiance with Thet. I strapped on her two swords and remounted my horse for town.

Somehow, I managed to come back here, to The Griffon, where I finish writing this before calling for a bath before deciding to sleep. One night of luxury can do much to ease the mind and while on Rafezzi’s coin I have no qualms with these comforts. In the morning I will address a letter to my mother informing her of Salvazia’s death and the circumstances which led up to it. If I am fortunate, her influence in the court could help inform the Fell King of his situation. Or, she could dismiss me as a madman and the death of her daughter on my hands. Also in the morning, I am going to request a sponsored vacation with help from those capable of teleportation. They are so wrapped up in pity that I doubt they could resist me this.

(Written in the middle of the night)

Magdalena and the others can practice their compassion and kindness while on this errand of Geldamar’s, but I have recognized my place in the prophecy, in which I am an instrument of necessity. Let them continue on their moral high-ground while I will give them the definition of the ‘ends justifying the means’ that the naïve priest questioned us about. After this is over, if we are successful, the world will need someone to preach of goodness and heart in the face of adverse evil and they can be the ones to do it, and if the world is lucky after this crisis, it will no longer need people like what I have to become.

(Niccolo Morwinyon, the Malcolm X of Feyworld. Theshian ideals with end-of-the-world justification.)

Note to be sent to Savia Morwinyon:

Mother,

I know I have been delinquent with my contact with you for sometime now, though I believe the tumult of the past months has been a worthy reasoning. I will keep this short, since the details would likely include a tome thicker than a single messenger would feel comfortable to carry.

Salvazia is dead. Her death was swift, met at the twisted words of a fanatic wizard, claiming to be from another world. She had accompanied me on a diversion from her mission for months now, seeking the same proof that I have been for another employer of sorts. It has come to my knowledge that Manslayer, now an advisor to the Fell King, is a danger not only to the kingdoms he opposes, but those he allies with and the lands themselves.

Several wizards spoken to on this thing’s origins have all exposed that he is a warlord from another world, with uncommon powers and creatures at his command and he seeks to enslave all on this world, using Thet’s army as a weapon of his task.

I have finally found proof that these beliefs are true, though I fear without hearing the proof from the sources themselves you will dismiss this as childish chatter. Salvazia believed that I could be right, and in her last moments she was convinced. I am sorry she could not be the one to commit to you this information personally, for I must continue my mission here and do not know when I will be home while she sought with so much effort to return.

Do not think of this letter as a case trial so much as the opening of an inquiry – in this I do not seek to change your mind and convince you that I am right, knowing that I haven’t enough evidence that could be included into a single envelope. Instead, I ask of you to look into this matter on your own, knowing your position to expose those a danger to the Fell King and understanding the expertise of your work, I know you will uncover what you need to believe.

You know where you can reach me if you need to.

Game Thirteen

August 24, 2002

Upon meeting up with everyone this morning, I announced my intentions of returning to Futerschart for several days. No one seemed to object, as I had expected, since no one seems to question anything I do at this point. I would like to think it’s because they trust my needs and intentions, but part of me wonders if it’s not because of something else entirely.

Rafezzi and Roxanne were returning to Eisenstaad anyway, for his award of this mage’s title, so the group had little to argue with me about leaving at such a non-crucial moment. Upon arrival, I set out to find a messenger willing to send word to my mother of Salvazia’s death and my beliefs that the Manslayer should not be trusted. Part of me worries that this will aggravate my family’s place within Thetian politics, but at this point, I feel it is a justified chance to take.

After separating from him and delivering my message I turned home for a short period of time. I had hoped to find Simone here, for a bit of outside support, but for good or for bad, she had left. I plan on staying here a day or so before checking Magdelena’s grandfather’s home for any news having arrived for us in our absence, but I have more than enough time for that before I expect Rafezzi to arrive and take me back with the others.

I spent a bit of travel returning to the mountains to retrieve our informants’ news only to find the place deserted. At first I questioned whether or not to go in when no one answered the door, but finally thought it for the best and went inside. There was only a note atop a small stack of letters, addressed to “Maggie,” so I collected those and turned back home. Regardless of not leaving a note, I knew the old man would know who had been there.

Rafezzi arrived shortly ahead of schedule, but with his own reasons in mind. Apparently, in order to pass his test, he made a proverbial deal with a devil – the devil being Tam. I was not told the specifics, but the gem embedded in his chest assisted him in passing this test, but in return allows Tam to witness events through Rafezzi’s body, and perhaps more disappointingly, allows him to control Rafezzi’s actions. While Tam seemed intent on having us succeed in this quest, his means of doing so has already been shown to be less than noble at moments.

Hesitantly, I agreed to perform the surgery that could remove the jewel, but even I have doubts of whether or not I could truly do it. Magic has never been something I understand in the slightest, so only my imagination guides me through what could go wrong, even if the operation was a success.

As I went to gather my things, preparing to move to Eisenstaad to more suitable conditions to afford the magical cost of this operation in having the gem disenchanted, I went to my room to collect my clothes only to find a visitor awaiting me. Tam sat in my chair, looking over the letter I had sent to my family only days ago. While rationally I am convinced that Tam would not harm me personally, I couldn’t help but be somewhat repulsed by him after our last meeting. A rare moment of tangible hatred bubbled up inside of me before I staunched it at addressing his intentions.

Tam forbade me to remove the crystal from Rafezzi’s chest, claiming that harm would not befall me, but my family back home, which he noted in the letter. I had little choice but to agree with him and allow Rafezzi to own up to his own mistake. A pity, really, as I would have loved to have such a boon from Agni.

Furthermore, he demanded of me that I keep Rafezzi from removing the gem by other means, and indeed, not tell the rest of the group that it exists, as even he could realize it would not take much before Rafezzi was permanently dismissed.

At this point, past events and open threats aside, I tried pleading with Tam to assist in contacting the Fell King, in hopes of finding another ally against Manslayer by removing Thet’s armies from his control. Unfortunately, he did not see things the way I did, and believes that it would matter not – Manslayer could easily usurp the country should be want, if it has not happened already.

I returned downstairs, admittedly a bit more shaken than I could admit to myself then, to explain to Rafezzi that I could not assist him, and then tried to explain, without so much detail, just why this had to be the way it was. Surprisingly, he understood, and thought himself cunning by “forcing” me into silence about the gem, when I was going to say the same thing, simply that if the time came to have blackmail against him within the group, it would be a simple matter. This should make him a bit more trustworthy.

We returned to the others without much preparation thereafter. It was a bit ahead of schedule, but I had concluded my errands and shouldn’t put it off any longer. On the ship I stayed to myself when I could and assisted in labor when I had to. We should reach Whitewall soon.

We have arrived, though not on the best of terms. To begin, Rafezzi believes it best that he go in disguise, since his noble family name may be recognized by enemies of the kingdom currently warring for the throne. It sounded reasonable enough, but the name he chose for himself, the Kabbalist of Dreams, was obnoxious and laughable.

I had waited until we reached Whitewall until I showed the others the notes I had gotten from my trip. When we reached an inn, we heard a familiar voice outside, which Magdelena went to investigate. Apparently, Alexander had arrived here to send his father off to their homeland. By another quirk of coincidence, he had met with us once again. Immediately, the others were suspicious, but I, trying to explain to Brag, tried to maintain that he could be mistrusted no more than the rest of us. Instead of the group telling Alexander to bugger off, they decided to run for it, hiding in a room upstairs and hoping he wouldn’t find them. Typical tactics when they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Brag waited for me while I tried to fill him in on our past interactions with Alexander. When the knight entered, he looked about the bar, seeming to not even notice me. I found this rather odd, but decided not to say anything. Eventually, the barkeep offered the information to our room, though I don’t think he meant it to be as a confusing a tactic of exchange as Alexander made it out to be. Without compensation, the barkeep finally told him to go upstairs and Brag and I followed quietly behind.

To add insult to injury, they opened the door and filled Alexander in on everything without so much as a blink of an eye. Oh the willpower and adherence to their duties do these people possess.

Alexander finally seemed to notice me, but I admit it was a bit odd. The group was once again on their set list of activities, and set into multiple directions to find us a ship which could grant us passage to the next stop on our quest.

The notes claim that there is political unrest in Valduran, and there is some interest in the group going there to try to settle the differences between the dwarves and the humans ruled by them. But for the moment, there is an agreement that since we have come so far, we will finish our trip to Strongholme first. While the others searched for a ship, Brag, Alexander and I stayed behind to drink.

While I admit to drinking, Brag downed a bit more than I and to make a long story short, accidentally walked out with a mug belonging to the bar. The bouncer then tried to retrieve the mug, and Brag instigated a fight, which he lost most efficiently. In the scuffle, I scooped up the mug and returned to my place off to the side, out of sight of the bouncer. As a result of the fight, the mug disappeared so the bouncer was dragging Brag off to serve his time in whatever way they saw fit. Rafezzi, not wanting to see one of his companions dragged off, ordered the bouncer to go back to the bar, which he did so. This, of course, sent waves crashing through the others, who exploded in accusations once again about free will and the insult of magic to the mind. Again, in short, they went off the deep end for no reason and reminded me of why I want to leave.

Everything happened with such violence that it became a blur. Benedict threatened Rafezzi’s life, Magdelena stormed off, Gunter exploded on Rafezzi, Rafezzi left and Brag eventually returned the mug. During this whole thing, it became apparent to me that Gunter has gone completely overboard in his sudden readoption of faith. Again, Rafezzi was being compared to a rapist, though this time, even I was wanting to come to his defense were Gunter’s arguments so ridiculous.

When Rafezzi left, so had I decided that after seeing them through this part of their quest, I would be going away as well. If they could whittle us away for not sharing in their priestly ideals, then I wouldn’t be far behind Rafezzi on their list.

It was then that I realized that I could honestly trust Rafezzi more than the rest of them. At least with him, I knew where I stood and what kind of reaction I could expect. With the others, they were too unpredictable in what they would declare a godly war on next.

We have found a ship – Roxanne found her usefulness in having the price lowered. I wonder what percentage of the crew she had to fuck at once to get such a rate.

I went out walking for a while, part of me hoping that someone would make a move against me in an alleyway or that I would stumble upon someone else being a victim of such, but I was luckless in my endeavor.

At the inn later, when meeting up with everyone, Benedict tried to make amends, apologizing for his temper. I could see he was not a bad man, just an overzealous one with a violent streak to boot. I try not to hold anything against him for upholding his beliefs, but I warned him that if ever he were to draw a weapon on me as he did Rafezzi, he would be forced to prove his use with it.

The next morning we set off on the ship. I’ll be rooming with Benedict, though I can’t say how I feel about that. At least I can spend some amount of time figuring him out a little better. The captain claims to have met another with my family name – an Angus, a savage in a northern land. I found it odd, but then again, all of our families stem from savages at some point, some just closer than others.

While on our voyage, Gunter tried using the ring to teleport he and Theo to run some errands only to have something go wrong in transit. When they returned, Gunter had aged considerably, and the both of them were crisscrossed with scars. Further attention made me realize that they had suffered wounds that had years to heal. Whatever happened to them on their trip, neither could remember. Teaches them right to use a magic ring in the Sea of Betshaban Parallelogram.

Last night the ship ran into a hellish storm. We were all above deck, trying to assist in keeping the ship together while it fell down around us. Roxanne could be heard screaming above the storm (although I bet that wasn’t a first), while Quinn spent time in the rigging, swinging above us in the winds. All said and done, the storm passed and we made it through, but not without hearing and perhaps seeing something amidst the clouds. Quinn swore it was some sort of creature, and I agree that thunder, regardless of it being over an ocean, couldn’t make a sound like that.

Game Fourteen

September 7, 2002

We finally arrived in Graywing, another port town, though this one quite different from the previous one. Instead of the seedy element surrounding the dock area, this one is a town of lethargy, with people loitering at every corner and in front of every building.

Asking around, people seemed to think we may need a guide to get to Strongholme, as they somehow deemed the roads dangerous, even though wild animals have apparently been killed throughout the area. Magdelena seemed somewhat confused by this, not being able to make a difference between what she considers wild animals (pretty much everything) and wild animals as these people see them (those which are dangerous to the people at large). In trying to explain it to her, she just ended up getting frustrated and reminding me why I don’t involve myself with intellectual pursuits with her. To top it all off, she got further frustrated with the laws of hunting in the lands here and grew pissed off all over again.

We finally tracked down a guide and are heading out. As we walk along, we make short stops for breaks here and there and the countryside is like one huge extension of the city itself. Cottages and farmland have spread out as far as one can see from the road, and the forests of the area are nonexistent. It’s a peculiar place, but at least I don’t feel so out of sorts as some of the others.

We arrived in Strongholme finally, the need for a guide and his information about the rules of the land were pointless. Again I believe everyone in the group to worry needlessly about most things, and the rest, the important ones, they rarely consider at all.

We sought out the mage’s guild after worming our way through the crowds and met with one of their order. Unfortunately, Mordenkainen was assassinated some time ago, killed by a man in a broad hat, dark cloak and with a probably poisoned knife. He was tossed from the bridge to the river below where his body was not found. The killer escaped into the crowd, though it’s possible that magic was used to surprise the wizard.

While investigating the bridge, we were approached by an armed priest, another Child of St. Claudimer, who addressed the distinguishing features of Alexander’s armor. He believes Alexander to be a heretic (which, it seems, he is) and wished to take him away for inquiry. I found it odd at this point that Magdelena decided to voice her opinion that Alexander be protected by us – it seemed by her suggestion that we should have a war in the streets amongst the innocent to protect someone whom she earlier wanted to run away from that we wouldn’t have to travel together. Her lack of conviction shows me just how weak she can be. Alexander seemed to think that he could handle the situation himself and, like me, thought it best to go along with the priest. He agreed to meet up with us soon after his release.

Once again fragmented, we went to an inn to wait and see how Alexander faired in these trials. When finally retiring for the night, I shared a room with Brag, being most comfortable and feeling perhaps the safest under his scrutiny than that of the others.

I was somewhat shocked that Brag took such an interest in deliberating the truth in the stories that were passed around in this group. Apparently, the others had warned him of, what they see as, unpredictable and perhaps immoral methods to meet ends necessary. Their stories must have been vividly colored because Brag seemed quite a bit calmer after my version of the same events. It made me see just how much talk went on behind my back after all. I was honest with him, sharing with him everything from my home of birth to the event with the merchant in the hobbit lands, to my sister’s former travels with us and the reasoning behind them. He accepted everything with a calm grace and we both finally went to sleep without me for once worrying that I’d awaken with a traveling comanion’s knife at my throat.

There was some sort of scuffle in the middle of the night. I remember waking to feel a sting at my temple, then a paralytic fire in my veins. A sharp blow later and I was unconscious. When I next woke up, I was surrounded by several of the others, still feeling groggy, but not damaged as I felt my head should have been. In taking account of everyone in the room, Quinn and Morak were not to be found, neither was Benedict. The rest of us, however, were sitting or standing, armed and armored with all of our supplies. Even Rafezzi had fallen to the same fate as the rest of us, though reintroductions were short and tight-lipped.

An image of what introduced itself as Mordenkainen appeared in the room, and irrationally as ever, Magdelena swung her weapon through the image, screaming about her pet and the whereabouts of Quinn and the others. After he dismissed her violence, he explained to us that he had to test us to see if we were worthy of his support in saving our world from Manslayer. At this point, I don’t think we had much of a choice but to go along with it. Worse yet, there was a time limit, as there was another group of adventurers, who if they made it through the door before us, would seal us in.

We prepared ourselves as we would normally, forming an appropriate order of action and began down one of the hallways. They pushed some of the more heavily armored people up front, not wanting to worry much about checking the doorways and passages for traps. The first room we came upon of interest had an area in the center from which hung several cloaks. Slowly approaching to inspect it, the cloaks shifted and became living things, similar to bats with wicked mouths at their bellies. I was quickly surrounded but heard the others moving in to assist me.

The combat itself is much of a blur. One of the things engulfed me, its teeth working at my armor, but when I finally broke loose, it only took a moment more before the flailing tail and buffeting wings entrapped me again. This time I fell unconscious and remember nothing of the fight afterwards. In my thoughts, all I could do was pray that I not be taken yet and I could finish what I had set out to do. I had vengeance to take upon Manslayer and Tam before I could allow myself to die.

What came next was a grand hall. In looking around me, there was none of the others, but the figure of a cloaked giant was in front of me and soon, to either side I was joined by another. The first was a winged creature, some sort of infernal thing, which clasped my hand in the name of Tisiphone. The second was an older man, his robes and hands stained with blood, both old and fresh. He looked at me with something akin to pity, but his expression quickly shifted its attention onto the cloaked man ahead of us.

I was told that I had died during that encounter, and that two sides claimed me as their own in my death. Tisiphone had answered my call with my dying thoughts, but Laestrygones had intervened. I was given a choice by what I saw myself as in life – a killer or a healer. As if to reinforce their question, each side displayed a show of past events, each depicting their case for my choice.

Before anything else, at my core, I cure and aid those in need. I am a killer, perhaps, but only when the need calls for it. I made my choice and through the intervention of my companions, I was called back to my body. Laestrygones spoke to me again before I left, the creature sent by Tisiphone simply disappearing in disgust of me. He informed me that sometimes things must be done for the better of the whole. This wouldn’t be lost on me.

In my return, I felt calmer than I had in months. More focused, more driven and more collected than I could ever remember. The others had battled a firey creature of some sort, its own wounds still licked with fire. The others took a short while to bandage up, but we headed out with no more discussion of what had transpired in the time I was gone.

We spoke little as we moved, and I kept back from the front lines, trying to focus the lantern ahead while keeping my sword at ready if I needed to move. The next encounter was with some sort of humanoid spiders, which fell from the ceiling and skittered towards us. Initially our weapons had little effect, rebounding off of their chitinous hides, but Rafezzi’s magic dropped one of them quickly, an effect similar to that which Tam used on Salvazia. Is Rafezzi really as potent as he once claimed and is just now expressing the actual ability he possesses?

We continued on after I collected the head of one of the things. It appeared to have a set of mandibles similar to that of spiders, so I was curious as to the poison these things might have. I stowed the head in my bag and we went forward.

Again we came upon some sort of strange spider creature, this one even more deformed, though more humanoid than the others. After a brief bump into him, he ran ahead of us, rounding a corner into the next room, which we would soon find contained two, enormous spiders, things larger than huts. Realizing that these things could do considerable damage to our group, we thought it best to avoid them. I sought to advance ahead, checking out for another way out. While I couldn’t sneak past the spiders without them noticing me, I could at least get past them and into the next corridor without them being able to attack me. At the back of the tunnel, I found a set of steps leading up, and at the top of them stood a menacing figure of another bull man, similar to the one that Quinn and I had dropped long ago. He carried an axe, some sort of staple item for these beasts, and upon noticing me, he began down the steps. A sudden idea flared in my mind. I had thought before that if we decided to take on the giant spiders that I could bowl beneath them and strike at the smaller creature which hid behind them while the others kept them occupied, then strike at the spiders from behind or beneath while they kept their attention pointed away from me. Now, of course, I would have liked to lead this minotaur down the steps and into the spiders, solving two problems with one stone, so to speak. Unfortunately, aside from being clumsy and stumbling into the wall at the end of the stairs, he would advance no further towards the spiders. Perhaps he had been informed, or he may have been worried about leaving his post.

After he rounded back up the steps, I used my lantern to signal the others, flashing several bursts of light down the hall for them to run towards. I watched as they rounded the corner, a sudden flash of magic bringing a horse into the center of the room, which was quickly pounced upon by the spiders. They were nimble, despite being huge, and could use the walls and ceilings to their advantage. The others hurried down the halls, out of reach of the spiders were they to follow rather than guard their strategic spot in the back of that room.

We debated for a moment on whether or not to rest on the steps, some of us guarding either side while the rest tried to sleep. We couldn’t take the chance, however, of a surprise attack from above or below, nor could we worry about the other group finding their way out first.

It was not one, but seven minotaurs waiting for us at the top of the steps, and the one with the axe had only been a simple problem. The rest were armed with bows, firing arrows large enough to skewer a man. We initially tried to take a defensive position, shooting at them and whittling them away with Rafezzi’s wand and our crossbows, but they were giants each of them, each capable of taking considerable punishment before falling. Rafezzi was able to use his magics to control one of them for a time, which attacked his allies before they brought him down under a hail of arrows.

They were weakened, but not as weak as we were by now. Were we at full strength, I think we could have handled them, but we were wounded and running out of magic and ideas. The minotaurs retreated outside, the tickle of a breeze having teased us from our place on the steps, and we responded by moving into the room, hoping to take up a defensive position and possibly rest. Before we could really move in fully, they leaped from their ambush spots around the corner and opened fire. We moved out of their sight for a moment before I looked over the Gunter and shared an unspoken nod of agreement. He and I surged through the entrance to meet them and hopefully dismantle their ranged attacks to allow the others room to get into place. We collided with the bull men and it was too late for me to turn and address the one who leaped down behind us. The last thing I remember was falling to the floor at their hooves.

When we awoke, again I felt somewhat refreshed, but perhaps a little tired this time. The others were safe, and Mordenkainen sat posed in completion of the conversation we had missed. We are moving back to his place now, hopefully receiving an explanation for all of this.

Game Sixteen

October 19, 2002

After spending a strange span of days in, what I've been told is a faerie-wood, we have finally reunited with the group at Kyroklos. Upon our arrival here, I've been informed that the issues of our current mission have changed slightly. Rafezzi has brought the group into a war between the lands of his father and the former king of their land, explained to have not noticed his removal from the throne. When questioned as to why this king is to be removed, no one has been able to explain to Brag or I the nature of this man's turn to tyranny other than he now wields a particular sword which we apparently need. This sword is from another world, something growing in frequency, and is a weapon which we could possibly use to destroy Manslayer's staff, perhaps freeing the spirit of Geldamar to assist us in the reinforcement of this world against his armies.

It was also revealed that Alexander Crownwarden was a guise of Manslayer to watch over us. This would go along with the suspicions within the group of his following us, and another facet being that he is physically blind, only capable of seeing through his psychic powers. This explains why, in the bar, he could not see me while I had the circlet on. I assume he could see me in the room by everyone else's notice of me. Once again, the group engaged in one of our lengthy debates on how to approach the fortress in which this sword is likely to be kept. I agreed that it would be best to stay out of the direct battle, and allow stealth to retrieve us the sword, but Rafezzi insists that we be part of the main attack force through the navy. The others seem to agree without much conflict, but Quinn, Brag and I have our doubts.

Brag and I shared a moment of quiet conversation before the royals seemed to disagree of our whispering. He and I agreed that finding the sword and removing it from the kingdom takes precedence over everything else the group does, including this civil war. If we have to sneak out as the battle continues, so be it. And whether or not Rafezzi "permits" us to do what we must with this king who possesses the sword, that shall be seen when the moment comes. I feel more comfortable knowing that at least one other member prescribes to a philosophy, which allows violence and deceit if the situation calls for it.

Before being "dismissed" we were given a moment to request equipment needed for our journey. Among the common items on the list, I put a few things of my own down, hoping to ease our entrance into the castle if we needed. But it would seem that even the stores and back alleys of this palace do not freely offer such things to strangers, even for the benefit of their prince.

A bit later, I met with Quinn, speaking of how I would like to attend him should he be required to enter the palace there in search of the treasury and the sword inside. He also asked for use of the circlet, in case Manslayer happened to pop in while he was on his own, he couldn't be stabbed all over again and left in the halls without anyone to track him down. I handed over the circlet, of course, knowing he of all people could conceal who had it on him at the time.

We've begun our sea voyage towards war. Rafezzi is the only one among us showing signs of unease from the choppy waters, and I was told by the ship's physic, Cyril, that there were herbs on board to aid in easing the upset from sailing, but I am unsure to trust anyone on the ship. I noticed strange looks now and then from the Captain and the Admiral concerning Rafezzi. As a result, I've taken to prowling the ship, hoping to stumble across some useful slip of information and protecting Rafezzi from the public at large here. Something seems peculiar, especially when the two of them registered some sense of surprise when he announced himself to the crew as the crown prince. I've warned him as well as I can, though I am unsure as to how serious he takes me in these matters.

On our initial approach to the harbor of the capitol city, we spoke of our plans of attack, and again whether or not we wished to carry on as a part of the assault or to slip through a deal with our part more stealthily. Apparently, we are now in charge of opening the main gate to let the bulk of Rafezzi's father's forces in which are held on the opposite side of the wall. We've gotten further and further involved with this no matter how hard I suggest otherwise. Brag and I exchange glances, both knowing that this changes little from our previous agreement.

I found a rapier amidst my things, a growing occurrence within the group due to Magdelena's talents. She apparently doesn't like mentioning that she left them there, so I have decided to leave it silent. While it is an admirable weapon, I am unsure how I feel about a craftsman from outside of Thet crafting a weapon in such a style. While it may be an appropriate item of dress for the right occasion, I feel that it will not support me well in the upcoming land war.

We're a little less than half a mile away from the mainland, and fire already rains down on us from that godforsaken tower of mages. It has hit our flagship several times, and the occasional gout of fire strikes another of the ships ahead of us as we forge straight ahead into their nest. I want to go down on written record as saying this is a very bad idea.

As we got closer, Agni used some of his magic most effectively, but casting upon one of the nearby Captains and forcing him to call for abandonment of the ship before leaping over the side. I gave him a hearty pat on the back, and for the first time in a while, I think it was universal agreement aboard the ship that the usage of his magic was for a good cause, and went unquestioned.

We finally reached the beaches, the lot of us and our army of people behind charging up through the streets of a town with doors locked fast and stuffed with a ribbon of white cloth in each. As we carried on towards the gate, we stumbled upon several soldiers. Before they could get away in their retreat, I dropped one of them with a well-placed bolt, ignoring the glares of my comrades. While I would accept a surrender, I will not let one of them get away as to stab me in the back when I least expected it. Steve told me what happened at the end of Saving Private Ryan.

We finally arrived at the gatehouse and our troops stormed ahead. Magdelena and the others worked at bashing away at the locked door, while Quinn and I hurriedly tried to scale the portcullis while the archers above took shots at the rest of us below.

My first attempt was met with a harsh shove from one of the guards, sending me sprawling to the ground. I felt something pull in my knee and took a moment of shelter to try and wrap it tight. During that moment, I heard a rush from above. Dodging to the side, I barely escaped a torrent of oil as it spewed down over the army, their bodies dropping around me in fits. Rafezzi also managed to get out of the way, though he looked as if the oil, which landed on him, ran off with little effect.

By the time I was back into play, Magdelena and the others had managed to bash through the door, so I took this opportunity to move in, hoping to lift the door before any of the rest of us took damage like the poor souls dropping by the moment in their attempts at reaching the top. Before entering, the cat sent a roar of flame down the hall, and from the sounds of it, the archers at the end as well. I charged forward, while Brag and Roxanne followed behind. This left Gunter and Magdelena outside with Rafezzi, and Quinn still climbing.

I hurried up the curving steps, coming out into a doorway in which several bolts sung around me. One found my shoulder, causing me to hesitate in my run. I paused long enough to survey the room, noticing the lack of a switch for the portcullis, and while the guards fumbled to reload, or in the case of the one who lost his crossbow, draw his weapon, I ran further up the stairs.

In reaching the top, I had drawn my weapons in time to meet another room of guards. This occurred in time for Rafezzi's next save of the day. Calling out, he ordered what I would later understand to be the King, to drop his sword, surrender and beg for mercy. Surprisingly, he did so and the soldiers raised the portcullis, met by the rushing in of troops from the other side.

While this was going on, I moved on upward, hoping to find Quinn so that we could climb back down together and tend to the wounds of our comrades. I tried not to catch the eyes of the soldiers as I passed, keeping my expression one to not show the pain of the bolt still protruding from my shoulder. In reaching where he last stood, all that greeted me was a blue puddle and his equipment. I stood over his "remains," gathering what possessions I could, the ring given to him by Gunter, the coil of a headband, within which was the circlet, and placed it beneath my own hat before looking down on the crowd below me.

This occurred in time for me to witness the usurped king forced to kneel in front of Rafezzi's father, accompanied by the Lord Magus and his army. Rafezzi's father then drew his sword, that which we would all come to realize at that moment as being the very one we came seeking, and brought it down onto the neck of the true King in the name of tyranny.

I unshouldered my crossbow and turned to the others around me, hoping that what I was about to do would at the very least, buy the others time in the confusion.

Game Seventeen

November 9, 2002

The raid on the “pretender” king’s domain went worse than we could have hoped. When Rafezzi’s father, whom we shall refer to as Big Rafezzi, executed the True King, the soldiers around us staggered to a standstill. The war around us temporarily ceased while the new king asserted himself in view of his new servants.

In hopes of pulling a miracle together, at least for a chance of us to escape and at most, in the case of us dispatching Big Rafezzi and reclaiming the sword, I tried to enlist the surrounding soldiers from atop the wall in a decisive strike against the king and his magus. At first, I thought I was getting through to their ranking officer, but it was apparently the opposite, as he ordered the men to arrest me. Before they could aim their weapons, I spun and fired on Big Rafezzi, striking him deep in his breast.

I had enough time to reload and fire again, though this one reflected off of his armor, and gave him enough time to collect Little Rafezzi and magically disappear. Apparently it runs in the family.

The officer then ordered the men to advance, trying to take me alive. At this time, Theo was at my side, aiding me in repelling the archers, who were trying to batter us enough that we would come willingly. Whereas Theo is against bloodshed in his defense, I am not so inclined to take a beating. I was quick to sling my crossbow and draw both of my weapons.

While Theo bashed away at them, I maneuvered myself closer to the wall. I could see that the mercenaries were advancing on the horsemen and the Lord Magus was issuing orders. Hoping that Theo could handle himself, or perhaps even take my lead, I leaped over the side of the wall, rolling into a run towards the fallen king’s sword. I hoped that by taking up his weapon, I could rally his troops into a final action, and at the very least, fall back onto the wizard and archers firing into the horsemen. The others at this time had disappeared, so I assumed that they had gone by way of the ring off of the battlefield. It was only a matter of time, so I had to hold my position for only a short while.

All I remember at this point was reaching for the sword, then everything becoming blissfully warm and pleasant. Not much really registered until I was looking up at an older woman, who had her hand placed upon my brow, and my ears were clogged with water, as if I’d been swimming. My mouth was salty with seawater and the others were looking at me expectantly.

It was explained to me as being a magical effect forced on me by the wizard – something I should have assumed. In the future, I will make sure to deal with them first, as this was not the first time I had fallen to their bedeviling spells.

Apparently, apart from Quinn, Theo also fell in battle. I felt a pang of regret, having not considered him not leaving Quinn’s remains until he had reformed and knew that I left him up there to face the soldiers, and apparently the mercenary captain as well. Gunther had been monitoring Theo’s transport and the body of the dead king, which was being torn apart by the mercenaries and sent around the kingdom as a sign of the changing of the guard, so to speak.

Gunter went to Mordenkainen’s, hoping to find a solution to us having not retrieved the sword and what to do with the refugees he and the priestess had saved from the collapsing church of Betshaba. The priestess apparently had refused to come along until she was forcibly held by her attendants and transported unwillingly by Gunter. At least that answers on whether the person going along with the mage with the ring has to be willing or not.

When he returned, he brought with him a magical cornucopia, which provides us with enough food to go around and bank a surplus of fruits for our lack of water. Gunter also says that when Big Rafezzi comes back into the world, it will signal Manslayer’s gift of hearing planar magics at work and he will come to see what caused the rift.

We have to organized not only a raid on the castle, to get Theo back, but we also must come up with a way to watch for Big Rafezzi’s return, then somehow manage to defeat him before Manslayer arrives to take the sword. I feel glad that we are never given tasks too far surpassing our abilities.

Quinn has it in his head that he is going to look for Theo, regardless of what the rest of the group plans on doing. Admittedly, he would need Gunther to even get out of the tower, but he intends on his commitment, and later, Gunther admitted his intent on helping him.

We could not directly find Theo through the scrying mirror, but we did manage to track down some of the other participants of the battle, including one particular mage I wouldn’t mind seeing brought before us. With a bit of conversation, I feel that it was convincing enough to assault the mage while he was holed up in his room, door barricaded, and studying his spells spent in the battle today. With luck, his most potent spells would be unavailable to him and we could take him down quickly, and with little mess. Ideally we were to take him alive, as to question him about Big Rafezzi and Theo’s whereabouts, but if I had to, I have no problem ending his life.

Brag, Gunther and I appeared aside the wizard and gave him a sound bashing. He surrendered after the wounds began to stack up. Quinn loaned me a (well-used) sap, which I admit, was instrumental in leaving many an apparent welt across the mage’s head. With luck, I knocked the memories of a few spells out of him. He came along with us quietly and we stripped him of his books and possessions, one of which I feel I will keep until feeling it wise to do otherwise.

Despite his protests, we have him bound and gagged and under constant watch. Brag seems to take this whole “noble prisoner” thing a bit too seriously. Rules of such are not followed so closely in my homeland, and I believe it lends to our practicality with the keeping of prisoners.

Brag also pulled me aside to ask if I intended on giving the man’s possessions over to him once he was ransomed off, or released. While I am not completely against giving him his ring and books back, I certainly plan on keeping it for the time being. If it gives us any extra leverage, so be it.

Through the mage, we have found out that Theo is being held until the mercenary captain is paid for his services. Big Rafezzi apparently has yet to pay the savages so they are taking residence up in his castle until he does so. The reason we cannot see Theo through the mirror is that he is encased in a lead device that is similar to an iron maiden, capable of being closed by a lever pulled by one of his guards in case of a rescue attempt.

We concocted a plan that included me sneaking into the palace, under the directions of the magus, who claims it is against noble law for him to betray his employers, and find Theo in the dungeon, then plan his rescue.

With any luck, I can pull this off. All I have to do is give the word and Gunther can yank me back to the tower and out of trouble. But if I’m caught, it could alert the whole palace and they could throw the trigger early.

Gunther and I are ready to teleport into the wizard’s room. If there’s nothing written in this journal past this point, then my lack of success will be recorded regardless.